Frances di Plino's Blog, page 10

Interviewed by Mel Sherratt

Best-selling author of Taunting the Dead, Mel Sherratt, interviewed me ahead of Friday's release of the second in the D.I. Paolo Storey series, Someday Never Comes on her blog under the Murder they Wrote section.
Mel posed some taxing and interesting questions. You can read the interview and find out more about me here: Murder they Wrote

Book Trailer Heaven

I have wanted a book trailer for Bad Moon Rising ever since it came out in March 2012, but there always seemed to be something else that took priority, so it never happened.
With the approaching publication of the second in the Detective Inspector Paolo Storey series, Someday Never Comes (released this Friday – 16th August by Crooked Cat Publishing), I decided it was now or never – with the result that I am now the proud owner of not one, but two fabulous book trailers.
You can view the Someday Never Comes trailer by clicking on the YouTube link to the right of this post. Scroll down slightly to get to the Bad Moon Rising trailer.
I think they are brilliant and each perfectly sums up the theme of the novels.
What do you think? I’d love to hear from you.

Ten facts about … Cameron Lawton

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer? I didn't.  I have always written. At school I used to write stories for my friends but I never thought of submitting them until someone suggested I try it.
How long does it take you to write a book?First draft can be done in under two months but then it needs a great deal of work so four months is a more sane estimate.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?Haphazard! I can write non-stop for 24 hours and then leave it for days.
How many crime novels have you written?Only one specifically Cancel Christmas which revolves around a murder on an Army base in Germany. It is part of a series featuring two investigators from the British Royal Military Police.
Which is your favourite and why?The next one!  I'm always raring to get going on my new ideas.  Where do you get your ideas?Having a few ex-military in the family helps and there are specific crimes that pertain to that life. I came up with the idea for Cancel Christmas when I wondered what would happen if the motives for a murder could be racism or homophobia or something more mundane. The military was a perfect setting for this. 
Who is your favourite character from your own work and why?So hard to choose between them. I think Jack because his sense of humour is quirky and he bends the rules in a very crafty way.
Which character from the work of others do you wish you’d invented and why?Sherlock Holmes. I would love to have such an organised mind and memory. For the character to have it, the author needs to have it too and that is just soooo not me!
If you could have been someone from history involved in crime (good or bad) who would that be and why?I would like to have been someone working in the Tower of London so I would know if Richard III really did murder those princes or if they died of natural causes. Either that or Jack the Ripper. Everyone who writes crime would like to solve that one.
What are you working on now?The third in the series of Jack and Rory – this one will see them on their travels but they will be diverted by a crime. It will be fun to write about places I know and there will be a lot more humour in this one. Cancel Christmas was very grisly in places.
Bio Cameron Lawton is the twin brother of novelist Ailsa Abraham with whom he lives in France. He is very reticent about his past, but openly gay.  His ambition is to ride a Harley Davidson across America. His hobbies include old black and white films, cooking and walking with his two dogs. He insists that he does not like musicals or interior design but has a penchant for dressing up.

Books
Yours to Command Cancel Christmas Loki's Curse published by MLRPress – Author Page

Twitter - @cameronlawton
Facebook – Cameron Lawton
Web page 

Review of Poisoned Waters by Ermisenda Alvarez

I enjoyed Poisoned Waters by Ermisenda Alvarez, but only after I’d got beyond the first few chapters. I have a pet hate about too many characters being introduced too quickly and the number here was borderline on what I felt worked. However, as the novel progressed the character development was very good and the storyline carried me along effortlessly.

Without giving too much away, some of the characters who appear endearing at first, we later discover to have less than attractive personalities – but that shift in perspective works well in this genre.
The storyline takes place on a cruise in the 1950s and the author evokes the time and setting very well. The prevailing attitudes and prejudices add to the feeling that this isn’t just a story, but could actually have taken place. However, being a murder mystery, the important aspect is the plot and this, too, is well worked and deftly presented. The suspense is maintained throughout, with plenty of twists and turns and, of course, many suspects with both motive and opportunity.
To sum up – this is a fast-paced read with plenty of genuine clues, lots of red herrings, various subplots, an intriguing cast of characters and the final chapters make sure all the ends are neatly tied up. What more could you ask?

Someday Never Comes? It's Coming!

