R.A. Evans's Blog, page 12

7 Deadly Questions with Author Al Boudreau

1. In your thriller IN MEMORY OF GREED you've created a frenetically-paced plot which takes readers across the globe – quite a feat for a debut author. Talk to me about the research involved with such an expansive project?

Excellent question, Rich. Every foreign location in the book is a real place, and I spent an extended period of time doing research at each of them. I penned a detailed journal during my travels through Ireland, and Kenya, to capture their true essence. My goal—to give the reader an authentic look at two of the most stimulating places on earth.

The sites, sounds, smells, and overall feel of the locales my characters traverse are extremely unique. I didn't want to fabricate this aspect of the story. A true, and vivid sense of place was as important to the plot as any character I developed. I truly believe this approach enables the reader to become more deeply immersed in the story—that was my thrust in creating these self-imposed standards. It would have been nearly impossible to achieve a comprehensive level of richness by conducting research, as opposed to actually experiencing these remarkable places, first-hand. Further, the impact of the story's main event, in relation to it's specific location, is key to the climax and denouement of the novel. Therefore, nothing short of creating a virtual movie in the reader's minds-eye would have been acceptable for me.

2. You've created a strong, yet vulnerable, character in Joelle Barstow. Writing believable cloak and dagger espionage can be difficult in and of itself, but did having a strong female in this role make it even more difficult?

The development of a strong female, main character in my story was a priority for me. I've grown a great deal, both as a man, and as a writer, by interacting with smart, savvy women. I wrote Joelle Barstow's character as an homage to these women. The trials, and tribulations thrown in Barstow's path throughout the story force her to walk a tenuous line between success and failure, not just of her mission, but of simply staying alive.

In the real world, though people tend to keep their inner-most feelings hidden from view, eventually, all of us have bouts with self-doubt. Often, our confidence is whittled down to nearly nothing, forcing us to make a decision; do we give up, or do we dig deep and find the strength to soldier on? Joelle Barstow is a survivor who overcomes the odds through sheer determination, refusing to succumb to male dominance. And while she's not the true protagonist in my novel, her role, in regard to the story's outcome, is of utmost importance. If I had to choose a character from the book who was most like me, Joelle Barstow would be the one. She screws up and drops the ball, but in the end perseveres due to her tenacity.

3. The reviews for IN MEMORY OF GREED have been fantastic. Talk to me about when you first started believing that you had written a novel worthy of the praise?

As an avid, voracious reader, I've been disappointed, time and time again, by endings that missed the mark. There are hallmarks that make each specific genre shine, but all must be tied up properly to make a novel great. The ending of In Memory of Greed had to be right, or it simply would not have been published. I worked and reworked the climax until I was blue in the face. On a personal level, the day I felt the ending was right, was the day I knew my book was viable as a solid mystery/thriller. However, given the unavoidable bias we have toward our own work, I've always felt quite unqualified to judge whether or not my work would be embraced by the masses. As the old saw states, "the proof is in the pudding." I'm thrilled each and every time someone tells me they've enjoyed my book. It's like no other feeling, and it will never get old. I'm humbled by the grace of my readership on a daily basis.

4. I'm curious how you think Ms. Barstow, your sexy spy from IN MEMORY OF GREED, stacks up against some of the heavyweights in the espionage genre. Could she hold her own against the likes of Jason Bourne and James Bond?

Fantastic question…both Ian Fleming, and Robert Ludlum, cast a huge shadow in the world of authors who write espionage. In no way do I believe that my writing compares to these two heavyweights. Fleming's Bond is extremely entertaining, and classic, yet operates more like superhero than a spy—suave and super-cool. In my humble opinion, James Bond's escapades are sensational to the degree that belief in reality must be partially suspended in order to embrace each story. Though much less so with Ludlum's Jason Bourne, this spy still defies odds that, in the real world, push the envelope in regard to what's really possible. It seems there's really no way he can fail. Multi-story leaps, catastrophic accidents, and endless gunfire fail to undo Bourne from his objective. He's one of my favorite characters, and wildly entertaining, yet I'm not quite certain I believe his survival is possible.

