Eden Baylee's Blog, page 74

@JohnDolanAuthor and @FionaQuinnBooks create CHAOS together

Two authors, whom I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing and reading, have joined creative forces to write a book.

Chaos is Come Again, courtesy of John Dolan and Fiona Quinn, officially releases today to glowing reviews.

Read my review below, and don’t miss this one!

CHAOS IS COME AGAIN is off-the-wall addictive!

In Chaos is Come Again, an oddball mix of characters converge in a tale replete with human foibles, a serial killer, and a fantastical love story. While merging the outlandish with the sacred and the absurd with the believable, it unapologetically tramples political correctness to a pulp.

There are so many unique hooks to pull you in.

Sensationalist author, Travis Bishop, is hiding in London after fleeing death threats from his home country. Some of his fellow Americans are not taking kindly to his blasphemous re-invention of Judas as a saint and Jesus as a vampire. Of course, his publisher demands an immediate sequel to his masterpiece.

Then there’s Teagan. Not since Stephen King’s, Annie Wilkes, have I met such an unforgettable villainess. She is no masterpiece, but she is certainly a piece of work.

And how about a modern-day romance spawned on Twitter? Two people bantering from opposite sides of the world with only 140 characters—flirtatious and fun, but can it lead to love? In reading their conversations, one might think it bizarrely possible.

And there’s more, much more …

Despite the intricate dance of deception and obsession throughout multiple story threads, the mood of the book is defiantly upbeat. This can only be attributed to the propulsive storytelling of its authors. Much in the style of Tom Robbins, the pairing of John Dolan and Fiona Quinn has created a novel that defies genre and easy summation. You must read the book to experience its indescribable chaos, so do yourself a favour and grab a copy!

PS. Just when you thought 42 was the answer to everything, you’ll discover 23 is actually the ultimate meaning of life.

Buy the e-book from: Amazon worldwide

Buy the print version on Amazon

“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul

But I do love thee! And when I love thee not

Chaos is come again.”

Sean hears voices in his head.

Travis snorts cocaine.

Teagan thinks she’s the next Lady Gaga.

Avery has the boss from Hell and a mother with dementia.

And Goose thinks he can catch a serial killer.

‘Chaos is Come Again’ is a psychological suspense, a mystery, and a love story – loaded with irreverent humour, and viewed through the lens of obsession.

WARNING: This book contains references to Judas Iscariot, a dwarf and a performing monkey.

Find John and Fiona at their virtual homes

Blog – Galericulate | Twitter @JohnDolanAuthor

Smashwords | Website | Amazon US – UK

Goodreads  | Facebook | Google +

John was originally interviewed Jan. 2013.

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Website | Facebook | Twitter @FionaQuinnBooks

ThrillWriting Blog | Google + | Pinterest

Amazon US – UK

Fiona was originally interviewed April 2014.

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Filed under: Author Promotions

Music Monday looks at Both Sides Now

This beautiful song is a great choice for NaNoWriMo because of its book-related inspiration.

“Both Sides Now,” written by Joni Mitchell, first appeared on her 1969 album Clouds. 

While traveling on a plane, she was reading Saul Bellow’s Henderson the Rain King. Early in the book Henderson the Rain King was also on a plane on his way to Africa when he looked down and saw clouds.

From this tidbit, Joni Mitchell came up with this classic song.

Enjoy and have a great week,

eden

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“… Oh but now old friends they’re acting strange,

They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed

Well something’s lost, but something’s gained

In living every day.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It’s life’s illusions I recall

I really don’t know life at all

I’ve looked at life from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It’s life’s illusions I recall

I really don’t know life at all.”

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Music Monday brings NaNoWriMo and the Book of Love

November is National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo. I liken the event to “vomiting out a novel” in a month’s time.  Participants began writing on November 1st with the goal to write a 50,000-word novel by 11:59:59, November 30th.

The main objective of NaNoWriMo is output. It’s about quantity, not quality. Given this, anyone can join and is encouraged to write with abandon, take risks, and most importantly—forget their internal editor. Some years ago, I tried it and failed. It’s not for everyone, but I know many friends and writers do it and find it a tremendous way to kickstart their writing.

