Showing posts with label Crime Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crime Fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

The Rewards of Strong Characterization

Source
Good morning and Happy Hump Day! How's everyone's week going?

Today I wanted to talk crime fiction, specifically about one of my characters: Kyra Roberts. She's the heroine in my Street Games series. She basically goes undercover in the most dangerous city in the country (one I made up, not a real one) to find her brother, who has disappeared into a high-risk life style.

Add to Goodreads
So when I set out to write this character, I knew she had to be bold. Insanely bold. She has to uphold two different identities and will be facing off with everyone from desperate junkies to homicidal gangsters. (Not exaggerating. This is what she's taken on to find her brother.)

So I wrote her that way. She has her fears, of course, but they're all internal. The persona she projects to the world is utterly confident. No fear at all.

And I've been surprised to see the response I've gotten from readers about Kyra. She's turned out to be very polarizing.

Some people--more often men, which I think is funny in terms of psychology--think she's crazy. Like, totally insane. The choices she makes, the things she takes on... I've gotten a few comments along the lines of "this chick is nuts!"

Others, conversely, really love her. Some of the best reviews I've gotten (HERE) center on Kyra and how brave she is.

Add to Goodreads
The funny thing is, based on the reviews I've gotten so far, there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. Either she's awesome and brave, or she's crazy and gonna get herself killed.

For the record, I didn't write her to be a "crazy" character. Just crazy-brave. But I kind of like that she's polarizing my audience. It makes me smile and I'm endlessly fascinated by people's reaction to her.

I also think it's a good example of what happens when you not only stick to your characterization, but make your character's traits--whatever they may be--VERY strong. Even if that trait is timidity, run with that. Make it dominant. Make your character's personality traits strong and obvious. If you do that, the character takes on a reality all their own, and the audience will develop their own, very strong, opinions about the character, just as they would about real people.

It's awesome to see.

Dark Remnants, Book 1 of Street Games is FREE on Amazon, B&N and most other major retailers.
Desolate Mantle, Book 2 of Street Games is currently available only on Amazon.

 Have you ever come across a character that polarizes people? Why do you think that was?

Posted by at 1 comment :
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, September 5, 2016

Why Do Serial Killers Fascinate Us So?

Source
Good morning, All! How was everyone's weekend? Good I hope. I'm actually quite proud of myself. I was very productive this weekend. Not that I got EVEYTHING I need to do done (I have a running list of tasks right now) but I definitely made a dent. ;D

So today my post is actually HERE, over at Author Fiona Mitchell's blog. She's hosting me in anticipation of Desolate Mantle being released next week. So hop on over to her blog to read the post, and be sure to thank her for hosting me while you're there. She's awesome, and a very gifted writer.

Desolate Mantle: Release Date 9/13/2016

 Click HERE to attend the online launch party, or for more information.




In the most dangerous city in the country, one controlled by the sadistic Sons of Ares gang, Kyra Roberts recently crossed paths with detective Gabe Nichols. She dismissed any liaison with him as impossible, but telling him the truth may prove inevitable...Walking the Slip Mire nightly, dressed in her disguise and trying to infiltrate a homicidal gang, Kyra sees plenty of things she can’t explain. When she begins to suspect a serial killer might be at work, she decides to approach Gabe again.Gabe has plenty to keep him busy: a bizarre missing persons case, a new development in his brother’s cold case, a new neighbor, and the grisly murders that are a nightly ritual in the Slip Mire. When Kyra shows up unexpectedly, he jumps at the chance keep her around, but it’s harder than he bargained for. She’s not an average source any more than she’s an average Mireling. Gabe wishes she would be sensible about her own safety.Their partnership crumbles, but when things become even darker than usual in the Slip Mire, they’ll need one another get survive a hellish situation. If they can’t work together to shoulder their burdens, they’ll find themselves utterly alone. In Abstreuse, it’s not a matter of not coming out of the darkness, but of being absorbed by the darkness itself… 

 Happy Monday, Everyone!

Posted by at No comments :
Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Desolate Mantle Launch Party!

Source
Good morning and Happy Hump Day, Everyone!

Couple of things today:

Some of you may have noticed that Bastions of Blood was supposed to be released 8/16 and wasn't. Unfortunately my publisher decided to push the release date back a few months. :( So I'm sorry to those who are waiting for it. I have no power over these decisions for my traditionally published books. I'll post the new release date as soon as I have it.

So those who were so impressed I was releasing two books in two months, yeah not so much. But that's okay.

Meanwhile, Desolate Mantle is still coming out on September 13, 2016. I've scheduled on online launch party for the day of the release. There will be fun questions, contests, prizes (gift cards and free books) and lots of crime fiction chit chat. It'll be super fun.

Click HERE to see the event or if you want to come. (I'd love to have ya! :D)

Also, (website)
Also, (email list)

Finally, both my JFP e-books, The Botanist and Citadels of Fire, are on sale for $1.99 right now. I'm not sure how long they'll be at that price (sort of indefinite right now) but it won't be forever. So if you haven't read them and want to, now's the time! 



 That's it for now. Have a great Thursday!
Posted by at 1 comment :
Labels: , ,

Saturday, October 3, 2015

The Botanist on Sale 10/3-10/5!

Good Saturday Morning, All!

 Just a quick post to let you know that The Botanist ebook is on sale today through Monday for $1.99 (regularly $9.99).

 Also remember that my KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY is still going on. For an honest review, you can enter (click the "The Botanist Epic Giveaway!" tab at the top of the page).

 I'd appreciate any help you could all give me spreading the word. I've embedded some tweets below, but any help in any way you can would be appreciated. 

 Cheers! And everyone have a wonderful and safe weekend! :D

 Check out the Kinde Daily Nation Promo HERE.

 Facebook promo HERE. (Likes appreciated ;D)
THE BOTANIST

 In the heat of the desert, Detective Cody Oliver inadvertently stumbles upon a strange garden adorned with exotic flowers. Upon closer inspection, he finds the garden is but a cover for the scores of bodies buried below. Soon, the small town of Mt. Dessicate plunges into chaos as journalists, reporters, and cameramen from across the nation descend upon the tiny, desert town to get a piece of the action.

Along with the media, a mysterious woman appears. She may be the only person who has come face to face with the killer, dubbed the Botanist, and lived to tell the tale. If Cody can't piece together a timeline of the land the crime scene is located on, decipher how the woman's mysterious past is connected to the killer, and bring the Botanist to justice, he may lose the people he values most.


Posted by at No comments :
Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )