Author Guest Post
A Day In Your Writing Life
Thanks so much to Kathleen for having me today. I know a lot of non-writers may imagine a writer’s life to be glamorous. Perhaps they envision us sitting behind a giant desk full of dog-eared books, in a plush room with all the creature comforts, looking fabulous in their oh-so-comfy chair.
Maybe that’s how it is for some writers. Not for me. I do have an office, but it shares the guest room and my daughter and husband like to pile their things in it. And my chair is close to falling apart so every day, I take up residence in the living room. My real office is a loveseat with dual recliners – one side is taken up with various notes and books, there are pens and pencils scattered about, and my little portable file box sits at my feet.
Organization is my weak point, so I rely on lists. Naturally I have several. As long as they make it from the chicken scratch process to Evernote – a program that saves me on a daily basis – I’m okay.
What’s my typical day look like? I babysit 3 days a week, and on those days, I’m up around 7am to have a quick breakfast before the toddler I watch arrives. After she’s settled in and fed, I haul my first grade daughter out of bed and start the process of getting her ready for school. Once the toddler and I are back home, we spend some time playing and doing some learning, and then I settle in for some work time. I’m lucky because she is easy and loves to play with her toy computer. I spend my morning trading off between working and playing with her, and then when she naps, I get in as much work as I can.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are my days, so if I’m not running errands, I’ve got my butt-in-the-chair writing, plotting, promoting, networking–whatever the day calls for. It’s a busy existence, and I’ve only got about seven hours to get in as much work as I can. Once my daughter’s out of school, it’s homework, family time, swim team, night routine, and then we start it all over again.
If you’re a writer, what’s your typical day like? And readers, how do you fit books into your busy lives?
About The Author
After earning her degree in journalism, Stacy worked in advertising before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. She rediscovered her love of writing and wrote several articles for a city magazine before penning her first novel. She shelved the long drama and began working on a suspense book set in Las Vegas, featuring a heroine on the edge of disaster, a tormented villain, and the city’s infamous storm drains that house hundreds of homeless.
Into The Dark is suspense with a dash of romance, and Stacy is hard at work on her next book, a darker, grittier thriller set in the Deep South. When she’s not writing, she spends all her time with her precocious daughter, supportive husband, and their three obnoxious but lovable canine children.
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Book Review
Into The Dark by Stacy Green
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Publication Date: November 30, 2012
Format: Paperback - 292 / Kindle - 491 KB / Nook - 974 KB
ISBN: 1480078999
ASIN: B00AEVPQ2M
Genre: Romantic Suspense
BUY THE BOOK: Into The Dark
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:
The police close in on the Taker’s identity as Nathan and Emilie grow closer to each other and to resolving the misery of their own pasts. At the height of The Taker’s madness, his attempt to replace someone he’s lost will either kill them all or set them free.
Book Excerpt:
Nathan peered through the chain link fence. “Is that it?” “I didn’t even know this culvert was here.” Chris started to climb.
“I drive over it every day, too.”
“That’s why they call them box culverts,” Johnson said from the other side of the fence. “You don’t see them unless you’re walking inside.” “Why couldn’t we just cut this thing down?” Nathan huffed as he made the short trip up and over the wobbly chain link barrier. They were several blocks north of the raucous Freemont Street Experience and looking into the mouth of one of the storm drain entrances.
“Because no one in Metro wants to deal with the city officials over it,” Johnson said.
“Talk about spook central.” Nathan shined his light toward the culvert. Bathed in shadows, it stood silent and empty. A chill of foreboding washed over him.
“Watch yourselves.” Johnson led the way as the three men entered the culvert, weapons ready. “Anything could be lurking.”
Standing water covered the toes of Nathan’s boots. The air was thick with mildew. “Drain’s over there.” He shined his tactical light on the flood map. “To the right.”
The temperature dropped as they entered the large drain. Darkness engulfed them.
Chris’s whistle cut through the eerie stillness. “Wow. It’s a hell of a lot cooler in here. Place smells like feet, but I’ll take what I can get.”
Nathan shined his light on the walls. Colorful graffiti decorated the concrete.
