Saturday, February 23, 2019

Cathy Ace: Steps away from the light and comes up aces...

HALLIE EPHRON: I recently had the great pleasure of reading an advance copy of Cathy Ace's THE WRONG BOY. I was bowled over. Engrossing characters, perfectly rendered Welsh setting, a stunning ending, and as with the best books, the title takes on a new meaning when you're done reading.

Today we welcome Cathy today to talk about her amazing new book.

CATHY ACE: A recent review of my latest book The Wrong Boy (by the well-respected Kristopher Zgorski at BOLO Books) began thus:

“With two successful series and a few collections of novellas, some may view Cathy Ace’s decision to release a stand-alone psychological suspense novel as a strange – and potentially risky – move…”

Kristopher was right – I was leaping into the unknown, stepping into the dark…
My Cait Morgan Mysteries have their place firmly in the “traditional” camp; they are contemporary, closed-circle whodunits, with a not-so-amateur professor of criminal psychology as a sleuth.
I have never viewed them as “cozy” though they were marketed as such by the publisher, there being “no distinctive way to market them as traditional”; each is set in a different country, with an ever-changing cast of characters save the two main protagonists. My other series, the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries, is truly “cozy”, featuring a recurring cast, a Welsh village and stately home, and several quirky, and quintessentially British, cases for my four female professional PIs to investigate in each book.

Then along came 2017, when I was faced with two publishers who no longer wanted to do business with me the way they had (a new direction for one, a new owner for the other) so it was clear I had a Big Decision to make – what to write next. Oh, and I should probably mention I also fired my agent. So, I completed my contractual obligations, then plotted my next move…

As a psychology graduate I have always been drawn to the “why” more than merely the “who” or the “how”; Cait Morgan is a professor of criminal psychology who applies her significant understanding of the human condition to the cases she encounters on her travels, and while the four women of the WISE Enquiries Agency aren’t psychologists, they always use their breadth of life-experience and insights to interpret the information they gather through their professional investigating.

So why not run with that? The “why” as the driver for an entire book. But how, exactly?

I began where I always tell those wanting to write to begin – by reading. I read dozens of psychological suspense novels, from the bestsellers to those by authors I’d never heard of before. I met flocks of unreliable narrators (often “girls”!), and became wary of anyone who’d ever sipped so much as a small glass of sherry or sustained even the slightest bump on the head at any point in their life because – you know…blackouts and amnesia, right? I suspect I over-read, because I ended up convinced the “shape” of these books wasn’t right for me as an author.

You see, I had a plot, with the key twists all lined up, but it didn’t feel right; the three main female characters in my head lived their worrying lives in a Welsh location I knew well, but still I couldn’t orchestrate the right rhythm for the tale.

Then I got it!

I’d written a collection of short, and long, stories, as well as a collection of novellas; three of those novellas featured characters from the original collection of short stories, and two of those sets of characters had grown to live their lives in their own series of books. Yes, Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson as well as the four women of the Wise Enquiries Agency were all “born” in the same collection

The real location of THE WRONG BOY: Rhossili, South Wales

of short stories. The only character who’d recurred in my novellas who hadn’t been featured in a novel was a lovely chap by the name of Detective Inspector Evan Glover of the West Glamorgan Police Service in South Wales, who lived an unremarkable, but hard-working and happily-settled life with his psychotherapist wife Betty.

I decided to introduce a police detective element into the shape of the new book to be able to change the rhythm – without allowing it to become a police procedural, which I knew I didn’t want to write. I’d left DI Glover pondering his future as a policeman at the end of the novella I’d written about him in Murder Knows No Season – so decided to give his wife a significant financial windfall, which would allow him to take early retirement.


That meant was I was then able to tell my dark, twisting tale not through the eyes of one unreliable narrator, but through several – each of whom knew a part of what was going on, but none of whom could see the whole picture.
I gave each their own point of
view, each their own voice – and allowed the reader to see the world in which they lived through their individual lenses, never certain about what was true, or what was assumed or imagined.

