Featured Book: Wicked Hunger

I'm happy to spotlight DelSheree Gladden's YA urban fantasy, Wicked Hunger, with an interview with one of her main characters, Alexander Roth. (But you can call him Zander.) Tess is here once again to sit down with Zander for a one-on-one talk. And check back on September 17, when Tess will talk to Wicked Hunger's Vanessa Roth.

About the book:

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

About the character:

On the outside, Zander Roth is the model of self-control and polite existence. No one else can see the daily struggle to control his hunger, the devastating secrets he hides, or the desires he fights to deny.

Praise for Wicked Hunger

Delsheree Gladden's first book in her new YA series SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes is a riveting story of uncontrollable bloodlust that turns dealing with family, friendships, trust, devotion and love into a Wicked Hunger -- Susan Stec, author of Dead Girls Never Shut Up and The Grateful Undead series

Love, love, love Wicked Hunger. It is deliciously consuming from beginning to end. My mouth is already watering for the next installment! --Elizabeth Hathenbruck, author of When the Apple Falls

Tess Talks with Zander Roth

Zander, how did you first meet DelSheree?

After all the news coverage my family received last year, it wasn’t surprising when DelSheree showed up at one of my football practices wanting to talk. The story of my parents deaths was what drew her to my family, but she ended up with a different story entirely. 

Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?

I never wanted it to be, but no, it’s not surprising. It seems like no matter how hard I try to pretend everything is fine and normal, it’s impossible to hide all the cracks in that fantasy.

Tell us about your favorite scene in Wicked Hunger.

My sister, Van, would kill me for admitting this, but my favorite scene is the first night I sneak into Ivy’s room. Being near her without wanting to kill her every second was intoxicating. It was a moment that changed me. Whether for good or bad depends on who you talk to.

Did you have a hard time convincing DelSheree to write any particular scenes for you?

There were times DelSheree wanted me to make different choices, smarter choices. It wasn’t that I wanted to argue with her. I knew what I should do. Ivy was too strong of a pull, though. Denying her anything was simply beyond me.

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?

Get away from the world. There are fewer chances for me to hurt people if I just stay away from everyone and keep to myself. That’s not always possible, but I’ve learned to keep my distance…from everyone.

If you could rewrite anything in this book, what would it be?

That’s a hard question. The right answer would be to have walked away from Ivy that first day and never looked back. The real answer, though, would be to have seen through the lies earlier and seen the truth before people got hurt.

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?

My sister Van is the most important person in my life. I underestimate her all too often, but she is one of the strongest and smartest people I know. I have a lot of respect for my grandma, but she doesn’t understand as much as she thinks she does. Explaining what I think and feel about Ivy is impossible. There is so much conflict inside of me when I think of her that I don’t even know where to begin.

Do have any secret aspirations that DelSheree doesn’t know about?

For all the times I have criticized Van for trying to live a normal life, that is what I really want more than anything. I know being happy, really happy, isn’t something I will ever truly experience, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still want it.

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

I really don’t know. I’ve been living this life of careful restraint for so long, I’m not sure I would even know what to do if I was actually free. 



What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?

Everyone who meets me thinks I am polite, calm, restrained, boring even. It’s a mask I’ve tried very hard to create.

How about after they've known you for a while?

No one really gets to know me. I won’t let them. Ivy was the only one who got close enough to see through my mask, and I never should have let that happen. 



What's the worst thing that's happened in your life? What did you learn from it?

Losing my parents left scars that will never heal. They weren’t the only people I lost, and each new loss only makes the wounds go deeper, harder to recover from. I’ve learned to stop opening myself to the possibility of being hurt. 



Tell us about your best friend.

I’ll have to apply that term a bit loosely. Friends aren’t really my thing, but the closest I have to a real friend is Sam, one of my teammates on the football team. It wasn’t really my choice to become friends with Sam, he just always seemed to be at my side. He keeps my mind off darker thoughts, though, so I don’t mind him hanging around. Maybe one day he’ll actually become a real friend, but he’d probably be better off walking away. 



What are you most afraid of?

Hurting someone. Van thinks I have so much control, but keeping my hunger in check is more of a struggle than she will ever understand.

What’s the best trait DelSheree has given you? What’s the worst?

DelSheree and I would probably disagree on whether this would be the best or worst trait, but I see my determination as a good thing. It has kept me out of trouble, kept me focused. She would argue it kept me from backing off from Ivy and call it my biggest fault. 



Oh, my. This is a coincidence. In my book, we have a "Pickle." I see you have a "Ketchup." Maybe they should meet. What do you like best about Ketchup?

Ketchup is persistent. I’m not sure if that’s what I like most or least about him, but I can appreciate his refusal to never give up. I know he loves my sister, and despite the fact that I find him rather annoying 90% of the time, I’m glad he hasn’t walked away from Van yet.

How do you feel about your life right now?

My life has never been more uncertain. I thought I had the basics figured out. I can’t even begin to explain how wrong I was.

What would you like to change?

If I could, I would have tried harder to find out what I suspected my grandma was hiding.

What aspect of DelSheree’s writing style do you like best?

It’s honest. She doesn’t let me skate by when I make mistakes. She forces me to face them and deal with the consequences, no matter how unpleasant.

If your story were a movie, who would play you?

I’d have to go with either Channing Tatum or Kellan Lutz, although I’m not sure how either of them would look as a blonde.

