...That is, I've quite literally lost count of how many novels I've written. I know it's more than forty at
this point, and that more than thirty are published, but I'll be damned if I know precisely how many I've penned at this point. Quite remarkable that we live in an age where we are directly rewarded for our productivity and our ability to produce quality over quantity, even if we are putting out lots and lots of material.
I just typed THE END on Tunnel Rats, my new Sam Savage, Sky Marshalpulp action series. It's 30K words which makes it the longest one yet. And since it's the third, my editor will kindly bundle these into a sweet little bingeable collection for all you romantic action & adventure fans.
Also coming this month is the second episode in the steamy noir series The Handyman. The third will be out next month and then that too will be bundled for your binging convenience. After that comes the second full-length novel in the new Young Chase Baker series, and following that, a brand new Keeper Marconi PI novel, and following that, something a little different--a non-fiction book about my hybrid authorship journey thus far.
I hope you're able to keep up, because some days I'm not sure I can. But one thing is for damn sure, being a full-time author is tons of fun. It's living the dream. Now if only I can figure out how many books I've written.
Norman Mailer, a self proclaimed novelist/narcissist.
We create and carry on conversations with ourselves. We live as much on the interior as we do the exterior. Perhaps more so. We make sure to catch passing glances at ourselves every time we walk by mirrors not because we think our hair might be out of place, or something might be smeared on our lips, but because we are the most important person in the room.
We wake up and we prop ourselves up for the day's work head, convincing ourselves that we are the best at what we do. No one can beat us. We are brilliant and the world is ours for the conquering. We might have spent the night besides someone else. A precious loved one perhaps. But we have most definitely slept with ourselves and we will face the day with ourselves.
We Google ourselves.
We check our Amazon rankings obsessively.
We check to see if our name pops up in the news.
We imagine that our marketing peeps think only of us.
We send proposals and stories to editors and agents, and wonder why they don't get back to us
within the hour.
We cheer ourselves when the work is going well and beat the shit out of ourselves when it is going
terribly.
We measure our life, deadline to deadline.
We break hearts because it's the romantic thing to do.
We drive by a car wreck and see a story in it.
We drink too much, eat too much, exercise too much, nap too much, sleep too little, worry a lot,
ignore problems, and put off the bills.
We dream of escape while escaping, envision dirty sex while making love, feel pain when
laughing, keep to ourselves when socializing in our favorite bar, make ourselves the center of
attention at a dinner party thrown in someone else's honor....
We are narcissists and novelists and our world revolves around us. Notice I'm writing from the "We" POV. Whoever said there is no "I" in "We" ain't never been to a writer's conference. There is no bigger collection of "I's" in the world than a writer's conference. Still we feel compelled to attend. After all it will help propel the career forward...My career.
So, novelist, what will you do with yourself today?
What's your worst nightmare?
Is it being all alone, hopelessly lost in a dark and cold place?
Maybe it's snakes crawling all over you?
Maybe it's being hunted down by a psychotic killer in the deep woods. A devil. A demon.
Or perhaps, just perhaps, you are afraid of the demons that reside inside your head.
If you are afraid of all these things, then you know exactly what it is to be Jude Parish,
former violent crimes detective turned bestselling true crime author.
Jude is being hunted by a video game designer who is also a serial killer.
And before the hunter finishes the violent game of cat and mouse he starts with the entire Parish family in the deep, unrelenting Adirondack woods of Lake George, New York, he will catch their screams.
SCREAM CATCHER: The New Psychological Suspense Thriller from the No. 1 International Bestselling Amazon Kindle Author, Vincent Zandri.
As an author I often asked to blurb other author's new upcoming novels. The positive to this is that I not only get turned on to new and exciting writing, but I get free stuff. Namely books!!! The downside is I simply don't have the time to blurb all the books I'm asked to blurb so almost certainly I'm missing out on some great new offerings. I'm almost never disappointed with the books I blurb and in fact, I see a real trend coming about of noir authors who are taking real chances with their style, their use of POV, tense, imagery, etc., as opposed to the garden variety white bread dullness the NYTs insists we purchase on a weekly basis. One of these real risk takers I speak of is the British author Richard Godwin whose new novel, Apostle Rising, kept me up most nights while I was in Florence, Italy, trying to write my own new novel. Thanks a lot Richard! One of these nights you're going to wake up and find me standing at the end of your bed with a French knife in my hand. Ok, that's a little dramatic, but that's precisely what it felt like to read his new thriller. It's that good. So what's it really all about? Check out this new radio interview here and see for yourself. Then go hide under the covers!!!
So I'm always either being applauded or spanked for utilizing social media for selling my novels like The Remains or The Innocent (see how I just did that?) But then, how else can one get the word out about one's new book? Rather, what better, more efficient medium is there to help spread the word? Yet authors who utilize this all important if not miraculous tool must realize that specific written and unwritten rules of engagement must be adhered to. Or else, you're nothing more than a spamaholic.
