Michele E. Gwynn's Blog, page 29
November 6, 2014
Unhinged Part III Gets Brutal
Welcome to the Thursday FREE story posting of Unhinged: Chapter Two in the ongoing tale of a woman pushed beyond the brink. There's no going back for Jen, who now has her boss sighted in the cross hairs of her favorite 9mm.
Catch up to Parts I and II here.
CHAPTER 2
I sat outside of Jake's condominium complex in my SUV. It was about one a.m. and I could see that a lamp burned somewhere within his third floor walkup. He had the patio door opened and a breeze was stirring the vertical blinds. Every now and then I'd see him walk by going either to the kitchen or the shitter. He was probably online bullshitting some unsuspecting woman. Wake up sister! He's a liar. The bees started buzzing and my head started pounding while I watched him go about his normal activities. My right hand reached across the bench seat for my little shoebox. I popped off the lid and pulled it out. Just yesterday I had purchased a new accessory for it. It was a shiny, new silencer. Black and slimming. Just the way I like it. I screwed it into the tip, and then I leaned forward and stuffed it down the back of my jeans. Of course, the safety was on, didn't want to shoot myself in the ass. I left my shirt out to cover the handle. I had dressed for the occasion. Black jeans, black t-shirt and black tennies. Hell, even my panties were black. You’ve got to coordinate. I looked at his balcony and noticed, again, the fire escape running up to the third floor. My mind seemed more clear this time than the last. I noticed there was an old oak tree in front of the fire escape partially obscuring it from sight. Perfect. I waited. Finally, around 1:30 a.m. his light went out. He hadn't closed the patio door. What a colossal stupid ass. Didn't he realize that someone could break in easily or was he just that arrogant? I hated that he felt so secure. I hated that he was in there right now, lying in bed, thinking of how he would get me fired. I just plain hated him. The hate made the buzzing stronger. It fueled my body into motion. My vision seemed tinged by a red haze. I felt numb. I looked up and down the street. No one was out or around so I got out and jogged across the street. I reached the oak tree and stood under it for another forty-five minutes. The time seemed to pass in seconds. Then, I jumped up to grab the first rung on the fire escape. I had to jump three times before I actually got a good hold on it. I pulled myself up by using my feet on the stucco wall. It was a little difficult, but I finally got my foot on the rungs and began to climb up to the third floor. Once there, it was only about two feet over from the patio. Easy enough to step one foot onto the wall and step over. I carefully lowered myself to the patio floor, squatting down, and on hands and heels, inched my way to the opening. I peeked in and looked around. It was dark, but the light from the moon illuminated just enough that I could see inside. No sign of Jake. I came all the way in, slowly. I let my eyes adjust to the interior darkness and looked around until I located the hallway. I checked out his furnishings; ugly leather sofa and a plaid recliner that had seen better days. There was a copy of Hustler on his coffee table. Next to it was a box of tissues. Ew! I stood up, and reached around to my back to pull out the 9mm. I released the safety. It made a click that sounded loud to my sensitive ears. I held my breath and waited. Nothing. All was good. I slowly stepped into the hallway and made my way down to the doorway at the end. There were three doors, but this one was surely the master bedroom while the other two would be a guestroom and a bathroom. When I got to the last doorway, I stood just outside of it and listened. I heard a faint snore. I peeked around the door jamb and spied Jake spread eagle across the bed, bare-ass naked. Gross! He looked as white and pasty naked as he did in clothes. At least the clothes hid some of the ugliness. His small penis lay flaccid across his leg. There was some shiny semen around the tip indicating he had jacked off before falling asleep. It looked sad and pathetic. No wonder he was such an ass. If I were a man and had that shriveled little pecker, I'd be pissed off all the time, too. I almost felt sorry for him; almost. I skulked up to the bed and aimed down at his chest. He snored on, unaware. I looked at where I had aimed. Too easy, I thought. I aimed lower, right at that sad little piece of cock and bull. I thought of how Jake had made my life at work almost as miserable as Aaron had made my life at home. I mentally searched for a reason not to kill him. He had family somewhere, someone who probably loved him. I hesitated and remembered that come Monday, he would have discovered a way to kick me out of my job. I’d lose everything because of this man; another man taking vital things away from me. A cold settled into my now empty heart and my mind let loose of its moorings. My heart beat slowed, and sounded loud in my ears. The bees buzzed and filled my head with warm, fuzzy static. I fired!"Ahhhhhhhh!" The expression on his face for that split second as he looked directly into my eyes was priceless. He started to open his mouth to scream again as his brain must have finally received the signal that it had been shot. I aimed