Describe an average day in your life.

An average day in my life is hardly average. Controlling my hunger all day in place that is teeming with physical and emotional pain that teases my hunger relentlessly is not an easy thing. Football and other sports help me get through the days, but sometimes I have to turn to something less…socially acceptable.

Will you encourage DelSheree to write a sequel?

Encourage might not be the right word. Do I want to have any more of my failures displayed for everyone to see? Not particularly. But do I want people to know the truth? Absolutely. 

About the author:

DelSheree Gladden lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. The Southwest is a big influence in her writing because of its culture, beauty, and mythology. Local folk lore is strongly rooted in her writing, particularly ideas of prophecy, destiny, and talents born from natural abilities. When she is not writing, DelSheree is usually teaching yoga, coaching gymnastics, reading, painting, sewing, or working as a Dental Hygienist. Her works include Escaping Fate, Twin Souls Saga, and The Destroyer Trilogy. DelSheree's newest series, the SomeOne Wicked This Way Come series, follows Vanessa and Zander Roth, siblings with an uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering that will either gain them limitless power or lead them to their deaths.

Connect with DelSheree:
website | blog | Facebook: DelSheree | Facebook: The Destroyer Trilogy |
Facebook: Twin Souls Saga | Twitter | Goodreads: author | Goodreads: book | Wattpad


Buy the book:
Amazon Kindle US | Amazon paperback US | Amazon Kindle UK | Amazon paperback UK |
Barnes & Noble Nook | Kobo

Featured Author: John Doherty

The Spanish version of The Ultimate Job Guide (Guia Fundamental Para Buscar y Conseguir Trabajo) was published in 2013, the English version in 2012. VirtualBookWorm Publishing brings author John Doherty here today to talk about this educational book. John says, "Career success is a journey, not a destination."

Interview with John Doherty

John, how long have you been writing? 

Approximately 5 years, I started in 2008.

What inspired you to write The Ultimate Job Guide? 

The poor advice that the unemployed were receiving on the basis of current publications.

How long did it take you to write the book? 

Approximately 2 years to perform the research and organize the substance.

What do you hope readers will get from this book? 

A lesson of planning and inspiration for continuing to explore career opportunities.

How did you come up with the title? 

Simply put, the book is the best book of its nature ever published and within a hundred pages can be found the ultimate job for the individual—-thus The Ultimate Job Guide.

Do you have another job outside of writing? 

Yes, as a wizard of transition.

Hmmm...that sounds interesting. But you're going to keep us guessing as to what that job entails, aren't you? How would you describe your book in a tweet? 

If you're looking to find the right job, buy a business, or even buy a franchise, look no further.

Why did you decide to write this book? 

To raise the professional bar against the current published books.

How did you come up with your cover art?

The cover art was inspired by Daniel Healy and Associates, a recognized expert on Spanish publications.

Tell us about your favorite chapter.

The chapter on branding, quoting Lady Gaga.

What song would you pick to go with the book? 

"You've Got to Have Heart," from Damn Yankees.

Who are your favorite authors? 

David McCoullogh, Mark Twain and Agatha Cristie.

What were your favorite books...

as a child? 

The Bobsey Twins.

As a teenager?

The Red Badge of Courage.

As an adult?

To Kill a Mockingbird.

What book are you currently reading and in what format? 

Digital Marketing, hard cover.

Do you have routine for writing? 

Yes. 

Where would prefer to do your writing.  

In my study.

Name one thing you couldn't live without. 

Belief in God.

If you could only keep one book what would it be: 

The Bible.

Pretend you're going to leave the country for a year. What meal would you have to have before you leave? 

Chicago deep dish pizza with pepperoni.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

A book store.

If you win the lottery what's the first thing you would buy? 

I'd buy a zoo.

Now that's an answer I've never heard before! I love it. Name five people with whom you would pick to be stranded in a book store. 

Bill O'Rielly, David McCoullogh, Mark Twain, Saint John, and George Will.

A day off to do anything but write. 

Go to a Chicago Cubs game.

Where would your dream office be?

A tree house in Colorado.

Where is home for you? 

The Big Apple.

What's one of your favorite quotes? 

“Second place is rinky-dink.”

What three books read recently would you recommend? 

Rumsfeld Rules, Digital Marketing, The Brooklyn Bridge.

What would you like to do when you're not writing? 

Put people back to work.

What are you working on now? 

Publishing an effective website.

About the author: 

John Doherty brings to Doherty International his considerable talents and expertise as a counselor in the fields of entrepreneurial strategies and new business development. He also is a recognized pioneer and visionary in the field of executive transition, with more than 25 years of leadership in this highly competitive field. In fact, he first identified the need for and began providing these services to corporations and their executives many years before such services became popular and commonplace. 

Doherty is CEO of Doherty International, Inc., which he formed in 1993 to provide executive transition planning and counseling plus related services. Prior to that he served as chairman and CEO of an internationally ranked consulting firm. He also has held progressively more responsible positions, primarily in human resources, with companies including ITT and Baxter Laboratories, and in organization development with Booz, Allen, and Hamilton. Doherty also serves in a volunteer capacity as Executive Director of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Career and Business Networking Ministry. This ministry, which has assisted hundreds of individuals, was founded to relieve the pain and stress of job loss.  With an excellent established speaker's program, the ministry has drawn attention for its effectiveness. Participants receive a free copy of The Ultimate Job Guide in either English or Spanish as part of a community outreach. Doherty holds a BA in political science from Iona College and has done extensive graduate work at St. John’s University School of Law and Stern’s School of Business at New York University. He has lectured at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He currently serves on the board of advisors of Options Unlimited, a retirement counseling firm, and for a decade was on the board of advisors of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. He is a past member of the Chicago Club and the Philadelphia Union League Club.

