Liv Rancourt's Blog, page 23
August 18, 2014
Teaser Tuesday: Run #darkromance #multicultural
I’ve got a new idea for the blog. For the next few weeks, I’ll be running a Teaser Tuesday post, graciously supplied by Debra at The Book Enthusiast. Why am I doing this? Because I want to show you new and different books to spend money on…like Run…he’s a naughty boy, don’t you think?
Peace,
Liv
Title: Run
Author: Eve Vaughn
Genre: Dark Romance, Futuristic, Multicultural
Release Date: September 8, 2014
August 5, 2014
Less Than Three Weeks!
Counting down the last few weeks until the release of my contemporary novella, Between the Sheets, and I thought I’d share a bit to whet your appetites. Maggie’s a music teacher who got dumped on the altar. She’s been leery of men ever since, though finally – five years, three months, and four days later – she decides it’s time to break the drought. She and her BFF Krista are on their way to a music teacher’s retreat, and Krista’s been full of advice for how to accomplish her goal. In this clip, they’re on the ferry, and Maggie’s reading the Cosmo magazine Krista insisted on buying…
(Between the Sheets R-rated excerpt)
I came to the article promising to turn me into a sex diva. Crazy. Halfway down the page, one of the bold-type headings demanded I Flick His Frenulum. I vowed to flick the next one I saw, once I figured out where it was located. Apparently it would fire up his treasure trail, the line of hair running south from his bellybutton. The article said a real diva should take the initiative and undress her man. And I could imagine doing that exactly never. The next page suggested the standing doggie-style position would bring me to the highest heights.
O-kay.
The whole thing had me all twisted up, excitement and fear and desire making like ribbon candy in my belly. I tried to picture the kind of man I’d want behind me for standing doggie style. My ex came to mind, but right about the time the flood of bad memories started, Krista interrupted me with a sharp poke to the ribs.
“Check him out,” she said, her voice barely audible.
A man leaned against the railing at the front of the boat. He gazed out at the water, taking lazy drags off the butt of a cigarette. Since he mostly had his back to us, I felt free to stare.
Yum. He wore a pair of faded jeans and a light green T-shirt. He turned to the right, giving us a profile shot and showing off a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. His toned forearm had the freckled, light toast color redheads get in the sun. He wasn’t a true carrot-top; more like a sandy red, and his short hair could have used a trim. His beard, too, was a day or so into scruffy.
A black tattoo circled his arm just below the hem of his sleeve, calling attention to the swell of his bicep. I closed the magazine and sat forward, trying to get a better look at the tat, when Krista grabbed my elbow.
“There is no way.” I spoke without turning my head or moving my lips, even though my twisted candy core started to melt. “Because even if he turns out, by some miracle, to be a music teacher, I couldn’t string sentences together in front of someone so incredibly handsome.”
She gave my elbow a shake. “If you get the chance, you are totally going to hit that.”
I shoved the magazine at her, hoping the Ginger God didn’t turn around and notice my blush.
Krista had always been the optimistic one.
~~~
As you might imagine, the Ginger God plays a key role in the story. If you want to read more, you can jump HERE to add BtS to your Goodreads TBR pile, or just keep an eye on my blog for more sexy snippets. The release date is 8/25/14, and I’ll be counting down the days…
Peace,
Liv
August 1, 2014
True Blood Comes Full Circle
In 1976, Ann Rice published a novel called Interview With A Vampire. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? The novel took a couple years to catch on, but when it did, it hit big. Within a few years of its publication, gay men in New York and California were being diagnosed with a new, unnamed disease. Obviously, one did not cause the other, but by the time Interview’s sequel The Vampire Lestat was published in 1985, most everyone knew about HIV, and most everyone had a healthy fear of blood-borne illness.
A fear that vampires allowed us to explore in relative (creepy, kinky) safety.
People were writing vampire stories before Ann Rice (hello, Dracula), and they continued to do so in ever-increasing numbers as vampires became the It-Supe. (They’ve now been replaced by zombies, or maybe witches, but that’s another blog post.) The list of popular vampires during the ’90s and early 2000′s is long and varied, and though treatments for HIV/Aids made blood-borne illness a manageable phenomenon, vampires still had plenty to do. They helped us explore different facets of ourselves: What it would be like to be young and beautiful forever. Themes of dominance and submission. What girls are allowed to do on television (ahem, Buffy).
And then, in 2001, Charlaine Harris penned these immortal words:
“I’d been waiting for the vampire for years when he walked into the bar.”
Dead Until Dark is the first of 13 novels in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series. In addition to the more expected vampire-related themes (blood, youth, beauty), these books used the small town of Bon Temps to look at the interaction of different cultural and social groups – who’s accepted, who’s not, and how the bad guys and good guys can be hard to tell apart. The Southern Vampire Mysteries’ mix of mystery and horror and romance sold well, but they really took off with the start of the HBO series True Blood in 2008.
With True Blood, creator Allan Ball darkened Ms. Harris’s crayon-colored palate. The elements he uses are all in the books, but without Sookie’s first-person point of view filtering everything with humor and optimism, they come out pretty twisted. Despite – or maybe because of - that, over the last seven years True Blood has been a summer staple, providing us with 10 – 12 weeks of blood-drenched soap opera. And nudity. And sex. Lots and lots of sex.
The seventh season of True Blood premiered last June 22nd, and it’ll be the final run for Sookie, Bill, Eric, and all the rest. I watched the first few seasons, then skipped some, but this year I vowed to watch, and boy am I hooked. You know what’s got me? The main storyline involves Hepatitis V, a blood borne illness contracted by vampires which very quickly sends them to their final death.
How brilliant is that?
In this, the grand finale for a group of characters who have been part of the cultural landscape for the last thirteen years, the writers have gone back to where the modern vampire started, grappling with fears surrounding blood-borne illness. This time, though, instead of the vampires as paragons of invulnerability, they’re the victims. Seeing (and this is slightly spoiler-ish) those black veins track up Bill Compton’s arms is so wrong it’s almost painful. The season’s only half over, and Mr. Ball has shown a willingness to send just about any character to their final death, so I am absolutely committed to watching the rest of the season.
