Week three Part Two-Testament The Thief of Auschwitz

The Thief of Auschwitz
Part Two Testament

This is one of those reads that I personally wish and don’t wish to be over. The content is so excruciatingly hard to read yet Jon made it so; well readable and enjoyable even.
I’m eager to hear what you thought about part two and the entire novel.
So let’s get right to it.

Jon makes a point of telling Max’s story in between the chapters and he gave us a great clue in a response from week one when he says “One more note about Max: there's a very good reason that he comes back every fifteen pages or so...”

So give us your take on the Max of today.
And what was the reason we saw him every 15 pages or so?

Was there any one scene/part that spoke to you or that you’ll remember more than others?

Final thoughts?

**GIVEAWAY** Author Interview Stephen Donaldson- The Last Dark

I'm excited to interview fantasy/science fiction author extraordinaire Stephen Donaldson who talked to me about his new novel the 4th and final installment of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series which began with Lord Foul's Bane which was published in 1987. I asked Stephen which of these characters he would miss, here's what he had to say about it. ––" ...Only the characters who have cause to complain about me linger in my heart. And I’m happy--or perhaps simply relieved--to say that none of the protagonists of The Last Chronicles has cause to complain..."
See the rest of this answer and all the rest then stick around to enter for a chance to win a copy of the novel US only sponsored by Stephen's US publisher Penguin Group USA.

• ISBN-13: 9780399159206
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 10/15/2013
• Series: Last Chronicles of Thomas Cove Series , #4
• Pages: 592

I have One Copy of The Last Dark $35.00 Value to Giveaway
Sponsored by Stephen's US Publisher Penguin Group US
To enter use the Rafflecopter form below
Thank You Penguin Group US!!
And Stephen!

Overview:
Compelled step by step to actions whose consequences they could neither see nor prevent, Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery have fought for what they love in the magical reality known only as "the Land." Now they face their final crisis.  Reunited after their separate struggles, they discover in each other their true power—and yet they cannot imagine how to stop the Worm of the World’s End from unmaking Time.

Praise for Donaldson’s work:
"Fans can celebrate." —The Kansas City Star

Praise for THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT:
"A feast for epic fantasy addicts." —Publishers Weekly

"The most original fantasy since THE LORD OF THE RINGS." —Time Out

"I don't think books like this come along more than a few times in a lifetime." —Marion Zimmer Bradley

“An epic with page-turning intrigue.” —Detroit Free Press

“Impressive…filled with splendid inventions.” —Booklist

“A reawakening of a classic fantasy saga.” —Library Journal

“A trilogy of remarkable scope and sophistication.” —Los Angeles Times

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Stephen welcome to The Reading Frenzy

Debbie - Could you tell us a bit about this latest in your series the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant- The Last Dark.

Stephen - THE LAST DARK is the climax of The Last Chronicles:  all four books come to their final crisis and resolution here.  But it is also the climax of the whole Thomas Covenant saga.  If you’ll forgive a clichéd metaphor:  all the chickens of the previous nine books come home to roost in THE LAST DARK.

D- This is the final chapter in this series.
Why end it now?

S - Well, this is Armageddon.  Or “apotheosis,” if you prefer.  There’s nowhere to go after this.  In fact, I’ve been aiming toward this end point ever since I realized that my story wasn’t completed by The Power that Preserves (Book Three of the original trilogy, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever).  Thirty-five years ago, I decided that I wanted to arrive here.  Now I’m satisfied.

D- Now that your epic series is over which of your characters will you miss most?

S - For me, missing a character after I’m done with a story depends on whether or not I believe that I did that character justice.  When I believe that I did do him or her justice, I’m content to say goodbye.  Only the characters who have cause to complain about me linger in my heart.  And I’m happy--or perhaps simply relieved--to say that none of the protagonists of The Last Chronicles has cause to complain.  Which, unfortunately, is not a statement that I can make about some of my non-Covenant characters.

D- When creating a new character do you ever borrow personalities from other of your characters?

S- Not consciously.  Unconsciously, of course, I’m sure that I continue to wrestle with characters whose complaints echo in my ears.  But I’m not aware of doing that when I write.  When I write, I’m only aware of the specific story and the specific characters that are right in front of me.

D- Stephen with such a long and honored career as a writer how does a release day today differ from the first one?

S- Many things both internal and external have changed over the course of my career.  Internally…well, let me put it this way.  Lord Foul’s Bane, my first published book, was rejected by 47 (!) publishers before it found a home.  After so much bad news, that first release date felt like a transcendent gift.  I was almost literally beside myself.  But 22 previous books and many years later, I’m calmer about the whole process.

D- Stephen you have an eclectic background.
When did you discover your writing muse?

