5 SECRETS (What No One Knows Abut My Book)

Our guest author today is Stacy Juba, who is going to share some tidbits about the writing of her book that no one knows--until today.

Stacy Juba loves to write stories about Characters at a Crossroads: individuals who are finding themselves and getting on the right life path after overcoming obstacles. Her goals are to entertain readers of all ages as well as inspire them. She has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears learning to raise the U.S. flag.

She has had a book ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Stacy also offers a beta reading/editing service for writers. Watch for her upcoming romantic comedy Fooling Around With Cinderella.

Twenty Five Years Ago Today

5 Secrets About Twenty Five Years Ago Today

1.  I named my protagonist, Kris, after Cheryl's Ladd's character in Charlie's Angels. I loved watching Charlie's Angels reruns after school and used to daydream of being a private detective. When I was looking to name the amateur detective in my first mystery novel, the name Kris immediately jumped to mind.

2. I used one of my childhood mythology books to research the Greek mythology subplot. I bought the book when I was about 9 or 10, at my favorite used bookstore. It was housed in this huge warehouse building and the shelves were lined from floor to ceiling with books.  I spent hours there and would walk out with armloads of books, most for as little as a quarter. I remember purchasing the mythology book on a whim. I never dreamed that someday I would use it to research a novel that would later be published.

3. The bookstore in Twenty-Five Years Ago Today (owned by the murder victim's sister) was inspired by the above real-life bookstore.  Since the bookstore is still open, I drove there and jotted some notes of the exterior to use as details in the book. I made the interior nicer and cozier, though, since the original bookstore had cement floors and little decor.

4. I chose Hyde Park, New York as the setting for a side trip that Kris makes as I had recently vacationed there with my husband. I loved the rural area and the beautiful views and thought it would be a nice change of scenery for Kris as she goes about interviewing suspects.          

5. Originally, as I was writing the first draft, there was a different killer. As I was writing the book, I suddenly realized that I had chosen the wrong killer and that if I changed it, I could have a twist ending that would hopefully surprise most readers. I've received lots of notes from readers who said they were shocked, so I'm glad I made that decision!

 

Blurb from Twenty Five Years Ago Today

Should we dig for the truth when Pandora's Box is a coffin of buried secrets? For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson's killer has gotten away with murder. When rookie obit writer and newsroom editorial assistant Kris Langley investigates the cold case of the artistic young cocktail waitress who was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, not only does she fall in love with Diana's sexy nephew, but she must also fight to stay off the obituary page herself.

 

To Buy Twenty Five Years Ago Today go to:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Five-Years-Ago-Today-ebook/dp/B003U4WVKA/ref
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twenty-five-years-ago-today-stacy-juba/1017979048?ean=2940011980930
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Twenty-Five-Years-Ago-Today/book-fc55-OLdikey2hFgy_jaDA/page1.html?s=ujwec_jtbU2U134hnmDkXA&r=7
Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_3?asin=B00B8VUQM2&qid=1359725371&sr=1-3
iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/twenty-five-years-ago-today/id643229089?mt=11

You can find Stacy on these links:

Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301
Twitter https://twitter.com/stacyjuba

Thanks for checking out Stacy and her secrets. If you have any comments or questions Stacy will be around to answer them today.

And don’t forget to check back next Thursday to find out even more author secrets about their book.