Here’s a song about books and writing by Peter Gabriel, and for all those participating in NaNoWriMo this year, I wish you much success,

~eden 

 

 

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Clowning Around ~ A story for @RBwood’s HALLOWEEN Word Count Podcast

You can also hear me read this story  on:  Episode #43 of R.B. Wood’s “The Word Count” podcast.

The prompt for this podcast was to use these three words in the story: Cloak. Knife. Blood.

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I hate Halloween—with a passion. And every year it rolls around, even in this godforsaken hellhole, I am reminded of why I hate it.

“Ooooh…you’re the clown, you’re the crazy clown!”

I curl up tighter in my corner.

“Clowns! Clowns! The clowns are going to get you!”

And the taunts continue until someone yells for them to shut up. When my back hurts and my bum is sore from sitting on the cold, hard floor, I drag myself to bed and plug my ears with the corners of my thin blanket. There’s no use fighting it. The dream will come, as it has every year for the past ten years.

***

The teacher asked us to dress up for Halloween. There’d be a competition to see who had the best costume. Everyone in the class would get a vote to choose the winner—twenty-three votes, not counting my own. Miss Drage, our homely grade five teacher would also get a vote. I fretted. I didn’t want to do it, but I had no choice. I was already an outsider, and if I didn’t participate, it would only draw more attention to me. That was the only reason for doing it, as the prize of a basket of candies certainly didn’t entice me. I hated candy, which was another reason the kids in the class considered me strange.

I stressed the entire week leading up to the competition. I threw temper tantrums and snapped at my mom every time she asked me what was wrong. Finally, two days before I had to have a costume, she’d had enough.

“Young lady,” she said, “I’m tired of your sulky behavior. Tell me what’s wrong or I’m not buying you another book this month.”

“No!” I screamed. Books were my only refuge, and her threat was akin to death for me. It didn’t take much coaxing from her before I spilled the story of needing a costume.

“Damn it,” she said, “as if we don’t have better things to spend our money on.”

“I know, Mom.” I wiped tears from my face. “I know we can’t afford to buy a costume. I don’t know what to do.”

Somehow, Mom must have known this meant something to me, because aside from one Scholastic book a month, I never asked for much. Even as a kid, I understood her job as a factory piece-maker afforded us few luxuries.

That night, I went to bed with my tattered copy of Stephen King’s Carrie and reread parts of the book under the covers with a flashlight. “It’s okay to be different,” I whispered as I fell asleep. “It’s okay if I don’t have a costume.” I tried hard to convince myself that I didn’t care about some stupid competition.

***

“I’m making you a clown suit,” Mom said when I came home from school the next day. She held up flannel material that alternated red, green, blue, and yellow stripes, cut in the shape of a small body. “Come here and let me see if this fits before I sew the pieces together.”

“Oh Mom!” I rushed over and gave her a hug.

Mom wrapped the fabric around me, pinning key areas. “I’ll leave the legs a bit baggy,” she said, marking off the length of the sleeves with chalk. “How does that feel?”

“I love it!” I squealed.

Mom sewed late into the night, so I could bring the costume to school the next day. The intermittent chug-chug-chug of her Singer sewing machine, like an old steam engine, lulled me to sleep. I had a good feeling I was going to win the competition.

And I should have won.

My costume was the best, the most authentic, the one that looked like it cost at least fifteen dollars off the rack of a department store.

When all the kids stood in a circle awaiting Miss Drage’s count of the votes, my confidence quickly diminished. I received one vote, and that was the one I had put in for myself.

Lizzy Kemp won with fifteen votes—the popular girl, the one everyone liked because they were too afraid not to like her. She had a nothing costume cut from a black garbage bag, draped around her neck and secured with a clothespin. Some red food coloring streaked down the corners of her mouth. Countess Dracula, she called herself, flapping her plastic cloak when she won. She pranced around the circle with her winning basket of candies.

