Fatal Flaw

Strawberries and books – but missed out on the chocolate

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Soon-to-be-published YA/NA urban fantasy author Cheryse Durrant and I shared a stall at the Bargara Strawberry Fair today. The Fair is run by the Coral Coast Community Care Inc and supports their charitable work in the community. It might still feel like winter in the southern states, but Queensland lived up to its “Beautiful one day, perfect the next” slogan and turned on sunshine, blue skies and a balmy breeze. Lots of food stalls, craft stalls, entertainment, art exhibition, and us with our giveaway basket of books from our publisher Clan Destine Press, copies of my thriller Fatal Flaw for sale, and flyers about the fantastic prizes to be won on the Cheryse Durrant website over the coming four months.

Did I mention that there was at least a truckload of strawberries on sale? There were even strawberries dipped in chocolate, but unfortunately the chocolate wasn’t gluten free, so I had to stick with delicious berries au natural.

One of the highlights of the day was handing the prize for the Years 9-10 Poetry Competition to the winner, Jerry McGiffin. It’s not easy for young writers to maintain their enthusiasm for writing when their mates are keen on sports or movies or whatever and don’t have the same passion for creating stories and characters. I hope all parents and teachers support their children who have the desire to write.

 

 

 

The second highlight of the day was presenting the basket of books by the Clan Destine Press authors to the winner, Marietta McLellan. Marietta was thrilled with her prize, even driving back to the Fair at the end of the day to pick it up.

We had many chats with people who, like us, love reading. I even had some people tell me they’ve read all my books and enjoyed them. It’s such a thrill to hear that, as it makes all the hard (and often lonely) work of writing so worthwhile.

 

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

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Week 21:   THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

The past few years have been full of high profile reads — 50 Shades of Gray, Twilight, and more. Love them or hate them, you have to admit you have at least heard of them.

As independent authors, authors with small press publishers, or mid-list authors we all dare to dream we will be next, and well let’s face it, you never know …

With that thought I jumped on this Hop. What is a blog hop? Basically, it’s an authors’ game of tag.

One author posts, and then tags up to five other authors, who each link back to them. It has the potential to reach different audiences, and you, dear reader, have hopefully just increased your “to read” list, finding new and exciting authors you may never have found otherwise. Some of us are published, some still writing, others are just being released.

Either way, for you fiction lovers a treasure trove awaits and I’d like to thank fellow author Carol Marvell for tagging me to participate.

Click the links to find out about Carol Marvell’s books.

Website:  http://carolmarvell.webs.com/

Blog:  http://billiemccoy.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/week-20-next-big-thing-blog-hop.html#comment-form

Buy Slave Trader:  http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info?cPath=70&products_id=381

In this particular hop, I, and my fellow authors in their respective blogs, have answered 10 questions where you get to learn about our current WIP (Works in Progress) as well as some insights into our process, from characters and inspirations to plotting and cover decisions. I hope you enjoy it.

If this or any other item piques your interest, please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions.

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS

1: What is the working title of your book?

Grievous Harm, book seven, will be published in 2013, but book eight, the one I’m working on now, is still trying to let me know its title.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

Some years ago I received an email in my in-box that horrified me. It was a graphic photo of child sexual abuse that had gone viral and ended up in the in-boxes of thousands of innocent people. I called Taskforce Argos at Police Headquarters in Brisbane and forwarded it to them so they could track down the perpetrator/s.

John Corey is the main character in Grievous Harm, and I wanted a story that would show the depth of his character that readers didn’t get to see in Fatal Flaw. As an undercover operative he is used to seeing the seamy side of life, but when he stumbles on a paedophilia ring it brings back long-buried guilt and memories he is forced to deal with.

3: What genre does your book come under?

Thriller with a love story. Or crime with romance. Or romantic suspense. Depending on how the reader interprets it.

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

Sorry, I can’t make up my mind. So many … so many ….

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

An undercover operative defies orders and helps a woman searching for her niece, only to uncover a paedophilia ring and a criminal whose actions threaten the safety of a nation.

6: Will your book be self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?

Fatal Flaw is out now with independent publisher Clan Destine Press and Grievous Harm will be released in 2013.

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

Nine months, but I’m one of those writers who edits as she goes, so the final draft wasn’t far from the first draft.

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

Linda Howard writes the kind of romantic suspense thrillers that my books have been compared with.

9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

The characters. You know that song that says I can’t get you out of my head? Well, that’s what my characters do to me – dictate what they expect me to write for them.