Only two weeks to go before the latest in the Detective Inspector Paolo Storey series, Someday Never Comes, will be released by Crooked Cat Publishing on 16th August 2013.
Don't miss out on the party. There will be games, quizzes, music and lots to keep you entertained - as well as a few giveaways as prizes. Click here to join the party
Want to know what the book is about? Read on ...Paolo is determined to shut down the syndicate flooding Bradchester’s streets with young prostitutes.
When a child is murdered, Paolo becomes aware of a sinister network of abusers spread across Europe, and spanning all levels of society. But Joey, the shadowy leader of the gang, always seems to be one step ahead in the chase.
Has Detective Inspector Paolo Storey come up against a criminal he cannot defeat?
Praise for Someday Never Comes 
"A taut, tense thriller, this novel is a masterclass in plotting and character development. Paolo Storey is a wonderful creation: human, flawed and vulnerable. Fans of Tania Carver and Karin Slaughter will adore di Plino's clever, original crime series."
Sheila Bugler, author Hunting Shadows
"Dark and uncomfortably believable, Frances di Plino's gritty thriller set in the underworld of organised crime cranks the tension all the way up to eleven. Don't read this on the train - you'll miss your stop."
JJ Marsh, author of The Beatrice Stubbs series

Ten facts about … Debbie Bennett

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer? When I was about 8 or 9 when everybody in school would write a page of “story” and I’d write 10 or more … when I used to write really bad plays with a friend and act them out at Girl Guides when I was 12 … and finally when I was 15 and there was nothing at YA level to read after Nancy Drew and Macolm Saville – so I wrote something myself! A whole novel, handwritten in a fancy binder with cardboard characters and a completely nonsensical plot. I still have it in my filing cabinet to remind me of how far I’ve come.
How long does it take you to write a book?In the past when I was going after traditional deals – doing the rounds of editors and agents – it’d take years of waiting around, querying, sending out fulls, even landing agents who still couldn’t sell my books. Now I’m my own master, it takes about a year, fitted in around a day-job, family and social life. Maybe six to eight months of writing and the rest is editing, polishing, getting beta-reads etc.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?Depends on how much of a roll I’m on! There are times when I can write a couple of thousand words in a day – crammed into my lunch-break at work, and in the evenings when I stop talking to anybody and I’m living and breathing whatever scene I’m in. And then it will stall and I’ll have to take a step backwards, let it mature and fester a bit while I wait for the next bolt of lightning to strike. I can’t plan – I wish I could.
How many crime novels have you written?Two completed: Hamelin’s Child and its sequel Paying the Piper . That was supposed to be it, but so many people have asked me what happens to my character Michael, and would I write a further book. So I did – it took me a while to come up with a plot that wasn’t a re-hash of what’s gone before and yet was a logical follow-on from events.
Which is your favourite and why?I don’t have favourites. I guess I lived with Hamelin the longest and it’s certainly the darkest and most shocking thing I’ve ever written. But I love Michael dearly – I’ve lived with him for so long through so much, and I feel I know him inside out.
Where do you get your ideas? I’ve worked in law enforcement all of my career in a variety of jobs. Having spent some time investigating heroin smuggling with lots of “hands-on” experience, I wanted to write about drugs from the street side rather than the law-enforcement side. I’m lucky in that I have access to people whose brains I can pick when it comes to things like police radio procedures. The ideas themselves are organic – I never know where anything is going to take me until I write it, which is a dangerous, but ultimately exhilarating way to write!
Who is your favourite character from your own work and why?While, as I said, I love Michael to bits, my favourite character would have to be my street kid Lee. Apparently he’s made at least one reader cry. Telling you why would be spoilers.
Which character from the work of others do you wish you’d invented and why?Matthew Reilly’s Shane Schofield aka Scarecrow, I adore Matthew Reilly’s books. Normally I hate anything with big guns and planes on the cover and his books are utterly ridiculous lad-lit, with implausible plots, impossible action scenes and chases that go on for chapters at a time, but the man can write like nobody else I know.
If you could have been someone from history involved in crime (good or bad) who would that be and why?I’d have to say Locard – the father of modern forensic science. I find forensics fascinating – I’ve done several courses on things like fingerprint-lifting, hair analysis, blood-spatter measurements – not to mention a term at night school studying criminal psychology. Working at the police headquarters helps too. If I could have a career over again, I’d be a Crime Scene Investigator.
What are you working on now?I’m about 2/3 way through Calling the Tune which will end Michael’s story (oh, yes it will). I’ve also got a couple of chapters down of a different crime thriller novel, tentatively titled Blue Flamingo, so I’ll be working on that next I expect.
BioI've worked in law enforcement for over 25 years, in a variety of different roles, both front-line and back-office, which may be why the darker side of life tends to emerge in my writing.
I was long-listed (top 25) for the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger in 2005.
You can find more of my musings over at AuthorsElectric, a blog by professional writers, where I have a regular slot on 6th of each month and I write occasional posts for You're Booked - the online community for crime readers and writers run by Harrogate International Festivals.
My claim to fame: I once asked Stephen King to dance!
Crime/thriller novels Hamelin’s Child Paying the Piper
Fantasy novels Edge of Dreams
Short stories Maniac & Other Stories
Amazon author pageWebsite: www.debbiebennett.co.uk

