miahpaws@gmail.com – Page 9

Interview with author Clyde Lawrence

ME: What energizes you to write?

I think of writing kind of like solving a series of puzzles. To come up with an engaging plot that entertains readers is one of the larger puzzles that I approach as I write. However, the small details are puzzles in and of themselves. To be an effective writer, one must craft sentences and paragraphs in ways that are congruent with all of the story elements and one must continually find unique and interesting ways of expressing ideas. Repetitively using the same descriptive words, for instance, becomes boring and monotonous for readers, so one must continually find new and interesting ways to describe the people, places, and things that are written about. When I go back and read the last few paragraphs I’ve written, I almost always find opportunities to make changes that will more predictably engage my readers. Once I know that I’ve finally “gotten it right”, I enjoy a great feeling of satisfaction. That’s what makes writing fun for me and inspires me to forge ahead.

ME:  Are you currently working on a new novel? If so, can you tell me a little bit about it?

I am working on a follow-up story to Fatal Flaws. The main character, Mark, finds himself terrorized by a mysterious individual who seems to know about his most carefully hidden secrets. He must discover the identity of his persecutor, who is framing him for several serious crimes, and find a way to clear his name.

ME:  Do you have a favorite genre/topic that you like to write about?

So far, I’ve focused on the thriller genre. I do enjoy finding ways to incorporate humor into my otherwise-dark stories. As a physician, I also like to incorporate medical subplots, which seem to have great pop-culture appeal, in my novels.

ME:  Where did you get the idea for Fatal Flaws?

I’ve considered the ideas around what I would be compelled to do if I found out that someone was hurting one of my kids. I truly believe that a lot of fathers tell themselves that they would do whatever it would take, including committing a definitive act of violence, to protect their children. This led me to the initial conflict in the book. Starting there, I became intrigued by the idea that, if violent measures were employed to deal with such a problem, the eventual consequences may be difficult to predict and could be life-shattering.

ME: As a practicing physician I am sure you are very busy. How do you find the time to write?

Honestly, it’s tough. I try to write a little every day, but rarely have more than an hour or two to devote to my writing. I have made a habit, over the last 2+ years, to get up at least an hour early every day so that I’ll at least have that time to work. My first grandchild was born last July, and I love to spend time with him, so time to write has become that much more difficult to find.

ME: Where do you feel the most creative?

I have a home office where I do almost all of my writing. However, I often spend a lot of time throughout the day thinking about my stories. Some of my biggest “breakthrough” ideas have come to me while I’m driving or taking a shower.

ME: Do you keep a journal or notebook were you write down ideas

I sometimes feel like I have a great idea when I’m lying in bed waiting to fall asleep or while I’m doing some type of mundane task and I’ll record a few sentences in the “Notes” app on my phone. Other times, I’ll scribble an idea down on a sticky note or scrap of paper and put it on my desk. Sometimes it turns out to be a “pearl” and I keep it. Other times, I look at it once, decide it’s garbage, and toss it.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone that is just starting out?

Only try to write a novel if writing is, for you, a form of expressive art. It is impossible, otherwise, to devote the time and effort into a project that may take many months (or even years) to complete. If there is no true compulsion to create something that can make a worthwhile impression on a reader, find another way to express yourself. Also, you must realize that even the most gifted authors may never be “discovered” by the public, so don’t think that, just because you’ve created something that you feel good about, it’ll ever end up in the hands of others who can appreciate it. Writing is tough, but marketing your writing is exponentially more difficult (and expensive).

ME: Did you always know you were going to be a writer at some point in your life?

I really did always feel like I would get around to writing at least one novel. I wasn’t certain that I’d be good at it, but about half-way through Fatal Flaws, I started to really impress myself and I started to feel like I had the right to call myself a “writer”.

ME: What is the hardest thing for you when writing?

I demand of myself that every character I create is believable and every conflict/resolution is authentic. I feel like authors who create hyperbolic (strongest, smartest, sexiest, most humorous) characters and/or supernatural plot resolutions are, often, being lazy. It’s much more difficult to create plausible, yet interesting and/or exciting, characters and scenarios. I hold myself to a very high standard in this regard and this makes writing very difficult at times.

ME:  Is there any person or author that inspired you to write?

