VBT Interview and Giveaway - Maggie Thom - Captured Lies

Please describe your novel twitter style 140 characters or less.

Her life was a lie! She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it. To find answers she must untangle a web of deceit dating back thirty years.

What is the one thing you wish you knew before you tried to get published?

That the work really begins once you're published. Writing is really the easy part, who knew? :) Also, that the journey to being published is so worth it. I say this because like most writers, I wrote and wrote and wrote but I was so concerned with it being perfect that I didn't do anything with a lot of it. The best part is that all the hard work does pay off, I get to do what I love, write.

What to you is the best part of being a writer and what is the part you wouldn't mind giving up?

The best part of being a writer is the freedom. The freedom to create characters, settings, places, scenes, plots and situations. And the freedom of time to choose when and how I write.

The part that I would give up has to be the marketing aspect and keeping on top of all of that. It takes a lot of time away from writing.

What city would you love to set a story in but the right one hasn't come along yet?

I would love to write a story based in Queenstown, New Zealand. It sounds like nature heaven and a lot of Lord of the Rings was filmed there (a book and movie series I love). Since I've never been there I figure I need to travel there first. :) That's the kind of research I'd like to do.

Vampires, Shifters, Zombies, Angels - who wins the final ultimate battle?

I always believe in good over evil. Angels, to me are about good, so I believe they would win. However having said that I know that many are writing about good Vampires, good Shifters, good Zombies trying to save humans, not eat or destroy them. So I'd have to say as long as they were fighting for good, they'd win.

If you could witness any historical event past, present or future what would it be and why?

Great question. I can think of several situations in history where I would love to have been present. To choose one though, I will go into the future and see the day that the boundaries between people are gone - no ranks, no racism, putting people before things. I think we are moving towards this, but globally it is far in the future. Also I'd really love to be able to meet my great, great, great grandkids. Wouldn't that be cool?

If you were going to co-write a new book, who would you want to write it with?

My first choice would have been Robert Ludlum. I'm a huge fan. J.R. Tolkien would have been another choice. Unfortunately that can't be. So I guess my next choice would be Sandra Brown. I'm a big fan of hers and would absolutely love to write a book with her.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Sandra Brown - Low Pressure

Virginia McKevitt - The Hunted, Fracture

Kemberlee Shortland - Rhythm of My Heart

David M. Brown - A World Apart

Jennifer Lane - With Good Behavior

What is the best thing you have done in the name of research?

I Interviewed women over the age of 70 who stepped outside of the norm, for their day, and worked or got educated. They are the women who opened the doors for the rest of us. So amazing. The women were so neat. Their stories were amazing. Not one of them though saw that what she did was a big deal nor realized how it has helped change the lives of women today. It was very powerful and inspiring. It's a work in progress.

When writing what is your favorite part of the story?

There is so much of it I like but I guess I'd have to say the little climaxes that happen throughout the story. The bumps in the road that people are faced with and how they  figure out how to get beyond them. The building of the momentum, the suspense of the story. In Captured Lies there were several situations that were fun to create. I think the scene that was the most powerful for me, was when Bailey's mom suddenly dies. It's kind of the defining moment when her life changes drastically. Bailey not only discovers her life was a lie but she has to deal with the guilt and the remorse that their relationship wasn't very good. She relives the regrets and the, if only. She has to figure out how to get beyond that, which isn't easy, all while trying to figure out the truth and avoid being killed. She encounters several bumps in the road on her way to find her answers.

Anything else you would like to share today?

Captured Lies has been entered into book of the year, if you like it please vote for it:

http://tinyurl.com/bomrjj3

Thank you for hosting me. And thank you for what you do for authors and readers.

Captured Lies

by Maggie Thom

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BLURB:

She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it....

Her life was a lie!

Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is theirs.

Everyone seems to have a story... but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.

But can she do it in time.....

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Excerpt:

Her door was yanked open. She jerked sideways, her arm coming up to shield herself, her foot lifting to lash out. Before she could make contact, a body pinned her and a hand reached across her, ripping out the keys. The scream that formed on her lips was swallowed, as she met a steely pair of blue eyes. He moved back but not before redirecting her foot to the floor mat. Her hand instinctively wrapped around the flash drive and slipped it into her pocket. Feeling faint with relief, she slumped back. Her door slammed and her would be thief was soon around the car and opening the passenger side. Sliding into the seat, Guy closed the door, leaned back and glared at her.

Too tired to move, she rolled her head sideways to meet the glower. Neither spoke. She waited him out. After a long period of time, she raised her eyebrows.

He folded his arms across his chest, and turned to look out the window. “Who was the guest at your house?”

“What?”

“Who was the nice man who was waiting at your home?”

“What were you doing at my mom’s place?”

“Looking for you.”

Since he wasn’t looking at her, she took the time to study him. He definitely had the cute bad boy down pat, all dressed in black, with his black leather coat and his hair looking windblown and falling over one eye. The scruffy beard thing was almost going too far.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maggie Thom made the hard decision to leave her successful, twenty year career in management, to write full time. The leap was easy, the freefall was adventurous and very enlightening. When she’s not running her children around or spending time with her best friend, her husband, she’s writing - anywhere, anytime. Give her five free minutes and you’ll find her busy scribbling down ideas. She lives in the real world but loves to get lost in the lives of her characters - who live, love and laugh and are all figments of her imagination. She is thrilled to release her first novel - Captured Lies - filled with suspense, murder, mystery and romance - available October 2012. She is busy writing her second novel to be released, spring of 2013.  

She can be found at:

www.maggiethom.com

www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom

www.twitter.com/authormaggiethom2

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549592.Maggie_Thom

Book is currently available through:

Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/cp2go24

Kobo - http://tinyurl.com/dxs82ld

 

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GIVEAWAY:

Maggie will be awarding winner’s choice of a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/11/virtual-book-tour-captured-lies-by.html