Connect with John:
Website |  Blog | Publisher 

Featured Author: Dan O'Brien

Welcome to the third day of The Twins of Devonshire and the Curse of the Widow blog tour. It will run until August 17th and will feature excerpts and new author interviews each day. But first, here is the obligatory blurb about the novel to settle you into this strange world:

A plague has covered the land, a single word on the lips of the frightened masses: the Widow. Washing a wave of terror over the countryside and then disappearing like a thief in the night, the Widow holds a kingdom in the palm of her hand. The eyes of Chaos have settled on Prima Terra and heroes must rise. Xeno Lobo, enigmatic and cryptic, hunts the Widow, seeking an object taken from him years before. Will he be able to stem the tide of violence and horror that sweeps the land?

A few questions for the author:

When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

This is an interesting question because without any kind of preparation, we doom ourselves to failure without understanding why. I think there is a time and a place for organizing your plans, but then the real work begins. You need to be willing to go as far as your possibly can, even push the limits of what you consider comfortable.


If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

I think it is the pressure from others to live up to how they perceive us. Often, we trade in self-esteem for group perception and it becomes all that matters. When we are concerned how people will judge what we have done, we want there to be as little ammo for a public humiliation as possible.


What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I do things even though I know I will be judged by others. To me, stepping outside of your comfort zone and challenging the static ideas about who you is at the core of really living your life. People will always let you know how they would do it, or how they think you should live your life. The reality is pretty simple: You decide. In the end, if it doesn't hurt you or others, then why not?

Here be an excerpt for your enjoyment:

The Nighen, an unnatural creature spawned of evil, consumed and murdered all along the western providence for the weeks after the emergence of Chaos. Its appetite had grown astronomically since its birth.

The blood moon of Chaos drove it forward.

Swollen clouds drifted lazily overhead. Bruised and disfigured skies threatened to drench the land in rain and storm, something in which the slowly-aging hills would find great comfort. The mixture of deep shadow and moonlight allowed the cloaked figure to move through the dense forest unnoticed––his hood wrapped tightly and his decadent robes drifting out behind him.

He hummed quietly. Along his back was the outline of a sheath, the blade hidden. The moon made a kaleidoscope of images across the paths of the forest, and the man moved through them. His figure melded and conformed to the bizarre shapes. His features were hidden beneath the hood, the bitter winds that periodically slapped against his frame could not loosen the bond the cloak held over him.

The forest around him shifted in the winds. Branches scraped against one another. The gales howled, creating sounds in the night far more morose than the ones that truly haunted the rich shrubbery. The man did not hesitate as he walked, not even when the unnatural sounds of forest silenced and the low, throaty growl of a night terror emanated from beside him.

Amber eyes were translucent in the darkness. The lack of iris was eerie as if shifted, watching the man move past its vantage point. The creature groaned loudly and stood. Scaly claws dug deep into the already-frozen earth as it moved forward in leaps. It hit hard upon the ground, shaking the earth as it rose from a crouch.

The man’s pace quickened now. He moved with renewed speed, head lowered. The blade upon his back protruded from his hunched frame like a sore that had grown from his spine.

The creature moved alongside him, the crashing sounds as it charged through the forest thunderous. The man threw back the tight folds of his cloak and moved with the grace of a practiced runner. His shoulder-length hair emerged from beneath the hood, cascading off his back.

The creature ran on all four limbs, end over end like a feral animal. Its breathing was ragged and intense. Cold air exhaled from his nostrils as it charged after the dexterous man dodging through the forest.

He jumped over a dislodged collection of roots, and then spun past a tree that stood directly in his path as he landed. The creature just slammed its gigantic horned frame into the trees, splintering the wood and knocking them from its path.

The forest ended abruptly. The thick mass of roots and trees disappeared from sight. The sheet of grass, stained brown, extended for a few feet until it ended in a monumental plunge to the canyons and plains below. The man skidded to a stop and threw back his cloak, drawing his blade from around his back.

The hilt of the sword was cast in ivory––the pearly construction was crafted like a dragon’s head. Its guard was formed of the beast’s hellish wings, the spiraling, sinewy protrusions spreading symmetrically on each side.

His brown hair was thrown across his face, hiding his cold blue eyes buried behind sleep-deprived circles. A beard carved his jaw line, his lips drawn tight in apprehension. The winds tore at his frame, the fold of his cloak whipping like tendrils in the cold gales.

The creature emerged from the forest and rolled to a stop, rising on its hunches and glaring at the man. It opened its maw, licking at exposed, rotten teeth. Black, soulless eyes were obscured in the darkness. It tilted its head and made a thin sound, like a bird chirping.

“Man flesh,” spoke the creature.

The words were guttural and strangled.

The man looked at the creature, its shoulders rising far above him. Grayish skin covered its entire body juxtaposed with black, spiked scales. Its arms were long like an ape. Claws were sharpened into half the length of the sword the man wielded.