S- In retrospect, I can see that I spent my whole early life (starting at about age 4) preparing to be a storyteller (and specifically a teller of written stories).  But at the time, the discovery that I wanted to write stories came as a complete surprise.  This happened during my first week of college; and once that bulldog had sunk its teeth into me, it never let go.  Until that moment, I thought I was going to study Chemistry.  After that moment, I dedicated all of my energies to the study of literature in an effort to learn what I needed to know about writing.

D- Why Fantasy?

S- I don’t have a better answer than, What makes you think I have a choice?  After discovering that I wanted to write stories, my next task was to discover the best possible use for my specific talents.  Years of experimentation finally led me to fantasy (and to science fiction, which I consider a close sibling of fantasy); and when I did discover fantasy, I had an intense sensation of “coming home”--of finding the work I was born to do.  How could I have chosen anything else?

D- Which of your Awards mean the most and why?

S- I prize most highly my honorary doctorate (Litt.D.) from the University of St. Andrews School of Divinity.  In my view, that award acknowledges that my work has both literary and philosophical merit.

Of course, I’ve also received a Litt.D. from the College of Wooster.  But I graduated from Wooster:  I’m known there.  The University of St. Andrews (Fife, Scotland) knows only my work.

D- What’s next for you?

S- I can’t answer that.  I’ve never planned ahead in my writing life:  as far as I’m concerned, the only story that exists is the one I’m working on right now.  Until very recently--and for the past 12 years--that story was The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.  As a result, I haven’t yet had time to make any plans, or to start on something new.

Stephen thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to answer my questions. Good luck with this novel and for your future works too.

Connect with Stephen on his Website 

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**GIVEAWAY** Interview Suzanne Redfearn-Hush Little Baby

I'm happy to welcome to The Reading Frenzy today debut author Suzanne Redfearn talking about her novel Hush Little Baby. The premise of the novel is a difficult subject. When I asked Suzanne what led her to write the book she says––"...
I got to thinking how easy it is to sabotage a life, that if my husband set out to destroy me, to preemptively strike before I realized what was going on, he could do it. He knows my weaknesses, my failings, my vulnerabilities...."
Enjoy the rest of our conversation below then stick around and enter to win a copy of the novel US only sponsored by Suzanne's publisher Grand Central Publishing

• ISBN-13: 9781455573202
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 10/8/2013
• Pages: 368

GIVEAWAY US ONLY
ONE COPY HUSH LITTLE BABY
SPONSORED BY GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING
USE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW TO ENTER
THANKS SUZANNE AND GRAND CENTRAL!

Overview:
If I stay, he will kill me. If I leave, he'll destroy Addie and Drew.
Jillian Kane appears to have it all - a successful career, a gorgeous home, a loving husband, and two wonderful children. The reality behind closed doors is something else entirely. For nine years, she has hid the bruises and the truth of her abusive marriage in order to protect Addie and Drew, knowing, if she left, Gordon would destroy her-destroy them.

Kirkus Review:
 Redfearn's debut ratchets up the tension page by page, as husband and wife try to inflict the most damage on each other without harming the kids. Every character hides something, and each surprising revelation torques the plot further. The emotional and physical injuries mount, driving inexorably toward a surprising climax. A compelling tale of the deceit, violation and anguish that undergird the myth of suburbia.

Publishers Weekly:
This snappily paced, cinematic novel about the dysfunctional modern American family from architect and first-time author Redfearn contains heavy doses of violence, danger, and fear. Jill 

RT Book Reviews:
"Top Pick! 4 1/2 Stars! With clear, efficient dialogue and authentic scenes, this story rings universal. Equal parts suspenseful and moving, Redfearn's skillfully told, candid story flows easily within a well-defined plot, making this novel a stunning and captivating read."

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Suzanne welcome to The Reading Frenzy, tell us about Hush Little Baby.

Thank you for inviting me. HUSH LITTLE BABY is the story about how far a mother will go to protect her children, it is also the story about the evil and good in each of us and what it takes to turn us from who we believe we are into a person we never thought we could be.

The premise of Hush Little Baby is not an easy subject but one that should never be avoided if known about.
What precipitated your writing the book?

A friend of mine was going through a divorce.  Until she separated from her husband, the two seemed like the picture of happiness.  But the story she told over drinks one night of the abuse and cruelty she endured behind closed doors was so frightening it made me wonder how many other marriages are not what they appear.

The curveball came about a month later when we went out again and my friend’s story had changed, the tale altered and now with glaring inconsistencies from the earlier version that caused an alarm to blare in my brain. What if she was making it up? Custody of the kids was at stake. Could she be setting her husband up? For over ten years, I’d known her husband as a stand-up guy, the baseball coach who never yelled, the neighbor who happily carted your Christmas tree home in his truck, the kind of guy who always showed up and did his part. Yet, how quickly I dismissed all that based on a story over drinks; how quickly everyone dismissed it, so easily accepting that he was abusive and dangerous.

