Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "enemies-and-playmates"
Writers you should get to know...
In the past couple of years I have read some fabulous books by authors you may not have heard of.
There are lots of good books out there, and before I joined Goodreads, I really only read books by well known authors, or books I could find in my local bookshops.
Many of you may still do that. Maybe you only buy the bestsellers or you only buy books you can find in bricks and mortar shops. I think most people are probably like that.
I just wanted to open up a window for you, and introduce you to some fabulous writers who are not bestsellers, their books are not easy to find in your local shops, but their books are some of the best I have ever read.
Here are a few recommendations.
I hope you will pick at least one from this list to try. Then, if you like it, I hope you'll come back and read another.
And most of all, I hope you'll tell all your friends about them.
Books are written because there is a story to tell, that story deserves to be read.
I've fallen in love with these books, and I hope you will too:
Breathing into Stone Breathing into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
Eighteenth century priest, Father Furio Novia, hates his employer, the Archbishop of Modena; almost as much as he hates Italian master sculptor, Antonio Lisi. When Novia discovers that Lisi uses his beautiful daughter's likeness in nearly every figure he carves, the priest realizes he can make accusations to the Archbishop that the sculptor has an incestuous knowledge of his daughter, Anoria. Novia begins to haunt their lives, and every family in their village of Resceto, not because he believes they have sinned, but because he desires Anoria for himself.For two years their lives twined around one another's, destined to clash in Rome; Novia, committing murder to stay free of the church; Anoria, nearly killing him to escape his lust.(some adult oriented content)
The Day the Flowers Died The Day The Flowers Died by Ami Blackwelder
A Passion set in the time of prejudice. A novel about love and loss. The completed final edition. 1930 Munich. Two Lovers. Different Worlds. A Crumbling Country Book Taste Review: Ami Blackwelder paints her words in this gently narrated historical romance set in Munich, Germany early 1930. The scenes recreate pre-war Germany...
Pixels of Young Mueller Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz
Klaus Mueller dreams of leaving tiny Southland someday to be a rock star. When he chooses stardom over college, however, he learns that his real education is only beginning. He endures a series of god-awful jobs while his music is repeatedly rejected, and he wonders how he will ever achieve success. After moving to the city, where he finds a career and becomes a father, he is torn between the great happiness he has found and the success he still craves. Klaus must reconcile his dreams with reality or spend the rest of his life lamenting what might have been.Pixels of Young Mueller is the story of an artist's growth to maturity and of his revolt against his family's Christian values. The tale of Klaus Mueller, as told in this modern coming-of-age novel, provides new perspectives on classic themes when Klaus confronts the forces that threaten his existence. Readers can listen to Klaus' music online at itsthejerrys.com. (edited by author)
Musical Chairs Musical Chairs by Jen Knox
Musical Chairs explores one family's history of mental health diagnoses and searches to define the cusp between a '90s working-class childhood and the trouble of adapting to a comfortable life in the suburbs. In order to understand her restlessness, Jennifer reflects on years of strip-dancing, alcoholism, and estrangement. Inspired by the least likely source, the family she left behind, Jennifer struggles towards reconciliation. This story is about identity, class, family ties, and the elusive nature of mental illness.
Horse Latitudes Horse Latitudes by Quentin R. Bufogle
Time is running out for Chester Sprockett. How is an unemployed, aspiring novelist supposed to survive when the thirty grand borrowed off his dead father's credit cards is almost gone, and the only work he can find is hawking toys and cheesy novelty items door-to-door . . . on commission yet?
And talk about woman trouble: There's Pandora, the beautiful magician's assistant who dumped him for an investment banker and the dream of becoming a performance artist; Beth, his true love, the girl he let slip through his fingers at the beach (maybe it was all that baby oil) and the mysterious blond nymph who hurls empty beer bottles at him from a black Z28 Camaro.
If it wasn't for the occasional visit from the ghost of his father, Chester would almost certainly be losing his grip on reality, and never navigate his way out of the . . . Horse Latitudes.
Caviar Dreams Caviar Dreams by Judy Nichols
Your best friend's in love with a lying, scum-bag thief. How do you tell her? Because what she doesn't know could kill her. This is photographer Lisa Watson's dilemma. Lisa has always relied on her plain, overweight friend Debbie to cheer her up when she's down on her luck (which is most of the time). When Debbie falls hard for a handsome stranger named Derek. Lisa is skeptical, believing Prince Charming is more interested in Debbie's money than her kind nature. Derek may be a small-time hustler, but he has big-time plans. He intends to blackmail his wealthy lover, Robert Helton, a conservative industrialist desperate to hide his secret gay life. However, Derek's plan takes a fatal turn when Debbie is found dead in her apartment.