Saving the World in one Paragraph

I normally interview others, but the tables have been turned. Please visit Jeff Gardiner's lovely blog to read about me, my writing and how I would save the world in one easy step.

http://jeffgardiner.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/interview-with-frances-di-plino/

Bad Moon Rising recommended alongside J.K. Rowling’s latest

Now, there’s a blog post title I never thought I’d be able to write, but it’s true!
The wonderful people over at Triskele Book Club have put together a list of their recommendations for summer reads.

Bad Moon Rising and The Cuckoo’s Calling are rubbing virtual spines on their Hot Summer Reads Page, with only a single book to separate them. To say I’m thrilled is the understatement of the year.
The only way to find out if the two books are worthy of such high praise is to read them both. I’d love it if you posted your comments after you've done so. It's not every day I can claim to be on the same page as such a celebrated writer.

Ten facts about … Luke Murphy

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?Actually it happened by accident. Growing up I never thought much about writing, but I was an avid reader. The only time I ever wrote was when my teachers at school made me. I wanted to be an NHL superstar…period.

It was the winter of 2000, my second year of professional hockey, and I was playing in Oklahoma City.  After sustaining a season ending eye injury (one of the scariest moments of my life), I found myself with time on his hands.
My girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, was attending a French college in Montreal. She received an English assignment to write a short story, and asked me for some help.
I loved the experience—creating vivid characters and generating a wire-taut plot. I sat down at my roommate’s computer and began typing. I wrote a little every day, around my intense rehabilitation schedule and before I knew it I had completed my first manuscript.
I didn’t write with the intention of being published. I wrote for the love of writing.
Thirteen years later, I still write for pleasure—and I still love it! The fact that I am being published is a bonus.
How long does it take you to write a book?My story is rare, and not necessarily on behalf of other writers. Writing is not my full time job. I only write as a hobby, when I have free time. But here it is:
In the winter of 2007, with an idea in mind and an outline on paper, I started to write Dead Man’s Hand . It took me two years (working around full time jobs) to complete the first draft of my novel.
The first person to read my completed manuscript was my former high school English teacher. With her experience and wisdom, she gave me some very helpful advice. I then hired McCarthy Creative Services to help edit Dead Man’s Hand , to make it the best possible novel.
I joined a critique group, teaming up with published authors Nadine Doolittle and Kathy Leveille, and exchanging manuscripts and information. Working with an editor and other authors was very rewarding and not only made my novel better, but made me a better writer.
When I was ready, I researched agents who fit my criteria (successful, worked with my genres, etc.) and sent out query letters. After six months of rejections, I pulled my manuscript back and worked on it again. Then in my next round of proposals, I was offered representation by the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency.
After months of editing with Jennifer, and more rejections from publishers, my dream was finally realized in April, 2012, when I signed a publishing contract with Imajin Books (Edmonton, Alberta). I’m hoping the next one (if there is one), doesn’t take quite as long.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?These days I don`t have one. Right now, I have a full time job (teaching), a part-time tutoring job, and three small children. I`m too busy playing ring-around-the-rosie and duck-duck-goose to write.
But when I do write, I find that I am most productive in the morning, and I always have to have a mug of steaming coffee in front of me.
Before I even sit down at a computer, I have hand-written notes of ideas for my book. This could be anything from plot, scenes, setting, characters, etc. I always write in the mornings, this is my most productive time.
Once I sit down, I just write. No editing, no looking back, I just let it flow. Unless I`m certain, no title until after I`m done. As I write, I keep notes by hand on the timeline.
When my first draft is complete, I go through it twice, once for the creative editing process and the next for flow, repetition, etc. Then I have my former English professor read it over and she gives me her thoughts. I edit it myself again. Then I send it to my agent for her thoughts, then I edit it again myself. Only once my agent and I feel ready do we send it to publishers.
How many crime novels have you written?I’ve completed three manuscripts but only one novel has been published.