at his face and said one word, "Surprise" and fired again. He went still and quiet all at once. There was no sound with the silencer, and the only noise that could have possibly been heard was his first initial scream which was short lived, and might have only been a dream or a figment of someone's imagination. I could smell the acrid stench of a gun that had just been fired. I looked down at Jake and saw blood gushing from both his head and the area that used to be his penis. I unscrewed the silencer from the gun. It burned my fingers; still hot. But I stuffed it in my pocket and shoved the gun back down the back of my jeans. It burned my skin, but I couldn’t leave it out. I turned to leave the way I came in. Out the patio, back down the fire escape, slowly and carefully. I jumped down from the last rung and crouched under the oak. Tears glistened in my eyes from the burn of the hot metal against my back. I listened, and looked for any sign that anyone had heard and would come out to investigate. No one showed. Nothing stirred but the leaves in the trees. I walked quickly across the street to my SUV, climbed in and slowly drove off as if nothing had happened; as if I hadn’t just ended a man’s life execution-style. On the way home, I started to feel better, almost happy, so I stopped by an all-night Wendy's and picked up a large Frosty and a bottled water. Killing was some seriously hard work, and I was craving something sweet and cold. Come Monday, there would be a job opening. After all the fuss died down, I intended to apply for Jake's old position. I chugged the water and then dug into the Frosty. I licked the spork and smiled to myself. Life was just getting better. It was really great having no boundaries. And this Frosty really hit the spot. I started to laugh and just couldn’t stop. A few stray tears ran down my cheeks. They weren’t tears of sadness, but rather, tears of joy. Monday came and went without too much going on, but by Tuesday, it was all over the news. Jake had been found dead in his condo. It was being speculated that it was a professional hit. Apparently, a neighbor noticed the smell and called the landlord. The landlord discovered the body. Police were brought in and suspects were being rounded up. I heard the upper management staff discussing how the police had taken Jake's computer to search for clues. It was suspected by the way the fatal injuries were inflicted, that the crime may be the result of a love triangle. A detective had already come by and spoken to Mr. Jefferson who could offer no help whatsoever.Everyone was guessing, but no one had a clue. Perfect. I spent the day working on my resume for when the opportunity presented itself to apply for his position. My day was great. No asshole giving me shit. It was really quite peaceful and the bees were quiet.
Catch up to Parts I and II here.
CHAPTER 2
I sat outside of Jake's condominium complex in my SUV. It was about one a.m. and I could see that a lamp burned somewhere within his third floor walkup. He had the patio door opened and a breeze was stirring the vertical blinds. Every now and then I'd see him walk by going either to the kitchen or the shitter. He was probably online bullshitting some unsuspecting woman. Wake up sister! He's a liar. The bees started buzzing and my head started pounding while I watched him go about his normal activities. My right hand reached across the bench seat for my little shoebox. I popped off the lid and pulled it out. Just yesterday I had purchased a new accessory for it. It was a shiny, new silencer. Black and slimming. Just the way I like it. I screwed it into the tip, and then I leaned forward and stuffed it down the back of my jeans. Of course, the safety was on, didn't want to shoot myself in the ass. I left my shirt out to cover the handle. I had dressed for the occasion. Black jeans, black t-shirt and black tennies. Hell, even my panties were black. You’ve got to coordinate. I looked at his balcony and noticed, again, the fire escape running up to the third floor. My mind seemed more clear this time than the last. I noticed there was an old oak tree in front of the fire escape partially obscuring it from sight. Perfect. I waited. Finally, around 1:30 a.m. his light went out. He hadn't closed the patio door. What a colossal stupid ass. Didn't he realize that someone could break in easily or was he just that arrogant? I hated that he felt so secure. I hated that he was in there right now, lying in bed, thinking of how he would get me fired. I just plain hated him. The hate made the buzzing stronger. It fueled my body into motion. My vision seemed tinged by a red haze. I felt numb. I looked up and down the street. No one was out or around so I got out and jogged across the street. I reached the oak tree and stood under it for another forty-five minutes. The time seemed to pass in seconds. Then, I jumped up to grab the first rung on the fire escape. I had to jump three times before I actually got a good hold on it. I pulled myself up by using my feet on the stucco wall. It was a little difficult, but I finally got my foot on the rungs and began to climb up to the third floor. Once there, it was only about two feet over from the patio. Easy enough to step one foot onto the wall and step over. I carefully lowered myself to the patio floor, squatting down, and