Welcome fellow readers! It has been a while since I hosted a blog tour from the wonderful Tribute Books! I'm so happy to have them on my blog again. I have been so busy that I haven't been able to commit to much, but I'm very happy to be helping out for this blog tour. I would like to give a big welcome to D. A. Bale and her new book Running into the Darkness. She has provided a guest post today for you all to read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This book sounds good and I have added it to my TBR list, I hope you do the same.
Running into the Darkness by D. A. Bale
Death follows Dr. Samantha Bartlett throughout her life until it claims everyone close to her. There's one powerful man responsible on whom Samantha sets her sights for revenge. The price is her soul. For centuries, sex has been the weapon of men...now it's her turn.
“I never intended to kill the President. As a doctor, I swore an oath to protect life – not take it. But that was before...”
Second year resident, Dr. Samantha Bartlett, is swept from the frigid New York winter to once again confront the sting of death back home – and face those she left behind. But she’s not alone. A strange man she dubs Shades haunts her every step as she seeks answers to the inferno which claimed her grandmother, an eerie reminder of her parents’ deaths. The secrets Samantha uncovers forever changes her image of those she only thought she knew.
Confronted by Shades, Samantha joins a secret underworld known only as the Elite, where a web of power and control is woven deep within governments worldwide. Their sights are set on the power structure of the United States, and Samantha becomes the unlikely key to infiltrating the White House at its most intimate levels.
The quest for blood threatens to destroy Samantha. From the darkness there is no escape.
“I never intended to kill the President. As a doctor, I swore an oath to protect life – not take it. But that was before...”
Second year resident, Dr. Samantha Bartlett, is swept from the frigid New York winter to once again confront the sting of death back home – and face those she left behind. But she’s not alone. A strange man she dubs Shades haunts her every step as she seeks answers to the inferno which claimed her grandmother, an eerie reminder of her parents’ deaths. The secrets Samantha uncovers forever changes her image of those she only thought she knew.
Confronted by Shades, Samantha joins a secret underworld known only as the Elite, where a web of power and control is woven deep within governments worldwide. Their sights are set on the power structure of the United States, and Samantha becomes the unlikely key to infiltrating the White House at its most intimate levels.
The quest for blood threatens to destroy Samantha. From the darkness there is no escape.
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Guest Post:
As anyone will tell you, most authors tend to be avid
readers. I’m no exception. My favorite books typically involve
rich characters with layers to peel aside as I delve deeper into the
story. On the surface, they may be
strong, tough, and unafraid of speaking their mind when opportunity
arises. But just like in real
life, they each have vulnerabilities and areas they hide and bury deep. That’s when characters get interesting.
Take Jane Eyre, for example. This classic is a timeless masterpiece
I read every year. It follows the
life of Jane from an emotionally charged orphan to a woman who discovers an
incredible strength within. Life
as a quiet, mousy governess is non-descript, and she yearns for more even
though she deigns to be satisfied with her station and situation. But when faced with a life-altering
decision, Jane makes a choice that places her in danger’s path – yet she
maintains a clear conscience, knowing she’d have been enslaved if she’d chosen
differently. Through her
struggles, she faces the very real possibility of starvation and death, reduced
to begging followed by the humbling experience of accepting a helping
hand. In the end, there is pain
but also an enduring peace and grace as she fully comes into her own. The road to discover her strength of
character is what makes this novel enormously satisfying.
In my own writing, I love to explore the vulnerabilities of
my characters. What are their
fears? What makes them angry? What do they love (and sometimes
who)? Then it’s time to go
deeper. What in the past created
their current emotional state?
What secrets do they hide?
Why did they choose a particular career, or was it chosen for them? What people and situations push their
buttons? I LOVE to push their
buttons and wait to see what happens!
Maybe I’m a little twisted that way. J
I spend an obscene amount of time delving into what makes my
characters tick – but that’s what makes them three-dimensional. That’s what makes them feel like real
people to me and ultimately to my readers. Occasionally, even I’M surprised by the direction my
characters take during the writing process. They seem to have minds of their own.
For instance, in my novel Running into the Darkness, there
is a character who was supposed to be a constant through the entire
series. Then as I was writing one
day, he came to me in my mind, laid down his gun and said it was better for him
to sacrifice his life for the sake of another. I fought him, told him he was crazy, but in the end I
capitulated. His actions gave him
a more redemptive quality he had previously never possessed. It rounded out his character and
brought him full-circle, though it left me in a bit of a quandary for book two.
When we as writers don’t take the time to fully flesh-out
the people who make up a story, characters come across as flat, unemotional and
therefore uninteresting. Unless
readers can emotionally engage with your “peeps”, they likely won’t come back
for more.
Go ahead and ratchet up the action, the suspense, the drama
or the comedy, just don’t forget to let your characters anchor the story. Readers will thank you for it by buying
and recommending your novels. Then
you as an author will find greater satisfaction and identity with your
characters.
About D. A. Bale:
Sometimes life emulates fiction.
Life is filled with tragedy and Ms. Bale's writing reflects this reality. However, there is always a silver lining...even if one must spend their entire life searching for it.
In her previous career, Ms. Bale traveled the United States as a Government Relations Liaison, working closely with Congressional offices and various government agencies. This experience afforded her a glimpse into the sometimes "not so pretty" reality of the political sphere. Much of this reality and various locations throughout her travels make it into her writing.
She dreams of the day she can return to visit Alaska.
Life is filled with tragedy and Ms. Bale's writing reflects this reality. However, there is always a silver lining...even if one must spend their entire life searching for it.
In her previous career, Ms. Bale traveled the United States as a Government Relations Liaison, working closely with Congressional offices and various government agencies. This experience afforded her a glimpse into the sometimes "not so pretty" reality of the political sphere. Much of this reality and various locations throughout her travels make it into her writing.
She dreams of the day she can return to visit Alaska.
Find D. A. Bale
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