Monday, October 22, 2007


Interview on a UK Blog Conversations With POD - 10/21/07

SILENCED CRY: A Sam Harper Crime Mysteryby Marta Stephens Crime/Mystery GenreBeWrite Books (UK)ISBN 978-1-905202-72-0 US $15.50, UK GBP 7.99, Canada 18.50

What is your book about?
Homicide detective Sam Harper is the new officer on the beat; SILENCED CRY is his calling card. Torn between guilt and suspicion, Harper tries to make sense of the events that led to his partner’s murder during a routine surveillance of a drug supplier. It quickly becomes evident that his late partner, Frank Gillies, intentionally muddied the facts. Key points don’t add up and make Harper believe Gillies is involved in illegal activities. When questions surrounding his partner’s death go unanswered, Harper suspects a cover up.

Determined to find Gillies’ killer, Harper plunges back into his work. He and his a new partner, Dave Mann are called to their first case at the Harbor View Apartments, a building marked for demolition where workers discover the skeletal remains of an infant entombed in one of the walls. The investigation into the infant’s murder opens the floodgates of questions. When the suspects in the Baby Doe case link back to Gillies, the evidence mounds as quickly as the bodies in the morgue, and the truth leads Harper to the person he least suspects.

Why did you write the book?
I’ve loved mysteries since I was a little girl; the more complicated, the better. My passion began in grade school with ghost stories and eventually led to Agatha Christie and other greats like Alfred Hitchcock. Since I am the whole of my life experiences, my writing has also been influenced by the classic noir films I’ve enjoyed over the years. I wanted to touch upon the emotions that millions of people around the could relate to: grief, anger, joy, fears, resentment, worry, suspicion, etc., and trigger those emotions in my readers through the characters in my books.

How does your book differ from others that are similar?
The consistent comment in all my reviews is the complexity of the plot. Armchair Review wrote: “If you are looking for a novel ripe with twists and turns and intricate interweaving of plots ...” Chrystal Reviews (NY) wrote: “She knows how to spin a complex, credible, action-packed and gripping story with plot, subplot and more subplot. Every page crackles with intrigue, questions, and clues.” Euro-Reviews wrote: “This reviewer has read mysteries since childhood, and even I was hard-pressed to guess the villainous identities, and found it impossible to predict the turns this roller-coaster story would take.”

SILENCED CRY introduced the young Homicide Detective Sam Harper, but unlike other heroes of detective mysteries, Harper is far from perfect. In the beginning, he is content to let his partner call the shots. After his partner, Frank Gillies, is killed in the line of duty, it quickly becomes evident that Gillies intentionally muddied the facts in their case. Key points don’t add up raising suspicions of Gillies’ involvement in illegal activities. When questions surrounding his partner’s death go unanswered, Harper suspects a cover up. The more he digs, the closer the crime leads to his doorsteps. The consistent theme is betrayal and how each character, including Harper deals with it.

Where did you get your inspiration from?
I wanted to create a different type of police drama. The storyline for SILENCED CRY developed over time, but I wanted to show the human side of the detective as well as his development from being a complacent individual to a determined, seasoned officer.

Why did you choose POD?
I know the hurdles new authors face when they try to place their first novel with an agent and large publishing firm. I believed in my story and felt that given the chance, it would prove to be successful. Going with a print on demand is not necessarily the easy way out as some may think. It is not self-publishing. My publisher has stringent guidelines and an editorial team so I consider myself fortunate to have been published. However, because it is a small press, there’s a sense of family and one-on-one communication—working as a team, and to me this is critical.

How did you market your book?
I belong to numerous writing organizations and on-line author groups and have promoted the book through intense internet networking. I launched my website weeks before SILENCED CRY was released and began to build a “buzz” for the book through direct mailings as well as blogs. My August virtual book tour attracted new interest from readers and critics alike. Now in these last two months of 2007, I’m focusing on several promotional events locally.

