Thursday, January 10, 2013

Captured Lies by Maggie Thom Blog Tour Stop/Contest

Contest Information: 


Maggie will be awarding winner’s choice of a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and an autographed ebook copy to a randomly drawn host.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

Welcome to my Reading Nook, Maggie Thom. Please make yourself at home and let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink.
A margarita would be great. :)

Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
I left a 20 year career in management to write full time. I loved my career but I had always wanted to be a writer. So I made the decision to quit my regular job (gulp) and jump into a career as a writer. I am happily married, have teenage twins, love nature, hiking and anything outdoors.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
Captured Lies is a suspense but it crosses several genres - romance, mystery and murder.

She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it....

Her life was a lie!
Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is theirs.

Everyone seems to have a story... but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.

But can she do it in time.....

How do you come up with ideas?
No clue. :) They just come to me. All the time actually. It hasn't always been this way, though.  Or at least not as plentiful as now. I used to get an idea here. An idea there but that was it. I think that some of the change has been because of a shift in how I write. I used to be so concerned with having what I wrote perfect - perfect grammar, perfect sentences, perfect punctuation - that it stalled me. I now allow myself to write without worrying about any of that. I know that I will edit and that I will change what I've written anyway. What I first write down often doesn't resemble the final draft. My focus now is about getting the information down on paper first, then I worry about fixing it. This has opened me up to a whole new world of ideas. Some of my ideas come from being curious about what experiencing something would be like. For example, Bailey loses her identity. I was curious as to what that might be like so I wrote a story around it.

What do you enjoy most about writing?
I love creating characters - who they are, what makes them act and react the way they do. I love putting them in difficult situations to see how they would handle them.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?
All three (lol). It really depends on the book. Sometimes an idea will come to me and I'll play around with it in my head before putting anything on paper. Sometimes a scene will come to me and I have to write it down immediately or I know it will be lost. Then I'll backtrack and figure out what the story is around this scene. Sometimes I'll get an idea but know that I have to do some research before I even attempt to write it. Each novel I write starts out a little bit differently. With Captured Lies it started with a scene. And then another scene. And then another scene. That's when I knew I had to put it down and plot it out. And create the outline. It's fun because I can start anywhere in the novel. To finish it though I have to go through it a few hundred times to make sure things happen in a sequence that makes sense, is compelling and keeps you wanting to read.

What did you learn from writing your first book? 
That when the first draft of Captured Lies was completed, that's when the work really began. There was the reading, the editing, the rewrites, the cuts, the editing, the rewrites , the cuts, rereading and on and on it went. And that writing and editing is much easier than marketing. :) I have always respected other authors but I have a new found respect for them, especially Indie Authors. I really think the biggest thing I learned, was to ask for help. Help with every aspect of writing, creating, publishing and marketing a book. I wrote the story but it wouldn't be as good as it is without having the input from others.

Is your muse demanding?
Yes, I'd have to say so. I am definitely not someone who suffers from writer's block. Ideas come fast and plentiful. It's catching them and getting them down on paper that is sometimes the problem. I think like most writers my brain is constantly going with ideas, with scenes, with what if. It's learning to step back and decide what it is you want to focus on and what you can let go of.

Are your stories, plot or character driven?
I'd like to think both. I like to have strong characters, who have a history, have their own story whom you can relate to but I like it to have a strong plot, to keep the story flowing, compelling, intriguing.

How do you balance a life outside of writing with deadlines and writing muses?
I've had lots of practice. I worked in management for over 20 years, in very demanding roles but I always put my family first. So evenings and weekends were family time. I have always used a daytimer so I just book that time as busy, for the most part. If I know things are going to be hectic with promoting my book or meeting deadlines, meaning I need to do some work evenings and weekends, I let my family know ahead of time and I book that time as work time. But I know there is an end to it. With deadlines I'm pretty good at knowing what is needed for time and booking it. As for the muse - sometimes she just gets ignored, other times I will I write anytime, anywhere.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
I only have one published so far, Captured Lies. So start with it. My second book, Tainted Waters will be out Spring of 2013.

A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be in six words or less?
Way to Go, You Did It!

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
On Vancouver Island. I love being a Canadian. I love living in Canada but I would live on the island because it has all facets of nature - ocean, mountains, waterfalls, rivers and very little snow and cold weather. :)

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Leap, the adventure is worth it

Care to tell us what may be coming next from you?
My next ebook is Tainted Waters. It is set to be published in Spring of 2013.

Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been to since her dad committed suicide twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offence to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up may be false. Keegan who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was he murdered? The descendants of the four families who own the land around the lagoon are dying off. Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from the deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed.... including them.


