Interview with debut suspense author Douglas Solvie

My special guest today is author Douglas Solvie. He’s chatting with me about his new psychological suspense novel, My Irish Dog.

During his virtual book tour, Doug will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

My Irish Dog is the debut novel by Douglas Solvie and was motivated by a trip taken to Ireland and the chance discovery of a lost dog there. After spending most of his adult life living and working in Japan, Douglas is currently living in his home state of Montana. He hopes to make a new career out of writing and to travel the world, looking for inspiration for that next book, perhaps another set in beautiful Ireland. My Irish Dog is, after all, a story with a lot of unanswered questions.

Welcome, Douglas. Please share a little bit about your current release.
My Irish Dog is a psychological suspense novel, its plot focused on an emotionally lost soul named Spencer who takes a trip to Ireland, hoping time alone might possibly reveal an answer to what ails him. Near the end of his uneventful trip, in a small Irish village, he chances upon a lost dog that he rescues and then leaves in the care of a young woman living in a nearby farmhouse.

A puzzling episode a few minutes later compels Spencer, even though he’s not exactly sure why, to return to the village the next day. A day or two of changing plans would hardly disrupt his vacation; little does he know that it will mark a new beginning as Spencer dives headfirst into a parallel world that will test his will, sanity, and even physical well-being.

What inspired you to write this book?

My writing of this novel basically evolved by accident. I took a trip to Ireland by myself, because I had always wanted to go there and I thought I might try some fly-fishing. I also needed to just get away.

The trip went as planned until near the end I stumbled upon a stray dog near this small village in the southwest of the country. I spent half a day trying to figure out what to do with her, succeeding at last, but never knowing what really became of her. And a strange thing happened as I left the village that day.

So a few days or weeks or I don't remember how long later, the idea came to me that I could write a story. And I did. Small portions of the book are actual occurrences (greatly embellished mostly), and the rest imagination.

The main character and protagonist, Spencer, isn't necessarily based on me. But we do share some quirks, characteristics, and a few other qualities. Writing for his character was easier that way.

Excerpt from My Irish Dog:“You should not be here,” said the old man.

“What? What do you mean?”

“You should not be here,” the man repeated without the slightest emotion.

“What are you talking about? The sign over there clearly says that public fishing is allowed here.” Spencer set his fishing rod on the ground and pointed in the direction of village, not remembering exactly where he had read the information.

He studied the odd fellow. The man wore an old woolen trench coat that hung to the top of his thighs, and underneath a tattered brown sweater. Rubber boots extended to his knees, the kind of boots a farmer trudging through the mud would wear. His beard was an unruly mess of gray whiskers that encompassed the lower half of his weather-beaten face, and on his head sat a tweed cap. Everything about him was dirty and unkempt.

His dog didn’t look much better.

The man spoke again. “Everything you say is nothing. Everything you think is nothing. Everything you believe is nothing. You are just a bystander; you are just a voyeur. You do not belong. You must leave.”

Spencer took a quick look around the area, thinking this crazy man’s caretaker surely would soon be coming to the rescue. “What are you talking about, old man? Do you know me? What do you mean I must leave? You mean I must leave this area, this village? Why?”

“Can’t you see that it resides around you? It is there around you and inside you. It is shallow, and ugly, and hollow. You must leave.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
Honestly, I haven’t determined that yet. Logically, I think my present story lends itself to a sequel or the second in a series. I’m not certain that I could include the dog character, Shandy, because she’s been through a lot already, but the protagonist, Spencer, certainly would be included. I’ve got some ideas floating around in my head, but I am busy trying to promote the present book. I imagine I’ll get started on the follow-up within the next six months or so.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I never did, really. I knew that my writing skills were/are likely above average, but that does not make one a writer. I wrote a short story several years ago that got published (and for which I even got paid). Perhaps that gave me the confidence to embark on writing a novel. I simply knew that I wanted to write a novel someday, and so when I had the time I got going on and remarkably finished.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I’m retired now from my professional business career, so when writing My Irish Dog I guess you could say I was a full-time writer, although I certainly didn’t spend eight hours a day on the endeavor. Again, I’m retired for now, but I’m not certain that will last. I’m presently working on a business idea, which may or may not come to fruition, but ideally, for the time being at least, I would like to spend my time writing and traveling.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Perhaps the most interesting thing is that I didn’t work with a story outline at all. I really couldn’t sit back and envision how the entire book would play out; it just didn’t work for me. I had some basic ideas in my head, but the next scene and the next chapter would never come until I got busy writing the present scene or chapter. Then things would flow. It’s a bit unorthodox, but that method works for me.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

No idea. Even when I was in college, I had no idea. I probably changed my major three times before graduating with a degree in something I had essentially no interest. If I could go back in time, I believe I would have concentrated on sports management (or maybe even writing).

