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The Perfect Gift for Mountain Bikers

Paperback copies of the Original Twisted Trails have spiked in sales over the last few weeks in anticipation of the Christmas season. With this in mind we want to remind shoppers that Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast is also available in paperback. To sweeten the deal, we have dropped the price of the second book from $8.99 to $6.99. The Beast has received powerful reviews and is a must read for any modern mountain biker. Start shopping now at  Amazon.com  

Least of the Beast comes to Kindle Unlimited

The second book in the Twisted Trails mountain bike series takes its place on the largest and fastest growing e-book program in the world. For only $9.99 a month readers can download from over 1 million titles. The variety and quality of the books continues to rise with each passing year. The original Twisted Trails found great success here among its many readers. Now Least of the Beast has been added to this magnificent catalog. Sign up now! Get your download of Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast

MTB Stories for .99 cents - Offer is almost over!

If you enjoyed the award winning mountain bike book Twisted Trails , now you can get the sequel for only 99 cents on Kindle. In Least of the Beast, the story picks up twenty years after the original with glimpses of the future of mountain biking. You will meet new characters, see new technology and revisit the perils of this exciting sport. This is a limited time offer!   On Nov 19th, 2016 the Beast returns to its standard price so get your download now. Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast (Kindle Offer)

Twisted Trails gets Love from the UK

Cycling is big in the United Kingdom. While the vast majority of riders roll along the roads, the UK has still has a diverse collection of dirt trails and MTB heroes worthy of the name. It is not easy for an author to jump across the pond so in the meantime I am very happy to hear from fans who are enjoying the Twisted Trails books. We may be thousands of miles apart but everyone who shreds in the dirt shares the same heart. Thank you! "A great read. Lot's of interesting stories all with cycling at their heart. Worth a go!" Keith B - 5 Stars "Nice read if you like bikes and biking you're going to love this book" N. Barstow - 5 Stars The following links are for Amazon.co.uk The Original Twisted Trails Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast

Twisted Trails available at Venice Bike Shop

Fast becoming a local favorite, Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast is a story about the future of cycling but it all starts in Venice, Florida. Right from the first chapter we are taken on a ride through the wilds of the T. Mabry Carlton Reserve as our main character learns that Florida has more to offer than sunshine and beaches. Look what the reviewers have to say... "Hutchinson writes with a deep love and  knowledge of the sport" Indie Reviews "A Grand coming of age tale" Jack Magnus, Reader's Favorite - 5 stars "Entertaining and Inspiring" Jeff F - 5 Stars There are two ways to get a copy of this book. You can grab a Kindle copy at Amazon.com or you can get a paperback copy at Venice's Favorite Bike Shop - Bicycles International. Bicycles International 1744 S. TAMIAMI TRL  (941) 497-1590 MONDAY-FRIDAY 9:30AM - 5:30PM SATURDAY 9:30AM - 5:00PM SUNDAY 9:30AM - 1:30PM

Twisted Trails Sponsors Zoomers Running Club

Back in 2012 I decided to try something new - running races. My  first event was a local trail run put on by the Zoomers Running Club. The exhilaration of completing the 5K coupled with the spark that comes from lively competition gave me a whole new appreciation for running. Over the next few years I would take part in 15 more such events while taking photos of the races and writing stories for their newsletter. Zoomers is more than a race promoter, they are a community of local runners. They hold a casual group run every Thursday night at Englewood Beach ( Check here for updates ). They hold an annual awards ceremony for their own race series along with other social events. Most importantly they support each others ambitions. The Twisted Trails Series is proud to sponsor the Zoomer's efforts and events. I have dusted off my running shoes and signed up for the same race where I started four years ago, now called the Trick or Trot 5K . This is a Halloween race so the

You can Get Twisted for only .99 Cents

I write these stories because I love cycling. My goal is to elevate our sport/lifestyle by grasping onto all the things that make it great and sharing those tales with the world. The success of this ambition can be seen by reading our recent reviews by Kirkus Indie and Reader's Favorite . The publishing world is taking notice. It is with this in mind that I'm making Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast available for only .99 cents on Amazon Kindle. Pre-Order now and it will be automatically downloaded on October 1st. Get your copy here!

Kirkus' Compelling Review of Twisted Trails

Kirkus Indie is one of the top review companies in the publishing industry. Known for their integrity, Kirkus pulls no punches when it comes to judging literature. That reputation stayed true when they took off the gloves to read the latest Twisted Trails book. Kirkus had a lot of good things to say about the stories especially in relation to the sport of cycling. They only had one real criticism, that the book is too short. They were forced to judge it as a stand alone novel but we all know that this is the second in a series. In all we are very happy with what they had to say and appreciate the creative way in which they said it. Since we are not legally able to publish parts of the review please read it for yourself: Kirkus Indie - Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast