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

Now, there’s a good question. Perhaps it’s best answered by Kelly McLean in her review on Aussie Book Reviews: “All I can say is I loved this! Sandy has taken the Genre of Aussie Romantic Suspense and made it her own. Very well written, fast paced with some very interesting sex scenes . I thoroughly enjoyed it!”

 

Below you will find authors who will be joining me by blog, next Wednesday (21st). Do be sure to bookmark and add them to your calendars for updates on WIPs and new releases! Happy writing and reading!

Ian Walkley

Website:  http://www.ianwalkley.com

Blog:  http://www.ianwalkley.com/

Buy No Remorse: http://www.amazon.com/No-Remorse-Ian-Walkley/dp/0980806607/

Kathy Stewart

Web site:  www.authorsally.com

Blog: http://authorsally.wordpress.com

My book can be bought by emailing kathy@authorsally.com or via Amazon

 

That crazy Chaos Fairy

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I couldn’t believe how long it’s been since I last blogged! I thought that once I returned from the McGregor Summer School I would have a few winding-down days, then jump back into writing and organising WriteFest, the Bundaberg writers festival. But no, that crazy Chaos Fairy (my friends call her the Curtis Chaos Fairy) swatted my darling daughter-in-law, Cheryse Durrant, and she ended up with a broken leg (Cheryse, not the Fairy, darn it). Luckily we have a car that Cheryse can manoeuvre herself into the passenger seat with her leg in the knee-to-ankle brace, because trips to the physio and doctor would have been impossible in her smaller car.

Now I’m getting back to editing Grievous Harm, the story that features one of the minor characters in Fatal Flaw. GH is darker than FF, and covers a topic that sends chills down the backs of parents. It’s a story that I found myself writing in spite of my natural aversion to the topic, but the characters demanded the story be told in a certain way and I went along because I agreed with them. Sometimes I wonder where some of these characters come from. I hope they’re not from a deeper side of my personality, because that would be too scary to live with. Ruth in Fatal Flaw is a character I was fascinated by. She had so many different facets to her, so much so that I wondered how each of us would have acted in her situation. I had a sneaking sympathy for her, and I wonder if any of my readers felt the same. I would love to hear readers’ thoughts on Ruth.

Delicate mouse

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The smallest of all the Australian native mouse species is the Delicate Mouse. They eat grain from native grasses and, unlike house mice, are not a problem you’ll find in your pantry. And when I say these mice are small, I mean it. The largest would be 7.5cm in total length. And they are seriously cute. Their back legs have a rabbit shape, and they hop instead of run.

We live across from large paddocks of native grasses, and currently they provide a home for six small kangaroos, quite a few varieties of snakes, and a lot of other creatures. After rain we see egrets, ibises, cranes and wild ducks feasting on the grubs, worms and whatever else they can find. The paddocks are also home to Delicate Mice. I know this because our older cat, Zara, occasionally decides to bring one home as a gift for me. Which she did tonight. The poor little thing was terrified. I would be too if I’d been carted around in a cat’s mouth. It was smaller than my thumb, and I was trying to hold it gently so as not to harm it when it jumped from my hand and ran between the glass sliding door and the security screen door and didn’t know how to get out. After much manoeuvring, Rob and I finally freed it, but I was so worried for this tiny little creature.

So when I sat at the computer later tonight it struck me that in my job as a writer I get to kill some characters and put others through terrible trauma (and don’t tell me falling in love isn’t traumatic for some people <vbg>) and yet I get overly concerned for the welfare of one tiny little mouse. I also cry when I see kids in pain on television and when I watch sad movies, and am a sucker for donating to worthy causes when I read those brochures saying how it’s possible to save a life or rescue a dog etc. So sometimes I’ve wonder why I write what I do. But I reckon it’s because, as a writer, I get to give my characters justice.

Justice can sometimes be an elusive thing, and sometimes there is a fine line between seeking justice and seeking revenge. It was a line that Ruth Bellamy crossed in Fatal Flaw. It was difficult though, not to feel sympathy for Ruth. She was one of the most complex characters I’ve written, and I wondered how I would react if I had suffered what she did. I’m looking forward to getting feedback from readers about her, as I feel there will be conflicting views on whether Ruth was justified in doing what she did.

