Ilene B. Benator's Blog
June 8, 2016
Kirkus Review - "Laudable"
I am proud to announce my Kirkus Review. It is excellent, putting Schizo as "Recommended." Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
"The story smoothly alternates between present day and past, generating suspense..."
"Characters are engaging all around, with Jake a standout."
"A laudable mystery that starts tangled and slowly unravels—with not one but two twists at the end."
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
"The story smoothly alternates between present day and past, generating suspense..."
"Characters are engaging all around, with Jake a standout."
"A laudable mystery that starts tangled and slowly unravels—with not one but two twists at the end."
May 17, 2016
New Blog
Please follow me on my new blog on my new website www.TheSchizoSeries.com
Here is a new post "Off to BEA":
http://www.theschizoseries.com/blog/2...
Off to BEA
May 11, 2016
by Ilene Benator
What is BEA? For anyone not in the publishing industry, BEA stands for Book Expo America, and it is THE place to check out whatever is new in books. I am going there to promote my new book Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight.
You can find out more by clicking around my website, but in short, it is about a med student who is on his psychiatry rotation and encounters a schizophrenic patient whose bizarre ramblings about a plot to control the population might actually be real, and his pursuit of the truth puts him in grave peril.
I had such grand plans to explore as much of the conference center as possible, talk to some people, sign some books, and maybe pick up some cool books of other authors as well. And then, life happens...
In case you thought my bio listing "soccer mom" was cliche, I played in the parents vs kids game. For some background info -- I'm a clutz who loves to play sports. I am surprisingly good at many different sports, but have managed many injuries in the process. As a kid, I played soccer, but I just could not keep my feet. My head knows where to go, but my feet get tangled...
Click here to continue: http://www.theschizoseries.com/blog/2...
Here is a new post "Off to BEA":
http://www.theschizoseries.com/blog/2...
Off to BEA
May 11, 2016
by Ilene Benator
What is BEA? For anyone not in the publishing industry, BEA stands for Book Expo America, and it is THE place to check out whatever is new in books. I am going there to promote my new book Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight.
You can find out more by clicking around my website, but in short, it is about a med student who is on his psychiatry rotation and encounters a schizophrenic patient whose bizarre ramblings about a plot to control the population might actually be real, and his pursuit of the truth puts him in grave peril.
I had such grand plans to explore as much of the conference center as possible, talk to some people, sign some books, and maybe pick up some cool books of other authors as well. And then, life happens...
In case you thought my bio listing "soccer mom" was cliche, I played in the parents vs kids game. For some background info -- I'm a clutz who loves to play sports. I am surprisingly good at many different sports, but have managed many injuries in the process. As a kid, I played soccer, but I just could not keep my feet. My head knows where to go, but my feet get tangled...
Click here to continue: http://www.theschizoseries.com/blog/2...
April 29, 2016
Another Amazing Review-Midwest Book Review
I am very honored to have received such an amazing review from Midwest Book Review comparing my work to One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: Highly recommended not just for thriller readers; but any who wanted One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to take the next step.
Psychology patients often harbor delusions … but what if they aren't delusions, and are rooted in reality? Wouldn't a psychiatric ward be a good place to 'stash' someone who has gotten too close to the truth about a real organized plot to take over the world? And what if you were a doctor who stumbled on this truth, only to face the consequences of a dangerous discovery?
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight revolves around medical student Dan, who has had years to think about the consequences of his choices when he faced a delusional patient during his second year of medical school - and began to believe her.
Therein lay the trap; for as Dan, obsessed about his professional progress, finds his dreams of the future moving in another direction, so he finds that embarking on that course spirals into a situation out of control in contrast to his prior, measured plans for success as a future surgeon.
Finding himself incarcerated on his own psych ward as a result of too much snooping and a growing belief system that doesn't conform to the world he perceives, Dan discovers some unlikely allies in the form of fellow psych patients (shades of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!) who band together to thwart a conspiracy by a small band of people to take over the world.
