Author Archives: Holly West

December 9
Day 9

Stephen Jay Schwartz

One day I walked past my local coffee shop and I saw a flyer in the window. It was advertising a book called BOULEVARD by an author named Stephen Jay Schwartz. Apparently, much of the novel had been written in the shop, and I made a mental note to check it out.

Fast forward to March 2010 and the Left Coast Crime conference in Los Angeles. Stephen Jay Schwartz was there, and I made a point of introducing myself (and I will totally forgive him for not remembering). I bought the book during that conference, and I read it shortly after.

BOULEVARD was a book that made me, for lack of a better word, squirm. It's protagonist, Hayden Glass, is a vice cop who happens to also be a recovering sex addict, and his job often places him in the role of protector to the same women he at one point (and sometimes, still does) exploited–prostitutes.

The story itself is intense and unflinching. Hayden is called to a murder scene involving the homicide of the niece of a prominent LA politician. As he attempts to solve this crime, more murders happen and Hayden is led by the investigation to believe that the homicides are linked, not only to each other, but to him and his addiction.

The most important aspect of this novel isn't the plot, but Hayden Glass himself. Stephen Jay Schwartz nails what I call the "addict mentality" so accurately that I actually felt uncomfortable at times, being in Hayden's head. For this I say to Stephen, "bravo!" for such an experience is a rare and wonderful thing.

BEAT, the sequel to BOULEVARD, was released in September 2010, and is set not in LA but San Francisco. Hayden Glass on the streets of San Francisco? You can't go wrong.

Since that first meeting at Left Coast Crime, I have met and spoken with Stephen on many occasions, and I'm fortunate to be able to call him a friend. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for this post:

1) Hayden Glass is a great cop, but a fairly troubled man. What gives him hope?

It is his desire to change that gives him hope. He wants to be a better person. It is sometimes hard for him to see that he is innately good. But others see it, and they help lead him to the light.

2) What inspires you (writing or otherwise)?

My children inspire me. As with all children, they are innately good. My job is to encourage this goodness, to give it room to grow and a place in this universe to play.

3) What is your favorite meal, beverage included?

Favorite meal is the eggplant parmesan at the North Beach Restaurant in San Francisco. I’ll take a bottle of Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon to go with it.

4) Besides writing, what is your most important aspiration?

First, to be a good father. After that, to direct feature films. Next, to learn jazz guitar.

5) Any hints on what might be next for you (or Hayden Glass, or both)?

Looks like I’ll be doing a screenplay rewrite on a zombie-action film. That’ll be cool. I’ll juggle that with writing my next novel, which is an international thriller set in the U.S. and Europe. It won’t be a Hayden piece, but it will be dark, fast and furious. I’ll come back to Hayden in a year or two.

Thanks for answering my questions, Stephen. I can't wait to read whatever you publish next. It's sure to be great.

If you're buying books as gifts this holiday season, please consider purchasing from your local independent bookshop. The level of customer service you'll receive is unmatched, you'll have the added benefit of making new friends of the staff, and you'll help support a local business.

Books featured in this post can be purchased from the Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles (orders@mystery-bookstore.com).

December 8
Day 8

Rebecca Cantrell

Earlier in the year, I was shopping at the Mystery Bookstore and when I picked up Rebecca Cantrell's debut novel, A TRACE OF SMOKE, store manager Bobby McCue said "Oh, that book is so good." As usual, he was right.

In A TRACE OF SMOKE, it's 1931 and Berlin crime reporter Hannah Vogel recognizes a photo of her brother Ernst in the Hall of the Unnamed Dead at the police station. The novel follows Hannah as she searches for Ernst's killer, uncovering the dark secrets of some of the highest ranking members of the rising Nazi party.

It's a haunting novel that transports you to a place that is on the cusp of one of the most evil periods in human history. Hannah Vogel is strong, yet vulnerable, and seeing this world through her eyes makes it that much more powerful.

Rebecca's second novel, A LONG NIGHT OF KNIVES, the sequel to A TRACE OF SMOKE, was released in June 2010 and October 2010 saw the release of IDRAKULA (writing as Bekka Black), a cell phone novel based on Bram Stoker's DRACULA.

I downloaded IDRAKULA as soon as it became available on the iPhone and found it to be an engaging and fun experience. It's the perfect antidote to that long train commute or a wait in the doctor's office.