It is with this marriage of marketing and internet magic that I give you a guest post by up and coming writer, Bri Clark.
Bri or, Brick, is a young (not even 30 young), talented, energetic, new author. Wife, Mom, businesswoman, former repo chick, advice giver, and all around literary tyro, there's pretty much nothing she can't do. She hails from Boise, Idaho. That's right, Boise, which these days is emerging to be the new literary Paris or maybe New York of the early 21st century. Maybe the aforementioned destinations still reign as a romantic ideal, but consider this: in Boise you can purchase a three bedroom house with some land and a majestic mountain backdrop for less than the price of renting a space in a parking garage for your Beemer in Manhattan. No wonder writers are flocking there in droves. But then, I've been ordered not to tell anyone about "the secret!" Oops, cats our of the bag so to speak.
Bri has books coming out from both StoneHouse Ink and Astrea Press and promises a brilliant literary future. She's also got her finger on the social marketing pulse as demonstrated by the following guest blog (P.S. The Golden Girl Pic was her idea!):
How do you find a balance between being social and genuine when having dual interests in social media?
The same way the women of Steel Magnolias balanced gossip and friendship.
Now I don't really have the answer to this...although I am very good at gossip...any reputable southern belle is.
Here are some experiences and examples of how I have balanced my established relationships with my budding fan base of supporters.
1. Interest--I glance at links and post as time allows. I read blogs, skim comments and respond as I feel compelled to. I absolutely do not care about football of any kind...yet here I am in the heart of Bronco nation. One of my closest online friends is a total NY Giants fan and when they are having a bad game I can't even talk to them. While I empathize with their frustration I have no interest in football therefore I won't fake it.
2. Reciprocation-- If I read something I feel that is worthwhile or interesting I will retweet it or post a link or email a link to those that I think would appreciate it. In exchange my friends do the same for me. However, I have never asked someone to repost something of mine. That should be their own desire.
3.Manners-- I am often asked to comment or give feedback on stuff that people send me links to...poems, blogs, and novels. There are times that I am not really into what they have done. However, that could only be me. I have always found something positive to say about all those works so far. Even if they say brutal honesty....noone really wants that kind of truth unless its from someone close or a professional...even then you tread lightly.
4.Boundaries--Most of this information pertains to facebook...I do have pictures of my children and my family on my page. However on my blog I don't use my family's real names. I use nicknames. I feel like I will probably end up setting up a separate fan page for my stuff. For now I will stick to the one page.I do not post deeply personal thoughts or feelings...there is a message feature or just plain email for that. There are customizable features that you can use in privacy settings on most websites. And lets just tell it how it is people....Common sense....use it...if you don't have it I'm sure there is a book on it...read it.
So these are a few of my own personal experiences and feelings on the whole social media network. We all love gossip, humor and scandal...when it comes down to real people and their struggles great or small like the ladies of Steel Magnolias we in the publishing industry are there for each other.
It's been ten years since the publication of my first major thriller, As Catch Can. Back then it was called, The Innocent, but the publisher decided to change the title at the last minute since a sister publisher had an author with the same title, and the editor was very afraid the Bertlesman boys might leave a severed horse head in his bed one night if he were to put out a novel with the same title. So it was changed to As Catch Can.
Now, I'm not complaining. I actually like the title, for a jazz standard. But for a book, it's a tough one to remember. That is, unless you add the "Catch" to it, as in "Catch As Catch Can," which is most definitely not the title. When asked the title of my new novel and I'd respond, "As Catch Can, most people would peer at me quizically, and with upturned brows respond, "Say what?"
So now here we are ten years later. As Catch Can which received awesome reviews from the New York Post, The Boston Herold, etc. and authors like Harlan Coben (see below) and was translated into several languages, was quickly pulled off the B&N front shelves after 6 weeks to make room for something else. That's how the big monster bookstores work (what a joy it will be to see them crash and burn!) It also was remaindered within a years and half of its original pub date. In other words, dear reader, it was never given a chance (and here the pub was cutting checks for a quarter of a million bucks for me. You explain the logic!)
Now, with the advent of the new indy publishing, EBooks, Kindle and the new digital age and my new awesome publishers, StoneHouse Ink and StoneGate Ink, As Catch Can or, The Innocent, is alive and well again, and destined to become a bestseller. Some fans still think of it as my best book. Even DreamWorks thought so when they gave it three reads in anticipation of purchasing the movie rights. Too bad my agent at the time was on crack and busy writing his own novel and negotiating his own deals with Holywood.
Ok, time to let go of the past and embrace the now and the present. I hope you dig The Innocent as much as I dug writing it!!!!
