R.A. Evans's Blog, page 10

Miles to go before I sleep…

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

 

 

…unearth it soon!

Author Ania Ahlborn answers 7 Deadly Questions about her dark thriller SEED

 

1. In your debut novel SEED, you follow the plight of Jack Winter as he tries to keep one step ahead of a darkness that has haunted him since his childhood. When this unseen entity trains its eye upon his daughter, Winter finds himself fighting for her very life…and soul. Talk to me about your inspiration for this devilish tale.

Hi R.A. First off, thanks for having me. I've been excited to appear on your site for quite some time.

As far as inspiration goes, my mother puts it best when she says that I 'like the weird things.' What she doesn't know is that she had a hand in turning me into the spooky girl that I am today. I've always been drawn to horror. When I was a kid, my cousin and I would watch any scary movie we could get our hands on. A couple I remember specifically are Troll and Dolls—Dolls pretty much scarred me for life. Imagine my surprise when my mom started buying me porcelain dolls as Christmas presents.

But watching The Exorcist in a dark and empty house is what really shaped me as a writer. I was maybe nine or ten, my parents had gone to a New Years Eve party, and my cousin and I were left to fend for ourselves. We decided to 'fend' by watching a movie that still scares me to this day. Ever since then, I've been drawn to stories of demonic possession. Because I'm a fan of these types of stories, I naturally gravitate toward them in what I read and watch, and let me tell you, I'm almost always left disappointed. There's something about demonic possession that can go from scary to hilarious in a blink, and most of the books and movies that tackle this particular subject lose it at the end. The scale tips just a little too far and it goes from terrifying to camp. My goal with Seed was to keep that from happening. In essence, I wanted to write the possession story I've been dying to read but haven't been able to find.

You know the saying… sometimes you have to write it yourself.

2. With so much competition as an author, you have to do everything possible to make your title jump off the shelf. The cover art for SEED does just that. Is this your vision for the story?

I can't take all the credit for the cover art. My cover artist, Jeroen Ten Berg, is awesome at what he does. He actually read my manuscript before coming up with the idea for the cover, and when he showed me the first prototype I was surprised at how close our visions were. I had imagined a cemetery on the cover just as he had, a lonely run-down cemetery being one of the central images in the book. We added the tree and fiery color scheme a bit later, but as soon as I saw the finished product I got that 'this is it' feeling. I think the cover conveys a sense of the story perfectly, and I love the symbolism of the tree and it's roots—branches reaching up toward heaven, roots reaching down toward hell. I couldn't be happier with it.

3. As an author myself, I understand the balancing act involved with writing horror that involves young children. Are there certain lines you will not cross, and, if so, did you brush up against them with SEED?

As weird as it sounds, I'm not big on gore. I don't like it in movies and I'm not a fan of its blatant use in books. That being said, I think I approach horror a bit differently than others. I like to keep things subtle, subdued… I'm a fan of unnerving a reader rather than shocking them right out of the gate. It's difficult to 'cross the line' and stay true to that subtlety all at once.

Are there parts of Seed that will raise eyebrows? Sure. It's horror. Did I cross a few lines that other writers probably wouldn't have? I think that maybe I have. And yes, there's blood, but it's all for 'the cause'. Sometimes I wonder about how my own mother will look at me after she reads my book; that probably answers your question best.

4. Your bio includes a tip of your hat to Stephen King as one of your favorite authors. Talk to me about how what you read influences how and what you write?

I think that on a subconscious level, we're all influenced by anything and everything around us, whether it's the books we read or the movies we watch. I tip my hat to King in my bio, but he also crept into the book itself. That doesn't surprise me because I was reading King while writing Seed. I like tossing in little details that fans of a particular author or movie will pick up on and appreciate. I think it's a way to ground a piece of work in reality rather than allowing it to hover somewhere out there in the darkness of cyberspace. I've heard quite a few writers say that they shy away from referencing brand names like Ford or Sharpie or Lucky Charms. I think it's fair to assume that they also stay away from referencing authors or movies. I don't really understand the point of staying away from it. These things surround us; it's our life, so why avoid them when these details can pull a reader even deeper into the story itself?

