I was invited to tag along with the The Next Big Thing Blog hop by Gayle Hayes, author of The Sunset Witness and The Scrimshaw Set novels.
The Next Thing Blog Hop issues 10 questions about your current Work In Progress which an author answers on their blog, and then tags other authors to do the same on their blogs or websites in the following week.
You can find out more about Gayle and her novels at http://wwwgaylehayes.blogspot.com.au/
Now - I can't reveal too much about my WIP, so in the spirit of Seinfeld I've tried to answer by telling you everything and nothing at the same time.
What is the title of your current work in progress?
There are two potential titles vying for attention, like siblings trying to outdo each other, so the jury's still out. We'll have to leave it as "Untitled." Most probably to be released under the same name as my first two novels, but who knows? So for the purposes of this interview, we'll call the WIP "Untitled," by Unknown. Hope that's clear :)
I've always had a sneaking suspicion that a book called Untitled by Unknown with a vague synopsis would be a big seller.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
There were several inspirations. A visit to a family member at a medieval-style battle- fun day made me wonder how those methods would fit into a modern day crime scenario. A news story a few months later added fuel to the idea.
What genre does the book fall under?
Suspense/Thriller
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
In keeping with the noncommittal tone of 'Untitled," by Unknown, I'd want - for the male lead character - Mr. Up-And-Coming-About-To-Break-Big. And for the female star - Ms. About-To-Be-This-Year's-IT Girl. I'd sign them up now if I knew who they were.
For the second male lead - a laid-back but dedicated FBI guy - I could see Chris Hemsworth or Sam Worthington fitting the bill. But they'd have to work for free. Tight budget.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
If we told you what this book is about, we'd have to kill you.
Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?
I'm currently publishing through my own imprint, Sunfire, but this is a rapidly-changing industry and so it's important to keep all options open. Never say never...except when you do.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
18 months. Currently revising and editing.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
My previous novels, 'Disappear,' and 'The Delta Chain,' are thrillers with underlying elements of science, forensics and high-tech. My new work will have a mix of some of those. I'm crap at comparing to other books, however I can say that some of the authors I've read and been inspired by, who have books with some of those elements, are Allan Folsom, John Case, Tess Gerritsen.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I have read accounts of executives, who walked away from the corporate world after a life-changing event. It caused them to revaluate what they were looking for in life. I felt many people, including myself, could identify with events that cause them such reflections. My novel's main protaganist is confronted with this.
What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
For several years there have been growing protests against economic and social inequality, for example the G8 protests and the Occupy Movement. My thriller blends the ancient and the modern against this backdrop as a murder investigation unfolds.
Joining me on the Blog Hop are the following authors
Chris Everheart at http://www.ChrisEverheart.com
and
Grettir Jacob at http://grettirjacobs.com/
Check their blogs for their Next Big Thing interviews from Wednesday 23rd January.
Take It As Read
Mystery, thriller, suspense & s/f......all genres welcome here
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Delta Chain's Breakthrough on Amazon US lists
It reached #6 in Technothrillers, #7 in Police Procedurals, #37 in Thrillers, and featured in sponsored posts on Kindle Nation Daily, Cents-ible Ereads, Flurries Of Words, Ereader News Today, FK Books and Tips and Bargain Ebook Hunter. Currently with 13 reviews, averaging 4.2 sars on Amazon US, and 10 reviews from UK readers, averaging 4.5 stars, on Amazon UK.
My interview with Anthony Wessel, from Digital Book Today, can now also be found on The Delta Chain's US Kindle ebook page, or here at DBT
A big, personal thank you to all those who've supported the book over time.
You can check it out at amazon.com or at amazon.co.uk
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Time travel, rock'n'roll and Stephen King...now there's a combo
So when I saw that King had published an epic time
travel novel, “11.22.63” I was attracted like a moth to a flame.
Those who know anything about Stephen King know that he
likes his rock’n’roll , has at times
played it himself in a group, comprised of bestselling authors
who-play-intruments, called the Rock Bottom Remainders, and that he has an
enduring interest in the America of the mid to late 20th Century (reflected in his
novella ‘Stand By Me,” and many other works).
One of the fascinating aspects of the time travel genre is
that it enables us, through the eyes of a character from our time, not just to
observe the past but also to imagine the impact of interacting with it.
And King does that – and more – in this story of Jake Epping, who does not just visit a previous era but “lives’
in it, day by day, year by year, becoming part of the lives of a group of
people. For Jake there is a life-changing romance with the wonderfully
drawn Sadie Dunhill, while dancing to some of the now classic rock
hits as they are released for the very first time.
From the perception of a man of “today,” we experience the culture, the attitudes, the prejudices (and in some cases the
innocence) of a different generation. All leading, of course, toward one of the
most famous and tragic moments - the JFK assasination - in the history of America.
"11.22.63," won the Los Angeles Times 2011 Best Mystery/Thriller Novel and the 2011 International Thriller Writers Best (Hard Cover) Novel.
My Goodreads review of “11.22.63” follows:
I've always enjoyed a good time travel story, and I'm a long time reader of Stephen King, so when King produced an epic time travel tale, I was a definite starter - and without question this is one of the best I've read. This novel has a powerful emotional tug, and delivers fascinating insights by juxtaposing the social mores and thinking of the current era against those of half a century ago. An ordinary, everyday guy - a teacher - from our time, goes back and lives and works - and falls in love - in the America of the late 50's/early 60's. And we experience it as though we are right there alongside him. Once again King builds the suspense with a master's touch as we head toward that historic day in November, 1963. Can an ordinary man alter one of the most fateful moments in history? Should he?