“Not much for conversation, are you?” the warrior spoke breathlessly.

“Kill. Eat. Man flesh,” growled the creature once again. The creature took a few steps forward.

The warrior turned his blade out and it glistened in the half light of the moon. The flash captured the soulless sockets of the creature. His feet parted slightly, rooting him as he prepared to lunge. In one motion, he leapt forward. The point of his blade sung through the air as he did so.

The creature roared. Swinging one of its massive claws across the front of its frame, it tried to catch the man mid-flight as he descended. The man shifted in mid-air, his body tightening and then rolling to the ground. His blade was tucked tight with his body and as he landed; he lunged forward. Catching the creature across its mammoth legs, the creature howled in pain as it reached down to block the strike.

It glowered at the man as he returned to his stance. His blade was held across his chest at an angle, eyes set firmly at the throat of the beast. They circled each other, the beast snarling and sputtering as its green puss oozed from the wound and covered its leg.

It burned the earth beneath them.

The creature roared––its mouth agape, saliva glistening as it strung from fang to fang. Its stale breath was like a fog from its mouth. The man moved forward again, the blade slamming into the flank of the creature. Blood splattered across his cloak and the stricken ground.

He turned as he remained crouched beneath the haunches of the beast and drove his blade through its chin. The creature groaned as the crack of the splintered skull echoed in the hills. Sliding down as the man pulled his blade free, it was no more. The creature’s face was a macabre death mask.

The warrior stood over his prey.

The lifeless eyes of the beast were listless, departed. He raised his blade and decapitated the creature in one smooth movement. Reaching down, he grasped his prize: the head of the Nighen.

About the author:

A psychologist, author, editor, philosopher, martial artist, and skeptic, he has published several novels and currently has many in print, including: The End of the World Playlist, Bitten, The Journey, The Ocean and the Hourglass, The Path of the Fallen, The Portent, and Cerulean Dreams. Follow him on Twitter (@AuthorDanOBrien) or visit his blog http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com. He recently started a consultation business. You can find more information about it here: http://www.amalgamconsulting.com/http://www.amalgamconsulting.com/.

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Mondays with Mephistopheles: 9 am – Rhys (UK)
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Feautred Author: Lori Jones

Lori Jones is here today to talk about her chick lit book, Growing up Beautiful. Set among the glamorous world of Italy’s fashion industry in 1986, three young American women share opportunity, risk, laughter, and tears as they take on the adventure of a lifetime.

About the book:

In the summer of 1986, three young American women are chosen to join a modeling agency in Europe’s fashion capitol of Milan.

United as roommates by chance, Star, Joanne and Casey soon find their dreamed-of careers as models taking paths as different as their personalities.

Star, who leaves behind her waitress job along with a handful of crumpled up dollar tips, sees her beauty as a way move to the top of Milan’s social strata.

Joanne, raised in a privileged lifestyle, is expected to continue an Ivy League education, which doesn't interest her as much as a young photographer she meets on a casting.

Casey is a naïve seventeen year old who is ready for adventure, even the dangerous kind.

Together, these three learn the funny, unexpected and sometimes ugly truths about growing up beautiful.

Interview with Lori Jones

Welcome, Lori. You were a model for sixteen years. How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I’ve been writing since the age of eleven when I wrote and illustrated my first book about a mouse – in #2 pencil. 

How did you come up with the title Growing Up Beautiful?

That’s a great question because the title is meant to be read with the first two words emphasized. After spending 18 years in the fashion industry, one thing I learned for sure, young women had to grow up fast or become a potential casualty.

How would you describe your book in six words?

A virtual tour of 1980’s Milan.

Cool. Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. Besides exquisite writing, it is a mysterious adventure into another person’s world in Barcelona, Spain.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I loved writing about all three of the models in the story, but Star is definitely the most fun. Her feisty personality gets her in and out of all kinds of trouble.

How did you create the plot for this book?

I paid attention to my surroundings when I stayed in Europe. I lived amongst ‘the plot’ for five years before writing the book.

What would your main character say about you?

She’s a good listener.

I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could. Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories? Who, and in what category do they fall?

Absolutely! Star! She has the petal to the metal when it comes to going after what she wants in life.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Joanne because it’s great being in love.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

Honestly, there are so many for different reasons. Overall, I’d say it’s the scene where Star is literally out on the ledge.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?

Cameron Diaz, (an ex-model) would read Casey. Ginnifer Goodwin would read Joanne. Kate Hudson would read Star.


Do you have a routine for writing?

Yes. Every morning I can’t wait to pour a cup of coffee and sit in front of my Mac. When I’ve had enough of my cat walking on the keyboard, I drive to the library.

Where’s home for you?

Palos Verdes, California.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

Gone with the Wind. Not only is it a classic, but the abridged edition is 1036 pages so I wouldn’t have to reread it as often.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

A bookstore because I love to talk.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?

A vacation house in Greece and invite all my family and friends.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Snorkel. I recently did so in Hawaii and swam next to a sea turtle.

You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be?

I would be Alice in Wonderland because I like to travel and meet interesting people.

What would your dream office look like?

A little cluttered with a cup of coffee and an ocean view.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“To be, or not to be.” It gets you thinking.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Painting.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Where I am right now. Palos Verdes. I lived and visited many countries, but this coastal community is where I call home.

What are you working on now?