Joelle Barstow was written as a character who could walk among us mortals…a real person, living in the real world. She has the drive, and many of the skills Bond and Bourne posess, but can, and nearly does fail on a number of occasions. She lacks nine-lives, unbreakable legs, and enemies who can't hit the broad side of a barn with their weapons. Her arsenal consists of intestinal fortitude, will to live, and a keen ability to read people—skills and characteristics necessary to endure the trials and tribulations that real-world operatives face in their line of work.

5. Talk to me about the journey to getting IN MEMORY OF GREED published.

I never had aspirations of obtaining representation by an A-list Manhatten literary agent, or big name publishing house. My goal was to write a novel that I, and others like me, would want to read. The advent of e-readers, and self-publishing allowed me to write a book to the best of my abilities then bring it to market, without the endless process that traditional publishing entails. I've always been a self-starter, running a successful business for twenty-plus years. All the while, I've dreamt dreams then chased after them with gusto. I'm happy to report that bringing those dreams to reality has worked out fairly well for me. The words "can't" and "no" are shoved out of my path so that positivity and the will to succeed can thrive. I designed my own book cover, using a photo I took in the Masai-Mara in Kenya. I also formatted In Memory of Greed myself, for upload to the Amazon, and B & N platforms. Suffice to say, my success or failure as a debut author will be mine, and mine alone. 

6. What's next for you, Al?

Currently, I'm writing a weekly blog that focuses on my journey as an indie author, and offers tips/advice gleaned along the way. I've also begun to develop an outline for my second, yet to be titled, mystery/thriller, which deals with the government's response to a societal breakdown within the United States. I'll also continue to travel the globe, capturing the wonders of all that each foreign land has to offer.

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

I would be honored to have readers visit my blog, http://alboudreau.wordpress.com , hit me up on Twitter @threecifer, check out my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Author.Al.Boudreau and say hello over at the wonderful site, Goodreads.

About Al

Al Boudreau has traveled the world exploring a multitude of countries. First hand knowledge of the locales his characters traverse lends a richness unattainable by simple research alone. The author also maintains a keen eye on geopolitical events, pushing the envelope to make his novels come alive. His fiction is based on the real world and the hidden truths buried beneath its surface.

Four Black Stars for Asylum Lake from HorrorNewsNet!

It's official, the good people at HorrorNewsNet have granted their dark blessings to my debut novel with an epic Four Black Star Review. This one is sespecially satisfying as I have followed their movie and book reviews for some time, as do thousands of other horror fans and officianados. This definitely makes my ride on the Review Rollercoaster much more enjoyable. In fact, I may just throw my arms in the air and enjoy it for awhile.

You can read the entire HorrorNewsNet review HERE.

ON Fear: Guest post by horror author Steve Emmett

 

Fear.

Fear is everywhere. It has existed ever since living creatures had a form of consciousness. Fear of death is what preserves all species. Fear is what religions were built on; how law and order was established. If you want to see raw fear, look at the eyes of a rabbit caught in your headlights.

Personally, I do not fear death. Not yet. I fear what may lead to death; the pain, the suffering. Pain and suffering; these can be both physical and emotional. I fear the dentist. It's irrational, I know. He's not going to kill me (or is he?) but there is a pretty good chance that he's going to inflict pain on me. I don't suppose it's intentional, but it is real. But I go voluntarily.

Imagine you've lived all your life in a town or city and you've just fulfilled your dream of moving to an isolated house in the country. There's just you, alone, and the nearest other house is a couple of miles away. Your house is surrounded by a garden, which you are going to make as you want it, and beyond the fence are some fields and then woods. At night, since there are no street lights, you can see the stars in all their glory and the only sounds are of the forest creatures. It's the peace you have always longed for. One night, soon after you've settled in, you go to bed and switch off the light. In this total darkness, total silence, you can sleep like you've never slept before. The next thing you know, you are woken by banging. The kind of banging that is desperate. You glance at the clock. 3AM. And there's the banging again. Someone, or something, is banging on your door. I'll bet that you are scared witless.

This is a fear I can relate to. It's fear of the unknown. Will you open the door to find some poor soul in need, or will they be in need of your soul? That's the big factor in creating fear. As you approach the door there is tension. The fear builds. You anticipate what could happen when you open the door. It's the same for readers of stories. It's what makes them keep turning the pages. They have to know if the banging is harmless or if it will turn the fear into horror.

