Larry Kelter's Brain Vault

Lawrence Kelter, author of The Brain Vault, is my guest today. Welcome, Larry. Have a cup of hot tea and a cookie and tell us something about yourself that readers might be surprised to learn.

Thanks for having me over, Susan, and the tea and cookie sound great.

Early on in my writing career, I got a real leg-up from bestselling novelist Nelson DeMille, who read BY EXECUTIVE ORDER &actually edited the manuscript. He sent the manuscript back to me with a note that read, “Your work needs editing, kid, but that’s a hell of a lot better than not being able to write. Keep it up.” I was also part of a tightly-knit writer’s workshop led by soap opera legend, Ann Loring (LOVE OF LIFE 1956-1970). She taught me the art of screenwriting and the first screenplay I wrote under her watchful eye finished prominently in the Nicholl’s Fellowship (AMPAS).

In high school I was voted the student least likely to be found in a library.

 LOL. Me too, Larry.

How many books have you written?

I’ve published four novels including three books in the Stephanie Chalice Mystery Series. The first two books in the series, DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES, and RANSOM BEACH are in the Amazon Top 100 for Mystery/Police procedurals. Chalice is a savvy NYPD detective with lots of psychological baggage.

I’ll be releasing a new novel in November, featuring a new hardboiled hero, PI Frank Mango (yes, that’s right, I said, Mango).  Mango is tough, funny, and oh so out there.

What books or authors have influenced you?

Needless to say I’m a huge fan of Nelson DeMille. In fact, his John Corey character who strongly influenced the personality of my protagonist, Stephanie Chalice. Both Corey and Chalice are cut from the same bolt of cloth; they are both shrewd law enforcement agents with a sharp tongue and incessant sense of humor. BookWire review wrote about her, “Chalice’s acerbic repartee is like an arsenal of nuclear missiles.”

 I’m also a huge fan of Thomas Harris and his perfect modern age monster, Hanniabal Lecter. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and RED DRAGON. I positively never tire of the psychological jousting between Lecter an Starling. Harris is the father of forensic fiction and rarely get’s credit for his authentic portrayals of police work.

 What has been your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

 I’ve been blessed with very positive reader reviews. As any writer will tell you, you need a tough skin in this business—there is no shortage of rejection: agents and publishers are usually quick to point out flaws in your work, whether valid or not (okay, I had to slip that in). I am positively reborn every time I read a glowing review. Most of my readers have very nice things to say and often comment about aspects of my writing, confirming that I’m “getting through.”

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Yes, thank God. The bulk of my sales are in ebook format.

Does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

 Totally, most of my books take place in the Northeast with the bulk of the action in Manhattan and Long Island. I’ve always heard that you should write what you know about and so I do. I think it adds depth to the book when you can truly develop a setting and write about it at a level that transcends that which is visually apparent.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

 As I’ve moved away from traditional publishing and have gone “indie”, my promotion consists entirely of social media; Twitter, blogs, Facebook, and forums. I have someone who helps me with the social media as I am completely Twitter challenged. I’m planning a local New York tour later this year when Kiss of the Devil’s Breath debuts.

Can you tell us about current or future projects?

Kiss of the Devil’s Breath will be released in November, featuring a new hardboiled detective named Frank Mango. Here’s the lowdown:

Once there was Marlow, now there’s Mango, Frank Mango, a new detective doing his job in a very old fashioned way, an unlikely hero in an age of computers, gadgets, and gizmos. Two dead bodies have been discarded along the Sunset Strip, both aspiring actors, women of talent and ambition in a town renown for eating you up and spitting you out. Who really cares about these nobodies? Mums the word—with the Academy Awards just days off, the powers that be are determined to sweep the dead under the carpet at least until Oscar can take his gratuitous bow. There are, however, wrinkles in this finely crafted plan of deception, most notably the disappearance of yet another woman, a killer whose sniper rifle is trained on the fabled red carpet, and a throwback detective who doesn’t like to get pushed around.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

 On my web site at: www.lawrencekelter.com, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Thanks for the tea and cookies, Susan.

You're welcome, Larry. Best of luck with sales.                    

James V. O'Connor: Another Man's Treasure

Jim O’Connor and his wife, Lynda, operate  O’Connor Communications, Inc., a public relations firm specializing in book and author publicity. (Lynda did several blogs last year.)