So I got to thinking how easy it is to sabotage a life, that if my husband set out to destroy me, to preemptively strike before I realized what was going on, he could do it. He knows my weaknesses, my failings, my vulnerabilities. If he had the inclination, he could easily undermine my reputation and portray me as unstable or a bad mother, ensuring that if we divorced, he’d get custody of the kids.

My friend loves her children above all else, three beautiful boys. At the time they were four, nine, and twelve, and their futures, as well as her own, hung in the balance. To this day, nearly three years later, I don’t know if she was telling the truth or manufacturing lies. Either way, her story was a captivating cautionary tale that made me wonder how far someone might go to keep their spouse from getting custody of their kids, and then, if the kids were in danger, real danger, how far the other spouse might go to get them back.

Suzanne the early reviews for your debut are amazing and exciting. Congratulations!!
What were your first reactions to them?

As exciting as it was knowing my book was going to be out in the world, it was also nerve wracking.  I had no idea how it was going to be received.  Fortunately, so far the reviews have been amazing.  What is interesting is each perspective, what each reviewer picks up on and what they don't.  One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been the reactions to the book, whether it is from a reviewer or a reader.  Some just enjoy it for the ride, others really contemplate the deeper meaning behind it.  Either way, as long as they enjoyed it, I'm thrilled.

Some may say that you’re an accidental author, someone who never had specific aspirations of writing.
Can you tell us what exactly led you on this path?

I love that term, "accidental author," and I might use that from now on.  That's exactly what I am.  I sat down one day, started writing, and didn't stop.  It began as a whim, sort of a bucket list endeavor, I had an idea that I thought would make a good story and decided to write it.  It sucked!  I was a terrible writer, I didn't know how to use commas, loved the diabolical adverb, and hated contractions.  But amazingly, beneath the clumsy craft and atrocious grammar was the story, the story I had set out to tell, and I was hooked.  That's where the accident ended and the work began – lots and lots and lots of hard work.

Now it’s time for a little personal information.
According to your website, you write in your car.
Is this true?
Why?

I do write in my car. It started because I happened to be in my car a lot because I have kids.  It's amazing how much writing you can get done sitting in the pickup line at school.  And now, I find it's the best place for me to focus; there are no distractions.  It is confined, just me and the paper, nothing else. Obviously I spend a lot of time at my computer as well, but the first draft is long hand in a Mead notebook sitting in my car, usually with the ocean or the mountains in front of me.

You’re also an avid baseball fan and root for The Angels and one of your bucket list goals is to visit every MLB stadium with your daughter.
That sounds like fun. Who and why came up with this idea.
ps. When you come to St. Louis, let me know Go Cardinals!!! :)

I love the Cardinals! Next to Buster Posey, Yadier is my favorite catcher. My daughter came up with the idea to visit every stadium. Her principal challenged every kid to come up with a "napkin dream," a goal to complete before they're fifty. She said if you write it down, you'll do it. So my daughter, an avid baseball fan, came up with the idea, and I  liked it so much, I asked if I could jump on her napkin dream with her, and so now we're doing it together. So far we've been to five stadiums. Twenty-five to go!

What are you working on now?

I am working on an exciting new story about another mother protecting her kids.  Though the mother-bear theme is similar to HUSH LITTLE BABY, the story is entirely new and the protagonist wonderfully different from Jillian.  She is more of an every-woman – a young, single mom, bumbling her way through life who finds herself in an extraordinary circumstance that quickly spins out of control. One kid thrives while the other two struggle, and difficult choices need to be made, this mild-mannered mom faced with the daunting challenge of taking the reins of the her runaway life before they all go over the edge.

Suzanne thanks for stopping by and letting us get to know you a bit better.
Will there be a signing tour for this release?

Thank you for inviting me. I am doing some signings, but at the moment, they are all in California. I will let you know if I'm ever out near St. Louis.  

Connect with Suzanne Website – Facebook - Twitter

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Partners In Crime Murder Has Consequences Blog Tour + Interview with author Giacomo Giammatteo

Murder Has Consequences

by Giacomo Giammatteo

on Tour October 1 - November 30, 2013

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery/Suspense Published by: Inferno Publishing Company Publication Date: 2/20/2013 Number of Pages: 383 ISBN: 9780985030254 Note: Excessive strong language, Graphic violence, Explicit sexual scenes Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

For a select few people, friendship lasts forever. Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan were friends like that, but that was years ago. Now Frankie’s a detective in Brooklyn’s Homicide department, and Nicky is a reformed hit man. But when Frankie gets in trouble—and the law can’t help him—he turns to Nicky. The problem is that Nicky promised his family, and God, that he’d go straight.

Read an excerpt:

Murder Has Consequences Friendship & Honor, Book II By Giacomo Giammatteo “Oaths are something you swear to when you’re young, and wish you hadn’t when you get old.” ~Nicky Fusco Introduction Wilmington, Delaware Actions have consequences. I learned that long ago.

