Blog Tour: Blood on the Pen - David W. Huffstetler - Author Interview

David Huffstetler is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Tribute Books blog tour for his book, Blood on the Pen. Thank you for being here today, David! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy! 

Can you give us a description of Blood on the Pen in haiku?

Autumn of terror

By a killer they don’t know

Can they survive it?

If you found yourself in Jack and Elsie’s world, what would you do first?

Get the heck out of Texas. Well, maybe not, but their world is more than chasing a psychopathic killer. Their relationship gets more complicated, perhaps more special, by the day, so I might spend some time with a therapist. Of course, Jack already has one.

What one song describes the world as you see it?

I assume this means Jack and Elsie’s world, and it isn’t a song so much as it is a verse from a song. When I listen to Ed Ames, yes I said Ed Ames, sing Try to Remember, I am stricken by the line that says, “Without the hurt the heart is hollow.” It captures the pain of life, but also the hope, that eternal breath that says the pain comes from something deeper. If the people we care about weren’t so important to us, then it wouldn’t hurt so much to lose them, and you can’t have one emotion without the other.

If Murphy’s law applied to you, what scenario would you most likely encounter?

I only accept Murphy’s law in part. Bad things can happen, and they can happen at the worst time, but they don’t always happen. If it did apply to me, then the devastating bad thing would be for something to happen to my family. My writing is important to me, but the possibility a bad review or finding someone who can’t wait to trash your work on in a chat room is part of the price you pay when you step into this world.

Do you have any quirks about writing?

Quirks? Why, whatever do you mean? I like to be alone when I write. Some writers like to have a drink or play music, but not me. Perhaps a cup of coffee, but all I really want is to be left with my characters, so we can talk.

You’ve made the newspaper headline. What does it say? What don’t you want it to say?

Extra, Extra, Strange Author Writes About Love and Murder in Texas.

What I don’t want it to say is, Huffstetler’s Work Mediocre, Predictable.

Thank you for being here today, and answering my questions David! 

David W. Huffstetler can be found on his website, his blog and on facebook.

Blood on the Pen can be found as an ebook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Wild Child Publishing.

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Jack Harden is a modern-day Texas Ranger haunted by his wife's death a year ago.

But when a murderer strikes, he is called into duty. Now he must battle the urge to kill the drunk driver responsible for her death and the hunger to kill himself as he hunts for a serial killer who wants him dead.

Elsie Rodriguez is assigned to report on the murders for her newspaper and ordered to stay with Jack Harden. He's old school, tough, and doesn't want her there, but, despite his gruff manner, the big Ranger triggers something inside her. Something more than just her Latin temper.

Can she pull him back from the edge of sanity? Or will death win again?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

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Educated in Dallas, North Carolina, David Huffstetler holds degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. He has worked in the area of human relations and spent fourteen years weaving through the maze of politics, including participating in a Federal Law suit as Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, with a sitting governor over issues of separation of powers. David has served on Boards of Directors for numerous professional organizations including Crime Stoppers, SC Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, SC Safety Council, the SC Fire Academy, and the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Workers’ Compensation. He has advised governors and legislators on matters of public policy and legislation. His wealth of experience is broad and brings deep insight to his writing.

David’s work as a senior manager with a major industrial concern took him to international venues and exposures that helped feed his urge to write Disposable People, a dramatic expose of the working conditions and politics that engulf undocumented workers. Disposable People is a top-ten “Suggested Book” at Tufts University in Boston, MA.

He turned the frustrations and rejection that plagues thousands of yet-to-be-published authors into the heralded mystery/thriller Blood on the Pen, with a serial killer disposing of literary agents. David, an avid history buff, led him to write Dead in Utah, the story of Joe Hill, the controversial musician and union organizer accused of a double murder in 1914.

His books receive praise from mystery readers across the globe.

As an editor, David edited a treatise on the South Carolina workers’ compensation laws, as well as, Shannon Faulkner’s novel Fire and Ice. Shannon was the first female cadet at the Citadel. She received national publicity for her federal lawsuit and was a guest on Good Morning America.

As an editor, public speaker, and seasoned professional, David has appeared on television and radio, and has lectured on the East Coast, California, Canada and Mexico.

David currently lives in Lexington, South Carolina with his wife, Trudy.

Blog Tour: Good Graces - Lesley Kagen - Author Interview

Lesley Kagen is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Tribute Books blog tour for her book, Good Graces. Thank you for being here today, Lesley! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy! 

Who is your favorite character in Good Graces?

That's like asking me who my favorite child is! I love all my characters, but for different reasons. I have to admit a slight partiality to Troo and Mary Lane, though. I adore wisecracking kids.

You've mentioned that your first book, Whistling in the Book, and the new sequel, Good Graces, are somewhat autobiographical. How so?

