Wednesday, May 6, 2015

IWSG and a visit from Chrys Fey


Happy IWSG day, all! As usual it's hard to believe another month has come and gone and it's time for another meeting. Even harder to believe is that we're getting close to the halfway point of 2015!

Thanks as always to Alex J. Cavanaugh, the founder of our group and host of our meetings. If you're not already part of the group and would like to join, visit the IWSG site here and add your name to our list of neurotic and insecure writers.

Strangely enough this is another month when I'm not feeling insecure and in fact I'm really just excited and enthusiastic about the rest of the year. I had a fantastic time at the Ohioana Book Festival last month and also had another great experience doing a presentation for a class at the university where I work. I know I'll always have some public speaking anxiety, but overall I've managed to kick that fear to the curb. I'm looking forward to being part of Book Con in New York at the end of May and two more book events in the fall.

I'm also thrilled that my ideas for another Danny Fitzpatrick story have fallen into place and I've actually started writing it. I know I have a long way to go but I'm feeling great about it so far. I'm hoping for a writing filled summer!

That's where I'm at this month. How is everyone else doing?

In addition to participating in the IWSG I'm hosting Chrys Fey today. If you don't already follow this super-helpful and sweet blogger and writer, go visit her at Write with Fey.

Chrys is sharing an interview she conducted with her character Avrianna Heavenborn from her new release Ghost of Death. Welcome Chrys and Avrianna!



Hi everyone. I’m Chrys Fey and I am here to interview Avrianna Heavenborn, the detective from Ghost of Death. I hope you enjoy it. :)

***

Thanks for clearing some time out of your busy schedule to talk to me, Avrianna.

You’re welcome, Chrys. Sorry you had to come all the way out to my office.

That was no problem. Your office is...*looks around*...clean and sparse. *smiles*

I know, it sucks. I have a case to solve, though, so let’s get this show on the road.

Sure.


1. How did you become a detective?

It wasn’t easy. A lot of people wanted to see me fail, but I didn’t quit. The moment I graduated high school, I enrolled in the police academy. I was the youngest one in my class, and there was only a few other females in the academy. I worked as a beat cop for a while until I could get the title I coveted...detective. I did it fast and I did it good.

2. What’s the worst murder case you had to solve?

There’s been a lot of bloody crime scenes that I’ve seen and countless gruesome murders. After a while, they all start to blend together into one long gory blur. There was one where twin teenage girls were raped and murdered. Another where a mother of five was found beaten to death in a Dumpster. Right now, there’s so many images flashing in my mind that I can’t pick just one. Sorry.

3. That’s understandable. What have you learned over the years?

That anyone can be a killer. Anyone.

4. That’s very true and very scary. What went through your mind when you saw Jolie Montgomery’s crime scene?

Well, I was doing what any good detective would do. I was scrutinizing the area and body for clues about the murder, the victim, and the murderer. But...there was a moment when I had a temporary weakness. You see, Jolie was found in an alley. I once lived in an alley after I ran away from foster care. And for a second, I pictured myself as Jolie.

5. How do you plan on finding Jolie’s killer?

Oh, I have my ways. And I’m good. I’ll interview the people closest to her, find common threads, look for lies, apply pressure, eliminate suspects, collect evidence, and then make the arrest.

6. Do you have any leads?

Not yet, but I will and you can count on that!

7. If you could tell all the criminals out there something, what would it be?

To watch out, because I’m coming for each and every one of them.



They’d be smart not to mess with you. And I should know...I created you.

Thanks, Chrys. Now I really need to get back to work.

Say no more. I’ll show myself out.


Title: Ghost of Death
Author: Chrys Fey
Genre: Supernatural/Suspense
Format: eBook Only
Page Count: 41 (short story)
Release Date: April 22nd, 2015
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Blurb:

Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can...by stalking the lead detective on the case.

Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.

But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.