on hands and heels, inched my way to the opening. I peeked in and looked around. It was dark, but the light from the moon illuminated just enough that I could see inside. No sign of Jake. I came all the way in, slowly. I let my eyes adjust to the interior darkness and looked around until I located the hallway. I checked out his furnishings; ugly leather sofa and a plaid recliner that had seen better days. There was a copy of Hustler on his coffee table. Next to it was a box of tissues. Ew! I stood up, and reached around to my back to pull out the 9mm. I released the safety. It made a click that sounded loud to my sensitive ears. I held my breath and waited. Nothing. All was good. I slowly stepped into the hallway and made my way down to the doorway at the end. There were three doors, but this one was surely the master bedroom while the other two would be a guestroom and a bathroom. When I got to the last doorway, I stood just outside of it and listened. I heard a faint snore. I peeked around the door jamb and spied Jake spread eagle across the bed, bare-ass naked. Gross! He looked as white and pasty naked as he did in clothes. At least the clothes hid some of the ugliness. His small penis lay flaccid across his leg. There was some shiny semen around the tip indicating he had jacked off before falling asleep. It looked sad and pathetic. No wonder he was such an ass. If I were a man and had that shriveled little pecker, I'd be pissed off all the time, too. I almost felt sorry for him; almost. I skulked up to the bed and aimed down at his chest. He snored on, unaware. I looked at where I had aimed. Too easy, I thought. I aimed lower, right at that sad little piece of cock and bull. I thought of how Jake had made my life at work almost as miserable as Aaron had made my life at home. I mentally searched for a reason not to kill him. He had family somewhere, someone who probably loved him. I hesitated and remembered that come Monday, he would have discovered a way to kick me out of my job. I’d lose everything because of this man; another man taking vital things away from me. A cold settled into my now empty heart and my mind let loose of its moorings. My heart beat slowed, and sounded loud in my ears. The bees buzzed and filled my head with warm, fuzzy static. I fired!"Ahhhhhhhh!" The expression on his face for that split second as he looked directly into my eyes was priceless. He started to open his mouth to scream again as his brain must have finally received the signal that it had been shot. I aimed at his face and said one word, "Surprise" and fired again. He went still and quiet all at once. There was no sound with the silencer, and the only noise that could have possibly been heard was his first initial scream which was short lived, and might have only been a dream or a figment of someone's imagination. I could smell the acrid stench of a gun that had just been fired. I looked down at Jake and saw blood gushing from both his head and the area that used to be his penis. I unscrewed the silencer from the gun. It burned my fingers; still hot. But I stuffed it in my pocket and shoved the gun back down the back of my jeans. It burned my skin, but I couldn’t leave it out. I turned to leave the way I came in. Out the patio, back down the fire escape, slowly and carefully. I jumped down from the last rung and crouched under the oak. Tears glistened in my eyes from the burn of the hot metal against my back. I listened, and looked for any sign that anyone had heard and would come out to investigate. No one showed. Nothing stirred but the leaves in the trees. I walked quickly across the street to my SUV, climbed in and slowly drove off as if nothing had happened; as if I hadn’t just ended a man’s life execution-style. On the way home, I started to feel better, almost happy, so I stopped by an all-night Wendy's and picked up a large Frosty and a bottled water. Killing was some seriously hard work, and I was craving something sweet and cold. Come Monday, there would be a job opening. After all the fuss died down, I intended to apply for Jake's old position. I chugged the water and then dug into the Frosty. I licked the spork and smiled to myself. Life was just getting better. It was really great having no boundaries. And this Frosty really hit the spot. I started to laugh and just couldn’t stop. A few stray tears ran down my cheeks. They weren’t tears of sadness, but rather, tears of joy. Monday came and went without too much going on, but by Tuesday, it was all over the news. Jake had been found dead in his condo. It was being speculated that it was a professional hit. Apparently, a neighbor noticed the smell and called the landlord. The landlord discovered the body. Police were brought in and suspects were being rounded up. I heard the upper management staff discussing how the police had taken Jake's computer to search for clues. It was suspected by the way the fatal injuries were inflicted, that the crime may be the result of a love triangle. A detective had already come by and spoken to Mr. Jefferson who could offer no help whatsoever.Everyone was guessing, but no one had a clue. Perfect. I spent the day working on my resume for when the opportunity presented itself to apply for his position. My day was great. No asshole giving me shit. It was really quite peaceful and the bees were quiet.