It is true that it's best to write about what you know. I grew up in the same type of neighborhood the O'Malley sisters did. The kids on the block are almost exact replications of the ones I played Red Light, Green Light and Kick the Can with back in the Fifties. The family structure,--the mother and the three girls--is also the same as mine. I love Milwaukee and wanted to use a many of the iconic figures and places I could to conjure up a sense of place. While some elements of the plot are also based on my life, most of that I just made up.

Would you say that you write coming-of-age stories?

I think all stories are coming-of-age stories. They're just told at different stages of our lives.

The climax in Good Graces might be considered somewhat controversial.

I don't really think about whether or not everyone is going to like what I write. When you release a book, you leave yourself open to all sorts of opinions. Some will like the story, some will not. The same way some folks like pistachio ice cream and some don't. The enjoyment of a book is purely subjective.

How do you handle reviews?

Not being terribly mashochistic, I like the good ones and try to avoid the bad ones. I try to always keep in mind that readers will react in different ways. What I'm not fond of is people who feel that just because you're in the public eye it gives them a license to be mean. I wouldn't dream of giving a book that wasn't my cup of tea a terrible review. I was taught that if I didn't have something nice to say to not say anything at all. Think we could all use a little more of that, don't you? Kindness is important.

The Catholic Church also plays a big part in Good Graces. Do you think you portrayed it accurately?

I do. It might be hard for some readers to understand how influential the Church was in the good old days. It was all powerful. And in some ways, I think the Church abused that power.

Are kids better off now than they were in the Fifties?

In some ways. Communication between adults and children is so much better now. I don't remember ever having a meaningful conversation with my parents. Kids are valued more now. Back then, children were more like possessions. But in other ways, we were so much better off. The pace was different. You could lie around in your backyard and stare at clouds and nobody would get after you to do something "productive or "educational." Everything is so organized now. Kids have playdates and lessons of all kinds. We didn't. We barely had TV. We were our own entertainment. We'd have to dream up something to do everyday. And there was so much more freedom for kids. Parents weren't scared to let there kids out of the house. In fact, they encouraged it. The longer the better. (My mother always seemed slightly disappointed when my younger sister and I turned up for supper.)

Who is your biggest supporter?

My family. My husband, Pete, is my first reader. I give him pages every morning to go through. He jots down notes, but mostly draws stars on the last page. Both of my kids are in the mix, too. My daughter is a corporate attorney who is great with details, and my son is excellent with the humor and dialogue scenes. They are unrelentingly critical. (This is to get back at me for not buying them a spaceship when they were younger.)

Anything else you'd like to share?

I'd like to wish everyone a happy holiday! And to thank them for supporting my books. Hope everyone enjoys Good Graces.

Thank you for answering these questions, Lesley! Thank you for being here! 

Lesley Kagen can be found on her website, and on facebook. 

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Lesley Kagen returns with the sequel to her national bestselling debut, Whistling in the Dark.

Whistling in the Dark captivated readers with the story of ten-year-old Sally O'Malley and her sister, Troo, during Milwaukee's summer of 1959. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and was named a Midwest Honor Award winner.

In Good Graces, it's one year later, and a heat wave has everyone in the close-knit Milwaukee neighborhood on edge. None more so than Sally O'Malley, who remains deeply traumatized by the sudden death of her daddy and her near escape from a murderer and molester the previous summer. Although outwardly she and her sister, Troo, are more secure, Sally's confidence in her own judgment and much of her faith have been whittled away. When a series of disquieting events unfold in the neighborhood-a string of home burglaries, the escape from reform school of a nemesis, and the mysterious disappearance of an orphan, crimes that may involve the increasingly rebellious Troo-Sally is called upon to rise above her inner demons. She made a deathbed promise to her daddy to keep Troo safe, a promise she can't break, even if her life depends on it. But when events reach a crisis point, will Sally have the courage and discernment to make the right choices? Or will her false assumptions lead her and those she loves into danger once again?

Lesley Kagen's gift for imbuing her child narrators with compelling authenticity shines as never before in Good Graces, a novel told with sensitivity, wit, and warmth.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson - Jerome Charyn

Jerome Charyn, "one of the most important writers in American literature" (Michael Chabon), continues his exploration of American history through fiction with The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, hailed by prize-winning literary historian Brenda Wineapple as a "breathtaking high-wire act of ventriloquism." Channeling the devilish rhythms and ghosts of a seemingly buried literary past, Charyn removes the mysterious veils that have long enshrouded Dickinson, revealing her passions, inner turmoil, and powerful sexuality. The novel, daringly written in first person, begins in the snow. It's 1848, and Emily is a student at Mount Holyoke, with its mournful headmistress and strict, strict rules. Inspired by her letters and poetry, Charyn goes on to capture the occasionally comic, always fevered, ultimately tragic story of her life-from defiant Holyoke seminarian to dying recluse.