Committed, and terrified.
I don’t at all mean to suggest that season seven of True Blood will be the end of the vampire. There’s a new Jim Jarmuch movie - Only Lovers Left Alive, starring Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton – that looks pretty amazing. While publishers aren’t buying many new paranormal novels, fans of established series have good stuff to look forward to. Even Ann Rice is coming out with an addition to her Vampire Chronicles series. Prince Lestat will hit the bookstores October 28th.
Talk about your full circle.
So what do you think? Are you over the whole vampire thing? Did Twilight jump the shark? Or has True Blood season seven hooked you as hard as it has me?
Happy weekend…
Liv
July 29, 2014
DarkLight Four: Guest Post with Debbie Christiana
I have this friend, Debbie. She’s one of the few of my internet friends whom I’ve actually met in person, and she’s just lovely; kind and funny and knows her way around a bottle of wine. And, okay, she does have a somewhat unnatural fascination with Halloween, but other than that, she’s all sweetness and light.
But she writes horror.
Coolest cover ever.
Yep. Horror. The last genre on my TBR pile. I don’t do scary movies and I don’t do scary books. I want my vampires naughty, not mean. She loves it, though, so for her I make an exception. I’m very pleased and proud to share her latest release here on my blog. Dark Light Four is a collection of almost 30 very scary short stories, and Debbie’s here today to talk about her contribution…
Hi, Liv, thank you so much letting me stop by and chat.
No problem, sweetie. You’re always welcome. Now…why horror?
DC: Fear is a huge emotion for humans. I think that’s why many of us are drawn to mysteries, thrillers and horror.
I’m a very passive, easygoing person. I’m not a huge fan of guns, abhor violence or cruelty to people and animals, yet I love to write horror. I assume it’s because we all have a bit of darkness within us, and it’s a creative way to express it. I also think by writing it, we can control how much violence, terror, etc., our characters experience, or in reality, how much we can tolerate.
LR: What’s the most compelling thing about your short story Professional Courtesy, the thing that kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and editing?
DC: There are two things, really. One, serial killers fascinate me and this isn’t my first story about them. I have two others. Two, one of the characters is a female serial killer, and while most are male, female serial murderers do exist and she was, do I dare say, fun to write. It’s an interesting perspective to write out of what is considered normal for female behavior.
LR: Most of your other work contains paranormal elements. Does Professional Courtesy? Why or why not?
DC: No. Human beings are capable of things much more disturbing than anything supernatural. Watch the news at night – if you dare.
LR: Yeah, I’m not so much about watching the news, actually. If I want drama, I’ll go to work…Now, if you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class, book or workshop, what would be that be? What’s had the most impact on your work?
DC: I’ve taken many wonderful writing classes from Rayne Hall, a British dark fantasy author. She also has a series of books based on her classes for authors. I have all of them as well. A must have for authors. I also belong to my local RWA chapter. We’re a small group, a total of maybe eighteen, but we have many talented authors who do presentations on writing, editing, etc. I’ve learned so much from them as well. Sorry, that’s two, LOL.
LR: Love Rayne. Love her. Her book Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires is an special favorite of mine. ( 
) But I digress…back to the interview… Clutter or quiet? Describe your perfect writing situation.
DC: I have organized clutter on my writing desk. It looks worse to the outsider than it is. I know where everything is. I need music to write and I like it loud. Pandora is wonderful for that. Whatever mood I’m in or genre I’m writing, I can find the perfect playlist. I must admit, I have a harder time writing in the summer. I like to be outside on a beautiful day. So I write in the morning, I’m an early riser, in the summer. Having said that, my perfect situation is a colder, cloudy, rainy day, with my candles lit, music going and Luna, my puppy sleeping on my feet.
LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity?
DC: Number one would be reading. I love my yoga and we’ve been hiking the Appalachian Trail with the puppy and that’s really fun. We’ve met a lot of interesting people along the trail, from all over the country and across the pond.
LR: This is an easy one. Football, basketball, baseball or soccer?
DC: Football. I’m a diehard NY JETS fan. Basketball is a close second. I used to think baseball put me asleep until I recently tried to watch soccer. I apologize to all the baseball and soccer fans out there.
LR: Heh. I’m sure no one will mind that you just disrespected two of the most popular sports on the planet. So what’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or upcoming projects.
DC: I’m working on two WIP’s. I’ve never done that before and we’ll see how it goes. One is Eternal Flames (temporary title) the third in the Twin Flames series. I’m also excited about Favors for the Dead: A Spookie Millane novel. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Spookie has been given an unusual supernatural ability when it comes to death.
LR: I can’t wait to read both of those!! Thank you so much for the interview, Debbie!!
***
Debbie Christiana writes paranormal romance and dark short fiction. You can find her at:
Twitter: @DebChristiana
Facebook: Debbie Christiana, author
***
Blurb for DarkLight 4:
If you’re looking for stories of “happily ever after”, continue onward. Warm and fuzzy tales of love won’t lie within these pages. These dark accounts incur greed, anger, hostility, murder, revenge, and creatures that go bump in the night. Be forewarned—there will be blood, and you may need to check under your bed before going to sleep. Darkness awaits.
Blurb for Professional Courtesy:
Wayne has everything going for him.
He’s handsome, had a good job and a hobby he loves: serial killer.
Until he takes Charlotte.
Buylink: Amazon
June 23, 2014
The Masked Songbird: Guest Post with Emmie Mears
I first connected with Emmie Mears when we were in one of Kristen Lamb’s blogging classes, and over the last couple years have celebrated her milestones: signing with an agent, accepting her contract offer, & her gorgeous cover reveal. Today she’s here for an interview, and I am thrilled and proud and pleased and excited to be able to help her celebrate the release of her novel…
LR: What’s the most compelling thing about The Masked Songbird, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?
EM: I think for me it was Gwen’s tenacity. She’s dealt a hand she never wanted or expected, and while it gives her some fantastic things, it also strips from her certain dreams she’d had. Her ability to keep going when no one would have expected her to is what kept me coming back to her.
LR: Edinburgh. Sigh. One of my best friends just got back from there, and said it was the coolest city she’d ever been to. How did you decide on Edinburgh for your setting, and what did that specific place bring to your story?
