Death in Flitbury Marshes by Linda Gruchy

Death in Flitbury Marshes is the successor to Death in Spiggs Wood, however it is a completely stand alone story.  The police characters are in both, but it’s not important to know their history from Spiggs.

Without giving the main parts of the plot away, it is about a murder where the body is left in a strange place in the marsh.  The marsh itself gains a character of its own.  I really wanted to look it up on internet maps and photos to see it, even though it doesn’t exist.

Spiggs was set mainly from the “victim’s” point of view, whereas Flitbury is more from the police’s.  I think I preferred this book. 

Thinking back, these books are very “Law and Order”.  Most police procedurals end with “You’re nicked”, whereas Linda’s books continue through to the courtroom.

I usually comment on readability and Linda’s writing is very readable.  This is a police procedural with a gruesome killing, but this book is not gory and gritty like some can be.  There is a side story with Fiona that I thought was interesting too.

Regarding the ending and the approach to the ending, I think it was well written with no loose ends and was satisfactory.  Some books (especially adventure ones) I get bored and rush through just to make sure that no one interesting dies, but with this one, the story continues to a good resolution.

I think this book deserves to fly off the shelves.  Hmm, what is the ebook version of that phrase lol?





www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007VSXL1Y

Interrogating Linda Gruchy

On the publication of Linda Gruchy's new book, I interview her.  Linda is another one of my favourite authors who turns her hand to various genres and excels at them all

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

For me often it’s not so much the compromise between what I want to write and what people want to read, as what I want to write and what editors will buy. If I want to sell my work to women’s magazines, the requirements are very specific, for example, The People’s Friend don’t like anything with even a hint of the supernatural in it, but Fiction Feast will have something spooky, providing it’s not too spooky. Fiction Feast will take crime but it mustn’t be graphic. Since I am primarily a crime writer, I find it quite a discipline to write for that market. I have to resist the temptation to liven up my womag stories with the odd dead body, just to give them a bit of oomph.  

With publishing on Kindle it gives me the freedom to write what I feel is right. That is liberating, but also quite scary because editors know what the market is after, whereas I don’t have that knowledge. Get it wrong and the market (that is, Kindle Readers) can be unforgiving.

My first draft of Earth Magic was aimed at being a Pocket Novel, which had to be a specific size (at the time 30,000 words) with other tight editorial requirements. It was rejected because one of the characters smoked cannabis, and this would have offended the readership. I was frustrated and upset at the time, but putting it onto Kindle meant that I could keep that aspect and add in more of what I wanted to see in the story, what I felt the story needed. But I was now writing for myself and an unknown market, not that Pocket Novel market. 

That said, it would be easy, without editorial control, to become too self-indulgent with a book. But we see that with mainstream, successful authors too. We have to remember we are writing for others and put their needs first.

I also think it’s wrong to use a book to make a religious or a political point or demonstrate one’s self-awarded state of superior moral fibre. Nobody likes to be lectured at. Instead I think novels should challenge and entertain. If I’m expecting people to part with money to read my work, they should get a fair exchange for that money. 


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

A good crime novel works on so many levels. There’s the who-dun-it aspect, the writing, the character development, and the logical progression from a premise to the conclusion. With Agatha Christie novels I find the inadvertent social commentary very interesting. I am very fond of the Cadfael novels because they are compassionate and so well written. Some modern thrillers/crime novels I find hard to enjoy because I either don’t care much for the protagonists, or sometimes actively dislike them. I also dislike it when I see a hole in the plot, but sometimes the writing is so good that doesn’t matter.  


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

I have a notebook, which I never remember to use, and I have ideas files on my computer but they’re saved all over the place. I once sketched out a womag story quite briefly but it was so brief I can’t remember a thing about it, even on reading the notes. I wish I were better organised. 


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with? 

I think there’s a little bit of me in several of my characters, but there’s a little bit of a lot of other people as well. A sort of pick-and-mix. 

Meg in Death in Spigg’s Wood is the one person people may think of as being me, since she’s a kick boxer and an ex-researcher, and when I first started writing Death in Spigg’s Wood, the plot came from me asking myself how I would behave in an assault situation, or if I were arrested. I would be as naïve as Meg (or would have been ten years ago). But I needed things to happen as the story developed where I thought, “I would never do that.” When I realised that I was not Meg, and Meg was not me, I could give her her freedom to develop as she wished. It was a very liberating moment. Now I would say we have very little in common.

I think there’s quite a bit of me in Hedley and in Fiona (whom we see a lot more of in Death in Flitbury Marshes) but even so, they only contain elements of my character.

When a book idea is fermenting I start off with a basic premise, and ask what I would do in those circumstances, then start changing things with my pick-and-mix kit and apply that to the just-supposes. That way I hope I end up with differing characters, rather than the same character regurgitated each time. Because I empathise with my characters I don’t like them to behave in a way which offends me. (Fortunately I’m quite a tolerant person.) 


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters? 

I did at first, because it’s very much like playing a part in a play. I found myself swearing a lot because Meg swore a great deal at first, though I edited most of that out when I realised it made her an unsympathetic character. Fiona Connor swears too, and I empathise a great deal with her. Or maybe it’s the other way round. Maybe my characters swear because I’m a closet foul-mouth.

