Interview with mystery author Silvia Villalobos

Mystery author Silvia Villalobos is here today. She’s chatting about writing, and her literary mystery novel, Stranger or Friend.

Bio:

Silvia Villalobos, a native of Romania who lives immersed in the laid-back vibe of Southern California, is a writer of mystery novels and short fiction. Her stories have appeared in The Riding Light Review, Pure Slush, and Red Fez, among other publications. She is constantly drawn to premises filled with questions which arouse feelings that are often beyond imagination yet seem real. When not writing, she can be found hiking the Santa Clarita Woodland Park trails or preparing and giving speeches for Toastmasters International.

Welcome, Silvia. Please tell us about your current release.

Stranger or Friend is a literary mystery sparked by secrets and distrust. It’s the story of a woman’s journey back home, to her ailing mother. The story of a place Zoe Sinclair no longer recognizes; a town where her best friend was murdered, where outsiders make life uneasy. A place where the sheriff is inept or unwilling to help and the county investigator is more interested in politics.

In many ways, Zoe is an outsider herself, particularly when she starts pocking around and disturbing “the way we always do it.” When her city-lawyer experience kicks in, the questions multiply, but the answers put her in the same danger that befell her dead friend.

The story speaks to the hidden story inside all of us, fears that lie deeper than we know, secrets causing irreparable harm. And at what cost? Stranger or Friend answers this very question while looking beyond, to what comes next.

What inspired you to write this book?

It all began with the concept of “new arrival,” people giving up the familiar for a new and hopefully better life. Some twenty years back, when I moved from Europe to the U.S., I embraced the new with some trepidation — new home, new culture – and have been absorbed by the idea ever since.

Also, the theme of universality in fiction has always been of interest to me. The idea that no matter where we are — big city, small town — we deal with the same issues: love, hate, fear of the unconventional. Crime.

As a lover of books, I’m immediately pulled into stories with strong yet flawed characters, people from different backgrounds, different cultures, the effect of such amalgam on us all, and that is what I worked hard to accomplishing in Stranger or Friend.

Excerpt from Stranger or Friend:

Across the gravel road Zoe’s childhood home looked smaller, as if shrunken under the weight of life. Smoke from the chimney caught the moonlight in a slow dance, blurring into the night sky. A place of happiness, but Zoe knew better. She pushed the car door open and stepped out, ready for her final visit home.

The porch light illuminated the road cracked by time and weather. Beyond it, darkness stretched over the wilderness. She shut the door and walked to open the trunk, her heels poking the frozen ground. How can it be so cold and dark?

A twig snapped behind her. Zoe turned but saw no one. Sounds carried through the cold air from the distance. A rustle of branches. Someone wheezing? Another glance over her shoulder showed only the woods she’d explored as a child, the winding paths of apple orchards stripped bare by winter. She opened the trunk. Having been away from the nature so long, wildlife rustling unsettled her nerves.

All right, loosen up. You’re home.

A shaft of light escaped between the window curtains. She should’ve called, but Mother often misplaced the phone. Last time, Zoe found the handset in the pantry. She pulled her carry-on out of the trunk, and shut the cover loud enough to chase the memories away.

A light turned on at the new neighbor’s house, followed by a series of distant shrieks. Must be the winter wrens; she never tired of their wilderness call.

The front door opened and Mother, leaning on a cane, waved. “Hello, dear.” She grabbed the doorknob to steady herself. “I’m glad you didn’t get caught in traffic. Radio man said it’s messy on Old Highway.”

Zoe dragged her carry-on up the dirt road to the house. “I must’ve missed it.” She matched Mother’s smile but her heart sank at how frail she appeared. “You look good.”

“I’m getting my strength back.” Mother let out a sigh. “Get the rest of your bags. Must be piles of papers.”

Atop the steps, Zoe put her right arm around Mother’s shoulder. “Work’s in my computer.” She kissed her cheek. “This is everything.”

The wrinkles had deepened into scars on Mother’s face, carved by the mark of life. She flashed her proudest smile, then turned to lead the way. “Let’s go inside, dear, before icicles drip from our noses.”

Hand on the doorknob, Zoe turned to face the road, listening. That sound a minute ago, so strange. Nothing but stillness lay over the countryside now. She shut the door, turned the lock, and followed Mother into the kitchen.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am working on several projects as ideas come, make themselves comfortable, then fly away for some time. Most actively, I’m working on the next Zoe Sinclair novel, a story that will take the reader from California to Wyoming to Europe and back to California. This is the most ambitious writing project for me so far, in terms of setting but also character. Every day, I’m letting it build like a jazz riff, with the melodies of one word playing off the melodies of the others, until the composition is complete.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I knew early on that writing was my passion by the way I jotted notes on anything that would make, in my mind, a good story. However, writing became more than the act of shedding thoughts in high school, when my English teacher singled out an essay I wrote on Mihai Eminescu’s Evening Star. She said something to the effect of seeing promise there, and encouraged me to push the creative envelope with each paper I wrote. And so I’ve been trying to do ever since.

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 write all the time, but I don’t have an office-type schedule or structure where it’s my responsibility to produce copy every day. For me, writing is more than the physical act of putting pen to paper or typing. I think about writing a lot. I spend time researching, outlining, changing my mind, and going from there. When nothing comes to me, I sit down and write a bunch of nonsense, sentences that may or may not make sense. After a short break, I read the mess and try again until the story takes shape.

If it were a matter of “finding” time, I would probably never write. I have to make time for writing, just like I make time for anything that matters in life.

Outside of writing, I love spending time with family, hiking, and last but not least, preparing and giving speeches for Toastmasters International.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Oh, I love fun questions.

Let’s see. 1) I am a lover of words. In the genre I write, the story must be fast-moving, but slowing it down to enjoy the whisper of each word, the image it evokes, that’s a must.

2) I form strong bonds with characters. It can get strange when I find myself having audible conversations with them, sometimes in public places if an idea strikes. But I’m learning to save my character conversations for the privacy of my home.

3) I become distracted in the middle of a conversation because a great idea just popped up in my head. However, the image of the recluse, antisocial writer doesn’t fit me. I’m very social, and highly opinionated. Then again, I think most writers are opinionated. Writers are informed beings, in possession of an encyclopedic range of ideas on every imaginable topic, but more so on writing.

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

Wish I could say that I had a clue. Early on, I went through the usual dream-job list: teacher, doctor, mostly because I loved my teacher and had a lovely pediatrician. I don’t remember my mom ever asking or pushing in any direction. She made sure we had lots of books around the house. We spent an inordinate amount of time telling stories, fostering ideas, playing alphabet games -- where someone starts telling a story with the first letter of the alphabet, the next person continues by beginning her sentence with the next letter, until, inevitably, someone uses the wrong letter and is eliminated.

Thank goodness I was never pressured into picking a career. The idea was that if I do well in school and go to college, everything would take care of itself, career and hobbies.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’d like to invite everyone to visit me at silviatomasvillalobos.worpress.com. Please leave a comment, and if you would also include your link, I’d be happy to connect. Also, for more on Stranger or Friend (about the author, media, a free short story, and behind-the-scene information) visit strangerorfriend.com.

I hope you enjoy the story and take a moment to share your thoughts on it with me. Hearing back from readers is what keeps us writers going.

And many thanks, Lisa, for having me on. It’s been a pleasure talking to you.

You’re very welcome, Silvia! Thank you for joining my blog!

Links:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Website

Interview with mystery author Edita A. Petrick

Mystery author Edita A. Petrick is here today to chat with me about her new novel Ribbons of Death.

During her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, Edita will be awarding a Kindle copy of Ribbons of Death gifted from Amazon to 4 randomly drawn winners. 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, Edita. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Ten years ago, I left a corporate job to concentrate on writing. It was perhaps the scariest thing I’ve done. Of course, there were other considerations at the time, life, kids, economy and my mother who was battling cancer. I wrote as means of staying grounded because I had to hold it together. There was no one else to pitch in. There wasn’t a single moment that I didn’t have doubts about whether what I was doing was the right thing or not, but doubts come and go, while the need to write goes on forever.

