C.D.’s Comments (group member since Oct 21, 2013)

C.D.’s comments from the C.D.'s Canaries group.

Dorota! :)

1. There is a reference to 3 fashion designers from your Fashion Avenue Mysteries in Spin. Is there any chance we may meet them in any of the Songs?

---> I think they'd cross paths in Leanne's story.
I love my mysteries. Book three of that series is one of the best things I've written. It's really hard for me to drop it LOL

2. Theresa has dropped her once-best-friend, Rachel, onto the bosom of her family, so to speak, only to have her wreck a real havoc – not only for Papa D & Jonathan, but also for Fiona. I find it strange Theresa never mentions her in the 2 SoC as yet. Will she (or rather her ghost) “resurface” in book#3?

---> No. I'm fucking sick of Rachel LOL. Does Theresa or anyone know what happened in the stables? Why would Fiona tell her family? She already protected Jonathan from it, why not Theresa as well. Though I think there is room for some character development there....I think I can unearth some guilt from Theresa. For sure.
However, I'm starting to butt against a bigger issue, which is series crossover. I already had to explain a LOT of what went on w Rachel in SOP in a way that I'd say is....not optimum. But I had to info-dump. If I introduced Rachel in SOC I'd have to to the same to catch up folks who hadn't read the other series. And the people who HAD read the others will be a little bored of it I'd think.

3.While at Donna Maria's Antonio talks about his ancestor with reference to a prominent figure and an important event in shaping the modern stare of Italy as we now know it. It sure seems to be an important piece of information and I had a feeling it has a significant meaning to both the Sicilians and Camorrista.Will it play any further role in the unfolding of events in SoC??

---> I doubt it. I was really just trying to illustrate what he had in his blood. But I've considered taking book three to Italy, so maybe.
The trouble with this is that I'd then have to adhere to actual history, and I am not good at that.

4. How significant is the cop's question to Monica in Sing: “That your ring” to the Songs of Corruption ? ---> irrelevant. It was only a question to highlight how out of her element Monica was. But hell, who knows? I could change that too ;)

Suzanne wrote: "Hi CD! <3, Hi Canaries!!

My question is around the bigger picture of the Drazen Clan and their stories. When you wrote SOS, you had to have envisioned some, if not all, of SOC with the whole Ther..."

Mostly I make it up as I go, just making sure I leave myself enough breadcrumbs to go back and pick up threads.

I know Margie's deal, not her story. I understand Deirdre's trouble, but it's so out of timeline I don't even think it's interesting. Leanne I answered above. Margie's story has a nice immediacy and....I just have this whole big epic ending I haven't sorted out yet.

but it's all sketched lightly in pencil and I have an eraser in the other hand.

Elle the ClosetRomanceReader aka Leftie wrote: "Yes, PJ, the Drazen pledge...
Now I'm even more intrigued by Daddy Drazen...

Oooh, who's the sib again with adopted kids?!?! What about her?!?! If it's Deidre, China or not, there's a story there,..."

Sheila.
Leanne's trouble with China stems from her work in the fashion industry. I have her story half written, but I'm not sure if it breaks down too much genre.

Diana #teamFiona ❤️ wrote: "A question from me:

Is Franco related to Paulie. Daddy Drazen seemed not happy with mommy a Drazen when she brought up his name in Use and Paulie hinted to Theresa that he did indeed know her fam..."

Hi Diana!!! (kiss)

yep. Same guy.
It's a set of relationships I may or may not explore in the next Corruption book.

Diana #teamFiona ❤️ wrote: "From ITZEL:
I have two questions If you can ask CD Reiss for me that'll be great: when can we expect more Jonathan and Monica? I love them and miss them, I just want more. Also I'm very intrigued ..."

I can't or won't answer these yet I'm sorry! Everything about my schedule is up in the air! :( Sorry

Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ wrote: "Another question-

With such a large Drazen family and many books to follow about them, are you interested in writing a standalone book not related to the Drazen family? Like as a breather between..."

Yeah.
Honestly, I need a break, I'll tell you the truth. <3

Rebecka wrote: "CD, You recently gave us a peek into something else you were working on separate from the Drazens. Can you give us anymore hints?? Smooches❤️"

Nope. Afraid not. :(

Jamie wrote: "When you first got started how did you go about finding a beta an editor...how did you decide on a publishing route"

I have a tight community of writers in all genres I turn to for beta notes.

I have an editor I used for my Laura Carnegie Mysteries. Red Adept Publishing. They are great.

Diana #teamFiona ❤️ wrote: "From Phoebe:
Is J. Declan Drazen truly the villain of the Drazen's story. I have to say that I don't hate him and if anything I'm really fascinated by him (and I don't think I'm the only Canary tha..."

It depends on what you mean by BAD.
I submit to you this....