I really like Nelson Demille. He creates great lead characters; however, he falls into the “hyperbole trap” (as I call it) over and over. His characters are superhumanly smart/clever, funny, good-looking, strong/sexy, etc., but he does make them interesting. I’ve tried to show, in Fatal Flaws, that most men are just boys who may or may not ever mature. I hope that my readers see the flaws in the characters as much as they appreciate the strengths. That, in my opinion, is real. To create characters with critical flaws that a reader still identifies with and finds sympathetic is the goal that I think authors should try their hardest to achieve.

About the author:

Clyde Lawrence is a doctor specializing in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. He has always had a love for learning and writing. After 20 of working as an doctor, he is finally pursuing a life long dream of being an author. His debut novel Fatal Flaws is now available on Amazon.

Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett

Shorefall, by Robert Jackson Bennett, is the follow up to Foundryside and the second installment of the Founders series. The author has once again shown us how outstanding world building, but together with great characters, can draw you into a world beyond your imagination. It is an epic fantasy tale that you are sure to enjoy.

It is three years later in Tevanne, Sancia, Orso, Berenice and Gregor are all back and they are trying to change the world. They want to make scriving available to everyone and Sancia in particular wants no more slaves. They have started their own foundry and though they are small, they are mighty. By changing the way society works they hope to break the hold that the large foundries (i.e. the Dandolos) have on the people.

They are just starting to put their plan in action when a wrench is thrown into the works. The wrench being a heirophant. The first heirophant no less and he is dead or should be. It seems that Gregor’s mother has found a way for him to live again. Now that he is here, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

I normally give a much longer synapsis; however, I hate spoilers and I don’t want to spoil anything for you, though I have to admit I am tempted to tell you more. This is a great plot and there are a lot of unexpected turn of events that you will not see coming and I just can’t bring myself to ruin it for you. The author used these twists creatively, and they keep you engaged. This made for an exciting read and I know you will think so too.

The characters in the book are well thought-out. I especially liked the interaction between the various characters. They felt authentic.

There is a lot to take in with this book. The rules for scriving and the way everything works will keep you on your toes. In fact, I found it a little too cumbersome at times. As such, it is the one negative for me.

You really need to read Foundryside first, if you have not already. It will get too confusing if you don’t have the first book as the background. However, if you are a lover of epic fantasy you will not mind as all reading or rereading book one before you tackle this one. The imagination it took to create this is mind blowing. Super inventive story sure to entertain. Don’t miss out on this one!

I received a free electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. K. Klune

Pub. Date: 17-March-2020
Rating: 5 Stars

There is something extremely wonderful about this book that is hard to put into words because it is so many things all at once. The author has given the reader a great cast of characters to love and an outstanding plot to go along with it. It is just one of those stories that is sure to touch your heart.

Linus Baker has been a case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) for a long time. In his job, he investigates orphanages for magical children and makes recommendations as to whether they should remain open or be closed. He is meticulous in his reports and always follows the rules to the letter.

Linus in his off time, does nothing of note. He lives an uneventful and rather dreary life by himself with just his cat for company. Until one day when he is called to the offices of Extreme Upper Management and is assigned a case of utmost important and secrecy. He is to spend four weeks at an orphanage and while there he is to observe and provide a full report every week.

He is given a dossier on each child and not much else. There are six children in all at this particular orphanage, each one dangerous, but one child in particular is of greatest concern and who just happens to be the Antichrist. To say Linus is scared is an understatement; but, he sets aside his fears determined to do his job to the best of his ability. He becomes immersed in the day-to-day activities of the orphanage and even participates in outings. What he discovers is a very special sort of magic that has nothing, and yet everything, to do with the children.

The central theme in this book is about differences and prejudices. It explores how these prejudices affect others and how just one person can start a change. The author uses the magical children’s characters to explore the differences between individuals and how prejudices can harm. The whole thing was handled so well and the quirky, magical children will make you smile. They are able to open Linus’s eyes and he starts to see things is a new and wonderful way.

The plot was imaginative and well-paced. The author uses this fantasy setting to teach life lessons in a subtle way and I appreciated that it was not an in your face story. I also liked how the children and Author give hope to Linus. In little subtle ways, the author is asking the reader to rethink their own prejudices.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I know it will not be my last. I highly recommend this one to everybody, though I think it is more geared toward young adults. I also recommend this book to older middle grade readers who have reached this reading level because the characters will undoubtedly speak to them.