Harmony Bay: An adventurous slice of waterfront life where mystery surrounds history... Harmony Bay by Tom Gahan
Harmony Bay uncovers the rich historical past of a small town through the eyes of newcomers...Detailed description laced with historical references gives the reader a feel for life in a bayside town
Enemies and Playmates Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle
When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter. Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight rein on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall in love with one.
When Lauren meets Jesse Ryder, her carefully constructed protective wall shatters. She falls hopelessly and completely in love. It's only fitting that Jesse is a private detective who had once worked for her father, had defied him, and was now the subject of Alex Covington's wrath.
Amidst devastating loss, betrayal, and her father's destructive pursuit of Jesse, Lauren finds the trust and love she had always longed for.
Digger's Bones Digger's Bones by Paul Mansfield Keefe
Archaeologist Angie Cooper's colleague and friend, Tarek "Digger" Rashid, is murdered in front of her. But not before giving her cryptic photographic clues to a hidden tomb and the two thousand year old bones within. Angie must battle a ruthless hitman, hired by a U.S. senator with presidential aspirations, and a sociopathic religious zealot while overcoming severe acrophobia. Caught in a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, she works to unravel the secret of Digger's bones. Bones that affect the lives of all they touch.
Digger’s Bones is an action packed thriller that takes you from the churches and burial tombs of ancient Jerusalem to the harrowing cliffs of Bandelier National Monument and the glacier capped Zugspitze in Germany. Angie Cooper, her career in shambles, finds herself on the run from mercenaries, the Holy See, the FBI, and Interpol while trying to solve one of archaeology’s great mysteries. Yet some things are better left in the past.
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba
Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling "25 Years Ago Today" items from the microfilm. She grows fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology. Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's suspicious nephew, Eric Soares - until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline is tomorrow's danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris's present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.
My Schizophrenic Life: The Road to Recovery from Mental Illness My Schizophrenic Life by Sandra Yuen MacKay
Vancouver artist Sandra Yuen MacKay has an abnormality of the brain - a disease called schizophrenia. As she says, "my life is schizophrenic because I have schizophrenia. It will always be there". Much of her life has been a struggle to cope with the symptoms of her disease and the side effects of the medications required to keep those symptoms in check.
Early in her life, Sandra started to exhibit the typical symptoms of this disease which came as a surprise to her unsuspecting family. Her book chronicles her struggles, hospitalizations, encounters with professionals, return to school, eventual marriage, and success as an artist, writer and advocate.
Fade Fade by Darren Smith
"Perhaps the best way to describe just how much this book caught my imagination is to reveal that even almost a year after reading it, there are still scenes that I remember vividly, quotations that I can recall and to confess that I will never think of doughnuts with sprinkles in the same way again."
"Brilliantly written love story captures your thoughts and emotions throughout the whole reading and long after it. The lucid and detailed narration provides multi layered complexity of each character's personality, startling revelations, creative turns of the plot."
"Dramatic and touching, the author does a brilliant job of capturing the reader's attention and reeling them into the depths of his story telling."
What Remains What Remains, by Rosemary Poole Carter
WHAT REMAINS is set on a rundown plantation shortly after the Civil War. In the shadow of live oaks and Spanish moss, Isabelle Ross, who has lost her fiancé to the war, joins forces with journalist Paul Delahoussaye to untangle a web of secrets, lies, and murder.
Road Markers Road Markers by Jason C McIntyre
Dean is a forty-something sales rep for a company that ropes small, mostly blue-collar firms into long term cellphone plans. Heading home from a bad meeting, he begins to see evidence that he can will things to happen just by thinking about them. But will this tantalizing realization lead him to cross the line for good?
* * *
Most of these writers have written more books, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their work.
Give them a try.
Remember, if you like a book, remember to review it, either here on Goodreads, or on Amazon and other bookseller websites. Authors are always grateful for honest reviews. It doesn't have to be anything detailed, just a couple of lines to say why you liked it would be wonderful.
Happy reading!
There are lots of good books out there, and before I joined Goodreads, I really only read books by well known authors, or books I could find in my local bookshops.
Many of you may still do that. Maybe you only buy the bestsellers or you only buy books you can find in bricks and mortar shops. I think most people are probably like that.
I just wanted to open up a window for you, and introduce you to some fabulous writers who are not bestsellers, their books are not easy to find in your local shops, but their books are some of the best I have ever read.
Here are a few recommendations.
I hope you will pick at least one from this list to try. Then, if you like it, I hope you'll come back and read another.
And most of all, I hope you'll tell all your friends about them.
Books are written because there is a story to tell, that story deserves to be read.