I like to build the sense of fear slowly, like stoking a boiler. The point where I reveal the horror, if horror there be, is crucial. It's one of the hardest elements in creating a horror story. What we have to remember is that fear in its extreme form is terror. And terror is the feeling of dread that precedes horror. If you open your door to find someone in need of help, your state of terror will subside. If you open your door to the Grim Reaper you will be horrified. Literally.

This playing around with the final moment is, for me, an essential element of good horror. Break the tension too soon and the moment is gone. Too late and, well, it might be too late.

*I am proud to announce that Steve Emmett will be a guest on 7 Deadly Questions where he will discuss is dark novel DIAVOLINO. Stay tuned to my blog for further details.

About Steve

Steve Emmett is an author, book reviewer and actor born in Harrogate, the genteel Yorkshire spa town where Agatha Christie hid away from the world thirty-two years earlier. He studied at the prestigious Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and built a few houses before going off the rails. He spent time in New York then returned to Yorkshire where, amongst other things, he served as an elected councillor. He then moved back to London and worked in the real estate sector. For over twenty years he ran his own agency specializing in Italian country homes and, for almost ten years, lived by Lake Trasimeno in Umbria, the setting for Diavolino. Born at the end of the 1950s, Steve grew up on Dennis Wheatley novels and Hammer Horror films, and on many occasions started to put pen to paper. Completely dissatisfied and unfulfilled with his career, Steve decided in 2009 that he wanted to write and began Diavolino. He has also recently launched an acting career, and is a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books and Suspense Magazine. He currently lives with his partner and some rather large spiders in the Yorkshire Wolds, close to the ancient City of York.

Steve's horror/thriller DIAVOLINO has hit the shelves to rave reviews. You can learn more about Steve and his dark writing on his blog http://chukkienator.blogspot.com/. To purchase a copy of DIAVOLINO CLICK HERE

Counting down to Horror in the Cage

My first ever "cage match" starts in a little less than five hours and I'm not sure what to expect.  Al Boudreau, a very talented writer in his own right, will be posting a prompt at Noon and then I'm off to write my 1,500 words that will tear your soul apart! (insert awesome Hell Raiser comment here)

Okay, that may be pushing things a little. *Disclaimer: No souls will be torn apart or harmed in any other way during the course of this cage match.

I do have a strategy, however. EYEBALLS! Yes, you read my right – EYEBALLS! If I get stuck, a good eyeball scene can get both me and the reader right back on track. There's a lot you can do to an eyeball and it all starts with a good poke with a sharpened object – say, for instance, a sharpened quill!  Once you get that quill through the cornea there's no end to the mayhem!

Now you know my strategy: tear your soul apart and if I get stuck then fall back on rooting around an eyeball or two with something sharp.

Catch all of the action starting at Noon EST at http://alboudreau.wordpress.com when Al posts the prompt. Voting starts tomorrow right back on Al's blog in this double-blind writing contest where two horror writers go in and only one horror writer comes out. That's four possible eyeballs to work with and I can't wait to get started!

Riding the Review Rollercoaster

In the span of a week I have gone from lamenting a disappointing two-star reader review on Smashwords to celebrating a four-star review from a trusted voice in the horror genre – HORRORNEWS.NET. It's all so subjective.  I've been lucky – most of the reviews for Asylum Lake, from readers and review sites/media alike, have been of the four and five-star variety. This random two-star review has shaken my confidence – welcome to the review rollercoaster!

You see, I want readers to thouroughly enjoy my books. I know I've done my job when they get lost in the story, engage with the characters, and maybe even have to sleep with the lights on for a night or two. Does that two-star review mean I've failed miserably?

Conversely, although I'm quite pleased by the four-star review from HORRORNEWS.NET, I'm not quite ready to quit my day job and announce to the world that I've arrived as an author. I guess even after 3,000 copies sold of Asylum Lake I still find myself quietly wondering if perhaps these 3,000 or so individuals didn't realize that other, better, books were available for purchase. I guess that's why the two-star review hit me so strongly. It reinforced that fear I hold deep inside about my own abilities as an author.