• I learned it when I was five years old and got caught stealing cigarettes.
• I learned it when Mikey “The Face” Fagullo beat our asses for not giving him a cut of the smokes we stole from a boxcar.
• I learned it when Father Tom caught us playing cards instead of attending mass.
• Mostly I learned it when I shot Freddy Campisi. That lesson cost me ten years in prison.

Different actions yield different consequences. Do something wrong—get sent to prison. That’s one kind of consequence. But that’s the easy one. If you go to prison, you do your time and get out. It’s over. Done with. But there is another, far worse, consequence—the one you have to live with day in and day out. The kind of consequence you beat yourself up over. The kind that won’t go away. I did my time for killing Freddy Campisi. The other things I’ve done I have to live with. Those are between me and God. They are my cross on earth. Nicky Fusco Chapter <$n> Restraint Wilmington, Delaware I looked out my window toward Front Street, then lifted my head until I caught sight of the steeple of St. Elizabeth’s Church. On a good day, when my window was open, I could hear the bells ringing. All I heard today was traffic. I picked up the phone and dialed Angie; she’d be expecting me for dinner. Adapting to my new life had been tough. I had traded excitement and danger for the routine of a family and a steady job. All in all a good trade, but at times I still itched to do something. Angie answered on the fifth ring. I always counted because I hung up if no one answered after ring five. “Hello.” Angie had the best voice in the world. Strong and forceful, but…gentle too. “Hey, babe, I’ve got to check a job tonight, so I’ll be a little late. You and Rosa eat without me.” “I’ll wait for you,” she said. “Rosa’s eating with a friend.” “Okay, if you don’t mind. I’ll see you later.” I grabbed my briefcase, a thin black leather one Angie gave me for my birthday, put the blueprints inside and headed for the door. “Sheila, tell Joe I’m going to check that new site.” “Which one?” “The new condos.” “Okay, see you tomorrow.” I hated lying to Sheila. Hated lying to Angie even more, but this was something that had to be done. I checked my watch as I started the car—4:45. That should give me plenty of time to get there before Marty Ferris left work. He was Rosa’s scum-sucking ex-stepfather who needed to be taught a lesson. This meant I’d have to get up early to check those condos before work tomorrow, but that would be all right. I liked seeing the site, making sure there were no surprises. It wasn’t just the bricks and mortar I needed to calculate, but also how much scaffolding and how many planks and braces we’d need. All of that mattered. I was thinking about how lucky I was to have this job when I suddenly realized Union Street was coming up. I put on the blinker, turned left, and headed south, pulling into a parking spot just north of Sixth Street by my favorite water-ice stand. After checking the time again, I got out and grabbed a drink then got back in the car. Marty Ferris would be out soon. He was going to pay for what he did to Rosa. It had been more than six months now, and I had abided by all the rules my old hit-man mentor, Johnny Muck, had taught me. No matter what I had promised Angie, it was time for Marty to learn a lesson. *** Marty Ferris came out of the bathroom, washed his hands twice, dried them, and tossed the paper towels into the bin. It was almost time to quit, and not much made him happier than that. Another day hacking at slabs of meat with a cleaver had earned him enough for his weekly bills and a few beers at Teddy’s. Not nearly what he deserved for putting up with all the assholes who came in demanding special cuts, or trimming of fat, but it was the best he could do considering the economy. At times he felt like taking one of the knives and cutting some fat off a few of the customers, especially Mrs. Mariano. What a pain in the ass she was. That woman was never satisfied. She came into the shop every Thursday, walking as if she had a t-bone stuck up her ass. ‘Don’t forget to cut off all the fat, Marty. All of it.’ Her nagging voice grated on his nerves, staying with him long after she left. Stupid bitch should realize it was the fat that made the meat taste good, but he’d never tell her that. Marty finished wrapping a few chops for the customer he was waiting on, and cleaned his knives as he waited for the day to end. The clock chimed—it was five-thirty, the first thing since lunch that put a smile on Marty’s face. He untied his apron and headed for the back room. “Time for me to go, Sal. See you tomorrow.” “See you, Marty.” After scrubbing his hands he exited the building, got in his car and headed south on Union Street. He wanted to go home and shower, but he hadn’t had a beer since Tuesday night, and he was itching for one. He thought about stopping at the bar, but then remembered it was Thursday, his day for subs at Casapulla’s. *** I sat in the car a block north of where Marty worked, still sipping on my water ice to cool off. There wasn’t much better than water ice on a hot day. As I thought that, I marveled at the genius of combining sugar, ice, and lemon into a drink that is damn near addictive, tasted good, and actually quenched your thirst. Water ice was one of the things I had missed most when I lived in New York, and missed even more in prison. I hadn’t been all over the country yet, but so far I hadn’t found anyplace that had water ice like Wilmington. For such a little city it had a lot of special things, particularly when it came to food. Someone I didn’t recognize was walking north on Union Street. I could tell he knew me by the way he stared, leaning down a little to get a better look at who sat behind the wheel. His face was familiar, but