Unlike Cuckoo, however, Schizo combines an investigative mystery with a startling social dilemma, placing the patients and their med student leader in the dubious position of being the most powerful people on the planet - and the world's only hope for freedom. (Delightfully ironic: the world's only hope coming from most locked up and feared people in society, the insane.)
Fans of medical thrillers and investigative pieces who appreciate a healthy degree of psychological inspection in their reading will findSchizo a compelling read written on the level of Robin Cook, packed with satisfying twists and solid attention to the details of interactions between psychiatrist and mental illness.
At the end of the tale, one wonders about the fine line between sanity and insanity. The process of crossing that boundary succeeds in crafting ethical dilemmas and impossible situations that inject more than a degree of thought-provoking insights into a realistic action mix that ultimately examines the dilemma of mental illness in America. Highly recommended not just for thriller readers; but any who wanted One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to take the next step.
--Diane Donovan, Editor California Bookwatch
April 23, 2016
New Book Trailer
I have a new Book Trailer out, and I am excited to share it with you on Goodreads! I created a theoretical scene to simulate the beginning of the book, where my main character Dan is trapped in a psych ward. What you are seeing is another patient, and the voice over of Dan. It emulates the first person point of view that is present in the book.
https://youtu.be/nrM8xCaaMDE
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
https://youtu.be/nrM8xCaaMDE
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
March 24, 2016
Another 5 Star Review!
(Spoilers edited out)
Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite
A schizophrenic patient, Catherine, has visions of patients in terrible danger in Chicago hospitals, visions that could be dismissed out of hand as delusions, except that every detail checks out...Ilene B. Benator’s Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight is absorbingly riveting, a tale that is as seductive as it is terrifying.
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight is one of those books that will become the author’s signature in crime fiction and thrillers. The writing is powerful and crisp, and the author’s voice comes across with undeniable authority, cutting like a scalpel. The descriptions are vivid and laced with forensic precision, creating a world for readers to explore. Dan Greenberg, Jake, and Sutton are compelling and utterly convincing characters that will take readers into a one-of-a-kind adventure. You won’t finish this book without stopping at times to look at your back as though some villain was watching, waiting to jump on you. And although you’ll cringe sometimes, you’ll love the drama even more. Benator’s unique style will be welcomed by fans of thrillers who are looking for a fresh element in the genre. Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite
A schizophrenic patient, Catherine, has visions of patients in terrible danger in Chicago hospitals, visions that could be dismissed out of hand as delusions, except that every detail checks out...Ilene B. Benator’s Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight is absorbingly riveting, a tale that is as seductive as it is terrifying.
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight is one of those books that will become the author’s signature in crime fiction and thrillers. The writing is powerful and crisp, and the author’s voice comes across with undeniable authority, cutting like a scalpel. The descriptions are vivid and laced with forensic precision, creating a world for readers to explore. Dan Greenberg, Jake, and Sutton are compelling and utterly convincing characters that will take readers into a one-of-a-kind adventure. You won’t finish this book without stopping at times to look at your back as though some villain was watching, waiting to jump on you. And although you’ll cringe sometimes, you’ll love the drama even more. Benator’s unique style will be welcomed by fans of thrillers who are looking for a fresh element in the genre. Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
March 6, 2016
5 Star Review!
My first completely independent review from Readers' Favorite is a 5 star review! See below for the non spoiler excerpt (the first paragraph has too many spoilers for me to publish in its entirety).