It's been a year since Jack Marconi's wife was killed. Ever since, he's been slipping up at his job as warden at an upstate New York prison. It makes him the perfect patsy when a cop-killer breaks out--with the help of someone on the inside. Throwing himself into the hunt for the fleeing con, Jack doesn't see what's coming.
Suddenly the walls are closing in. And in the next twenty-four hours, Jack will defy direct orders, tamper with evidence, kidnap the con's girlfriend--and run from the law with a .45 hidden beneath his sports coat. Because Jack Marconi, keeper of laws, men, secrets, and memories, has been set up--by a conspiracy that has turned everyone he ever trusted into an enemy. And everything he ever believed in into the worst kind of lie.
Reviews for "The Innocent" (formally, As Catch Can)
"If you want a novel that runs wild like a caged beast let loose, Zandri is the man." --(Albany)
"Sensational...masterful...brilliant." --New York Post
"Probably the most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season." --Boston Herald
"A thriller that has depth and substance, wickedness and compassion." --The Times-Union (Albany)
"Vincent Zandri explodes onto the scene with the debut thriller of the year. As Catch Can is gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting. Don't miss it." --Harlan Coben, author of The Final Detail
"A Satisfying Yarn." --Chicago Tribune "Compelling...As Catch Can pulls you in with rat-a-tat prose, kinetic pacing...characters are authentic, and the punchy dialogue rings true. Zandri's staccato prose moves As Catch Can at a steady, suspenseful pace." --Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"Exciting...An Engrossing Thriller...the descriptions of life behind bars will stand your hair on end." --Rocky Mountain News
"Readers will be held captive by prose that pounds as steadily as an elevated pulse... Vincent Zandri nails readers' attention." --Boston Herald
"A smoking gun of a debut novel. The rough and tumble pages turn quicker than men turn on each other." --Albany Times-Union
Please turn the page for more extraordinary acclaim...
"The story line is non-stop action and the flashback to Attica is eerily brilliant. If this debut is any indication of his work, readers will demand a lifetime sentence of novels by Vincent Zandri." --I Love a Mystery
"A tough-minded, involving novel...Zandri writes strong prose that rarely strains for effect, and some of his scenes...achieve a powerful hallucinatory horror." --Publishers Weekly
"A classic detective tale." --The Record (Troy, NY)
"[Zandri] demonstrates an uncanny knack for exposition, introducing new characters and narrative possibilities with the confidence of an old pro....Zandri does a superb job creating interlocking puzzle pieces." --San Diego Union-Tribune
"This is a tough, stylish, heartbreaking car accident of a book: You don't want to look but you can't look away. Zandri's a terrific writer and he tells a terrific story." --Don Winslow, author of The Death and Life of Bobby Z
My great white north bro, Jason McIntyre, is a young thriller novelist who not only knows how to keep the thrill in thriller, he also writes some of the most beautiful sentences being published today.
Reminiscent of Michael Connelly on literary steroids, the dedicated Indy author has greedily occupied the number 1 Spot on the Smashwords Thriller Bestseller's List with his debut novel, On The Gathering Storm, since it was released this past summer. This is the story of a young, beautiful adventurer and photographer, Hannah Gerretty, who makes her way to a secluded island paradise to live the romantic bohemian life, only to find herself lost inside an impenetrable forest, and the target of the worst kind of evil. This is not the kind of story you start at ten o'clock at night. That is you want to get any sleep at all!
McIntyre is a literary thriller writer who is not afraid to utilize the accurate metaphor and imagery that only a photographer who thinks like a photographer, can invent. From the novel's opening pages: Hannah Garretty sees things. She’s always seen things. She’s a photographer and a good one too, so she sees regular, everyday things in a different way than most. But this is different. Tiny stolen moments like these are more than creative vision, more than simple daydreams. What Hannah sees are glossy postcards of the Yet to Come, held before her mind’s eye for a fraction of a second, then yanked from view without reason and never seen again. But they stay with her, these fraction-grasps of second sight, like the bloody spot burned on a retina after staring right at the sun: not a perfect reproduction, but a blurry and pale recording of the original.
So how does the master manage to invent nail biting suspense? He is kind enough to reveal some of his trade secrets to us with this brand new blog that pays homage to another lit-thriller great who bears the last name of King and who reigns as one as well. In the thriller world that is. That said, I present to you my guest, the distinguished bestselling author, Jason McIntyre:
A Non-Genre Writer's Look at Suspense Jason McIntyre
Years ago, a film-maker friend of mine told me he wanted to try something radically different with his next project: he wanted to shoot a story that had absolutely no conflict.
He told me he didn't want to have a boy-meets-girl-then-loses-girl-love-story or a man-robs-bank-to-provide-for-his-family morality play or anything else that showed person A coming up against person B or obstacle C or life-changing circumstance D.