Jim also runs a home organizing business, CLUTTER CONTROL, serving the northern suburbs of Chicago. He is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), and has appeared on several national and Chicago TV shows demonstrating ways to get organized. The characters and the situations in this book are not based on or similar in any way to any of his clients, their lives, or their homes.

Another Man’s Treasure is his second book. His first book, CUSS CONTROL, The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing, was a media sensation. He appeared on more than 300 TV shows, including Oprah, the View, the Today Show, the Early Show, CBS News Sunday Morning, and the O’Reilly Factor. Time, Biography, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Traditional Home Magazine, Cosmo, Redbook, and Family Circle are among the 750 magazines and newspapers that featured him. His radio resume includes over 800 interviews in every English speaking country in the world.

Before starting his public relations firm, Jim worked in corporate communications for four Fortune 500 corporations. He is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago. He and his wife live in Lake Forest, Illinois.

It my pleasure to have you on the blog today, James.

It's nice to be here, Susan.

I have to tell you, James, that since clutter makes me cuss, I really need to read your first book, Cuss Control. But today, let's talk about your new release, Another Man's Treasure.

LOL. I hope it helps. Susan.

How many books have you written, James?

Two. CUSS CONTROL, The Complete Book on How to Curb Your Cursing, and my new novel, Another Man’s Treasure.

What has been your most rewarding experience as an author?

Promoting CUSS CONTROL was the most exciting time of my life. The media loved it because it was both funny and thought-provoking. The media interest went on for years. I was on more than 100 TV shows, including Oprah, The View, The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, The Early Show, The O’Reilly Factor, and stations across the country. I was in more than 400 newspapers and magazines, and interviewed on more than 600 radio stations in seven countries. And I’m not exaggerating! I have the clips and tapes.

Congratulations on the success!

Tell us more about your latest release, Another Man’s Treasure.

I call it a non-traditional mystery-romance. Instead of a murder, there’s a secret search for unknown riches hidden in a Victorian mansion. And instead of a woman protagonist with a complicated love-life, the main character is a married man struggling to resist the seductive flirtations of a divorced client. It should appeal to women who want to know the thoughts, concerns, passions, doubts, torment and other emotions of a man reluctantly falling in love. Men will like it for the same reason, because in real life, guys don’t share such personal matters.  It’s common for both men and women to be attracted to someone other than their spouses, so readers will want know what happens. Both plots come together with surprise endings.

 Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

 All of the above, through regular channels. My publisher is Post Mortem Press in Cincinnati.

 How do you develop characters?

The protagonist thinks and acts the way I do sometimes, and the way I wish I could act other times. The main female character is modeled after an appealing and fun woman I used to know. The other characters just came to me. It was easy.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

My wife and I have a public relations business specializing in book promotion!

Yes, I interviewed Linda last year about all your PR business can do to help authors with promotion. You're fortunate to have a inside track.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

On my official author’s website, www.jamesvoconnor.com  My PR business website is www.oconnopr.com

Bloggers, here's more information about James's books:

Press Review: ‘Another Man’s Treasure’ offers mystery and romance

Chicago-based author James V. O’Connor demonstrates a deft range of writing skills and his ability to craft an engaging and page-turning read in his new romantic mystery novel, Another Man’s Treasure. Reflecting the get-organized trend popularized by numerous TV shows and magazine articles, O’Connor’s central character is a professional home organizer whose simple life is about to explode.

O’Connor’s captivating story involves well-crafted ordinary people dealing with realistic romantic entanglements, complex family relationships, and frustrating clutter. Centered on a search for hidden riches in an old mansion, Another Man’s Treasure is an entertaining tale that has readers gradually sympathizing with conflicting characters, stunned by surprises, recalculating the eventual outcome, and pondering the book’s messages long after they’ve finishing reading it.

“The mystery plays on everyone’s fantasy of finding treasures in their attic or forgotten storage,” says O’Connor. “The romance will intrigue any married man or woman who has ever been physically or emotionally—and dangerously—attracted to someone other than his or her spouse.”

As a book publicist who has worked with bestselling authors, O’Connor is no stranger to the challenges of capturing the attention of an audience. In Another Man’s Treasure, he skillfully develops the necessary dynamics and employs clever dialogue as caring people collide over materialism and love. Included in the mix of opposite behaviors are greed and generosity, fidelity and temptation, and honesty and deception. 

