Today’s feature is a science fiction title, Lazarus. Please welcome MICHAEL LAROCCA to tell us about it.
SHR: What makes this particular book your favorite?
MR: LAZARUS is unlike my other books in that it’s tightly plotted and a whole lot of fun to read. I love all my books, of course, but I could be accused of being a “downer.” Not with LAZARUS. It’s just cool.
One night I set out to scribble “a few notes,” and about eight hours later I had a document that was part manuscript and part outline, roughly 30,000 words, with THE END at the bottom.
Much rewriting to do, of course, but the end result is much easier to follow than any of my other works, with foreshadowing and plot twists and humor and bad guys and all kinds of goodies. Good solid character development and thematic content, too. I wouldn’t write a book that didn’t have those, because there would just be no point.
SHR: Who published it? When?
MR: Mocha Memoirs Press published it in January, in both ebook and paperback.
SHR: Tell us a little about what you went through to get it published.
MR: I could tell you horror stories about what I’ve gone through to get published, and to get republished after going out of print, and even about being ripped off.
None apply here. I wrote the book, I sat on it for a little while, I decided Mocha Memoirs Press would be a perfect fit, and they loved it. Too easy. Great editing, too, and I even love the cover. It’s all been great.
SHR: On writing in general: What’s the hardest part for you? Why?
MR: The hardest part of writing, for me, has always been starting a novel. I’ll spend weeks or months, usually months, creating my characters and my conflict and my first chapter. Once I’ve got all that just right, my characters write the rest of it for me, fast and furious, and I’m almost as surprised as they are when we get to the end of their story.
SHR: Unrelated: What’s your favorite color?
Blue. Boring and predictable of me, but at least it’s honest. More specifically, Carolina Panther blue, even when we lose, which is too much lately.
ABOUT LAZARUS:
GENRE:
Science Fiction
BLURB:
Gina Williams has a secret and prays it is buried with her childhood persecutor, Anna Kouvaris, as discovery will ruin her reputation as a famous children’s author. She soon discovers the son, Ben Kouvaris, new owner of her publishing company, has uncovered her past and is making demands. Will he ruin her career if she doesn’t comply?
Ben kouvaris is blown away by the unknown beauty at his estranged mother’s funeral, and when his father demands he marry, immediately, to secure the family business, he knows just who he wants as his temporary bride. But can Ben persuade Gina to trust him?
“You’re no better than your mother. I was a child when your mother ordered my life, but I’m a grown woman now and won’t be ordered around by you or anyone else. So don’t stand there sanctimoniously telling me it is your right to control my life for the next ten months. And when they end, what then? You drop your control, just like that? I doubt it. There’s not a Kouvaris on this planet that isn’t a control freak.”
She drew in a deep breath, glared at him when she came to a brief stop in front of him. “You’ll keep tabs on me, tell me what to do and when…”
“Why would I do that?” Cold as steel, Ben’s voice cut across her tirade, but it didn’t stop her.
“Because you’ll tell me it will impact on your reputation, or the company profile, or the value of the shares. How would I know? You’ll have a reason and expect me to abide by your ruling.” She spun away from him and back again. “Oh, I nearly forgot. As your ex-wife, someone may use me to get to you. Wasn’t that how you put it when we arrived in Greece?”
Hands fisted on her hips, her hair plastered against her fiery cheeks, she watched the colour climb up his neck and into his face. Until she heard the words hang in the air, she hadn’t known they were there. But she knew they’d hit their target head on.
WHERE TO GET IT:
MOCHA MEMOIRS PRESS | AMAZON | LULU
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