Now that the book is written, the characters’ voices aren’t talking in my head anymore – which I’m sure is a good thing. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process of revealing more and more layers of the psyches of the characters – from Evan and Betty Glover struggling

Village of Rhossili, South Wales
as a couple to come to terms with his retirement, to the many ways in which secrets kept within and between families can be psychologically destructive, and even deadly.

It’s been a journey down a darker, twisting path for me. A risk? Certainly, but the review I mentioned earlier concluded with “The Wrong Boy is a first-class narrative journey and readers should seek it out immediately” which is uplifting, and the book recently hit #1 on the amazon psychological suspense best seller list, which tells me readers like the sound of it enough to take that journey with me. And – especially when we leave our usual paths and take a chance – I believe that’s the best an author can hope for.

Do you choose to follow authors whose work you enjoy when they take a different path?
Does it always work for you? Or them?


Find Cathy at:
http://www.cathyace.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.ace.author
Twitter: @AceCathy

65 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Cathy, on your new book. It’s always exciting when a new venture turns out well and your story does sound quite intriguing . . . .

    Yes, I definitely follow authors whose work I enjoy, no matter what they choose to write. I’ve never had it not work for me; generally, I enjoy the author’s style of storytelling and I like reading a variety of genres, so it all seems to come together quite nicely . . . .

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    1. Hello Joan - I'm glad that following authors whose style you enjoy has worked out for you so far, and I think a great number of people read widely, as do I, and enjoy the change. Thanks for commenting :-) Happy reading

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  2. Congrats on the new book Cathy. I read the review over on Bolo Books so I'm planning on picking this one up ASAP.

    As for following authors when they try something new, I do attempt to do so for the most part. I mean, I like their writing so why wouldn't I at least try their new direction.

    The only time I don't like a "new direction" is when in the middle of a long running series, a prequel book is written and published. There is no suspense in that kind of story for me so I tend to skip those.

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    1. Ooooh, but not always. I like it when a prequel gives new insight into a character. Jay, did you read the Jack Reacher prequel?

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    2. I know what you mean about the prequel issue, though it sounds as though I've found it more enjoyable than you have, despite my trepidation. Maybe it's my background in psychology, because I do enjoy discovering how a character/characters I have come to know through several books reached the point they were at when I first "met" them. In any case, happy reading, and thanks for considering my latest book :-)

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    3. Hallie, I did read the Jack Reacher prequel but that only further helped define the point that there is no suspense when you know they survive whatever the plot throws at them because otherwise, there wouldn't have been that first book in the series to begin with.

      It's kind of like listening to a live album. There's nothing really new about a live album because it is just songs that you've already heard on the studio albums for the most part. I used to be big into live albums but now there are only two artists I buy live stuff from and that's mainly due to my devotion to supporting them.

      Cathy, oh yes your book has been on my list since it was on the Bolo Books Monday article.

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  3. Oh yes I will follow an author to the ends of the earth if I like the way she (he) writes! However one of my favorite authors had a minor-ish character in a couple of stand-alones. Then he introduced a new character and a new series and had to kill off my character to make it work. While I read his other stuff I'm not reading that new series. (That shuld teach him a lesson!)

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    1. Killing off series characters is a dangerous thing. Wasn't it Patricia Cornwell who bumped off a character and her readers were upset?

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    2. Karin Slaughter killed off the second protagonist/love interest in her Grant County series and the readers screamed bloody murder. It turned out to be the last book in that series, although it's hard to say if that was the purpose or the result of the charactericide.

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    3. And the wonderful and revered and beloved Elizabeth George.

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    4. Killing off a character can be cathartic, or might provide the seed for a new plot, but it's hard (as a reader) to loose people we love!