Set in Albany, New York, the main character, Ted, is a former Chicago stockbroker turned professional organizer. He’s hired by a difficult client to clean out his deceased father’s cluttered Victorian mansion. Ted’s secret task is to find something of great value that the client believes his eccentric father hid in the mysterious house. What—or who—is trying to stop him?

Although he’s married, Ted finds himself falling for another client, an attractive and flirtatious single mother. He resists her, but events keep bringing her into his life, intensifying their relationship. His wife and the woman’s jealous ex-husband suspect something is going on. He makes two discoveries, one that captivates the city, and one that determines his fate.

While this mystery-romance novel is a new genre for O’Connor, he excels in his descriptions of the interaction, the modern American city atmosphere, and the classical portrayal of true-to-life emotions, needs, and frailties. The memorable characters, storytelling, and unpredictable twists and turns make for an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Published by Post Mortem Press

ISBN: 978-0-61551652-3
Available in bookstores and online in hard copy and ebook.
For more information visit www.AnotherMansTreasurebook.com  or www.jamesvoconnor.com

 What People Are Saying

 “Another Man's Treasure is a delightful, engaging, fast-paced read laced with great characters and a fascinating plot.  James O'Connor has crafted a treasure of a novel!”

Kris Radish, best-selling author of Hearts on a String and seven other novels. Kris is a former journalist, nationally syndicated columnist, magazine writer and university instructor

“In Another Man's Treasure, I found myself caught up in the story of ordinary people in ordinary marriages who seem very real as they navigate the complexities of life and love. You'll find yourself rooting for characters and thinking about them long after you've finished reading.”

Erica Orloff, author of Freudian Slip and 20 other novels

 “O’Connor weaves together two diverse plots in a way that keeps you reading, eager to discover the connection and the outcome. You need to read this book.”

John DeDakis, senior copy editor for CNN’s "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and author of the suspense novels Fast Track and Bluff

"Real-life characters with intriguing secrets, an engaging plot that grabs you from the first chapter, and the possibility of hidden treasure—who could ask for anything more? A terrific read, with characters I can care about. I loved this novel! "
Randye Kaye, actress and author of Ben Behind His Voices: One family’s journey from the chaos of schizophrenia to hope

“Another Man’s Treasure kept me turning the pages to find out if Ted McCormick discovered the alleged treasure and how he resolved his romantic entanglement. The surprise ending was worth the wait!”

Patricia Starr, concert pianist, Mrs. Senior California, and author of Angel on My Handlebars

 “What a terrific read!  O’Connor nailed it with Another Man’s Treasure. The reader is totally absorbed from the get-go, wondering what might be in the old Smith mansion and feeling the sexual tension between Ted and one of his clients.”

Glen Sondag, author of Anything Other Than Naked: A guide for men on how to dress properly for every occasion

“Another Man's Treasure is full of intrigue, flirtation, passion, and humor. It's a wonderfully entertaining tale from a first-rate storyteller.”

James Campbell, award-winning author of The Final Frontiersman and The Ghost Mountain Boys

“As an FBI agent for 30 years, I found it refreshing to read a violence-free book that still captivated me with mystery and suspense, conflict and tension—all nicely balanced with romance and humor. Another Man’s Treasure has more than a little something for everyone.” Jack Owens, author of Don’t Shoot! We’re Republicans!  Memoirs of the FBI agent who did things his way

“James O’Connor’s debut novel is destined for the best seller lists! Engaging from the first chapter, the characters are real and the plot irresistible.”

Gary Moore, award-winning author of Hey Buddy: In Pursuit of Buddy Holly, My New Buddy John, and My Lost Decade of Music, and Playing with the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, World War II, and the Long Journey Home, soon to be a major motion picture

“The intangible actions and feelings we live with every day and take for granted are dissected and put back together in this interesting tale of ordinary people."

