Blog Tour: Red Lily series by Anna J. Stewart
She'llrisk everything to expose the truth.
Vanished
Circle of the Red Lily Book 2
by Anna J. Stewart
Genre: Romantic Suspense
She'llrisk everything to expose the truth.
Since her twin sister Sylvie's disappearance seven years ago,single mother Mabel Reynolds has turned grief into action and becomea strong voice for victims of violence and abuse.
When new revelations shed light on what may have happened not onlyto Sylvie, but dozens of other women, Mabel's hope for answers isreignited. But the new oh-so-charming DA overseeing the investigationseems more interested in a quick rather than an accurate resolution.
With little faith in the system, Mabel isn’t about to stayquiet, not when she’s finally close to the truth. She’s willingto go up against anyone—even a smug, irritating, attractive DA toget the answers she and other families deserve.
Open and shut.
That's what Assistant DA Paul Flynn has been told about his newassignment supervising a house of horrors case. With a high-profileconviction at stake, Paul can’t afford to make a wrong move if hisprofessional goals are to be achieved.
But Mabel Reynolds has his attention. All of it. Attraction aside,the woman knows far more than what’s in the official files whichmakes her something even more intriguing. But using Mabel as an assetmeans exposing her and her young daughter to even more danger. Dangerthat is closing in on them from every side. As even darker forcesappear, and their lives are threatened, Paul is faced with riskingnot only his entire career, but also the one thing he neveranticipated losing: his heart.
Amazon* ArcManorBooks *Bookbub* Goodreads
Exposed
Circleof the Red Lily Book 1
2023Finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award
Workingas a Hollywood photographer means Riley Temple has seen it all. Butthen she finds herself staring at the chilling image of a dead woman.When her questions about the film lead to violence, she reluctantlyturns to the only person who can help. Detective Quinn Burton, thepolice commissioner’s son. Her history with the LAPD iscomplicated, her trust in authority, tenuous. But to find thoseresponsible and protect those closest to her, she’s willing to doanything. Even trust a cop.
After more than a decade onthe job, Quinn knows a dangerous situation when he sees it and RileyTemple is up to her ears in trouble. But not for the reason shethinks. The pictures she’s stumbled on call into a question anotorious murder conviction—one that powerful people have a vestedinterest in keeping in place. Seeing this case through meansbetraying someone: his job, his family, or the woman he’s fallingin love with.
As old secrets are revealed, Quinn and Rileyfind themselves targeted by members of a secret society that has longmaintained violent control over Hollywood’s powerful elite. Asociety that, until now, has remained hidden in the shadows. Asociety that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
Amazon* ArcManorBooks* Bookbub* Goodreads
What inspired you to write this book?
Well, it’s the follow-up to EXPOSED and picks up a fewmonths after the end of that book so my inspiration was necessity, LOL. Thestory has to continue (and I do plan for five books in the series total). VANISHEDwas a story I was anxious to write for a variety of reasons, but mainly Iwanted to dive deep into the connection between twins. Mabel, my heroine, is atwin and it’s her twin sister Sylvie’s disappearance that drives her in justabout every aspect of her life. Coping with that loss, that element of unknown,where she knows her sister is gone but she hasn’t necessarily accepted it yet,was appealing to me as a writer. I try to find new elements to explore witheach book I write, so that was probably the biggest factor of inspiration thistime around.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Book three will be out this time next year—I will startwriting it after the holidays I think (depending on my other deadlines). I havea title and cover already (the cover is awesome!), but I’m holding offannouncing it just yet. Each book will expand on the previous, so announcing itnow will give a little away as to what happens in VANISHED. I can share thatit’ll be Cassia’s story and I can’t wait to find out her backstory. I don’tplot, so I don’t have the answers about her agoraphobia and PTSD, but I’m goingto do my best to make her issues unique and hopefully emotionally impactful.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in VANISHED?
