Interview of Stacy-Deanne, Author of 'Giving Up the Ghost'

Scribal Love Welcomes Stacy-Deanne


Stacy-Deanne is an award-winning author of Crime fiction/Mystery and Interracial Romance.  Her newest work “Giving up the Ghost” will be available from Peace in the Storm Publishing, April 2011. 

What inspired you to write Giving up the Ghost?


The main characters, Detectives Brianna Morris and Steven Kemp came from my last novel, "Melody."  I fell in love with them and so did my fans.  The minute I finished Melody I knew I had more in store for them and I am so excited about this series.  They are a black woman and white man team that also have a romantic past which brings forth the stepping stone to the interracial romance aspect of the series.


Do you have a specific writing style?  


Just my own style, LOL.  That’s all I can say.   I don’t know how else to explain it.   I think each author has his or her individual style of course and it comes natural.   With me I’m more of a dialogue, fast-paced writer.   You gotta be quick when you write crime and mysteries. That’s not a genre that takes a lot of mulling around to get to the point.   Plus I like to read quick books so that’s what I write.

Author of 'Giving Up the Ghost,' Stacy-Deanne

How did you come up with the title?


I chose “Giving up the Ghost” because it actually fits the description of what happens in the story. When people read it, they will get why I chose the title.


What is “Giving up the Ghost” about?


Here’s a sneak peek:


Albany Detective Brianna “Bree” Morris is having the year from hell.  A sadistic admirer has been stalking her for months and now her friend Cheyenne Wilson has been beaten and left for dead.


With her ex-lover and faithful partner, Steven Kemp, Bree thrusts herself into the case.  It’s not long before they believe two unrelated British men are connected to the attack.  Michael is a womanizing artist with a ferocious appetite for rough sex.   Simon is a wealthy free spirit looking for love in all the wrong places, but has one too many skeletons in his closet.


Bree struggles to determine fact from fiction when it comes to Michael and Simon but her attempts are blurred by Michael's manipulation and her sexual attraction to Simon, who Steven’s convinced cannot be trusted.


Meanwhile the stalker does everything in his power to get close to Bree and his obsession evokes a spiral of violence.


Bree must trust her heart to find answers but her heart leads her to the most dangerous man of all.


What books have most influenced your life most?


Anything by Edgar Allan Poe but one that’s always stood out to me more than others is 'The Portrait of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde.   I think the entire story is genius and it’s the perfect example of good vs. evil.   That’s the foundation for crime fiction and mysteries, the good vs. evil aspect.  This is one of the most brilliant suspense novels I’ve ever read and the creepiest too.   I’ve never read another novel; except for maybe 'The Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' that shows a character having an inner struggle with themselves so powerfully.


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?


My influences are Edgar Allan Poe and Hitchcock so those would be mentors to me.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?


Honestly nope. I am very happy with it. I worked with it long enough, LOL.   Maybe when it comes out for sale and I start getting public feedback that might change but no I am pretty happy with it. I think it’s the perfect start to my new series.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


As a child I always liked to read and I wrote a bit then.  Becoming a professional writer hit me one day.  It’s simple as that.  I got my first computer at nineteen and I just started writing a story.  From that moment I knew I wanted to pursue publication.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Not in writing so much as being a published author.  You go up an entire new level when you’re published in the way that your writing is no longer just yours, you got tons of people who depend on your or expect things from you.  You got fans and others you always think about when you write.  I never write a story now without thinking about readers in the back of my head. Used to not be that way but it is now.   When you become published you gotta remember you’re writing for an audience as well as yourself.  You always have to think of them.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?


I learned that sometimes we’re the villain or bad guy and don’t even realize it.  Once folks read the book, they will get what this means.   LOL. 


Do you have any advice for other writers?


Be realistic, research and learn as much as you can about the publishing business and how it works if you intend to make it a career.


Thanks for dropping by Stacy!


Thanks so much for the opportunity!  For more information, everyone can stop by my web site to keep up with what I am doing: http://www.stacy-deanne.net


Also, if you’re on Facebook, add me as a friend.  I’d also like for people to check out the other fabulous authors and titles from my publisher:


http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

Author of Speculative Sky-- Clare Dargin

Hi everyone!  Here's a little something about me as if were interviewed by imaginary self!


Scribal Love Welcomes- Me... Clare Dargin <wink, wink>

What inspired you to write this book?
Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer.  It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy.  Speculative Sky was created because I’ve always had a fascination with stories about Extra-Terrestrial Life and S.E.T.I. and I wanted to integrate such a story with a female character as a strong and intelligent lead.   


Do you have a specific writing style?  
Yes I do but I am not sure what to call it.  When people read my work I want them to feel as if they are right there in the midst of it all.  I want them to be able to hear, taste, smell and see the action as if it is happening all around them.  I also tend to write tight stories with quick pacing.  It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.  


What is the name of your latest book?  And how did you come up with the title?
To be honest I’ve always been attracted and fascinated by the abstract and the symbolic.  I wanted the title to be symbolic of what April Mullen, the main character, has to deal with as an Astronomer and all that came with her assignment.  


What is Speculative Sky about?
It is about a woman who takes a chance and leaves for an assignment on a science colony far away from Earth.  As an astronomer it is her job to monitor the stars at night and to record her findings.  Nothing more than that.  But when she arrives, she notices that her new home is a bit odd, and that though there is evidence of life out there… they don’t want her to either acknowledge it or do anything about it.  She of course finds this troubling.


What books have most influenced your life most?
To be honest, in fiction category, it would have to be the old star wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi.  The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development then any book I know!  I read them over and over again and learned about non-human creature development, planetary science fiction and description of space travel and not to mention how to write a cool leading man.  I still read them!  


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child.  They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.


What book are you reading now?  
To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.


Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Last night I was thinking about the Friday House about D. K. Gaston and how it's a compelling story about assassins who have no memory of their being programmed and stuff.  I think it's cool.   And several books on the military scifi romance front that I have recently heard about.  I write in a tiny subgenre so it's nice to see what other authors are doing in it.  That way I don't get lonely!  


What are your current projects?
Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to my first novel "Cold Warriors."  As well as having another expanded universe book in the works.  Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.


Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
The Motown Creative Writers Group-- they helped get on the road to being published.  And not to mention the many groups in the Romance community.  They really pointed me in the right direction.  I'm grateful for that.


Do you see writing as a career?
Yes!  One day I hope to do it full time.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
As a child my father use to encourage it.  I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!”  I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Yea, getting through the first draft!


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive.  Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through cause it will stifle your creativity.


Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don't give up on being published!  Try every avenue!  There is away for you!



To find her on the web:


The Haven www.claredargin.host22.com
Clare's Blog- The Haven www.claredargin.bravejournal.com
And of Course here and on Twitter, Facebook, Bebo, MyBlog Log and Myspace www.myspace.com/nuncius

Clare Dargin is an author of science fiction and science fiction romance books.  Her newest work “Speculative Sky” is available from Red Rose Publishing. 

http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=681