Julian Smith, winner of the American Society of Journalists and Authors award for biography and memoir, Crossing the Heart of Africa: An Odyssey of Love and Adventure

 "Another Man's Treasure offers a cast of characters that, like most of us, are at once ordinary and eccentric, simple and complex, decent and deeply flawed. We are lured immediately into their web of ambiguity.”
Judith Valente, PBS-TV correspondent and co-editor of Twenty Poems to Nourish Your Soul and author of the poetry collection Discovering Moons

 “Another Man’s Treasure convincingly relates how emotions deeper than passion can challenge and threaten even the most loyal and steadfast heart.”

Suzanne Nance, the only woman who has climbed the seven tallest mountains in the world

Joan Hall Hovey's Abduction

No! Joan wasn't abducted! She's the author of The Abduction of Mary Rose, and my guest today.

In addition to her critically acclaimed novels, Joan Hall Hovey's articles and short stories have appeared in such diverse publications as The Toronto Star, Atlantic Advocate, Seek, Home Life Magazine, Mystery Scene, The New Brunswick Reader, Fredericton Gleaner, New Freeman and Kings County Record. Her short story, "Dark Reunion" was selected for the anthology investigating Women, Published by Simon Pierre.Ms. Hovey has held workshops and given talks at various schools and libraries in her area, including New Brunswick Community College, and taught a course in creative writing at the University of New Brunswick.  For a number of years, she has been a tutor with Winghill School, a distance education school in Ottawa for aspiring writers.
She is a member of the Writer's Federation of New Brunswick, past regional Vice-President of Crime Writers of Canada, Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
www.joanhallhovey.com

Award-Winning Suspense!
The Abduction of Mary Rose
Night Corridor
Chill Waters
Nowhere To Hide
Listen to the Shadows
http://tinyurl.com/4yv4mww

Non-fiction: Write Your Novel ~Audiobook

Welcome back, Joan.

Thank you, Susan.

What books came along at just the right time to influence your reading/writing?

Impossible to remember the times, but there’s no question Grimm’s Fairy Tales had a big influence on my future as a reader and as a writer. I had a vivid imagination, and these stories provided the stimulation I needed.  Jane Eyre was a big influence on what I would read and write, as did the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Steinbeck and so many more.  Writers’ books like Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down The Bones was helpful. Writing by Dean Koontz, Patricia Highsmith and last but very definitely not least, ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King, another favorite writer for many years.  I was lucky enough to attend a writer's workshop in London, England where Stephen King was one of the celebrity panelists.  A great experience.  There's a photo of the Kind and I -J on my site:

www.joanhallhovey.com/gallery.html

I am indebted to a myriad of writers who have gone before me and carried me on their shoulders while I wrote my own novels.

 Please give us a short synopsis of your new book, THE ABDUCTION OF MARY ROSE.

A suspense novel interwoven with threads of romance and paranormal.

Imagine discovering everything you believe about yourself to be a lie. And that the truth could stir a killer from his lair.

Following the death of the woman she believed to be her mother, 28-year-old Naomi Waters learns from a malicious aunt that she is not only adopted, but the product of a brutal rape that left her birth mother, Mary Rose Francis, a teenager of Micmac ancestry, in a coma for 8 months.

Dealing with a sense of betrayal and loss, but with new purpose in her life, Naomi vows to track down Mary Rose's attackers and bring them to justice. She places her story in the local paper, asking for information from residents who might remember something of the case that has been cold for nearly three decades.

She is about to lose hope that her efforts will bear fruit, when she gets an anonymous phone call. Naomi has attracted the attention of one who remembers the case well.

But someone else has also read the article in the paper. The man whose DNA she carries.

And he has Naomi in his sights.

Reviews:

"…Ms. Hovey's talent in creating characters is so real, you feel their emotions and their fears. You want to yell at them to warn of the danger . . . and you do! Your shouts fall on deaf ears . . . and you cry! The best suspense writer I've ever read! Beth Anderson, Author of Raven Talks back

"...Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King come to mind, but JOAN HALL HOVEY is in a Class by herself!…"J.D. Michael Phelps, Author of My Fugitive, David Janssen

"…CANADIAN MISTRESS OF SUSPENSE…The author has a remarkable ability to turn up the heat on the suspense… great characterizations and dialogue…" James Anderson, author of Deadline "

…Can compete with any mystery,suspense novel on the shelves..." Linda Hersey, Fredericton Gleaner, NB

 How has your writing progressed since your first book, Joan? Has it changed you? If so, how?