Least of the Beast earns an Indie Review

It always feels great to get a good review but when it comes from a well known source the elation is all the greater. Reader's Favorite is a website dedicated to finding new talent and giving them exposure. By use of reviews, awards contests and author services they expand opportunities for independent authors. Readers' Favorite has received the "Honoring Excellence" and "Best Websites for Authors" awards by the Association of Independent Authors, are members of the National Book Critics Circle and National Education Association, and are BBB accredited (A+). I submitted Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast with my hopes high and my fingers crossed. Never did I expect they would give it their highest rating - 5 Stars! Quotes from the Review... "A grand coming of age tale" "Filled with warmth and wisdom that transcends sports" "Twisted Trails has everything" "Most highly recommended&

The Beast is coming to Stanley Park

FLCX is a tight knit family who enjoy beer, bacon and bruises. We should strive to keep it strong and weird. Alex Hutchinson loves cyclocross so this offer is his way of giving back to the people who make it all possible. Be there early to cheer on your fellow competitors and walk away with a work of fiction that belongs on your cycling bookshelf. It all takes place at Wicked Awesome Racing, the CX series run by pro racer and race promoter Josh Thornton. Josh and his wife have consistently put together a great series for Florida Cyclocross. We are honored to be helping W.A.R. with this special promotion at their season opener. Come early to get a FREE Book! Alex Hutchinson will be by the registration table the moment it opens. The first 30 racers get a Personally Autographed Copy of his new book  Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast . The Twisted Trails series is a collection of Award Winning Stories about the sport we all love. Whether you ride Road, CX, Mountain or Casual

How can you write MTB Stories in Florida?

It is probably the most common question I get from non-cyclists. We really can't blame them. This is not the place you would normally think of when it comes to mountain biking. Florida has become the punchline state. We are mentioned most often when some meth monkey robs a liquor store in a Darth Vader costume or uses an Alligator as a weapon. But isn't that the perfect atmosphere for collecting weird vibes and channeling them into great stories? The tradition continues with Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast . Just like with the first Twisted Trails book we start in one of Florida's many mountain bike trail systems to give you a glimpse of just how odd and sometimes precarious our state can be. Like the time a Florida man's wife was kidnapped by holograms or the time a Florida Man attempted to steal a chainsaw by stuffing it down his pants. Weird shit happens here! We do have mountain bike trails plus thousands of cyclists live and ride here. We are a s

When you Love Something, You want it to Flourish

We all have our gifts, our ways of contributing to the world. When we are at our best we use our gifts to achieve goals, to love others and to contribute. These passions define us both to ourselves and to others. These passions make up a large part of who we are and who we want to be. The reason I'm getting all Anthony Robbins is because while we all want to be our best selves, we also have a few flaws that hold us back. There are things we are not that good at, things that slow down the journey. It is in these moments where we feel our greatest frustrations. It is in these moments when we need to ask for help. That is what I'm doing here in this blog. I'm asking for your help. For those who know me, I'm a writer first and foremost. That is my talent and storytelling is my gift but I also have a really big flaw. I suck at selling my own art. For whatever reason once I have put in the time and effort to create a truly great work, I can't seem

A Beastly Review and a Special Offer!

Years ago when I started self-publishing the opportunities were limited and expensive. The stigma of the vanity author loomed large in the industry. It's safe to say that while not everything has changed the tide has certainly shifted in our favor. It is on this tide that I hope to expose my new book to an enormous audience as well as the very industry that once scorned us. Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast  has been submitted to Kirkus Indie Reviews . Kirkus has been operating for over eight years. They review ten thousand books a year. Their influence spans the publishing industry and holds great weight with ardent readers. Lucky authors have seen their name recognition boosted overnight by a great Kirkus review. Some have gone on to sell hundreds of thousands of books. Our review will be announced on or before Oct 31st. On that date we will find out what the best in the industry thinks about cycling as a basis for a series of science fiction novellas. This is

Least of the Beast gets some Upgrades

The self-publishing industry is full of important details that can determine the success or failure of a title. After 13 years of writing books I've hacked my way through that jungle learning a score of lessons. When Twisted Trails: Least of the Beast comes out on October 1st, it will be given every chance to reach the widest audience possible. Listed below are a few of those upgrades. * The Beast has a custom International Standard Book Number or ISBN under the Imprint of Twisted Books . This allows for the title to be reissued at a later date by another publisher. * I have hired Fawn Brashear, a graphic artist and graduate of Full Sail University. She has already begun designing advertisements for the Beast. You will see them in September. * 500 custom business cards have been printed with photos of both Twisted Trails books. I have begun handing them out to friends and clients to get the ball rolling. * 50+ Envelopes are being addressed so that early re

Twisted Trails 2: What is this Book About?

What is your book about? When I wrote my first novel Virgin Gloves I had a lot of trouble answering this simple question. When an author sits down to write a story they can sometimes forget that it will appeal to a particular audience, even if that audience has not yet been identified. Just because Virgin Gloves took place in the world of professional prizefighting didn't mean that fighters or fight fans would be the audience. In fact, most of the people who read the book turned out to be sports fans who enjoy inspirational stories. During the year that I promoted that book I received a good deal of press. It was reviewed in Boxing Magazines, there were interviews in local newspapers and I appeared on radio shows. However, I always got stumped by that same question: What is the book about? I tried explaining it many different ways focusing on the plot, the characters or the action. Each time I failed to capture the essence of what was being asked. In writing Twisted

Twisted Trails 2: Release Date Revealed!

