Today is an incredibly awesome day for two reasons!
Two years ago today,
CassaStar was released into the world. And my life has never been the same.
For those of you still waiting for your first published book, let me say it again – your life will never be the same.
Two years ago I was a naïve and brand new author. My first book was launched and I engaged in a two-week, nineteen stop blog tour, hoping someone would notice my book. It was the only one I intended to write, so I really wanted readers to find it. So many were gracious enough to help spread the word and I thought my job here was done.
Little did I know… fans wanted more. So I began writing a sequel,
CassaFire.
Then in September 2011, a strange thing happened.
CassaStar vaulted into the Amazon Best Seller list for science fiction, hitting #4 overall.
When
CassaFire came out last February, both books bounced into the top 100 again. Then this past May, the books skyrocketed into the Amazon Best Seller list in the UK, where they have both bounced around for six months now.
CassaStar topped out at #3 there.
Now, two years later, as I prepare to edit the third and final book,
CassaStorm, I am in awe. Tens of thousands of people have purchased
CassaStar. People who don’t even read science fiction have enjoyed my first book. And I owe so much of that to you guys, for your never-ending support these past two years. I wouldn’t have made it if not for you!
And none of this I tell you to boast or brag. I offer it as a story of hope. If my little space opera can achieve that much, just think what your book will do! You guys are so talented – believe in yourself.
This leads me to one of the greatest honors I’ve ever enjoyed. An incredibly special writer and friend is celebrating the release of her first book, and I get to host her two years after the release of mine. She was ever so gracious to ask me to read her book and provide a blurb, which just blows my mind. And it is indeed an incredibly powerful book.
I present to you, the next best seller - Nancy S. Thompson!
Thanks for having me over, Alex. My novel, The Mistaken, is a psychological thriller, but surprisingly, it has a significant theme and recurring symbolism, however unintentional. The Mistaken was borne from a single question:
“What could drive a genuinely good man to commit a violent crime,
and could he somehow find his way back to the man he used to be?”
Though the protagonist, Tyler Karras, abhors his brother’s obligatory affiliation with the Russian Mafia, he reluctantly uses that connection to exact revenge against the woman responsible for his pregnant wife’s death. Encouraged by his brother, Ty vows to hand over this woman—a stranger—to sex-traffickers within the Russian mob. In exchange, the Russians will finally let his brother leave the business for good—with his debt wiped clean and his heart still beating. But when Ty mistakenly kidnaps the wrong woman, remorse drives him to protect her from the very enemy he’s unleashed, even as the Russians use his brother as leverage to force him to complete their deal.
From the beginning, the law-abiding Ty believes himself a straight arrow, but bitter rage and alcohol transform him into someone even he cannot recognize. He’s later forced to face the demons that have pushed him over to the dark side, and beg forgiveness from those he’s most egregiously, but inadvertently, affected: his dead parents and wife, his brother, and the innocent woman he’s wrongly targeted. His need for atonement drives Tyler to face both his enemy, as well as his own flaws. It’s not until he’s accepted his culpability that Tyler is able to move on.
There are two symbols that recur throughout The Mistaken: a mirror and the San Francisco fog. Like bookends, I use the mirror in both the brief prologue and the ending to represent Tyler’s inability to see clearly the imperfect man he used to be and the flawed villain he’s become. I use the fog to represent the depravity of the antagonists, two Russian crime czars. Though they make very few appearances, their deadly influence is keenly felt, flanked by the presence of the malevolent fog, a menacing veil and harbinger of the evil yet to come.
It’s funny, I never intended to include a theme or symbolism; they just sort of…happened. I’ve read that’s how it should be. Kind of freaky, don’t you think?
Visit
Nancy’s blog, follow, and leave a comment during her book tour for a chance to win an ARC of
The Mistaken. Plus, 5 runner-ups will each win an ebook. (And that's her with author Jennifer Hillier.)
You can also find her on
Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and
Sapphire Star Publishing.
Purchase here:
Sapphire Star Publishing, Amazon, Amazon Kindle, and
Barnes and Noble
Also available at Sony, Kobo, iBooks, Diesel Bookstore, and Baker & Taylor in 2-3 weeks
Praise for The Mistaken:
“A deliciously slow burn that builds to a ferocious crescendo, Nancy S. Thompson's THE MISTAKEN kept me riveted until the very last page. Tyler Karras is a complex and flawed protagonist, and his redemptive journey makes him the perfect anti-hero. This psychological suspense is a standout, and I can't wait for Thompson's next book.”
~ Jennifer Hillier, author of CREEP and FREAK
“Nancy S. Thompson's debut novel, The Mistaken, is a first-rate thriller full of hair-raising twists and turns. Pursued by the police and the Russian mafia in San Francisco, brothers Tyler and Nick Karras are fascinating, fully-drawn, desperate characters. The action is non-stop. Thompson's taut, intriguing tale of revenge, mistaken identity, kidnapping and murder will keep you enthralled and entertained.”
~Kevin O’Brien, New York Times Bestselling Author of DISTURBED and TERRIFIED
“Fast-paced and emotionally gripping - once the ride begins, you won't stop reading until it ends." ~Alex J. Cavanaugh, author of CASSAFIRE and CASSASTAR
Ninja News in Brief
Candilynn Fite’s new book,
Little Acorn's Big Fall, is available now. Congratulations, Candilynn!
Cally Jackson is hosting
The Year I Turned 18 Blogfest, which runs from October 29 to November 2. See her site for details.
L'il Gal Al and the Zombies of Amarillo by
Christine Rains is available now. Congratulations, Christine!
Thanks to all who participated in the
Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest! Lots of great books and a third of the authors found their books. All links now go directly to the blogfest post, so feel free to continue browsing.
Those who’ve been with me that long, can YOU believe it’s been two years? (Can you even remember that far back?) Have you picked up your copy of The Mistaken? (You better – it’s awesome!) Any symbolism in your work? Questions for Nancy? Excited about the news? Still trying to catch up on the blogfest…?
Now, go give Nancy a hug!