I’m doing a final read-through on the sequel to Growing up Beautiful. It picks up the story of Joanne, Star and Casey fifteen years later when they reunite by chance and push each other past their comfort zones to finally get their lives right.

About the author:

Lori Jones had a sixteen-year modeling career from 1981 through 1997. Her career began after graduating from the Barbizon School of Modeling, and signing on with the Wilhelmina Agency in Los Angeles.

Bookings included runway, print for magazines, catalogs, TV commercials, and an album cover for Kool and the Gang's Ladies Night.

Lori flew to Milan, Italy in 1982 and ended up living and modeling in Milan, Germany, and Spain over the next five years. Always interested in writing, she kept journals of her work experiences, extensive travels throughout Europe and Africa, and the people she met along the way.

Growing Up Beautiful is a fictional account of how three young models grow up in that foreign world of fashion in the 1980’s. Lori invites readers to join her characters on their trip abroad as they face challenges that will change their perception of who they are and what they want in life.


Website | Amazon

Featured Author: Elizabeth Buhmann

I'm happy to have Elizabeth Buhmann here today to talk about her crime novel, Lay Death at Her Door, published by Red Adept Publishing. Her main character sounds very interesting. She's a liar!

About the book:

Twenty years ago, Kate Cranbrook's eyewitness testimony sent the wrong man to prison for rape and murder. When new evidence exonerates him, Kate says that in the darkness and confusion, she must have mistaken her attacker's identity.

She is lying.

Kate would like nothing better than to turn her back on the past, but she is trapped in a stand-off with the real killer. When a body turns up on her doorstep, she resorts to desperate measures to free herself once and for all from a secret that is ruining her life.

Interview with Elizabeth Buhmann 


Elizabeth, how would you describe your book in six words?
Dark, complex, with a strong twist.

How did you create the plot for this book?
I knew I wanted an old murder—I love mysteries about very old, buried crimes. It’s satisfying to unearth and set right an injustice that has been festering for decades. I’d been intrigued by cases in the news where new developments in forensic science were used to exonerate people who were in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. So I latched onto the idea of an old murder that would come unsolved when the man convicted for it was proven innocent twenty years later.

Many of these cases involve eyewitness testimony, which is notoriously unreliable. Usually the witness is just mistaken. I imagined a case where the witness deliberately lied. Then I had to come up with a set of circumstances in which a person might conceivably feel trapped into doing such a thing. And I had my plot.

It sounds fascinating. Which character did you most enjoy writing?
My main character, Kate Cranbrook. She’s a dark protagonist, especially for a woman. But I wanted to tell the story from her point of view, because she is the character who drives the hidden drama of the story. She is deeply flawed, and while her flaws are her strengths, they are also her downfall. She’s very bold, single-minded and determined.

Are you like any of your characters?
I related to Kate in a number of ways. Like her, I lived in other countries growing up and entered American culture as a bit of a stranger. Like her, I love solitude and gardening. But let’s hope the resemblance ends there! She’s a tough character.

Elsa Gabriel is a relentless old hag, so I suppose I resemble her, too. 

Okay, a book with a cold case to solve, an author who likes solitude and gardening, and an old hag...you and I could be twins! But back to the interview...Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
One of my favorites: As a very young woman, Kate eloped during a drunken weekend fling. The man disappeared right after this escapade—but she’s still secretly married to him. In chapter thirteen, Kate hires a divorce attorney-slash-private eye named Max Weigel to find the missing husband. Max is one of my favorite characters. He’s a little bit goofy and just shrewd enough to—almost—see through Kate.

Who are your favorite authors?
This varies over time, but some of the longest standing faves are Edith Wharton, Joseph Conrad, Ross MacDonald, and Ruth Rendell.


How long is your to-be-read pile?
My list is usually short, rarely more than half a dozen books. I don’t know how to explain this (because of course being a writer I read quite a lot) except to say that I read like a wild pig on the scent of the next truffle. Nose to ground. I am always homing in on the next book to move my writing forward.

I have blinders on. You can’t easily distract me with the latest best seller. I do often hole up with a single author, to read everything she or he has ever written. When I was first working on Lay Death, I read all of Ruth Rendell—more than 70 novels—and closely studied several. And all of Ross MacDonald and outlined one or two of his.

I do the same thing...this is getting freaky! And your "a wild pig on the scent of the next truffle" is a great goosepimpleism. Sorry, this interview is about you... Suppose you get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?
Do I get to decide what actress should play my main character in the movie? Charlize Theron, without a doubt. She’s the perfect Kate Cranbrook.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
Faithful Place, by Tana French (on Kindle). I am loving it! A reviewer on Amazon compared my book to those of Tana French, whom I had never read. So I picked up In the Woods and thought it was fantastic. (The reviewer, it turns out, flattered me outrageously.)

I doubt that. Trust the reader! 
Do you have a routine for writing?
Definitely! I get up at about four o’clock in the morning almost every single day and write until seven or so. I write again at mid-morning for a couple of hours, and again for a while in the afternoon. Never in the evening. The early hours are for the most demanding and creative work. As the day goes on I tend to shift to editing and shorter writing projects.