“I always knew you were a clown!” she said when she passed me, sticking out her tongue in my face. “Now we all know it’s true!” Some of the kids laughed. Miss Drage uttered a feeble “Now, now kids … be nice.”

Next to me stood Tim Sheppard. He tried to dress up as a pirate, but his costume consisted of a badly constructed eye-patch and rolled up pants. He didn’t have a sword, so he carried a knife—a steak knife. Lizzy made fun of him too, so I thought I’d do us both a favor. I grabbed his knife and stabbed Lizzy in the neck.

Her blood gushed dark and thick. That’s what I remember the most, how dark the blood was, so much darker than the fake blood on her face.

Thank you for reading. ♥

Feel free to leave a comment or question. Feedback, whether good or bad is always welcome.

~eden

Filed under: Short Stories & Poetry

NEW Release by @LarryEnright ~ The Blacker Death

Good friend and author, Larry Enright has just released a very timely book called The Blacker Death.

I’ve picked up my copy and look forward to this one. Find out more about Larry if you don’t know him already. Here’s an interview I did with him August 2011.

Congratulations on your newest book, Larry!

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Buy from Amazon worldwide

Soon to be released in paperback and other online retailers

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The Black Death. The Bubonic Plague. Originating in China in 1334, it traveled the silk trade routes from Asia, reaching Europe in 1347, where it spread across the continent in the worst pandemic in recorded history. By some estimates, it claimed the lives of two hundred million people, nearly half the world’s population.

Today, there are over seven billion humans on the planet. It no longer takes years for disease to spread by caravan across the deserts. It travels by car, by train, and by plane.

An outbreak of Ebola that started in the West African country of Guinea grabbed the world’s attention when it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal. In eight months, the virus infected over 8,000 people. Over 4,000 died. It was the worst Ebola outbreak in history, the first true epidemic of the virus since its discovery in 1976. The Director of the CDC said it would only get worse before it got better.

Then it did.

They called it the Blacker Death.

(Note: Some language and situations in this book may not be appropriate for children under 18)

Connect with Larry

Website | Facebook | Blog | Twitter @LarryEnright

Independent Author Network | YouTube Channel

Amazon author page | Goodreads | Google +

Larry Enright was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an award-winning author and has one best-selling novel. He lives on a farm on where he grows his stories in peaceful climes.

His works include: the best seller “Four Years from Home,” “A King in a Court of Fools,” “Buffalo Nickel Christmas,” “12|21|12,” 2013 IPPY award-winning “A Cape May Diamond,” “Walter Stickle and the Galactic Rangers,” “Walter Stickle and the Goldotti of Deamus,” and “The Blacker Death.”

Find him at larryenright.com.

Filed under: Author Promotions

Pre-order REFLECTIONS before it publishes Nov. 1st

I’m proud to announce a new release that drops this weekend. Reflections is a collection of short stories, poetry, and essays from some terrific authors, a few of whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with and interviewed on my blog—Darcia Helle, Maria Savva, and Jason McIntryre.

It’s on sale November 1st, but you can pre-order it now from:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada

ONLY 99 cents! I love short stories, so I’ve ordered my copy already. Get yours now!

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Do you trust what you see?
Right becomes left.

Up becomes down.

Distorted, unreal.
Your world looks new when you see its…

REFLECTIONS

Filed under: Author Promotions

New Release ~ PILATE’S BLOOD by @a_greenwood on SALE Oct. 30th

I’m proud to announce a new release from author and friend, J. Alexander Greenwood. I remember when he wrote the first book in his John Pilate Mystery series, and now he’s releasing his fourth!

Along with his many other fans, I’ve been waiting for Pilate’s Blood for some time. Now you can pre-order it prior to its release Oct. 30th at the low, low price of $2.99. The price will go up to $3.99 on Halloween.

The sale price of 99 cents for each of the first three books will also end on Halloween–so pick them up now!

Pilate’s Cross | Pilate’s Key | Pilate’s Ghost

Get yourself into Alex’s terrific mystery series if you haven’t already.

Now, let’s learn more about Pilate’s Blood!