Reviewed By Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers’ Favorite
Ilene B. Benator takes her medical experience and plunges into the world of conspiracy in Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight. From the very first page, the reader is immediately drawn into narrative. The time setting shifts frequently from past to present as the story unfolds. Hold on, because this high speed action keeps you on the edge of your seat. Written in first person, the plot is told from the protagonist’s point of view. The reader is allowed inside his head, experiencing his tumultuous thoughts and emotions. You sense the struggle of the effects of psychotic medications and the thrill of being on the run. Benator’s hero is a stable, smart, caring young man who is thrust into an unforeseen life that challenges him to the core of his existence. The sidekick seems harmless, but is he really? How does he know what he knows? Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight keeps you on your toes as the plot peaks. It continues to satisfy the longing of your soul for justice for the hero. And then wows you with its surprising ending. Baited and hooked, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Reviewed By Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers’ Favorite
Ilene B. Benator takes her medical experience and plunges into the world of conspiracy in Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight. From the very first page, the reader is immediately drawn into narrative. The time setting shifts frequently from past to present as the story unfolds. Hold on, because this high speed action keeps you on the edge of your seat. Written in first person, the plot is told from the protagonist’s point of view. The reader is allowed inside his head, experiencing his tumultuous thoughts and emotions. You sense the struggle of the effects of psychotic medications and the thrill of being on the run. Benator’s hero is a stable, smart, caring young man who is thrust into an unforeseen life that challenges him to the core of his existence. The sidekick seems harmless, but is he really? How does he know what he knows? Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight keeps you on your toes as the plot peaks. It continues to satisfy the longing of your soul for justice for the hero. And then wows you with its surprising ending. Baited and hooked, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 27, 2016
The Last Chance for Romance
Some years ago, I got a chance to listen to Michael Palmer speak. He had a lot of great advice. Someone asked him what he least enjoyed about being an author. One of his answers echoed what I heard from other famous authors: going to print.
On the one hand, going to print is a great moment. When you are DONE. Really DONE. Soon you will get to hold your work in your hand.
However, the downside of this is that you now cannot change anything. And no matter how many times you edit, and all your editors review it, you will have errors. This is the horror of every author--someone somewhere will find something wrong.
If you are fortunate, you will have a second or multiple printings, where you can attempt to fix what was found. But that lack of an ability to pull up your word document and just wipe away something is frustrating and scary.
My editor said she did a final read, and now it is time for "The Last Chance for Romance." It is a much nicer way of wording the fact that this is it for me. The last time I can tweak it, beyond future editions. A book that you write is like a love. So I understand the phrasing.
I feel good about what I've written Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight. I had amazing editors help find those little things you need to make it a first class work. And I'm satisfied with the product I have created. But I know that someday I will get an email informing me of the thing that I've missed. Which is fine with me. I'll just have to fix it in the next edition ;)
On the one hand, going to print is a great moment. When you are DONE. Really DONE. Soon you will get to hold your work in your hand.
However, the downside of this is that you now cannot change anything. And no matter how many times you edit, and all your editors review it, you will have errors. This is the horror of every author--someone somewhere will find something wrong.
If you are fortunate, you will have a second or multiple printings, where you can attempt to fix what was found. But that lack of an ability to pull up your word document and just wipe away something is frustrating and scary.
My editor said she did a final read, and now it is time for "The Last Chance for Romance." It is a much nicer way of wording the fact that this is it for me. The last time I can tweak it, beyond future editions. A book that you write is like a love. So I understand the phrasing.
I feel good about what I've written Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight. I had amazing editors help find those little things you need to make it a first class work. And I'm satisfied with the product I have created. But I know that someday I will get an email informing me of the thing that I've missed. Which is fine with me. I'll just have to fix it in the next edition ;)
February 3, 2016
Why bother getting a publisher?
There are a lot of talented authors who decide to self publish for many reasons. Some want all the profits for themselves. Some are not interested in playing the painful games required to get an agent and/or publisher. Some just want the book to support their business ventures/speaking engagements and self-publishing is quicker and lucrative.
Publishers do more than just print a book. Some are better at marketing than others, and frankly, being a lower rung author at a large house can sometimes leave you wanting for more attention. But merely by accepting a book for publication, a press has put their name behind your product and made it eligible for lines of distribution that self-publishing simply cannot do.
I will talk more of distribution later, but essentially it is how your book gets put out there. Where have you seen a book outside of amazon? How it got there is distribution. And publishers have relationships that get your book noticed.