What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of this method?
The advantage of internet promotion is that it gives the author immediate access to readers throughout the world. The disadvantage is not knowing if you have reached your focus target. The key to internet marketing is consistency. Results won’t happen over night, but it will happen if the author takes advantages of networking opportunities. Join writing groups, post announcements and articles in a variety of blogs and forums; develop relationships, encourage and help other authors; and always reciprocate the kindness.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
The misconceptions about POD. Most people don’t understand it and equate it to self-publishing. Another challenge has been getting the book into independent and chain bookstores. However, with the distribution centers in the US and the UK, any bookstore, large or small can order it. The flip side of this relates to the previous question—POD also sells books through a multitude of on-line bookstores making it available world wide giving the reader a wide range of options.

What would you say to others considering POD?
I believe it’s definitely something for a first-time author to consider. PODs not only help authors get their foot in the door, but it allows them to learn about the publishing world and gain valuable experience and confidence before moving on.

Where can I get a copy of your book?
SILENCED CRY, BeWrite Books (UK) publisher; paperback US $15.50, UK GBP 7.99, Canada 18.50; ISBN 978-1-905202-72-0; is available on-line from all Amazon sites, B&N, BAM, your local bookstore, or directly from BeWrite Books: ttp://www.bewrite.net/merchant2/4.00/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=B&Product_Code=978-1-905202-72-0.To view a more extensive list of other locations, please visit: http://www.martastephens-author.com/buy_%20it.html.

All the reviews and the book excerpt are available at www.martastephens-author.com

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Nominations for Spinetingler Awards

I received word this week that my novel, SILENCED CRY, (April 2007) published by BeWrite Books is eligible for nomination into the “Best Novel: New Voice” category and the “Best Cover Art” for Sandra Ruttan's "Spinetingler Award."

Your nomination of SILENCED CRY in these two categories would be much appreciated. Please e-mail your nominations to sandra.ruttan@spinetinglermag.com for this and other works published between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007.

IMPORTANT: See Rules below before you send in your votes.

Categories are:

Special Services to the Industry:
Each person may make up to five nominations in this category, for tireless contributions to ezines, writing reviews, running discussion lists or forums. Tell us who you nominate and give us a short summary of why or where they routinely contribute, so that we can acknowledge them.

Best Novel: New Voice
Authors with 1-3 published works in total.** Each person can nominate up to five authors in this categoryPlease include the author’s name and title of book.

Best Novel: Rising Star
Authors with 4-8 published works in total.** Each person can nominate up to five authors in this categoryPlease include the author’s name and title of book.

Best Novel: Legend
Authors with 9 or more books published*** Each person can nominate up to five authors in this categoryPlease include the author’s name and title of book.

Best Cover Art
Tell us what covers do it for you.
** Each person can nominate up to five titles in this category. Please include the author’s name and title of book, and publisher or countryof origin. Yes, the books usually have different covers in the US and UK …
SILENCED CRY has the same cover in both the domestic and foreign markets.

Best Publisher
It’s time to take note of the publishers who are doing things right. After all, authors wouldn’t be here without the publishers. If you’re a reader whose had wonderful experiences, an author with nothing but good things to say, tell us who you nominate and why. Maybe they have a wonderful website that’s easy to navigate. Maybe they always send your favorites on tour to your area. Maybe they just publish a lot of books you love. It doesn’t matter why, we just want to hear about the good ones.
** Each person can nominate a maximum of three publishers in this category

Best Editor
You don’t need to know the editor’s name. All we need to know is the author, book title and publisher’s name. We’ll find out who the editor is. With so many complaints about poor editing and typos in books we thought it was time to take note of the hard-working editors who are getting things right.
** Each person can nominate a maximum of three editors in this category

Best Short Story on the Web
** Each person can nominate five stories in this category. Please include the writer’s name, title of the story and source. Stories must be published in a recognized ezine, such as Shots, Mouth Full ofBullets, Pulp Pusher, Demolition, etc. Stories published by the authors on their own blogs or websites will not be considered – they must pass through an editorial selection process.

