Professor, high school academic dean, scientist, author—Richard Straws is used to juggling positions simultaneously the way Hugh Holiday has to juggle accents. He is the author of both academic works, from scholarly journal articles and books to encyclopedia articles, and fictional short stories and books. He currently lives and works in Connecticut, but has also lived and worked in northern and southern California, Colorado, Wyoming, New York City, upstate New York, and Pennsylvania, in addition to having traveled to over 40 countries for nonprofit and educational programs.

He is currently working on the third book in the Hugh Holiday series. While the first book took place in Pittsburgh, the most recent publication finds our eponymous protagonist unwillingly compelled to travel to the East Coast to investigate a murder and disappearance.  In addition to several recurring characters from the first book, this second book introduced a humorous, quick-witted Bridgeport lieutenant, two potential love interests for Hugh (!), and the search for a mystery blonde he hopes will be the key to  unraveling the murder and disappearance. In the third book, our talented but troubled protagonist travels to northeastern Pennsylvania for his most challenging — physically and emotionally — case to date. Of course, Hugh Holiday can go nowhere without his emotional glue Holly.

Check out two of Richard Straws’s short stories, the humorous  Running with the Curimbata and the science fiction  Future Jau, both of which are available free of charge, both first released post by post in the blog and now available in complete, printed form.