The Lane Betrayal by John A. Heldt

Heldt always gives the reader a story to devour and The Lane Betrayal is no exception. Filled with lots of action, danger and a tad of romance, this fast paced tale is sure to satisfy that craving for adventure in every reader.

Mark Lane, a gifted physicist, has made the breakthrough of the century, maybe the millennia, with his device that allows time travel. He should be elated. Instead, he has discovered that his business partner, Robert Devereaux, in Janus Enterprises is planning to use the device for wicked ends. In an attempt to thwart Robert, Mark has planned to steal the two working devices and escape with his family into the past. This escape plan also includes alerting the authorities to what Robert is up to and sabotaging the project.

Mark has been planning his escape for months with the help of his colleague Randy who has decided to stay behind and assist where he can with the escape. On the day of the planned escape, Robert gets wind that something is a foot and is coming to confront Mark. With just a few minutes head start, courtesy of Randy, Mark manages to whisk his family to 1865 around the closing days of the Civil War. It looks like things are finally going as planned. Then a turn of bad luck occurs when one of the keys for the devices is forgotten in a cabin in Virginia and the second device is impounded by the government.

The government thinks the device might be something to aid the Rebel Army in the closing days of the war. Mark, now a prisoner of the Union Army, and suspected of being a rebel sympathizer, is taken to Washington, D.C. The family has no choice but to follow. To make matters worse, Robert has hired a hit man, Silas Bain, to travel back in time and finds the Lanes and kill them. Will anything go right for the Lane family?

I loved how the author allowed the tension to build slowly. By the end of the story you are sitting on the edge of your seat to see if the Lanes will stay a step ahead of Silas Bain. Therefore, it is no surprise that action is the key element of this book and it worked very well with the plot. Overall great pacing.

Sometimes stories with lots of action lack character development. Not so here! As with other books I have read by this author, the character development is critical to the story. Heldt knows how to get and keep the reader’s attention with the characters he builds. He delves deeply into the psyche of his characters to make them memorable and invest the reader.

I filed this book under science fiction, but fiction is the operative word here. There is really no science just a great story about, love, family and what binds us all together. Perfect book for fans of Nora Roberts and similar authors. Highly recommend!

Disclosure: While I used my Kindle Unlimited account to read this book, the author did request a review.

Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein

Set in prewar Germany, this poignant story of a young girl just coming into adulthood will have you gritting your teeth at the injustices and cheering at her bravery. It is a fast paced and dramatic tale that portrays the lives of people swept up in the growing power of Hitler and his SS. A story that will leave you gasping in the end.

Hetty Heinrich is the daughter of a very powerful SS officer. As such, she is expected to be the perfect German girl. This is basically having good moral standards and marrying a “good” German man to produce as many children as possible for the Thousand Year Reich. She wants none of this. Instead, she wants to be a doctor. This is a frequent argument with her father, who views Hetty as a willful child that is spoiled and allowed to much freedom.

Hetty is left with no choice other than to be that good Germany girl her father wishes and assist the Reich in any way she can. The restraints chaff on her. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that when she runs into Walter, an old friend of her brother’s, that she starts secretly meeting him. The meetings must be secret because Walter is a Jew, even though Walter once saved Hetty from drowning when she was a child. If they are found out it will not go well for either of them.

Walter tells Hetty about the terrible things that are happening to Jews. At first, she is reluctant to believe him. She has been told over and over again how Jews lie, cheat and steal. How can she trust a Jew when they are so bad? Slowly, as they fall in love, she begins to see the truth of what is really happening. Then comes a day when Walter’s family is imprisoned and Hetty must make a choice that may cost her everything.

There is a lot to love in this story, from the elegantly written prose to the heart-breaking truths of one of the darkest times in recent memory. For me at least, the most notably thing is how power does corrupt and how easily people can be seduced by lies of government. Because of what we now know happened to the Jews and others that tried to resist Hitler it made the story more intense.

There was great character development with Hetty. I loved seeing how she went from a naïve teenage to a courageous and brave young woman. The author also did a lovely job with all the layering of emotions. She guides the reader deftly through a wide range and intensity of emotions. I felt rung out by the end of the story.

The only thing I wished for was more of an ending. It seemed a little rushed and I felt there was more to the story. Everything else was so good that in hindsight this is really such a minor thing.