October 29, 2014
Get Unhinged Part II on The Storybook Page
It's story book time with this week's installment of Unhinged! Come and read chapter 1 (Prologue last Thursday).
Jen is spiraling deeper into the abyss as she realizes the rules by which she has lived her life so far no longer apply. Her boundaries are non-existent. And despite her new-found freedom, she's being haunted...
Read Chapter I here. Missed last week's introduction? Check it out here.
Jen is spiraling deeper into the abyss as she realizes the rules by which she has lived her life so far no longer apply. Her boundaries are non-existent. And despite her new-found freedom, she's being haunted...
Read Chapter I here. Missed last week's introduction? Check it out here.
October 22, 2014
New Page Featuring FREE stories
Hello, fans and friends!
I'm excited to share with you a new feature on my blog, the Story Book Page. It's a tab at the top of this page you can click on to read weekly installments of a new free story written by me, and possibly soon, a few guest authors. The new installments will come out every Thursday, and you can read them here like a favorite television series.
The first story is one I began quite some back and stuck on the back burner. Unhinged is a tale of an abused woman who let's loose of her mind's moorings on this reality, and enters into a no-man's land where rules no longer apply. She embarks on a killing spree which catches the attention of Detective Monroe. Meanwhile, she keeps receiving mysterious calls from her dead ex-boyfriend. Will justice catch up to her or will she become completely unhinged?
Check out the first installment here, and feel free to leave comments or questions. UNHINGED.
I'm excited to share with you a new feature on my blog, the Story Book Page. It's a tab at the top of this page you can click on to read weekly installments of a new free story written by me, and possibly soon, a few guest authors. The new installments will come out every Thursday, and you can read them here like a favorite television series.
The first story is one I began quite some back and stuck on the back burner. Unhinged is a tale of an abused woman who let's loose of her mind's moorings on this reality, and enters into a no-man's land where rules no longer apply. She embarks on a killing spree which catches the attention of Detective Monroe. Meanwhile, she keeps receiving mysterious calls from her dead ex-boyfriend. Will justice catch up to her or will she become completely unhinged?
Check out the first installment here, and feel free to leave comments or questions. UNHINGED.
October 13, 2014
Imagine Films might imagine Exposed!
Something new for
Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown
. A possible opportunity to get noticed by film producers on IF List (Imagine Films List). Please check out the page, and if you've read the story, or at least think the synopsis and characters sound interesting for a mystery action flick with erotic roots, then LIKE and share.If you have suggestions (actors you feel fit the profiles) for any of the characters, feel free to add your proposals. This is exciting, and I appreciate all of your input!
I've put forth the first proposal for my detective; none other than Rudolf Martin! I can't think of a single better actor for the role; especially since the role goes front and center in books two and three.
Who do you think should play the starring role of Sarah Brown? What about Elsa Kreiss, Paul Christiansen, and Peter Knudson?
http://iflist.com/stories/exposedtheeducationofsarahbrown#
October 8, 2014
Haunting is now LIVE on Amazon!
From Beau Coup Publishing comes a box set of steamy yet haunting tales. Authors Sable Hunter, Jami Brumfield, Alicia Sparks, Eryn Black, Isobelle Cate, Catherine Rhodes, Jaden Sinclair, Ryan O'Leary, and Michele E. Gwynn bring to you steamy romance paired with hauntings, murder, and mayhem.
