Author Folk Friday with Sara Jayne Townsend

Please welcome author Sara Jayne Townsend to Believing is Seeing today!

SS: As an author, what makes a book great in your eyes?

SJT: I’m fond of suspense, and action. And danger. I like horror and crime; someone has to die in a horrible way. And I like a tight plot. I want to keep turning the pages, eager to learn what happens next.

SS: Tell us a little about what you are working on.

SJT: I’m working on the second book in the amateur sleuth series, the sequel to DEATH SCENE. It involves my amateur sleuth Shara Summers getting a job as a backing singer in a band her ex-boyfriend is playing in. Then the lead singer falls to his death out a hotel room window on the first night of the band’s tour. Did he fall or was he pushed? Shara gets on the case. The book is actually called DEAD COOL but I’m referring to it as “The Case of the Defenestrated Rock Star” because I’ve always wanted an excuse to use that word (“defenestrated”) in a legitimate sentence!

SS: LOL What is the hardest scene you had to write in this piece?

SJT: The book seems to be requiring a steamy scene, which I’m having trouble with. I’m not very good at sex scenes…

SS: Let’s talk about the book you’d like to promote today. How did you come up with the title and where can we find it?

SJT: DEATH SCENE is the first book in my amateur sleuth series, available as an ebook from Lyrical Press.

When I decided I wanted to write a series about an actress amateur sleuth, I wanted all the titles in the series to have a theatrical leaning, while still suggesting murder and mayhem. DEATH SCENE seemed to fit. In fact I have a few other titles lined up already – I just have to come up with plots to fit them!

SS: Nice! What was your first reaction when you got a glimpse of your cover art?

SJT: I was very excited! I think Lyrical Press does fantastic covers. I wanted a cover that would relay the theatrical theme of the book with a hint of suspense, and I think the cover relays this very well.

SS: We’re all anxious. Please give us a blurb and excerpt!

SJT: Blurb:

British-born, Toronto-based, actress Shara Summers turns amateur sleuth when her sister is stricken with a mysterious illness. Summoned back to England to be with her family during a time of crisis, Shara discovers doctors are at a loss as to what’s causing Astrid’s debilitating sickness.

After her aunt is found dead at the bottom of the stairs the death is deemed an accident. Shara suspects otherwise. Her investigation unearths shocking family secrets and a chilling realization that could have far-reaching and tragic consequences that affect not only her own future, but Astrid’s as well.

Excerpt:

Ruth sat in her rocking chair watching the television, which was probably about ten years old, and looked like the most modern thing in the room. She wore a blue floral dress with a patchwork blanket over her knees. I was sure I had seen that dress before. Her hairstyle hadn’t changed, either. Her white hair was thinning and she wore it short and curly in the style of old ladies everywhere. When we came in she looked up, a toothless smile breaking out over her face. She had dentures that I recalled she never wore, something else she only saved for special occasions. When I was younger, Ruth had looked very scary to me when she wore her dentures, because we just weren’t used to seeing her with them.

My mother went up to Ruth and leaned in to give her a kiss on her soft wrinkled cheek. “How are you, Auntie Ruth?” she asked loudly. Ruth’s hearing had been going for as long as I could remember.

I shivered uncontrollably. The house was freezing. The only source of heat was a three-bar electric fire on the floor by Ruth’s feet.

“I’m doing all right, dear.” Ruth’s voice was husky, ravaged by age and lack of use. I supposed she didn’t talk to many people. “Mustn’t complain.”

Summer, still in my mother’s arms, began to cry and squirm, no doubt intimidated by the presence of this ancient lady. “Who’s this?” Ruth stroked one of Summer’s chubby legs.

“This is Summer,” Mum said. “This is my granddaughter. You’ve met Summer. Astrid’s daughter.”

Ruth frowned. “Astrid? Your little one?”

“Not a little girl anymore, Auntie Ruth. She’s all grown up now.” Mum pointed in my direction. “This is my other daughter, Shara. Do you remember? Shara lives in Canada.”

Ruth stared at me, frowning. There was no indication she recognized me. “It’s been a long time,” she said eventually.

“Hello, Auntie Ruth.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“Have you taken your pills, Auntie Ruth?” my mother asked.

Ruth frowned in concentration. “Pills? Think so. Can’t remember, you know. My memory’s not what it was.”

My mother thrust the crying child into my arms. “Watch Summer for a moment, Shara. I’m going to make Auntie Ruth some lunch.” She went off into the kitchen.
I sat in the faded armchair and bounced Summer on my knee. She kept crying. Ruth stared fixedly at the television. There seemed to be an Australian soap opera on, I couldn’t tell which. I wasn’t a fan and they all looked the same to me. “So what are you watching, Auntie Ruth?”

“Eh?” She swiveled round to stare at me.

I raised my voice. “The television. What are you watching?”

“Oh, I don’t know, dear. I watch everything. Keeps me company, you know.” And she lapsed back into silence, staring at the television. A few minutes went by then she said, “They’re stealing from me, you know.”

SS: Very interesting! Now for the fun stuff. Do you have any guilty pleasures?

SJT: Watching 80s pop videos on VH1. Especially the video for Duran Duran’s Wild Boys. I still drool over Simon Le Bon tied to the windmill.

SS: Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.

SJT: I harbor secret desires to be a rock chick and am learning to play the bass guitar.

SS: If you didn’t have to worry about counting calories or fat, what’s the first food you’d reach for?

SJT: Chocolate fudge. I could live on chocolate fudge…

SS: What writers inspire you?

SJT: I discovered Stephen King in my teens and I’ve always been a huge fan of his work. I love the way he weaves stories about ordinary people, with flaws and foibles, caught in a terrible situation. Some of his characters really aren’t very likeable but you always feel like they could be real people.

I was inspired by Sara Paretsky’s private eye V I Warshawski to write a series with a strong female character. I love the way V I goes off to find justice, regardless of how much trouble she gets into, or how often she gets shot at, along the way. V I is a voice for women who are oppressed and disregarded and I have a huge admiration for that.

SS: If someone hasn’t read any of your work, what book would you recommend they start with and why?

SJT: As I write two separate genres, it depends what they are into. If crime is your thing, DEATH SCENE is the book for you. If you’re more into dark and scary fiction, SUFFER THE CHILDREN is more to your taste.

SS: Thanks for spending a bit of time with Believing is Seeing! Best wishes for your continued success. Where can readers find you on the Web?

SJT: My website can be found at http://sarajaynetownsend.weebly.com and my blog at http://sayssara.wordpress.com

Please remember to attach your book cover and your blurb/excerpt if you haven’t included it in the body of the interview. Thank you!