I've fallen in love with these books, and I hope you will too:
Breathing into Stone Breathing into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
Eighteenth century priest, Father Furio Novia, hates his employer, the Archbishop of Modena; almost as much as he hates Italian master sculptor, Antonio Lisi. When Novia discovers that Lisi uses his beautiful daughter's likeness in nearly every figure he carves, the priest realizes he can make accusations to the Archbishop that the sculptor has an incestuous knowledge of his daughter, Anoria. Novia begins to haunt their lives, and every family in their village of Resceto, not because he believes they have sinned, but because he desires Anoria for himself.For two years their lives twined around one another's, destined to clash in Rome; Novia, committing murder to stay free of the church; Anoria, nearly killing him to escape his lust.(some adult oriented content)
The Day the Flowers Died The Day The Flowers Died by Ami Blackwelder
A Passion set in the time of prejudice. A novel about love and loss. The completed final edition. 1930 Munich. Two Lovers. Different Worlds. A Crumbling Country Book Taste Review: Ami Blackwelder paints her words in this gently narrated historical romance set in Munich, Germany early 1930. The scenes recreate pre-war Germany...
Pixels of Young Mueller Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz
Klaus Mueller dreams of leaving tiny Southland someday to be a rock star. When he chooses stardom over college, however, he learns that his real education is only beginning. He endures a series of god-awful jobs while his music is repeatedly rejected, and he wonders how he will ever achieve success. After moving to the city, where he finds a career and becomes a father, he is torn between the great happiness he has found and the success he still craves. Klaus must reconcile his dreams with reality or spend the rest of his life lamenting what might have been.Pixels of Young Mueller is the story of an artist's growth to maturity and of his revolt against his family's Christian values. The tale of Klaus Mueller, as told in this modern coming-of-age novel, provides new perspectives on classic themes when Klaus confronts the forces that threaten his existence. Readers can listen to Klaus' music online at itsthejerrys.com. (edited by author)
Musical Chairs Musical Chairs by Jen Knox
Musical Chairs explores one family's history of mental health diagnoses and searches to define the cusp between a '90s working-class childhood and the trouble of adapting to a comfortable life in the suburbs. In order to understand her restlessness, Jennifer reflects on years of strip-dancing, alcoholism, and estrangement. Inspired by the least likely source, the family she left behind, Jennifer struggles towards reconciliation. This story is about identity, class, family ties, and the elusive nature of mental illness.
Horse Latitudes Horse Latitudes by Quentin R. Bufogle
Time is running out for Chester Sprockett. How is an unemployed, aspiring novelist supposed to survive when the thirty grand borrowed off his dead father's credit cards is almost gone, and the only work he can find is hawking toys and cheesy novelty items door-to-door . . . on commission yet?
And talk about woman trouble: There's Pandora, the beautiful magician's assistant who dumped him for an investment banker and the dream of becoming a performance artist; Beth, his true love, the girl he let slip through his fingers at the beach (maybe it was all that baby oil) and the mysterious blond nymph who hurls empty beer bottles at him from a black Z28 Camaro.
If it wasn't for the occasional visit from the ghost of his father, Chester would almost certainly be losing his grip on reality, and never navigate his way out of the . . . Horse Latitudes.
Caviar Dreams Caviar Dreams by Judy Nichols
Your best friend's in love with a lying, scum-bag thief. How do you tell her? Because what she doesn't know could kill her. This is photographer Lisa Watson's dilemma. Lisa has always relied on her plain, overweight friend Debbie to cheer her up when she's down on her luck (which is most of the time). When Debbie falls hard for a handsome stranger named Derek. Lisa is skeptical, believing Prince Charming is more interested in Debbie's money than her kind nature. Derek may be a small-time hustler, but he has big-time plans. He intends to blackmail his wealthy lover, Robert Helton, a conservative industrialist desperate to hide his secret gay life. However, Derek's plan takes a fatal turn when Debbie is found dead in her apartment.
Harmony Bay: An adventurous slice of waterfront life where mystery surrounds history... Harmony Bay by Tom Gahan
Harmony Bay uncovers the rich historical past of a small town through the eyes of newcomers...Detailed description laced with historical references gives the reader a feel for life in a bayside town
Enemies and Playmates Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle
When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser's world might just shatter. Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight rein on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall in love with one.
When Lauren meets Jesse Ryder, her carefully constructed protective wall shatters. She falls hopelessly and completely in love. It's only fitting that Jesse is a private detective who had once worked for her father, had defied him, and was now the subject of Alex Covington's wrath.
Amidst devastating loss, betrayal, and her father's destructive pursuit of Jesse, Lauren finds the trust and love she had always longed for.