Yes, I know that I am a better writer today than when I wrote my first book.  I've also lived longer and I like to think the years have made me more perceptive and insightful. At the same time, the reviews for ‘Listen to the Shadows’ are heatwarming, and some readers tell me it's among their favorite books.  But the writing itself is smoother now, I think, and my own writer’s voice is  stronger and more distinctive. But the difference may be subtle enough that I’m the only one who’s aware of it. But it’s important to me that I continue to grow both as a writer and as a person, and I hope I’ve done that.

 When do you accomplish your best writing?

Usually, I write in the early morning, when the mind is freshest and the day’s demands have not yet had a chance to intrude upon the muses. Since I also work as a tutor for a major writing school in Canada, it’s often a balancing act.   But all in all, a noble and satisfying way to spend one’s life.  At least it works for me.

Is there another book on the horizon?

There’s always another book on the horizon.  At the moment, it’s but a dim little speck against the blue.  I’ll keep looking at it until it reveals itself.  And it will, not all at once, but gradually, over the next weeks and months.  Sometimes it needs a little coaxing.

 After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?

Reading is something I do to unwind, but then I read myself to sleep most every night. Sometimes I read to 3:00 a.m. or into the morning.  Of course the next day is shot. When the weather is nice, I like to go outside in the back yard and play with my dog, Scamp.  I also enjoy playing the piano, even though I'm not very good.  And of course it's always a pleasure to spend time with my husband, grown children and grandchildren.  They are the center of my universe, from which all good things flow.  Or at least have a chance of flowing. -J

 Are your books available in print, ebook, and Kindle?

 Yes, the books are available in all three.

Where can we purchase these books and get more information about you?

amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/4yv4mww

Barnes and Noble:  http://tinyurl.com/6xykd3g

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Joan+Hall+Hovey

 Various other online websites, or order from your bookstore.

 Author's website: www.joanhallhovey.com                          

Coninued success, Joan!

 

Stephen Brayton discusses BETA

My guest today is Stephen L. Brayton, author of BETA.
Welcome, Stephen and tell us something about yourself that readers might be surprised to learn.

I’m Batman. Well, okay, except for the cool car, the underground cave, and the butler. But I do have the costume. Well, I had one years ago. I used it once on Halloween…

Seriously, though, this may not have too much to do with me personally, but I’ve managed to get loads of material for stories from the people around me. I’ve lived in an apartment building where every single tenant in the past nine years, save for one, has been in trouble with the law. One couple who wouldn’t pay rent for months and had their electricity turned off…so they tried to steal mine.

Plenty of fodder for books, indeed. How many books have you written?

I’ve had two published. Night Shadows and the latest release, Beta.

What books or authors have influenced you?

Nearly every one of them in one fashion or another. I look at various authors and read a lot of books. With each I’ll have one response or a combination of responses: I know I can do better and I’ll try to avoid this person’s mistakes. I’d like to emulate this person in his/her marketing. This person has given me some creative ideas to put into my books. I want to work harder to be as much of a success as this person.

Tell us about your latest release, Beta.

Mallory Petersen is a Fourth Degree Black Belt and private investigator. When not instructing her martial arts students she finds herself taking on cases and clients coming that are a little odd. However, when she is hired to find kidnapped eight year old Cindy McGee, Mallory uncovers participants in the dark underworld of child pornography. She follows a trail leading her around the capital city of Des Moines, to south central Iowa, and onto the Quad Cities. With a handsome detective as her temporary partner, they continue the search. Mallory puts her emotions, her morals, and her life on the line her quest to save an innocent. The serious nature of the subject matter is tempered by humorous scenes showing off Mallory’s various talents and skills.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

It’s available for Kindle, Nook, and various other e-formats.

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?

Mallory is strong, beautiful, and a proficient martial artist. She cares about her students and her cases. She cherishes her friends. She’s quirky, witty, and funny. However, she has problems reining in her emotions. Because she cares so much about saving the girl, she steps over the line a few times in getting her information. She also has lingering problems from a case the month before. Those will be addressed in the next book.

Can you tell us about current or future projects?

I’m looking to have the sequel to Beta published next year. I’m also working on the sequel to Night Shadows as well as another private investigator story tentatively entitled New Year Gone. I’ve also outlined a few other stories and eager to begin on those.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events, Stephen?