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  4. Funny Judi--you go! Cathy, love this essay following how you made this turn in your writing. As a psychologist, I am always more interested in the why than the who. How did you end up feeling about writing a darker story? And what's next for you?

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    1. Thanks Lucy/Roberta, it was an enjoyable change for me, though it might not suit everyone's writing style to shift the entire shape of what they are writing. The interesting thing is that I have already received several emails from readers who want to know if some/any of the characters from this book will be back in future titles...and I am torn! So, as for what's next...um...either another standalone, or maybe the second in a series, but certainly this type of book.

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  5. Cathy, I admire the way you kept turning this puzzle about until you finally found the pieces you needed to make the story work. And yes, if I come across an author whose work I enjoy, I'll follow them wherever their writing takes them. But not blindly--if some new venture doesn't capture my interest, I'll pass on their next effort in the same vein. An author I really love has two series--the first series I greatly enjoyed, the second series I adore. The first series is still being written, but I don't find it as interesting as in the beginning. The second has never flagged for me. This author has also done a standalone--I read it and it left me cold. And she also does a series of Christmas-themed novellas which feature minor characters from her series--those I look forward to each year. So, chase out those new stories--I'll be looking for them!

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    1. Flora, you are what I'd call a very generous reader. Authors love you!

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    2. Flora you ARE a generous reader! It sounds as though you're ready to give most things a try, and - as an author - that's all I can hope for. I have to acknowledge that not everything I write will appeal to all readers, so I have to do the best job I can of writing the sort of book I feel is right at the time...and keep my fingers crossed (not while I am typing, though!) Happy reading :-)

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  6. Oh, congratulations! And I love hearing about this thought process. Isn’t it kind of – reassuring? To know you are such a skilled author that you realized when you had a story that wouldn’t work, and then figured out the puzzle piece that was missing?. What a triumph ! Cannot wait to read this.

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    1. Thanks Hank...it's the best feeling in the world as a writer to know you're not alone in having to work hard at coming up with the right way for things to fit together. I hope you enjoy the book when it clambers to the top of what must be a staggeringly tall TBR pile! LOL :-)

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  7. And number one on Amazon! Fantastic!
    (And Judi— I am still laughing. And trying to figure out what series it is… )

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    1. Clue for you - a man wrote it, but the new series features a woman. Oops, guess that was 2 clues!

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    2. Thanks Hank...it was a great feeling! And I am puzzling about Judi's comment too ;-)

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  8. Hi Cathy. Good to see you here. And congrats on The Wrong Boy.

    Yeah, I'll follow the author for the first book, maybe even the second, but if it's not for me, it just isn't, and I let them go on alone. And of course I keep looking for the next book in the old series, which often doesn't happen, because they HAVE moved on.

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    1. Thanks for commenting Susan...it sounds as though you're a lot like me in that i will give a series at least two tries before I decide to read something else. Sometimes the first book in a series has a lot of work to do in terms of establishing characters, and that can be a little off-putting, so I try the second to see if it reads more smoothly for me. Whatever it is, happy reading! :-)

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  9. congratulations on your new release! Interesting discussion of multiple POV's and narrator reliability. I've populated a small town with short story characters, and routinely check my "stable" if I need a secondary character. I look forward to reading your new book.

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    1. Interesting the relationship between short stories and longer works... I hadn't thought about that.

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    2. Ah yes, the 'character bible"...I have one, sometimes with notes and photos (oohh!!) but I really enjoy inventing people, so I'm happy to start afresh...unless a character's story isn't finished (in my head) yet!

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  10. Congratulations, Cathy! If I love an author, yes, I'll follow her into new territory. Does it always work? Maybe not, but I applaud them for branching out.

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    1. Such a positive response Liz...and thank you for it! :-)

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  11. Hi Cathy! I have somehow not found your previous works before now, so will be checking out those along with the new one.