Digger's Bones Digger's Bones by Paul Mansfield Keefe
Archaeologist Angie Cooper's colleague and friend, Tarek "Digger" Rashid, is murdered in front of her. But not before giving her cryptic photographic clues to a hidden tomb and the two thousand year old bones within. Angie must battle a ruthless hitman, hired by a U.S. senator with presidential aspirations, and a sociopathic religious zealot while overcoming severe acrophobia. Caught in a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, she works to unravel the secret of Digger's bones. Bones that affect the lives of all they touch.
Digger’s Bones is an action packed thriller that takes you from the churches and burial tombs of ancient Jerusalem to the harrowing cliffs of Bandelier National Monument and the glacier capped Zugspitze in Germany. Angie Cooper, her career in shambles, finds herself on the run from mercenaries, the Holy See, the FBI, and Interpol while trying to solve one of archaeology’s great mysteries. Yet some things are better left in the past.
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba
Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer for a Massachusetts newspaper, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling "25 Years Ago Today" items from the microfilm. She grows fascinated with the case of a young cocktail waitress who was bludgeoned to death and dumped in the woods. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology. Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana's suspicious nephew, Eric Soares - until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. Kris soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday's headline is tomorrow's danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris's present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.
My Schizophrenic Life: The Road to Recovery from Mental Illness My Schizophrenic Life by Sandra Yuen MacKay
Vancouver artist Sandra Yuen MacKay has an abnormality of the brain - a disease called schizophrenia. As she says, "my life is schizophrenic because I have schizophrenia. It will always be there". Much of her life has been a struggle to cope with the symptoms of her disease and the side effects of the medications required to keep those symptoms in check.
Early in her life, Sandra started to exhibit the typical symptoms of this disease which came as a surprise to her unsuspecting family. Her book chronicles her struggles, hospitalizations, encounters with professionals, return to school, eventual marriage, and success as an artist, writer and advocate.
Fade Fade by Darren Smith
"Perhaps the best way to describe just how much this book caught my imagination is to reveal that even almost a year after reading it, there are still scenes that I remember vividly, quotations that I can recall and to confess that I will never think of doughnuts with sprinkles in the same way again."
"Brilliantly written love story captures your thoughts and emotions throughout the whole reading and long after it. The lucid and detailed narration provides multi layered complexity of each character's personality, startling revelations, creative turns of the plot."
"Dramatic and touching, the author does a brilliant job of capturing the reader's attention and reeling them into the depths of his story telling."
What Remains What Remains, by Rosemary Poole Carter
WHAT REMAINS is set on a rundown plantation shortly after the Civil War. In the shadow of live oaks and Spanish moss, Isabelle Ross, who has lost her fiancé to the war, joins forces with journalist Paul Delahoussaye to untangle a web of secrets, lies, and murder.
Road Markers Road Markers by Jason C McIntyre
Dean is a forty-something sales rep for a company that ropes small, mostly blue-collar firms into long term cellphone plans. Heading home from a bad meeting, he begins to see evidence that he can will things to happen just by thinking about them. But will this tantalizing realization lead him to cross the line for good?
* * *
Most of these writers have written more books, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their work.
Give them a try.
Remember, if you like a book, remember to review it, either here on Goodreads, or on Amazon and other bookseller websites. Authors are always grateful for honest reviews. It doesn't have to be anything detailed, just a couple of lines to say why you liked it would be wonderful.
Happy reading!
Introducing author, Darcia Helle, and an international giveaway!
Today, I'm thrilled to be introducing you to an exceptionally talented author, Darcia Helle.
I was fortunate to meet Darcia via social networking sometime last year. She is the brains behind BestsellerBound, a message board where independent authors can chat with readers. Darcia had the idea for BestsellerBound.com last year and approached me in the summer asking if I would like to join her and Stacy Juba, as a moderator/resident author on the message board. I didn't really know Darcia back then, but now we have become great friends. She is one of the most supportive and creative writers I have had the pleasure of meeting in the past couple of years.
BestsellerBound has become a respected, supportive, and innovative site, where independent authors meet and chat with other authors, share ideas, help each other out, and answer readers' questions.
We have Darcia to thank for bringing that message board to life.
Darcia writes murder/mystery/crime/suspense fiction. I have become a fan of her writing, and have read
The First Kill,The Cutting Edge,and Enemies and Playmates. I'm looking forward to reading all her books.
As well as answering my interview questions, Darcia is also giving away ebooks to two lucky winners. If you're a winner, you'll be able to choose which one of her books you win!! To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment here. Good luck!
Here are Darcia's answers to my interview questions:
Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
Not that I remember. I always loved words and also have an overactive imagination. Writing is the perfect outlet for my chronic daydreams.
When did you first discover your love of writing?