Book Links:

Excerpt:

            With the sound of her mom’s grief wafting up to her, Jolie came to terms with her present state. I’m dead and now my mom knows it. She eyed the door in front of her. She hadn’t yet walked through a door, but if her hand could pass through metal then she knew she could move
through wood.
If I have to be a ghost then I’ll be a damn good one. All across the afterlife I’ll be known as the Ghost of Death! And I’m going to start by walking through this damn door!
            She would’ve taken a deep breath to brace herself if she could have, so she mentally pumped herself up instead. You can do it! Easy-peasy. Nothing to it. And she took a step forward. Solid matter slipped around and through her form. On the other side, a familiar site confronted her: a black and white bed, the bright green shag carpet in the middle of the room, and a white desk.
            Stepping up to her desk, Jolie eyed her ancient desktop computer, the one she used before her dad gifted her with a laptop when she announced she was accepted to the local university. Wanting to send out the first ever tweet from the afterlife, she pushed the button to bring the device to life, but her finger poker straight through it. Resigning to her Twitter-less fate, she moved toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. She saw nothing. Not even a shimmer in the air hinted at her presence.
            Being a ghost sucks!


Available for PRE-ORDER:


Blurb:

Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.

Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.

Book Links:


BIO:

Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds. She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series.

When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way.

You can connect with her on Facebook and her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers! 


Author Links: 
Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads 


Thank you all for visiting and hopefully commenting. ;) 


40 comments:

  1. Good for you for feeling so optimistic about the near future! I'm totally feeding off your positive energy. Thx!

    Hi Chrys! Nice seeing you here. Congrats on your latest.

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  2. @SA Thank you! :D

    Julie, thank you so much for having me on your blog today! I totally forgot that it was IWSG Day. Otherwise, I would've made my post shorter. I appreciate all of your help. :)

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  3. The year is almost half over already?! Yikes!

    Glad to hear things are going so well, Julie. Maybe you should change your post to "Secure Writer...." :)

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  4. These character interviews are such a joy to read. Thanks Julie and Fey.

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  5. Hope your summer, spent in writing, will be lots of fun, Julie!

    What an interesting character interview, Chrys! Had a nice time reading it.

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  6. Yay to all your energy! May it keep on going.
    Loved the interview and especially the excerpt. Sounds like a great read.

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  7. Yay, good for you - not insecure and new ideas, to boot! I love months like that. Keep up the good work. Although, I still have Polar Day to read, so there's no hurry :-)

    Congrats to Chrys. Great interview with Avrianna - she's certainly seen some gruesome stuff!

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  8. Hi, Julie,

    CONGRATS on having such a wonderful and productive month! So happy to hear that you are penning out another story! I admire you so... Keep at it!

    Congrats to Chyrs and her new book. Love character interviews.

    All the best, Chyrs!

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  9. I'm glad things are going well for you, Julie. :)

    Wow! What a cool premise, Chrys!
    Best of luck! :D

    IWSG #134 until Alex culls the list again.

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  10. Anyone can be a killer? Scary.
    Glad you're in a good place and comfortable with public speaking now, Julie.

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  11. Every time I come back from a book event, or a SCBWI meeting, or my crit group, I get so pumped up about writing. What I need is to schedule two or three of them a week!

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  12. Today, I'm feeling like a slacker. Did an 8 day work week. Still need to get my ISWG post up.

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  13. I've got this one on my to read list. Honestly, it sounds excellent. Why Hollywood is snatching it up for a mega movie beats me. Good luck, tho I think it's inevitable.

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  14. Congrats to Chrys!! Looking forward to this release.

    Julie- I am always happy when I see an author who isn't insecure at the moment. It gives me hope for the future!!

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  15. @Karen, thank you!

    @Vanessa, Sittie, and Teresa, I'm glad you ladies enjoyed it. :)

    @Annalisa, she sure has. More than she cares to talk about.

    @Michael and Melissa, thank you both so much. :)

    @Alex, that is a scary thought, isn't it?

    @Joylene, Yay! Thank you, thank you!!

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  16. Your optimism gives me hope. Finishing one and moving on to another is the way it's supposed to happen. It did for you and I'm sure it will for me. Congratulations on all your public appearances - so awesome!

    Chrys - great interview, congrats on all your stories!

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  17. I'm so glad you're feeling good these days, Julie! You so deserve it. Good for you for finding the right way to get yourself back into writing and blogging :) And congratulations, Chrys!