What better way to celebrate the month of October than to indulge in a magnificent box set of sinister and steamy stories?
Now live on Amazon.com, get your copy of Haunting (included images of individual covers).
Murder in the Vale
is the kickoff to my next series, The Ghosts of Cardiff/A Father Sayer Mystery featuring a hot priest and a feisty detective.Summary: In the beginning…
Cardiff is littered with ghosts, so say the superstitious and those born and raised in “the Vale”. From Glamorgan to Llandaff, unsolved murders give rise to tall tales of restless spirits. For Father Cai Sayer, these stories become questions of faith and mysteries to be solved. For Detective Sheila Leeds, they are cold cases with suspects who must be brought to justice. In between folklore and evidence, a forbidden attraction develops as the handsome priest and the jaded detective find themselves sucked into a forty-five year old murder mystery. Who killed Jameson Putnam and Philippa George in Llandaff Cathedral, and why?
October 4, 2014
Exposed Entered into Cover Wars!
Hello friends, fans, and sexy people! (you know you're all sexy people, right?)
Good Saturday morning. My book, Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown is currently entered into the Cover Wars on Author's Shout. I'm neck and neck with another author, and it would be lovely to win this thing since it's fantastic publicity for the book.
So in between your Froot Loops and Saturday morning cartoons, pop on over and vote for your fave erotic suspense author....ME!
My fans are wonderful, and I love you all. You're the reason I write. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Cover Wars Contest
Good Saturday morning. My book, Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown is currently entered into the Cover Wars on Author's Shout. I'm neck and neck with another author, and it would be lovely to win this thing since it's fantastic publicity for the book.
So in between your Froot Loops and Saturday morning cartoons, pop on over and vote for your fave erotic suspense author....ME!
My fans are wonderful, and I love you all. You're the reason I write. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Cover Wars Contest
September 29, 2014
New Novella Series from Michele E. Gwynn: Angelic Hosts
Wow, am I ever excited to be sharing this with you. In just a few hours, my new novella series book I, Camael's Gift will be LIVE on Amazon.com.
Download Camael's Gift Here (Monday, September 29th, 2014)
This new series is sweet meaning that it is exactly opposite the erotic suspense I write for "grown up folks". The Angelic Hosts series focuses on the epic battles between angels and demons, and the very human problems we all face like...falling in love. This one is PG and full of supernatural intensity. Please check it out, LIKE the page, share it, read it, and then leave a review. Reviews are like hugs for us authors. We really appreciate when you take the time to let us know what you thought of the books.
Summary: In the heavenly realms, conflict and war are as routine as escorting souls to the other side. For Camael, his routine has just been disrupted as he finds himself irresistibly drawn to a human woman he encounters while comforting her dying child. To give in to the temptation could damn him to the fallen forever.
Hannah Adams’ heart is broken. Her grief drives her to desperate actions that bring Cam into her life. Her attraction is immediate, but dark forces arise drawn to her for reasons unknown. Her very soul is in danger.
Camael finds himself torn between his loyalty to the Almighty, and his love for a human woman, and with the stakes climbing higher, must choose a side, and play his part as the battle for power between heaven and hell begins.
Download Camael's Gift Here (Monday, September 29th, 2014)
This new series is sweet meaning that it is exactly opposite the erotic suspense I write for "grown up folks". The Angelic Hosts series focuses on the epic battles between angels and demons, and the very human problems we all face like...falling in love. This one is PG and full of supernatural intensity. Please check it out, LIKE the page, share it, read it, and then leave a review. Reviews are like hugs for us authors. We really appreciate when you take the time to let us know what you thought of the books. Summary: In the heavenly realms, conflict and war are as routine as escorting souls to the other side. For Camael, his routine has just been disrupted as he finds himself irresistibly drawn to a human woman he encounters while comforting her dying child. To give in to the temptation could damn him to the fallen forever.
Hannah Adams’ heart is broken. Her grief drives her to desperate actions that bring Cam into her life. Her attraction is immediate, but dark forces arise drawn to her for reasons unknown. Her very soul is in danger.