EM: Having lived in Scotland for a while, I knew I wanted to set it in the capital, especially considering the political backdrop of the story. It wouldn’t have had the same effect if it had been set in say, Ullapool or Aberdeen. Edinburgh is such a rich city, full of winding streets and hidden closes, and it allowed for a certain amount of exploration for a fledgling superhero that I couldn’t resist.
LR: Which book or author has influenced you the most? What is it about their work that grabs you?
EM: Oh, man. My first attempt at a novel was such a David Eddings retread that it’s kind of adorable. I always really loved his quirk and humor in the midst of serious situations, and I think the main aspect of his influence that I’ve kept with me as I grew into my own voice as an author was that need to make people laugh and cry in the same book.
LR: Do you have any writerly advice for my readers, maybe something you wish you had known early on in the game?
EM: A couple of things I learned pushed me farther faster, I think. The first is that criticism is vital, and if you want to make it in this business, you have to make your peace with it. Sure, it can hurt for someone to tell you your characters are flat or your structure is erm…too creative for the story to be marketable. But this IS ultimately a business, and you will encounter criticism at every single level, whether you self-publish and deal directly with readers or if you go traditional and have to hurdle agents and editors. Hands down the best thing anyone ever said to me about my first manuscript was the fabulous NYT bestselling author Julie Kenner, who told me point blank that it wasn’t submission ready. She was gentler than that, but I needed to hear that more than anything. She was right. I’d felt it for a long time. It freed me to write something new…and that something was THE MASKED SONGBIRD.
The other is that you have to know yourself. I forget who it was who said, “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.” That is a fantastic quote to live by, and applying it to the craft and business of writing, it means that you’re not required to accept every bit of writing advice out there. Find out what works for you, what sort of cycle and schedule fits your personal needs and then do it. Be deliberate about it. And be persistent. Keep at it. I know plenty of people who wrote multiple novels before any sold, and that’s fine. I’m one of them. Do your thing, improve your craft, take criticism as gracefully as you can, and use it all to keep getting better and better.
LR: Having followed you on FB & Twitter for the last few years, I know you’re a woman of many passions. You’ve got your RPGs, your SPN, your Buffy…and more seriously, your support of the Scottish Independence movement. But what’s your favorite downtime activity? Like, are you a closet yoga fiend? Could you macramé a plant hanger if you had to?
EM: HA! You do indeed know me…pahaha. In my downtime I’m pretty boring. I like to swim when I can (after dark is preferable, because I’m the incandescent white of a newly painted wall), visit museums, and honestly, sit quietly and daydream. I love daydreaming. I’ve been known to sit in bed for an hour at a time and just float away somewhere. I feel like it helps me process the world, and I’m such an introvert that I’m most at home inside my own head.
Thank you so much for having me!
And thank you so much for visiting, Emmie! I hope you’ll come back again 
Blurb:
Mildly hapless Edinburgh accountant Gwenllian Maule is surviving. She’s got a boyfriend, a rescued pet bird and a flatmate to share rent. Gwen’s biggest challenges: stretching her last twenty quid until payday and not antagonizing her terrifying boss.
Then Gwen mistakenly drinks a mysterious beverage that gives her heightened senses, accelerated healing powers and astonishing strength. All of which come in handy the night she rescues her activist neighbour from a beat-down by political thugs.
Now Gwen must figure out what else the serum has done to her body, who else is interested and how her boss is involved. Finally—and most mysteriously—she must uncover how this whole debacle is connected to the looming referendum on Scottish independence.
Gwen’s hunt for answers will test her superpowers and endanger her family, her friends—even her country.
Bio:
Emmie Mears was born in Austin, Texas, where the Lone Star state promptly spat her out at the tender age of three months. After a childhood spent mostly in Alaska, Oregon, and Montana, she became a proper vagabond and spent most of her time at university devising ways to leave the country.
Except for an ill-fated space opera she attempted at age nine, most of Emmie’s childhood was spent reading books instead of writing them. Growing up she yearned to see girls in books doing awesome things, and struggled to find stories in her beloved fantasy genre that showed female heroes saving people and hunting things. Mid-way through high school, she decided the best way to see those stories was to write them herself. She now scribbles her way through the fantasy genre, most loving to pen stories about flawed characters and gritty situations lightened with the occasional quirky humor.
Emmie now lives in her eighth US state, still yearning for a return to Scotland. She inhabits a cozy domicile outside DC with two felines who think they’re lions and tigers.
You can preorder THE MASKED SONGBIRD here (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JD7TWZK)! Released in a box set, you get four great paranormal and urban fantasy books for less than $4!
Follow Emmie on Twitter @EmmieMears and join her on Facebook!
June 12, 2014
The Lucky 7 Game
So my friend Nana posted a very funny snippet of her current WIP for her round of the Lucky 7 game. She tagged me, and since tomorrow is the day they announce the semifinalists for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, I thought I’d post a bit from my quarterfinal entry, Hell…The Story. If you haven’t had a chance to download the free excerpt, you can jump here to get it. After the excerpt I’ll post the rules and tag seven more people for the next round.
Blurb for Hell…The Story
Ophelia works at the entrance to Hell a couple blocks off the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Dear Daddy runs the place, and while Hell is, you know, hell, it’s a better gig than her mother could offer. Like all Danaan sidhe, Mother is addicted to human touch and runs a high-priced brothel to satisfy her craving. Life at the Hell Hotel isn’t perfect, but as long as Ophelia keeps her hands off the humans, she’ll stay out of trouble.
Then trouble comes looking for her. One of Hell’s Escorts tries to bring a live one in, which could destroy the whole Hotel. Ophelia prevents catastrophe, but accidentally touches a human. Then a mysterious someone tries to kill her, and rumors start swirling about a big bad something that’ll happen when the dead come through. Dear Daddy accuses her of being like her mother and kicks her out of the Hotel. With the turn of a Tarot card, life has handed her an ultimatum – and her hands still burn from the feel of Gabriel’s tough but supple skin. To answer the challenge, Ophelia will have to own both sides of herself, though the hot and handsome Gabriel is a fair reward for surviving.
