J.P. Choquette's Blog, page 5

Will you be chosen?

Exciting news! A handful readers will have the opportunity to read, Let the Dead Rest, before it's release date on 8/17/18. 

Want to enter to win a spot on the Early Review Team ? Just click the link and enter your email address. We'll let you know soon if you were selected or not. Thanks for your interest in J.P. Choquette's newest novel. 

Best Suspense Books of 2018

Today marks the official half-year mark. I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the best suspense books I've read so far in 2018. Plus, I'm sharing a look at a suspense novel I can't wait to get my sweaty little hands on!  I'm not much for cozy mysteries, I tend to like things a little darker and grittier. And while Mister Mottley Gets His Man isn't entirely cozy, it is a fun read--definitely more on the light-hearted side. It was also one of my favorite reads so far this year. 

The author, Ellen Seltz, does a brilliant job of keeping everything perfectly balanced. Like a just-right meal, the book has a lot of action, humor, extremely fun characters with lots of quirks, and a rollicking "who dunnit" mystery that I couldn't solve. Plus, since Ms. Seltz has a background in the film/theater industry, the book reads like a movie script (in a good way). Thoroughly enjoyed.     The Bullet ,  is a novel of suspense and intrigue. It's written by a VPR commentator, Mary Louise Kelly. It was eerie and fast-paced. The storyline follows a young college professor who discovers she has a bullet lodged in the base of her neck. She has no idea how it got there.

​From that MRI, the young woman's perfect life starts to crumble around her. The harder she looks for answers, the more frightening her situation becomes. Excellent read! I look forward to more by this talented author.  I so enjoyed this quick read, The Yellow Room , by vintage author, Mary Roberts Rinehart. I can't believe that it's taken me so long to read one of this legend's books. Wasn't she named the "Queen of Suspense," before Mary Higgins Clark took over the title?

This was a great, gothic suspense story and had just enough spine-tingles to keep you flipping pages. Also loved the time period it was set in (1940s). 

Listen to this opening paragraph: 

"As she sat in the train that June morning Carol Spencer did not look like a young woman facing anything unusual. She looked merely like an attractive, and highly finished product of New York City, who was about to park her mother with her elder sister in Newport for a week or two, and who after said parking would then proceed to Maine, there to open a house which she never wanted to see again." 

Already there are questions to be answered. Why doesn't Carol want to see the house again? If she doesn't, why is she opening it? What unusual thing is she facing? Love the hook. 
All right, I admit it: I'm cheating here a little. This miniseries, And Then There Were None, based on the novel by the same name by Dame Agatha Christie, was a must-watch for me. In fact, it had been on my wishlist on Amazon for more than a year! 

While the script deviates in some ways from the original book (one of my very favorite of Christie's novels), it was similar enough in the most important ways. The director did a great job of climax and tension, and the house and setting were completely atmospheric and just creepy enough to be delicious. 
And a suspense book I'm looking forward to reading... I am so, SO looking forward to reading this new thriller/suspense by Jenny Milchman. I recently learned about it's release from writer/book reviewer, Beth Kanell, who maintains an excellent site, Kingdom Books, that you should visit.  Ms. Milchman and I were featured in the same post --her for this book and me for Shadow in the Woods. 

3 Books I disliked but am glad I read anyway

That Artsy Reader Girl has a fun "Top 10 Tuesday" topic that she covers weekly. Other bloggers are encouraged to play along (with or without modifications). This week's topic is "8 Books I Disliked But Am Glad I Read Anyway." So, without further ado, here is a list (shortened to three as it's a super-busy week) that I disliked but am glad I read anyway:  Depressing. That about sums up my experience with The Grapes of Wrath. I suppose it's fitting as the book is set in the Great Depression. This was one of those books I had a love/hate thing going with. (I'm pretty sure it could have been livened up by being condensed about 500 pages). I am very glad that I read it as it's a classic and did have a beautiful, albeit dusty, message of hope.   And now for something completely different...The Shack. I read this mostly because of all the buzz it was generating in the media. While I enjoyed the unusual-ness (not a real word) of the story and the way that it portrayed the Trinity in a completely new way, the storyline was so disturbing I couldn't get past it. Note: I was also very pregnant when I read this. Story of child murder + pregnant woman = ugly anger. Ugh. When I was required to read this in my senior year of high school, I had no idea the drudgery that awaited me. I don't know if it was because of my age, what was going on in my life (period of depression) or just because this book stinks, but I DID NOT like Metamorphosis. And I'm not really glad I read it, other than to be able to say that I finished the dang thing despite hating it. And to celebrate the fact that I never have to read it again. 

how being the fat kid helped me fall in love

image credit "Fatso!" "Heifer," and "Lard *ss," were names that followed me through school hallways, the playground and even the classroom growing up.

