Monthly Archives: June 2012
Uh oh, there goes another politician!
Many thanks to author, Lia Fairchild for featuring my novel, “Vengeance of the Wolf” on her blog! If you enjoy reading Horror/Thriller stories, then I hope you’ll visit Lia’s blog and read the excerpt from “Vengeance”!
http://ahintofmurder.blogspot.com/2012/06/vengeance-of-wolf-excerpt-by-solitaire.html
Author Spotlight – J.A. Schneider
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing weekend! I am extremely honored to have my friend and fellow Indie Author, J.A. Schneider on my blog today!! Her debut novel, “Embryo” is an exciting and controversial medical thriller that is sure to keep you riveted! With her novel receiving rave reviews and 5 stars, “Embryo” is the ultimate thriller novel to add to your TBR list!
INTERVIEW WITH J.A. SCHNEIDER, AUTHOR OF EMBRYO
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I grew up loving to read…everything! From Nancy Drew to the back of a cereal box. Words and story ideas are always teeming in my head – a very colorful place! I’m a wife, mother, passionate about reading & writing – especially thrillers, medical thrillers, and mysteries. Decades of being married to a cardiologist means that there’ll be fascinating medical angles even in “regular” thrillers that I write. CanNOT fall asleep without reading…even after a long day of writing.
What do you do when you are not writing? Any hobbies?
I’m passionate too about gardening, always digging out some boulder for a new shrub or tracking mud around the house. My favorite plants are boxwood and rambler roses, which can reach 30 feet and are now blocking second floor windows. I spend a lot of time on a ladder…
Is there anyone who has influenced/encouraged you to write? Who and how/why?
Mainly it was just me, scribbling away from age 12, and then during my French lit major years. Then there was my husband, who despite being headed for med school was an English major and still reads his favorite Conan Doyles; practically knows them by heart. Other influences were writers during my Newsweek years. The oft-heard dream there was to “stay home and write.” The brave ones would leave, then come back with the challenge “You’re still here?”
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Ira Levin and Agatha Christie at her best. I am fascinated by writers who in one or few words can say it all. For example, news comes that’s sad or terrible, and a character just says, “Oh?” There you have it; in one word that character has revealed indifference, shallowness. Levin is the master; I am fascinated by his ingenious brevity. Scenes that have influenced me hugely are, for example, the one in Levin’s “The Boys From Brazil,” where the female former warden in a concentration camp is to be brought from her prison cell for Lieberman, the Nazi hunter, to question. Lieberman is just dying of nerves wondering how he’ll react when he sees her. Finally, her lawyer brings her. The door opens. Lieberman’s heart is in his mouth…and out simply comes a drab old woman with “a disappointed mouth.”
“A disappointed mouth!” This person’s whole life summed up in three words! And we see her, much better than if Levin had gone on and on about her pallor, sunken features, shuffling gait, depressing German prison uniform. He could have done that, but he didn’t. With those three words we see that woman so clearly that it hits us emotionally.
Can you give a brief synopsis of your journey to publication with your first piece of fiction?
That was DARKNESS FALLS, a thriller which sold in a 3-day auction to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books. That book just started with something someone said, and the idea grew. I mulled over it for months, and did umpteen drafts. That was back in the day when you actually met your editor and they’d take you to lunch. Can you imagine such a time?
How did you choose the genre you write in?
I’ve always loved adventure thrillers, even as a child reading “Black Beauty” or “Kim” or Nancy Drew. The one exception was “The Secret Garden,” which I still love.
Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I start with a rough outline, which “sets the tracks” to start with but goes off the rails pretty fast.
How did you come up with the title for your current novel?
EMBRYO… I saw the cover image first, and the title just came.
What do you think readers will appreciate most about your book?
A story about malignant geniuses tinkering with IVF and human genetic engineering hasn’t been done yet. Some will call this sci/fi, but the technology is there. That’s what’s really frightening. There are also scenes so scary that they approach Gothic horror.
Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
There will be a sequel to EMBRYO. Readers won’t want to say good-bye to two of the characters, and neither will I.
Have you ever considered writing a book in first person with a male lead character?
No.
What is your favorite part about being an indie author?
