Quirky humour

It happened a while ago, but I thought I’d share with you. When I told my daughter that my sixth book was titled Fatal Flaw, she quickly came back with, “And I guess the sequel will be called Treacherous Tiles, or Lethal Linoleum, or …” You can probably gather from that that her mind works in a rather quirky way.

It set me thinking about book titles and how they can be interpreted by readers and whether they play a part in why a reader selects a book to peruse and perhaps to purchase. After my first book, Dance with the Devil, was published, I was shopping in Target and, naturally, checked out the book department. To my surprise, Dance with the Devil had been placed in the Horror/Supernatural section. Another surprise was that my friend Louise Cusack’s first book, Destiny of the Light, a fantasy, had been placed in the New Age section.

What had made the Target employee decide where to place the books? The title? The cover? As the cover of Dance with the Devil gave no indication that it had any horror or supernatural elements in it, I could only assume it was the title. And I’d thought Louise’s book looked like a fantasy.

So what makes you, as a reader, pick up a book? And does the title influence what you think the book might be about?

Strawberries and books – but missed out on the chocolate

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.

 

A surprise

A parcel arrived two days ago. The sender was my German publisher, Bastei Lubbe, and inside were two hard-cover copies of Der Sturm der Rache (Fatal Flaw) and a delivery note. And nothing else. No clue as to what these copies represented. A year ago I received two hard-cover editions with a different cover and they came with a letter saying they had been published for the Berlin Book Club. So now I’m curious about these new copies. I love mysteries, but only if I can find out the answers 🙂

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

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

 

Grievous Harm

Book covers – ever wonder what goes into them? Ever thought about the the time spent searching for an appropriate background, about whether to have figures or symbols? About what can go on the cover that will give the reader an idea of the story inside?

Graphic designers get a brief from the publisher about the book contents and what they think will work and try to come up with something they hope the publisher likes. But it’s not easy. Sometimes a cover hits the right note, is eye-catching, draws the reader in, gives a good indication of what type of story is between the covers. I’ve had a couple of those in the past. But I’ve also had some that fell flatter than my first attempts at making gluten free scones (even the dog wouldn’t eat them – the scones, that is, not the covers).

With my current publisher, Clan Destine Press, I’m lucky to have a fair bit of say in the cover content. This is wonderful, but it can also be frustrating in that I get to experience the limitations that can sometimes happen for the graphic designer when trying to mould several disparate pieces into a cohesive whole.

Lots of head scratching has been happening with the Grievous Harm cover. Several potentials have been slaved over only to be discarded because they just didn’t “work”. And now we’re down to a great background, with good colouring and scene composition, but needing that particular element that makes the reader want to pick up the book.

So I’m asking all those readers of romantic suspense, or crime and romance, or thriller with a love story, what do you think that element is? What is it about a cover that makes you pick up the book?

Ian Walkley has No Remorse

Ian Walkley

 

Brisbane writer Ian Walkley is one of the new generation of self-published novelists, with his debut novel, No Remorse, recently launched on Amazon and Smashwords. The non-stop action thriller, set in Europe and the Middle East, follows a former Army Special Operations commander on a personal mission to rescue a friend’s kidnapped daughter, only to discover a much bigger threat than he could possibly imagine.

With author JJ Cooper, who penned The Interrogator and Deadly Trust, describing No Remorse as “An edgy thriller that gets straight into the action and doesn’t let up, a plausible plot with a strong and engaging protagonist—intelligent thriller writing”, Ian looks set to establish himself as a thriller writer to watch out for.

 

Ian, your main character, Lee McCloud, is described as “a loose cannon” by his superior in the secret organisation which he is forced to join. Why do they believe this?
McCloud is a Delta Force special ops guy, trained for the toughest missions, deniable, highly intelligent, used to making quick decisions under extreme pressure. You can bet the bosses worry about whether someone like that can be controlled. Especially after McCloud leads a personal mission, unsanctioned, to rescue two kidnapped girls, which goes terribly wrong.

You have obviously done a lot of research to make sure all your scenes read as truly authentic. How much research did you do, and how did you go about this?
Writers are incredibly varied in how much research they do. Lee Child claims to do no research at all, whereas Gayle Lynds does heaps. I enjoy the research side, so I tend to do lots. I want the guns to be the right type, and to understand how they feel, so I go out and shoot a sniper rifle. I travelled extensively in the Middle East to understand the environment and culture. It was a wonderful experience. I found it difficult to gain the cooperation of Australian military. The US is more open to dealing with authors than in Australia. Two CIA agents even came to Thrillerfest in New York last year so we could ask them questions. The US sees it as good public relations. Australia is a little behind in this regard. Although I could easily find out on the Internet what weapons our soldiers use, the Army’s PR department declined to provide assistance, even though I am a member of the Media Alliance. I know they treat traditional journalists better, so maybe it’s a “first time author” thing. I hope it will be easier to approach people now I’m published.