It’s not so much character absorption that my family suffers from so much as me becoming so intense when I write that I lose track of time and forget to feed them. The worst thing I’ve done is forgotten to put the chicken in the oven and come down to serve it up to find it sitting stuffed and raw in the roasting tin. I’m much better now I’ve got over the first-love daft stage. I still get the awful feeling that unless I write it down immediately there and then, it will vanish like water beneath my fingertips. It won’t, especially if I make a note of where I want to go next in the manuscript.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I have wide-ranging tastes and a mixture of what I call duty reads and pleasure reads. The duty-reads include modern crime writers (who then become pleasure-reads eg I really enjoy Val McDermot’s work) and saga and romance (which I’m not keen on but needed to look at if I was going to try and write in the genre. I often lose patience with the protagonists in romances because of the contrived nature of a lot of the conflict). I tend to prefer Fantasy to hard SF. I quite like frothy Chick Lit, except where they are so far removed from my personal existence I can’t empathise with them. I’d never heard of Jimmy Choos before I read Chick Lit, and I get exasperated when the protagonist’s problems are self-inflicted through idiotic behaviour. 


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor? 

I have no idea if my books have the X factor. I just want them to be the best they can be. I try hard to make sure there are no plot holes, and that people will be entertained by what I have written. Crime stories work on so many levels. I’d like people to feel their emotions engaged as well as their thinking processes. People like to figure out who-dun-it. They don’t like to feel cheated by duff clues or silly, illogical outcomes. I hope people who read my work feel moved, saddened, uplifted, even angered. Sometimes with crime it’s hard to have a happy ending, but I do like something good to come at the end.

That said, I know I can’t please everyone, and what pleases one person, will be anathema to another.  


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made? 

Mortified. I’m a very poor typist and make a lot of typing errors when doing my first drafts. Because I’m in such a hurry to keep up with my brain and get it all down when it’s flowing, I tend to not worry about the typos until later. Then I am very painstaking in trying to get rid of them. The problem is that if I know what I’ve written I will miss even glaring mistakes. Leaving the manuscript for days/weeks/months does make this process easier. The problem is that the fresh tweaks will often contain errors. I have a writer friend who is good at picking up errors and we read each other’s mss. She’s also very hot on grammar and has pulled me up a few times. I have several other writer friends who will also help, but I can’t keep asking them to read the same ms over and over.

Even though I’m mortified by any errors, I’d still like to know if people find them so I can correct them. I did this with the first version of DISW where there were, I think, 5 typos and a missing word. My fear is that in correcting those I introduced more formatting errors in the updated version. It looked fine on the preview to me, but I don’t altogether trust the technology. I’m a technophobe.

People are very unforgiving of the slightest error in an Indie published book, whereas there are quite often mistakes in traditionally published books. It’s almost as if we have to try harder to gain the same level of respect. 


What do you like most about visiting KUF? 

Being able to talk quite honestly about Kindle and Kindle publishing; interacting with other authors who share the same worries and the same joys; being able to interact with readers—I need to know if what I am writing is pleasing people. I am writing primarily for my readers and not myself. 


What is on your near horizon? 

In the Elversford Series we have Death in Flitbury Marshes which is coming out very soon, then Death in Galwell Gardens (which needs a lot of work doing to it). 

As Linda M Priestley, on the Romance front, I have a novella Book Lovers, which needs some work to bring it to how I want it. (It was submitted as a Pocket Novel but was rejected because though it was “well written and enjoyable” they “tend to shy away from storylines that feature possible murder”—see what I mean about my romances morphing into crime stories? I can now have it as I want it. Yippee. 

I also have some short stories which are not suitable for womag, and will bring these out as anthologies soon.

I have a novella coming out in Large Print soon, for libraries. Once that’s published, after a decent time I will kindle that. This too is a crime novel cunningly disguised as a Romance.

If my current agent sells my historical adventure or my latest crime novel, plans may have to change.

I have so many things to do, a big problem is knowing what to do next.


Where can we find you for more information? 

Blog: http://linda-gruchy-author.blogspot.co.uk/

FB: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003293890200

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B006VC6H4O

Interrogating Carl Ashmore

My next interrogation is an author that was on my "definitely want" list.  Carl Ashmore is the writer of the great childrens book series "The Time Hunters"

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I don’t think I’ve ever consciously compromised in terms of readership in any of the books I’ve written. I find the task of writing far too demanding to be constantly thinking about what other people want me to write. Personally, I think it’s essential to stay true to my characters, my story and myself, and not worry too much about how they will be perceived by other people.


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

I’m a writer for children and proud to be so, and over the years I’ve given this question a great deal of thought. Bottom line is that I think children’s literature is amongst the most exciting and intelligent work out there at the moment. In an adult book market saturated with celebrity books, Dan Brown rip-offs, formulaic crime books, clichéd rom-coms etc., I think many children’s books are imaginative, challenging and intellectually stimulating.

Within ‘The Time Hunters’ series I explore such more complex themes as death, grief, loss, loyalty, identity and faith, but cloak it in a rip-roaring adventure that includes a vegetarian Minotaur named Edgar, a vicious nine-headed Hydra and a time travelling Volkswagen campervan.

Although I will never shy away from dark themes, I will always endeavor to make the TH books as fun as possible. In these difficult times, escapism is a necessity not a luxury.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

I have folder on my laptop and on numerous memory sticks. I also have a few notebooks filled with ideas.


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the one you that you’d most like to be? Or be with?

I have a soft spot for each of my four main characters, and in many ways think that if you combined their discrete traits you would create the perfect individual – Uncle Percy’s intellect and decency; Becky’s integrity and courage; Joe’s loyalty and compassion; and Will’s grace and physicality.