The independence! Traditional publishing has gotten slower than ever, with editors getting laid off and books winding up as orphans for months on abandoned desks. Also, I don’t miss agents and editors, some of whom can be awfully nit-picky.
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
“I’m not writing well enough or fast enough.” I’m my own worst critic. The sweetest compliment I ever received was from an editor who said, “You put your heart on the page.”
Can you tell us about your upcoming project/book?
There’ll be two upcoming books. Second, a sequel to EMBRYO, and before that a medical/legal thriller: Should a lawyer defend her philandering husband in the murder trial of a girl he dallied with?
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Mainly, believe in yourself. Understand that we’re all our own worst critics. Also be patient with yourself. Some stories can rattle around in our heads for years and then suddenly resolve themselves and say, “Okay, I’m ready.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEET AUTHOR J.A. SCHNEIDER
J.A. (Joyce Anne) Schneider is a former staffer at Newsweek. She has published FLORA TRISTAN and DARKNESS FALLS (Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books); EMBRYO is her first ebook. She is passionate about reading & writing – especially thrillers, medical thrillers, and mysteries. Decades of being married to a physician and patient explainer means that there’ll be fascinating medical angles even in “regular” thrillers that she writes. She canNOT fall asleep without reading a favorite book…even after a long day of writing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT J.A.’S BOOK
EMBRYO
“Maria Moran’s first inkling of trouble was the coppery taste in her mouth. It came suddenly, a rushing whoosh of something that made her gag, and when she reached to wipe her mouth, her hand came away smeared with blood.”
So begins this thriller about a young intern, Jill Raney, determined to investigate tragedies and terror at a famous fertility and genetic engineering hospital. When two pregnant women die and a fetus is delivered with severe chromosomal abnormalities, Jill’s superiors – including handsome, smitten-with-her resident David Levine – insist there’s no common link.
But her suspicions deepen with the grotesque murder near the hospital of another pregnant woman – her belly drained of amniotic fluid. And when a woman miscarries in the hospital and then disappears, Jill frantically searches for her – following a terrifying path that seems to link all the victims: Is someone experimenting with life…and the structure of human life itself?
An unforgettable tale of suspense with a shocking denouement, Embryo takes you deep into the mind of a malignant genius.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YOU CAN FIND J.A. SCHNEIDER HERE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JoyceSchneider1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=816594802
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832782.J_A_Schneider
Book available on:
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/7vjyqao
(Soon to be available on Nook, Smashwords, etc.)
Author Spotlight – Lia Fairchild
Happy Friday everyone! I would like to welcome Indie Author, Lia Fairchild to my blog today! She is the author of “In Search of Lucy”, “Special Delivery” and the murder mystery series, “A Hint Of Murder”. She has quite a bit of experience in the world of self-publishing, and it is an honor to have her on the blog today discussing her books and her journey as an Indie Author!
INTERVIEW WITH LIA FAIRCHILD, AUTHOR OF IN SEARCH OF LUCY AND A HINT OF MURDER SERIES
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in Southern California so I love the sun and prefer the heat. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a multiple subject teaching credential. I married my high school sweetheart and we have two kids, ages 13 and 15.
What do you do when you are not writing?
When I’m not writing, I’m learning about writing, meeting people, getting the word out about my books, managing three blogs/websites and reading. When I pull myself away from the literary world, I love to hang out with my family, playing games, watching movies and traveling.
Is there anyone who has influenced/encouraged you to write? Who and how/why?
Before I wrote my first novel, In Search of Lucy, I didn’t have someone that I looked up to or was motivated by. It was a whole new world to me. But now, I’ve made so many author friends who’ve inspired me and have really been helpful in my journey. My biggest supporter from the beginning has been my husband. He cheers me on when things are going smoothly and picks me up in my setbacks.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Once I started publishing my works, reading changed for me. Every book I read is no longer just for enjoyment. I’m learning, absorbing, picking apart storyline, word choice, character. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but mostly I’m thankful for it. The biggest impact an author has had on me recently was Jodi Picoult. I’d never read anything like her writing before. She’s just so amazing, insightful, poetic even. I was also very impressed with the Hunger Games.
Can you give a brief synopsis of your journey to publication with your first novel?