5. What do you think happens to the soul after death?

If I had to choose one particular belief, I think I'd go with reincarnation. I'm one of those people who is drawn to certain things and places, and maybe that's just my kind of spiritualism, but I tend to believe that maybe I've been around for longer than I know. For example, we were at the MET in NYC one year and they had an Ancient Egyptian exhibit. One of the things they had on display was a child's stained shirt. It was old and yellow and threadbare. People were glancing at it and going on their merry way. I got stuck there. I stood in front of that shirt for what felt like hours, just staring at it like I knew who it belonged to. It was a really eerie feeling, staring at something and feeling connected to it without knowing why.

The same thing happens to me with certain destinations. I could taste the history in Louisiana; half the time I felt like I was seeing it through someone else's eyes. Prague is another one. I've never been there, but I have to go. Looking at photos of Prague makes me feel homesick even though I've never set foot in the Czech Republic.

So, I'll go with reincarnation… because it makes me feel a little less crazy.

6. Seed hits the shelves today – which means right now people are buying your book! Talk to me about what that feels like.

It feels liberating. Like most authors, I've been under the impression that I 'needed' an agent and publisher for the past decade. What was once true is now a myth. It feels amazing to have put this entire project together on my own, from a blinking cursor on a blank screen to actually selling copies of my book to people all over the world. So yeah, it feels awesome—a dream come true.

But at the same time, I'm not basking in the glory of it. I know it's going to be a long and hard road, and I've already started work on my next novel. I'm impatient. If someone does pick up Seed and likes it, they'll hopefully be excited to see what I have coming up next. I don't like waiting, and I don't want my readers to have to wait either.

7. Where can readers go to learn more about you?

I'm like the newest web virus; I'm everywhere. I'm on Twitter @aniaahlborn, I have a Facebook and Goodreads author page, there's my site, AniaAhlborn.com, and my blog, 21st Century Author, were I tend to go a bit crazy with my big mouth and my endless opinions. I love connecting with readers, I love answering questions and hearing what people have to say about my work. The easiest way to get all those links in one place is to go to www.AniaAhlborn.com and hit the 'About' section. They're all there, along with my email address, which I'll be personally responding to until I hit the big time and move to the Maldives.

Pick up a copy of SEED today by visiting:

Amazon US:

Amazon UK:

Barnes & Noble:

About Ania

Born in Ciechanow Poland, Ania has always been drawn to the darker, mysterious, and sometimes morbid sides of life. Her earliest childhood memory is of crawling through a hole in the chain link fence that separated her family home from the large wooded cemetery next door. She'd spend hours among the headstones, breaking up bouquets of silk flowers so that everyone had their equal share.

Beyond writing, Ania enjoys gourmet cooking, baking, movies, drawing, and traveling. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her husband and two dogs, Beau the Scottie and Galaxy the Yorkie.

The Stigma Of Writing Horror: How The Genre You Write Matters As Much As The Story

Editor's Note: This post was originally written and published for THE CREATIVE PENN, a wonderful blog managed by the talented author and publishing guru Joanna Penn.  I have re-posted it here, on my personal blog, in case you missed its initial run.

There was a time when I ran from the label of being a "horror writer". It's tough enough as a self-published author to be taken seriously, but adding the extra burden of a horror tag to my bio made the chances of people rolling the dice on my projects even scarier – and not in a good way!

You see, there's a difference between the vampire that lurks within the pages of an Urban Fantasy title and the kind I tend to write about. Perhaps mine wear less hair gel and more clothes. I have no gratuitous plot points where my characters shed their shirts to expose their six-pack abs; mine are much more concerned with quenching their undying thirst than with their appearance. And don't even get me started on the Paranormal Romance genre – their vampires are an entirely different breed.

That being said, we're all writing about things that go bump in the night. Yet, the Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance genres are much more widely accepted. From literary agents and publishing houses to book reviewers and bloggers, there's a certain stigma about being a known as a horror writer. Is my vampire less worthy of attention?

Okay, so I've belabored the point a bit. But there is truth in my sarcasm. Horror gets a bad rap. For some, it's not main-stream enough to be accepted. Horror is fringe. It's true, my take on a vampire may be a bit darker than what you would find in an Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance novel, but shouldn't the quality of the narrative be what defines its value – not the label?

