The Next Big Thing

Blog-hopping: a word that I wasn't even aware existed until I entered this crazy world of writing. Now, less than two years later, not only am I familiar with the word, but have actually participated in a few! So thank you, author Barbara Lavi for offering me a chance to be a part of this blog-hop. 

In this post, ten questions were posed to me to answer about my latest work-in-progress or upcoming release. The third and final installment in my suspense/thriller trilogy, Eviscerating the Snake, was released on October 30, 2012. The title for the last book is Adjusting Journal Entries but the answers pertain to all three novels.

What is the working title/title of your book?

Adjusting Journal Entries - Book Three of Eviscerating the Snake.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The original idea for penning this series was simple: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I am a huge fan of classical literature and this epic tale is my hands-down favorite. The concept of retaliating for heinous acts is not something new to the human race. It is ingrained in our psyche.

While some have learned to overcome the primal urge to strike out and hurt the person that harmed them, what if they opted to fulfill their own dark fantasies of exacting revenge? What is true justice? Can it only come from the law, or can it be meted out by the victim? How far from your moral compass would you be willing to stray to seek it? And once the cycle of revenge begins, when does it end?

What genre does your book fall under?

Suspense/thriller for sure! I love to read a book that keeps you on edge while you promise yourself 'just one more page and I'm going to bed' then stay up all night finishing it. Based on some of the reviews of the first two books in the series, I believe I achieved that.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I love this question but it is so difficult to answer, simply because we all have our own perspectives of what we envision the characters to look like. I have my own personal opinions of actors/actresses I would love to see play the roles, but I will leave that decision to Hollywood and be happy with whomever they pick!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Will the cycle of revenge continue with new players at the table, or will vengeance destroy them all?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I admit it: I am a control freak. My second novel in the series, Zero Balance, was originally published by a small publishing house. However, I regained control and now have the full rights to it once again. I discovered that I prefer being an ‘Indie’ author because I want to hold the reigns to my destiny.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Three months of many sleepless nights!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
         

I hesitate to answer that, simply because I believe that each author’s works are personal expressions of their own mind. While some writing styles may be similar, all works are like fingerprints—full of subtle swirls that make them distinguishable from another. If something in my work touches a reader in a way that reminds them of the style of another author, I leave that up to them to make that correlation.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
         

My fans! To say that sounds trite I know but it is the honest truth! After the second book was released I realized I actually had fans that wanted to know what happens to the characters, which meant I did my job as an author. People connected to these fictional people and were genuinely interested in reading the ‘end’ and that was a truly humbling experience.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

          This series deals with real-life issues that happen, unfortunately, all the time in the viscous place we call the world. Rape, betrayal, lying, cheating, using others to obtain your own satisfaction, and even murder are topics touched upon. Each of us has experienced, or knows someone who has, at least one of these devastating incidents. The question this series ponders is simple: what would you do if faced with the same situation? If everything you loved was gone and the world as you knew it suddenly became unbearable because of the violent actions of another, would you consider becoming judge and jury? If most of you reading this were to be honest, I bet the answer is yes, at least in your mind but perhaps not in action. But what if you did decide to seek justice on your own? Would you give pause to the after effects of your plans or would you become single-minded in your obsession to destroy those that hurt you and not contemplate the consequences?