What I have never mentioned before in an interview (so Joo, this is an exclusive) is that Becky and Joe are based on my late sister (Diane) and brother (David) - they died before I was born. I grew up as an only child and often wondered what they would have been like. Becky and Joe are the result of these ponderings.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I like reading a range of genres. However, many so-called adult books seem to disappoint me. That’s when I return to children’s fiction (Dahl, Morpugo, Rowling, CS Lewis are all favs of mine).


What lengths do you go to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I promote, but nowhere near as much as some other indie writers do. I just don’t have the time. I’m the father of a two-year old girl, a full-time lecturer and am writing the third TH book. Besides, I’d rather the readers decide whether my books have the X-factor.


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I’m enormously grateful that anyone would take the time to do it. Actually, a wonderful lady reader on Goodreads, Kath Middleton, has been invaluable in casting a critical eye over my work. I won’t mention her pseudonym in case she’d prefer to remain anonymous, but I’ve never met such a proud, self-confessed pedant in my life. She’s great.


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

KUF was the first Kindle site I joined. I think it’s well designed, accessible and much more friendly/supportive than a few others I’ve seen. Bravo Lou and the gang. I’m proud to be a member.


What is on your near horizon?

I have recently rewritten ‘The Time Hunters’ based on suggestions made at a meeting in London with The Blair Partnership, JK Rowling’s literary agency. Hopefully, they’ll like the changes enough to add me as their client. If not, then that’s okay, as the re-write has really improved the book. I have now resumed writing the third TH book - ‘The Time Hunters and the Spear of Fate.’


Where can we find you for more information?

On my blog http://carlashmoreauthor.blogspot.co.uk/
On my Facebook/Twitter page 
Or via email: carlashmore@mailcity.com
Or just say hello on my threads on KUF. I’m a regular.

Thanks for inviting me to answer your questions, Joo. Keep up the great work.

Carl

Requiem at Monza by Dakota Franklin

This is the second book in the "Ruthless to Win" series.  I haven't yet read the first one "Le Mans" but I didn't feel like I was missing lots of important information.  As far as I can tell, all the books in this series will be set in the same world of motor racing with a family of characters, but will all be different stories with a different area and different main characters, the other ones just "walk ons".

This book seemed to be a lengthy one.  The plot was about a racing car crash, and the investigation into what caused it in the murky world of the Italian Camorra.

I thought the characters were great.  I felt the story dragged a bit for the first part of the book, however as it progressed and got more into action, then I was swept along.  I shall definitely bump Le Mans up my list now.

Interrogating Rosen Trevithick

This is my 13th interview which should have been posted yesterday on Friday 13th.
Rosen is one of my new favourite authors as she takes you on a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows

How much of you is in your characters?

Most (but not all!) of my protagonists are based on some aspect of me. Sophie Sweet (Straight Out of University) is particularly similar to me – a thirty(ish!), left-wing, stubborn, drama queen. We have very similar perspectives on the world because we both grew up in a small Cornish village, went away to University and then came back – an interesting experience to say the least!


Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be?

I would like to be Steph (London, the Doggy and Me) at the end of the book (not throughout, when a situation involving a giant dog is escalating out of control!). I chose her because she's just about to realise her life's ambition, which is something we'd all like to do, (even if her exact dream – playing a whore in a West End show – isn't quite my cup of tea!).

The other character I'd like to be would be Ellie Hart (Straight Out of University) because, as Sophie keeps reminding us, she's arguably the most impressive woman who ever lived.


How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I used to write for me, but after publishing a few titles I've learnt that I need to develop ideas that I'm both passionate about and know other people will be interested to read. I often have several ideas that I would like to write so I've learn that I need to prioritise the most marketable ones.

Recently, I let popular opinion select which of two novels I would write! They were both comedies, one was about a couple who get more than they bargain for when their dying sperm donor makes a sudden recovery, the other was about a group of ambitious indie writers, who suddenly find that the plots of their stories are coming true. Friends voted for the first but Kindle owners voted for the book about writers, so that's the one I'm working on now.


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

It's easier to be a comedy writer than train to become a doctor, even though it's widely accepted that laughter is the best medicine. One day I'll save a life, and the lucky patient will say to me, "Yeah, the paramedics stopped the bleeding, but you were the one who made me laugh!"

I also write some more serious books which I'm told can be a little tear-jerking. Whilst I'd never say that I enjoy making people cry, it is very satisfying to hear from somebody who has been moved by my work. I like being able to use fiction to add weight to causes I feel strongly about, such as changing attitudes towards mental illness.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?　

Usually ideas get written on the backs of envelopes, because they are the closest thing to hand at 3am when thoughts pop, uninvited, into my head. However, my entire flat is covered in vandalised paper goods – receipts, napkins, bank statements, tissue boxes　… When visitors pop in, I have to check what's lying around. Once a partner found a piece of paper with scribbles that read, "Befuddled" "Trying to leave partner" "Different dog" – that took some explaining.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

My reading tastes are similar to my writing tastes but not quite the same. I love to read comedies and serious whodunits. However, whilst I do write humorous books, I will never ever have the patience to tackle writing a factually accurate, police novel.

At the moment, I'm reading a lot of indie books and working my way through those that come highly recommended, so I've been straying outside my usual reading genres. It's been a very enjoyable ride so far. When I started sharing my work I was a little embarrassed about being a self-published writer, but having read books by really talented indies, I'm now very proud to be part of the indie scene.