I had considered switching genres as an experiment. It's really an easy thing to do. My plan was to adjust my author platform, but instead of labeling my books as horror I would check the box next to Urban Fantasy. I just couldn't pull the trigger on it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not nearly the genre snob I appear to be – to each their own is my philosophy. But then a funny thing started happening – my books started selling. That first review quickly turned into another and another and soon readers were looking beyond the horror label and taking a chance on my book.

The problem hadn't been that I had written a horror novel. The problem was that I hadn't embraced being a horror author. I saw authors with novels in other genres selling far more copies and thought for sure that it was the label that really mattered. My novel Asylum Lake had romantic undertones – so why not call it a Paranormal Romance and jump on that popular bandwagon? Modern day setting with supernatural elements? Bingo – it's Urban Fantasy! How could I possibly have expected readers to embrace me as an author when I hadn't yet embraced myself?

So did I imagine this horror stigma? Certainly not. I've sold dozens of copies to public libraries and still more often than not find my titles tucked away into the dark corner reserved for horror; safely out of sight…and mind. And there are still several reviewers, bloggers, and even media outlets who refuse to read horror. I may never change the way some people view the horror genre, but I've definitely changed my own view.

I'm proud to write about what lurks in the darkness – the hand reaching out from under your bed after the lights go out and before your leg makes it under the blanket. It's what I like to read and definitely what I love to write. I write horror. Somebody has to do it and if the reviews for Asylum Lake are any indication, I might just be doing it for awhile.

BLOG TAG and I'm it!

I had the luck of being blog tagged by @b_frisch a.k.a. Belinda Frisch, via Twitter. As part of the blog-tagging experience, I need to answer some questions; then blog tag some other bloggers. So here we go:

If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?

I was at my father's bedside when he died and in all of my ramblings about what he meant to me I neglected to tell him that I loved him. I'd give anything to have that moment back.

If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?

I would stop Stephen King from turning THE STAND into that lame mini-series. No offense to Bill Fagerbakke – I love you as the voice of Patrick Star on Spongebob – but your portrayla of Tom Cullen in The Stand was horrible.

What movie/TV character do you most resemble in personality?

Navin R. Johnson. I'll let you figure it out. 

If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?

Alex Trebeck. He looks so smug reading those damn answers on Jeopardy. A nice push off a cliff would give him an attitude adjustment in a hurry!

Name one habit you want to change in yourself.

I am told that on occassion I sometimes, albeit very rarely, move my lips when I read. .

Describe yourself in one word.

Sarcastic

Describe the person who named you in this meme in one word.

Beguiling

Why do you blog? (In one sentence):

Because the world desereves to be subjected to my rambling thoughts on a daily basis.

And the people I'm blog-tagging are:

@aniaahlborn a.k.a. ANIA

@soveryclevergrl a.k.a. Hilary

@spcwrite a.k.a. Dee

@Porter_Anderson a.k.a. Porter

Waiting For My Book to Drop: Guest Post by Ania Ahlborn, Author of SEED

Editor's Note

Several months ago I discovered Ms. Ahlborn on twitter talking about her novel SEED. As we chatted about her project I quickly came to realize that there was something special and different about her story. Then she sent me an advance copy of SEED and it blew me away. Her book drops on Wednesday, June 1st and I'm fortunate enough to have her set for my 7 Deadly Questions author interview series that same day. I recently asked her to do a guest post on my blog about counting down to the drop of SEED and she agreed without hesitation. For those of you who have yet to publish your work, Ania's account provides a snapshot into the roller-coaster of emotions you can expect. For others, like myself, who are published authors, her post is s sort of initiation into our ranks. And for those who are merely readers of stories, now you know that even horror writer's get nervous.

I've been waiting for what seems like months to appear on R.A.'s blog. Now, with only a handful of days remaining until my debut hits Amazon and B&N, the wait is (almost) over. And then R.A. asked me to write a guest post about waiting for Seed to drop, and while I immediately agreed to do the post, I've come to realize just how tall an order that is.