"Why are you so fat?" a girl asked me one day on the playground. I mumbled something about being big boned and got out of there fast, cheeks stained red, our game forgotten. 

Growing up as "the fat kid," was a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone. My heart was broken over and over again when others--especially friends and once even a teacher--commented negatively on my weight. 

It did, however, give me two gifts that I'm still grateful for. The gifts that being "the fat kid" gave me Firstly, it allowed me to feel complete empathy for others who were left out, picked on, or made fun of. Even after I went through my "transformation," in junior high and lost 60 pounds in about a year, I have never, ever lost that righteous anger I feel for the underdog. 

Secondly, it brought me my true passions: reading great books and writing stories . When I read a book, I was no longer the fat kid. I was the hero. I was sometimes beautiful, always strong, and often funny. By putting myself in the place of protagonist, I worked through challenges and hardships. This helped me see some of my own problems in new ways. Or at the very least, helped me to see that other people had it as bad, if not worse, than I did. Their stories provided me with a sense of solidarity. 

Stories were important to me. They offered me an escape as well as adventure, love, freedom, hope and power. They're still important to me for these reasons today. I'm guessing that's why they are important for most of us. 

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. In  my books  there is often a theme of social justice or of the empowerment/growth of a particular character. I don't do this purposely. It comes from the way that I've always lived my life. 

If I had it to do all over again, would I choose to grow up as the fat kid? If I said "no," then I wouldn't be the person I am today. And we don't get a chance to go back.

​So, I'm taking the lessons that I've learned and using them to make my life richer. And I hope that along the way I've encouraged other misfits like me in ways that are real and meaningful to them. ​

News on next book~Coming Summer 2018!

Whew! What a busy few weeks it's been...busy but productive and exciting. First, the next book (formerly known as The Creepy Doll Book) has a real name: Let the Dead Rest. 

It will be released this summer (likely mid-August) and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you. The awesome designers over at The Cover Collection are working on the cover for it as we speak (!) and it will be delivered to my developmental editor tomorrow.

Guys, I just have to say that writing and then putting a book out in the world is one of the most exciting things to me. I LOVE IT!!! Even when I hate it (like this morning when I was sore and stiff from sitting for hours in front of the computer editing--my very least favorite part of the process) it still rocks. I'm very, very grateful to be on this journey and for your support from near and far. Thank you, dear readers. 

Now, more about the book...

I've created an alternate ending and my fantastic beta readers have so far been split right down the middle. What should I do? Should I include both endings in the book? Should I toss one and keep the other via gut instinct? Should I post the alternate ending only here, on the blog after the book has come out? Chime in via the comments and let me know what you think.  PS Here's a Little Something Creepy to Enjoy

Maple French fries, buying local & Vermont Authors

All-natural bath and body products from Morning Glory Essentials This weekend marked the 52nd Vermont Maple Festival. Perhaps you've heard of it? It's been featured in several prominent U.S. magazines and draws thousands from around the U.S., and even the world. 

This celebration of all things maple is one of perks of living here in northwestern Vermont. In the past few days I've discovered the bliss that is maple syrup dipped French fries (wow!) and met some wonderful "neighbors" at the local craft show where I shared a table with two other awesome Vermont authors.  Vermont Rolling Pins makes beautiful and functional handcrafted rolling pins. For the past few years fellow Vermont author, Beth Kanell , and I have shared a booth at the Maple Festival craft show. This year we were joined by a third Vermont author, Lori MacLaughlin . 