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson

Author: Jerome Charyn

Genre: Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Publication Date: February 14, 2011

Format: e-book

Source: Received from publicist as part of the Tribute Books blog tour for The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson. You can follow along with the tour here. Many thanks goes to Nicole from Tribute Books for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Kindle, Book Depository, W. W. Norton & Company, Barnes & Noble, Nook

My rating: 4/5

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson takes on the task of deciphering just what makes Emily tick, and gives us a glimpse of the reclusive life that she led. Although this is a work of fiction, it is a plausible interpretation of her life. Though I don't know much about Emily Dickinson, I  do recall learning various facts about her from school, and while reading the book, I also did some research to refresh my memory. I enjoyed reading about Emily in this volume. I found The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson surprised me actually with how vivid it was, especially knowing that some works can be written with a voice that is too dry. This is not one of those books. Emily is a girl who wants to get married, and she is emboldened by her sharp wit. Her humorous and albeit dark lookout on life had me reading voraciously to see what knowledge I could glean from her. 

It was interesting to see where history and fiction collides in The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, and though I may not necessarily agree with some of the liberties taken, I do realize that this is fictional recreation of her life. As such, I applaud Charyn for creating such a vivid backdrop, and making history so real for those who may not enjoy reading about historical figures due to the fear of 'textbook syndrome'. It really was a captivating read, especially when you see how she was influenced by the writers of her era; to us, they are prestigious and influential, but back then, they were just evolving, and coming into their own. I wished more of Emily's work could have been captured in the book though, as it would have added more to the read. However it was neat to see how Currer Bell was brought to life, and how that affected women in writing, especially Emily.

All in all, a historical and fictionalized recounting of the life and times of the reclusive Emily Dickinson. I think many will either love or hate this read, based on their views of Emily in history, and the version of Emily detailed in this story. History is detailed fluidly in this book, and the voice, set in the 1800's, just adds to the descriptive quality. History comes to life, and will leave the readers questioning whether or not how true to reality this actually is. I'm glad I picked it up as it challenged my views and gave me an appreciation for life as a female authoress in those times. 

The Big Show Stopper - Ken Dalton

The Big Show Stopper opens in a packed concert arena with everyone waiting for the entrance of Brady Blackstone, the richest, and premier concert performer in America. But before Brady sets his foot on the stage, a tragic accident takes his life in front of Bear and a devastated Flo. However, it does not take Bear and Flo very long to question if the death was it an accident or murder?

Once again, in the pursuit of a pile of money and a little justice, Pinky travels to an exotic site while Bear and Flo end up in one of the least desirable locations in California.

The Big Show Stopper brings back Pinky, Bear, Flo, along with a gaggle of quirky characters. A beer swilling wacko. A naked old fart. A couple of downright dangerous folks. And concludes on a dark night with the dynamic trio spread eagle counting down the final seconds of their lives.

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: The Big Show Stopper

Author: Ken Dalton

Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery

Publisher: Different Drummer Press

Publication Date: September 16, 2010

Format: Softcover

Source: Received as part of the Tribute Books blog tour. Many thanks goes to Nicole for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Kindle Edition.

My rating: 3.5/5

Bear and Flo are heading out to a concert, and they've managed to obtain backstage passes. Before the show starts though, it is stopped in its tracks when the main attraction winds up dead. Was Blackstone's death accidental, or intentional? Bear and Pinky are on the case when they are asked to investigate Blackstone's death by his widow. With Flo in tow, Bear heads to Carson City to question Blackstone's crew. Pinky is left to handle any problems that arise back at the office. Will they find the bad guy?

The Big Show Stopper has a very noir-like vibe to it. It's set up as a true who-dun-it and the reader will be wondering until the very end if Bear and Pinky will solve the mystery. With an engaging and colourful cast of characters, there is no end to the witticisms. A trigger-happy cop, Bear's girlfriend, Flo, a homeless man, and Blackstone's crew all add their own brand of flair to the story.  

Bear and Pinky test the bonds of employee and employer, and the book is told from both of their points of view. They both seem to know when to give and have a relatively good working relationship, though I think Bear is treated poorly by Pinky on more than one occasion. Bear and Flo's relationship is also up for debate as Flo constantly is questioning Bear's whereabouts. While readingThe Big Show Stopper I found that it reminded me of a masculine version of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. The main reason that I drew the connection was due to the relationships that Bear has with his fellow co-workers and family, as well as the characters that he has to hunt down and question. There are many situations in the book that are inflected with humour which makes this book an interesting read.

All in all, an engaging storyline. The reader will be invested in the outcome, and will enjoy the behind the scenes look at different aspects of the music industry. A humorous and, at times, tongue-in-cheek read, avid mystery readers will like the nuances of the characters and story as Bear struggles to piece together the mystery of Blackstone's death on a deadline.