Author Guest Post
Procrastination
I’m
pretty much a get-it-done-now kind of person, in my life and in my
writing. I jump all over deadlines,
since I feel responsible for meeting them.
More often than not, I either succeed or come close. I write every day (often 7 days a week) and
I’m a chronic workaholic. To my
perpetual annoyance, I’m not one of those authors who can write thousands and
thousands of words a day, and complete an entire novel in several months. My creative process just doesn’t work that
way. Although I write every day, it’s usually
for two four-hour intervals, and then for the rest of the day I wind up editing
my day’s work and doing or deepening my research. There’s no first draft for me, since I
perpetually rewrite as I go along and since the plot twists change, or the
characters have other ideas about where they’re headed. The result is, I produce a book a year.
Doesn’t
that sound industrious?
Well,
now let’s talk about the flip side—a side of me I never knew existed until I
started writing novels. I can be a first-class
procrastinator.
It
happens when the words aren’t coming and the ideas run dry (i.e. it’s one of
those barren days), the research is slow, and my brain won’t switch into
editorial mode. Sometimes it won’t even
switch into reading mode, which would be a great outlet for my creative
juices. But, sadly, on those days I
can’t absorb a sentence. In other words,
I’m utterly, completely dry.
I’ve
developed a great procrastination tool kit.
It’s called diversionary tactics: Playing with my Pomeranian (who
doesn’t like me to work anyway). Watching
Yankees games. Walking laps in the
middle of the day, rather than after dinner or in the wee hours of the
morning. (I’m a night person.) Doing crossword puzzles or playing word
games. Watching old movies. Browsing the Internet. And, yes, even doing laundry or cleaning the
house. (That’s so you know how desperate
I get.) I’m a disaster in the kitchen,
so creative cooking is out. And every
plant I touch seems to die on me, so gardening is out, as well. But each time a dry spell strikes, I add to
my list of diversionary tactics. Last
week, I learned how to more smoothly fold my sheets, so they don’t resemble
linen lumps when I put them away. I
looked up all the novels and research books I want to delve into and put them
on my “to read” list on Goodreads. I did
some light weight-lifting to improve my body and, hopefully, to kick-start my
brain. And I deleted all the spam in my
Inbox, email by email.
My
dry spell finally ended. I started
writing again. And I’m going to push
myself as hard and as far as I can.
Because dry spells don’t announce themselves. They just show up, like unwelcome
visitors. My goal is to learn how to
send them on their way before they settle in.
About The Author
Andrea Kane's psychological thriller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, became an instant New York Times bestseller, the latest in a long string of smash hits. With her acclaimed signature style of developing unforgettable characters and weaving them into carefully researched story lines, Kane has created Forensic Instincts, an eclectic team of maverick investigators. Recruited because of their special talents and dynamic personalities, the high-energy members thrive on blatantly disregarding authority. Armed with skills and talents honed by years in the FBI and Special Forces, and with training in behavioral and forensic psychology, this unstoppable team solves seemingly impossible cases while walking a fine line between assisting and enraging law enforcement. With a worldwide following and novels published in over twenty languages, Kane is also the author of numerous romantic thrillers and historical romances. She lives in New Jersey with her family, where she is busily crafting a new challenge for Forensic Instincts.
Author Website
Goodreads
Book Review
The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane
Book 5: Forensic Instincts Series
Publisher: Bonnie Meadow Publishing LLC
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Format: Hardcover - 384 pages
Kindle - 1708 KB
ISBN: 978-1682320006
ASIN: B01C0ZQT8Y
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Buy The Book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
BAM
IndieBound
Goodreads
Buy The Series: Forensic Instincts Series
Book 1: The Girl Who Disappeared Twice
Book 2: The Line Between Here And Gone
Book 3: The Stranger You Know
Book 4: The Silence That Speaks
Book 5: The Murder That Never Was
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
BAM
IndieBound
Goodreads
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
Given the opportunity, would you assume someone else's identity and leave your old life behind?