Camael finds himself torn between his loyalty to the Almighty, and his love for a human woman, and with the stakes climbing higher, must choose a side, and play his part as the battle for power between heaven and hell begins.
September 28, 2014
Enjoying Alamo City Comi Con
You'll find authors and celebs working it at all kinds of venues. Sometimes, we just go to have fun.
That's how it was yesterday for me checking out Alamo City Comic Con in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. I saw so many awesome costumes, displays, and panels to include Legends of Horror featuring Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger, Linda Blair, Nick Castle (Mike Meyers), John Nassir (the voice of the Crypt Keeper, and Jason Vorhees' Ken Kirzinger -pictured right). That was pretty awesome.
FYI, Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman still look the same all these years later, and Esai Morales is very handsome!
But, for me, it all wall about these gorgeous men from Bitten. Yes, I'm talking about Greyston Holt and Steve Lund, also known as Clayton and Nick. Who doesn't have a werewolf fantasy? Well, I sure couldn't wipe the grin off my face. And as Steve/Nick put it, my picture was all about being in a #WolfSandwich. Oh yes. I was a happy girl.
For all the fans of Bitten, season two starts back in January, and Greyston shared there will be some very cool paranormal additions to the wolf pack - witches!
If you get the chance to meet these two, make sure to ask if they've read my books yet. You know I had to give them a freebie - bookmarks featuring my books (Seriously, what were you thinking?). And wolves do enjoy a little erotica.
That's how it was yesterday for me checking out Alamo City Comic Con in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. I saw so many awesome costumes, displays, and panels to include Legends of Horror featuring Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger, Linda Blair, Nick Castle (Mike Meyers), John Nassir (the voice of the Crypt Keeper, and Jason Vorhees' Ken Kirzinger -pictured right). That was pretty awesome.FYI, Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman still look the same all these years later, and Esai Morales is very handsome!
But, for me, it all wall about these gorgeous men from Bitten. Yes, I'm talking about Greyston Holt and Steve Lund, also known as Clayton and Nick. Who doesn't have a werewolf fantasy? Well, I sure couldn't wipe the grin off my face. And as Steve/Nick put it, my picture was all about being in a #WolfSandwich. Oh yes. I was a happy girl.
For all the fans of Bitten, season two starts back in January, and Greyston shared there will be some very cool paranormal additions to the wolf pack - witches!
If you get the chance to meet these two, make sure to ask if they've read my books yet. You know I had to give them a freebie - bookmarks featuring my books (Seriously, what were you thinking?). And wolves do enjoy a little erotica.
September 26, 2014
Harvest Trilogy Sneak Peek
I've had my horror-sci/fi trilogy on the back burner for a while following the release of Harvest back in 2011. Well, here's some great news!
Book II, Celluloss, will be published out in December, 2014, and you can now catch a sneak peek inside the re-edited pages of Harvest , the story that kicks it all off. In addition, there are links and summaries to new books coming out in the Kriminal Erotic Series, a new novella series titled The Angelic Hosts featuring the first book, Camael's Gift (due out next week!), and a Beau Coup Publishing anthology short for a Box Set (coming October 2014) that will be the prequel to my next novel series, The Ghosts of Cardiff/A Father Sayer Mystery. More on that one later. But for now, check out the awesome re-edited version of Harvest, and the sneak peek at Celluloss, all inside this beautiful new cover.
DOWNLOAD HARVEST HERE!
Please read, LIKE, share, and review. As always, thank you for your support! You all make what I do that much more fun.
September 21, 2014
The Bone Church: Live reading and conversation with Victoria Dougherty
It was a good day, the day I came across a cold war essay written by the remarkable writer/author/dramatist Victoria Dougherty. It was titled "
Stepping on the Throat of His Own Song
" (VictoriaDoughertyWordpress). I sat and read the entire essay, and then wished it was longer. I scoured her website for more, and learned that Dougherty has been at the art of storytelling for some time (20 years) penning tales that have graced the pages of The New York Times, USA Today, the International Herald Tribune, and more. Currently living in Charlottesville, VA, she has also spent many years in Prague, Czechoslovakia where her stories originate. Her love of, and familiarity with, the old Eastern European city is obvious when you read her incredible novel, The Bone Church.