Buy Links

Amazon: US | UK | Canada | Other regions

The long-awaited fourth book in the award-nominated John Pilate Mystery Series…

John Pilate reluctantly returns to tiny Cross Township…a place resembling a mutated Mayberry packed with guns, a serious lack of anti-depression meds, a rampaging crime boss and an imaginary friend who won’t shut the hell up.

Once a hero, now Pilate is broke, bored and forced to take a job imbued with more authority than the dogcatcher but far less respect. What’s worse is there’s criminality afoot and nobody to deal with it but Pilate. Sure, things could work out just fine…then again, it may come down to spilling Pilate’s Blood…Thicker Than Water, Twice As Deadly.

Connect to Alex

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Twitter @a_greenwood | Instagram | LinkedIn

Jason McIntyre, top-selling suspense author of On The Gathering Storm and Thalo Blue, likes Greenwood’s approach to his books.

“Greenwood offers a fresh take on the mystery thriller with his John Pilate Series. His novels are populated with flawed and neurotic—yet instantly likable—characters who find themselves thrown into maddeningly entertaining situations. Greenwood writes fun, accessible fiction that leaves readers asking for more.”

Read Alex’s complete bio and get a list of all his books on his Amazon author page.

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Filed under: Author Promotions

Music Monday remembers Jack Bruce

I recently featured Cream on my blog, so it was very sad to hear about the passing of legendary bassist, Jack Bruce.

RIP Jack … hope you have year-round sunshine where ever you are,

eden

 

 

Filed under: Musical Mondays

Read: RAW by Peter Cantelon (@cantelon)

I have never re-blogged an article, and as it turns out, I don’t even know how to do it properly, so instead, I’m sharing it via a link at the end of my intro.

Normally, when I have something to say, I’m able to say it in my own words. This time, however, I’ve had difficulty expressing my thoughts clearly, and then … I came upon a blog last night that said what I could not say.

It speaks to the recent shootings in Quebec and Ottawa. It speaks to the unity of Canadian people, and it also speaks to a collective sadness. Over the next weeks, with the funerals of two Canadian soldiers, the nation will be mourning.

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist, was shot Wednesday while standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, and two days earlier, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was run down in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

The killers were also Canadian, homegrown terrorists.

Please read the article, simply entitled:
 RAW
by Peter Cantelon

 

I don’t know Mr. Cantelon, but he has articulated his thoughts and feelings so well in his article, that I would be remiss in not sharing it. If you feel the same, please comment on and share his blog.

- eden ♥

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Filed under: Important Announcements, Revelations & Humor

Eden’s Exchange Talks to Author D.A. Bale (@DABale1)

Author D.A. Bale and I met when I discovered her terrific blog. Its tagline is: A blog about indie authors for indie authors and readers alike. You will recall I had the pleasure of being interviewed by her last month.

I’m happy to return the favor and really enjoyed learning more about DA. I know you will too.

Please welcome Ms. Bale and discover her books.

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Welcome DA, let’s start off by telling my readers about your  greatest extravagance.

I’m kinda a frugal person in most cases. As a single mom, most extravagances were spent on my son and providing him with incredible experiences. When he was a freshman in high school, he was chosen to be a part of a music tour of Europe. After reading the nomination letter, he just looked at me and asked if we could afford it. I told him I’d go in hoc for the rest of my life if I had to in order to make that happen for him. Ended up that I didn’t have to resort to such an extreme, but I’d have given my right arm to have enjoyed such an opportunity at his age. Travel opens up such a wonderful view of the world and you’re never the same for the experience it affords. I’ll always consider that trip to be a huge turning point in my son’s outlook, and no price is too great for that.

Perfect. I agree the lessons learned from travel are invaluable. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d learn how to sit down and shut up. Seriously, I can run off at the mouth and talk for days on end (as long as you feed me). When in Junior High, I even had a teacher who would give a party at the end of the week if I could remain silent from the moment I stepped into his class until the moment I walked out for the week. That earned me a lot of encouragement from fellow classmates – and much ribbing as well. Needless to say, I think we only had two or three parties in his class that entire year. At this point, I think I’m a lost cause. :)

I would’ve never guessed :D. What is one thing you want to do before you die?