I couldn’t put a name to it for the life of me. Frankie was always the best at that. I don’t think there was anyone Frankie forgot once he met them. Even ten years later he could instantly spit out a name. I always wanted to be able to do that, but never could. I sighed as the guy headed toward me. There was no way I was coming up with his name in time. The guy stooped over, leaned toward the car and smiled. “Hey, Nicky. Good to see you again.” I reached my hand out and shook his, then started to fake a forgotten-name moment, but I ended up doing what I always did when faced with this situation. “I know I should remember your name, but I don’t.” The guy laughed, probably to cover up the embarrassment that he was forgotten. If only people knew it wasn’t them, just a common thing. “It’s Howard. Remember, ninth grade, Sister Louise?” I thought a second, then shook my head. “I don’t, Howard. I’m sorry. I barely remember Sister Louise.” He smiled, laughed some more. “That’s okay. Good to see you anyway. Take care.” “Yeah, take care, Howard.” As he walked up the street, I repeated the name in my head, hoping to remember it in case we ran into each other again. Within a few seconds I started looking for Marty again, focusing on the cars going south on Union Street. A minute later I saw his car, letting it pass before pulling out and falling in a few blocks behind him. We went past Front Street, past the park, past the street where he lived and over the bridge into Elsemere. As soon as he headed over the bridge I knew where he was going; on Thursdays Marty usually treated himself to a cheesesteak at Casapulla’s. Most people thought Philly had the best cheesesteaks, but little old Wilmington, Delaware, made the best subs and steaks, bar none, and Casapulla’s was king. Had been for more than fifty years. Originally I’d planned on torturing Marty, but something inside of me wouldn’t let me do that, so while I waited in the car, I decided I’d just have a talk with him. If that didn’t work, I’d shoot him to get it over with. I had planned on doing it before he got his food, but despite how much I hated the guy, I couldn’t justify killing him on an empty stomach. Everyone deserved a good last meal. Rather than risk being seen, I turned around, deciding to wait for him by his house. I went back across the bridge and was lured in by a McDonald’s sign boasting the billions they’d sold. It flashed at me on the left, so I turned into the parking lot and waited. Marty lived in Canby Park, just across the street, and from here I could see him coming. If he kept to his routine, he’d go home to shower then go out for a few beers. Perfect. I’d wait for him to leave the bar and take him then. After half an hour, I began to worry. It shouldn’t have taken him that long to get a sandwich, not even if they were busy. I waited ten more minutes then started the car and drove to Casapulla’s. Marty’s car wasn’t there. Shit. How did I miss him? I turned and drove back past Marty’s house. Not there, either. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. I never thought stuff like that, so perhaps it was an omen. Angie had been after me with constant reminders not to do anything illegal, and while I promised her I wouldn’t, this was one thing I’d promised myself long before that so it didn’t count. Maybe she was right, though. Even guys like Marty deserved a second consideration. I pulled to the curb, put the car in park, and took a quarter from the change slot under the radio. Tails. I flipped the coin, a toss to determine Marty’s fate. Heads. I nodded. All right, Marty lives. I popped the car in gear and headed home, a good feeling in my gut. Sister Mary Thomas would be proud. As I drove home I wondered what I would have done if the coin had landed on tails. It took less than five minutes to get home. Angie and I had moved into a single-family home on Beech Street. It was only a few blocks from where we grew up, but the houses were nicer and still within the St. Elizabeth’s school district. It also put me a few blocks closer to where the guys hung out and played cards. Doggs was still around, and still running games, and Patsy the Whale and Charlie Knuckles were there too. Mikey the Face was serving time, and Pockets had gotten killed in an armed robbery. Some of the others had just moved on. I parked the car, threw the bag in the trunk, and headed up the sidewalk to the house, then climbed the steps to the stoop two at a time. When I reached the top, I pushed open the front door. Angie stood in the center of the room, hugging Rosa. They were crying. I nearly ran to them. “What happened? Are you all right?” “It’s Marty,” Angie said. “Rosa met him for subs and they got into an argument. He hit her.” My body tensed. Fists clenched. That fuckin’ prick is gonna pay. Rosa broke away from her mother and grabbed me, hugging. “Dad, don’t do anything. I’m okay. Nothing’s wrong. Don’t hurt him, okay?” I held her close. Patted her back. All I could think of was what Mamma Rosa used to say to me when things got bad. “Non ti preoccupare, Rosa.” “English!” she hollered. “Speak English.” “All I said was don’t worry.” Inside though, things churned. Thoughts of what I’d do to Marty when I got him, and how much I’d make him suffer. I thought of nails and screws and hammers and acid… Then I felt her pinch me. “Dad. Dad, are you listening?” I looked down at her and rubbed the back of her head. “What?” “Did you hear me when I said don’t hurt him? I meant it.” Her eyes were red from crying and her cheeks were tear-stained, but her face was that of an angel. How could I refuse. “All right, Rosa. But I swear…” “Don’t worry. It will never happen again. I’m through with seeing him for good.” I pulled her to me. Hugged her. You’re right, Rosa. It will never happen again.