Which is your favourite and why? That’s hard to say. Dead Man’s Hand is my only published work to date, and I have been getting exceptional reviews. It took me over six years from writing the first word to seeing it in print, so I spent a lot of time with it.
But my first manuscript is my baby. It was what drew me to writing, what ignited the passionate fire in me to write. It also brought my wife and I closer together (we were just dating at the time and she helped me a little).
Tough call.
Where do you get your ideas?There is not a single moment in time when this idea came to be, but circumstances over the years that led to this story: my hockey injuries, frequent visits to Las Vegas, my love of football, crime books and movies.
Dead Man’s Hand became real from mixing these events, taking advantage of experts in their field, and adding my wild imagination. The internet also provides a wealth of information, available at our fingertips with a click of the mouse.
Who is your favourite character from your own work and why?Without a doubt, Calvin Watters.
A 6’5”, 220 pound African-American Vegas leg-breaker.
Watters faces racial prejudice with calmness similar to that of Walter Mosley’s character Easy Rawlins. But Watters’ past as an athlete and enforcer will remind other readers of (Jack) Reacher of the Lee Childs series. The Stuart Woods novel Choke, about a tennis player who, like Watters, suffered greatly from a dramatic loss that was a failure of his psyche, is also an inspiration for Dead Man’s Hand .
When thinking about creating the main character for my story, I wanted someone “REAL”. Someone readers could relate to. Although it is a work of fiction, my goal was to create a character who readers could make a real connection with.
Physically, keeping in mind Watters’ past as an NCAA football standout and his current occupation as a Vegas debt-collector, I thought “intimidating”, and put together a mix of characteristics that make Watters appear scary (dreadlocks and patchy facial hair), but also able to blend in with those of the social elite. Although he is in astounding physical condition, handsome and well-toned, he does have a physical disability that limits his capabilities.
He’s proud, confident bordering on cocky, mean and tough, but I also gave him a softer side that readers, especially women, will be more comfortable rooting for. After his humiliating downfall he is stuck at the bottom for a while, but trying hard to work his way back up.
He has weaknesses and he has made poor choices. He has regrets, but Watters has the opportunity to redeem himself. Not everyone gets a second chance in life, and he realizes how fortunate he is.
Calvin Watters is definitely worth rooting for.
Which character from the work of others do you wish you’d invented and why?Probably one of my favourite characters in a novel is Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch. HE is so classic. Tough and bright, experienced and unbroken. I love Bosch’s sense of humour and his ability to adapt to any situation.
If you could have been someone from history involved in crime (good or bad) who would that be and why?Wyatt Earp. I love westerns, love reading and watching about stories of the Wild West. Obviously with the title of my book, Dead Man’s Hand , is taken from Wild Bill Hickok of the Wild West. It was so wide open and care-free back then.
What are you working on now?I don`t have much time to write, but when I get a chance, I do all I can. It could take some time, but eventually I would love to write a series of novels, featuring Calvin Watters. But I will not limit my novels to Calvin Watters, as I would like to write a different series of novels, all in the crime-thriller genres. I’m currently working on a new crime novel, but my wife and I just had our third child, so the process has been stalled and is going quite slowly. Eventually I would love to write more books, including a sequel to Dead Man’s Hand .
Bio:Luke Murphy lives in Shawville, Quebec with his wife, three daughters and pug.
He played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. Since then, he’s held a number of jobs, from sports columnist to radio journalist, before earning his Bachelor of Education degree (Magna Cum Laude).
Murphy`s debut novel, Dead Man’s Hand , was released by Imajin Books on October 20, 2012.
For more information on Luke and his books, visit: www.authorlukemurphy.com, ‘like’ his Facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorLukeMurphyand follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/#!/AuthorLMurphy

Ten facts about … Louise Phillips

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?I wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I also wanted to be a singer, even though I don’t have a note in my head! The writing dream stayed with me, despite me ignoring it for a great many years. It was always waiting in the wings.