The Rules
1. Only one e-mail per person will be considered. Think your nominationsthrough carefully before sending them. We reserve the right to investigatethe source of any e-mails received. If we have any reason to believe e-mailsare suspect, that an individual has assumed false identities and multiplee-mail addresses, we reserve the right to eliminate those e-mails fromconsideration.

2. Nominations should be made for books published in their original formatonly. Those who start in hardcover get nominated in hardcover. Authors don’tget a second kick at the can when they come out in mmpb. Sorry.

3. *Concerning the “Legends” category, authors with less than 9 publishedtitles may be moved to this category, at our discretion. For example, Ibelieve Dan Brown has only four or five published titles. However, his salesrecord justifies moving him to the “Legends” category. Authors with majorpublishing deals may be moved. We separated the categories in three sectionsin an attempt to make sure newer authors stood a chance of receiving theattention they deserve.

4. We may not be able to consider nominated works if they are not availablein Canada . In order to be able to consider the nominated works in the secondphase of judging, we need to be able to read them. Books that are out ofprint or that we can’t order or that are not received in time may be removedfrom consideration.

5. Sandra Ruttan’s debut novel will not be considered for the New Voiceaward. You can nominate it… but it won’t be considered for the list.A note about location of publication.If you’re in the UK , nominate based on what was released in the UK . If you’re in the US , nominate based on what was released in the US . This is not a perfect system, but in Canada , we tend to get UK authors based on their UKrelease schedule, and US authors based on their US release schedule. We arean international ezine. Just go local to you, and we’ll sort it out from there as best we can. A note for publishers. Worried your titles might be overlooked? Feel free to contact me with a listof eligible titles in each category. Please do so by October 15, 2007. Nominations will close on November 15, 2007, and the short list of nominees will be posted early December. At that time, people will be invited to voteagain, selecting their favorite in each category. Public vote will be weighed against the rankings of the editors to determine the winners in eachcategory.This is the first time this site is doing these awards, and they expect there to be somekinks to sort out. They’ll continue to update you throughout the process. Please feel free to spread the word about these awards on lists, forums andplaces where it would be considered appropriate.

Direct link to this post:
http://crimezine.blogspot.com/2007/09/nominations-for-spinetingler-awards.html

Monday, October 01, 2007


Silence Cry Won Cover of The Month

I received word this morning that my debut crime mystery, Silenced Cry won August Cover of The Month. I haven’t yet heard who won a free copy of it, but will announce it here as soon as I do.

You may view the page at http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheMonth.htm

Blurb:

Homicide detective Sam Harper is the new officer on the beat; Silenced Cry is his calling card. Torn between guilt and suspicion, Harper tries to make sense of the events that led to his partner’s murder during a routine surveillance of a drug supplier. It quickly becomes evident that his late partner, Frank Gillies, intentionally muddied the facts. Key points don’t add up and make Harper believe Gillies is involved in illegal activities. When questions surrounding his partner’s death go unanswered, Harper suspects a cover up.

Determined to find Gillies’ killer, Harper plunges back into his work. He and his a new partner, Dave Mann are called to their first case at the Harbor View Apartments, a building marked for demolition, where workers discover the skeletal remains of an infant entombed in one of the walls. The investigation into the infant’s murder opens the floodgates of questions. When the suspects in the Baby Doe case link back to Gillies, the evidence mounds as quickly as the bodies in the morgue, and the truth leads Harper to the person he least suspects.

Anyone interested in reading an excerpt of Silenced Cry will find it available on my site, http://www.martastephens-author.com./ Those wishing to buy a copy may link to Amazon from my site as well.

Silenced Cry is available from most online and traditional book stores world wide. $15.50 ISBN 978-1-905202-72-0.


Thanks to all who voted!!!