Author Bio:

Giacomo Giammatteo lives in Texas, where he and his wife run an animal sanctuary and take care of 41 loving rescues. By day, he works as a headhunter in the medical device industry, and at night, he writes.

Catch Up With the Author:

Tour Participants:

MY interview with Giacomo Giammatteo

Overview
It's easy to give your life for someone you love. It's much harder to kill for them. ~Nicky Fusco. For a select few people, friendship lasts forever. Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan were friends like that, but that was years ago. Now Frankie's a detective in Brooklyn's Homicide department, and Nicky is a reformed hit man. 

_________________________________

The Reading Frenzy is proud to be a part of this Partners In Crime Blog tour featuring Giacomo Giammatteo and his newest novel Murder Has Consequences.

Giacomo, welcome to The Reading Frenzy.
GG: Thanks, I’m thrilled to be here.

Tell us a little about your novel Murder Has Consequences.
GG: Murder Has Consequences is book II in the friendship & honor series. It’s a standalone novel, and people who have read it said it works by itself, but I still think it’s better if someone has read MTT first. Murder Has Consequences continues the story started with MTT, and like MTT, it takes place in both Wilmington, DE and Brooklyn, NY. It also has other similarities with the first book, in that it is told in both third and first person POV, and this one is a dual plot line.

I have to admit that when I found out you’re an advocate for animal rescue it was a big draw for the animal lover in me.
Could you enlighten us as to how you ended up with 41 animals including the regular dogs and cats but also a wild boar?
GG: I have to thank blame my wife for that. She got into animal rescue about 20 years ago, starting out with a single pot belly pig. Now we have 45 animals. The wild boar was a real surprise. Our sanctuary borders @ 100 acres of woods and there are wild pigs, coyotes, darn near everything in there. Something must have disturbed a family of wild pigs and a baby got separated and found its way to our place, crawling through the fence. Our dogs almost killed him; in fact, after I rescued him the vet suggested putting him to sleep. He said the boar would never make it. That was almost four years ago and he’s now 400 lbs.

So tell us how did a mild-mannered headhunter/animal hotelier become an author of crime novels?
GG: I grew up in the city in a large Italian-American family. Storytelling was a part of  the heritage and I fell in love with listening to, and telling, stories at an early age. It wasn’t until all my kids were grown and gone that I started writing, though.

You’ve written both fiction and non-fiction.
Do you have one over the other you prefer writing?
GG: I love writing and telling stories. I find something to love in each of the genres and in all the characters. I have also written 3 SciFi/Fantasy books. When the fourth one is done, which will complete the series, I’ll release them. And I’m working on trying my hand at a few books for kids, using the animal sanctuary for the characters. As to the non-fiction, I see that as a chance to help people with their careers and that is very rewarding.

Are you a reader?
Fiction or non-fiction?
GG: I don’t read as much as I used to simply because I don’t have time, but yes, I love to read. My favorite is probably ancient history, particularly Roman and Greek up through the 1500s. Aside from that, I read mysteries, fantasy, and business.

You are a very connected author, on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and a Blog, plus more.
Do you use social media mostly to reach out to fans, friends or is it a stress reliever for you, something you do for fun?
GG: I haven’t gotten comfortable with it yet and most of it is again, a time issue. Unfortunately, because of the time, I don’t get to enjoy it much, although I am really starting to enjoy the blogs. I write one a week for the fiction site and one per week for my non-fiction site.

I’ve been reading your blog posts (readers must check it out). I especially like the one about being married for 44 years, congratulations by the way. It was almost like reading a love letter to your wife.
So a question about your wife. Does she critique your work for you?
GG: Thanks for that. My wife is my special friend. I met her at 13, and we got married when I was barely 17 and she was almost 17. As to critiquing, I have to laugh. She doesn’t even read my books, but that works perfectly for another reason. Any time I get a review that is negative, I think of my wife and say, “that person is probably like her, just doesn’t like my style.” How can I get upset if I think of them as being like my wife? It keeps me level-headed.

What is your favorite thing to do in your off time?
GG: Spend time with the animals, or my grandkids.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. Good Luck with the novel!!
GG: Thanks.