A serendipitous crossing of paths between Lisa Barnes, a down-on-her-luck job seeker, and Julie Forman, a personal trainer to an Olympic hopeful, forever changes the course of both women's lives. One winds up dead and the other finds herself a fugitive, hiding behind one lie after another as a cold-blooded killer methodically hunts her. Desperately trying to stay alive, the terrified woman enlists the help of Forensic Instincts, a rogue investigative team that clandestinely operates in the gray area between legal and illegal. Safeguarding their client's deception, Forensic Instincts digs into dangerous territory as they try to find out who's after their client and why. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in Chicago, New Jersey, and Vermont as a megalomaniacal genius will stop at nothing to eradicate anyone who threatens the success of his medical breakthrough. With an unhinged client and a monstrous criminal enterprise as its adversary, Forensic Instincts is forced into uncharted territory to protect their client and save one of their own from becoming the next corpse. Forensic Instincts is an unorthodox, criminal investigative team that carefully navigates the fine line between legal and illegal. The team consists of a behaviorist, a former Navy SEAL, a techo-wiz, an intuitive, a pickpocket, a retired FBI agent, and a human scent evidence dog."
Book Excerpt:
Lincoln Park
Chicago, Illinois
May 17th
Lisa opened the front door and peeked down the street. The sun was starting to dip down toward the horizon, and there was still no sign of her benefactor.
The May evening was still warm enough to sit outside, and Lisa needed the air anyway. After a full day of waiting on rich women and a few hours of deep house cleaning, she was ready to relax.
She poured herself a glass of ice tea and went out to the front porch, sitting on the top step to enjoy the evening and wait for Julie to arrive.
About a half hour later, she spotted Julie coming down the street. She was striding angrily, gripping a bag in her hands. Even from a distance, Lisa could see that something was very wrong. As she approached, Lisa could see that she was shaking.
This wasn't a bad mood. This was bad.
Lisa's stomach clenched. She rose and put her ice tea on the small outdoor table.
She was just about to hurry down to see what was wrong when a car sped down the street, stopping right next to Julie. The passenger door flew open, and a barrel-chested man with tattoos on his arms stepped out. He was holding a gun.
Julie turned, startled, and dropped the bag she was carrying to the sidewalk.
She didn't even have time to scream.
It happened in two seconds. Pop. Pop. Two muffled gunshots, straight into her head. The killer grabbed the bag off the sidewalk and jumped back into the car, which then screeched off.
Julie had crumpled to the street, blood gushing from her skull, the contents of her purse spilling out around her. Cosmetics, wallet, cell phone—everything rolled onto the street.
For an instant, Lisa froze, bile rising in her throat.
Then, she raced down the stairs and straight to Julie's lifeless body.
She squatted down. No pulse. No sign of life. Julie was gone.
Had those bullets been meant for her? Had they found her after all these years?
Lisa's head flew up, and she looked all around. The block was deserted. The killer had used a silencer, and no one had heard the shots but her.
It was just her.
What the hell should she do? If the drug ring was after her, they'd come for her again as soon as they realized they'd killed the wrong girl.
Unless they never found out.
Self-preservation took over. Lisa reached over and grabbed Julie's wallet, cell phone, checkbook, keys—anything that could identify her as Julie Forman.
Digging into her own pocket, Lisa pulled out her ID wallet and dropped it next to Julie's purse.
That's all the time she had. She could already hear sirens approaching, which meant that someone had heard the screech of tires, and maybe even seen Julie's body, and called for help. She prayed they hadn't spotted her. She couldn't wait around to find out.
Shaking violently, with tears of sorrow and panic splashing down her cheeks, she glanced one last time at Julie's body.
Then she took off.
The foregoing is excerpted from The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from Bonnie Meadow Publishing LLC.
Chicago, Illinois
May 17th
Lisa opened the front door and peeked down the street. The sun was starting to dip down toward the horizon, and there was still no sign of her benefactor.
The May evening was still warm enough to sit outside, and Lisa needed the air anyway. After a full day of waiting on rich women and a few hours of deep house cleaning, she was ready to relax.
She poured herself a glass of ice tea and went out to the front porch, sitting on the top step to enjoy the evening and wait for Julie to arrive.
About a half hour later, she spotted Julie coming down the street. She was striding angrily, gripping a bag in her hands. Even from a distance, Lisa could see that something was very wrong. As she approached, Lisa could see that she was shaking.
This wasn't a bad mood. This was bad.
Lisa's stomach clenched. She rose and put her ice tea on the small outdoor table.
She was just about to hurry down to see what was wrong when a car sped down the street, stopping right next to Julie. The passenger door flew open, and a barrel-chested man with tattoos on his arms stepped out. He was holding a gun.
Julie turned, startled, and dropped the bag she was carrying to the sidewalk.
She didn't even have time to scream.
It happened in two seconds. Pop. Pop. Two muffled gunshots, straight into her head. The killer grabbed the bag off the sidewalk and jumped back into the car, which then screeched off.