In this little seven-line snippet, Ophelia’s gone to visit her mother for the first time in 15 years. They really don’t get along very well at all…
Instead of sniping at her, I sat on a vinyl covered chair and planted my elbows on the Formica. The coffee had long passed bitter, which impressed me considering my taste buds were trained by what they poured in Hell. “So you won’t help me?”
“Help you with what?” She scooped up the cards with a sigh that was almost an apology. “I can read your cards.”
Neat. We’d have a lovely heart-to-heart chat while she unlocked the secrets of my life. I took another bitter sip. I’d been stupid to hope she would help me. I knew demons I trusted more.
Yeah, sometimes the mother-daughter thing is so hard… Anyway, here are the rules for the Lucky 7 game:
Rules:
Go to page 7 or 77 in your current WIP.
Go to line 7
Post on your blog the next 7 sentence or 7 lines—as they are!
Tag 7 people and do the same
And for the next round, I’m tagging…
Juli Page Morgan (in hopes she’ll post a snippet from Sister Golden Hair, specifically one involving Rhys)
Jillian Chantal (in hopes she’ll kick in a snippet from her fab new YA)
Rhay Christou (because you can play Lucky 7 on Facebook as well as a blog, and Taylor’s story is fantastic)
Amanda Byrne (because plot bunnies abound, and you never know what bit of awesome she’ll come up with)
Cora J Ramos (because the hero of her current WIP is all yummy samurai action)
Becky Flade (in hopes her snippet gets a little naughty)
Ellen Gregory (this is my diabolical way of catching a glimpse of her WIP…)
Thanks for reading, and thanks for playing, and if you downloaded a sample of Hell, thank you thank you thank you!!!
Peace,
Liv
June 3, 2014
I Might Have To Re-Read Wuthering Heights
So last night I started out reading King Solomon’s Mines by Henry Rider Haggard (pub1885, seminal pulp fic, recommended by KJ Charles, great book), but after a while (like a couple hours) I decided to try something else. No real reason. KSM was totally fun and I was enjoying it, just wanted to noodle away at…okay yeah, I wanted to find a sex scene.
Hush, you.
Anyway, I turned to the historical romance Summer Is For Lovers by Jennifer McQuiston. I’d checked it out from the library after seeing it on one of last week’s Smart Bitches “books on sale” emails. This book has about a 4.5 star average on Amazon, and Smart Bitches gave it an A. The set-up was okay – decent characters, interesting setting – and I enjoyed the first kiss scene. I further enjoyed the first near-sex experience, but when I got to the following lines from the hero’s POV, I almost tossed the kindle across the room:
“Being ruined was not the worst thing to happen to an innocent like Caroline.
Being forced to marry someone like him was.”
The hero is referring to himself as a bad potential mate. All through the opening chapters, the author (a wee bit heavyhandedly) threaded the idea that the hero had, at some point in his past, broken a young girl’s heart, and therefore believed himself to be unworthy of the love of a good woman. The lines above were sort of the capstone, the clearest articulation of this idea, coming at about 25% of the way into the book.
A capstone, or maybe a roadblock, one with a sign saying “Proceed With Caution: Your patience will be sorely tried”.
Because, A. WHAT GUY EVER IN ANY TIME OR PLACE HAS THOUGHT THAT? Seriously? Do you know any (hetero, white) man who has made a conscious decision to stay single – forever(!) – because of a bad relationship?
AND
B. Would a hero from a novel written in whatever year this novel was set (vaguely Victorian-era) have thought that way? Would Heathcliff had said, “I’ve broken Cathy’s heart. Let me go off and brood in private.”? NOT. He went off and got rich, then came back and tortured everyone in the neighborhood. Mr. Rochester? Locked his crazy wife in in a room in the top floor and hooked up with Jane. Mr. Darcy? Got his snob on until Elizabeth figured out a way around it. People in the 19th century didn’t do angst, except a few who lived in a garrets, wrote atrocious poetry, and drowned their sorrows in opium and absinthe.
The hero in Summer Is For Lovers was the youngest son of a Baron, and therefore didn’t stand to inherit anything significant. If he had approached the problem as, ‘I can’t get involved with this innocent young thing because she has no dowry and neither do I’, I actually would have bought it. Starvation is a bad thing. But even the second son of a Baron had to have a pretty high opinion of himself. I mean, in those days people died young, and if his brother died without an heir, our hero is IT. He might not have all the advantages of an elder son, but he’s still better off than 99.99999% of the population.
The tortured hero is one of Romance’s favorite tropes, but I’d argue that one of the keys – and probably the hardest part – of writing historical fiction is giving your characters the right mental framework. King Solomon’s Mines is from the Victorian era, and it’s a solid example of the mindset. Sexism and racism were ubiquitous to the point of being almost unnoticeable, and there was little-to-no navel-gazing.
Did you hear that, Heathcliff? No navel-gazing.
It’s easy to be clunky when integrating historically-appropriate ideas into a story, and it’s tremendously difficult to weed out modern concepts that sneak in when your attention is elsewhere. Trust me on this. I’ve tried. I also have words for the first writing teacher who suggested giving characters a secret that gets revealed over the course of the story. I’m sure they meant well, but geez, does it have to happen in every novel, every time?
I don’t know whether I’m going to continue with Summer Is For Lovers or not, so this doesn’t really count as a review, just an observation about something that I reacted strongly to. While I may not care about the hero’s secret, traumatic past (oh please), Smart Bitches doesn’t give out A ratings to just anybody so it must be a pretty decent book. In my defense, however, the 1-star rating on Amazon was based on how the hero’s “over-the-top angst” was hard to take. It might be fun to keep on with my informal ‘compare and contrast’ - reading a couple chapters from a real Victorian novel, then a couple from a pseudo-Victorian.
Because, you know, sex scenes.
True confession time: can you think of an example of historical fiction where the modern bits bumped you out of the story? Either that, or do you have any pet peeves you’re willing to share?