**GIVEAWAY** + Interview with author debut author Barbara Davis - The Secrets She Carried

Today on The Reading Frenzy I'm pleased to introduce debut author Barbara Davis who is answering questions about her novel The Secrets She Carried. When I asked about the premise  and how the idea came about she said––"One day I was waiting in the car for Tom when I noticed a single gravestone on the side of the road. Now, in North Carolina, this isn’t really unusual. They’re everywhere,..." See the rest of this answer and all the rest below

• ISBN-13: 9780451418777
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 10/1/2013
• Pages: 384

I have one copy US Only of
The Secrets She Carried to Giveaway
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Overview:
When a young woman returns to North Carolina after a thirty-year absence, she finds that the once grand tobacco plantation she called home holds more secrets than she ever imagined. Though Peak Plantation has been in her family for generations, Leslie Nichols can’t wait to rid herself of the farm left to her by her estranged grandmother Maggie—and with it the disturbing memories of her mother’s death, her father’s disgrace, and her unhappy ...

 Praise for Davis’ debut:
Davis paints a picture of two eras and beautifully flawed characters with evocative and caring words.”—Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past the Graveyard

“Lovely and assured writing. Adele Laveau's haunting voice and Leslie Nicholl's journey toward understanding lingered long after I read the final page of this engrossing tale."—Julie Kibler, author of Calling Me Home

“A beautifully crafted page-turner with many twists but a simple theme: no matter how far you run, you can’t escape your past.  Part contemporary women’s fiction, part historical novel, the plot moves seamlessly back and forth in time to unlock family secrets that bind four generations of women….A stunning read from the first page to the last sentence.”—Barbara Claypole White, author of The Unfinished Garden

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Barbara welcome to The Reading Frenzy.

Tell my readers a little about The Secrets She Carried.

SECRETS is the story of two women from different generations whose stories eventually collide. Leslie Nichols is big-city editor forced to return her childhood home when her estranged grandmother leaves her the family tobacco plantation. Peak Plantation was never a happy place for Leslie, evoking some pretty troubling memories about her mother’s death. Her plan is to dispose of the place and its memories, as quickly as possible, until she stumbles onto a cryptically marked grave that was clearly never meant to be found. Suddenly, Leslie’s need to run away is replaced with an almost obsessive need to know the truth behind who is buried in the mysterious grave and what connection that person might have with her family. Unfortunately, there’s a man living on the property, a caretaker who isn’t quite what he appears, who has his own motives for keeping the secrets of the grave a secret. 

Barbara congratulations on your debut novel.
According to your website you left the corporate world to pursue your lifelong dream of being an author.
Tell us how and when that dream started and how you finally were able to fulfill it.

It really has been the most amazing journey, so much so that I sometimes have to pinch myself. Fourteen years ago I was promoted and my fiancé and I moved to North Carolina. At the time I was a VP with a national jewelry chain, but about four years ago, I was laid off from my job. At the time, it felt like the end of the world. Then I realized I needed to pay attention to the message the Universe was sending. Finally, with tons of encouragement from my fiancé, I realized it was time to pursue my lifelong dream of writing. I’d been simmering on the idea for SECRETS for several years, and suddenly I had no excuse not to follow through. It took a good six months to find my voice again, after so many years in the corporate world, but I finally did, and I’ve never looked back since. Sometimes disasters really do turn out to be blessings.       

Where did the premise for The Secrets She Carried come from?

One day I was waiting in the car for Tom when I noticed a single gravestone on the side of the road. Now, in North Carolina, this isn’t really unusual. They’re everywhere, along the sides of the road, in the middle of cornfields, even in a mall parking lot in Greenville, because back in the day that’s what people did. Loved ones were buried on family farms. But now those farms are gone, roads have been built—the landscape has changed, and yet these graves, these lost loved-ones, remain. And as I sat there I found myself wondering who was buried in that particular grave, and how long they’d been there. It all felt very sad to me, very lonely. I wondered if there were family members looking for that person, and what story that departed loved one might have to tell so many years later. And just like that Adele Laveau was born. In what felt like minutes, her story came to life in my head and refused to go away.

What kind of research did this novel require?

I was born in New Jersey so I had no real knowledge about tobacco farming which played a role in the backstory of Peak Plantation. I did a lot of research about the day to day operations of planting, curing, and marketing back in the thirties, much more than I needed to do, as it turned out, but it’s easy to get lost in research when the subject is so rich. I also had to research how the small-town farming economies were hurt during the Great Depression, and how folks coped with scarcity and rampant unemployment. Luckily, this information is still very plentiful here in Carolina. Also, since Peak has since been converted to a vineyard, I had to learn a lot about wine and wine-making, which, I confess wasn’t much of a hardship.

Now that your first novel’s been put to bed; whew.
What about the experience will you change for the next novel?