Again, I don't remember a specific point in time. I was a strange child. I loved to play school. Each week, my mother would let me pick out one workbook type thing. I don't even know if they sell them, anymore. They were in the magazine section of the store. They were marked by grade level and had an assortment of topics. Phonics was my favorite.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
Network with other indie authors. I've learned so much by doing that. Be open to constructive criticism. Remember that you cannot possibly please everyone with your writing. Some will love it but others are bound to hate it. And avoid subsidy publishing. Those companies charge a lot of money for nothing.
As well as writing books you have a blog where you interview authors, and you also created BestsellerBound.com, I also know you read a lot of books. How do you fit it all in?
I don't sleep and I watch very little TV! It helps that I have more free time available to me than a lot of people. I have chronic health problems that keep me pretty much housebound. My sons are both grown up. (Legally, at any rate!) And my husband works crazy hours. I do have three dogs and two cats that are a constant source of distraction. If I could teach them how to do laundry and clean, I'd have even more time for writing!
I have noticed that you seem to be a very fast reader. On average how long does it take you to read a book?
I don't think I read particularly fast. I just spend a lot of hours doing it! I generally read two to three books a week.
I recently read your short story, The First Kill, which features Michael Sykora who I understand is a character from a series of books written by you. It definitely made me want to read the series. Which books are in the Michael Sykora series, and can they be read as individual books or do they have to be read in any particular order?
So far I have two books in that series. I intend to write more but keep getting sidetracked with new characters demanding their stories be told. The first book in the series is
No Justice and the second is Beyond Salvation: A Michael Sykora Novel. Ideally, they would be read in that order. However, I intentionally wrote them so that they could each be read as stand-alone novels. I hope I succeeded! :)
If someone wanted to read your books, which would you recommend they read first, and why?
Wow, that is such a difficult question. I think the answer depends largely on the reader's preference. Enemies and Playmates is strong romantic suspense. Hit List has a degree of romance but the strongest element is straight mystery/suspense. This one has the most twists of any of my books. No Justice and Beyond Salvation are perfect for readers who like series fiction and don't mind language and violence. These two books explore human nature at its best and its worst. Miami Snow is all sex, drugs and murder. It's more drama sprinkled with suspense. And Cutting Edge sits by itself. This is the only book I've written in first person. It's main element is dark humor, though there is a certain amount of mystery and suspense.
I read and enjoyed Enemies and Playmates, your first novel. That book deals with the subject of domestic violence and the villain Alex Covington is probably one of the most evil characters I’ve ever met in literature. What inspired you to write that story?
First, thank you for that! It's a huge compliment that you consider Alex Covington such a memorable villain. While I wasn't conscious of it at the time, I think a large part of the inspiration for that story was my own life. I was going through a tumultuous period. Writing that book was my way of making sense of it all. The book is definitely not autobiographical in any sense, though there are distinct parallels.
I know that as well as being a writer, you are also a hairdresser. Your latest novel, The Cutting Edge is all about a hairdresser who fantasises about killing her clients. I’m currently reading that and enjoying the dark humour. Did you ever fantasise about killing any clients? And were any of the scenes in the book based on real experiences in your salon?
I no longer do hair for a living. I don't think I'd have gotten away with writing The Cutting Edge if I'd still been working as a stylist. My clients would have fled!
I did not ever fantasize about actual murder, though I did fantasize about shaving their heads bald or telling them what I was really thinking when they waltzed in twenty minutes late. This book is the closest thing to my reality that I've ever written. The fictional salon is based on the salon I worked in (owned by my mother) and set in the same very real small town that I lived and worked in. The salon scenes - the clients and conversations - are almost all based on actual real life clients from that salon. My disclaimer is that I changed the names and minor details to protect the innocent and hide the guilty. One reviewer stated that I had invented the worst imaginable clientele a stylist could ever have. This was said as if what I'd done bordered on ridiculous. I laughed and laughed. Truly, I could not have made these people up. They were every bit as real as you and I.
We did not ever have a serial killer roaming our small town. At least not that I'm aware! That part is entirely fictional.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
I have many favorites, you among them!
(Thank you :))
My favorite authors are those who step out of the way of the story being told. They are the authors who make me care what happens to the characters, no matter what the plot or genre might be. Lately, these authors are almost all indie. I've been disappointed with the cookie cutter mold of mainstream fiction.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
I own more than 600 print books and another 200 or 300 ebooks. (I have a serious book addiction!) I have no time to read all the books on my to-read list, much less read a book more than once. With fiction, I don't typically keep a book once I've read it. I do keep signed copies or those written by indie authors I know. (Your books are among my keepers!)
(Thanks! That's great to know :))
But I have yet to re-read any of those. I do keep all my nonfiction. I've reread passages of those for reference, though I have not reread an entire book.
What was the last book you read?
I just finished Run by Blake Crouch. This was one of the best thrillers I've ever read.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
I'm about to start Breathing into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick.