This is an easy one! It has always been my dream to visit St. Petersburg, Russia someday. When I was a young girl, such an idea was a big deal because of the communist Iron Curtain under the Soviet regime. I never thought such an opportunity would be afforded in my lifetime, but after the dissolution of the Soviet state, the dream is now one step closer to reality. I hope someday to tour the Winter Palace and Tsarskoe Selo’s Alexander Palace and perhaps discover what really happened to the Amber Room after WWII.

I think you can definitely accomplish this one. My dream is to visit India. Do you have a motto you live by?

Just because you have the right to do something, doesn’t make it the right thing to do.

Agree. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Besides raising my son? My greatest accomplishment otherwise would have to be the day I became a published author. From the time I was a little girl, I wrote, and wrote, and wrote. Teachers always commented on my papers and stories and about how vivid they were. My mom even kept some of her favorites, one being a paper about my first visit to the ocean and frolicking with the birds along the beach. Her accolades were the greatest praise I could’ve ever received. To this day, she still thinks a lot of my writing – and no matter how old I get, it continues to mean so much to me.

That is wonderful praise indeed. Let’s discuss your writing. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Oh gosh, EVERYWHERE! My life. Experiences. Emotions. People. Places. I have very vivid and disturbing nightmares sometimes that provide much fodder for stories and novels. Sometimes I will sit down and just write book blurbs for stories that don’t yet exist. Many times this exercise will inspire an idea I need to explore further, so I’ll write a little treatise on characters and places to include in the story. Sadly, I will probably never find the time to write down ALL of them.

What is the best advice you’ve received as a writer?

Make your bad guys really bad. In my first novel RUNNING INTO THE DARKNESS, I originally started writing it and merely alluding to the atrocities committed by the antagonists. After some encouragement and a little hand-holding, I decided to plumb some serious depths and write out the scenes to show them as they happened. It was amazing the myriad of emotions writing such scenes brought out in me. I experienced anger and fear, horror and such creepy feelings when crawling into the skin of said characters in order to write those scenes, many times I felt the urge to bathe repeatedly when finished. I cried buckets too. It’s these scenes that either grab or disgust readers when they comment or review. I guess the evoking of emotions in others means I did my job as a writer.

And here is a blurb for Running into the Darkness.

Samantha never intended to kill the President. As a doctor, she swore an oath to protect life – not take it. But that was before he ordered the murder of her family.

Swept from the frigid New York City winter, Dr. Samantha Bartlett returns to the Midwest to once again confront the sting of death – and face those she left behind. But she’s not alone. A strange man she dubs “Shades” haunts her every step as she seeks answers to the inferno which claimed her grandmother’s life, an eerie reminder of her parents’ deaths. The secrets Samantha uncovers forever shatter the image of those she only thought she knew.

Confronted by Shades, Samantha joins a secret underworld known only as the Elite, where a web of power and control is woven deep within governments worldwide. Their sights are set on the seat of domination behind the Resolute desk that is the powerhouse of nations – the presidency of the United States of America. Samantha becomes the Elite’s unlikely key to infiltrating the White House at its most intimate levels.

The Hippocratic Oath. All doctors swear by it. But the most despicable deeds must be avenged. The quest for blood swallows Samantha in a veil of darkness and threatens to destroy everything she once stood for.

And from the darkness there is no escape.

Name a few of your favorite authors and books, and why you like them.

Love Clive Cussler’s original works with the larger-than-life Dirk Pitt character. TREASURE and SHOCKWAVE are probably my absolute favorites in that series. One of my all-time favorites is Dean Koontz’s INTENSITY – and trust me, it lives up to the title. J.R.R. Tolkien’s LORD OF THE RINGS tops the fantasy chart, while Charlotte Bronte’s JANE EYRE is one among the classics I try to read nearly every year. I love Jane’s journey, the strength of her character and passion for living. She ends up doing what she believes to be right, regardless of what others may tell her. Perhaps I relate to her a little that way, as I’m a teensy bit of a self-minded individual too.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of being a writer?