Oh, there’s a large cast of characters but the three mainones are Mabel Reynolds, an accountant by trade but she volunteers as a rape advocate.It’s something she started doing after her sister disappeared; Mabel couldn’tdo anything to help her sister, but she feels like she can make up for herfailings by helping others who survive vicious attacks. She’s a single motherto almost nine-year-old Keeley who is just a spitfire of a little girl. I lovewriting children into my books, but I underestimated how difficult it would beto include one in a suspense/thriller. Finding that balance of keeping her safebut also putting her in the crosshairs was challenging for sure.
Lastly there’s Paul Flynn is the main hero, Mabel’s loveinterest, and a special investigator for the DA’s office. He has a history withLos Angeles, one he’s not anxious to revisit, but he’s also a loyal anddedicated friend and he’s asked to come back to oversee the house of horrorscase that’s unfolding due to the ending events of EXPOSED (book 1 in the Circleof the Red Lily series). He’s determined to go through life alone, which madepairing him off with a single mother so much fun. The last thing he wants is afamily (for reasons readers will find out, obviously), which means that’s whathe’s going to be getting.
How did you come up with the concept and characters forthe book?
I knew when I wrote book 1 (EXPOSED), that one of the fivemain heroines introduced would have a connection to the case that’s blown openin that story. Mabel made the most sense because she was very logic minded andshe was a single mother. She was a crusader given her work as a volunteer sogiving her a solid connection to the missing women expanded her motivation.That kind of personality clashes with the hero needed to oversee theinvestigation into the case that’s causing some major political and professionalissues for a lot of people in various positions of local government and thefilm industry. I usually start with conflict when beginning my stories, sopitting Mabel against Paul even when they’re going to be unofficially workingtogether, just got the ball rolling on the story itself.
The titles are playing an important part in the stories,too. EXPOSED was the first title—and at the end a number of things had beenjust that—brought into the light, including the dozens of missing women whohave gone missing over decades. People really can just vanish; it’s a sadreality for a lot of friends and families, so in that way, the title fed intothe story.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
Coming up with names is always one of my favorite bits ofcreation I get to do. I usually spend a couple of days going through TheCharacter Naming Sourcebook (I have 3 copies!) and jotting down names that justspeak to me. I tend to lean toward different types of names; unusual ones.
Where the Circle of the Red Lily books are concerned,however, there’s an added dimension I played with. All of the lead characters(five heroines, five heroes) have some name connection to a classic Hollywoodactor or actress. Paul Flynn, for instance, is named for Paul Newman and ErrolFlynn. Mabel Reynolds is named after Debbie Reynolds, one of my all-timefavorite actresses. Mixing and matching a bunch of them was a bit of a puzzle Igot to put together before I even started writing book 1. As the books getpublished, readers can try to figure out who the references are with thecharacter names.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
The banter between Mabel and Paul. Whenever these two wereon the page together, it just sang. They’re blatantly honest with each otherpretty much from their first meeting and there was something refreshing aboutthat and also freeing for me as a writer. The censor wasn’t in play like itnormally is. And the scenes between Paul and Keeley, Mabel’s daughter. I couldwrite those all day! Their Star Wars Monopoly game was particularlyentertaining. I remember smiling like a fool the whole time I was writing thatscene.
Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?
What makes Mabel tick? Her unending quest for answers. She’sdetermined to find out what happened to her sister and she’s willing to doanything. She makes enemies as easily as she makes friends because she’s nottaking no for an answer. Losing her twin has left her feeling as if she’smissing a piece of herself and to her mind, the truth is the only thing that’sgoing to bring her any peace.
As far as Paul Flynn? He’s all about getting justice for thevoiceless. Victims, their families, the people who can’t speak for themselvesanymore? He’s going to be their champion in court and beyond. Like Mabel, he’lldo what has to be done to get the job finished. They compliment each other inthat way, but it also means they’re going to butt heads a lot.
Who designed your book covers?
Authors on a Dime does my covers. My publisher was sofabulous in agreeing to let me hire the designer and I love the entire process.Kristen and I are friends (she’s an author as well) and she gets me. We almosthave a shorthand at this point. When we were working on book 1, we knew wewanted to go with similar theming and a specific look that would go across allfive novels, so landing on that “feel” took a few back and forths. For book 3on the other hand? She nailed it on her first attempt. Seriously, I can’t waitto share that one because it’s my favorite one yet!