Beth writes beautiful poetry and historical novels for the YA crowd (her newest has just come out, The Long Shadow, and I can't wait to read it!).  Lori focuses on fantasy and writes entertaining and adventurous books that are hard to put down. Her newest book, The Road Once Taken , has just come out on Kindle and will be available in paperback very soon.  The blur isn't a filter...it's just a really old cellphone. :) Me (left) with Kathryn G. And if that wasn't enough, I also got to finally meet the wonderful, witty and completely personable  Vermont author, Kathryn Guare,  last week as well.  We've chatted online before but it was lovely to meet her face-to-face and talk shop. The hour and a half we spent discussing plots and exchanging publishing tips felt like 20 minutes! 

It's always a pleasure to join forces with other local authors. Do you like to read books based in your area? ​Why or why not?

Suspense, Mystery & Thriller Readers: why I love them

image credit I love to meet fellow #bookworms. It's a lot of fun connecting with a stranger over a book that we've both enjoyed. It builds instant rapport.

"And remember the part where she goes into that old house? Wasn't that nuts?" 
"Argh! I couldn't believe she did that! I wanted to hold onto her legs and pull her back." 

What's especially humorous to me is the way that people tend to classify "suspense readers," or "mystery readers," or "thriller readers," in some very humorous ways. 

"Well, she reads suspense, you know," whispers an older lady to me from behind a hand near her mouth. 
Or: 
"He's a mystery fan. Can you believe it? And he seemed so normal..." 
Or: 
"I wouldn't leave my dog at her house when you go away. She's a thriller reader."

Okay, I'm exaggerating. But doesn't it sometimes feel as though people who read other genres think we're weird because we love to read suspense, mystery or thriller books? "Why would you want to read about death and killing?" a woman once asked me at a book sale. "I want something that relaxes me, not makes me stress out." 

The thing is that mystery and suspense and thriller books DO relax us. They're like giant puzzles that your mind works away on, providing a temporary escape from that truly stressful thing in life called reality. These types of books help us to put things in perspective, too. Kind of hard to feel so disgruntled with a nosy boss when the main character is being chased by the mob, right? 

Suspense, mystery and thriller books also help us to problem solve. What would we do/have done in that situation? Where would we turn if that had happened to us? How can the protagonist make the outcome more favorable? What if he/she doesn't? What are the risks and rewards? 

Best of all, most novels tie up the loose ends leaving us as the readers feeling good. These are a few of the many reasons that I love to read and write in the suspense and mystery genre. What are yours? Please share a comment. 

5 Excellent Mystery & Suspense Book Review Sites

image credit You'll remember in my last post I was discussing the reasons that I don't like writing book reviews, and what I like to do instead .

This isn't to say that I don't like reading some book reviews. I find sites like I Wish I Lived in a Library and Kay's Reading Life and Rebel Mommy Book Blog to be great places to find new-to-me-books/authors to check out. Each of these reviewers does a fantastic job of writing good reviews. They also include just enough information about their personal life that you feel like a close acquaintance is sharing information with you on coffee break. Want a straight book review site for mystery and suspense reads? I recommend Mysteries in Paradise   or Bitter Tea and Mystery , both of which use straight review format. 

Even if they didn't particularly like a book, these reviewers make sure to point out its good qualities. They also state that the parts they didn't enjoy are because of their own reading preferences, not because they believe they are the end-all and be-all of book reviewers. I respect that very much. ​​

Oh, and I'd be remiss not to send you to check out the clever and well-rounded book review site by writer/author/editor Beth Kanell, Kingdom Books . It's a fantastic resource for any reader who is a fan of mystery, suspense and great thrillers. 

What book review sites do you rely on? Or are you an Amazon, Goodreads or LibraryThing-only type of review reader? Please share in the comments. 

Why I don't review books...but do this instead

Tell me the truth: when you read a poor book review, does it make you want to run out and buy the book anyway, or cause you to have second thoughts? 

Like art critics, I believe that book reviewers can hurt authors. While reviews are important (how else will anyone online discover your work?), I choose not to write them for a few reasons. Here they are:  3 Reasons I Don't Write Book Reviews 1)  Book reviews say, "I'm an expert," and I'm not. I think that two people can read the exact same book and one will leave the experience in love and the other will be wondering why they wasted those hours of their life. Who am I to say, "yes, read THIS book," or "no, don't read THAT book"? Reading tastes are so individual that it's impossible to predict whether or not someone will love or dislike the book that as a reviewer you tell them they "must read." 