Stop by for a visit at:

www.stephenbrayton.com

http://stephenlbrayton.blogspot.com                                         

http://braytonsbookbuzz.blogspot.com

Thanks for dropping by, Stephen. Wishing you the best of sales.

Karen Fritz's Blind Vision

This morning I'm interviewing Karen Fritz, author of Blind Vision.  Welcome, Karen.

Good morning, Susan. Thanks for the invitation.

How many books have you written, Karen?

Blind Vision is my first novel.

What books or authors have influenced you?

Gosh, there are so many.  John Hart, James Patterson, Tess Gerritsen, JK Rowling, Dean Koontz, Steven King, Lisa Gardner, Michael Gruber to name a few.

Karen, since this is your first novel, what has been your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

Finishing the novel, without a doubt.  I felt such a sense of accomplishment.  I didn’t let it defeat me even though there were times I thought it would. 

Tell us about Blind Vision.

Blind Vision takes place in a small southern town.  It’s a story about a young blind psychic, Peter Cole, who starts having horrific visions of women being murdered shortly after he moves into a Southside boarding house.  He joins forces with Detective Joe Carson to stop a serial killer before another murder happens. 

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Blind Vision is available in paperback and Kindle.

Since you plan to write a series, what are some of the problems you  might face while plotting a series with ongoing characters?

Blind Vision is the first novel in my Southside Mystery Series.  I think the big thing for me as I am writing book two, is making sure I give just enough background for the reader who may not have read book one while also making sure I don’t bog the story down.

Yes, that's so important, and don't forget to move the characters forward in age and experience. 

How do you develop characters?

They talk to me and I listen.  For me, it’s about letting the character take you over.  Letting them show you how they feel inside and then putting that emotion on paper.  The reader needs to be able to see and feel what the character is seeing and feeling.  They need to know that he/she is vulnerable or afraid. And if I do my job correctly the reader will become emotionally tied to the character.

How do you choose your setting? 

In Blind Vision, the story takes place in a truly horrible part of town.  But that was where I needed it to be.  In reality, Southside is a part of Winston-Salem, NC.  I think probably thirty years ago it was as I have described.  It’s a little better now.  But the interesting thing is people who have read my book and lived in that area thirty years ago tell me I nailed it.  That pleases me. 

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws? 

Peter Cole is in his early twenties.  He is blind and living with his mother.  He realizes if he ever wants to have his own life he has to learn to make it on his own. He starts out being very self-centered; maybe even has a bit of chip on his shoulder.  As you read the story you will see Peter grow.  Through his experiences he becomes this strong, independent, good man.  By the end of the story, the reader will want to see him succeed.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing? 

 I think all writers are probably watchers.  I love observing people.  I love listening to how they talk and watching their mannerisms.  In my opinion, that’s what allows writers to write about any situation.  For me, it’s not so much about environment or upbringing.  It’s about research and letting your mind explore places you haven’t been.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online? 

Wow!  That’s where the real work begins.  Obviously, I do the book signing circuit, social networking on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, anything I can think of to get the word out.  My biggest problem and frustration is time.  There never seems to be enough time to do everything that needs to be done!

Can you tell us about current or future projects?

As I mentioned earlier, I am working on book two of the Southside Mystery Series, Crossroads.   I’ve even written the first three chapters of book three.  I am hoping to have Crossroads out by summer.  I’ll just have to see how it goes. 

Where can folks learn more about your books and events, Karen? 

Check out my website, http://www.karenfritzbookz.com

It's been a pleasure, Karen.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Author Doug Roberts Stops By For Hot Chocolate

Good morning, everyone! Don't you just love this cool air? I'm so excited that I made a pot of hot chocoate for myself and guest, Doug Roberts, author of  The Man Who Fooled SAVAK. Welcome to the blog, Doug. Have a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

Thanks, Susan. I believe I will.

The release of your book coincides rather well with Arab Spring.   When did you start writing it?

In the summer of  2008, a woman I’d met on line named Erica Murray was interested in Iran so I started writing to her about it.   I started doing some very preliminary research into the history and politics of Iran in 1971  in order  to refresh my memory of things I had experienced when I was in Iran during that time.   The book was completely finished several months before the uprising in Tunisia.