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I just hope there will be some interest among your readers in this book. If you’re a dog lover, it’s for you. If you like an inspirational story about someone lost who manages to find himself in the most unlikely of circumstances, this book’s for you. If you have any interest in a book set in an exotic location (perhaps with an affection for things Irish), this is a story you’ll like.

Links:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Amazon | Amazon buy link

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

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Interview with debut thriller author C.H. Lyn

Today’s spotlight shines on author C.H. Lyn as she chats with us about her new thriller suspense, Lacey Goes to Tokyo.

During her virtual book tour, C.H. will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops, and enter there, too!

Welcome, C.H. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in a small town in Northern California. Growing up in a college town meant I experienced a wide variety of people and opinions. I like to think my stories reflect the vast differences in the people I've met. I love to travel. I want to explore the world around me while writing about the worlds in my mind.

I grew up with a steady diet of wonderful stories set in amazing worlds. I've read almost every series Tamora Pierce has written, and I am a crazy fan of the Hunger Games series. My nerdiness also encompasses the Harry Potter series, LOTR, and (to an extent) the worlds of superheros. Though, my husband is really head of DC knowledge in the household. He is also the most amazing source of support I could hope for.

I'm 26 now. My daughter just turned one. She is already so smart, curious, and beautiful. I want the female characters in my writing to be inspiring, not just for her, but for all the little girls who grow up reading.

Please tell us about your new release.
Releasing Lacey Goes to Tokyo has been fantastic. This is my debut novel, the first in a long series I’m currently working on. My publisher has been amazing, from communication to cover. The release is eBook only, but I’m confident we will be putting Lacey Goes to Tokyo into print very soon.

What inspired you to write this book?
This book was inspired by the characters. I can’t say where Miss Belle, Lacey, Missa, Thomas, and the rest originally came from, all I can say is when they appeared in my head, I had to get their story on paper. Once they appeared, different aspects were heightened by drawing from people in real life. By that time, the story itself had materialized, and not writing it would have driven me crazy.

Excerpt from Lacey Goes to Tokyo:I jump over a seat and give Delilah a friendly nudge with my shoulder. “What do you think so far?”

“It’s not what they said it would be.”

I frown. That’s not the response I was expecting. “I think it’s pretty good. I wasn’t expecting anything really different.”

“Well no.” She faces me. Her eye makeup is heavy. “You’re with Mr. Blake and you’ve done this before.”

Oh. The gut punch of realization almost makes me flinch.

She turns back toward the stage. “It’s just not what they said.”

I want to respond. I want to pull her into a hug and tell her it never is. I want to reassure her that it’s not easy for me either.

Daniel returns and watches me until I move over. They didn’t have his preferred alcohol. He grumbles that the second half better be shorter than the first.

Nathan rejoins us a few minutes later. He hands me a steaming cup of green tea which I sip gratefully. We hold hands during the rest of the play.

Nathan asks me if I enjoyed the show. I tell him it was splendid. I thank him for including me and ask what is next.

We make our way to Daniel’s penthouse. In the cab, Nathan pulls out a little Kabuki figurine; one of the ones I’d been eyeing. My insides knot up. I hate how good it feels when he is kind to me.

What exciting story are you working on next?Book two of Miss Belle’s Travel Guides! Damen Goes to Peru is coming along nicely. This story follows three characters rather than two: Miss Belle, Damen, and his twin sister Carmen. I am very excited to follow these new characters in their adventures, and to follow Miss Belle as she deals with the events of this story, and the repercussions of the end of Lacey Goes to Tokyo.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Oh gosh, maybe at 14? Is that too young? I’ve been writing forever. The plots have gotten more complex, the characters have gotten more realistic, and the writing has (hopefully, haha) gotten a heck of a lot better. But I’ve thought of myself as a writer long before I decided I wanted to pursue a publishing career.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I definitely do not write full-time. Not with a 1.5-year-old in the house. I wish I had a more time to write, and I will once summer hits and my babysitter is out of school. For now, I write during naptime and on the weekends. I find my ability to write at home is somewhere close to nonexistent. I do my best and most productive work when I can’t see the stack of dishes or pile of laundry waiting to be done. Coffee shops are my go-to. I love a good mocha (decaf at the moment as I’m 6 months pregnant), a pastry, and a few hours of good, uninterrupted writing time.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I go back and forth between techniques. Sometimes I do speed writing, sometimes I take my time. Sometimes I write an outline for a scene, other times I wing it. I’ve even used a talk to text software my mom got me a while back. It’s a bit harder to use now, mostly because of the aforementioned 1.5 year old, but when she’s a bit older and I have more time in a quiet office, I’ll probably start back up with it again.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