2)  I hate reading things I don't want to. Just the thought of having to read something makes my skin feel itchy and my legs twitch. I did loads and loads of that in high school and college. I don't want to "have to read" anything. This is also why I have never joined a book group. I tried and failed.

Book reviewers often have lots of free books coming their way and they are expected to actually READ them. Shiver, shiver. My reading time is so limited that in the few precious minutes I do have, I want to focus on something that I love. Reading is an escape. It's hard to "escape," if you're reading something that you'd rather not be. 

3)  Reviews can hurt. I nearly gave up writing books a few years ago. I allowed a series of negative reviews online and in person at book events to really discourage me. I thought that I sucked as an author. "Maybe I should just give up," I thought. "There has to be better ways to spend all this time and money than on writing books that I put so much of myself into, only to have them criticized and belittled. Maybe I should take up extreme ironing. (Guys, it's a real thing.)  image credit Anyway, after a long time, a lot of reflection, prayer and introspection, I eased back into writing novels. But my point is this: critical words hurt. It doesn't matter if you're a baby beginner or a stalwartly pro. Creatives are sensitive creatures (some more than others). Putting  your work in the world, the work that you've put your heart into, that you've spent hours upon hours on is risky. One too many barbed comments or scathing reviews take their toll.  What I Do Instead of Writing Book Reviews Rather than writing book reviews, I choose to write book recommendations. The biggest differences? 

a) I only write these about books I really enjoy and
b) I follow Mom's rule: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." 

With that said, though, I do like to write and verbally share book recommendations.  Book recommendations are fun! I love making these and do so monthly in my newsletter for readers of suspense. I will also occasionally read something really good and then reach out to the author and ask if I can interview them here on the blog. I also often promote their work on Twitter or Facebook or a private suspense reading recommendation group that I'm a member of. It's a great way to share other authors great work, without writing traditional book reviews. 

In the next post, I'm going to tell you more about some suspense reader review sites that I do enjoy. Just because I choose not to write reviews, doesn't mean that I don't like reading them...and enjoying the community that these review bloggers have created. 

Why readers need authors and authors need readers

My family watched a nature show recently that showed the reciprocal relationship of a certain, tiny bird and elephants on the savanna. The tiny birds fly along just in front of the elephants. As the elephants step and rustle the tall grass, bugs fly out. 

Gulp! The birds catch the insects one by one, getting their fill. What could be seen as an insurmountable task is made easier by the work of the elephant. 

So, what does this have to do with authors and readers? 

While the analogy isn't perfect, let's go with it. Readers (the birds) like what the elephants are dishing out. They get their hunger satisfied. They have their basic needs taken care of. However, the elephants (authors) get something from this partnership too. They get rid of the pesky bugs which might otherwise fly up their trunks or worse, land in their eyes.  How Authors Help Readers Authors help readers by providing them with excellent stories, of course, but they do more than that. Authors help readers to forget about the problems that they're struggling with even if only for a little while. Books provide an escape and we often leave a reading session feeling grateful. Even though we're struggling with Problem X, at least we aren't dealing with the enormous Problems Y and Z that the main character in this book is.  How Readers Help Authors One of the most important ways that readers help authors is by telling someone else about his or her books. Think about it this way: if there was a new coffee shop in town that you ADORED, would you make it a point to tell friends and family that you know also enjoy coffee? Of course you would!
​
Readers have perhaps more power and influence now than ever before because of the internet.

They can tell other people on Facebook or Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat about the awesome book they just read. They could mention it in their real-life or online reader's group. They can leave a review so that other readers who maybe haven't read anything by a particular author, can get a feel for the book before they try it.  Help Your Favorite Author Out  Here is one quick thing you can do that will likely make your favorite author's day. Leave a review of the last book of his/her's that you read. You can do it easily on Amazon (you don't have to have purchased the book there), on Goodreads, LibraryThing, Barnes and Noble or wherever else you like to read reviews. 

I just left two reviews for books I've read recently and it took literally two minutes. Remember, authors need readers just as much as readers need authors.   :)