Even though that was 40 years ago, there are many common elements with what is happening across the Arab world. 

Yes, especially the fear people experience when living under an autocratic regime is something I hope I have captured, and as the book proceeds, the breaking out of that fear.  Perhaps it will give people hope.  Just like in my book, the methods used by various dictatorial regimes to maintain control seem to be taken from a common playbook:   trample a free and independent press, keep the people fooled, use an iron fist to silence dissent, eliminate fair trials, use torture to extract confessions, -- the list goes on and on.    

But when you wrote the book, you weren’t thinking about that. 

(laughs) True! I don’t have a crystal ball and the Arab Spring was as big a surprise to me as the rest of the world.  

Can I ask you about one of the characters in your book?  Was there really a Junior?

Yes there was.  I think Junior made the story possible to write.  We really did sell our liquor and cigarette rations to him.   I recently learned from a fellow who served in ARMISH/MAAG just before I arrived that Junior mostly dealt with the domestic workers, the Iranian nationals who worked at the bachelor quarters where we lived. 

I’d like to ask you about another character, Mihan Jazani.  She is a historical figure, the wife of the Bijan Jazani who founded one of Iran’s guerilla movements.   It appears that she’s a friend of yours on Facebook.   

(Blushes)  Um, well yes…so it would appear.   (laughs)  Actually, Mihan Jazani doesn’t like Facebook and never uses it.  The Facebook account was set up for Mihan by her granddaughter, Aida.  Aida and I exchange messages occasionally.    

 How were you able to remember so much about what happened then?  It was 40 years ago after all.

I was assisted in several ways.   I had some writings I had done about Iran when I was in journalism school at Kent State in 1972.  I had a large number of slides that I’d taken when I was there.  Those were crucial in reviving old memories.  A huge help was finding on line a 1977 map of Tehran on the (now defunct) Tehran American School website.  I was able to use the exact names of places, even street names.  The fellow I’d mentioned earlier who told me about Junior had sent me a copy of the ARMISH/MAAG directory, which was very useful.  Finally,  talking to people I worked with at that time was extremely important, namely Heidi Eftekhar and Barry Silver, who are characters in the story.  I obviously couldn’t remember all events specifically, but I found I could generate them as needed by being very specific in my language.  I would take seeds of ideas and extrapolate and grow them into full blown events.   For example, a certain lecherous officer really did say to Heidi, “I think you’re a woman who needs a lot of loving.”   I took that and ran with it.  Last but also important, the internet was a valuable tool in researching the historical incidents in the book. 

So, where does the novel part come in?

Some of the human rights related events are novelized, but they’re very accurate in their portrayal of the times.  I’ll leave historians to figure all that out.   They will have their work cut out for them  because I’ve spent a lot of effort weaving the story line into the history of those days.

How close is your character Doug Roberts to the way you actually are?

That’s a really good queston.  (laughs)  I had originally intended that Doug the character would be an extreme version of myself.   But after having read my book now over and over, I’ve come to see that what’s extreme are the circumstances he’s in.   Doug the character is a lot like I was back then: ok in the smarts department,  a little too cocky sometimes.  He’s not very romantic or knowledgeable about women, but does all right in spite of himself.  (laughs)   There’s an element of male fantasy in the book I suppose. In the story  I have two charming female lunch companions in addition to Fari my Iranian girlfriend/fiancée.

But you really were friends with Heidi Eftekhar your co-worker in the story. 

I still am.  Heidi and I communicate regularly by email and her input on the book was immensely helpful.   Miss Farou is the fantasy.   She actually didn’t like me all that much.  (laughs).

I get the impression you had a lot of fun writing your book.

It was pretty trippy for me at times.  I would totally submerse myself in it.  For example, I had written the scene describing how I spent New Year’s Eve in Iran just a couple of weeks after New Year’s Eve in real life.   When someone asked me about how I’d spent my New Years, it shocked me as to how much effort I had to put into pulling up what I’d actually done versus what I’d just written.   That was a little scary.

What do you think people will get out of your book?

I’m sure everyone will get a little something different, but what I’d like for people to take from it is that, like in the story, life may present you with some extreme circumstances.  When that happens, keep a level head and your wits about you.  Try to see beyond what appears to be happening on the surface.  There will always be some good things happening at any given moment. Try to focus on that.  To get through your ordeal it’s a good idea to engage all your friends to help you and your faith if you have that.  Most important of all:  never give up. 