In No Remorse, you have created memorable characters, including some villains like Sheik Khalid Yubani. Did you have anyone in mind when you wrote this character?
Not really. I was very conscious that there are many wealthy people who own luxury megayachts, so I was very careful checking to ensure the surname I used was not one I could find on the internet. Khalid is a very common Saudi name. There have been billionaire arms dealers with luxury yachts, whose names I’d prefer not to mention. And a dead British publisher with a yacht was reputed to be an Israeli agent. There is also a figure (now dead) associated with a defunct international bank who was alleged to have laundered funds for the CIA. So there are lots of real life personalities we writers can borrow from, but it is important that we generate fictional characters with their own unique personalities, having no resemblance to anyone living or dead (hopefully that will pass legal scrutiny).

Without giving any plot away, can you give us some background on Tally, the woman Lee McCloud has to work with?
Tally is a genius computer specialist with an eidetic memory. McCloud has a past problem with women, and feels that Tally belongs in an office, not out in the field where it’s dangerous. Tally also has a haunted past, which sets up for some good conflict, and some fun in the relationship. Remember the Moonlighting TV series, the movies Mr & Mrs Smith, and Romancing the Stone? They were my inspiration for this relationship. In the end there’s so much action happening I’m not sure I got as much into this as I could have. But I wanted to keep the plot real, and not manipulate the characters just for the fun of it. I also wanted Tally to be a strong woman, not necessarily a straightforward, stereotype. So she has her own unique traits and point of view that make her as much a protagonist as McCloud.

Ian, why did you choose to write a thriller, and especially one that has a main character with a military background? Have you served in the military?
Sadly, I haven’t served. Age 18, I applied and was recommended for the Air Force Academy but unfortunately the medical checks picked up a slight hearing loss I didn’t even know I had. I had my heart set on being a pilot, and no plan B. In some ways, writing novels is my plan B.
As a kid, I was quite an advanced reader for my age, and I loved Wilbur Smith, Alistair MacLean and Robert Ludlum. In my business career, I travelled a great deal, and frequently would buy a novel at the airport bookstore while waiting for the flight. I always dreamed about writing a “Wild Justice” or “Bourne Identity” type novel. These are global thrillers with exotic locations, international conspiracies, big stakes, larger than life characters, weapons and sex. James Bond/Jason Bourne loners against the powerful bad guys. These days it’s a Jack Reacher. My character Lee McCloud is one of these guys, with his own peculiar quirks and weaknesses. I hope the readers like him.

What made you decide to go the self-publishing route with No Remorse?
I had interest from UK and German publishers, but I submitted my manuscript too early in Australia and the US and was rejected by agents and publishers. Once I had worked with a professional editor I was ready to publish, but with the turbulence in the publishing industry I felt that resubmitting the manuscript would take another year and wasn’t prepared to wait. These days self-publishing is a realistic option. Many existing authors are self-pubbing their backlists as ebooks. Barry Eisler just did a deal to self-publish his latest novel, The Detachment, through Amazon Kindle, rejecting a $500,000 advance from St Martins Press to take the higher royalties offered by Amazon.
The other favourable factor is the ebook phenomenon. There are more than seventy million readers in the US alone who own iPads and Kindles or the next generation of tablets that can hold hundreds of books. E-books are cheaper for book lovers, and better for the environment. The maths stacks up. Like it or not, the future is e-books. Traditional bookstores are examining ways of selling e-books now—for them it is about survival.

What is your next challenge?
Testing the willingness by book reviewers in the traditional media to review self-published books. I think if a self-published author surrounds him or herself with professionals to edit, design the cover and promote the book, then these days it should be possible to gain the attention of book reviewers. I’m looking at ways to help other writers self-publish. And having the book available for sale is great motivation for me to complete my second novel, Bait, a crime thriller set in Brisbane, which will be released in April 2012.

Thank you for sharing with us, Ian, and best wishes for a very successful career as a thriller writer.

No Remorse is available as an ebook from Amazon, and Smashwords and will be available in print in early 2012. Check out the promotional trailer to catch a taste of No Remorse.

 

Wonderful news

I’ve nearly driven myself nuts trying to keep quiet about my new publishing deal until all the details are decided, but it’s wonderful to finally announce that Fatal Flaw, my sixth book, will be published in late September by Melbourne publisher, Clan Destine Press. And a bonus is they will be publishing my out-of-print back list as eBooks. After my recent years in the publishing wilderness it’s great to, as one writer friend put it, get back on the horse. Although I appreciate her sentiments, horse-riding and book-publishing seem to have little in common. But I guess if you fall off either one it can be very hard to get back on.

Working with Clan Destine Press has been fantastic in that they have allowed me a say in the cover design. As the publisher says, no-one knows the story as well as the author, so who better to make suggestions that the graphic artist can run with, and turn out a finished product that everyone will think is great. Well, that’s the aim, so I hope that what we put before you, the reader, will do just that and entice you to give my stories a second look.

I didn’t have time to celebrate when the deal was made, but am looking forward to the launch and to seeing Fatal Flaw on bookstore shelves. And I’m especially looking forward to attending the Sisters-in-Crime convention, SheKilda Again, in Melbourne from 7-9 October. I hope some of my readers will be able to come along and share their insights with me.