Are you ready to be scared?
Yolanda Renee has a new book out - the fifth instalment in her Detective Quaid mystery/thriller series! I had some questions for Yolanda!
Murder, Just Because - Yolanda Renée
Interview
What draws you to the genre you write?
I was told early on to write what I wanted to read. And that's what I've done. I love a good mystery, a thriller, and if you add a little romance, I’m there!
Which of your characters was the most challenging to write?
Stowy Jenkins, from The Snowman, and now this latest book, Murder, Just Because. Stowy insisted on being the star of the book, which meant getting very graphic with his actions. That was the most difficult, and there were many times that I refused to write the scene. I almost didn't publish the book. But Stowy was one persistent cuss. Too bad he didn't see the end coming… 😊
Do you use real settings, or do you create the settings in your book?
All the settings are as real as I can get them. I've lived in most all the places in my novel, except those that take my characters out of the country. For those, I researched the area and immersed myself in pictures, and I like to use the real names of places, so readers can relate. But yes, I have created many that aren't real.
With the genre you write, do you ever have trouble sleeping?
Yes, I do. I enjoy the mystery/thriller genre, but I'm easily frightened, plus I have very vivid nightmares. Most have become the plot lines in my books or short stories.
I don’t understand why I’m so easily frightened, but I blame my empathic nature.
When I was seventeen, my boyfriend took me to a graveyard. One of those in the country, down a dirt road, and located beside an old church. Before he even got close, I felt an eerie but a powerful sense of fear. So strong, I became hysterical. My boyfriend didn’t even question it. He hightailed it out of there. I was deeply embarrassed, but I’ve not visited a cemetery after dark since, nor will I go to any place that’s reported to be haunted.
Some of the scenes I've written have caused me to check the window and door locks or turn up the lights. Once I even slept with the lights on. It was after a very vivid nightmare. And that's hard for me because I prefer a completely dark room. I've even disturbed my husband's late-night television watching and made him come to bed just so I could sleep.
Thank you, Jemi, for the interview and for hosting Murder, Just Because.
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It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Yolanda
Renee’s MURDER, JUST BECAUSE Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.
Yolanda is offering an awesome tour-wide international giveaway. More
information on the giveaway is listed below.
MURDER, JUST BECAUSE
by Yolanda Renée
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
◊ Publisher: Yolanda Renee
◊ Series: Detective Quaid Mysteries
◊ Paperback: 291 pages
◊ Print & eBooks
◊ ISBN-10: 0985820632
◊ ISBN-13: 978-0985820633
◊ Contains explicit sex & graphic violence
"While
this book does contain explicit sexual language and graphic violence, it could
easily be taken from the daily headlines. The content is plausible and
realistic as we look at the world around us. The events in the book are not
overly done but give a pragmatic look at the terrifying actions killers can and
sometimes do take."
It was a matter of beginner’s luck, but rookie detective Steven
Quaid’s career and reputation as an elite investigator skyrocketed when he
captured one of the most sadistic serial killers in Alaskan history: Stowy
Jenkins, AKA the Snowman. But that was ten years ago.
And now…Jenkins is back. Escaped from prison and on the move, his
bloodlust is stronger than ever, and his methods of torture are even more
horrifying than before. As his bloody rampage continues and the number of
mutilated bodies mounts, terrified Alaskans increasingly doubt Quaid’s ability
to catch the killer again. The detective’s reputation is on the line, and he’s
going to need a lot more than luck, because this time, Jenkins is driven by
more than the thrill of a random kill.
This time, it’s more personal. He’s out for revenge…and his
ultimate target is Quaid. In a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Jenkins starts
picking off the people in Quaid’s life…slowly, gradually tightening his circle
of corpses and drawing ever closer to the most important person in Quaid’s
life...his wife. Can Quaid do the impossible again? Can he outmaneuver the
killer, or has the detective's luck finally run out?
 |
| Author Yolanda Renee |
For those
who aren’t familiar with the author, here’s a bit of background on her in her
own words.
At
one time Alaska called to me, and I answered. I learned to sleep under the
midnight sun, survive in below zero temperatures, and hike the Mountain Ranges.
I’ve traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and the memories are some of my most
valued. The wonders, mysteries and incredible beauty that is Alaska has never
left me and thus now influences my writing.
Despite
my adventurous spirit, I achieved my educational goals, married, and I have two
handsome sons. Writing is now my focus, my newest adventure!
For more on
Yolanda and her writing, you can connect with her here:
This
tour-wide giveaway is for a complete set of the Detective Quaid Mystery series
books for one winner, paperback copies of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE
for five winners, and a Kindle copy of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE for
10 winners.
To enter the
giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the
instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.
If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to
the widget.
Thanks for
stopping by and be sure to follow Yolanda on her month-long tour HERE. You never know what you
might find out. Do you enjoy watching a character grow from one story to the
next?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
***
Thanks Yolanda!
I'm totally with you on the disrupted sleeps! I'm still having nightmares from the Stephen King books I read way back in high school 😀
How about you? Anyone else have difficulty sleeping about a particularly powerful scary story? I'll be sleeping with the lights on after reading this one!