Anything else you want to add?
Captured Lies has been entered into the Book of the Year. If you enjoyed it please vote for it:

Thank you for what you do for authors and for readers. Thank you for hosting me. 

Captured Lies
is available as an ebook, through:

soon to be available at:
Barnes and Noble
Apple's Itunes store
Diesel Bookstore

She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it....

Her life was a lie!

Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is theirs.

Everyone seems to have a story... but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.

But can she do it in time.....

Teaser Excerpt: 
 
Her door was yanked open. She jerked sideways, her arm coming up to shield herself, her foot lifting to lash out. Before she could make contact, a body pinned her and a hand reached across her, ripping out the keys. The scream that formed on her lips was swallowed, as she met a steely pair of blue eyes. He moved back but not before redirecting her foot to the floor mat. Her hand instinctively wrapped around the flash drive and slipped it into her pocket. Feeling faint with relief, she slumped back. Her door slammed and her would be thief was soon around the car and opening the passenger side. Sliding into the seat, Guy closed the door, leaned back and glared at her.

Too tired to move, she rolled her head sideways to meet the glower. Neither spoke. She waited him out. After a long period of time, she raised her eyebrows.

He folded his arms across his chest, and turned to look out the window. “Who was the guest at your house?”

“What?”

“Who was the nice man who was waiting at your home?”

“What were you doing at my mom’s place?”

“Looking for you.”

Since he wasn’t looking at her, she took the time to study him. He definitely had the cute bad boy down pat, all dressed in black, with his black leather coat and his hair looking windblown and falling over one eye. The scruffy beard thing was almost going too far.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maggie Thom made the hard decision to leave her successful, twenty year career in management, to write full time. The leap was easy, the freefall was adventurous and very enlightening. When she’s not running her children around or spending time with her best friend, her husband, she’s writing - anywhere, anytime. Give her five free minutes and you’ll find her busy scribbling down ideas. She lives in the real world but loves to get lost in the lives of her characters - who live, love and laugh and are all figments of her imagination. She is thrilled to release her first novel - Captured Lies - filled with suspense, murder, mystery and romance - available October 2012. She is busy writing her second novel to be released, spring of 2013.  

She can be found at:

www.maggiethom.com

www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom

www.twitter.com/authormaggiethom2

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549592.Maggie_Thom

Book is currently available through:

Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/cp2go24

Kobo - http://tinyurl.com/dxs82ld



14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good morning Dawn. Thank you for hosting me today. I look forward to our day together.

Karen H said...

Hi Maggie,

Congratulations on your first book. It sounds like a winner. My favorite reading genre is Historical Romance, I do enjoy reading the occasional romantic suspense/mystery. Captured Lies sounds like a book I'd enjoy reading.

You mentioned you left a day job to go into writing full time. Did you dabble a lot in writing while working that day job? Do you have a 'first, as yet unread book' hiding in a bottom drawer someplace? If so, what would it take to pull it out, dress it up and get it published?

Rita Wray said...

Great interview, I love learning about the author.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen. I'm glad you think Captured Lies sounds good. I've been writing for many years and yes I did a lot of writing while I was working. To be honest I have at least eight novels collecting dust. They would need some work. I do want to redo one and did try last summer but I may just have to start over. We'll see. Someday maybe. Thank you for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen. I'm glad you think Captured Lies sounds good. I've been writing for many years and yes I did a lot of writing while I was working. To be honest I have at least eight novels collecting dust. They would need some work. I do want to redo one and did try last summer but I may just have to start over. We'll see. Someday maybe. Thank you for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

Hi Indgeborg. Thank you. Glad you like what you're learning about me. There is something new to learn everyday about me. Thank youf or stopping by.

MomJane said...

Loved your interview. The blurb is so exciting and i loved the excerpt.

Anonymous said...

The blurb is very interesting. To find out lies and secrets at your mother's death would be mind bending to me.

strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com

Anonymous said...

Thank you MomJane. Glad you like the excerpt. What do you like best in a story? Thank you for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

Thank you anonymous. It would be a bit mind bender. I wanted to see how someone would handle discovering that their world is a lie. It was very interesting and enlightening to write. Thank you for stopping by.

Mary Preston said...

That's a great name for a biography.

Love the teaser thank you.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary. Glad you liked the teaser. What would you call your biography? Thank you for stopping by.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn. Thank you for hosting me today. Thank you for what you do for authors and readers.

Emiliana25 said...

I love your twitter posts, mostly because I also like interesting quotes.

emiliana25(At)web(Dot)de

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