    I will definitely follow a favorite author into new territory. In many cases, I have found it very enjoyable. In just a few, not so much, but in those cases I simply stop reading the new stuff. As others have said, I would far prefer to follow an author in a new direction than have the series I was enjoying begin to languish and feel "phoned in."

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    1. That's a really good point, Susan. We all love certain series and characters, but there's nothing so disappointing as picking up the latest _____ book and finding it a blah read. Anyone who loves crime fiction has had the experience of seeing exactly when the author ran out of ideas or interest in a particular fictional world.

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    2. I'm glad we've found each other now, Susan :-) And I agree with you, I prefer the fresh tale, rather than the stale story!

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  12. Of course I follow my favorite writers, wherever they land. Even if I don't like it!

    Sometimes I've tried an author, didn't find much to intrigue me, but I've tried again with a standalone as opposed to the series I didn't care for. And adored the standalone.

    Go figure.

    On the other hand, there are a few I've tried and tried and tried and still didn't like. This is why there are menus in restaurants. Nobody loves everything offered.

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    1. Oh Ann, you're right...not everything is for everybody, and we all have to find what pleases our reading palate. Just keep trying :-) Happy reading

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    2. Bought the book and am reading it, alternating with stirring the chili. Both Good February Saturday occupations up here on the tundra.

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  13. Cheering for you, Cathy, my love. I'm so glad you took the risk with a standalone. It worked out okay for me!

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    1. Rhys,
      My first love was your Welsh series. I loved the glossary with the Welsh words.

      Diana

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    2. Thanks Rhys, for your support and inspiration. Yes, the standalone format really raises the stakes...in that any character might not "make it" to the end of the book :-) I enjoyed that change from the series approach.

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  14. Cathy,

    Welcome to Jungle Reds! I met you at Malice and at Bouchercon in Toronto. I love your WISE Enquiries series.

    As long as the novel is not scary, I can read and enjoy the novel. Yes, I usually follow an author regardless of the direction they decide to take, as long as it is not "dark".

    Diana

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    1. Hello Diana, thanks ever so much for finding my work (and for telling me you enjoy it...which means a LOT!). Bouchercon in Toronto was great fun - though I hope I didn't infect you with the dreadful head-cold I had at the time! To reassure you, I don't think this latest book of mine is "scary" or "dark" in the horror sense of the word, though it isn't as cheery as my WISE or Cait Morgan Mysteries (allowing for all the dead bodies!)

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  15. Cathy,

    Congratulations on your new book!

    Diana

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  16. Cathy, congratulations on the new book! All the changes in your professional life and look what it produced. Kudos.
    Let's hear it for the well crafted "why". I feel let down when an author gives the evil doer a flimsy motivation, almost as an after-thought.

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    1. Thanks Lyda - I appreciate the support :-) Yes, the WHY is always what I feel drawn to, and flimsy motivation isn't a favourite of mine either ;-) Happy reading

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  17. I will follow an author into a new series. Many times I find a new series to love; sometimes I don’t. But that’s okay. I know that even if a new series is not “my cup of tea”, it is still well-written and will have an audience. There’s a local bakery that I adore. It started out specializing in one particular item, and after a few years began adding other baked goods. I love the original stuff and lots, but not all, of the newer items. I recommend the bakery to anyone who asks, and I urge people to try everything, even the items that are not my favorites. I do the same when asked to recommend authors. Everyone’s taste is different.

    DebRo

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    1. You're so right, Deborah, everyone's taste is different, which is a good thing! I know there's a writer for every reader, and readers for every writer - we all just have to find each other, which is why this is such a great place!

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  18. Hi Cathy and best wishes on the new book! I will definitely follow an author I like into new territory and I loved learning about your process. I'm a bit of a series junkie, so am going to check out both your series, too.