There are websites where you can pay for a good review. You can also enlist friends and family to rave about your titles on sites like Amazon and Goodreads. It's all a rather murky affair.  I sometimes wonder who actually reads these reviews – aside from the authors (like me) who likewise constantly check their Amazon sales rankings, too.

So help me out here. How much value do you place on a book review – whether you're an author or just an avid reader?  For now, I'll continue to ride this review roller coaster with no sign of ever getting off!.

Why don't you write something nice: Guest Post by Laurie Dalzell

Hey – is anybody sitting there? No, not the stool in the spot light, thanks, but that big squashy chair in the corner.

No? Do you mind? Ah, thanks.

What's that? Who am I? Why am I here?

I'm Laurie Dalzell. Writer of stories that earn me funny looks from my husband, wide-eyed looks from a friend I've had more than half my life, and from my mother-in-law, the question "If you're going to write, why don't you write something nice?"

Dark fiction. You know 'em. The stories that give you a little shiver when you read them and maybe make you want to check what's under the bed before you turn off the light. Then again, maybe not.

Now, about why I write what I do…

I honestly can't say why. I've asked myself this question again and again over the last couple of days since I was invited to post here and this one memory keeps surfacing as an answer. It's about one of the first stories I ever wrote. A tale about a girl who is kidnapped by aliens, married to their prince, and has several children with him, each of them with various deformities. I wrote it in second grade. After reading it, my father was the first to ever ask me "Why don't you write something nice?"

I don't remember what I said back to him, but remember looking at my "book" – a few standard sheets of white paper folded in half and stapled together – later that night, flipping through the pages and thinking that it was a pretty good story. I mean, even though the girl had been kidnapped and her kids were misshapen and deformed, she did find a kind of contentment, a happiness perhaps even, by the end.

Why didn't I write something "nice?" Because that's not the way the story went.

Now, about thirty years later, the answer is still the same. At its simplest, I write what I write because that's the way the stories go.

Why does any writer write what they do? Because the story is there. It whispers in my ear, dances behind my eyes, and wants to be told. So I write it.

Thanks for having me on your blog, Rich.

Find similar posts at Laurie's blog, Words to Paper,

About Laurie

Laurie is a writer of dark fiction under her own name and of erotic dark fiction under her pen name, Annie Duvall. A native of Vermont, Laurie presently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two children.

Author Daniel Levin answers 7 Deadly Questions about his thriller THE LAST EMBER

1. With your debut thriller THE LAST EMBER you weave a complex story where religion, politics, and terrorism are featured. Which of those three elements are most dangerous in your opinion?

It can be hard to separate those three subjects; there is more overlap among them than one might expect. The novel deals with historical revisionism, which is a very real mix of all three. Just like the Taliban destroying the Buddhas in Afghanistan, or the Waqf destroying Jewish artifacts, it is archaeological terrorism.   

2. Your hero in the story, Jonathan Marcus, isn't the typical good guy. He has some baggage, too. Talk to me about writing Jonathan and how the character developed.

My experience as a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome was very influential in developing Jonathan's character. The Academy took on a larger physical and psychological presence in his background of my hero.  One example is the little painted portraits of previous fellows I saw along the Academy's walls. I remember thinking, "Wow, imagine if you were up there, but you did something so bad the Academy took your portrait down." It turned out to be one of my favorite scenes when Marcus goes back to the Academy and his portrait is no longer on the wall.

3. I can only imagine the research involved with a story that spans both time and place. From across the globe and through the centuries you've incorporated a lot of detail. How exactly did you handle the research for THE LAST EMBER?

I wanted The Last Ember to be as authentic as possible. I tried to map out my research, but every time I opened up the text of an ancient historian, I kept seeing things like a strange translation of the Latin, an errant mark in the margin, or some unexplained notation.  Those things stirred my imagination and the story kept changing, making it more and more believable. The local color I picked up while in Rome and Jerusalem also found its way into the book. The Academy is located in a 19th century villa on the Janiculum Hill, and had an incredible rare books library.  All the Renaissance manuscripts were there, at my fingertips.  Even more incredible were the fellows, I had a great time listening to them share secrets of the ancient world over a beer at the local enoteca.