I think my biggest takeaway from SECRETS is that going forward I don’t need to worry about getting it “perfect” before I turn in that first draft. There’s SO much writing that happens after that. So much of the “original” draft of SECRETS was scrapped, stuff I agonized over that ended up on the so-called cutting room floor—and none of it was missed. Novel writing, as much as we may hate to admit it, really does take a village. So many hands and hearts go into taking a good novel and making it great. That happens in layers, when fresh eyes and ideas are brought into the process. I can’t say enough how much of Secrets is owed to my fiancé, my critique partners, my wonderful agent and amazing editors.

Tell us about where you were and your reaction when you learned your book had sold?

Oh, wow. Just thinking of it makes me choke up. It all happened pretty quickly, actually, certainly more quickly than I’d been told to hope for. About a month after my agent started shopping the manuscript, she called me and said we had an offer, followed by a second call shortly thereafter, that we had a second competing offer. I remember feeling numb for a minute, and then bursting into tears of relief, that it all hadn’t been for nothing, that I wasn’t the only one who thought it was a worthwhile book. Tom walked into the room, took one look at my face and thought someone had died. He still teases me about it.   

What were your reactions to your early reviews?
Do you think you’ll be one of the authors who read all the reviews or one that doesn’t?

I think my initial reaction was shock that people were actually reviewing it at all. Being a debut author, I didn’t really expect to get a lot of early attention, but so far it’s all been pleasant surprises, so that’s good. I think I’ll read most of them early on, mainly because I’m still learning about how the process works. I’d like to say I’ll one day get past worrying about reviews, but I’m not sure I will. I think you can learn from criticism, even when it isn’t particularly fun.    

Barbara are you a reader?
Fiction or Non-Fiction?

I’m a huge reader. Mostly women’s fiction, with some positive living/inspirational non-fiction sprinkled in. I’m a big fan of writers like Diana Chamberlain, Karen White, Susan Crandall and Sarah Jio. Plus, I love discovering and supporting new writers in my genre. There’s so much amazing talent out there. 

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on my second novel, THE WISHING TIDE, which is set on North Carolina’s outer banks, and is due out in November 2014. It’s a story about three people whose lives intersect in some pretty interesting and unexpected ways. They’re all struggling to get un-stuck from their pasts, trying to learn how to fight for happiness. There are some real twists and turns, so I’m having a lot of fun writing it.

Barbara I know new fans will want to meet you in person.
Will there be a tour for this release?

My first signing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15^th at 7pm, at Flyleaf Books: 752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - Chapel Hill, N.C.

Other events are currently being scheduled, and will be posted on the Events tab of my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barbaradavisauthor?ref=hl

Thank you for sharing some time, good luck with this novel and all your future endeavors as well.

Thanks, so much for having me!

Connect with Barbara Website – Facebook - Twitter

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November Line-Up - Giveaways- Interviews - Reviews - Blog Tours - Monthly Read

Can you feel the chill in the air where you are? The weather is definitely taking a turn towards cool here.

And I'm so pleased to bring you my November line-up.

First I'm so happy to tell you that the wonderful Author Gareth Crocker will be with us all of November from South Africa as we discuss his novel-You who are regulars will remember Gareth from when we discussed his previous novel Finding Jack on the B&N forum. He's an incredible author, and an wonderfully active participant so I urge all my friends to join this month's read.

The Discussion starts Monday November 4th

This is a very special novel for Gareth as his co-author was his father so be sure and check out our interview and then join in the conversation for the month of November.

The reading schedule and further details will be available soon so be sure and check in on the blog frequently.

Friday November 1st 
Interview with Organic baker extraordinaire Debbie Adler + Harlequin her publisher will be sponsoring a GIVEAWAY of a copy of her new cookbook!! Yum!

Monday November 4th
Week One Discussion of Journey From Darkness




Tuesday November 5th
Harlequin sponsored GIVEAWAY +
Interview with Jennifer Basye Sander about her non-fiction book

Wednesday November 4th
Interview with #1 NYT bestseller and a very personal favorite Brenda Novak 

Thursday November 5th is my stop on the Kristin Higgins blog tour
sponsored by her publicist Little Bird Publicity
Stop by and read my review of

Friday November 8th is a very special
Harlequin Holiday Giveaway so stop by to enter for your chance 
to win the following fantastic prize package

Sponsored by




Monday November 11th
Week Two discussion of




Tuesday  November 12th
Interview with Sugar Jamison as she talks about her 
Perfect Fit series
 +  GIVEAWAY of her novel Dangerous Curves Ahead

Wednesday November 13th
Interview with author Terrell Giffin about his new release
Found + GIVEAWAY sponsored by his publisher
Oceanview

Monday November 19th
Week three discussion of Journey From Darkness



Wednesday November 20th
interview with RaeAnne Thayne about her new
novel Christmas in Snowflake Canyon

There are additions I'm hoping to add to the November line-up so be sure and check in often
And have a November to Remember!!