I imagine that awaiting a book release is a unique experience, and that no two writers go through it in the same way. Me? I'm cool as a cucumber on the outside. I'm confident that what I've written is a good story, and confident that those who take the time to read it will enjoy what I've put out unto the world. But on the inside; oh boy. Let's just say that I've recently discovered some anxiety issues that, until now, I never knew existed.

A week or so ago I jolted awake in the dead of night. Straight out of a horror novel, my eyes snapped open and were as wide as saucers. My heart was pounding a mile a minute, beating against my rib cage, threatening to punch through flesh and bone and make a run for the door. I had jolted awake because of a dream I had; it wasn't about monsters or serial killers, rather, my dream had been about… the Internet. Yes, the World Wide Web scared me enough to give me an anxiety attack. My dream: I had mistakenly uploaded a document on to the web and couldn't figure out how to take it down. I sat there, mashing keys, yelling 'no, NO!' at the computer screen. There's no question in my mind that the ill-fated document was my book, and that my beating heart was assurance that yeah, I'm kind of freaking out.

I've dreamed about this, my debut, off and on since I was eleven or twelve years old. My fantasies of becoming a published author were, of course, far different than reality. In my mind, I pictured getting that fated phone call from an agent or a publisher… that call that every author has dreamed of at least once or twice. "You're book is a revelation!" they'd say. "We've never read anything like it! How's a cool million sound as an advance?"

In reality, publishing has come with a lot more work and a lot less luck. But that's okay, because it's also come with a lot more defiance as well, and I've always liked shaking the tree. As an Indie, I've gone through the highs and lows of the publishing game. I've been tired, I've been excited, I've been bummed out and emotional. There was the moment when I first saw my book cover and knew it was perfect, and the endless hours of mind-numbing line editing that made me hate what I'd written. There were nights when all I wanted to do was watch a movie or take a nap, and nights when I wanted to stay up all night to finish the chapter I was working on. There was the anxiety of waiting to hear from my beta readers, to the anxiety of waiting to hear from my first reviewers.

For the most part, all of that is over. Now, all that's left is to sit and wait and hope that what I've done is 'enough'—enough to make a splash, enough to hold its own against the best, and enough to make you say "you know that novel Seed? That was a damn good book."

Author Brian E. Niskala answers 7 Deadly Questions about his gothic tale RHINEHOTH

1. Your dark novel RHINEHOTH has all of the classic elements readers have come to expect in their gothic stories – vampires, werewolves, and the promise of salvation. yet, you've taken these elements and spun them in an entirely fresh way. Talk to me about Rhinehoth and what makes this dark tale different from the expected vampire / werewolf story.

With all Gothic literature, you need a fantastic scene, horror and a touch of romance; I needed my own interpretation of Gothic literature. I wanted both male and female readers to love it. For Males the horror, females a touch of romance even though this is underlining in this tale, but very much present. The vampires and werewolves add the touch of current magnetism of these character/creatures. I thought it was a perfect match in the tradition of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Yet I give it a more modern flavor and twist. Most Gothic literature is old and outdated. I wanted to bring a modern setting, mixed with an ancient past to tie the two time periods together. Old generation meets new generation. Honest I wanted something that would read well and people would want to tell their friends about it. I wanted to get my name out there as a new emerging author.

 2. The historical references in Rhinehoth lend a great deal of credibility to the story. Was this intentional?

Of course, later in the interview I can build on how I got there. But one thing I researched is the dates of the time periods, to make sure it all flowed and held onto that chronological time clock. One thing I hated in reading anything is if you get lost. I hate being lost in a story. So if I follow history, make scenes so it is timed correctly, it will read better, flow better. One thing I made sure of, was to make sure you felt that you were right there, next to the characters to see what was happening. With historical references I wanted the novice reader to want to check historical facts out. For the seasoned reader to be "Wow! That is right!" I think it makes you take more ownership in the story and its characters.

3. The hero in this tale, Simon, isn't necessarily guided by the strongest moral compass – the man definitely has his flaws and a very checkered past. Talk about the challenge of writing an anti-hero.