A man is born a certain way. We tag that "way" as unredeemably evil.
He then has daughter after daughter. We haven't heard from all of them about what he did to any of them, but it looks, from here if you read SOP that he didn't serial rape them.

Should anyone be given a gold star for NOT raping their daughters?

Maybe not.

But he didn't.

What kind of man is that?

L.E. wrote: "We have bets on whether or not Declan has ANY redeeming qualities or not..."

You may be surprised :)

Dorota wrote: "Hi, CD *waves* Good to see the weather in LA is much much nicer than the freezing winds we have over here in Poland at the moment.I hope you and Ms Torre will have tons of fun at your book signing ..."

There will be spoilers, but I guess if you don't want something on the feed you can tag it

Diana #teamFiona ❤️ wrote: "Speaking of Debbie

From Dorota:
pls, Pls, PLS - ask CD on my behalf about Debbie and her Yenta Ways. I am particularly interested if she had specific motives behind giving Fiona those sneakers wi..."

---> DEBBIE - yes she and Deacon discussed the shoes and the laces and what he intended.
---> Yes, one sister is gay.

PJ wrote: "I had a super, duper strong reaction to Antonio's...almost for me "Shakespearean"...betrayal of Theresa: from "pounding" their faux escape plan into her to her realization of that betrayal in the b..."

---> I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.
But - no.

PJ - I messaged you this a year ago.
I told you...I LOVED YOUR REVIEW OF TEASE
When I ripped Jonathan's heart out in Sing it was because of the way he acted in Tease. He was so broken, and what he was doing was wrong wrong wrong.

I mean, he made up for it, but still. I was even pissed at him

<3

L.E. wrote: "Also, I'd love to know if we'll ever get any more Debbie & Jonathan backstory...? Maybe in CODA?"

Hey! Welcome! I answered this above. Debbie will have her own short dark thing.

Diana #teamFiona ❤️ wrote: "From Melissa:

I just wanted to ask CD about her plans for future spinoff books- will more Drazen sisters be getting their own books or novella"

Margie.
Carrie.
But I've started to think that some don't need a book of their own. At this point, Sheila and Deirdre don't have anything happening that's interesting to me. Leanne....I had an amazing book for her set in China, but I can't guarantee that will happen.

I'm formulating something very, very dark for Debbie.

First question is about Daddy Drazen. I just find him really fascinating and so layered in true literary villain form. What makes him tick? And what may we expect to see about him and the manipulative ways he runs his family?

---> I have a daddy drazen novella in my head, but I have to be careful about where I distribute it. Remember, he is complex, and one of his complexities is that he has a biological need to fuck pubescent girls. Amazon doesn't like that. So I'm figuring that out;

And my second multi-part question is about that bomb scene. Did Antonio really think that Theresa will just sit still and let him get away with his own plan?

---> This is a good question. Really good. Yeah, I think that when he formulated it, he hadn't come to respect her as an equal yet. that was his journey. To let her be beside him, to respect that she is THAT smart and tough and corrupt. Did I get that across well enough or did it jobs exactly right with the character motivations? Maybe not? But that was my intention

And what made Antonio so sure that Theresa will push that button?!? I think we’ve racked our brains trying to make sense of that part.

---> Whether she did or didn't had no effect on his plan. If she didn't, bummer. But it was a favor to her, a little gift he left behind.
And yes, I do think he believed she'd press that button. But if you don't agree, I totally accept that. ;)

Thank you, thank you!!! Just heart you to pieces!!!

Jamie wrote: "CD, who came first, the ideas of Jonathon or monica"

Monica.
Ambitious artist.

From April:
Where did the idea of the Drazen family saga come from.

She has woven such an intricate web surrounding this family and I guess I just wanted to know which of the characters started it all.

Jonathan, who was a fucking asshole, esp in Tease. Honestly, what a jerk. I said, does this guy have any redeeming qualities? And where did he get them from?

I hate the idea that any redemption has to come from some dark past....why not make it the GOOD in his life that redeems him, and why not let it be exposure to women that did it?

So there you go.

Is Margie in a covert relationship with Will Santon; is he her Toy Boy.?? And when do we get her (their) book.??? (Songs of Justice.???)

I'm leaving the exact state of their relationship under wraps. But if you caught sexual tension, that was a good call ;)

Margie. I love her so. I want her book to rock. And yes, she will have book (s) Possibly next up. Not sure. it depends on how Fiona and Theresa shake out.

Is anything you write from personal experience? i.e. the family dynamic of The Drazens?

I'm afraid not. I grew up in an Italian/ Jewish/Irish neighborhood and I knew a ton of families (all Irish) w 6+ kids. It always seemed so WEIRD to have all these brothers and sisters running around (we had 3 kids in the family) and it always fascinated me.