There is also the quality issue. I had a private editor work with me through the writing process. I had talented people read it for me for further edits. And yet, once the publisher's editors got their hands on it, it was riddled with errors. When a book is professionally published, the quality improves. And so, it is worth more than the .99 or 2.99 price tag of straight to kindle self-published books.
This is not a criticism of self-pub books. Many are of high quality, as Goodreads reviews have shown. However, as a reader, a professionally published book means it is has been selected through a rigorous process, and is much more polished. I would not ignore the self-pubs but as in all things worth having, you get what you pay for.
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
Publishers do more than just print a book. Some are better at marketing than others, and frankly, being a lower rung author at a large house can sometimes leave you wanting for more attention. But merely by accepting a book for publication, a press has put their name behind your product and made it eligible for lines of distribution that self-publishing simply cannot do.
I will talk more of distribution later, but essentially it is how your book gets put out there. Where have you seen a book outside of amazon? How it got there is distribution. And publishers have relationships that get your book noticed.
There is also the quality issue. I had a private editor work with me through the writing process. I had talented people read it for me for further edits. And yet, once the publisher's editors got their hands on it, it was riddled with errors. When a book is professionally published, the quality improves. And so, it is worth more than the .99 or 2.99 price tag of straight to kindle self-published books.
This is not a criticism of self-pub books. Many are of high quality, as Goodreads reviews have shown. However, as a reader, a professionally published book means it is has been selected through a rigorous process, and is much more polished. I would not ignore the self-pubs but as in all things worth having, you get what you pay for.
Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
January 25, 2016
Welcome to my Goodreads Blog
Ilene B. Benator
First, a brief intro.
I am an Emergency Physician. And I write. I have always been writing. I recall in 2nd grade and for a few years, instead of buying a card for my grandmother, I wrote my own--creating my own poems for the inside. I wish she saved them!
I wrote my first book in 5th grade. I remember the title, "The Mystery of the Diamond Ornament." In retrospect, I would have retitled it, since I kinda gave away everything in the title. I assure you, with my current book Schizo, I have not made that mistake.
I recently submitted my corrections for my first of three rounds of edits, I am mostly working on getting set up on various sites using my new book Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight .
The edits reminded me of something author (the late) Michael Palmer told me at a writing conference: "Every author is nothing without their editor. If I published what I originally wrote without editing, it would be awful." He then showed us a before and after, which was incredible to see.
My editor's eye was amazing. I had a private editor help me as I was crafting the book, and I thought it was pretty clean. But there is so much that slips through. Little things, but they are everywhere. I imagine the second round of edits will go faster, but somehow, I am sure, they will find something to fix. Which is great.
Feel free to ask questions here and on twitter @ibbenator until my website is up and running. It will be www.ilenebbenator.com when my awesome webdesigner finishes. Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
First, a brief intro.
I am an Emergency Physician. And I write. I have always been writing. I recall in 2nd grade and for a few years, instead of buying a card for my grandmother, I wrote my own--creating my own poems for the inside. I wish she saved them!
I wrote my first book in 5th grade. I remember the title, "The Mystery of the Diamond Ornament." In retrospect, I would have retitled it, since I kinda gave away everything in the title. I assure you, with my current book Schizo, I have not made that mistake.
I recently submitted my corrections for my first of three rounds of edits, I am mostly working on getting set up on various sites using my new book Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight .
The edits reminded me of something author (the late) Michael Palmer told me at a writing conference: "Every author is nothing without their editor. If I published what I originally wrote without editing, it would be awful." He then showed us a before and after, which was incredible to see.
My editor's eye was amazing. I had a private editor help me as I was crafting the book, and I thought it was pretty clean. But there is so much that slips through. Little things, but they are everywhere. I imagine the second round of edits will go faster, but somehow, I am sure, they will find something to fix. Which is great.
Feel free to ask questions here and on twitter @ibbenator until my website is up and running. It will be www.ilenebbenator.com when my awesome webdesigner finishes. Schizo: Hidden in Plain Sight