What lengths do you go to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

To be honest, the battle for most indies is not convincing readers that our books are good, but getting readers in the first place. Some people like my work, some people don't. I'm more interested in finding my audience, than convincing the masses that I have an undeniable yet universally undefinable, talent.

I have been known to go to considerable lengths to attract new readers, including accosting Kindle readers at the dentists, 'accidentally' dropping business cards on the train, and making liberal use of the phrase, "Would you mind awfully copying exactly what you just said into a review?"

I also wear garish white boots, radically-feathered hair and copious amounts of eye makeup when out and about, because I like to believe they make me look like a genuine artiste. In actual fact, I end up looking like a waddling 80s chicken.


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I always welcome constructive ways to improve my work so I'm grateful when people draw my attention to specific errors. I have a proof-reader now, so mistakes don't happen very often. Before I had an editor, a fair few typos sneaked in but the books were priced accordingly. On a couple of occasions, people left unfocussed, sarcastic feedback about typos in free content, which didn't strike me as very reasonable. Even then, after sulking for a few hours, I thanked them for taking the trouble to review my books. At the end of the day, readers' opinions are valuable to writers even when we don't necessarily agree with them.


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

The sense of community. Writing is a solitary pastime and it's great to be able to find an aspect of being a writer, that's actually sociable. Using KUF feels a bit like having colleagues! They might not make me coffee and bring in biscuits, but they do share ideas and gossip with me. I wonder if I could persuade to mods to install a cappuccino machine　…


Have you written any humorous, knicker-related number one bestsellers that are now available as part of a five-star short story collection Rosen?

Well, funny you should mention that Joo, because my short story, Lipstick and Knickers made it to number 1 in Amazon's humorous fiction chart earlier this year, and stayed there for a few weeks. It forms part of the short story collection Seesaw which  is now available for Kindle and to pre-order in paperback!

The Kindle version of Seesaw has received some very pleasing feedback – as well you know Joo (thanks again!) For the benefit of your blog readers, the stories alternate between humorous and very serious psychological tales, hence the name Seesaw.

I'm very excited about the paperback launch, it's the first time one of my books has been released in a physical format. However, the report that I sleep with a copy under my pillow was a vicious rumour! (I'd never deprive my baby of fresh air.)


What is on your near horizon?

I'm working on the new novel that I mentioned, about indie writers, provisionally called Pompomberry House. A group of seriously flawed characters meet on an island for a writers' retreat, and end up thrown into the centre of a murder plot when their storylines begin to come true. Of course, we all know that there are some thoroughly wonderful, ludicrously talented indie writers – but you won't find them at Pompomberry House.


Where can we find you for more information?

I keep a website about my books and indie writing in general, which can be found at: http://rosentrevithick.co.uk/

Or, if you would prefer, you can view Seesaw for Kindle on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seesaw-ebook/dp/B007GC5J9M/

Interrogating Dorte Hummelshoj Jakobsen

I've gone international with the Danish author Dorte, writer of cosy mysteries.

First, let me thank Joo for this opportunity to tell you a bit about myself and my crime fiction. 

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

When I was still hoping to find a publisher, I did try to suss what would appeal to an editor right then. One example was that I made my Danish protagonist more feminist than planned, but even though I think a couple of gory murders thrown in might have done the trick, I just didn´t want to write that kind of book. And since I took the plunge into self-publishing last year, I have enjoyed the freedom to write exactly the kind of stories I like reading. The funny thing is that the readers have rewarded me with excellent reviews of my latest novel - written by a free and happy indie spirit. 


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

Ever since I read my first Enid Blyton mystery when I was seven or eight, crime fiction has been my favourite genre. I read a variety of subgenres but prefer the traditional mystery or police procedural. For me the main attractions are the puzzle, the excitement and the neat and tidy endings. 


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

When I have really good ideas, I try to store them somewhere in my computer. So yes, I have an electronic folder for future ideas. But I don´t worry too much about that aspect as I have never been short of ideas for mysteries. What I need is time and energy to write down all the plots that emerge in my nasty mind day and night. 


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with? 

When I wrote my first novel (only published in Danish so far), I was determined to come up with a main character with plenty of room for further development. The result: Anna was such a bland wimp that no one (including me) could stand the first version. It took a loooong time to beat some of the dust out of her, but now my readers seem to accept my fairly realistic anti-heroine. What I learnt from this experience was to create a plucky heroine when I changed tack and began writing an English cosy series. So even if Rhapsody Gershwin shares my background in the way that she is a vicar´s daughter and I am a vicar´s wife, she really lives up to her name. She is curious and outgoing, and even though she is too intelligent to be reckless, she and her sisters would do almost anything to save a friend in danger. I am not nearly as active and outgoing as Rhapsody (partly because I suffer from Chronic Fatigue), but she is a smart and generous character I like, and I hope we have some things in common. 


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if he´s married to you or one of your characters? 

Who, me? Nooo, never. But it might be a good idea to ask my husband for a second opinion. 


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write? 

Yes, on the whole. But even though I have realized that it is perfect for me with my short concentration span to write short and humorous cosy mysteries, I wouldn´t want to read them all the time. So they are also perfect reading material for a bleary day, but when I feel better, I pick books which are less idyllic and more exciting. 


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor? 