All the things. I wasn’t the kid who had one dream from an early age. I always wanted to travel, and I always wanted to write. But picking a career based off those two things never really happened. I fancied myself a spy, an adventurer, a teacher, and a whole handful of other things as I grew up. Now, still not grown-up but closer than I was at 14, I still want to travel and write. And I am! I’m lucky enough to have married a man who not only indulges, but encourages my need to explore the world. We took our little one to Costa Rica when she was 6 months old (less trouble on the plane than you’d think), and we have a trip to Ireland planned sometime in the fall. Though, that one will be a bit more difficult as we will have a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old at that point. Pray for me now, hahaha.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?Only that I hope they enjoy the book! I had so much fun writing it. So many laugh-out-loud moments, moments I teared up, moments I got angry, etc. I want them to have a similar experience reading it. I want them to fall in love with the characters as much as I have.

Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Publisher’s Author Page | Publisher’s Book Page | Amazon

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Interview with debut YA fantasy author Christine Grabowski

Novelist Christine Grabowski is in the hot seat today. I’m chatting with her about her new YA contemporary fantasy, Dickensen Academy.

During her virtual book tour, Christine will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Dickensen Academy is Christine’s debut YA novel. After graduating from the University of Washington, she earned her MBA at the University at Albany. She honed her technical writing skills in marketing and consulting but attributes the creative part of the process to her passion for reading.

When she isn’t reading or writing, Christine can often be found running, skiing, or hiking. She lives in Newcastle, Washington, with her supportive husband, two avid teen readers, and their energetic wheaten terriers.

Welcome, Christine. Please share a little bit about your current release.
Dickensen Academy is a young YA contemporary fantasy that bridges the gap between MG and YA. It is about a fourteen-year-old girl, Autumn, who is invited to a fine arts boarding school in the secluded mountains of the Pacific Northwest. However, she soon realizes the faculty is secretly teaching dream telepathy.

As Autumn uncovers more about the dark side of the high school and struggles with its curriculum, she questions whether Dickensen Academy is where she truly belongs. When tragedy strikes, Autumn must learn to believe in her own power and stand up to her greatest fear or risk having her memories destroyed to protect the school’s secrets.

Although the premise is considered a paranormal or a fantasy, the focus of the book is as much about Autumn’s relationships with her friends and family and her struggles in school and for independence—something many teens can relate to.

What inspired you to write this book?
While I was brainstorming ideas for a story, I began to go through my dreams each morning hoping I’d dream up a fantastic idea like Stephenie Meyer did with Twilight. Although I never dreamed an amazing dream, I did start to question why I remembered some dreams but forgot others. That idea led me to the premise for Dickensen Academy.

Excerpt from Dickensen Academy:

“I feel like there’s something big we don’t know about. Something those students were protecting. I mean, really, why are we here?”

I thought it was just me who was confused. “Well…the recruiters said we’re creative and focused.”

“Yeah, that’s what Principal Locke said too.”

“And we have the right personality.”

Ben looked up at the sky, sighed then turned toward the forest. “What did he say…something about how it will soon become clear why we’re here, and there’s some ultimate purpose for our creativity?”

“I know. That whole creativity part was a bit bizarre.”

He shrugged. “It seems everyone is going with the flow. But I have so many questions.” Then he touched my arm to stop me, so I turned toward him. “I’m thinking they’re isolating us for some special reason,” he admitted in an embarrassed tone.

I tried not to laugh—he was acting paranoid. But I didn’t know Ben well. Maybe he was joking, trying to freak me out. Or was he hitting on me? The flutter in my chest moved to my stomach. I was already anxious about being away from home and whether or not I could hack the academics. I didn’t need to obsess about anything else. But I still had to know about Ben’s dream.

“So…I also had a dream about Dickensen before I accepted the offer.”

Ben’s head snapped toward me. “You did?”