1950s PragueColor me happy when I read it was coming out, and then it was a good idea not to bother me as I sat and read it. As a writer, also, there is no better pastime in the world than reading great writing from another. Needless to say, I was pulled into another time in another place where the lives of Jews hung in a precarious balance, and beneath the surface of a Nazi war campaign, intrigue took center stage as factions sought advantages; some for wealth, some for glory, and others, escape from persecution and death. Families were ripped apart, and the future was uncertain for millions of Jewish faithful.So what could be better than reading The Bone Church yourself? Having the author read an excerpt live! Even more exciting, the reading will take place in a bookstore in Prague! On October 6th, Victoria Dougherty invites you to the Globe Bookstore and Cafe located at Pštrossova 6, Praha 1, Prague, Czech Republic promptly at 7 p.m.
I had a few questions for my new, favorite cold war author, and Ms. Dougherty kindly shared her answers.
First, I want to thank you, Michele, for having me on. I love getting the chance to talk to other readers and writers almost as much as I love writing…and that’s saying a lot.
When you’re in Prague, do you see your characters around every corner? Felix and Magdalena? What about Srut? I have a long history with Prague. My mother and brother were born there, and I lived there for nearly four years in the 1990s. I guess it’s fair to say that I get a bit of sensory overload when I’m there. Do I see my characters there? I guess the short answer is yes, but they coexist with memories from my time there and the stories I heard around my dinner table growing up. My family story was a two-hanky drama: heroes and villains, cowards, redeemers and the redeemed, those who were beyond hope, and those who pulled victory from a hat just as it looked like it was all over for them. There were ghosts, there were priests, and there were spies. Beautiful women and dashing men. Achingly beautiful love stories and wretched marriages. Drinking and smoking and storytelling – lots of storytelling. So, when I’m in
Prague, I may see my grandmother walking out of the Magistrate on Old Town Square on her wedding day. Or my mother walking home from the market being followed by a secret policeman. I may also see Srut in the shadows, looking for an easy mark, Felix in better days coming home from a hockey game. My own memories might include a favorite haunt, like the 400 year-old, fire-lit pub where I met my husband.
Describe your thoughts about sharing a reading with fans in the cozy confines of The Globe Bookstore and Café in Prague? I’m nervous and I’m excited. Mostly because my twelve year-old son will be traveling with me and I want this to be a trip he never forgets. But my reading will also be filled with friends and family members as well as people unknown to me who’ve read my book. Now that I think about it, that’s pretty daunting. I’ve yet to choose a passage to read – got any ideas?
Prague swans by Mark BakerHave you done these before? I’ve done a fair amount of public speaking and I used to act in plays, so I’m accustomed to standing in front of a crowd. However, this is my first reading from my novel. It means a lot to me that it’s going to be in Prague. I’m still in a state of disbelief, actually.
Prague at nightWhat Cold War tale/novel do you have planned next? My next book is called The Hungarian and I’m in edits right now. An adventure, a spy-thriller and a love story, The Hungarian examines the intersection of three lives – a drifting ex-pat, a fugitive Russian diplomat, and a Hungarian assassin with a weakness for rich food and sadistic murder. It’s got Sputnik, murder by salt poisoning, a Russian mystic, and a great roll in the hay inside an old, abandoned chapel, what more could you want?
What more, indeed! Okay, now I'm very excited. Are you? If you're planning on being in Prague October 6th, check out The Globe Bookstore and Cafe, and sip a hot cup of coffee while being transported back in time to a moment in history where hope was in short supply, but love, and the will to survive, conquered all.
Victoria Dougherty bio: Victoria Dougherty writes fiction, drama, and essays that often revolve around spies, killers, curses and destinies. Her work has been published or profiled in The New York Times, USA Today, International Herald Tribune and elsewhere. Earlier in her career, while living in Prague, she co-founded Black Box Theater, translating, producing and acting in several Czech plays. She lives with her husband and children in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Links/Social Media
Victoria Dougherty’s blog, Cold: www.victoriadougherty.wordpress.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriadougherty.authorTwitter: https://twitter.com/vicdougherty Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vicdougherty... http://www.amazon.com/The-Bone-Church-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B00JOSCDA4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
All photos courtesy of Victoria Dougherty