Would love to see your comments…
Peace,
Liv
June 1, 2014
Shadow’s Moon: Guest Post with Jami Gray
So this week it is my very great pleasure to welcome Jami Gray to the blog. She recently celebrated the release of book 3 in the Kyn Chronicles, Shadow’s Moon, although the actual release day got sort of swept up in the excitement of the RT convention. We’re kind of making up for lost time here, and I hope you enjoy the interview and check out Jami’s books… 
LR: Okay, so, the first two books in your Kyn Chronicles are all about Raine & Gavin, but Shadow’s Moon is different. What is it about this story that kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?
JG: As much as I love Raine and Gavin, I knew when Xander hit the pages in Shadow’s Edge, she’d want her own story, and damn if she didn’t get it. Initially, when I began this series, I really believed we’d tag along with Raine the whole way through, then everyone else started piping up—loudly. At this point (and it’s not etched in stone) I have through book 6 in mind before the first story arc completes. After Xander and Warrick’s ride, Natasha took center stage. I just typed “THE END” on her story and it’s a doozy (Bk 4: Shadow’s Curse coming Fall 2014). Right now, Cheveyo is making it clear he’s next (book 5) and Raine and Gavin want back in for book 6. I want to follow some new characters at some point, but I hate planning too far in advanced, it makes the voice in my head get pushy.
LR: You’re most fortunate to have the 7 Evil Dwarves to play with, but aside from that, if you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class or a book or a workshop, what would that be?
JG: The Evil 7 have been most wonderful as I’ve trotted along the writing path, but I’ve searched outside the marshy edges of our swamp for more insight into the craft. I’m currently in the midst of Larry Brooks’ STORY ENGINEERING, which for a writer who started as a pantser and discovered some plotting is really helpful, is a great book. Kristin Lamb’s blog at Warrior Writers (http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com) is a must have for any writer, not to mention being part of her WANA community. Right behind her is Bob Mayer’s Write on the River blog (http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/tag/bob-mayer/). Tons o’ great info on the industry as a whole.
LR: We haven’t met in RL (yet), but in your pictures you look like such a sweet, gentle soul. Where do you find the kick-assery that you put in your books?
JG: Awww, you’re so nice. Problem is, I’m a short, curvy (I’m sticky to curvy, peeps) redhead with glasses with a streak of mule headed stubborn. I love people watching, and tend to be more comfortable hanging on the edges of a crowd than being front and center. My heroines tend to stem from qualities I really admire—strong protectors with a bit of an edge. I know when we finally manage to meet in RL, you and I could generate a bit of trouble. (grin) I’ll have my Knight start a bail-bond fund.
LR: Given the make-up of your household (with the Knight in Slightly Muddy Armor and the Prankster Duo and all), this might be an obvious question, but clutter or quiet? Describe your perfect writing situation.
JG: I am the proud owner of some really great headphones that tend to drown out the “die, alien scum, die!” cries from the Knight and the Duo. I actually share my office with the Knight (pic of my side included) and as you can see my side tends to be very OCD (CDO) while his…well…let’s just say it’s a clear division in our office. When it gets bad, I wade in and organize so I can ignore it. The Duo have space just outside our office, which makes for some entertaining over-heard conversations. I do try to make my escape one day a week to a coffee shop, just to breathe without the “Mom? MOM? MOM?!” demands.
Editors Note: Love the combination of Jami’s book covers n’ Jack Sparrow :)
LR: Seriously now, how do you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee, housekeeper, writer)?
JG: Honestly? I’m not sure. I have a day job, one I’ve been blessed to be able to telecommute for a number of years for, but according to my Knight, I’m like the Energizer bunny—go, go, go. It takes me about 6 months to write a book and for the last couple of years, it’s been back to back WIPs as I’m now juggling two series with two separate publishers. So, right now, I’m taking a much-needed break until July, when I’ll start the second book in my PSY-IV series. I have to follow a schedule to get things done (word counts, job stuff, mom stuff, wife stuff) or I start to resemble Linda Blair in the Exorcist. I’ve learned to make sure I keep my family time sacrosanct because the Duo won’t be home forever (or so I hope).
LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a closet marathon runner? Could you crochet a house-cozy if you had to? Maybe you secretly want to appear on Antiques Roadshow?
JG: (Snort) I can definitely say it’s not cooking, not if anyone wants to eat. I did martial arts for a few years, but when my instructor left the state, I stopped. Other than reading, I love biking. Which, considering I live in Arizona, requires early morning commitment in the summer months. Oh, and as part of that family time thing above, I’ve recently begun going to a shooting range with my boys. Serious fun there. Something about the smell of cordite and ringing ears just gets the blood pumping.
LR: Football, basketball, baseball or soccer? Which one gets your blood moving the fastest – or is there another sport you prefer?
JG: Live basketball does it every time. It moves fast enough I don’t get bored. The Knight possesses a teeny-tiny streak of competitiveness he’s shared with the Duo, so when he drags me out for say, golf, he gets so frustrated, it makes me laugh. How can you not laugh when swinging a stick at a little white ball and watch it go exactly where you didn’t want it to go?
LR: What’s next on your horizon? I know you’ve got another release day coming up…
JG: This year has been nuts. SHADOW’S MOON hit shelves in May. I turned in SHADOW’S CURSE to my editor this week so it can make its appearance in Fall 2014. Annndddd…the first in my new Paranormal Romantic Series, PSY-IV Team (think Cypher), titled HUNTED BY THE PAST hits shelves July 11th. (Big breath) I’d like to be able to keep to a two book release schedule each year—one from the Kyn Kronicles and one from PSY-IV Teams, so my next project is book 2 of PSY-IV Teams. I’m playing with the idea of doing some short stories in there somewhere as well. Oh, and I’m collaborating with another awesome writer on a possible post-apocalyptic story…we’ll see what happens there. 
BIO/BLURBS/FIND ME/BUY LINKS for JAMI GRAY Bio: Jami Gray grew up on the Arizona-Mexico border, and was adopted at the age of 14 to suddenly become the fifth eldest of 37 children. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and three minors-History, English, and Theater. (Decision-making was not her forte at the time.) Shortly after marrying her techie-geek hubby (who moonlighted as her best friend in high school) she completed a Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix Oregon. Now, years later, she’s back in the Southwest where she’s outnumbered in her own home by two Star Wars obsessed boys, one Star Wars obsessed husband, and an overly-friendly, 105-pound male lab. Delving into the wild paranormal worlds where romance collides with suspense and Urban Fantasy is queen, manages to salvage her sanity. Or so we let her believe…
Blurb for Shadow’s Edge: Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters… It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts. When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.