When think of this character, I wanted a man, struggling day to day, like most of us. Wrong place, wrong time, why me! Something I am sure we all have been. This poor sole ends up in prison. Bad luck, he is trapped. Aren't most of us feeling that way now a days, gas prices high, working harder to buy less? We are all trapped one way or another. This character is presented with a possibility of being more, if he just goes for it. Again like all of us, we are what we have decided to be, through our decisions. Sure I guide this character, but aren't we all also guided in one way or another to a greater purpose?

4. Castles are creepy no matter where they're located, but placing Castle Rhinehoth in the middle of German's Black Forest intensifies the creepiness. Talk about the research for Rhinehoth.

Oddly, I am a huge fan of Cuckoo clocks. I know Cuckoo clocks? Well they originate from the 1600s from the Black Forest region of Germany. This heavily wooden, mountain region seemed like a perfect landscape for the novel. Rhinehoth actually comes from Rhine, a river in Germany that runs through the Black Forest, a natural border for the Roman empire. Hoth, from the ice planet in the Empire Strikes Back, I like the association of a cold desolate place. Rhine-hoth, Rhinehoth.So from there it developed the scene, the atmosphere.

5. Any worries that in a market flooded by vampires and werewolves that your story would struggle to stand out?

Yes, always. I look at the market flooded with them, all around the paranormal romance plots. Good stuff, but too much of it. I aimed to make something darker, Gothic more grown up for that aging crowd, craving more adult situations, more violent. Also for my generation who obviously is annoyed at the young "Fang bangers" to coin an all too familiar term for a popular book/TV series. I read and watch it all, just so I can be better armed and educated on what works, what doesn't and what it is lacking.

6. Talk to me about why you write horror.

I have always been a horror fan. My cousin, teasing me, read aloud Stephen King's The Stand to me, actually the first chapter before I ripped it out of his hands! That was sometime in the early 80's I think, I was young. A friend of mine got book after book that Stephen King wrote. His mom would buy one a month. I would borrow one and practically read it in one night. Upon returning it I would get another and then found myself at my local library, consuming the genre. I read everything I could find and moved into SciFi also another passion and currently finishing my second novel a SciFi/thriller called Space Cell 11. Anyhow, after I saw many styles, many continuity errors in some of what I read, I knew I could do better. Well at least make more credible stories. Not that vampires and werewolves are credible but I like trying to get the science to were a reader could say "Hey, yeah that makes sense and could happen".

7. Where can readers go to learn more about you?

Currently I have a brief Bio on Amazon.com, Goodreads.com and on my site Comp-U-Trader.com. The info. is short and to the point, but always glad to take emails at Rhinehoth@comp-u-trader.com and will be more than happy to answer any questions that come my way.

About Brian

Brian was born in the Month of October, making him a natural Horror fan. He is currently working on over 20 novels in different stages of completion. His current title "Rhinehoth" has been a great seller quickly rising in the ranks of Gothic Horror genre. His passion for history and horror leads his writing to be historically accurate for the time period immersing the reader into its details. His writing is so vividly visual it reads more like a film than literature. Brian comes from some of the top Fortune 500 companies where he has managed at a senior/executive level to follow his passion for Horror film and Literature. He currently lives in sleepy Blakeslee, PA USA.

Cover Art for FLIGHT Revealed

I've just finalized the artwork for my upcoming thriller FLIGHT and wanted to share it with you. The very talented author/designer A.J. Powers nailed it with this one! Tell me what you think.

U.S. Air Marshal Liz Downie thought she had lucked out with her assignment – a half-empty red eye from London to the states. The passengers – an odd assortment of State Department staffers freshly plucked from the embattled U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. These arent your usual friendly skies, however. Tucked into the passenger jet's shadowy cargo hold hides a secret the U.S. Military will do anything to protect – and Liz Downie everything to stop.

Where do you run when you are 33,000 feet in the air?

FLIGHT

Scheduled for take-off soon

Covert Art for FLIGHT Revealed

I've just finalized the artwork for my upcoming thriller FLIGHT and wanted to share it with you. The very talented author/designer A.J. Powers nailed it with this one! Tell me what you think.

U.S. Air Marshal Liz Downie thought she had lucked out with her assignment – a half-empty red eye from London to the states. The passengers – an odd assortment of State Department staffers freshly plucked from the embattled U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. These arent your usual friendly skies, however. Tucked into the passenger jet's shadowy cargo hold hides a secret the U.S. Military will do anything to protect – and Liz Downie everything to stop.