Not very far, I am afraid. What I really loathe as a reader is when a misleading blurb or recommendation makes me pay for a book which is not my taste at all. So as a writer I do my best to target my promotion by being very open about what genre and style I write. I may lose a few customers in the first place, but it seems that several of my readers come back for more. 


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made? 

What makes you think I ever....? Err, I have been known to whine or rant at home if a reader has complained about my language, but I know better than to do so publicly. The last time I got a negative review I did the sensible thing by sending the story off to two trusted beta readers. They both assured me the language ´wasn´t bad´, but they suggested I made it less formal. So now I feel confident my story is worth every cent or penny, and as long as I know that, negative reviews bother me less. 


What do you like most about visiting KUF? 

Now that´s an easy question. It is an extremely friendly and helpful place to spend your time. Some forums make an indie writer feel like a pariah, but the members of KUF seem to realize we are humans too :) 


What is on your near horizon?

Because of my health, my plans are never very fixed, but I hope I will be able to publish my Danish novel, "Anna Märklin´s Family Chronicles" in English in the autumn. It is not a cosy mystery, but a quiet, Scandinavian mystery about a woman whose best friend dies unexpectedly. And after that, I intend to finish "The Halloween Murderer" which is a sequel to "The Cosy Knave". 


Where can we find you for more information? 

I do have a website, but as I don´t use it much, the best places to get news about my writings are my facebook writer´s page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dorte-Hummelshoj-Jakobsen-crime-writer/109302042485018  and DJ´s krimiblog (mainly reviews of crime fiction, but occasionally I post news about my books or publish free stories): http://djskrimiblog.wordpress.com/

James Blond - Stockport Is Too Much by Terry Ravenscroft

Terry Ravenscroft seems to be everywhere at the moment recently.  It might be because he made all his books free.

This is a parody / spoof of James Bond, whereby James Blond is actually a secret agent and styles himself a bit on Bond, to varying effect.

Because of bad guys taking over Stockport and buying up buildings, it put me in mind of Robert Rankins Brentford Trilogy books.

It was a very enjoyable read.  Lighthearted and funny.  Not quite Rankin (when he's at his best) but then no one is quite like Rankin.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004GKN1EM

Interrogating Nick Spalding

Next in my sights is Nick Spalding, an author who is often found hanging out in Amazon's charts.  If you have read one of his "Life ....." books, then you'll probably know him as much as he knows himself.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any? 

I'm lucky. I tend to write commercial fiction so I always try to write what I hope people will want to read. If that isn't something I also want to write then I guess it doesn't get written!


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

There's nothing quite like making a person laugh. If you can do it from several hundred miles away weeks after you cracked the joke, then it's even better.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

Nope. I fly by the seat of my pants. I trust my caffeine addled brain to come up with the goods when I sit down to write. Things tend to get stick in the drift nets of my memory, ready to pop up when I need a good gag or plot point.


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ? 

A lot. I write observational humour (for the most part) and I guess my characters have to share my observations, because I'm the one putting the words in their mouths. I suppose I'd most like to be Max from The Cornerstone, but only because I'd get to be a teenager again. I'd try to make a better job of it second time around.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I read a lot of different genres, but my favourites are fantasy, horror and humour. Funnily enough, those are the genres I also write in, which makes sense, I suppose.


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

No way you can do that. Ultimately it's up to them to decide whether your work has the X Factor. The best you can do as a writer is write the best book you can and hope it captures the imagination of the reading public. Being as professional as possible with your editing, blurb and cover will see you a long way, but there's an alchemy about guessing how hot a book is going to be which is impossible to understand. Even those big, bad publishers don't know for certain what makes a book have the X Factor, otherwise they'd only put out hits themselves.


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

On the one hand disgusted with myself. On the other very thankful that they noticed and took the time to tell me about it.


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

The links to hardcore pornography they hide at the bottom of the forum page. 


What is on your near horizon?

I'm currently writing a sequel to Love... From Both Sides, which should be out in the early summer.


Where can we find you for more information?

You can visit my Amazon author's page here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nick-Spalding/e/B003M4DLXO and you can visit my blog here: spaldings-racket.blogspot.com

Interrogating Karina Kantas

My 10th interview already.  Doesn't time fly!   This interview is with the deceptively (from the photo, anyway) Biker Chick Karina Kantas - also known as LadyHawk.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I write what I want to write. Thankfully there is a market place out there for my genre of books and I have readers that want to read my story. The only compromise is making it readable. Following most of the "rules of writing" making sure the reader can relate to the MC's and they are likable even if it's only a little. People want to be able to put themselves in the character's shoes, so keeping it real is a must.


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

I have always had a love for the bikers lifestyle, although I don't live it. I love the freedom and the brotherhood.
It's new, It's raw and edgy. Whether you're into bikers and rock music.. everyone wants to be a rebel. I allow my readers that escape from reality. Most don't know about the world of outlaws, so it's an eye opener for them.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

Boxes (plural) I've been at this game for over 15 years and have kept every note book, printed MS, and scribbled idea. I used to carry a Dictaphone around with me and record ideas and scenes, so I have plenty of mini tapes in my drawers as well. I'm never without a pen or pad. And I have several half filed notepads of plot ideas, that will probably never see the light. 


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ? 

I'm always the main female MC. I put my soul into the character. She is my alter ego. The person who I'd love to be... if I had the guts.
I've always had a soft spot for Dylan, the sexy, bad boy in my first novel In Times of Violence. I think out of all my characters I'd love to be Ice, from Lawless Justice. She gets to kick some butt and not answer to anyone.


