America's Going Full Cleveland

And while we're at it, check out the deal below for a free ebook recounting how Alexander Strange met his wingman, a genuine Full Clevelander, himself

America is about to go “Full Cleveland” for the second time in its history.

And no, when referring to “Full Cleveland” we’re not talking about the fashion statement preferred by gentlemen of a certain age in which they sport white patent leather belts with matching white shoes.

(It’s also the preferred dress code for private eye Lester Rivers, a detective with Third Eye Investigators, who has been Florida weird-news reporter Alexander Strange’s wingman for several years. I’ve recounted their adventures in a series of books. I’ll share more on that in a moment.)

The Cleveland I’m referring to here is the former president, first name Grover. He comes to mind because until this coming week he has been the only United States president to serve two split terms.

Grover Cleveland was the 22nd president, in office from 1885 to 1889. But he narrowly lost his re-election bid. That didn’t stop him though. He ran four years later and won, serving as the 24th president from 1893 to 1897.

Now comes Donald Trump, who is following in Cleveland’s footsteps. As we know, he failed in his re-election bid after his first term, threw a temper tantrum and tried to overthrow the government, then ran again and won. So, having served as the nation’s 45th president, he will be inaugurated again on Jan. 20, this time as No. 47.

As it turns out, Jan. 20 is more than inauguration day. I have all the details about that and other exciting events in the week ahead in my latest Essential News column in Florida Weekly.

As a subscriber to this newsletter, you get early notice when the paper rolls off the presses, and you can access the online version of the column here:

But back to that shamus, Lester Rivers, who first shows up in Get Strange, the third book in The Strange Files series when he and Alexander Strange team up to solve what they believe to be the brutal murder of a young journalist, the apparent victim of a hanging.

Strange is sitting at the bar at Stan’s Idle Hour in the island town of Goodland, Florida. An odd looking guy dressed in Full Cleveland and wearing a straw boater plops down next to him and starts yakking about his earlier career as a urinal screen salesman. It goes downhill from there.

If you are unfamiliar with The Strange Files series or if you have read some of the books but not Get Strange, I have a great deal for you. I’m offering the ebook version for free until the end of the month.

You’re probably asking, what’s the catch? Well, I’m mostly advertising this offer on social media to non-newsletter subscribers. In order to receive the ebook, they sign up for the newsletter.

But most of you reading this may already be subscribers, and it occurs to me that you should have the same opportunity as those just signing up. (And WELCOME to those of you new here. I hope you enjoy the book.)

Here’s the link to get your very own copy.

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J.C. Bruce is a Florida journalist and author of the award-winning Strange Files series of mysterious adventures. Check out his website, jcbruce.com, for details on how to order your very own copies. They’re fun to read and make excellent doorstops (not so much the audiobook versions, though).

Sponsored by TROPIC PRESS, publisher of The Strange Files Series of Mysterious Adventures.