Blurb for Shadow’s Soul: Some nightmares are born of love… Raine McCord has no problem taking down the monsters of the world, it’s one of the reasons she’s so good at her job. So playing bodyguard to Cheveyo, head Magi of the Northwest, as he consults with the Southwest Kyn should be an easy assignment. Unfortunately, simple task turns into a nightmare when Cheveyo is kidnapped and Raine is left for dead by one of the Kyn’s most feared beings, a Soul Stealer. The Stealer’s attack leaves lasting wounds, undermining Raine’s confidence as a warrior and damaging her unruly magic. Her ability to heal her mind and spirit hinges on the one man who can touch her soul, Gavin Durand. Compelled to face the emotions raging between them, they must embrace not only their stormy relationship but their evolving magic to escape the twisted threads of murder and betrayal to find Cheveyo. As Raine and Gavin come together and begin to unravel the complex web of secrets and hidden vendettas haunting the Southwest Kyn, they discover unsettling new truths that threaten their very existence.
Blurb for Wrapped in Shadows: The magic of the holidays can be hell… Celebrations abound during the holidays, but this Christmas an engagement celebration goes horrifically wrong. What appears to be a simple murder/suicide hides a vicious surprise. The type of gift Raine and Gavin, elite member of the Kyn, didn’t want humans to unwrap, becauserevealing the monsters in the shadows isn’t the way to spread holiday cheer.
Blurb for Shadow’s Moon: Even a wild heart can be broken… A blonde, a brunette and a monster walk into a bar and all hell breaks loose. It should have been the start of a bad joke, but days from a full moon Xander Cade, Tracker for the Northwest Motoki Pack, finds nothing funny about confronting an enraged Shifter in a crowded Portland nightclub filled with unsuspecting humans. The resulting carnage frays an already thin veil of secrecy shielding the supernatural Kyn community from public scrutiny, and ensures she can’t escape the one man she’s been determined to avoid, her Alpha and mate, Warrick Vidis. Dominating, protective and compelling, Warrick threatens her individuality like no other. As the Northwest Alpha wolf, compromise isn’t in Warrick Vidis’s vocabulary, but when his reluctant mate, Xander Cade, refuses to leave off the hunt for a killer, he has no qualms using whoever or whatever necessary to protect her or his pack. A series of unusual deaths involving lone wolves, along with anonymous threats against him and his Pack, begin to jeopardize his normal steely control. Add in Xander’s continual reluctance to fully accept their Soul bond, and the line between intellect and instinct begins to blur, leaving him wondering if one woman’s love and acceptance will be enough to save both man and wolf. As the danger escalates, threatening not just their Pack but those closest to them, Warrick and Xander must find a way to trust each other and accept their rare bond or risk losing everything-their pack, their friends and each other.
Blurb for Hunted by the Past: Sometimes death is the only way to out run the past… A reluctant psychic who can relive the past, a man well versed in keeping secrets, and a psychopathic killer enter a deadly game where the past determines the future. Changing the past is an impossibility ex-Marine, Cynthia “Cyn” Arden, understands all too well. Struggling in the aftermath of a botched mission, which cost her two teammates, her military career, and a fledging relationship, she’s brought home by a panicked phone call. The psychic killer behind her nightmares has escaped military custody to hunt down the remaining teammates, one by one. Next on his murderous list–Cyn. Her only chance at survival is to master the psychic ability she’s spent years denying. The killer’s game brings her face to face with the one person guaranteed to throw her off kilter—the unsettling and distracting man she left behind, Kayden Shaw. Once she believed he’d stand by her side, until he chose his job and his secrets over her. A choice that’s left the scars of the past etched deep on her mind and heart. To survive this twisted game, Cyn must risk trusting her heart and accepting who and what she is, or lose not only her life, but the man she loves.
Available Now:
Shadow’s Edge: Book 1 of the Kyn Kronicles
Shadow’s Soul: Book 2 of the Kyn Kronicles, Paranormal Romance Winner of 2012 Shooting Star
Wrapped in Shadows (.5) part of Things That Go Bump For The Holidays—A Collection of Short Stories
NOW AVAILABLE: Shadow’s Moon: Book 3 of the Kyn Kronicles, 2013 Golden Claddagh Finalist
Coming in July 11th, 2014 from Muse It Up Publishing: Hunted by the Past: Book 1 of the PSY-IV Teams
And Fall 2014 brings Shadow’s Curse: Book 4 of the Kyn Kronicles.
You can find me at:
Black Opal Books: www.BlackOpalBooks.com
Muse It Up Publishing: http://museituppublishing.com
Website: www.JamiGray.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamigray.author
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JamiGrayUFWriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamiGrayAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/JamiGray
Google+: https://google.com/+JamiGray
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B006HU3HJI
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/LvoZn
BUY LINKS:
You can find all the buy links for both books in all formats at:
http://jamigray.com/kynkronicles/
http://jamigray.com/psyivteams/
Or you can use the following:
THE KYN KRONICLES:
Shadow’s Edge: Bk 1 of Kyn Kronicles Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061CAXJ4
Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Shadows-Edge-The-Kyn-Kronicles-Book-1/Jami-Gray/e/2940013239838
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039sedgethekynkroniclesbook1-625433-139.html
Black Opal Books: http://blackopalbooks.com/blackopalstore/product/56-shadows-edge
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/101023
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shad...
Shadow’s Soul:Bk 2 of the Kyn Kronicles
Black Opal Books: http://blackopalbooks.com/blackopalstore/product/57-shadows-soul
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B008DIZ9OI ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039ssoulthekynkroniclesbook2-848561-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174291
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shad...
