Today, I'm pleased to feature author Christy Effinger. Her poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in various print and
online publications.
But today, we're here to talk about her latest novel. Released on August 29, 2014, "Say Nothing of What you See" is a Paranormal New Adult.
Christy offers us some information about this novel.
When
her aunt steps off a grain elevator into the emptiness of a prairie evening,
Mira Piper loses her one protector. Chloe, her flighty mother, impulsively
drags her daughter to Bramblewood, an isolated spiritualist retreat in northern
Michigan, run by the enigmatic Dr. Virgil Simon.
Chloe
plans to train as a medium, but it's Mira who discovers she can communicate with
the dead. When her mother abandons her, Mira discovers a darker aspect to
Bramblewood: the seemingly kind doctor has a sinister side and a strange
control over his students.
Then
one winter's day Troy Farrington arrives, to fulfill his mother's dying wish
and deliver her letter to the doctor. But calamity strikes and he finds himself
a captive, tended by a sympathetic Mira. Haunted by her dead aunt and desperate
to escape Bramblewood, Mira makes a devil's deal with Dr. Simon. But
fulfillment comes with a steep cost...betrayal.
And Christy is generously allowing us to take a peek inside. Here's an excerpt:
“You
are absolutely stunning, Mira.”
I stole
another glance in the mirror. The material was a rich, shimmery gold that fell
from my shoulders in folds of liquid light. It looked like something a Greek
goddess might wear. Oh, how I wished the girls from Amberville High School
could see me in this dress!
“When
you came here,” said Dr. Simon, “I had a vision of you like this. I looked at
the girl before me, but I saw the woman you are now.”
“Thank
you,” I murmured, gesturing toward the piles of clothes on my bed. “You’ve been
so generous. I know you’ve spent a good deal of money on me—”
“Money
means nothing,” he interrupted abruptly. “I have more than I could ever spend,
more than I know what to do with. Don’t consider the cost.”
His
tone was brusque, and I wondered if I had offended him.
But the
next moment Dr. Simon smiled. “I think of you as my charity case. You were like
a doll thrown out in the garbage. I simply rescued you from the trash, cleaned
you up, and dressed you in something decent. But the beauty was present all
along.” He touched my cheek. “Here.” Then he touched my forehead. “Here.” Then
he touched my chest. “And here.”
I knew
he was referring to my heart, but even so, his hand on my chest made my face
warm with discomfort.
“You
blush so easily,” he laughed. “You’ll never be able hide anything, Mira, with
such a transparent face.”
“That’s
all right,” I said, taking a small step back. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
"Say Nothing of What you See" can be purchased at:
The
Wild Rose Press:
Amazon:
BN.com
I was able to get in touch with Christy and ask her a few questions. Check out her 'for fun' questions at the end of the interview.
Starr for QueenWriter News (QW): Tell us a bit about your
background that we won't find in your bio.
Christy Effinger (CE): For as long as
I can remember, I have loved the written word. My first job at sixteen was
shelving books at the public library. In college, I worked as a writing tutor
while majoring in English, and in graduate school I taught freshman composition
as part of my master’s degree. After grad school, I taught English for several
years at an urban community college. Through all of this, my dream was to one
day be a professional writer with a book of my own in print. I am finally
living that dream.
QW: Tell us what inspired you to write "Say
Nothing of What You See."
CE: I’ve long been
interested in cults, communes, and other fringe groups. The follower mentality
perplexes me. Why will some people do whatever they’re told, even to the point
of mistreating others? The fascinating thing about humans is that we can
rationalize anything.
Say Nothing began
as an exploration into power, control, and jealousy—but also love, which is
stronger than the other three. Stronger than anything, really.
QW: Other than the synopsis of your book, tell us why you think
readers will enjoy it.
CE: A reviewer at Tome Tender called it, “A tale of
darkness and despair at the hands of a madman . . . fabulous reading.” I hope readers
looking for a suspenseful story set in an eerie atmosphere will enjoy this
book.
QW: Your website indicates you
also write short works, such as poetry. Where do you get your inspiration for
your poetry?
CE: My poetry is
much more personal than my fiction. Most of my poems are interpretations or
reflections on what happens to me in real life.
QW: What other short works have
you written, published or not?
CE: Besides
poetry, I’ve written short stories, flash fiction, and short essays. My short
work has been published in print and online literary journals. I’ve compiled a
list with hyperlinks on my website.
QW: Do you believe in writer's
block? If so, has this happened to you? And if so, what do you do to get past
it?
CE: I do believe
in writer’s block, but I’ve always managed to work through it and find my way
again. Writer’s block has never caused me any long-term paralysis. (I hope I
didn’t just jinx myself!)
QW: What's next on your writing
list? Are you currently penning this or is this in the 'thinking' stage?
CE: I’m currently
editing my WIP, so I’ve begun thinking about my next project. It’s still in the
planning stage. I hope to begin writing it soon.
For fun:
QW: Complete the following
sentence: "If I had one day to do something other than writing, I
would ..."
CE: I would spend
the day at the beach with my husband, fruity rum drinks, and a good book.
QW: Name two things you hate
and two things you love.
CE: I hate soggy
bread and being stuck in traffic. I love windy spring days and bubble baths.
QW: You can bring one book,
one movie, and one music CD to a remote island. What would those be?
CE: The book: "Good Poems," an anthology edited by
Garrison Keillor. The movie: Young
Frankenstein. The CD: Ceremonials by
Florence + the Machine.
Thank you, Christy, for taking time to speak with me and your readers and fans. Christy lives near Indianapolis. If you want to know more about Christy and her work, you can visit her at:
Website:
http://christyeffinger.com
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/christyeffinger
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/christyeffinger
Goodreads:
http://goodreads.com/christyeffinger
Google+:
http://google.com/+christyeffinger
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/christyeffinger
1 comment:
Thanks for hosting me on your lovely blog.
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