Author Chat

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The Bundaberg Regional Library started a new initiative on Monday – morning tea with an author – and I was the guinea pig 🙂

At first I thought I was going to be chatting with an audience of two, but people soon trickled in, and when I started talking about the journey of a book, from manuscript to bookshelf, library patrons who’d come in just to borrow a book wandered over and sat down and joined in. It was a great morning, and lovely to meet such interesting readers and writers. One lady bought Fatal Flaw for her daughter and when she said to write “To Gaynor” on it, I had to tell her that there is a character in the book called Gaynor and she’s not the kind of woman you’d want your son to bring home for dinner. She laughed and said it will create some discussion on Christmas morning.

Which makes me curious – have you ever read a character that had the same name as you and you didn’t like him/her? How did you feel about it?

Sandy with Jacqui Read, Linda Collins, Val Lewis and Alina Bonaventura at Library Author Chat
Sandy and Lyn Dwyer

Picking up a Swedish backpacker

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Would you believe I picked up a Swedish backpacker the other day? Okay, all you romance and crime lovers, stop the drooling and getting suspicious. She (yes, she) was a lovely young woman who hadn’t seen anything of Bundaberg and was going to be working at least 6 days a week for the next four months so I gave her a tour of all the wonderful beaches here. From Mon Repos where the turtles come to lay their eggs (it’s the season now) to Bargara and Innes Park. Didn’t get as far as Elliott Heads but made it to our only hill, The Sloping Hummock, for an all-over view of the countryside. At 20 she has come alone to Oz on a working holiday. And if you’re thinking of her as a tall, striking blonde with blue eyes, reverse that. She was even as short as I am! And we took the same shoe size. I found that out when she asked me where she could buy some sneakers. People with tiny feet aren’t always catered for well in the footwear area.

It got me thinking about our preconceptions of what we expect people of other nationalities look like and how they behave. When I wrote Fatal Flaw, I created a character who is part Asian, part English, with diverse nationalities grandparents. I had never encountered anyone with that background so picked the brains of a friend who had lived in Malaysia for some years. What she told me offered a whole new twist to the plot that I hadn’t anticipated but worked exceptionally well. Readers have to believe that characters’ actions ring true, and getting that kind of insight from my friend allowed me to give him plausible motivations. I love creating complex characters, and Fatal Flaw has its fair share of them.

I often wonder how readers feel about characters in the books they read. Anyone willing to share their thoughts?

What a night!

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What a lovely evening! I’ve had book launches for my previous five books but this was the first time I’d had a book signing in Dymocks at Bundaberg. It was great to have the support of friends that I haven’t seen in a while – our lives sometimes get too busy, don’t they, and we need a reminder that time slips by far too fast. Some family members couldn’t make it, but those that could enjoyed themselves immensely, especially my four-year-old grandson Alex, and definitely my daughter-in-law, Cheryse Durrant, who snapped away madly with her trusty camera – the results are on her website.

Dymocks Booksellers Bundaberg owner, Phil Freeman, said he enjoyed seeing so many people in his store who were book-lovers. I definitely agree with him – love those book-lovers 🙂

I think I’m almost brain-dead after over two weeks travelling and constant sinus problems. Everything in Victoria was flowering – a pleasure to see but a disaster for my nose. Our grand-daughter turns one today so all the relatives are gathering to celebrate, so it looks like another busy weekend. Guess I won’t have any time soon to do a re-read of Grievous Harm, the next book after Fatal Flaw. I finished writing the story some time back but want to have a re-read. Don’t know if I’m a perfectionist or just plain picky 😉

I’d like to thank everyone who came to the signing. I very much appreciate your support and friendship.

Sandy with romance author Helen Lacey and fantasy author Louise Cusack
Sandy with Phil Freeman of Dymocks Bundaberg
Sandy with Phil Freeman of Dymocks Bundaberg
Sandy with Cheryse Durrant
Sandy with Cheryse Durrant
Laree Chapman, Di Esmond, Jan Sullivan, Jenny Duffy, Pascale Osanz

Book Signing

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It’s finally arrived! The evening of the book signing for Fatal Flaw. Well, it’s actually afternoon, the rain that’s threatened all day has decided to pour down, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing, I can’t find the top that I’d thought I’d wear tonight – after nearly three weeks travelling (more about that later) and only arriving home a day ago it’s a wonder I can find anything – and juggling times and pickups with relatives to ensure my Mum can get there, it’s beginning to feel like the Chaos Fairy is in full swing and chortling madly at my expense.

But it’s going to be a great evening because the books arrived at Bundaberg Dymocks yesterday (whew! close call), and family and friends will be there to share my joy.

More later …