Since 2005, I’ve published 5 books and this year alone I have 6 new ones coming out. I live in Toronto with my family and our two pets – wheaten terriers. And whenever I’m tempted to look back, and start second-guessing my past decisions, I have a cup of hot tea and pet the dogs. That seems to do the trick. Tea’s very relaxing and the dogs are so affectionate and loyal. They restore my equilibrium.

Please tell us about your current release.

“Ribbons of Death is a mystery suspense. Most of the reviews I’ve received so far are very positive, but even the readers who gave me 5 stars mentioned (obliquely) that the book could do with a faster start. I’m not sure if I know how to do “faster starts” – I’m all for setting the ground first, so to speak. But I’m also willing to learn…I’ve already had 3 free-download days and I was actually shocked how well that promo went. So if you graciously gloss over that ‘slow start’ and we’re talking here a handful of pages – then I guess this new release is off to a good start. Of course, since it deals with a horrible ancient curse, book 2 is going to find an antidote to that curse and the sequel is already done. Now, I just have to solicit advice on how to make the opening faster…but some things just won’t be rushed. This ‘slow start’ is really, really torturing me.

What inspired you to write this book?

I own a complete collection of Agatha Christie mysteries. I love re-reading them. So it just follows that what I love to read, I love to write.

Excerpt from Ribbons of Death
“A female mask.” He nodded.

“A man wearing a female mask. The Roman actors used them, the stage actors used them in Shakespearean times; so did Chinese performers. The old Egyptians wore masks not only for stage performances but to battle, or during exhibition combat in a palace.”

“So you’re saying that a female mask will protect you against the Peacetaker’s power?” He must have sounded more disbelieving than he meant to because she rose, braced her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“We’re dealing with a curse damning humanity for all eternity spun by a mythological demon. It produces a male child born during the night of the Blue Moon. When the child reaches adulthood, his power is activated with an amulet and as he walks amongst men, he devours peace, leaving them howling with murderous frenzy like primeval beasts. Which parts of what I’ve just said doesn’t sound rational enough to you such that you can’t believe the controller is a man wearing a female mask?”

“Well, what if it’s cloudy during that particular night of the Blue Moon and the actual moon can’t be seen? Would ancient folks have known then it was a night of the Blue Moon? I’m just trying to play the Devil’s Advocate.”

“An excellent point. We’ll gloss over it. Not because it poses challenge for me, but because we have, once again, a more important puzzle to baffle us,” she said with such candor that he raised both hands to show her he was capitulating.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The Harmony Scroll – that’s the title for book 2.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve many very brittle yellow pages, lined, written in child’s handwriting – stored somewhere in a folder so I guess that answer that question.

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?

Majority of indie or small press writers can’t exist on what they make from their writing. That’s a fact. I have a full time job. Bills need to be paid. I rise at the crack of dawn, put in my 9 hours (includes a commute) and back home to feed the dogs, feed the family (actually in that order) and get ready for the next day at work and if I have an hour or so left, I’d sit down and re-read the notes I have for the next in-production book. I work in the school environment so I have the summer off and that’s when I fashion a story from the notes that I work on the rest of the year. Sometimes I get some time to write on the weekend but not much.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I read and re-read all my reviews. Then I go “click on” the links of the reviewers and then I read all about them. Then, as opportunity arises, I ‘write in’ any given reviewer as one of the characters in the book, as I see him or her through their critique. How’s that for exercising it out of your system…?

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

Archeologist or an astronaut

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Thank you for having me on the blog and thank you to all for reading.

Edita

Links: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Amazon buy link 

Thank you for being here today, Edita! Happy writing.

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Interview with debut fantasy author Chris Reardon

Today I have an interview with debut novelist Christopher Reardon. He has a lot to tell us about his novel, Obstacles.

Bio:

Christopher Michael Reardon is a writing fellow at a Michigan College where he's currently a student. He says you always learn something new about writing when tutoring other students. Reardon is always searching for exciting books to read, especially new authors. 

Chris graduated with honors from Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan. He's also an avid tennis player, being on the varsity tennis team for four years. He received the honor of most valuable player his senior year at number one and two singles.