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

Hubby knows not to push me, because sometimes Ice shows up. And you wouldn't want to be in the same room when Ice is pissed off. Lol


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

Unfortunately, there are not too many books similar to mine, and I think I've read them all. I read all genres apart from Sci-fi... I have a hard time getting into those books. I go through genres, first it was chick lit and now I'm into vampires and the paranormal, at the same time I'm reading books like A game of Thrones and Hunger Games.


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I'm stuck in a Greek village full of old people, The only tool I have for marketing is the internet and trust me when I say I take full advantage of it. I'm online up to 7 hours a day promoting my five titles. I know my novels have the Xfactor, but it's no good for an author to rave to others about have awesome their book is. Readers need to do that!
I can promise you you've never read anything like it before. I'm certain you will read it in one sitting (as most reviewers have stated that) There is a huge potential for the genre of book and it's only the beginning. Read and judge for yourself.


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

Great, I'm thrilled they do. It doesn't matter how many times you read the MS You're going to need extra eyes to catch the mistakes. But I would prefer if they contacted me privately and not posted my errors in public, where they can't be deleted even after you've corrected the mistakes. 
You wouldn't believe how many typing errors I found in Hunger Games Kindle version. 


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

It's a great support platform for me. Not a place to make sales as there are more Kindle authors here than readers. But if I ever have a dilemma or question, I know it's going to be answered quickly and politely.


What is on your near horizon?

I'm currently submitting my new thriller Road Rage to UK literary agents. I can't do this alone anymore and I really need help to get the word out about my books as they deserve a bigger audience.


Where can we find you for more information?
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/karinakantas
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/226865.Karina_Kantas
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karina-Kantas/31754864225
@karinakantas ( twitter)
http://urbanhype101.wordpress.com/

Relationship Status by David Wailing

This is a short story that was originally published in the KUF anthology Hearts and Arrows.  It's a decent length for a short, definitely not flash fiction.

Even though the theme was Valentine, it could easily have been in the Halloween edition.  It's about how social media could be in the near future and is very scary indeed.  You could really see it happening as portrayed and hope to goodness it doesn't.

The tenseness was ramped up and I felt myself reading quicker and quicker as the story built up to it's climax.


www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007RGCX5A/

Interrogating Cecilia Peartree

My 9th interview is with Cecilia Peartree, one of my favourite new authors.  Cecilia writes about the world of Pitkirtly and the 4th book in that series is just out.  These are Scottish cosy mysteries and I just adore them

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?
 
I only write things I want to write, otherwise I just wouldn't be able to write them at all. The only compromise I make now that I have a publishing outlet is that I don't leave things lying around for years on my computer, but try and get them completed!
 

 What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

 I've always enjoyed reading mystery novels. My father was a great mystery reader too, and we used to share library books when I was a teenager and watch programmes like 'Perry Mason' together (sorry, this probably gives away my age!). I think it started out as being about the puzzle element, and now it is more about the characters.
 

 Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

I have notebooks - I'm a stationery junkie, always buying new notebooks wherever I go. Usually there's a notebook for each thing that's in progress and one of them will also have my current writing plan in it which usually covers about a year ahead. I make odd notes on spare pages in one of the notebooks. Sometimes the ideas come along at really annoying times - I remember last year being really cross because I had just finished NaNoWriMo and I woke up the next morning with an idea for a completely different novel. Character names, everything.
I used to lose notebooks but I've bought a new storage thing from IKEA to keep them in now!
 

 How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ? 

I've thought about this a lot, particularly with the Pitkirtly characters from my mystery series who are now so familiar to me, and I think all of them probably represent different aspects of me. I do have some of Amaryllis's ruthlessness and lack of feminine 'caring' qualities, but I can also be irritatingly vague like Christopher, grumpy like Jock McLean and obsessed with family history like Jemima.
In 'The Mountain and the Flood' I tried hard to make the characters come from a different generation from me because it's set in the future, so they are based more on my sons and their friends, although of course every character is part of me really, even the bad ones.
 

 Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

This isn't really relevant as I mostly lead a separate life from my spouse - the details are too complicated to go into! However I don't tend to become completely wrapped up in my writing as I fit it into odd half hours and have to be able to switch on and off - at work in the lunch-hour, for instance.
 

 What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

 Yes, I do read a lot of mysteries but some of them are more hard-boiled than mine. I am finding I don't have the same tolerance for violence or suspense as I get older, though - I sometimes read chick-lit now instead, though I find some of it really annoying.
I like lightweight travel books and history sometimes too.
 

 What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

 I'm the world's worst salesperson, in fact I tried to talk someone out of even downloading 'Crime in the Community' for free last week because I thought she might not like it. I really want to get a good match between books and readers. I love it when a reviewer 'gets' what I've written. So I suppose in a sense quality is more important than quantity. I like just to try and make my books visible and then let people judge for themselves whether they like them.
 

 How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

 Ha ha! - very topical! - grateful, I think! Annoyed with myself for missing them, but glad to have the chance to put it right.
 

 What do you like most about visiting KUF?
 
I like the friendliness - it's the best forum I've come across from that point of view.
 

 What is on your near horizon?
 
Now that 'Death at the Happiness Club' is published, I have returned to a historical novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2008 (!) with a view to trying to finish it at last. Unfortunately this means writing a few extra chapters (groan). This month I will also do some work on my short story for the KUF summer anthology.
 

