I’ve had a great time being a guest this week on THE BOOKWORM. Naida Scrotchet asked: When did you start writing your new suspense novel LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU?
My answer: I started writing LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU on coffee breaks while I was at the hospital. I began working as a medical transcriptionist because it didn’t sap my creativity the way journalism did, and left room to pursue my dream of writing a novel. I can’t remember the initial spark for this story, but I do know I wanted to write about a woman whose lover disappears into thin air. I usually don’t do research in my initial draft too much. I start with the question or puzzle first, followed by the character, and exploring their journey as they try to solve it. I find if I start researching too soon, it can be a distraction, and an excuse not to write.
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Thanks Naida!
Kathy-Diane Leveille
Author of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU (Kunati Books)
ISBN:978-1601641670
“Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a haunting story of disappearance and loss and, ultimately, of redemption. Weaving together a world of family loyalties and family lies, of broken bonds and of those that endure, it combines the nuance of poetry with all the suspense of a thriller.” Nino Ricci (Author of The Origin of Species)
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Thanks Julie P for reviewing my new suspense novel LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU today on BOOKING MAMA:
”When I started reading LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU by Kathy-Diane Leveille, I assumed it was going to be one of those part suspense/part mystery type of book. And there definitely was a suspense aspect to this novel, but I was a little surprised that there was so much more to this story. This book is actually much deeper than a just a typical mystery book. LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU is a deep, complex story that delves into a woman’s life and her attempts to resolve issues about her past.
What I most appreciate about this book was how Ms. Leveille developed all of the characters. In fact, I thought she did a wonderful job of bringing so many complicated characters to life. “
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Kathy-Diane Leveille
Author of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU (Kunati Books)
ISBN:978-1601641670
“It’s often said, but not usually with such eloquence, that the only one you can’t outrun is you. Kathy-Diane Leveille writes with passion and assurance of a woman who risks sacrificing far too much to try to erase the things she knows are true.” -Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
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I’ll be signing copies of my new suspense novel LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU at Coles at Brunswick Square in Saint John, New Brunswick on Friday May 15 at 12 noon. Drop by to say hello. You can enter a draw to win a gift certificate at Ambience Day Spa. Half the royalties from each book sold will be donated to Save the Children’s Aboriginal mother/baby bonding program.
Kathy-Diane Leveille
Author of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU (Kunati Books)
ISBN:978-1601641670
“How each character responds to what has happened in the past, and how that shapes their life as an adult is part of the draw of this intense character study. Leveille swiftly moves between past and present… and does not disappoint.”
-Bella On-Line: The Voice of Women… Mystery Book Reviews
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One of my favorite places to make an on-line pitstop each week is Bella On-Line: The Voice of Women. It was great to read Edie Dykeman’s, the mystery book editor’s, review of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU:
Brannagh Maloney escaped a troubled childhood home when she attended university. Years later, she has furthered that escape by working as a cataloguer for wilderness preservationist Nikolai Mirsky (Nikki) in northern Ontario. After falling in love with her boss and spending the winter with him in an old abandoned prospector’s cabin, Brannagh faced Nikki’s sudden disappearance when he left for a weeklong conference never to return.
When Brannagh was three-years-old her father hopped a Russian freighter and was never seen again. Several years later, her mother left the family home, and was later found murdered. Brannagh lived with her Aunt Thelma and her grandfather in a large four-story house with a so-called Nervous Clinic on the top floor, and the Provincial Asylum two blocks away.
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Kathy-Diane Leveille
Author of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU (Kunati Books)
Her settings and characters—their hopes and fears, verbal and behavioural ticks, even their smells—are keenly observed. The Globe and Mail
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I’m an avid follower of NOVEL JOURNEY, one of Writers’ Digest 101 most valuable web site for writers. So it was great fun being interviewed there today. Weekly columnist, Kelly Klepfer, asked: How has your experience as a broadcast journalist prepared or hindered you as a novelist?
It’s definitely prepared me. There’s a reason why old journalists never die, they just go on to second careers as fiction writers! Working in the field of journalism offers valuable training in discipline. You’re working to a deadline to produce stories whether you like it or not. There were many times I sat down at the computer with absolutely no idea of where to go. You learn in journalism to have faith in the process, that you can start with nothing and eventually something will take shape and grow. It was a tremendous mentorship in the art of research, fact checking and honing the 5 W’s.
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Kathy-Diane Leveille
Author of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU (Kunati Books)
ISBN:978-1601641670
“It’s the quality of the writing that makes the read worthwhile…a very promising debut.” www.reviewingtheevidence.com
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I’m not sure about other writers, but I never come up with a theme for a novel until after the first draft is written. Theme is organic in nature, and rises to the surface of the narrative as the story takes shape. What is the theme of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU?