What exciting story are you working on next?
I set aside a Sleep Beauty fairy tale reimagining to write the sequel for Dickensen Academy. Although I wrote it as a standalone, the reviewers really want to see Autumn’s adventures continue as she moves through high school. For Book 2, her sophomore year, I plan to make the book a little darker with the antagonist on campus.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I found my book on Amazon and the title became ranked.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I do write full-time and probably spend close to 40 hours on writing related activities. However, because I am also a mother to a tween, a teen, and two puppies, I end up working in little chunks seven days a week. Some hours are while the kids are at school, but many are in untraditional places such as in my car during soccer practices or tutoring sessions. However, I believe working in small chunks works well for writing. Staring at a screen eight hours in a row, continually coming up with new ideas one after the other seems impossible. For me, I can work on a scene and then brainstorm ways to make it better while I am running errands, walking the puppies, going to the gym, or ubering my kids somewhere. Then when I come back to the computer, I am ready to start typing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like to keep track of my increasing (and later decreasing) word counts. When I am drafting, I write the number of new words on a wall calendar at the end of each day. I even give myself stars. I tend to overwrite, so when I’m editing, I get the same satisfaction from cutting words as I work down to an appropriate word count.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

The idea of being an author always excited me since I was a big reader. However, I hated to write for school so assumed I would never be good at it. Instead, I wanted to be a nurse like my mom had been before I was born.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I am a huge reader with close to 300 reviews on Goodreads in a variety of genres. I’d love for you to check them out.

Links:
Website | Book Trailer | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple | Google Play | Kobo | Goodreads | Bookbub | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter  

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Interview with debut novelist Rica Newbery

New novelist Rica Newbery joins me today to chat about her historical fiction, Reluctant Courage.

Welcome, Rica. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a retired psychiatrist living in Bristol with my husband and elkhound. My two children keep in close touch and I now have the added privilege of a two-year old grandchild. I keep busy with a combination of voluntary work, baby-sitting, dog walking, listening to podcasts, and writing. I am obsessed with the news and have a horrified fascination with the current American president.

Please tell us about your current release.

It is 1942 in Oslo, two years into the German occupation of World War II. Maria and her three daughters are used to coping with the hardships of war, but when Maria’s husband leaves her for another woman and a German officer is billeted to their home, their troubles are only just beginning. Maria and her daughters must stop fighting with each other and find a way to survive through grief, dread and fear.

What inspired you to write this book?

My mother. She was eight years old when the Nazis marched into Oslo, her home town. I have been brought up with many stories from her childhood, some funny and some very sad. She was an artist and a very powerful and magnetic character. Like most of us she had her flaws and I wanted to understand her childhood and understand her in more depth. I also wanted to feel closer to my Norwegian roots. I did a great deal of research for this book, including visits to the Resistance Museum in Oslo and Falstad Museum in Ekne, near Levanger in the North of Norway. The courage of the Norwegian people recorded here was an inspiration. To me, even surviving in these circumstances is a feat of courage and I wanted to show this ‘everyday heroism’ in my book, but also make my characters real, and of course flawed.

You can read an excerpt from Reluctant Courage here.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am researching my next novel at present. The main character is a young woman, Amanda Blake, who has a psychiatric illness, and the story takes her through ever more traumatic levels of treatment in an old asylum in Bristol. It is set in 1957, an interesting time in psychiatry. The other main characters are her parents who dominate her, but have their own problems, an old-school psychiatrist who is basically well intentioned, a young progressive psychiatrist who is after his own ends, a Jamaican nurse, Amanda’s main ally, and a tormented young man, a fellow patient who forms an attachment to her. This was a time of severe racial tensions, teddy boys, and the earliest glimmerings of teenage rebellion.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I have always written poetry. When I was at university I used to do illustrations and cartoons. After being totally immersed in working as a psychiatrist for the NHS and bringing up two children, I finally came up for air when I retired. I enlisted for a Creative Writing course with the Open University and knew then that I was going to write a novel based on my mother’s life.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I tend to write in bursts. If I am in a good spell, I will write for several hours a day, but if my day is cluttered with appointments and commitments I do not write at all. I take myself off occasionally for a week’s isolation in a rented flat near the sea, with my dog, to enable me to concentrate fully. I confess that I am fairly erratic and have phases when I come to a difficult bit in my writing and struggle to get back into it. Procrastination is the enemy!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Okay. Starting all my lines of speech with ‘Okay’ or ‘Alright’ or even ‘Okay, okay,’ or ‘Alright, alright’. I then have to go through deleting them all. This is obviously how I speak.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A psychiatrist, since the age of ten! Before that I wanted to be an actress.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Only that I hope anyone who reads my book enjoys it, and feels the same admiration for the survivors of the war that I do.

Thanks for joining me today!