Julie had crumpled to the street, blood gushing from her skull, the contents of her purse spilling out around her. Cosmetics, wallet, cell phone—everything rolled onto the street.
For an instant, Lisa froze, bile rising in her throat.
Then, she raced down the stairs and straight to Julie's lifeless body.
She squatted down. No pulse. No sign of life. Julie was gone.
Had those bullets been meant for her? Had they found her after all these years?
Lisa's head flew up, and she looked all around. The block was deserted. The killer had used a silencer, and no one had heard the shots but her.
It was just her.
What the hell should she do? If the drug ring was after her, they'd come for her again as soon as they realized they'd killed the wrong girl.
Unless they never found out.
Self-preservation took over. Lisa reached over and grabbed Julie's wallet, cell phone, checkbook, keys—anything that could identify her as Julie Forman.
Digging into her own pocket, Lisa pulled out her ID wallet and dropped it next to Julie's purse.
That's all the time she had. She could already hear sirens approaching, which meant that someone had heard the screech of tires, and maybe even seen Julie's body, and called for help. She prayed they hadn't spotted her. She couldn't wait around to find out.
Shaking violently, with tears of sorrow and panic splashing down her cheeks, she glanced one last time at Julie's body.
Then she took off.
The foregoing is excerpted from The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from Bonnie Meadow Publishing LLC.
My Book Review:
In The Murder That Never Was, the fifth book in the Forensic Instincts Series, author Andrea Kane weave a riveting psychological thriller that features identity theft, performing enhancement drugs, a drug cartel, a megalomaniacal research scientist, emotional issues involving the foster care program, and an unorthodox criminal investigative team who is determined to protect their client.
The Murder That Never Was is an action packed and fast paced gripping tale that transports the reader to Chicago, where they follow the trials and tribulations of Lisa Barnes when she assumes the identity of personal trainer Julie Forman, who is murdered for investigating an Olympic trainer who is giving his star athletes PEDs. Lisa and Julie have an uncanny resemblance to each other, and after Lisa witnesses Julie's murder, Lisa and best friend Miles "Milo" Parker, leave Chicago and restart their lives running a fitness facility in Upper Montclair, NJ. But trouble soon follows Lisa/Julie, and she enlists the protection of the Forensic Instincts private investigation firm, a rogue team consisting of a behaviorist, a former Navy SEAL, a techno-wiz, an intuitive, a pickpocket, a retired FBI agent, and a human scent evidence dog, who conduct a dangerous criminal investigation to uncover who is after their client.
Author Andrea Kane weaves a riveting psychological tale that has enough drama, mystery, suspense, intrigue, and surprising twists and turns that easily engages the reader to follow the rogue Forensic Instincts team as they investigate the reason behind the identity switch of their client, and who is behind the murder of the original Julie Forman. When you add in the mystery behind the murder, the hidden secrets involving the making and distribution of PEDs to Olympic star athletes, Lisa's dark past, and the suspense and danger of the criminal investigation, you get an explosive story that takes you on one hell of a thrill ride, and a book that you won't be able to put down!
RATING: 5 STARS
Contest Giveaway
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Andrea Kane. There will be 6 US winners. One There will be THREE (3) winners for this tour. The winners will each receive an eBook copy of The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane. The giveaway begins on May 9th and runs through June 9th, 2016.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
2. Early review & review @ Once Upon A TIme
3. Review @ The Book Divas Reads
4. Interview @ Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine
5. Review & Interview @ Building Bookshelves
6. Review & Guest Post @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
7. Showcase @ BooksChatter
8. Review @ Lets Talk About Books
9. Interview @ A Blue Million Books
10. Review @ Mystery Suspense Reviews
11. Review @ Fiction Zeal
12. Review @ From the TBR Pile
13. Early review, review & Guest post @ Writers and Authors
14. Review @ 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
15. Review @ Booked on a Feeling
16. Early review & Review @ just reviews
17. Showcase @ Lauras Interests
18. Early review & review @ Book Reviews from an Avid Reader
19. Review @ Deal Sharing Aunt
20. Early review & review @ Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin
21. Review/Showcase @ CMash Reads
22. Early review & review @ Lilac Reviews
23. Guest Post @ Books Direct
24. Early review & Review @ fuonlyknew
25. Early review & review @ Celticladys Reviews
26. Review @ Rockin’ Book Reviews
Wow, Kathleen! You've made me want to skip my TBR list & just read this again & again!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your amazing review!
Hi Gina! Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event. I really enjoyed reading this book, now I'll have to go back and read the other books in the series. :)
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