Well that settles it. We definitely are not twins. I don't do mornings. Especially four a.m. My office doesn't see me until at least 11 a.m. What would your dream office look like?
I love my little office! It’s just a nook outside the dining room—hardly more than a pantry, but it’s quiet, cozy and decorative. Here it is:

Oh my! I love it too. It's beautiful! What three books have you read recently and would recommend?
I love Malla Nunn’s mystery series (3 books) featuring Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper and the Zulu Constable Shabalala. These books are set in South Africa in 1953 at the height of the Apartheid era. The books are tough, gritty, well written and well plotted, with a fascinating physical, social and historical setting.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I work in the garden, practice my Tai Chi, cook, walk, and (of course) read. I’m a bit of a recluse—but I do like to have my dog around.

I'm with you except for the Tai Chi...how do I keep making this about me? Sorry. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I sometimes think Hawaii, sometimes Southern France, or Scotland in the summer… but I figure I can live anywhere in the world, so the answer is: right where I am in Austin, Texas.

About the author:

Elizabeth Buhmann is originally from Virginia, where her first novel is set, and like her main character, she lived several years abroad while growing up. She graduated magna cum laude from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. For twenty years, she worked for the Texas Attorney General as a researcher and writer on criminal justice and crime victim issues. Elizabeth now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, dog, and two chickens. She is an avid gardener, loves murder mysteries, and has a black sash in Tai Chi.

Connect with Elizabeth:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Featured Author: Jennifer Lyne

Jennifer Lyne is the author of the young adult novel, Catch Rider, a behind-the-scenes look at a Virginia horse farm, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books. She's here for an interview, and she also brought along an excerpt from the book. Grab some sweet tea and settle in for a good read.

About the book:

Tough-as-nails fourteen-year-old Sid may not have expensive boots like the privileged teen riders in Virginia, but she knows her way around horses. Working with her Uncle Wayne since childhood, she’s learned to evaluate horses, break and train them, care for them . . . and ride like a professional. Amid turmoil at home, she dreams of becoming a catch rider—a show rider who can ride anything with hooves. In this salty, suspenseful teen novel, an unexpected opportunity to ride a top-notch horse in an equitation show takes the small-town girl all the way to Madison Square Garden.

Interview with Jennifer Lyne

Welcome, Jennifer. Catch Rider is your debut novel. Do you have another job outside of writing? 
I’m co-founder of Sharpshooter Pictures, a film and video production company in Manhattan.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for. 
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard

Which character did you most enjoy writing? 
Sid, of course, but I also loved writing her best friend’s sister, Doreen. Doreen is either the greatest kid ever, or a budding sociopath, or a little of both.

I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could. Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories?
Sid falls into both categories – when I showed horses I had a lot of stage fright, and I don’t think I would have made it as far as she did even with the same opportunities. She’s brash but she’s only fourteen and in a tough situation. She’ll learn to be more careful. I certainly did, although I’ve never had any fistfights.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live. 
I live in New York City, in the Bronx, by the Hudson River. The weird thing is that I can see Willie Mays’ apartment right out my window, and between my building and his is a baseball field. Right over the tree line is the Harlem Canal and Spuyten Duyvil, which means “spitting devil,” or “spouting devil” because the currents in that spot – where the Harlem canal meets the Hudson – are so strong.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?
Jim the Boy by Tony Earley.

Your last meal would be…
A hot pretzel from a Central Park pretzel cart.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore? 
Library, which is one of the happiest places in the world for me. No one is trying to sell you anything, and no one cares what you’re doing, as long as you’re quiet.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy? 
A dark green 1950’s Porsche speedster. Strike that! Good health insurance.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“Sorry, Pete, I know we're kin, but they got this depression on. I got to do for me and mine!” – Washington Hogwallup, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I LOVE that movie! What are you working on now? 
Getting reviews and press for Catch Rider, raising my kids, running my production company, and writing a new book. I’d better find more time to write, or I’m going to become a menace to society.

Excerpt from Catch Rider

It was growing dark when Wayne pulled up in front of the house. The place looked terrible: the storm door was broken and swinging in the wind, bags of garbage were piled on the porch. My beat-up Taurus was parked in front.

“Thanks for my car,” I said again.

“It'll do for now. Put some ice on your lip,” he said. “We’ll get to work on that red horse tomorrow after school.” He winked.

I got out and stopped at the metal gate. “You coming in?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“I'll strangle that bastard, I lay eyes on him.”

I let the gate slam.

“Listen, you pay him no mind, you hear?” Wayne said. He seemed worried. I walked up on the porch, and he called after me.  “He ain't worth your temper!”

He drove away.


Chapter Four

I stood on the porch for a little while listening to Donald’s voice. They didn’t know I was there. I was waiting to see what kind of mood he was in. It was my father’s birthday, and if Donald blew up at me, I wasn’t sure what I would do. 

I took a deep breath and walked into the house. 

Melinda came out of the kitchen looking pale and tired. Her hair was dirty and she had on a stained sweatshirt. I could smell Windex - she cleaned when she got nervous. Donald was sitting on the couch polishing his new knife with his red bandana. He was one of those losers who only felt like a man when he was talking about his knives, polishing them, or reading about them in Blade magazine. I love a good knife, but it’s a tool, for cutting open hay bales and whittling a stick. Not for pretending you’re some kind of warrior.
Donald was skinny with a long face. He had heavy-lidded eyes, like a lizard. Some animal part of me saw him as a predator.

When I walked in, his little black eyes followed me. He had his dirty sock feet on my mother’s maple coffee table. He’d never done that before.