After a year of writing and editing, I am proud to announce the release date for Twisted Trails 2. This highly anticipated sequel has embraced the style of the first book but also expands the Twisted Universe with more unique storylines. That's right, some of your favorite characters will be returning to join a cast of new characters on all new adventures. Twisted Trails 2 will be available in both Print and E-book editions. Check back to this blog for continuing updates. Twisted Trails 2 will be available: Saturday, October 1st

Twisted Trails 2 Update: Coordinated Scribbles!

It is not easy to give updates about a book without giving away parts of the plot. What I can say is that Twisted Trails 2 has reached its final phase of development. Heather, my amazing Editor is currently scrutinizing Chapter 2 while Terri, my Proofreader/wife is helping me on the wording of the Introduction/book blurb. What I can tell you is that the book will be similar in style to the first Twisted Trails. It will have nine chapters, each with a somewhat self contained story that shares characters with other chapters. Most important to my local readers is that the first chapter will take place in Florida. It is a location that many mountain bikers know and love. Also, if you are part of the Florida cycling community you might very well have inspired a character. That's enough for now. Stay tuned for updates - Alex H

Driving a Shuttle to the Top

Twisted Trails 2 Update: The new book is right on schedule! The first chapter made its way to the Editor so we will likely be on time for a Fall release. Also, as some of you might know I have a new job driving an airport shuttle for Florida Sunshine Express. This job has allowed me to spread the word about my writing. At the beginning of June my Author Rank on Amazon peaked at 4,400! There are hundreds of thousands of authors on Amazon so this is a huge boost in popularity. Thank you all for the support, we are racing up that ladder. Visiting Florida? Need a ride to/from the airport? Give us a call! Florida Sunshine Express (855) 397-3458

Confessions of a Recovering Egomaniac

Today is my 43rd birthday and I'm still chasing my dreams, sort of. There are some who envy my dedication. Others are quite aware that I'm full of shit. The truth is that we all do what comes easiest. The only difference is that my imagination has been running wild for years and I only just now grabbed the reigns. My long list of achievements includes quitting or getting fired from 70 jobs. Of the 700+ articles I have written a mere 7 made it to print (Only one was paid). I have been turned down by every publisher and agent I have queried in the last 20 years. The only mountain bikes races I won were the ones with no competition in my class. I never needed to lie about any of these things. When you compete, people assume that you are an amazing athlete. When you get published once, people assume that you get published often. That's right I'm blaming you audience! Why am I kicking this trash down the hallway? Because I'm over it. Granted it took a long

Body Transformation Update: 70 Days

Challenges come in all shapes and intensities. It has been 70 days since I started to build the body I always wanted and the gains are becoming visible. You can see from the picture above I am the biggest I have ever been in my life. Here are the results so far. Bodyweight increase +7 = 189.2pds Arms increase +.50 = 15.25" Chest increase + 1.00 = 42" Thighs increase +.50 = 23.50" Calves +.50 = 14.50" The rest of my physical measurements stayed roughly the same. I had started by focusing on volume training using Arnold's Blueprint Program on Bodybuilding.com's BodySpace community. While this gave me some huge numbers, the long workouts took too much energy to complete and affected my consistency. I was having trouble getting in 4 workouts a week and I was coming up short on body parts. After shopping around a little I found James Grage's Rewired program. These workouts are shorter but more intense with lots of supersets

Body Transformation Update: 50 Days

That's right I'm still pounding away at the weights. It has been 50 days since I started to build the body I always wanted and the gains have come slow but steady. As you can see from the picture above I am the biggest I have ever been in my life and it feels great. For those who don't know, I have an eating disorder and spent most my years far below an ideal bodyweight. Despite being physically active, this nutritional deficiency caused all kinds of pain and problems. Fast forward to Dec 6th, 2015 I decided to build the body I always dreamed about. Now I'm roughly 50 days in and here are the results so far. Bodyweight increase +5 = 187.2pds Arms increase +.25 = 15" Thighs increase +.50 = 23.50" Calves +.50 = 14.50" The rest of my physical measurements stayed the same. Now let's get to the personal records. I did not attempt to go after any individual records but rather focused on volume training using Arnold's Bl

Splashdown at Piggy's Revenge 2016

It was a day for the bold and daring as 240 mountain bikers took to the trails of the T. Mabry Carlton Reserve in Venice, Florida for the annual Piggy's Revenge Off Road Challenge. The park had received two inches of rain in the three days preceding the event turning otherwise pristine singletrack into mud rutted splash zones. Outsiders to the sport might watch the music video and think to themselves: Why would any one want to do that? Part of the reward of mountain biking is the journey through suffering. That is why we call it an Off Road Challenge, it's not for couch potatoes. You've got to have grit. This was truly a Pigtacular Mudfest! Let's see what the riders had to say. "Another Piggy's Revenge in the books! This course was about as mean as a junk yard dog. I don't think I have ever ridden in so much water! Glad I survived to talk about it but it's going to be a while before I remember it fondly." - Scott Pfaff, 60 Miler