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  18. Woot! So glad you're enthusiastic. It spreads!

    Great interview too. :)

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  19. I'm so happy things are going well for you, Julie!

    Congrats to Chrys! It was great learning more about Avrianna.

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  20. WOW! Congrats to Chrys!!! Her books sound amazing!

    And YAY!! Looking forward to reading more about Danny Fitzpatrick!!!

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  21. Sounds like things are going great! Hope everything goes well with the upcoming events.
    Congrats to Chrys!

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  22. @Yolanda, Liz, and Loni, thank you all very much!

    @Cherie, I'm glad you liked learning about Avrianna. She's my most unique character. :)

    @Cathrina and Sarah, thank you both!

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  23. I'm so glad you're still in a good, no great, place, Julie. I love that for you. I'm doing great too. Yay for us.

    Chrys - What a great blurb. Mixing mystery and supernatural - such a fantastic idea!! Best of luck!!

    Elsie

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  24. Very enticing book excerpts, and the covers are excellent. Best of fortune in your success!

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  25. Nothing wrong with having good writing vibes :)

    Avrianna sounds intriguing. Poor Jolie, dead and not able to recognize her killer. I hope she can effect something in the capture.

    Have a good weekend ladies :)

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  26. Kudos to you, Julie! I'm happy things are going well for you. You deserve it.

    Great seeing you here, Chrys. Sounds like another winner!

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  27. I think not feeling insecure when IWSG rolls around is a good sign - means you're doing well and can help others who might need it. ^_^ And it's always good to hear. Congrats on starting a new book; hope it all works out the way it's supposed to, even if it's not quite how you imagined it.

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  28. Hi Julie, I popped over here from Chrys' site. Nice to meet you!

    I love the interview, Chrys. I was smiling through this because I love a tough female investigator like Avrianna.That's an interesting name, too. I can't wait to read this!

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  29. Ah Chrys this looks great. :-)

    Here's my link if you'd like to drop by :-)

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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  30. So glad to hear a new Danny Fitzpatrick story is coming together. A good summer is a summer lost in a story. :)

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  31. @Elsie, I'm glad you liked my blurb! :D

    @Susan, thank you! I'm pretty proud of the covers myself. :)

    @Dolorah, you'll have to read Ghost of Death to find out if she's able to or not. ;)

    @Carol, thank you! I love being a guest on Julie's blog. :D

    @Lisa, I'm thrilled you came over to Julie's blog. She's awesome! Avrianna is a character I've known for a long time and hope to publish more stories with her. So hearing that others like her (and her name) makes my day. :)

    @Anna, thank you!

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  32. Hi Julie - what a great IWSG post - so pleased those public speaking events don't hold you in thrall any more - you sound as though you've completely mastered the various types .. congratulations and so enjoy those ones to come. Great news.

    Chrys' book ... has an interesting take ... fun to read about it .. cheers to her and good luck to you both - Hilary

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  33. Congrats on having no insecurities to share - we all need a break from those once in a while. (I hope my time's coming. lol) Congrats to Chrys on her new release. I wish her much success! :)

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  34. Feeling secure...now that's a good place to be. But you needn't have pointed out to me that 2015 is almost half over. Yikes!

    I loved the excerpt. Definitely caught my interest.


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  35. Okay that story of the two teenaged girls raped and murdered...wow. This detective has really got a tough skin to talk about it in an interview question like that. Very shocking and interesting.

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  36. It's very chilling to think that any of us can be a killer. Have to consider that for a while.

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  37. Great interview!

    I thought I'd already read and commented on this post, but evidently not. I did read something similar about this book, though, because I immediately bought it. Still haven't read it, but I will. It sounds terrific!

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  38. Your positive energy is contagious, Julie. I've re-filled the energy bank and am eager to see what's beyond the next mountain.

    Congrats to Chris. What a super cover for a fun read.

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  39. @Hilary, Lexa, LD, thank you!

    @C Lee, isn't that scary, but it is true if you think about it.

    @Susan, thank you so much! When you find the chance to read it, I hope you enjoy it. :)

    @Kittie, thank you! My cover artist did an awesome job.

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