This book is definitely a good choice for a historical book club. There are lots of topics that would be interesting to explore further. Also, a great choice for readers of period romance and WWII books. If you only read a few historical fiction books in the near future, I recommend that this should be one of them.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

As suggested from the title, Stalking Jack the Ripper, is a YA horror/murder mystery book (very) loosely based on the real murders of young women in London during the 1880s. The author, Kerri Maniscalco, has presented the reader with a young protagonist who will capture your heart with her courage, defiance and tenacity as she works to solve the murders.

Audrey Rose Wadsworth is an educated young woman and daughter of a Lord. Ladies of her standing are expected to be prime and proper. Yet, she finds the society demands upon her restricting and she rebels against them. Even though her father has expressly forbidden it, she has been learning forensic science through her Uncle who is an expert in the field. So naturally she is thrilled to help her Uncle examine the first victim of Jack he Ripper.

Then when her Uncle of all people is arrested for the murders, she vows to find out the truth. For Audrey Rose this is the being of a very dangerous path. One that could lead even to her death.

I appreciated the fast pace of the book and it had plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The prose was also good and I liked the attention to detail given to the scenes. Pace will only take the reader so far and this book had a good mix of both.

I liked the characters in this book, especially Audrey Rose. In truth, I felt her character was a little bit of a stretch for the times but it worked so well in the story I can’t really find fault. Sometimes a little creative license is necessary for a good story. After all it is fiction meant to entertain. At the end the author does give you the facts of what happened in London during this time and shows how those facts were used to create the story.

This book has been on my TBR list for almost a year. I wish I had read it sooner because if was entertaining and just what I needed as a distraction amid this virus lockdown. The book definitely has a Holmes and Watson vibe to it, albeit a younger male/female version. I highly recommend for those readers that like this type of book. Being a historical book with a light touch of romance I think there will be a wider audience that will enjoy it and recommend you give it a read.

I received a free copy from the publisher, at BookExpo 2019, in exchange for my honest review.

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher

In this post-apocalyptic story, A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher, the reader is treated to a story in the vain of Station Eleven. Since I had recently read Station Eleven and loved it, I was very excited to finally have time to read this one. While I could draw a lot of similarities between the two stories, the themes of this book are loyalty, courage and family.

In this future post-apocalyptic story, most of the entire human race has died and of the few left most are not able to reproduce, further dwindling the numbers to the thousands. The main character, Griz, lives with his family on a small island off the coast of the UK totally cut off from what is left of humanity, except for a small family that lives on a nearby island. It has been years since they have had contact with other people.

Then one day a red sail appears on the horizon. The boat is maned by a lone trader. He is young, charming and enchants the family with his tales of travel. While he expounds upon his adventures, he also poisons them and in the dead of the night he sneaks off with Jess, Griz’s dog. Female dogs are rare and therefore she is valuable. Enraged, Griz takes off after him in his own boat. This leads him into an adventure he was not prepared for.

As with Station Eleven, this book it is not a hard-core Science Fiction tale but, as stated earlier, it is about loyalty and family and what binds us together. There is not a lot of action in the story though the plot moves nicely. In addition, the entire story is told from Griz’s POV through a journal he has kept. This allows the author to reflect on the themes of the book and present his idea of what humanity would be become after a mega disaster. The author pulls no punches in presenting the bad side of humanity. In fact, I think he was kind on humans. He could have made it so much worse.

The story is very compelling and the author spends a lot of time on character development, at least with the main character. So you really get to know Griz, which sets you up for the big plot twist at the end. I totally did not see that coming. Also, while the story was rather bleak in terms of the fate of humanity the author presents a case for hope and shows there will always be good in the world. By the end, I was full of conflicting emotions and had to noodle on it before writing this review.

This would be a great story for a book club because there is a lot of thought-provoking themes explored in this book. The prose was excellent and though the scope of the plot was ambitious it worked well within the confines of the story. I recommend this book to anyone who likes reflective stories regardless of what genre they fit into.

Inexpressible Island by Paullina Simons

As I started in on Inexpressible Island, the third and final book in the End of Forever Saga by Paullina Simons, I was pondering the many things that had thwarted Julian and Josephine in their prior lives. Whether you call it fate, destiny, bad luck or karma they just could not caught a break. I felt for them and I had to know how it ended for them.

This book is a difficult one to give you a synopsis of without some sort of spoiler. All I can tell you is that Julian is determined to make one last effort to save Josephine. It will be his biggest gamble to date and there will not be another “do over” at the end of this one. Yet, he is a fighter in both the literary and figurative sense of the word and if anyone could succeed it would be him.