Doug, it's been a pleasure to have you here. I wish you the best of luck with The Man Who Fooled SAVAK.

Thank you, Susan.Doug's book is available online in ebook format. You may contact him through OuterBanksPublishing.com

Series and Non-series books

It's been quite a while since I posted anything about my own work. I've been interviewing and showcasing others. But this morning, I thought I'd post about my own series and the current project, a non-series book. When I wrote my first book, I ran into the same problem so many of us face:  plenty of rejections. After months of trying to write the sequel and getting nowhere with the first novel, Genesis Beach, I self-published. I had a fairly good experience with it until I tried to get the book into chain stores and got the cold shoulder at every turn. To shorten the story, I was thrilled when L&;L Dreamspell, a small Houston-based publisher, signed me. They picked up Genesis Beach, much to my delight, and gave me the opportunity to rewrite and strengthen sections of the book. They also created a cover with major impact. There are currently four novels in the Logan Hunter Mystery series.

Genesis Beach is set along the North Carolina Crystal Coast with a quirky and gutsy young female SBI (state bureau of investigation) agent. The second novel, Just North of Luck, is set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and showcases Madison County and Asheville. I really upped the ante in this one by having a serial killer and getting into his brain or rather having him in mine. It truly was a scary time for me since I carried this character around in my head for months. I was relieved to finish the book and have him move out of my space. In this book, Logan meets Chase Railey, a Madison County detective who works with her on the multiple murders, all gruesome and not fitting a serial killer mold.


In Hell Swamp, Logan thinks she can take a few days off, her supervisor assigns her to investigate a murder at Black River Plantation, four miles from where she spent her childhood. She heads to Pender County begrudingly and confronts a sheriff and deputies who failed to contain the crime scene, creating a nightmare for Logan. As she begins to question deer hunters in the area, she learns that the victim had many enemies and nobody is stepping forward to help her find the murderer.  When she eventually finds the killer, she and the entire rural community are shocked beyond belief at the circumstances that led to murder.
Chase comes in to help her with this case, but a misunderstanding leads to a strained relationship. When the couple are trapped and nearly fried by an arsonist's forest fire, they vow to work things out if they survive. By the end of the book, Chase proposes. He is sworn into the SBI.

As Logan leaves her bridal shower in the fourth novel, Sin Creek, she is paged to a local university campus where the body of a young student has been discovered. Even though she and Chase make it down the aisle, they are often assigned different cases across the state, and Chase's terminally ill mother dies in Asheville, sending him home to handle the arrangements and leaving Logan to work with an obnoxious agent sent in to help. Logan and Farris McCracken (Crack) don't get along. The tension is deafening and distracting, but the investigation moves along...right into the pornography industry. Logan is incredibly uncomfortable about having to follow Tit (Thomas Irving Trollinger)who appears to be the porn king. She ends up on a ferry dressed as a bar maid and discovers that Crack is also onboard. When she has to make a hasty retreat in a lifeboat, Crack jumps in and drives her 4-inch heel through the raft, causing it to spring a leak. They end up swimming to a small island in the middle of the Cape Fear River, hoping the river alligators don't notice them. Logan is relieved when Chase returns to help, but she has no idea how her life will change before the investigation is over.

All of the Logan Hunter books are set in North Carolina, where I've hung out all my life. There's so much beauty here, so many dialects and personalities. I love this state!

I'm in the planning stages of the fifth Logan Hunter Mystery, tentatively entitled Punch Street. But I have been working on a non-series novel about lifelong friends, Mackie Sue Beanblosson and Daisy Marie Hazelhurst, in their sixties, going through hot flashes, weight gain, marital problems, and trying to hold down jobs. You know, a day in the life sort of thing.  The book is entitled The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood. It's entirely different from the Logan Hunter series, but I am having fun with it. I hope to have it ready for publication in 1212, but I really need to get busy.

Video trailers for Just North of Luck, Hell Swamp, and Sin Creek are over at Youtube.com  All books are available in print and ebook from the publisher, online stores, or through my site, www.susanwhitfieldonline.com  I hope I've whet your appetite. Leave a comment for a chance to win the book of your choice!