What do you think of ebooks?
For the reading experience, I will always prefer print books. I love the feel and the look of print. But I like the convenience and the low cost of ebooks. And my ereaders are like grown up toys, which is also fun.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
Reviews are more important than I ever realized before publishing my first book. As indie authors, we rely on word of mouth and reviews to drive sales. Readers want to get an idea of what the book is like before spending their money on an unknown author. The number of reviews, along with the quality, helps nudge each book up on the list on searches. Those reviews also help our books get listed on various Amazon pages as suggested reads. The reviews do not have to be long or overly descriptive. In fact, many readers don't want that. A quick paragraph highlighting what you loved (or hated) is all that's necessary.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
So far, I've purchased rights to various photos through istockphoto. After I finish the first major edit of a book, I like to let it sit and settle for awhile before going back to begin minor editing. (Which I find tedious!) Searching through photos for just the right one to express the book's content is a great diversion. I plug myself into my iPod and ignore all things writing related for a little while.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on my first paranormal suspense. There are no vampires, zombies or witches. Instead, there is one clumsy spirit named Max who is intent on finding his murderer.
Where can people buy your books?
My books are available in both print and Kindle format on Amazon.
My Amazon Author's Page for the U.S. is: Darcia Helle on Amazon.com
In the U.K.: Darcia Helle on Amazon.co.uk
In Canada: Darcia Helle on Amazon.ca
All ebook formats are available on Smashwords: Darcia Helle: Smashwords
I won't flood you with links but they're also available on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Sony's ebookstore and Apple's iPad store.
Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
I have two URLs for my website. They both go to the same place:
Darcia Helle
Quiet Fury Books
My blog is: A Word Please
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?
A huge thank you to all who take the time to read my books! With the thousands of new books published each day, I'm still astounded that people find and choose to read mine.
Thank you, Darcia
Remember, if you want to win one of Darcia's books, all you have to do is leave a comment here. The contest will run until 13th March 2011, and the winners will then be chosen.
I was fortunate to meet Darcia via social networking sometime last year. She is the brains behind BestsellerBound, a message board where independent authors can chat with readers. Darcia had the idea for BestsellerBound.com last year and approached me in the summer asking if I would like to join her and Stacy Juba, as a moderator/resident author on the message board. I didn't really know Darcia back then, but now we have become great friends. She is one of the most supportive and creative writers I have had the pleasure of meeting in the past couple of years.
BestsellerBound has become a respected, supportive, and innovative site, where independent authors meet and chat with other authors, share ideas, help each other out, and answer readers' questions.
We have Darcia to thank for bringing that message board to life.
Darcia writes murder/mystery/crime/suspense fiction. I have become a fan of her writing, and have read
The First Kill,The Cutting Edge,and Enemies and Playmates. I'm looking forward to reading all her books.
As well as answering my interview questions, Darcia is also giving away ebooks to two lucky winners. If you're a winner, you'll be able to choose which one of her books you win!! To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment here. Good luck!
Here are Darcia's answers to my interview questions:
Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?
Not that I remember. I always loved words and also have an overactive imagination. Writing is the perfect outlet for my chronic daydreams.
When did you first discover your love of writing?
Again, I don't remember a specific point in time. I was a strange child. I loved to play school. Each week, my mother would let me pick out one workbook type thing. I don't even know if they sell them, anymore. They were in the magazine section of the store. They were marked by grade level and had an assortment of topics. Phonics was my favorite.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?
Network with other indie authors. I've learned so much by doing that. Be open to constructive criticism. Remember that you cannot possibly please everyone with your writing. Some will love it but others are bound to hate it. And avoid subsidy publishing. Those companies charge a lot of money for nothing.
As well as writing books you have a blog where you interview authors, and you also created BestsellerBound.com, I also know you read a lot of books. How do you fit it all in?
I don't sleep and I watch very little TV! It helps that I have more free time available to me than a lot of people. I have chronic health problems that keep me pretty much housebound. My sons are both grown up. (Legally, at any rate!) And my husband works crazy hours. I do have three dogs and two cats that are a constant source of distraction. If I could teach them how to do laundry and clean, I'd have even more time for writing!
I have noticed that you seem to be a very fast reader. On average how long does it take you to read a book?
I don't think I read particularly fast. I just spend a lot of hours doing it! I generally read two to three books a week.
I recently read your short story, The First Kill, which features Michael Sykora who I understand is a character from a series of books written by you. It definitely made me want to read the series. Which books are in the Michael Sykora series, and can they be read as individual books or do they have to be read in any particular order?