Well my favorite part is easy – writing! Seriously, I love exploring the characters in a story and seeing how they change from perhaps how I initially saw them to becoming so alive they could almost leap from the page into the real world. There’ve been many times in writing a character within a situation where suddenly they take a turn I didn’t expect. Case in point, in RUNNING INTO THE DARKNESS a character was supposed to span the first two books, but then as I was closing in on finishing book one, he came up to me (in my mind, of course), laid down his weapon and said he would give up his life to save my main character. I fought him. I told him he was crazy. In the end I capitulated because in a small way, that action redeemed his earlier deeds. Of course, that left me in the lurch for PIERCING THE DARKNESS.

The least favorite aspect of writing…hmm. I’ll have to get back with you on that.

Okay, here’s a blurb of Piercing the Darkness while you think on that ;).

Samantha Bartlett is running for her life. Haunted by her past actions and with nearly every government agency on the manhunt, Samantha lives alone and off the grid. But those who have come under her care won’t let her simply shove them aside. Surrounded by the unlikeliest of humanity, Samantha still feels the sharp sting of loneliness, but for the first time in years she also tastes the sweetness of freedom – for the moment.

For FBI Agent Joe Roberts, Washington D.C. has become too dicey since President Warner’s murder – and a constant reminder of his encounter with their primary suspect. An opportunity arises to continue investigating Oleander Enterprises and what has become known as the Hitler Survival Conspiracy. Key documents are making their way from classified vaults back to where experiments first took place. Joe stops at nothing to intercept them, even when his actions place him on the Elite’s short list – and the FBI’s.

Debrille’s plans for an Elite Empire are nearing fruition, but without the brilliant Dr. Marcus, his life’s work threatens to crumble. The Bartlett woman needs to be silenced before ruining his carefully devised schemes. Debrille is tired of games with mere jokers, but the ace is in position – and only waiting to be played.

The search for the truth brings the participants to a breaking point collision. The battle lines are redrawn as reality pierces a lifetime of lies – and freedom can only be found in truth.

What part of writing a novel do you enjoy the most? The least?

I love developing the characters, having them come alive to me so I can make them come alive to my readers. The whole ‘what makes me tick’ part is interesting to explore because this is what truly fleshes them out to me. Rarely do I realize every detail about a character until I start placing them into situations and scenes in my novel – especially when they’re in those hot water moments. They even surprise me!

The least? That’s a hard one. Maybe not necessarily the writing of the novel itself, but the condensing into the book blurb/description. When you have to take your 70,000 to 100,000 word tome and strip it away into a three or four paragraph summary, you might as well strip the skin from my bones. Ouch! 

I agree it’s an art to summarize a novel and make it sound enticing. Is it important for you to know the title or ending of a book before you write it?

Title no. Ending yes – or at least some reasonable semblance of an end. Before I sit down to start a new novel, I generally have the beginning and end firm in my mind, with a few key moments thrown in here and there. Otherwise, I let the story and characters cut the remainder of the trail. The process is quite organic.

What is your best advice for new authors?

Regardless if you’ve had experience in another writing discipline in the past (screenplays, articles, poetry, etc.) you must learn today’s novel-writing techniques. The most important of these are:

Understand proper point-of-view usage and the importance of scene/chapter breaks to delineate shifts in character viewpoints. This is KEY if you want your readers to immerse themselves into your characters, to see what they see, feel what they feel, smell what they smell, and touch what they touch.

Pacing will either bog your story down or speed it up. Understand the pacing structures of your genre and how conflict comes into play to drive readers forward – give it some energy. Thrillers have action and fast pacing, whereas Fantasy will contain variations in pacing and moments of reprieve from the action to give readers a breather. Romance is guy meets girl, so it’s conflict and passion that provide the energy to move this one. Mystery is all about who-done-it, so make readers work and keep guessing to discover the prize inside. Just remember, no matter the genre, never be afraid to layer in some conflict to keep the pace moving. ‘Cause hey, that’s life!