I was so moved by this story that I kept thinking about it for days after I was finished reading. I was in such turmoil that I had to wait a bit before I could put my thoughts to paper. All of this is because the author gave us a main character that was loyal, strong and yet broken, and so very determined to keep trying or die trying. Everyone needs a Julian in their life and because of this character I was totally invested.

Yes, this is an epic love story and much more because it is filled with adventure and surprise. The story moved along quickly and I truly believe Julian would have gone to the ends of the earth for Josephine. It was filled with joy and hope and moments of the deepest despair. The prose was so good in this series that I can’t do it justice with my meager talents.

Stories like this are not a dime-a-dozen. So, if you like epic tales of romance and adventure you have to read, not just this book, but the entire series. I actually thought the series got better and better as it went along. Highly recommend! I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review.

Sinner, Saint, or Serpent by John Anthony Miller

Sinner, Saint or Serpent, by John Anthony Miller, is a twisted murder mystery that will keep even the best sleuth in the dark until the very last page. The book opens and closes with a bang and the ending took me totally by surprise. I need more books like this!

No one seems very upset when August Chevalier, a prominent business man, is murdered, Mafia style, in his own home. After all, he was a ruthless businessman with questionable practices and even a few ties with the mob. No wonder no one seems too enthusiastic about finding the killer, including the police, with one exception being a local reporter named “Justice” Harper.

Justice earned his nickname by being a fair and honest reporter that always seeks the truth. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he wants to find the killer who committed this crime. He feels he owes that to the citizens of New Orleans. Of course the added benefit of solving the crime before the police is getting a big scoop for the newspaper.

Justice along with his colleague, Remy Moore, work together to discover who killed Mr. Chevalier. There are three prime suspects. The philanthropist Lucinda Boyd, known for her many charity efforts that benefit the folks of New Orleans, the wealthy businesswoman Blaze Barbeau with a questionable past, and the voodoo queen of New Orleans, Belladonna Dede. They all have motives for waiting him dead and all three can be placed close to the scene around the time of his death. So who did it?

Loved Mr. Miller’s descriptive prose of 1920s New Orleans. It was wonderful and I got a real sense of the vibe of the city. I could just imagine going to a speak-easy and listening to the jazz band play, then strolling the streets of the French Quarter. The city described had a mysterious air to it and that made it the perfect setting for a murder mystery.

The plot was superbly done. It opened with the murder; therefore, I was invested in the story right away. The tension in the plot slowly built so that I always wanted to keep reading to get the next clue and try to figure out who the killer was before the final reveal. By the end I was sitting on the edge of my seat and then when I finally arrived there I was totally blown away. Did not see that coming at all!

If you love mysteries you need to read this book. Great story and awesome execution! You will love it!

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Beggar’s Kingdom by Paullina Simons

A Beggar’s Kingdom, by Paullina Simons, is the second book in the End of Forever Saga. In it we continue to follow Julian and Josephine’s story, as it continues thru time, as the soul mates try to defy their fate. The author has given us some of her best work in this epic tale of heart break and enduring love. It is the kind of story that will touch you and stay with you long after the end.

Julian is devasted that he was not able to save Josephine in his previous attempt to join her younger soul in the past. Despite the failure, and the consequences of that, he is determined to try again despite the risks and the odds stacked against him. I do not want to say more on the fear of giving away too much. I want the reader to be as surprised and shattered as I was by the twists and turns this story takes.

First thing I would like to note is that you need to read book one before this one. While the author does a good job of recapping what occurred in book one, it is not enough to understand the depth of Julian and all the events that lead to the opening of book two. In short, it is the detail of the characters and events that make this series and you don’t want to miss out on any of it. In fact, I am so enthralled by the story I am going to jump right into book three.

My favorite thing about Ms. Simons stories is the attention to detail. The way she sets a scene and the depth of her characters always keep me coming back for more and this book is no exception. I totally felt Julian’s devotion to Josephine and his devasting loss when he failed to save her. In this story there are plenty of twists of fate that will keep you engaged and you will marvel in wonder at Julian’s devotion and tenacity.

I highly recommend this book to readers that love to be sweep away in a story. It the kind of story that is so emotionally raw it left me rung out and I loved every minute of it.