So far I have two books in that series. I intend to write more but keep getting sidetracked with new characters demanding their stories be told. The first book in the series is
No Justice and the second is Beyond Salvation: A Michael Sykora Novel. Ideally, they would be read in that order. However, I intentionally wrote them so that they could each be read as stand-alone novels. I hope I succeeded! :)
If someone wanted to read your books, which would you recommend they read first, and why?
Wow, that is such a difficult question. I think the answer depends largely on the reader's preference. Enemies and Playmates is strong romantic suspense. Hit List has a degree of romance but the strongest element is straight mystery/suspense. This one has the most twists of any of my books. No Justice and Beyond Salvation are perfect for readers who like series fiction and don't mind language and violence. These two books explore human nature at its best and its worst. Miami Snow is all sex, drugs and murder. It's more drama sprinkled with suspense. And Cutting Edge sits by itself. This is the only book I've written in first person. It's main element is dark humor, though there is a certain amount of mystery and suspense.
I read and enjoyed Enemies and Playmates, your first novel. That book deals with the subject of domestic violence and the villain Alex Covington is probably one of the most evil characters I’ve ever met in literature. What inspired you to write that story?
First, thank you for that! It's a huge compliment that you consider Alex Covington such a memorable villain. While I wasn't conscious of it at the time, I think a large part of the inspiration for that story was my own life. I was going through a tumultuous period. Writing that book was my way of making sense of it all. The book is definitely not autobiographical in any sense, though there are distinct parallels.
I know that as well as being a writer, you are also a hairdresser. Your latest novel, The Cutting Edge is all about a hairdresser who fantasises about killing her clients. I’m currently reading that and enjoying the dark humour. Did you ever fantasise about killing any clients? And were any of the scenes in the book based on real experiences in your salon?
I no longer do hair for a living. I don't think I'd have gotten away with writing The Cutting Edge if I'd still been working as a stylist. My clients would have fled!
I did not ever fantasize about actual murder, though I did fantasize about shaving their heads bald or telling them what I was really thinking when they waltzed in twenty minutes late. This book is the closest thing to my reality that I've ever written. The fictional salon is based on the salon I worked in (owned by my mother) and set in the same very real small town that I lived and worked in. The salon scenes - the clients and conversations - are almost all based on actual real life clients from that salon. My disclaimer is that I changed the names and minor details to protect the innocent and hide the guilty. One reviewer stated that I had invented the worst imaginable clientele a stylist could ever have. This was said as if what I'd done bordered on ridiculous. I laughed and laughed. Truly, I could not have made these people up. They were every bit as real as you and I.
We did not ever have a serial killer roaming our small town. At least not that I'm aware! That part is entirely fictional.
Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?
I have many favorites, you among them!
(Thank you :))
My favorite authors are those who step out of the way of the story being told. They are the authors who make me care what happens to the characters, no matter what the plot or genre might be. Lately, these authors are almost all indie. I've been disappointed with the cookie cutter mold of mainstream fiction.
Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?
I own more than 600 print books and another 200 or 300 ebooks. (I have a serious book addiction!) I have no time to read all the books on my to-read list, much less read a book more than once. With fiction, I don't typically keep a book once I've read it. I do keep signed copies or those written by indie authors I know. (Your books are among my keepers!)
(Thanks! That's great to know :))
But I have yet to re-read any of those. I do keep all my nonfiction. I've reread passages of those for reference, though I have not reread an entire book.
What was the last book you read?
I just finished Run by Blake Crouch. This was one of the best thrillers I've ever read.
Are you reading a book at the moment?
I'm about to start Breathing into Stone by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick.
What do you think of ebooks?
For the reading experience, I will always prefer print books. I love the feel and the look of print. But I like the convenience and the low cost of ebooks. And my ereaders are like grown up toys, which is also fun.
How important are reviews for you as a writer?
Reviews are more important than I ever realized before publishing my first book. As indie authors, we rely on word of mouth and reviews to drive sales. Readers want to get an idea of what the book is like before spending their money on an unknown author. The number of reviews, along with the quality, helps nudge each book up on the list on searches. Those reviews also help our books get listed on various Amazon pages as suggested reads. The reviews do not have to be long or overly descriptive. In fact, many readers don't want that. A quick paragraph highlighting what you loved (or hated) is all that's necessary.
How do you go about choosing a cover for your books?
So far, I've purchased rights to various photos through istockphoto. After I finish the first major edit of a book, I like to let it sit and settle for awhile before going back to begin minor editing. (Which I find tedious!) Searching through photos for just the right one to express the book's content is a great diversion. I plug myself into my iPod and ignore all things writing related for a little while.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on my first paranormal suspense. There are no vampires, zombies or witches. Instead, there is one clumsy spirit named Max who is intent on finding his murderer.
Where can people buy your books?
My books are available in both print and Kindle format on Amazon.