 Where can we find you for more information?

 I have three Wordpress blogs - http://mccallumogilvy.wordpress.com [main blog, lots of rambling about my life, cats, theatre group etc], http://ceciliapeartree.wordpress.com [Cecilia Peartree - woman of mystery] and http://sheilaperryscotlandsfuture.wordpress.com [Sheila Perry predicts Scotland's Future - rants about Scottish independence etc, vaguely related to 'The Mountain and the Flood'].

A Reformed Character by Cecilia Peartree

This is the third book set in the Pitkirtly village.  When I reviewed the second, I said it was better than the first.  Now I am saying the third is better than the first.

I suppose these books can be classed as cosy mysteries.  All I can say is I love them to bits.  From the ex special agent Amaryllis, to the now head of the village heritage centre Christopher to Old Jock and Mrs Stephenson and Big Dave - the characters of this village are just a joy to read about.

This book was just unputdownable.  There is a new book out and I look forward to reading it.  The first book is free, so grab it and enjoy meeting this wonderful bunch of characters.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NW1XJM

Dark Seduction by Shaun Jeffrey

This is not my usual choice of reading.  I tend to prefer lighter reads or serial killers.  This book is a novella about a dark place called Shadowlands.

The story involves a bloke called Zen who gets caught up in a wager that he doesn't really want to bet on.  If he loses, the price is his soul.

The story is a good descriptive read.  There's no padding as you get taken to hell and back with the characters.  And some of these characters are very scary indeed.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007UILHAW

Interrogating Stuart Ayris

My 8th interview is with Stu Ayris, the writer of Tollesbury Time Forever and very excited person if someone says they like his books.  Which means he's often bouncing as TTF has loads of 5* on Amazon.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I wrote my first novel, A Cleansing of Souls, with no intention of publishing it and my second, Tollesbury Time Forever, assuming nobody would want to read it. As such they are written entirely without any concept of what other people would think of them. With Tollesbury Time Forever I just had great fun – throwing in poems, a song, a two-act play, made-up words and an entire chapter about the man character getting drunk whilst I drank the same drink the character was drinking! People seem to like it though! So now I'm writing my third novel, The Bird That Nobody Sees. What seems to have happened is that the confidence I have gained from the reception of my first two books seems to have cancelled out any fears I may have had that I would have to compromise my style of writing. Which is handy!


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

I guess the genre I write in would be classed as literary fiction. I read a post recently on a blog that quantified what the poster believed literary fiction to be and, although I can't recall much of it, I do remember thinking - "my stuff's like that!" To be honest I just write what I like to read – what appeals to me is the fact that there are no boundaries with literary fiction – you can go as deep or as mad as your mind will take you. Which suits me fine - being an odd sort...


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

I have nothing remotely like any of that. When I'm not physically writing I spend all my time thinking about the book, getting it straight in my head before getting down to the writing again. Being something of an insomniac I do lie awake at night going through scenes and conversations in my head and then get up and carry on with the book. So no organisation at all. It just kind of takes me over for the whole duration while I'm writing the book. I have developed a belief that books are remembered by the author and not made up by the author. So when a thought about a scene or a chapter feels right it means I've remembered it correctly. If you force things it's like talking over someone and that's not right. So I don't plan to any degree - I just get myself in a state of mind where I can best pick up the signs and signals. Sounds a bit weird I know but it's the only way I can explain it.


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

Tom in A Cleansing of Souls is extremely close to what I was like in my late teens and early twenties – confused, passionate, angry and entirely unaware of the love forever within arms reach – but nice with it! Simon in Tollesbury Time Forever is very similar to me as I am now. I like Simon so that makes me happy!


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

My wife very kindly just lets me get on with it. I think she sighs a resigned sigh every time I call out "listen to this bit!" but I do get quite excited when I've written a pleasing line or paragraph! Just as an aside, one of the characters in Tollesbury Time Forever is an anagram of my wife's name – Rebecca Ayris – Carrie Caseby! So I guess in once sense I am married to one of my characters (just happens to be a feisty barmaid - hurrah!)


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I like to think my writing has elements of John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac so of course I love reading their work. To be honest I love all sorts of books – for example the last four books I've read have been The Great Gatsby, Treasure Island, The Dharma Bums and The Moonstone! I love to read biographies too - mainly of writers funnily enough!


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I guess because my books fall outside the popular genres the most I can hope is that someone is good enough to give them a go. I don't see I can do any more than that. They're just things I've written that's all. The fact that people I have never met are reading them and liking them, well, that's more than enough for me.


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I'd love to shake them by the hand and get them a pint! It's like if you've got toothpaste on your cheek or your zip undone! Tell me! Due to my routine of drinking whilst writing there are inevitably spelling mistakes but I'm gradually getting better at spotting them. I find changing the entire font helps when I'm editing - stops your eyes being so lazy!


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

The breadth of conversation, the goodness of the people and the peaceful humour of it all – so different to so many other forums! It's great!


What is on your near horizon?

I am thirty thousand words into my latest novel and hope to get that completed (at least a first draft) by the end of the summer. I've opted in to the next two KUF Anthologies so can't wait to get cracking on those stories and then, well, who knows?!


Where can we find you for more information?

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5441262.Stuart_Ayris
www.tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com – writing stuff, reviews and other things
www.stuartayrisbooks.co.uk – a website that I'm gradually working out
Facebook – just search my name!
Twitter - @StuartAyris
email –stuayris@googlemail.com

Cheers!!
Stu

Frame-Up by Eric Christopherson

Yet another well written original story from Eric Christopherson.  I enjoyed his other two books and this one is possibly the best.