4.  I'm read your reviews and the comparisons to Dan Brown. Talk to me about the pressure that kind of praise brings to an author.

If The Last Ember sells as many copies as Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, that comparison is OK by me!

5. There were several times while reading THE LAST EMBER that I found myself thinking about Indiana Jones. Did those movies serve as any kind of inspiration?

I did draw on my exposure to the antiquities trade to write the book.  It is a deadly business.  We see these ancient artifacts in museums, glistening in their display cases, but some are soaked in the blood of the trade. Being caught in the middle of all this, as a lawyer, seemed a good place to introduce a compelling character.  The antiquities trade, I can assure you, is a very bloody business. So–the book and those films share a certain tone.

To many the book is just a thriller, like the best of Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, or John Grisham. But as Elie Wiesel's review suggested, the book is a protest against modern and ancient historical revisionism.  I'm glad to have entertained and taught people a thing or two.

6. With the success of THE LAST EMBER there must be talk of some sort of sequel. What are your plans moving forward – will we see Jonathan Marcus again?

I'll say this: readers will definitely hear from Marcus again!

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

Readers can learn more about me, and my work, at daniellevin.com. I also have a facebook fan page and a twitter account (please follow me @ Daniel_Levin).

About Daniel

Daniel Levin earned his bachelor's degree in Roman and Greek civilizations from the University of Michigan. He graduated Harvard Law School with honors and clerked for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel.  He was a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome in 2004 and practiced international law in New York. He currently lives in New York City, where he is working on his next novel

HORROR IN THE CAGE! Two horror writers go in. Only one comes out.

Belinda Frisch, a good friend and very talented horror writer, is pitting her creepy writing skills against my own in what will be a bloody good writing contest. Details will follow, but in the meantime, I encourage you to check out my competition. Her debut novel DEAD SPELL is a Bloody Good Read and is available on Amazon. You can also sneak a peek into her twisted mind by visiting her blog (http://belindaf.blogspot.com) or by following her on twitter @b_Frisch.

Get ready for a 1,500 word slug-fest of chills, thrills, and surprises.  The whole thing is being hosted on  Al Boudreau's blog (http://alboudreau.wordpress.com), author of  the thriller IN MEMORY OF GREED. Follow all of the smack-talking on twitter under the hashtag #pubwrite!

Join me on BlogTalk Radio as I visit with ParaYourNormal

If you read my blog long enough you'll come across something that makes you cringe and think, "I can't believe he just said that!"  Keep that in mind tomorrow evening (Wednesday, April 27th) at 6:30 p.m. as you sit back and listen to my interview with the amazing folks from ParaYourNormal.

If you're not familiar with ParaYourNormal – you should be. As the name suggests, they specialize in all things Paranormal and Supernatural. I'm excited to bring a taste of horror to their romanticized sensibilities.

CLICK HERE to listen to my interview with ParaYourNormal tomorrow night at 6:30pm EST.

Wanna experience what all the fuss is about? Get your copy of Asylum Lake and dive into the mystery before you listen to me talk about writing my debut thriller.  Available on Amazon for Kindle, Smashwords in various ebook formats, and print at Schuler Books.

Book Review: DEAD SPELL, by Belinda Frisch

I've Fallen Under the Dark Enchantment of Dead Spell!

Every so often an author comes along whose story puts a fresh spin on a genre and Belinda Frisch has done just that with her debut horror novel Dead Spell.

Frisch deftly straddles the murky line separating darkness from light; her characters are rich and real. With young friends Brea and Harmony, readers quickly come to understand the dychotomy that resides within their lives – everything is not what it appears. The mystery deepens as an unseen entity known only as "Tom" wreaks havoc on Harmony, sending Brea in search of answers. Answers which I, for one, found myself ill-prepared for.

Dead Spell is the perfect combination of thrills, chills, and even a few ligh-hearted moments, too. Her words paint a sinister portrait of what can await an unsuspecting soul in the darkness of their own mind. A story of friendhship, small town secrets, and an exceptionally creepy thing that goes bump in the night, Dead Spell signals the introduction of a new voice on the horror scene. I can't wait to see where Belinda Frisch takes us next!

Get your copy of Dead Spell today and I promise you won't sleep tonight!