“Someone’s a talented artist.” The darkness thickened with each step. The odor grew increasingly foul. “Jesus, I can taste the stench in my mouth.” Chris gagged and spit into the dirty water. Nathan didn’t respond. He was too busy trying to keep the contents of his stomach down and wondering how the people who lived in the tunnels stood the smell and the constant dangers. The drains provided relief from the sweltering desert heat, and free housing, but they were death traps. Large portions ran directly underneath the city streets and inhabitants risked carbon monoxide poisoning and the frequent threat of flooding. Growing up poor in North Las Vegas gave him a better perspective than many, but he couldn’t imagine having no other alternative than to live minute-by-minute.
“We shouldn’t run into any camps,” Johnson said.
“They’re deeper in. One of the biggest is right under the Strip.”
“You know we aren’t going to find shit,” Chris choked out. “It’s too dark. Guy planned this for months. He knows his way around. We need to get out of here and check on Adam.”
“Medic called me when they got him to the hospital,” Johnson said. “He’s going into surgery. All we’d be doing right now is sitting around waiting. Still have to do our jobs, Holt.”
“He’s just a rookie. I should have been in front of him.”
“Stop,” Nathan said. “You followed protocol. That was a lucky shot.”
“Doesn’t make it right.”
Silence fell over the men as they moved farther into the stinking drain. Something hard crunched underneath Nathan’s boots. He nervously shined his light into the black water. Crawfish swam around his feet, probably on their way to the Las Vegas Wash. A mushy white glob looking suspiciously like used toilet paper floated by, and he focused his light away from the stream. Better not to know what he was stepping on.
A loud splash ahead brought all three to a halt.
“You hear that?” Johnson asked.
“Sounds big.” Chris stepped in front of Johnson and raised his Glock.
“Las Vegas SWAT,” Johnson shouted. “Identify yourself.”
Nothing.
“Maybe it was an animal,” Nathan said.
“That’s even worse than a junkie,” Chris said. “With my luck, Cujo’s man-eating cousin will show up and give me rabies.”
“They have shots for that now.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
A second loud splash was followed by the distinct sound of footsteps plodding through the water.
“That’s no dog.” Chris sprinted after the runner with Nathan and Johnson closely following. The beams of their lights flashed haphazardly against the walls making the tunnel even more ominous.
A strange brightness glowed several yards ahead of them. Their quarry came into view. He was too short and stocky to be their man, but he could have information.
“I drive over it every day, too.”
“That’s why they call them box culverts,” Johnson said from the other side of the fence. “You don’t see them unless you’re walking inside.” “Why couldn’t we just cut this thing down?” Nathan huffed as he made the short trip up and over the wobbly chain link barrier. They were several blocks north of the raucous Freemont Street Experience and looking into the mouth of one of the storm drain entrances.
“Because no one in Metro wants to deal with the city officials over it,” Johnson said.
“Talk about spook central.” Nathan shined his light toward the culvert. Bathed in shadows, it stood silent and empty. A chill of foreboding washed over him.
“Watch yourselves.” Johnson led the way as the three men entered the culvert, weapons ready. “Anything could be lurking.”
Standing water covered the toes of Nathan’s boots. The air was thick with mildew. “Drain’s over there.” He shined his tactical light on the flood map. “To the right.”
The temperature dropped as they entered the large drain. Darkness engulfed them.
Chris’s whistle cut through the eerie stillness. “Wow. It’s a hell of a lot cooler in here. Place smells like feet, but I’ll take what I can get.”
Nathan shined his light on the walls. Colorful graffiti decorated the concrete.
“Someone’s a talented artist.” The darkness thickened with each step. The odor grew increasingly foul. “Jesus, I can taste the stench in my mouth.” Chris gagged and spit into the dirty water. Nathan didn’t respond. He was too busy trying to keep the contents of his stomach down and wondering how the people who lived in the tunnels stood the smell and the constant dangers. The drains provided relief from the sweltering desert heat, and free housing, but they were death traps. Large portions ran directly underneath the city streets and inhabitants risked carbon monoxide poisoning and the frequent threat of flooding. Growing up poor in North Las Vegas gave him a better perspective than many, but he couldn’t imagine having no other alternative than to live minute-by-minute.
“We shouldn’t run into any camps,” Johnson said.
“They’re deeper in. One of the biggest is right under the Strip.”
“You know we aren’t going to find shit,” Chris choked out. “It’s too dark. Guy planned this for months. He knows his way around. We need to get out of here and check on Adam.”
“Medic called me when they got him to the hospital,” Johnson said. “He’s going into surgery. All we’d be doing right now is sitting around waiting. Still have to do our jobs, Holt.”