I walked right past both of them. 

Melinda saw my eye and gasped. “What did you do?”

I kept walking.

“You don't answer your mama?” Donald said.

I stopped in my tracks. I could feel my face getting hot.

“Take those boots off and leave them outside,” he ordered.

I looked down at my paddock boots. “They’re not muddy,” I said.

“You heard me!”

“How about you get your dirty feet off of my mother’s coffee table?”

My mother’s face was frozen in fear. I headed for my room, and I was almost there before I felt his grip on my upper arm, pinching my skin.

“Let go,” I said through my teeth, without turning around.

He tightened his grip. I yelped, and he released my arm. He could snap my arm in two, and it scared me. I took my boots off and put them on the porch. 

That was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me, and I don’t think my mother breathed the entire time.

About the author: 

Jennifer Lyne grew up riding horses in Virginia. When she was 24, she sold her horses and her Jeep and moved to New York City, where she worked as a location scout and wrote and produced two independent feature films. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Jennifer:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble  

Character Interviews with Eileen & Christian from Love Lines

Author Diana Nixon was here last September, February, and July to talk about her paranormal romance series, Love Lines. Today, she sent her main characters, Eileen Lillian Clark and Christian Jason Patrick Fairey, to talk to Tess.

Book Trailer

About the characters:

Eileen Lillian Clark is 18 years old. She was born on October 3rd, in a small town named Norfield that is in south-west Britain. Eileen is a first-year student of Dever University and  possesses magic and the powers of natural elements.

Christian Jason Patrick Fairey is 21 years old. He was born on December 4th in Norfield. Christian is a third-year student of Dever University and possesses the power of fire.

Tess Talks to Eileen & Christian

Welcome you all. Tell me, how did you first meet Diana Nixon?

Eileen: It happened at the end of August, when I was about to go to the University of Sheffield, but apparently Diana thought it was a very boring place for someone like me. So she sent me to Dever, a closed university for people with different special gifts. Now I realize that it was the right thing to do. How did she know about my supernatural talents? I have no idea:)

Christian: My first meeting with the author was kind of … unexpected. I couldn’t even imagine that she was able to complicate my life even more than it had been already complicated by my parents and the fate that led me to Dever. Now I can’t stop wondering about the new challenges that Diana’s preparing for us in the next books:)

Want to dish about Diana?

Eileen (giggling): You sure she won’t kill us in the next book for saying that aloud? Okay. So … there are moments when I desperately want to scream, “What the hell? Another problem? Why don’t you give us a break?” But when Diana has an idea in her head, it’s almost impossible to talk her out of it. She’s the last person to argue with:) She never gives up, so no matter how many bruises we get, she always wants us to fight more.

Christian: I can’t but agree with Eileen, the number of obstacles that Diana makes us go through is enormous. And just for the record, I didn’t enjoy freezing in Eric’s dream. Not a bit. So please, next time choose someone else to be locked up in middle of nowhere. Thanks:) By the way, did you know that when Diana was a child she adored horror movies, and now she can watch them only with the lights on?

Interesting! Tell us about your favorite scene in the series.

Eileen: Apart from all those beautiful, romantic moments that you can see in all of the Love Lines books, I liked the battle with the Dragons from Diamond Sky. It was the most spectacular episode of what we’d ever seen in the series, and so many things depended on its outcome. Our lives were at stake, and maybe it was the first time when we actually realized how much we meant to each other; how much love and friendship meant to all of us.

Christian: My favorite scene of the series was the night before the fight with the Dragons (smiling). Even though I realized that it could be the last time to see Eileen, to hold her in my embrace, I didn’t want to think about tomorrow. And the two of us managed to find some time for each other. And this is one of those things that our author never lets us enjoy for too long. It’s like when you give a candy to a kid, and then take it away a few moments later. So unfair:)

Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?

Eileen: I never wanted Christian to be kidnapped. I couldn’t believe he disappeared at the end of Love Lines. I thought it would be impossible to get to the end of Songs of the Wind without him. That’s why I tried my best to convince Diana to write those songs that were sending messages from Christian. It was the only thing that made me wake up every day without him.

Christian: Diamond Sky was supposed to end up with Eileen and me breaking up. But I couldn’t let it happen. That’s why the moment of breaking up still exists in the book, followed by the reunion a few chapters later:)

If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?

Eileen: I’d like to change Evan’s story; his life and his past. We don’t know what will happen to him in the next book, but what has already happened is really harsh.

Christian: I would gladly take away a few of Eileen’s powers (laughing). Not that I’m jealous about her gifts, but I’m really scared of losing her. And we all know how dangerous it is to posses the powers of magic along with the powers of all the natural elements.

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?

Eileen: Hmm … it’s a hard question to answer. I like my character’s strong will. I think it’s a good quality for every person. Eileen is too stubborn sometimes, but everything she does, she does for Christian, her family and her friends. So don’t judge her too harshly:)

Christian: I think my character is a good guy:) He’s loving and caring. He knows how to surprise, and he’s ready to do anything possible and impossible to protect those he loves.

What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've

known you for a while?

Christian: I’m sure that after reading Love Lines people will say that I’m a perfect picture of a guy to date. But I’m a Sagittarius after all, so I can be impatient and sharp. That’s why I need someone like Eileen – a girl with an attitude who’s able to stand me:)

Eileen: I think when readers get to the end of Songs of the Wind they see my character from a different point of view. Eileen Clark becomes even more determined and responsible. Sometime she does things that irritate others, but hate is the last thing of what she wants people to feel for her. 