In short it's the story of a black newspaper writer who has the idea to frame himself for a murder just to prove how injustices occur when someone is in the wrong place at the wrong time and coincidences occur.

It kind of reminded me of a John Grisham novel where the story gets deeper and deeper.  It was very well written and a very good read.

I'm just sad now that I have read all of Eric's books and there's not another one for me to read.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00347AI9Y

Interrogating David G Pearce

The seventh interview in my series is David G Pearce, author of 'The Girl on the Train' and 'The Vanishing' and has also had short stories in the KUF anthologies.



How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

To my mind there can’t be any balance, at least not for a new author such as me. If you’re trying to write a particular type of story for a particular type of audience you are almost bound to fail. I have written two books that I wanted to write because I was genuinely excited about the stories and characters. If I ever have an audience for those books I will be over the moon, but if I don’t I can look back on two books that I am proud of.


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

YA is often ghettoised by adults as being a mainly supernatural genre. However, the joy of the genre is that it can cover absolutely anything from Twilight to The Look. It also has readers who can be the most demanding and astute. It is that audience that I would really love to reach one day. I really got interested in YA writing when my oldest daughter started to read books aimed at teens. As a teacher I had spent a lot of time with teens and so when I decided to write my first novel that was the natural genre.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

I don’t have any container for future ideas apart from my own head! When I am writing one book I am totally engrossed in it and I won’t even think about the next one. If something comes up that I can use in the book I am writing I will remember it and put it down on paper. If not, I will store it at the back of my mind until it fits naturally into the book that I am writing.


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

In The Girl on the Train, Paul Masters, Holly’s father, shares a number of traits with me, but in terms of his focus on work and his confidence that their move to England will work he is my polar opposite. The attitude that Holly has to England initially is my own reaction to moving back here in 2005 with its mixture of frustration, anger and a sense that your life will never be as good again. The Vanishing, with its lack of adult characters has no character with strong elements of myself, and in some senses that was liberating as I could really use my imagination. However, their reactions to certain situations probably mirror what mine might have been as a teenager in a Post-Apocalyptic world! I would probably have wanted to be with Holly in the first book and Casey in the second book. In a sense that is almost certainly why they became the main characters with the traits that I imbued them with.


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

Never! I compartmentalise my writing totally. Once it’s finished I concentrate on cooking dinner, cleaning the house, making packed lunches and occasionally lecturing, although that is increasingly a rare occurrence in the shrinking world of English Language Support at university! I would hate to live and breathe my books as I put enough pressure on myself as it is when I publish them on Kindle.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I enjoy reading to my youngest daughter at bedtime so I read mainly children’s books or YA books that are suitable in tone or language. When I read for myself, I don’t particularly stick to a genre. I will read books that interest me and I find myself going from the classics such as A Christmas Carol and Day of the Triffids to Cecilia Ahern who I absolutely love reading!


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I have great difficulty in believing that anything I write has the X-Factor! Of course, since having the X-Factor means a quick success followed by complete obscurity that could be a good thing! Seriously though, I am fully convinced of the quality of my books until the moment I publish them. Once that happens, the lack of interest and sales dents my already fragile self-confidence. When I started I decided to face criticism with some equanimity and take it as part of the learning process, but recent events on one of the boards have proved that isn’t possible. Once I have been criticised, especially when the criticism is fairly blunt, I retreat from the thread to lick my wounds and don’t always have the courage to return to the offending discussion. I clearly have too thin a skin for a writer, but I have to continue because in a real sense it is who I am.

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

It hasn’t happened yet, even though I do my own proof reading, but that is probably due to my own background in English Language Support where I train myself to spot any error.


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

For the most part, it is the friendliness of nearly everyone in the group. However, the chance to have a go at short stories for the various anthologies is a real plus as I try to improve as a writer.


What is on your near horizon?

I have just started a sequel to The Vanishing called The Enemy Within. It takes place just after the end of the first book and covers events up to the first anniversary of the Vanishing itself. As well as that, I will be doing a short story for each of the two upcoming anthologies. I am looking forward to the End of the World anthology as I have a story in mind for it already, and because the theme was originally my idea!


Where can we find you for more information?

http://davidgpearce205.wordpress.com/
A not particularly up to date blog, mainly due to lack of interest. However, if anyone starts to read it I may visit and post more often!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/David-G.-Pearce/...r_dp_pel_1
My titles on Amazon.co.uk
http://kindle-for-kids.com/
An excellent blog set up by Lynda Wilcox. I have written a couple of blog posts for it in the last few months.

Happy Hour by Anne Mitchell

Happy Hour is a great romp of a chick-lit book.  It follows the story of Jane who turns out to be a lookie-likey of a very famous American chat show hostess who goes in for some secret plastic surgery and so Jane gets roped in to be her double for a little while and mayhem ensues.

It was a very good read from a new author.  The formatting was a bit off, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006ZXSPM6

Bernard and the Bibble by Carl Ashmore

I absolutely adore Carl's The Time Hunters series.  Bernard and the Bibble seems to be aimed at a slightly younger audience.

It kind of made me think of Willy Wonka - the fact they were travelling through different areas and the flowers were particular tastes.

This is a shortish book but a very satisfying story.  Carl is truly a talented children's author

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004U7GIB4/