THINGS THAT GO BUMP FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Wrapped in Shadows)
Amazon: http://amzn.com/1626940908
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/387518
Shadow’s Moon: Bk 3 of the Kyn Kronicles
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00K8AZZES
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-moon-the-kyn-kronicles-book-3-jami-gray/1119462166?ean=2940149437719
Black Opal Books: http://blackopalbooks.com/shop-our-store/blackopalstore/paranormal-romance/shadows-moon
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/435674
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-shadow039smoonthekynkroniclesbook3-1507186-140.html
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadows-moon-kyn-kronicles/id875444016?mt=11
THE PSY-IV TEAMS: Hunted by the Past: Bk 1 of PSY-IV Team
May 22, 2014
Happy Times: How I Met My Agent
So last night it was pizza and beer all the way, because that’s how I roll when I really have something to celebrate.
This is me, doing my best Marilyn Monroe imitation. (Okay, yeah, it’s really Marilyn. Shut up. I’m celebrating.)
Yesterday, after a fairly extended process (which I will detail here because my friend Sandy pointed out that other writers might learn from my experience) I signed a contract with Margaret Bail from Inklings Literary Agency.
And this is what it looked like when I made the announcement…
Last night was fun, for sure. It’s a milestone in what I hope will be a long and productive writing career. And this particular step started about eighteen months ago. I read about Margaret in a New Literary Agent Alert column in Writer’s Digest back in January of 2013. At the time, I was just finishing edits for my urban fantasy novel Hell…The Story (currently an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award quarterfinalist – jump HERE for a free sample download) so I sent her a query. She got right back to me, asking for the full.
Yay!
It took a little while for her to read and evaluate my manuscript, and when she did, I got one of those mixed blessing emails. She liked the book but saw problems with it, so wasn’t able to offer me representation at that point. However (and this is huge) her email went into some detail regarding her concerns, giving me a ton of feedback that I was able to use for the rewrite.
In the meantime, I’d started a new project, King Stud. (Jump HERE for a Six Sentence Sunday blog post from April ’13 – this is still one of my favorite bits in the story.) Last September, the novel was just about ready to go, so I came up with a pitch for a #pitmad twitter pitch party. I will confess that I kept an eye on the stream, and when I saw Margaret lurking, I sent out my pitch.
I had three agents ‘favorite’ my tweet. One requested a partial, but a few weeks later sent me a nice note declining to read more. One requested partial and real quickly got back to me with an offer of representation.
Wow!
The third agent to ‘favorite’ my tweet was Margaret (who, hello, was the one I was after in the first place). She read the partial then requested the full. When the other agent offered, I let Margaret know, and she was able to move King Stud up to the top of her TBR pile. I had a telephone conversation with the other agent, and it didn’t feel like the right fit, so after taking a deep, deep breath and saying a couple Hail Marys, I declined the offer. Even though I didn’t yet have anything concrete from Margaret, I knew she liked my work and felt like we had the beginnings of a relationship, so I was willing to wait for her decision.
And…
Again with the mixed-blessing email, although this time she framed it as, “if you can fix X, Y, & Z, we’ll be discussing a contract.”
One of the hardest things I’ve ever done was sit back down at the laptop and open up King Stud for another major overhaul.
I promised her I’d get the revision back to her in two months. It took me four – partly because the project turned into semi-major surgery, and partly because I needed a couple mental health breaks which took the form of a pair of novellas, The Clockwork Monk and Aqua Follies. That said, after I finally emailed her the revised version it only took her a week to get back to me. That email was different from the others. For one thing, it was much shorter:
Are you available for a phone call?
Yesterday afternoon we signed the contract, and now we’ll be moving forward on King Stud. There are still some things I need to tweak, but I’m terribly excited about the future.
So, why Margaret? She’s smart, she’s visible (check out #tenqueries on twitter where she’s a frequent contributor), she’s responsive and seems fairly transparent via email. I felt good about our phone conversation, and she was pretty enthusiastic about my ideas for upcoming work. Most importantly, we have some history, which I think will help our future working relationship.
Now, what have I learned through this process? First of all, it’s a process. Things take time, and you need to apply a happy mix of determination and oblivion to keep going when people don’t pick up what you’re laying down. (I didn’t mention the 20-some other agents I queried between the two projects, some of whom requested more but all of whom ultimately turned me down.) And while it’s difficult not to compare yourself to other writers, try to remember their story is different from yours.
I imagine I’ll be reminding myself of the lessons in that last paragraph many times in the future, but for today, I’m still partying.
Peace,
Liv
One last YAY for the road!
May 4, 2014
The Guardian – A Guest Post with Aneta Cruz
This is the first interview I’ve done in months and months, and it’s a good one! Last weekend Aneta Cruz’s newest book was released, and she’s here to talk about The Guardian, about writing, and about life…
Aneta Cruz
LR: What’s the most compelling thing about The Guardian, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing and revising?
AC: I think it was Dr. Stein’s determination. He and I have a lot in common. We will do anything to find out the truth about that with which we are obsessed. I wanted to see how far he would go, and he didn’t disappoint. He went all the way to the end. I don’t want to give away what he found out or didn’t. But I will say that his journey was exhausting yet exhilarating, at times fulfilling, at times disappointing, and always, always true to his character.
LR: I saw your My Writing Process blog post, where you say you like to write in three genres: fairy tales, literary fiction with a supernatural element, and NA with elements of mythology or the supernatural. The common thread here is the fantasy element. What draws you to that?
AC: I believe that all that we see is not all there is. We can always sense things and that is where the fantasy element comes in. What if there truly are beings who guard, frighten, communicate? I grew up on stories like that and they’ve influenced me deeply. Whenever I write, I want the reader to be left with one question, “What if [insert fantastical element/creature] really exists?”
LR: Which book or author has influenced you the most? What is it about their work that grabs you?
AC: I am most influenced by a collection of dark ballads and poetry, Kytice, by a Czech author, K. J. Erben (1811 – 1870). I read it for the first time when I was 12, and I re-read it almost every month. I’m completely fascinated by his ability to portray a world, a character, an emotion, a plot in such a way that it sucks the reader in and won’t release him/her until the very last word. And he does this while rhyming! I also draw inspiration from E. A. Poe. I love his flawed characters and unreliable narrators because that is what makes them human. The madness is just a bonus.
LR: Do you write full-time, or are you juggling a day job or other major time commitments? How do you make it all work?
