September 20, 2013

Guest Blogger:  Stacy-Deanne

I've got a lot of work to do, since prior to my weekend away last weekend I did next to nothing.  Author Stacy-Deanne is stepping in to take over my blog today to talk about inspiration, a question writers hear often.  She also mentions being influenced by one of my all-time favorite filmmakers.

Stacy's latest book, The Wild Life, is available now.  Not only has she brought an excerpt to pique your interest, but she is giving away a complimentary copy to up to five commenters...so don't forget to answer the giveaway question below and to to leave your email address with your comment to be in the running!

I'm getting back to my writing.  Take it away, Stacy-Deanne!  

Everything Great Starts with Inspiration

To celebrate my latest book, The Wild Life, I want to talk about my inspiration for writing. One of the main questions people always ask me is how I got into writing mystery novels. Well, I’m a natural born mystery buff. Since I came outta my mother’s womb I loved mysteries. I remember snuggling beside my mom back in the 80’s when I was just a little kid and watching old Hitchcock movies. The first one I saw was Dial M for Murder and I was so taken aback with the ending and that key. LOL! Anyone who’s seen the movie knows what I mean. Hands down I have never seen a twist as compelling as the one on Dial M for Murder.

Hitchcock is my idol and every time I write a mystery, I channel him. I don’t think anyone will ever compare to him. He had a brilliance that you can’t learn. You have to be born with it. What I love most about Hitchcock is that the answers to his mysteries are obvious yet he constructs such brilliant plots that you don’t even realize that the answer to the mystery is right in front of you. That’s a good mystery. Whether the mystery involves looking for a killer or weapon, it should be obvious, yet not-so-obvious. Only a master accomplishes that.

I will forever be grateful for Hitchcock because if it hadn’t been for me curling up with my mom and watching those old movies, I most likely would not be the mystery writer I am today.

The Wild Life (excerpt):

“What do you expect me to say, Steve?” Brianna sat beside Jayce. “I don’t even know what’s going on.”

He bent over her. “Can’t anything go well for you, woman? Why do you keep getting yourself in these predicaments?”

“Oh excuse me for coming home and finding a man in my kitchen!”

Jersey tugged on her ears. “I have a huge headache and one of my officers has just been attacked. The last thing I need is for you two to argue.”

Steven and Brianna made faces at each other.

“We’re worried about you, Morris. Tell us what’s going on so we can help.”

“I don’t know if you can help.”

Davis slunk into the room and rested at Brianna’s feet. She scooped up the brown feline.

“The guy that tried to kill me…” She scratched Davis’ ear. “Well, he worked for Milan Varela.”

Steven gaped. “What the fuck did you just say?”

Brianna shrugged.

“Are you fucking kidding me? A man who worked for the head of the Southern Cuban Mafia was here? Here?”

“I was telling Bree that a friend of mine in the FBI might be able to help her,” Jayce said. “It’s about her father. They’re looking for him.”

“George?” Jersey’s green eyes beamed from behind her glasses. “What the hell would the Cuban Mafia want with George?”

“No telling. You know the life my father lives. It’s full of risks and he makes no apologies for it.”

Jersey touched the back of her neck. “How the hell could he even get close to Milan Varela in the first place?”

“So this is the type of stuff your father’s always into?”

“Jayce, my father has never been a father to me. He stays gone for decades at a time and pops up probably once every ten or fifteen years when he wants something. I wonder if he even remembers he has a daughter half the time.” She kissed Davis’ head. “Right now what’s important is this mess he’s got going with Milan. Why would he want my dad dead?”

“I just can’t believe this. I mean, your dad has been involved in some shady things during his life but nothing like this. What are you gonna do, Morris?”

“As much as I hate him, I can’t let anything happen to him. I gotta find out where he is.”

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The Wild Life is available in print and ebook, at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

 

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Giveaway Question:

Name something that’s inspired you personally or professionally and why.

Five people who provide the most interesting answer to this question will each win an eBook copy of The Wild Life.

Giveaway ends at 8 pm Central Time. Ebook copies will be emailed to participants by Stacy-Deanne. Commenters must leave email address with comment to be eligible.