Tell us about your best friends.

Christian: Well, Evan … he’s one hell of a friend to have:) He knows how to recognize lies; he has a very good intuition; it’s almost impossible to hide things from him. He’s sarcastic, but funny; he’s a good-natured man as well. And probably the best candidate for a companion when it comes to something really stupid to do:)

Eileen: As Christian has already mentioned Evan, who’s my friend too, I will tell you a few words about Amanda. She’s a person whose thoughts are always pronounced aloud. Sometimes I think that her mind thinks too fast, and it doesn’t have time to rephrase some of her sharp comments:) But still we like her for that. I’ve never regretted being her best friend. With a friend like Amanda, you will find a way out of every complicated situation. 



What are you most afraid of?

Eileen: There are so many things I’m afraid of, that I don’t even know what to start with. I don’t want to lose Christian, my true and only love; I’m afraid of losing control over my powers, and I can’t imagine my life without Evan. Losing him means losing a part of me. And I’m not sure if I can live with that part of me missing.

Christian: I will repeat Eileen’s words, as her fears are the reflection of mine. And if I lose her, I will lose everything.

What aspect of Diana’s writing style do you like best?

Eileen: I like the way Diana builds her stories. The twists of the plot are so unpredictable, that sometimes it’s really hard to keep calm when a new secret is being disclosed, and the truth about certain things is shocking.

Christian: My favorite part is dialogs. They are easy to read and comprehend.

Will you encourage your author to write another book in the series?

Eileen: Oh, yes:) We already know that there will be two more books about our characters. And who knows, maybe when the series is over, there will be something else to tell about our lives:)

Book 1: Love Lines

The traces of supernatural powers have always been crossing the world of human beings. Many people know about the existence of healers, mind readers, oneiromancers and wizards. But for centuries their lives have been kept secret and no one has ever heard about one special place, where those gifted people studied. Neither has Eileen Clark, whose life has never been different from the one other teenagers have. But one day everything changes. Eileen finds out that she belongs to the mysterious world of unnatural and the destiny leads her to Dever – a closed university for the people like her. Nothing will ever be the same again… New life, new friends, new enemies… But the true love will never let her down. It will help to go through everything…. #1 – Love lines The story begins with a strange dream, which has been torturing Eileen for nights. Trying to find out its hidden meaning she leans on her best friend Amanda for help. The two of them go to a fortune-teller, who predicts changes in Eileen’s life. Eileen and Amanda, whose family is one of the seven founders of Dever, go there to start new life and get education. Coming to the university Eileen meets Christian, Amanda’s brother, whom she falls in love with from the very first sight. But, as it turns out later, Christian is in love with her too. They couldn’t even imagine that many years ago their lives were bound by magical spells. But now they have to find out why…

Book 2: Songs of the Wind

Losing Christian hasn’t been easy for Eileen. But she’s not going to give up. Now she has to find a way to bring him back from the magical dream, where he was taken by Eric Lanster. Together with her friend Evan, Eileen goes to France – Meridin’s motherland, where she hopes to find out the mysteries of the dream’s magic. In a small town named Fontainbleau they meet a wizard, who turns out to know a lot of their secrets…
Determined to help Eileen, Evan agrees to complete some special dream piercing training. But he can’t even imagine what he has put himself into. The magic of dreams keeps a lot of secrets. The spells are dangerous and their consequences no one is able to predict.
Friends can become enemies….
The ones they used to call their family can become traitors….
But the ones they love will always be there to help....

Book 2.5: From Scratch

Our lives are a cascade of events that pass faster than we would like them to. Time changes everything. Our habits, our views, our circle of friends. But there is one thing that remains the same over the years.
Our memories.
Through them we cherish the most unforgettable moments of our history. And they also retain some things that can't be forgotten….
But one day you realize that yesterday should be left in the past. Because tomorrow your new life begins, and you go back to the drawing board.
A love story of Evan Murray and Tara Mackenzie.
A story that should last forever….
But no one knows when forever ends….

Book 3: Diamond Sky

A new page of the Love Lines story that will reveal new secrets and mysteries buried in the walls of Dever. Eileen, Christian and Evan need to find an old spell to protect themselves and those they love from being killed. There is only one problem – no one knows where the spell is hidden…. A mysterious student comes to Dever. A boy whose eyes are always watching. Who is he? What secrets are hidden behind his smiles? Is he a friend or an enemy?... When they thought they knew everything about the super powers they possessed, they could have never imagined that in reality they didn’t know a thing. The wind can turn into the worst hurricane they have ever seen. The water can destroy everything. The earth can swallow them alive. And the fire can burn them to ashes…. The illusions - the only thing they tried to run away from, will come back to ruin the world they live in, taking away everything they ever cherished and loved. When you think you are so close to getting what you want, think twice about your every step. Because what you think is the right thing to do may take away your life….

About the author:

Diana Nixon was born in Minsk, Belarus, where she currently lives. In 2008 she graduated from Belorussian state University. She has a Master of Law degree and speaks several foreign languages, including English, Polish and Spanish. Diana is a fantasy author, best known for her Love Lines series.

Connect with Diana:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Buy the books:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble