August Norman's Blog, page 5
August 4, 2019
Center Grove Magazine features debut novelist August Norman
Center Grove Magazine, a Towne Post Network publication that covers the Center Grove area of Johnson County, Indiana, featured debut thriller author August Norman in the August 2019 issue.
Having grown up in Greenwood and attended Center Grove High School, August talks about his journey from Indiana to Hollywood, and his transition from performer to author.
Of course, there’s a few awkward high school pics.
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post Center Grove Magazine features debut novelist August Norman appeared first on August Norman Books.
July 27, 2019
Crime Novelist August Norman to appear as Guest Speaker at SCWC
As part of the 17th Southern California Writers’ Conference, author August Norman will appear as the guest speaker on Friday night, September 20, at 8 PM.
A Weekend For Words, September 20-22, 2019THE GREAT WHITE ART is what John Gardner called it, what it is that we writers do, crafting pages from blank. While artists we may be, today’s publishing realities mandate that, in order to win over the needed, passionate advocates of our work, we must also become entrepreneurialauthors. Entrepreneurial in spirit. Entrepreneurial in execution. Excellence in craft alone no longer cuts it. But excellence in craft and a meaningful book still matters most.
Having facilitated well over $4 million worth of first-time authors’ book and screen deals since 1986, the SCWC remains devoted to writers of all levels working to become both exceptional authors and entrepreneurial self-advocates. Through our uniquely tailored, inclusive programs the SCWC empowers writers with the vital recognition, encouragement and understanding to better succeed in today’s ever-changing transmedia marketplace.
Regardless which path to publication you are pursuing, whether you’re a writer just starting out, a writer unable to determine why your work’s not working, a writer simply in search of some answers, a writer wanting feedback on what you’ve written, or just a writer who wants to hang with other writers and publishing professionals in a safe, supportive community, join us for the 17th Annual Southern California Writers’ Conference *LA (in Irvine), Sept. 20-22, 2019.
Because a writer is a writer before, as well as after, publication. And today more than at any other time, publishing is personal.
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post Crime Novelist August Norman to appear as Guest Speaker at SCWC appeared first on August Norman Books.
June 18, 2019
August Norman sits down with Advice to Writers
Thriller author August Norman sat down with Advice to Writers to discuss all things thriller, mystery, and writing in general, plus the next book in the Caitlin Bergman series.
Click here to read the interview.
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post August Norman sits down with Advice to Writers appeared first on August Norman Books.
June 14, 2019
Book Reading and Signing – Barnes and Noble – Bloomington, Illinois
Author August Norman will read from and sign copies of his debut thriller, COME AND GET ME: A Caitlin Bergman Novel on Saturday, August 3rd at 2 PM. Available now from Crooked Lane Books in hardcover and eBook, Come and Get Me has been called “skillfully-rendered” and “full of page-turning action” by Publishers Weekly, and a “solid purchase for mystery collections” and “good recommendation for fans of strong female leads” by Booklist.
Set primarily in Bloomington, Indiana, Los Angeles, and the Bahamas, Come and Get Me is perfect for any Midwesterner who likes a dark mystery.
ABOUT COME AND GET ME
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post Book Reading and Signing – Barnes and Noble – Bloomington, Illinois appeared first on August Norman Books.
KRL News Reviews Come and Get Me by August Norman
"Bursts onto the page in a no-holds-barred, attention-grabbing, can't-put-it-down style."
Sandra Murphy
KRL News & Reviews
Critic Sandra Murphy from KRL News posted a review of Come and Get Me: A Caitlin Bergman Novel, ending with, “Expect to find this on my Best of 2019 list.”
Click here to read the entire review.
ABOUT COME AND GET ME:
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post KRL News Reviews Come and Get Me by August Norman appeared first on August Norman Books.
June 12, 2019
Mystery Scene Magazine reviews Come and Get Me by August Norman
"A smart, complex, and capable woman who kicks ass and takes names"
Hank Wagner
Mystery Scene Magazine
Critic Hank Wagner from Mystery Scene Magazine posted his review of Come and Get Me.
Click here to read the entire review.
ABOUT COME AND GET ME:
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post Mystery Scene Magazine reviews Come and Get Me by August Norman appeared first on August Norman Books.
June 5, 2019
Debut author August Norman to appear at Thrillerfest 2019
Start Spreading the News.
As part of the debut class of 2019, thriller author August Norman will appear at Thrillerfest XIV in New York City’s Grand Hyatt Hotel. The debut author breakfast will let thriller and mystery lovers get to know the latest and greatest thriller authors and will culminate in a signing room immediately after, where copies of COME AND GET ME will be available for purchase.
FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE
ABOUT COME AND GET ME:
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post Debut author August Norman to appear at Thrillerfest 2019 appeared first on August Norman Books.
Come and Get Me by August Norman Audio Book coming soon
The audio book version of Come and Get Me: A Caitlin Bergman Novel from Dreamscape Media is now available for pre-order on Amazon, with an estimated release date of August 13, 2019!
I can’t wait to hear Caitlin’s voice come to life!
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR COPY
ABOUT COME AND GET ME:
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
The post Come and Get Me by August Norman Audio Book coming soon appeared first on August Norman Books.
June 3, 2019
Mystery Author Ellen Byron and Thriller Author August Norman to Speak to Orange County Sisters in Crime
Ellen Byron, Agatha-award winning author of the Cajun Country mystery series, and debut thriller writer August Norman will speak with the Sisters in Crime Orange County.
Their topic will be FROM HOLLYWOOD TO NOVELS & BACK
Of course, their latest releases from Crooked Lane Books will be available for purchase and signing onsite via Mystery Ink.
Ellen’s TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. She’s written over 200 national magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning Graceland. A native New Yorker who attended Tulane University, Ellen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.
Ellen Byron authors the Cajun Country Mystery series. A Cajun Christmas Killing and Body on the Bayou both won the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery and were nominated for Agatha awards in the category of Best Contemporary Novel. Plantation Shudders was nominated for Agatha, Lefty, and Daphne awards. Her most recent Cajun Country Mystery, Mardi Gras Murder, won the Agatha Award.
Originally from central Indiana, August Norman has called Los Angeles home for two decades, writing for and/or appearing in movies, TV, stage productions, web series and even commercial advertising.
Norman’s debut book, COME AND GET ME, came out this April.
“Chilling…The skillfully rendered plot is full of page-turning action… Norman is off to a solid start.” Publishers’ Weekly
The post Mystery Author Ellen Byron and Thriller Author August Norman to Speak to Orange County Sisters in Crime appeared first on August Norman Books.
Santa Barbara Literary Journal Reviews Come and Get Me by August Norman
ABOUT COME AND GET ME:
An intrepid journalist confronts a small town’s dark secrets in Come and Get Me, a breakneck thriller for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Julia Keller.
At Indiana University, someone’s been studying the female student body:
their dating customs, nocturnal activities―and how long they can survive in captivity.
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is invited back to campus to receive an honorary degree, she finds an opportunity for a well-earned victory lap―and a chance to face the trauma that almost destroyed her as an undergrad. But her lap becomes an all-out race when a student begs her to probe an unsolved campus disappearance: Angela Chapman went out one Friday night and never came back.
To find the missing woman, Caitlin must join forces with a local police detective and the department that botched her own case so long ago.
But while Caitlin follows the clues behind Angela’s disappearance, someone else is following her…
Unearthing secrets hidden beneath an idyllic Midwestern college town, Caitlin must expose what really happened to Angela―before she herself becomes the newest addition to a twisted collection.
"Starts with a surprise, and keeps on surprising...Gorgeous writing"
Lorelei Armstrong
Santa Barbara Literary Journal Vol. 3
Author and critic Lorelei Armstrong reviewed Come and Get Me: A Caitlin Bergman Novel for the Santa Barbara Literary Journal’s third volume, Bellatrix.
Click here to get the latest copy of the Santa Barbara Literary Journal.
Reprinted here with permission from the SBLitJo
Can I start by saying that it is about time to find a character who can face stress and fear and still order a bacon cheeseburger and home fries? I have had more than enough of characters, particularly female characters, who get too upset by what is happening to them to even eat. But Caitlin Bergman is not your average character, and even in very hard circumstances she’s going to have lunch.
Come and Get Me, the first mystery in what I hope will be a long series by August Norman, starts with a surprise and keeps surprising. Caitlin Bergman, famed investigative journalist and author, returns to her home town of Bloomington, Indiana, to finally receive her degree from her almost-alma-mater. Almost, because Bergman left suddenly twenty years earlier, just short of receiving her degree, abandoning friends and all ties to the town and school. In her talk to the current crop of journalism students, Bergman finally admits her reason for leaving: two decades ago, just before her own graduation, she was raped. Bergman tells the students she has returned “to finish that story.”
One crime would be enough for any mystery to be getting on with, but Come and Get Me quickly gives us a second: an Indiana University student, Angela Chapman, went missing two years earlier. Her best friend, Lakshmi Anjale, the obvious star of the Indiana University journalism program, sees a great possibility in the arrival of Caitlin Bergman to Bloomington. Perhaps the journalist who exposed the corruption of the entire LAPD can find one missing young woman. Caitlin Bergman tries to avoid becoming involved, but Lakshmi is persistent. She and the missing girl’s mother have pursued the case as far as they can, the local police seem strangely blocked in their own investigation, and the mystery still feels too alive to ignore. Caitlin Bergman is, reluctantly, on the story.
Allow me to pause and mention the writing. I have had the good fortune to hear more work by August Norman, and he has the chops. It’s not just a female lead who doesn’t push away her food untasted when times are tough, which is such a generic choice on the part of most writers that I could start collecting the proverbial dime every time I come across it. It’s how carefully August Norman considers even the minor characters we meet, the single exchanges of dialogue, and the ostensibly simple descriptions. When Caitlin Bergman visits Angela Chapman’s mother and sees the investigation headquarters she and Lakshmi have constructed for the missing Angela, we read this:
What had once been a basement home theater now housed the Find Angela Chapman headquarters. Couch, love seat, end tables—all shoved against a wall. White poster board covered any available wall space, and theories, suspicions, and questions covered the sheets of sturdy material like a science fair project no one wanted to work on.
Gorgeous writing. Neither Doris Chapman nor Lakshmi Anjale want to have to turn their homes and lives into the Find Angela center, but they have. And in this way Caitlin Bergman is drawn into the hunt. Norman doesn’t tell us, he shows us. He makes us feel it. He trusts the reader to understand, to pick up the clues he plants, to move along with Caitlin. We do.
I should mention here that I knew who the bad guy was fairly quickly. I wasn’t too put out. First time mystery novel, of course I would figure it out. But then Caitlin Bergman comes to the same conclusion. We were both wrong, and back out in the weeds without a clue. I won’t tell you who did it, so don’t worry. But this is a complex novel, with many good, well-developed suspects. A possible connection to the drug world keeps the Bloomington Police in the mix and brings in an interesting ally for Bergman, an LAPD cop she busted in her award-winning corruption exposé. And all along Bergman is also focused on her long-ago rape, the reason she came back to Indiana in the first place.
August Norman does choose to let the reader know who the bad guy is before the end, but this is a book where that is completely necessary. It does not let the air out of the story. You may not notice, as I did not notice, the clues planted early on that lead to the answers, but Bergman finds them. And she is smart enough, skilled enough, and tough enough to save the day. I won’t say that she’s a female Jack Reacher, but she’s no wilting violet. She will be going places in this series that many female leads wouldn’t. She can work a complex and dangerous story, and doesn’t flinch from nightmarish situations. She’s been hurt, but she’s moving forward. I can’t wait to see where Caitlin Bergman’s next story leads her. Whatever she faces, I know she won’t be skipping lunch.
The post Santa Barbara Literary Journal Reviews Come and Get Me by August Norman appeared first on August Norman Books.