Rock'n'roll image -
© Ashestosky | Dreamstime.com
I've always enjoyed a good time travel story, and I'm a long time reader of Stephen King, so when King produced an epic time travel tale, I was a definite starter - and without question this is one of the best I've read. This novel has a powerful emotional tug, and delivers fascinating insights by juxtaposing the social mores and thinking of the current era against those of half a century ago. An ordinary, everyday guy - a teacher - from our time, goes back and lives and works - and falls in love - in the America of the late 50's/early 60's. And we experience it as though we are right there alongside him. Once again King builds the suspense with a master's touch as we head toward that historic day in November, 1963. Can an ordinary man alter one of the most fateful moments in history? Should he?
Rock'n'roll image -
© Ashestosky | Dreamstime.com
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Amazon UK Top 20
A fine day indeed then, as my Irish friends would say.
The UK site has thee 5 star reviews, and the Amazon US site nine reviews, averaging 4 stars.
In addition to the ebooks, both 'The Delta Chain,' and 'Disappear,' are also available in paperback from the Amazon sites in the US, UK and Europe, and from other online booksellers.
A big "thank you" to all those readers who have supported the book.
cheers
Iain
Sunday, July 1, 2012
'Disappear,' on Amazon UK Top 100 Thrillers and Amazon France - Top 10 - English Thrillers
'Disappear,' has had strong support since its launch last week, and on Friday appeared on the Amazon UK Top 100 Kindle-Thrillers list, sneaking in at #100.It has also appeared on Amazon France's- English ebooks- Top 10 Thrillers. So not too shabby.
Thanks to all those who have been supporting the book.
As for me, I'm currently compiling the first in a series of collections of my short suspense fiction. More about this in the near future. And plunging into the second draft of a new novel.
So no rest for the wicked. Or for me.
For 'Disappear,' on Amazon US - find it here and on Amazon UK - you can find it here
cheers
Iain
Sunday, June 24, 2012
FREE Giveaway extended
Due to a delay in the Free Promotion going live on the amazon.com site, the Free Download for Kindle has been extended to Monday 25th June Pacific Standard Time (and in Australia and New Zealand that's late afternoon Tuesday) - go here to download for your Kindle from amazon.com -or- here to download from Amazon's UK site.To recap : my previous novel explored the mystery of bodies that could not be identified. Who were they? My new suspense thriller, 'Disappear,' delves into the flip side of that scenario - the body of a man, a hit/run victim, whose body carries ID that clearly establishes who he is. However, Brian Parkes has been missing for eighteen years. His body has been found in the same street from which he went missing, wearing the same clothes - and his physical appearance is exactly the same now as it was then.
Previously published in Australia in trade softcover as 'The Silent Scream,' the novel has been revised and published in ebook and also in a new paperback edition alongside my novel 'The Delta Chain.'
In 'Disappear,' Parkes' widow, Jennifer, finds the memories and the grief of the past re-ignited when her husband's body is found. Successful and much wiser than the shattered young woman of almost two decades before, this time she is determined to personally solve the enigma once and for all.
'Disappear,' is available in ebook exclusively from amazon.com and also from the Amazon sites in the UK and Europe. For this special promotional launch it can be downloaded FREE this weekend for Kindle.
I hope you enjoy reading 'Disappear,' as much as I did writing it.
Cheers.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Disappear - FREE on Kindle this weekend
Free for two days - Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June (Pacific Standard Time) go here to download for your Kindle from amazon.com -or- here to download from Amazon's UK site.
My previous novel explored the mystery of bodies that could not be identified. Who were they? My new suspense thriller, 'Disappear,' delves into the flip side of that scenario - the body of a man, a hit/run victim, whose body carries ID that clearly establishes who he is. However, Brian Parkes has been missing for eighteen years. His body has been found in the same street from which he went missing, wearing the same clothes - and his physical appearance is exactly the same now as it was then.
Previously published in Australia in trade softcover as 'The Silent Scream,' the novel has been revised and published in ebook and also in a new paperback edition alongside my novel 'The Delta Chain.'
In 'Disappear,' Parkes' widow, Jennifer, finds the memories and the grief of the past re-ignited when her husband's body is found. Successful and much wiser than the shattered young woman of almost two decades before, this time she is determined to personally solve the enigma once and for all.
'Disappear,' is available in ebook exclusively from amazon.com and also from the Amazon sites in the UK and Europe. For this special promotional launch it can be downloaded FREE this weekend for Kindle.
I hope you enjoy reading 'Disappear,' as much as I did writing it.
Cheers.
My previous novel explored the mystery of bodies that could not be identified. Who were they? My new suspense thriller, 'Disappear,' delves into the flip side of that scenario - the body of a man, a hit/run victim, whose body carries ID that clearly establishes who he is. However, Brian Parkes has been missing for eighteen years. His body has been found in the same street from which he went missing, wearing the same clothes - and his physical appearance is exactly the same now as it was then.
Previously published in Australia in trade softcover as 'The Silent Scream,' the novel has been revised and published in ebook and also in a new paperback edition alongside my novel 'The Delta Chain.'
In 'Disappear,' Parkes' widow, Jennifer, finds the memories and the grief of the past re-ignited when her husband's body is found. Successful and much wiser than the shattered young woman of almost two decades before, this time she is determined to personally solve the enigma once and for all.
'Disappear,' is available in ebook exclusively from amazon.com and also from the Amazon sites in the UK and Europe. For this special promotional launch it can be downloaded FREE this weekend for Kindle.
I hope you enjoy reading 'Disappear,' as much as I did writing it.
Cheers.
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