Obstacles is Chris's first novel. He says fantasy adventure books have always been an interest, because they challenge the mind and send you on an epic journey.

Welcome, Chris. Can you talk a little about what your book, Obstacles, is about? 

It's all about people trying to bring back the dead, or save someone from dying. There are these extremely tough challenges, called the Obstacles, that let you do that. One challenge is fighting a great white shark. The story follows a cowardly doctor competing in them to save a sick child's life.

Book blurb:

A child will die. You're afraid to live. Would you go to all lengths to save him? Darkness knows no bounds, as Alcott, an African American doctor sees all too well. The man is petrified by death. His fragile existence rests at the mercy of the universe. This fact is far too much for him to handle. From unyielding nightmares to elevator terrors, he's lost in paranoia.

Assigned to look after an ill child, Alcott's horrors only heighten. Gari is a nine-year-old boy with a fatal disease. He will surely pass on within the year. Alcott bonds with him more and more each day. Part of him knows this grim fate just isn't right.

Alcott befriends a hospital patient. This lunatic forces him to lug home an ancient text on bringing back the dead. Despite the man's obvious dementia, Alcott attempts the scheme. Charging up a cliff, he recites the chant over ocean gusts.

A god woman glides in from the horizon. She instructs Alcott on the trials to save Gari's life. These fearsome Obstacles require true strength. From battling sharks to wielding a flail, he must prove fortitude against genuine danger. Alcott decides his fate at this moment.

Death's claws shall not grasp Gari's soul.

What message do you want readers to get from reading the book? 

Well, the story follows a very cowardly doctor who is afraid of everything, having nightmares almost every night. Throughout the book, his darkest fears come to life, and he has no choice but to face them. A message I want to get across is that, things are never set in stone. Perspectives and experience can change everything in a second.

What are you favorite books and authors? 

The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, and the Eragon series are definitely my favorites so far. I really liked how they made you feel involved, or even part of the story. They get you attached to the characters, and you need to find out what happens.

What is your writing process like? Do you have a regular writing schedule? 

My writing process was never set in stone. I only wrote something if I felt it was worth writing about. If I had no ideas, I would just wait. There was at least a 2 week hiatus at one point. I didn't want to write anything then that I could make better later.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I always liked imagining stories and thinking about different adventures I could create. But, I never thought I could actually do anything with it. One day, I just decided to write a chapter and see what'd it be like. I was very surprised to find out that I loved writing it! It felt awesome to be able to make anything I wanted happen with the story, and control what the characters would do. So, I kept going and thought, hey! maybe I can actually make this a book! I was just afraid I would get bored or quit halfway through, so I had to tell myself that if I keep going I have to stick with it.

Anything else you would like to share with readers today?

For aspiring authors, if you have an idea, go for it! So many people just give up on stuff half way, and miss out on great things they could have done. I really hope you stick with it.

Links:

Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback

E-mail Chris! chrisreardon34@gmail.com

   

Interview with debut historical fiction novelist Grace Elliot

Today it's my pleasure to welcome novelist Grace Elliot to Reviews and Interviews to chat with us a bit about herself and her debut novel, A Dead Man’s Debt (5 star rated historical romance)

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. Grace lives near London and is addicted to cats, acting as housekeeping staff to five mischievous moggies.

Grace believes intelligent people need to read romantic fiction as an antidote to the modern world. As an avid reader, she turned to writing as a release from the emotionally draining side of veterinary work. Her debut novel A Dead Man’s Debt is now available from most eBook stores including Amazon, for $2.99

Grace, please tell us about your current release.
A Dead Man’s Debt is a story of blackmail, duty and unexpected love.

Our hero is the darkly restless Lord Ranulf Charing. He’s a complex character, raised from birth to hold honor above all else and, as heir to the Cadnum title, can never fulfill his calling to be a professional artist. But our heroine, Miss Celeste Armitage, is Ranulf’s opposite. Independent and determined, Celeste has the traits of a 21st, rather than 19th century, woman.

Celeste doesn’t care who she offends when she refuses to marry a lascivious Viscount. Sent to the country in disgrace, she meets Ranulf and falls for exactly the sort of rogue she has sworn to avoid. But Ranulf is being blackmailed over his late brother’s debts. To preserve the family’s honor he must renounce his feelings for Celeste and marry another woman…but he underestimates Celeste’s resolve to clear his name and in so doing, places his true love in mortal danger…

What inspired you to write this book?
The inspiration behind A Dead Man’s Debt sprang from a portrait of the young Emma Hart (who later married Lord Hamilton and became Horatio Nelson’s mistress)

The painting by George Romney shows an innocent yet lush young woman, scantily clad with a hint of bosom, brazenly staring out of the canvas with an allure that is quite hypnotic. It struck me as sensational for an 18th century work, that the sitter was not prim, proper, straight backed, and starchy. At the time the picture must have been utterly scandalous.

But who would be bold enough to commission such a portrait? (As it happened Emma Hart was ahead of her time…but that’s another story.)

What a delicious idea for a story!

What if the woman in the portrait wanted to shock and deliberately draw attention to herself? From this idea Lady Sophia Cadnum, Ranulf’s mother, was born. A woman who hated being an aristocratic brood mare and resented her children….

What if years later, this same portrait threatened to disgrace her son, forcing Ranulf to do the very thing she resented…and marry out of duty…

Thus the stage was set for the story of blackmail, sacrifice and redeeming love that in A Dead Man’s Debt.

What exciting story are you working on next?
In my view you can’t beat historical romance for page turning, escapism and I hope my next novel, Eulogy’s Secret will live up to this reputation.

Eulogy’s Secret is a story about hidden identity, dangerous assumptions, and prejudice. Our heroine, Eulogy Foster, has a secret that could destroy lives…but will she keep that secret if, in the telling, she could win the man she loves?

Once again set in the Regency, this book is the first in a series of three, about very different brothers, and will be available later this year.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I read somewhere that to be a writer, you need to write!

My initial reasons for writing was as a form of therapy, if you like, from the stresses of an emotionally demanding job. I would write, not even dreaming of publication, but as a conduit for an active imagination to spill out onto the page. Thus, I wrote for at least 20 minutes a day and pretty soon the habit grew to an hour…and then as long as I could carve out from looking after a house, family and working part time.

My first published piece was non-fiction for The Lady magazine – a feature on the 800th anniversary of the death of Eleanor of Aquitaine…and then I became a regular columnist in the Veterinary Times, with articles on the attitudes to animals in the past…then I turned to fiction…and the rest, as they say, is history.

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’d describe myself as a ‘guerilla’ writer. I have a job, two teenage sons, cooking, cleaning, etc., and so I have to seize whatever opportunities come my way

As to how I find the time, well my personal motto is “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” Somehow, the more you have to do, the more you get done! Is that not true ladies?

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Ahh, that would be Widget! No, not the sort you click on a computer, but one of my five cats. I write on a laptop on an old sofa in a converted garage, and she loves nothing better than to snuggle up against my thigh whilst I write. She’s my ‘Writer’s cat’ (a bit like a master criminal!) and keeps me hard at work because if I get up, she will claim the warm patch and then look hurt and affronted if I try to move her off….

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a vet. As a child I was very ill for 6 months, and eventually it was my mother's bribe of riding lessons, that gave me the determination to recover. I was your typical horse-mad little girl, not to mention dogs and cats and spent my teenage years volunteering at the local dairy farm and riding stables.

Being a vet is still my dream job, but what I didnt realized as a naïve youngster, was that loving animals means saying goodbye to patients can be very hard indeed…I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the responsibility of making life and death decisions, but there again, it would be wrong if I took it lightly.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Thank you so much for reading this interview, and a big thank you to Lisa for hosting me.

I’d love to hear your feedback so please leave a comment below.

If you’d like to know more about me or my work visit http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com. My blog reflects my addiction for things historical, romance and animals!

I’m also on Twitter: @Grace_Elliot.

Grace, thank you for being here today. It's so fun to have guests from 'across the pond' stop here. And all the best with your writing!