AC: I juggle two jobs. [sighs] A day one (teacher of children with Autism) and a night one (English teacher at an adult school). I wish my hobby could be my job. I want writing to be my jobby. So I need to sell a lot of books to be able to stay home and write full time.
LR: When you first moved to this country from the Czech Republic, what aspect of American life made you laugh the hardest?
AC: I moved to Southern California where everyone drives. I found it absurd and totally laughable when drivers stopped and asked me whether I was lost and needed a ride, and then looked at me as if I was insane when I told them I was out for a walk. Oh, and the food. I couldn’t eat for days! The food tasted so bland I almost starved myself to death. Everything tasted disgusting. I lived on apples for more than a month.
LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a closet yoga fiend? Could you macramé a plant hanger if you had to? Do you secretly want to appear on America’s Got Talent?
AC: I love to bake. From fancy cakes, to rollades, cookies, etc. You name it, I’ll do it. And I’m a closet astronomer. I’ve studied the universe for as long as I can remember. I bet I could easily get a job with NASA J I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut.
LR: Do you have any writerly advice for my readers, maybe something you wish you had known early on in the game?
AC: I think this goes with any craft—EXPOSURE. It’s not enough to have the voice and the perfect song, a beautiful painting, or in our case a page-turning story. We need exposure to make the world aware of our craft. I’m still working on this aspect of my writing career. It is difficult, but I don’t lose hope. All it takes is that one person, one moment, and it will come.
Now here’s a little bit more about The Guardian…
Blurb:
Dr. Josef Stein was trained as a man of science and rationality, but after a tragic experience, he believes that there is something within—or even without—the human body sciences cannot explain. And Stein would do anything to witness it! When his patients begin seeing a ghost, and a woman suspected of killing her child even accuses this spirit of the crime, Stein takes it upon himself to investigate. Unexpectedly, evidence of a supernatural phenomenon starts to mount. The good doctor’s quest to see is ignited with fervor. He thinks he is on the verge of uncovering the veracity of a thousand-year-old myth when his research gets interrupted by the Gestapo. Stein turns to his colleagues and friends for help, but they begin to suspect that the doctor’s determination may have unhinged his mind. Has Stein, after years of treating the crazy, gone mad himself?
The Guardian is available from Amazon in Kindle or paperback formats.
Bio:
Aneta Cruz was born and raised in the Czech Republic. She spent most of her childhood hiding in the library be-cause her friends called her a liar. In her defense, she was only “telling stories.” There Cruz fell in love with books and vowed to become an author. She’d heard that dreams come true in America, so she packed her suitcase and got on the plane shortly after her twentieth birthday. Since then Cruz has earned a BA in English Literature, MFA in Creative Writing, and published a-Muse-me[a]nt, a Collec-tion of Poetry and Prose. Her works can be found in Bad-lands, the GNU, the Global Alchemy Forum, and Mused. Cruz is the winner of the 2011 Desert Literary Society Fiction Award.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aneta-Cruz/377093035716929?fref=ts
Twitter: @AnetaCruz
Website: http://anetacruz.wix.com/author
Keep reading for a short excerpt…
Excerpt
“Tell me, Mrs. Knapp, what did you do yesterday morning?”
Mrs. Knapp looked up at Stein with a terrified face. The dark circles under her eyes were magnified by the pale color of her nightgown, which almost blended into the color of her skin. She remained silent, folded her hands in her lap, and began tapping her foot against the floor.
“Mrs. Knapp, I’m here to help you. Now would be a good time to answer me.”
Mrs. Knapp inhaled then spoke with a trembling voice. “I woke up and…I…found a note from my husband on his pillow.”
“What did the note say?”
“He left me…us. He left Robbie and me,” she said, her lip quivering, tears spilling from her glossy eyes.
Stein reached into his pocket and handed her a handkerchief. She wiped her eyes then crumbled the handkerchief into a ball, squeezing it so tightly her knuckles whitened.
“Then what did you do?”
“I couldn’t get up. I was completely numb until I heard Robbie in his crib. He was crying for me, but I couldn’t get up.” Mrs. Knapp let the tears freely stream down her face as she stared out the window. Her foot stopped tapping and her head jerked toward the door, pulled by what seemed to be an involuntary motion. Her face looked petrified, as if she was expecting a…ghost.
Enough, Josef!
“When did you finally get up and check on your child?” Stein asked with a soft, precautious voice.
“I—I don’t know. I can’t remember.” She looked at Stein. “It was a while, I think. After I got the phone. I thought it was my husband calling, but it was just the neighbor.” Mrs. Knapp’s lips curved into a half smile, but the rest of her face remained motionless. She jerked her head toward the door again, with the same petrified look on her face. “She’s one of those who can’t take no for an answer, if you know what I mean.” She gazed at Stein with an absentminded stare. “Her son is nine months. She wanted to have lunch and let our children play together. Doesn’t she know that little ones like ours don’t play together?”
“Perhaps she doesn’t. Did you invite her?”
“Yes—of course. I got Robbie out of the crib. Changed his diaper. Nursed him. Then I took him to the kitchen. I had to prepare lunch, though I wasn’t hungry.”
“Where was Robbie at this time?”
Mrs. Knapp’s head jerked toward the door again. She started tapping her foot. “He—he was in his chair,” she said, and Stein noticed a nervous tweak in her lip. “I didn’t mean to invite her, all right? I was so—sad—and frustrated—and I didn’t mean to invite her,” she whispered.
“But she came anyway?”
“She just appeared in the doorway!” Mrs. Knapp moved to the edge of her chair, her face directly in front of Stein’s. “She’s hideous!”
Stein backed away. “Are you referring to the neighbor?”
“I’m not crazy! I know you and Captain Skála think I killed my baby, but I didn’t! She took him from me! I invited her by accident, and she took him from me!”
Stein realized that Mrs. Knapp would have had a fit of rage at this very point in the interview had the nurse not given her the sedative. But he also realized that the reduction of her outburst to a low murmur was much more haunting than the frantic rant she would have displayed.
“Mrs. Knapp, are you accusing your neighbor of killing your child?” Stein asked.
“My neighbor? No! Aren’t you listening? The hideous woman! Magdalena!”