If you had to do it all over again, would you changeanything in your latest book?
Well, I can honestly say I wouldn’t change anything inVANISHED, mainly because I wrote the entire book twice. When I turned it in thefirst time, I just wasn’t happy with it. And it was keeping me up at night. SoI asked for it back and hacked it apart, reworked it, and made all the changesthat were bugging me. It ended up as an entire rewrite (and even ended updelaying its release), but I’m thrilled with how it turned out. And my editoreven said she was glad I took it back to rework it. Needed to get those twistsand turns a bit tighter and more unexpected.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like toplay the lead?
Oh, this is a fun one to answer because I’ve actually “cast”all of the main characters in this series in my head. And in my notes. Mabelwould be played by actress AJ Cook who plays JJ on Criminal Minds. It’s justwho I’ve always seen in the role. As far as Paul Flynn? I envision BradleyCooper; he’s got that swoon-worthy Hollywood thing going on that fits Paul to aT.
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
There’s a scene toward the end where I needed a huge eventto happen that would endanger not only my main characters, but also a lot ofinnocent bystanders. Navigating all of that, piecing all of it together andkeeping the intensity and pacing up was a challenge, but I think it’s some ofthe best writing I’ve done to date. I won’t give it away, because I think it’sa bit unexpected, but for readers who are waiting for it after reading thisblog, I’ll just say Ka-Boom!
If you could spend time with a character from your bookwho would it be? And what would you do during that day?
Oh, that would be Aunt Moxie, Riley Temple’s (book 1’sheroine) great aunt. She’s eighty years old and is known for playing aparticular role back when she was in her 20’s. She’s lived through the GoldenAge of Hollywood and has a huge collection of movie memorabilia. I would loveto just hang out with her and hear all the stories of the people she workedwith and knew. Even though she’s fictional.
Are your characters based off real people or did they allcome entirely from your imagination?
All my main characters are my own creation. I’d feel limitedand nervous writing someone based on anyone I know in real life. Secondarycharacters on the other hand, tend to be based off real people and murdervictims and bad guys have a tendency to be inspired by people who have tickedme off in some way. It’s very cathartic.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do youfeel like you have the reigns of the story?
They always highjack the story and I’m a better writerbecause of it. Like I said, I don’t plot, so the characters have to show me theway. They don’t always get what they want, but I always give them what theyneed.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
All of these Circle of the Red Lily books are kitchen sinkbooks: there’s something in them for everyone. There’s romance (of course!),there’s mystery and suspense, twists and turns, there’s tons of humor (andsarcasm because it’s me) and a group of tight-knit friends who will do anythingfor one another. Pick up any of my books and it will always be aboutfamily—family found and family made. If that’s your cuppa, then grab VANISHED!
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I’ve got TONS of stories that haven’t been published, mostof them paranormal romance. At this point I don’t think I anticipate they willbe. I’m having way too much fun writing suspense and thrillers. I’ve got someideas as far as moving into a different romance genre, but I’m afraid most ofthose will remain under the bed.
AnnaJ Stewart is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fiftysweet to spicy romances. Primarily writing for Harlequin’sHeartwarming (sweet romance) and Romantic Suspense (spicy) lines, shealso writes romantic thrillers for Arc Manor’s Caezik Romance. Inaddition to being a Holt Medallion winner (Bride on the Run), she’sfinaled in the Daphne duMaurier Award for Excellence, the NationalReaders’ Choice and had one of her books optioned as a TV movie. Nomatter the story, Anna’s books are always about family—the oneswe’re born to and the ones we create. Anna lives in NorthernCalifornia where she loves going to the movies, attending fanconventions, and heading to Disneyland, her favorite place on earth.When she’s not writing, she is usually cooking, baking,binge-watching her newest TV addiction, or re-watching her all-timefavorite shows, Supernatural and all things StarTrek. She also spends a frustrating amount of timewrangling two monstrous cats named Rosie and Sherlock.
Website* Facebook* Twitter *Instagram *Bookbub* Amazon* Goodreads
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