If had to put it in one sentence it would be this: SHADOWS is about the redeeming power of love and friendship. None of us escapes pain. Our human connections are our saving grace. Brannagh learns acceptance and letting go. There comes a time in everyone’s life when they are drawn towards revisiting the past and laying it to rest. This is part of Brannagh’s journey. She’s kind of stuck, I think, because she really just wants to avoid it all and get on with life. But, as is often the case, it won’t let her go. We are often drawn back, again and again, to the very thing we want to shy away from. Luckily, Brannagh has three loyal childhood friends who won’t let her drift away. They pull her back.
As promised, I’m posting consecutive scenes from Chapter One weekly, leading up to the official launch on May 10th. Hope you enjoy the next instalment. Just click EXCERPT on the menu above. Each scene is separated by a *.
Kathy-Diane Leveille
Author of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU
ISBN:978-1601641670
“Leveille’s writing sings of heartbreak and redemption, and the wicked dancing moments in-between.” Carol Bruneau author of Purple for Sky
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I’ve always enjoyed reading journalist Don Graves’ column CANADIAN MYSTERIES in The Hamilton Spectator. So I was thrilled when he gave LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU a nod last week. Here’s an excerpt:
Let the Shadows Fall Behind You by Kathy-Diane Leveille peels away the layers behind a murder, the need to deceive, to hide the past and cover it up with a pattern of respectability despite a trail of ruined lives and festering questions that could destroy the future.
A young woman returns to a small East Coast town to attend a reunion. Her instincts warn her against it as her lover has disappeared without a trace…
A gentle pace with compassionately descriptive writing is the right vehicle for author, Leveille, to tell a story of relationships that unravel as old, uncertain conflicts surface and begin to agonizingly make sense to the young woman.
A murder, a past still preying upon the souls of those involved, is always an unwelcome and intrusive guest. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You tells that chronicle with poignancy, wistful descriptions of small town life and punchy characterizations that expose hard truths.
Sadly rich and beautiful writing.
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Brannagh Maloney is the name of the protagonist of LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU. Brannagh is a lyrical Celtic name, but what does it mean?
Brannagh (pronounced BRAN-NA) comes from the Celtic BRAN which means raven. According to some sources, it was once used to refer to beauty via hair as black and shiny as a raven’s wing. I immediately loved the reference to raven (Poe) and darkness because, throughout the novel, Brannagh is trapped beneath the shadow of the dark wing of her past. It is only when she solves her mother’s chilling murder that she is finally able to slip out from beneath the shadows.
I’m posting a new scene from Chapter One each week, leading up to the book launch at the Saint John Arts Center on May 10th. Just click EXCERPT FROM SHADOWS on my menu bar at the top of the screen. I hope you enjoy it!
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January 2009: A new feature begins on January 29th on Kathy-Diane’s blog: http://lettheshadowsfallbehindyou.com
Shadows Fall N Friends is a weekly interview with authors Kathy-Diane has met on the road to publication: Erica Spindler, Gregg Olsen, Louise Penny, Joy Fielding, Donna Morrissey and more. They’ll talk about their writing journeys and offer tips. To keep up-to-date on the schedule, subscribe to Kathy-Diane’s E-muse monthly newsletter at: shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com
April 2009: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You goes on sale on-line at Amazon. Everyone who ordered advance copies will find them in the mail box.
May 2009: Let the Shadows Fall Behind You hits Indigo, Coles, Borders and independent book stores like Westminster and Benjamin Books.
May 2009: Kathy-Diane invites all her friends to join her on May 10, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate the offical launch of Let the Shadows Fall Behind You at the Saint John Arts Center. Drop by for a reading and signing, refreshments and the chance to win a gift certificate from Ambience Day Spa.
May 2009: Interviews and reviews for Let the Shadows Fall Behind You at all your favorite on-line spots like Readers Respite, The Novel Journey, Book Nook, Bloggin About Books, LibraryThing. Updates will be posted daily on this blog with links to each.
May 2009: Kathy-Diane and Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is featured in the May issue of The Big Thrill published by the International Thrill Writers. Details and link will be posted on this blog.
May 2009: Books signings at Coles, Indigo, Westminster Books. Dates and times to come.
June 2009: Canadian Crimewriters Bloody Words Conference in Ottawa, Ontario from June 5-7th. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You hits the readers’ Book Room and goody bags while Kathy-Diane schmoozes with her friends and fellow mystery/suspense authors.
June 2009: Book signings at Coles, Indigo, University Book Store. Dates and times to come.
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