Understand the concept of showing versus telling. Are you writing the story’s action and conflicts in real time so the reader experiences it as it is happening (showing), or are you just telling us what or why something happens after the fact? Do you, the author, feel it necessary to explain to readers why a character or situation within the story is written a particular way(telling)? The showing versus telling is probably one of the hardest concepts for new authors to grasp, but as long as you keep studying and learning about the difference, eventually you’ll find writing novels as showing to be effortless.

Lastly – edit, edit, and edit some more. Join a critique group. Open yourself up to criticism BEFORE publishing or else you’ll be sorely unprepared for the opinions of those who purchase your book(s). Think like an avocado and build a thick skin. Then keep writing!

What is the genre of your books?

I’m a lover of thriller, mystery and suspense, with a little fantasy thrown in for window dressing. RUNNING INTO THE DARKNESS and PIERCING THE DARKNESS (the first two in the Deepest Darkness series) are thrillers, while my novelette THE STUDY is suspense. I’m also working on a new series of mysteries with just a touch of humor. As most of my critique group will tell you, I’m not very good with humor, so I figured I needed a new challenge. Thus the BEFORE & AFTER series was born!

What inspired you to write your series?

The Deepest Darkness series encompasses so many facets of my own life, emotions, and experiences in the world of power and politics. It began as more of a cathartic exercise until I made the mistake of sharing it with my critique group. After that, it quickly grew in scope as I layered in more characters and elements.

What has the reception been to your books?

It’s been interesting. Readers either love it with a passion or hate it with an equal passion. There’s very little in-between. What touches me the most is when someone will email me about how this or that character or situation spoke to them. Fan correspondence is one of the best aspects of being an author.

What has surprised you the most about writing your books?

That so much of my family loves it. Seriously! I was terrified to let me mother read it, but she surprised me most of all. My mom has been my biggest supporter. I don’t care how old we all get, it’s still a great feeling when a parent or two voices their pride in you.

Moms are so special in that way ;). Let’s have a quick lightning round to finish off.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to or would like to travel to? My favorite place of travel thus far has been Alaska – I love the cold and the incredible beauty of the mountains. Someday I’d like the opportunity to visit and explore around St. Petersburg, Russia and perhaps Scotland.

Name a food you can eat everyday. Bacon.

Salty or sweet? Major sweet tooth here that can only be satisfied with chocolate.

Cat/dog/other pet? I have two cats, but eventually I’d like to get my son a Husky. My cats will hate me for that one.

Favorite style of music? I can’t pick just one of my favorites. I love classical, orchestral movie soundtracks, rock, pop, jazz…about the only music styles I don’t like are country and rap.

The best gift you’ve ever received? When my son was young, my mother always took him Christmas shopping for me. One year he searched high and low to find just the perfect gift – a beautiful jeweled bookmark of purple enamel. I was so surprised and astounded that at such a young age, he knew his mother so well to personally choose a gift that represented two of my favorite things. I’ll treasure it always. 

So sweet ;). Your favorite season. Winter!!! I love the snow.

You and I are opposites there! Name something you cannot go a day without. A toothbrush and clean underwear. I know what you’re saying – TMI! TMI!! TMI!!!

Ha! Now THAT is an original and honest response! Thanks so much for coming by Eden’s Exchange, DA, and I’m thrilled we are connected.

Readers, please visit DA at all her virtual homes and buy her books using the links below:

Running into the Darkness

(Currently FREE!)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Piercing the Darkness

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

The Study

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

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Connect To D.A. Bale 

DA Bale Publishing & Blog | Amazon Author Page

 Facebook | Twitter @DABale1 | GoodReads

Sometimes life emulates fiction.

Life is filled with tragedy and Ms. Bale’s writing reflects this reality. However, there is always a silver lining…even if one must spend their entire life searching for it.

In her previous career, Ms. Bale traveled the United States as a Government Relations Liaison, working closely with Congressional offices and various government agencies. This experience afforded her a glimpse into the sometimes “not so pretty” reality of the political sphere. Much of this reality and various locations throughout her travels make it into her writing.

She dreams of the day she can return to visit Alaska.

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Filed under: Author & Artist Interviews