I’ve always loved creativity and always wanted to create something big and lasting. That feeling intensified when I started having children. I guess that’s what happens when you see your replacement. I had been trying to find my place in a career and made two major career changes, but I still wasn’t content in what I was doing. It dawned on me that I needed to put all of the ideas running through my head to good use. When I finally made the commitment and the idea of In Search of Lucy came to me, I felt such a drive to write the story. The most important thing to me was that I didn’t give up and I saw the project through to completion.
Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I do an outline, but only after I’ve started writing. I don’t like to think and plot while sitting at the computer so I walk or do something else while I plan scenes in my head. Once I have a basic idea of where the story is going, then I do a brief outline of events.
If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel “In Search of Lucy” or getting it published that you would change?
Yes. I’d take my time. Sit with the story for a while. I was in a rush to get it out there and then I looked back on it wanting to change or
add certain things.
How did you come up with the title for your novel?
Really I had a basic idea of what I wanted. Then I came up with about four choices and had my husband, mother and friends vote on them.
What is different about this book compared to others you’ve written?
My first novel, In Search of Lucy, was Contemporary fiction. Since then I spent some time writing short stories. I wrote a very short story, romance, called Special Delivery. Then I wrote a murder mystery series (also short stories) called A Hint of Murder. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the mysteries as fun whodunits.
Have you ever considered writing a book in first person with a male lead character?
I’m working on a romantic comedy that is first person but a female. I think it would be fun to do a male lead and might consider it down the line.
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
For sure the toughest criticism has been negativity in reviews. I’m supposed to know that it comes with the territory, that everyone has different tastes, but sometimes people can be very cruel in their critiques. Maybe they forget that an actual person is on the other side reading those words. The best compliment is just hearing directly from the fans. When they take the time to message me how much they loved my characters, or liked the story, it really means a lot.
Can you tell us about your upcoming project/book?
I have two books in progress. I recently finished a thriller about an ex-cop vigilante that I’m currently editing. I’m also in the middle of a romantic comedy I hope to finish by the end of the summer.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
I have two pieces of advice for anyone wanting to publish a book. First, learn as much as you can about the business of selling your book, marketing, and social media before you get your book out there. If not, you’ll feel like you are playing catch up. It can be very stressful to have your book completed but not know what to do with it or worry that people are not seeing it. Second one is simple: READ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEET AUTHOR LIA FAIRCHILD
I am a native Californian who loves reading, writing, movies and anything else related to the arts. Writing is something I’ve thought about all my life, so the completion of my first novel, “In Search of Lucy” is truely satisfying. I hold a B.A. degree in Journalism and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. My most enjoyable moments are spent with my family, traveling, spending time outdoors or simply laughing and being together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT LIA’S BOOKS
IN SEARCH OF LUCY
Lucy Lang’s life is spiraling out of control. For years she sacrificed her own needs to care for her half sister and alcoholic mother, only to be abandoned by both. Now, at age 30, Lucy finds herself held back by memories and regret as she struggles to find her own purpose in life. But when her sister needs a kidney transplant, Lucy is the only one who can save her life.
With the help of new friends and a man who won’t give up on her, Lucy sets out on a journey to reunite with her sister and find the answers she so desperately needs. Can she get past her emotions and have a chance at happiness? With its colorful and endearing cast of characters, In Search of Lucy takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions from sadness and heartache to happiness and hope.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Free flowers every month for a year! Recently widowed Amy was delighted to find that she had won. Flowers have always been a big part of her life. But delivery driver Dave brings more than just bouquets. Can he help Amy find happiness again? Will Amy get even more than she bargained for? Find out in this short story about love, loss, friendship and flowers.
A HINT OF MURDER SERIES
“A Hint of Murder” is a short story murder mystery series and includes, “The Writer”, “The Doctor”, “The Bouncer” and an “Anthology” that compiles all three “A Hint of Murder” stories in one book. Also included is one bonus mystery entitled “Homeless” and excerpts from the novels of these mystery and thriller writers: Libby Fischer Hellmann, Valerie Maarten, Mel Comley, Sibel Hodge, Faith Mortimer, and Seb Kirby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YOU CAN FIND LIA FAIRCHILD HERE
Website: http://www.liafairchild.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lia.fairchild.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LiaFairchild
Books available on:
Amazon Author page: http://ow.ly/bf7c4
Solitaire Parke - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books 