How long does it take you to write a book?I’d say 12 months, more or less. The first draft probably takes about four months, another two months working on honing in the overall structure and text; the same again after editorial feedback is received. After that, it’s copyediting and final bits and pieces. However, the story germinates in my mind for a long time before I start writing. The idea and general theme come first, often with a particular character in mind. Other bits then fall into place, so I have a firm grounding by the time I put pen to paper. Even more of the story unfolds as I write, and there are always surprises.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?It varies. In general, I tend to write early mornings, starting around 6 a.m. I like working before the rest of the world gets up, and then I’ll work until early afternoon. After that, the other day job and family kicks in. During editing, or if I’m close to a deadline, it’s every hour in the day that I can possibly manage. Large cups of coffee and sugary treats are often required, which is why, when I can, I try to go out walking as part of the routine.
How many crime novels have you written?My first novel, Red Ribbons was published last year. My second novel, The Doll’s House will be out August 1st, and I’m currently working on the next one. I’d attempted novel writing before Red Ribbons , on two previous occasions, but lost courage halfway through. I don’t regret that. It was all part of the journey,
Which is your favourite and why?I think stories, especially stories which span the length of a novel, are like your children, each of them being special in their own way. You spend at least a year of your life thinking about them and then writing them, so they all have a strong place in your creative heart.
It’s always important to be excited about your current work, so if I was pushed for a favourite, it would be the current story, only because it is unfolding all the time.
Where do you get your ideas? I read somewhere recently that there’s no such a thing as writer’s block, it’s more ‘idea block’. I’m not sure about that, but as I mentioned earlier, usually something will grab me creatively and will stay in my head for a long time. When it does, I know it’s there for a reason. I hope my novels are emotionally charged, and it’s the emotional story or potential consequences which takes hold. I don’t focus on being overly clever with regard to plot. I’m willing to let the characters develop into the story, although the end result is a multi-layered plot.
Who is your favourite character from your own work and why?Gosh, that’s a hard one. Dr Kate Pearson, the criminal psychologist, who appears in each of the novels, is evolving at all time, so she’s particularly interesting. When new characters are brought in, I tend to align with the main protagonist more than others. For Red Ribbons , The Doll’s House , and the current novel, the main protagonist is written in first person. I think this allows me go deeper into their mind-set. I like the bad guys too. As the writer, I don’t set myself up as judge and jury over them. They have their own light within the dark.
Which character from the work of others do you wish you’d invented and why?The one that instantly jumps to mind is the character of Hannibal created by Thomas Harris, but there are many more. I tend to link to characters who bring you places you haven’t been before.
If you could have been someone from history involved in crime (good or bad) who would that be and why?Fictionally, the character of Sherlock Holmes would be rather good! I love the old puzzle solving aspect, and he certainly got himself into all kinds of interesting scenarios.
I wouldn’t like to be anyone from history who did evil things. Writing about them, and being them are totally different. So I’d be happy to be any one of the good guys!
What are you working on now?The working title of my current novel is Last Kiss. There is something of a clue in the title! I don’t tend to say too much about a work while it’s evolving, mainly because you can lose some of the magic unfolding in your mind. Ask me again in six months, and I’ll give you lengthy paragraphs.
BioBorn in Dublin, Louise Phillips returned to writing in 2006, after raising her family. Louise’s work has been published as part of many anthologies, including County Lines from New Island, and various literary journals. In 2009, she won the Jonathan Swift Award for her short story Last Kiss, and in 2011 she was a winner in the Irish Writers’ Centre Lonely Voice platform. She has also been short-listed for the Molly Keane Memorial Award, Bridport UK, and long-listed twice for the RTÉ Guide/Penguin Short Story Competition. In 2012, she was awarded an Arts Bursary for Literature from South Dublin County Council. Her bestselling debut novel, Red Ribbons , was shortlisted for Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year (2012) in the Irish Book Awards. Her second novel The Doll’s House will be published August 1st 2013.
Places to find LouiseWebsiteBlogTwitterFacebookFacebook PageAmazon.co.ukAmazon.comLinkedinGoodreads