I thought about it for a bit, concluding that it definitely would have been unique among popular films at the time, but also would have been maddeningly boring. It might have made a somewhat interesting, avant garde music video done the right way, but it most assuredly wouldn't be a story. Conflict, and by association, suspense, is the very core of a good story. Without it, there is nothing to read, view or listen to that has any real value.
And, it doesn't really matter whether your medium is film, music or literature, holding the audience in your hand and doling out to them enough to keep them glued to your tale, but not so much that they're walking away, is the true test of a good bit of storytelling…and my definition of suspense.
You can write in a horror or suspense genre or you can be entrenched in serious drama, but if you're doing it right, there will always be some level of suspension. Your words are the bridge from the beginning of the story to the other side of a great chasm. How you use them keeps the bridge from falling and the reader held aloft, far above the churning waters, but close enough to feel the spray when it white waters crash on the rocks. The danger of falling needs to always be present, even if it's not a dangerous kind of story -- even if it's only a story about two lovers who are twenty years apart in age.
There, that's suspense. It might not be huge, or life-threatening, but everyone in the room can put up their hand and say that they could foresee some difficulty in that: a man in his twenties, a woman in her forties, the two of them still mad with passion for each other. Roll cameras. And. Action!
I look at suspense in fiction and I say it's well-done if it meets two criteria.
First, has the author created an expectation that something is very wrong?
And, if not very wrong, then maybe it is currently sitting at "not quite right" and he is presently building-building-building with each major "moment" in the story to that spot of being very wrong. If so, tighten the straps and release the button on the drip bag next to your gurney. Things will get pulled out of proportion. And they should.
Good authors do "wrong" very well and the tricks employed come across as natural, so, basically, not as tricks at all. The concept of "building" is also key here. You want to see something amiss right out of the gate, but you also want room to grow the feelings of unease in the opening forty pages of a story. It should rise like the crescendo of a classical piece of music, and, contrary to what some may say, it should build at a predictable rate.
A solid current example of this in pop fiction is the readily available excerpt from Stephen King's new story collection, Full Dark, No Stars. The story is "A Good Marriage" and the snippet is here.
Now, I won't ruin it for you if you haven't read it. Go ahead, if you're curious. I'll wait. There. Neat, huh? Obviously I don't know where this story is going. And I don't want to. But what he's done is a very solid, very suspenseful piece. King is obviously very good at this. I don't need to remind any of you that he's one of the reigning masters, but I don't know if this story will wind up being good in the end. Who knows, right? Not until the final sentence. But at this moment, it illustrates my point very nicely. No one is clinging to the edge of a cliff in a thunderstorm. No one is holding a knife to my throat and threatening to cut. But I'm suspended, nonetheless. I want to keep reading and find out what the bloody hell this wife has found in the garage she shares with her husband.
Second, does the author create a world where we, the readers, do the opposite of "suspending our disbelief?"
The reader needs to believe that what is happening could happen, may have happened, will happen, or, in fact, happens every single day in the world that he calls home. This is done through impeccable research and staying true to what most reasonable people would believe they would do in a similar situation, given the same facts. Even if it's science fiction or dark horror with strange things making scheduled visits in the dark of the night (read my free short novel, Shed, for more of this kind of weirdness), the world should be recognizable, either by its physical make-up or by its characters.
The above example by King gives a good dose of what I mean here, too. Anyone who's ever been, married--even for five minutes--will "get" what King is saying about these two people, their habits, their foibles, there angst and their love. Colliding and sparking and retreating over the course of time, these two people are married. Plain. Simple. Married. And the "realness" of it shows in every sentence. With a set up like this, how can we not believe whatever is about to come next, even if it is at once off the wall and, well, unbelievable?
So my bottom line for feeling appropriately suspended while I read a book (in any genre, not just the suspense genre) or while I watch a tv show, a flick or the top of the pizza box are these two ideas: Is something itching that spot behind my eyes, making me think twice about whether this should be happening? And. Do I truly believe I'm reading or seeing something in the real world as I've come to know it?
Could this really be happening?
And, if it could, then I will immediately be freaked out when the bed moves under me, even if it's only an inch.
* * * Jason McIntyre is the author of the current Smashwords bestseller, "On The Gathering Storm". He has also written the acclaimed short novel "Shed" and many other stories. You can connect with him and learn more about his work by visiting his official website, http://www.thefarthestreaches.com .
Vincent Zandri is the bestselling author of The Remains and the forthcoming The Innocent. www.vincentzandri.com
this point, and that more than thirty are published, but I'll be damned if I know precisely how many I've penned at this point. Quite remarkable that we live in an age where we are directly rewarded for our productivity and our ability to produce quality over quantity, even if we are putting out lots and lots of material.