Where do you run when you are 33,000 feet in the air?

FLIGHT

Scheduled for take-off soon

One Indie Author's Guide to Measuring Success

I'm approaching the one year anniversary of my debut novel's big splash onto the horror scene and I can't help but try to quantify my success as an author.  Trust me – it's just not as easy as it sounds.

While writing Asylum Lake I had grand illusions of publishers competing for the rights to bring my dark tale to the masses (Yeah, it's obvious that I write fiction with this kind of vivid imagination). Then reality set in – or should I say reality was delivered to my mailbox via a string of rejection letters. I could have very easily folded up shop and shut everything down. Hell, part of me was just happy to have the story out of my head and onto the neatly typed pages with it's spiral binding sitting on the corner of my desk.  I would point to it while meeting with clients and refer to it as, "My first novel – still shopping it."

And for a short while that was enough; knowing that I had actually written my own horror story. And not just a short story either – in it's first draft Asylum Lake was a crushing 84,000 words. That's not Stephen King territory, but definitely in the Dean Koontz ballpark.

Eventually, however, I felt compelled to share it – and not just with family and friends. So I did what any aspiring novelist with an internet connection would do – I put it up on the internet!   Exactly one year ago today I started releasing one chapter a week for six weeks on the official Asylum Lake website. In fact, you can still visit www.asylumlake.com and read the first six chapters in their original form. That's when an odd thing started happening – people started noticing. At the end of those six weeks I had nearly 10,000 hits to my website and dozens of emails from complete strangers asking me where they could purchase the complete story. That is when I knew I was a success.

Well, that feeling of success was fleeting. I needed to see Asylum Lake in all it's glory on the shelf at local bookstores and libraries. That's when I made the decision to self-publish. I hadn't yet fully accepted the whole e-book trend as something with staying power.  I'm old-school. It took me another two months, but on July 30th, 2010 the first copy of Asylum Lake rolled off the digital press. By then I had more than 500 pre-paid orders for the book – from as far away as South Africa and Japan. I thought for sure I had finally arrived.

Yet the feeling of success still eluded me. Although I had the validation from hundreds of readers I was consumed with finding a traditional publisher and had convinced myself that only then would I feel successful as an author. Those rejection letters were still trickling in. On the same day library system from Portland, Oregon purchased six copies of Asylum Lake for their shelves I received three rejection letters from literary agents informing me that they just didn't see an audience for my story. That was the day I decided to embrace my indie-ness and prove them wrong.

So on the one-year anniversary of the first six chapters of Asylum Lake appearing on the web I finally can say that I feel like this maiden voyage has been a success. A good friend, and fellow author, reminded me just yesterday that I'm no longer a debut author. Of course, it's an obvious statement but it still took me by surprise. The friend was right – I have one book on the shelves with reasonable sales and its sequel soon to be released. I may not be supporting my family with these dark tales but they've paid for a trip to Disney World and some major home improvements.

I've grown tired of chasing sales numbers to validate my success as an author. Don't get me wrong, I check my Amazon rankings and daily sales figures as much as the next guy, but in many ways I'm living a dream. I'm writing and people are reading. What more do I really need?

7 Deadly Questions with author Richard Jay Parker

1. Ever since I finished your chilling thriller STOP ME I've been afraid to open my email. Please share the basics of your plot and the inspiration for your dark and twisted tale.

Thanks. So glad it made you nervous about chain email letters. I've always thought them to be pretty sinister. The idea that something unpleasant could happen if you don't forward one to ten people has always struck me as being the cyber equivalent of a gypsy curse. Ruminating on something grisly happening when the email isn't forwarded was the starting point for STOP ME.

STOP ME begins with such an email chain letter sent by the notorious Vacation Killer. It describes a girl and must be forwarded. If it ends up back in the killer's inbox he won't slit her throat. Nobody takes it seriously until the polished jawbone of a prostitute is sent to the police. The missing prostitute fits the description in the email.

In the UK, Leo Sharpe receives such an email but deletes it. Weeks later his wife, Laura, vanishes after only stepping out to the restroom.