“He’s just a rookie. I should have been in front of him.”
“Stop,” Nathan said. “You followed protocol. That was a lucky shot.”
“Doesn’t make it right.”
Silence fell over the men as they moved farther into the stinking drain. Something hard crunched underneath Nathan’s boots. He nervously shined his light into the black water. Crawfish swam around his feet, probably on their way to the Las Vegas Wash. A mushy white glob looking suspiciously like used toilet paper floated by, and he focused his light away from the stream. Better not to know what he was stepping on.
A loud splash ahead brought all three to a halt.
“You hear that?” Johnson asked.
“Sounds big.” Chris stepped in front of Johnson and raised his Glock.
“Las Vegas SWAT,” Johnson shouted. “Identify yourself.”
Nothing.
“Maybe it was an animal,” Nathan said.
“That’s even worse than a junkie,” Chris said. “With my luck, Cujo’s man-eating cousin will show up and give me rabies.”
“They have shots for that now.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
A second loud splash was followed by the distinct sound of footsteps plodding through the water.
“That’s no dog.” Chris sprinted after the runner with Nathan and Johnson closely following. The beams of their lights flashed haphazardly against the walls making the tunnel even more ominous.
A strange brightness glowed several yards ahead of them. Their quarry came into view. He was too short and stocky to be their man, but he could have information.
My Book Review:
What starts out as a bank robbery of the WestOne Bank quickly becomes one obsessed psychopath's attempt to kidnap thirty-four year old bank branch manager Emilie Davis, and take her down into the dark seedy underground tunnels of Las Vegas' storm drain system that lies beneath the city. With the SWAT team closing in, the "Taker" aborts the attempted abduction and escapes into the 200 mile labyrinth to regroup. Hostage negotiator Nathan Madigan knows that whoever this man is, he'll keep trying to get to Emilie. Follow along as Nathan tries to figure out the reason behind the "Taker's" obsession with Emilie, and attempts to protect her before the stalker can succeed to take her into the dark.
In her debut novel, author Stacy Green weaves a chilling dark tale of suspense that keeps the reader sitting on the edge of their seat. Written in the third person narrative that alternates between three characters: Emilie Davis, Nathan Madigan, and the "Taker," the reader is transported to Sin City and the deep dark tunnels that lie beneath its city streets.
From the start of the book, the author captivates the reader with the intense action that quickly gains momentum as the intriguing twists and turns builds upon the suspense and drama as the story unfolds, all the while keeping the reader guessing who the stalker is and why he wants Emilie so desperately.
This psychological thriller is set in Las Vegas, and I think the author does a wonderful job of researching the historical facts of the city and its underground storm drain system. Las Vegas has always been one of my favorite cities, and I was absolutely thrilled with the rich description and vivid details of the city, the storm drain system, and the variety of people who inhabit it.
What I found most fascinating about this story is the interweaving of the three characters' secrets, torment, grief and blame from their pasts and present life issues that permeates their lives. As the story unfolds, the author provides clues into the "Taker's" identity and teases the reader to figure it out while also uncovering the genesis of his plan. And if that isn't enough to keep the reader engaged, the author throws in just the right amount of subtle romance into the mix without overshadowing the main focus of the story.
With an intriguing cast of characters; engaging dialogue and interactions; and a storyline that has enough thrills and chills that gives the readers goose bumps until the exciting conclusion, Into The Dark is one hell of a gripping suspense thriller that will simply keep you riveted and turning the pages.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
Phenomenal review and post. Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl! Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event. Thank you for always posting a kind comment. :)
DeleteWOW! This looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina! Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event. Thank you for the kind comment, I appreciate it. :)
DeleteThanks so much for having me and for the wonderful review. Glad you enjoyed the book!
ReplyDeleteHi Stacy! Thank you for the opportunity to read, review and host your virtual book tour event. I loved Into The Dark, what a suspense thriller! I put Welcome To Las Vegas on my TBR list. :)
DeleteYou're very welcome, Kathleen. Please let me know if you'd like to read/review my next book, which is out in early April!
DeleteThank you again:)
Thank you for the invitation to read/review your next book! I look forward to it, please keep me in mind when it is released. :)
DeleteHi Teena, thanks for stopping by! I really enjoyed the book too. I'm looking forward to reading more books from the author.
ReplyDelete