My Amazon Author's Page for the U.S. is: Darcia Helle on Amazon.com
In the U.K.: Darcia Helle on Amazon.co.uk
In Canada: Darcia Helle on Amazon.ca
All ebook formats are available on Smashwords: Darcia Helle: Smashwords
I won't flood you with links but they're also available on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Sony's ebookstore and Apple's iPad store.
Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?
I have two URLs for my website. They both go to the same place:
Darcia Helle
Quiet Fury Books
My blog is: A Word Please
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?
A huge thank you to all who take the time to read my books! With the thousands of new books published each day, I'm still astounded that people find and choose to read mine.
Thank you, Darcia
Remember, if you want to win one of Darcia's books, all you have to do is leave a comment here. The contest will run until 13th March 2011, and the winners will then be chosen.
Get your copy of Haunted FREE this weekend! Check out some other free books too!
My latest novel Haunted, will be free for Kindle this weekend, from the 1st - 3rd December 2012 (3 days).
If you like dark fiction, you should try this one.
Below are the links you'll need to download your copy, and please tell all your friends about it.
(Remember, you don't have to own a Kindle to read Kindle books; you can download free apps from Amazon so you can read them on you iPad, smartphone, PC or Mac.)
Amazon.com (includes India) http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-ebook/d...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-ebook...
Amazon France: http://www.amazon.fr/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Germany: http://www.amazon.de/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Italy: http://www.amazon.it/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Spain: http://www.amazon.es/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Haunted-ebook...
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There are also other FREE books available this weekend (for the Amazon books, I'm only giving the Amazon.com links below, but all the books are available on the worldwide Amazon sites, just search for the author or title):
The fabulous fantasy novel, The Guardian's Apprentice by J. Michael Radcliffe, is FREE for Kindle on the 1st & 2nd December 2012!
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Appre...
Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle is always FREE for Kindle, so if you haven't got your copy of this wonderful suspense novel, grab it now :)
http://www.amazon.com/Enemies-and-Pla...
Add amazon links
A book I haven't read yet, but am looking forward to reading, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide by Geoffrey David West, is available free on Smashwords in any e-book format you choose. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/... Use Coupon Code: LL59Y at the checkout to get you free copy (free until 4th December 2012).
Nomabduce by Gareth Lewis, is a free short story available on Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Mannequin: A Short Story by Susan Helene Gottfried, is free on Smashwords at the moment.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Gnomes of Coyul by Ben Ditmars is free on 1st December 2012
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Gnomes-Coyul-Cr...
Burden of Sisyphus by Jon Messenger will be free for Kindle on 30th November - 1st December 2012 (2 days)
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Burden-Sisyphus...
Children of Destruction by Al Philipson, post-apocalyptic SciFi eBook, will be free Friday-Sun (11/30-12/2)
http://www.amazon.com/Children-of-Des...
If you like dark fiction, you should try this one.
Below are the links you'll need to download your copy, and please tell all your friends about it.
(Remember, you don't have to own a Kindle to read Kindle books; you can download free apps from Amazon so you can read them on you iPad, smartphone, PC or Mac.)
Amazon.com (includes India) http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-ebook/d...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-ebook...
Amazon France: http://www.amazon.fr/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Germany: http://www.amazon.de/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Italy: http://www.amazon.it/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Spain: http://www.amazon.es/Haunted-ebook/dp...
Amazon Japan: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Haunted-ebook...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are also other FREE books available this weekend (for the Amazon books, I'm only giving the Amazon.com links below, but all the books are available on the worldwide Amazon sites, just search for the author or title):
The fabulous fantasy novel, The Guardian's Apprentice by J. Michael Radcliffe, is FREE for Kindle on the 1st & 2nd December 2012!
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Appre...
Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle is always FREE for Kindle, so if you haven't got your copy of this wonderful suspense novel, grab it now :)
http://www.amazon.com/Enemies-and-Pla...
Add amazon links
A book I haven't read yet, but am looking forward to reading, Rock 'n' Roll Suicide by Geoffrey David West, is available free on Smashwords in any e-book format you choose. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/... Use Coupon Code: LL59Y at the checkout to get you free copy (free until 4th December 2012).
Nomabduce by Gareth Lewis, is a free short story available on Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Mannequin: A Short Story by Susan Helene Gottfried, is free on Smashwords at the moment.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
Gnomes of Coyul by Ben Ditmars is free on 1st December 2012
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Gnomes-Coyul-Cr...
Burden of Sisyphus by Jon Messenger will be free for Kindle on 30th November - 1st December 2012 (2 days)
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Burden-Sisyphus...
Children of Destruction by Al Philipson, post-apocalyptic SciFi eBook, will be free Friday-Sun (11/30-12/2)
http://www.amazon.com/Children-of-Des...