John R Bookwalter claims to be the Vacation Killer and runs a website based around his delusion. He's never left the state of Louisiana and the Vacation Killer has killed around the globe. He's dismissed by the police as a crank but tells Leo he has Laura. She disappeared in London and the Vacation Killer was suspected because an email was circulated describing her. However, her remains were never sent to the police and Leo wonders why – did the email get back to the Vacation Killer's inbox?

But as everyone around Leo gives up on Laura ever being found Bookwalter is the only person talking about her in terms of her still being alive. A bizarre internet relationship ensues and Bookwalter comes up with the most plausible theory of how she was abducted.

Leo has to decide whether he should accept Bookwalter's invitation to fly to New Orleans to find out if there's any truth in what he's saying. That's what the title STOP ME refers to – more than the emails. It's about being drawn submissively into something you know you shouldn't. It's a story with a major twist and Leo is led down a lot of dark alleys before he finds out what really happened to Laura.

2. Your protagonist, Leo Sharpe, is truly just an average Joe who has been thrust into unbelievable circumstances. Talk to me about the challenge of making his ordeal, and the lengths he goes to in search of his wife, believable.

I'm glad you picked up on that. I thought using a pedestrian as the main character would allow the reader to empathise with him more than if he was a cop. I wanted to explore the impact that having somebody close to you vanish would have. In some ways it's worse than bereavement. Your life can't continue because you constantly wonder if that person is alive and suffering somewhere. Leo has lost his career and makes ends meet as a security guard and lives in the museum of his previous life – afraid to take down the Christmas tree that he'd decorated the day Laura vanished. He's also living in a limbo of night shifts and further removing himself from reality with prescription drugs.

I explored this existence as much as I could without it restraining the plot. It's fascinating territory – the idea of suddenly waking because you feel your wife is still alive somewhere.

3. I have your book trailer for STOP ME parked in the Trailer Park here in my blog and it's been one of the most highly viewed. From your perspective, what is the value of producing a book trailer when you release a title?

Obviously with this being my debut every stage of promotion has been trial and error but I did get a strong reaction to the trailer and people are still finding and commenting on it. Unless you have a respectful budget I think simplicity is definitely the key. I was lucky enough to have a friend, Dave Carr, who wrote the music for my website and the trailer and a lady friend who agreed to be tied up and photographed. An average day in my household…

Authors certainly have to put themselves out there to promote their work. The Kindle and ebook editions of STOP ME are available on June 6th so I've been trying to generate some fresh interest. I've had a great reponse to the forthcoming ebook release. A lot of readers (particularly in US) have been waiting for it. It's thanks to the generosity and time of writers like yourself that the Vacation Killer can reach even more readers.

4. Talk to me about your writing process. Are you an organized writer or more of what I refer to as a "fly by the seat of your pants" writer?

I had the opening and the twist in mind when I started writing STOP ME but enjoyed sending my character down some shadowy byways on the way. Some writers I know assemble a very detailed plan of their book which is almost half a novel long but I don't work that way. I usually write a chapter, polish it and then move onto the next.

5. STOP ME was shortlisted for the 2010 John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award. Not a bad way to make your debut. What was that experience like?

I didn't get into the last four and attend the TV award ceremony but to be given that level of recognition with my debut was a massive boost particularly in the throes of trying to write book 2.

6. What's on your bookshelf at home?

I've got a very eclectic bookshelf . FALLING ANGEL by William Hjortsberg, THE THIRD POLICEMAN by Flann O'Brien, CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess, THE WASP FACTORY by Ian Banks – Poe, Lovecraft, Palahniuk. I think there's some thrillers there too.

7. How can readers learn more about you?

You can visit my website www.richardjayparker.com , connect with me on Twitter @Bookwalter or find me on Facebook.

For readers who want the book outside the UK, Book Depository do a great shipping deal – anywhere in the world for free: You can also check out prices and reader reviews on Amazon

About Richard

I worked in TV for fifteen years as a script writer, script editor and producer before turning my hand to penning dark thrillers. I was born and live in the UK (formerly South Wales then London and now near Stonehenge) but love visiting the US which is why I used both countries as a backdrop for the story.