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    1. Oh Deborah, a series junkie sounds like a very healthy addiction :-) I hope I become part of your network of enablers...LOL! Happy reading

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  19. Congratulations, Cathy! What a wonderful writer's journey - thank you for sharing it with us. I will most definitely pick up The Wrong Boy as it sounds like my cup of suspense. If I like an author's voice, I will follow them anywhere, because...librarian. :)

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    1. Hello Jen...I LOVE your sign off - which could be applied in so many situations! It's got me thinking about just how many times it would be possible to use "because...librarian!" as a reason/excuse LOL! Happy reading

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  20. I love following authors and series. My only problem was when I find a good book and discover its part of a series but I started reading at the 4th or 5th book of said series. There were times finding the first books difficult, though e-books does seem be to filling those holes now.

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    1. I know what you mean Deana...I have jumped in at book three or seven, not caring or knowing, then have to go back to book one to start "properly". the best thing about that is I find I can then enjoy whichever book I read first more, because I understand more about the characters' backgrounds :-) Happy reading

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  21. Already a fan of Cathy's writing and her personally, I was definitely excited about receiving an ARC for The Wrong Boy. Of course, as you well know, Cathy, you are the driving force behind my recently found love of Wales and wanting to visit there. Nobody does Wales better than you, and the richness of that beautiful setting, with its cultural distinctions, came through as its own character in the book. My review of this amazing book can be found on my Reading Room blog (http://www.readingroom-readmore.com/2019/01/the-wrong-boy-by-cathy-ace-reading-room.html).

    And, as so often happens between what I'm thinking about and what appears here on the Jungle Reds blog, I have a discussion going on my FB page about twisted endings, started from an article about them by Sophie Hannah. Please feel free to add your favorite twisty books to the discussion, as I've decided to make a blog post about it. But, back to The Wrong Boy and its connection to that discussion. Here's how I ended my review of The Wrong Boy. "And, as it is a psychological thriller, we should be aware that their views are not always reliable, either by choice or ignorance. Like the fog the villagers call the Dragon's Breath, the path is not always clear. As the end nears and the fog clears, my jaw dropped in surprise, and I consider Cathy Ace's final twist and disclosure one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to be gobsmacked by."

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    1. Thanks for being here Kathy....your review of The Wrong Bay warmed my heart, and I was so chuffed by it! May I say i am also delighted that I managed to smack you in the gob (in the best possible way!) ;-)

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    2. Hahaha! I was delighted to have my gob smacked!

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  22. And, of course, I forgot to answer the question asked. I do follow authors I enjoy when they take a different path. It seems like my favorite authors of series are taking that rewarding risk of writing a stand-alone. Cathy, you're risk definitely paid off. Other favorite authors of mine who have had fantastic success at writing a stand-alone after years of series writing are the following brilliant authors: Rhys and Hank of our beloved Jungle Reds, Elly Griffiths/Domenica de Rosa, Sharon Bolton, Catriona McPherson, and Peter May.

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    1. Yes, I am pleased that authors whose work I have enjoyed sometimes take me on a journey I'd have otherwise missed because I trusted them enough to allow myself to be led :-) Happy reading

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  23. I follow authors especially if I like their work and if they make a change, I like to see what they have done.

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    1. yes, I agree Dru, it's worth taking the chance. I know that time is our most precious possession, and gift, and if an author has earned my trust I like to gift them a bit more time to try something new they choose to do than I might otherwise give a new-to-me author

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  24. Hey Cathy! You had quite a journey to this book. New publisher, new agent, new ideas. Just wow! If I like an author I will definitely read new series, standalones, whatever. I'll give it a fair try and if it doesn't work for me, then no harm done. Hopefully the original series is still going strong. If not, I'll keep an ear to the ground and when he/she tries something else I'll give it a try.

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    1. Thanks for your support Pat :-) Good for you for following your favourites - I'm sure they appreciate you taking the journey with them...happy reading!

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  25. I follow authors when they crossover to other genres/do something different. I've never been disappointed.

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    1. So pleased you've enjoyed the new directions your favourite authors have chosen to take Jana :-)

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