In spite of her busy schedule, Rebecca took a moment to answer some of my questions:

1) IDRAKULA was released earlier this year. It's formatted very differently than a traditional novel–was writing it more or less difficult than writing your Hannah Vogel novels?

Writing IDRAKULA was less intense, since I don't have to do the same kind of research and I know that no actual teenagers or vampires were harmed in the world where the novel is set. It was a stretch trying to tell an complicated story using only media found on a phone, but that's the kind of writing challenge that I love.

2) What's your next project, and when will it be released?

My next project is A GAME OF LIES. It's the next book in the Hannah Vogel mystery series and it's set during the Berlin Olympics in 1936. It will be released July 5, 2011.

3) What trait(s) do you share with Hannah Vogel?

Hannah and I have a strong hatred of injustice. It's a dangerous trait. Hannah obviously indulges hers more strongly than I do.

4) What is your ideal meal, beverage included?

This one's tough as I adore food in many forms. Today I'd say Rouladen (a kind of German stuffed and rolled steak) with potato dumplings and red cabbage and fresh raspberries with whipped cream for dessert with a strong Earl Grey tea. Tomorrow I might have a different answer.

5) What attracts you to writing a historical series?

I love to research. I love to see how people lived their everyday lives 70 years ago. I've been struggling to understand how the Nazis rose to power and the aftermath for decades. I know many more facts, but am no closer to an answer.

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Rebecca!

If you're buying books as gifts this holiday season, please consider purchasing from your local independent bookshop. The level of customer service you'll receive is unmatched, you'll have the added benefit of making new friends of the staff, and you'll help support a local business.

Books featured in this post can be purchased from the Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles (orders@mystery-bookstore.com).

December 4
Day 4

Sue Ann Jaffarian

I first met Sue Ann Jaffarian on Twitter. Our second meeting was at another author's book signing. The third was at her own book signing for CORPSE ON THE COB, the fifth book in her popular Odelia Grey mystery series.

Odelia is a plus-sized paralegal living in Los Angeles and happens to have a flair for finding mysterious situations (not to mention dead bodies). When I heard the premise of CORPSE ON THE COB, I was intrigued, and despite not having read the first four books in the series, I plunged right in. Odelia goes to Massachusetts to confront her mother, absent from her life for 34 years, and happens to find her bent over a dead body in the middle of a corn maze.

CORPSE ON THE COB was such a fun read I scrambled to get the first in the series, TOO BIG TO MISS. It's high on next year's to-be-read bookshelf.

As it happens, Odelia Grey is not the only series Sue Ann writes. She also pens the GHOST OF GRANNY APPLES mysteries and the FANG IN CHEEK vampire novels. The first in the series, MURDER IN VEIN, is another novel I had the good fortune to enjoy this year, and if vampires are your thing, definitely put it on your list.

Sue Ann was kind enough to answer some questions to celebrate 25 Days of Books:

1) You are currently writing three series. C'mon, be honest: which one is the most fun to write? (No fair saying you love all your children equally).

Right now, I'd have to say the vampire mysteries are the most fun to write. They are so removed from reality and are darker and sexier than my other series, and it's great to exercise those writing muscles.

2) What trait(s) do you share with Odelia? What about your newest heroine, Madison Rose?

I share a lot of traits with Odelia. First of all we're both middle-aged, plus size paralegals. We're both loyal, determined, pig headed and given to sarcasm. In writing Madison Rose, I trot out my insecurities such as lack of trust and skepticism. She's also had a very rough life and while mine was nothing like hers (thankfully!) it sometimes allows me to tap into my deep inner feelings to round her out.

3) When does the next Odelia Grey book come out?

Twice As Dead will be out June 2011!

4) What is your perfect meal, beverage included?

Wow, that's a tough one since it depends on my mood at the moment. But overall, I have to say, a nice heavy beer, ceasar salad, and a fabulous pepperoni and mushroom pizza with extra cheese and a thin-ish crust and all the calories magically sucked out.

5) How will you be spending the holidays this year?

Quietly, as I usually do, with a nice meal and good music. And with my fingers pounding out the 3rd Granny Apples book.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me, Sue Ann!

If you're buying books as gifts this holiday season, please consider purchasing from your local independent bookshop. The level of customer service you'll receive is unmatched, you'll have the added benefit of making new friends of the staff, and you'll help support a local business.

Books featured in this post can be purchased from the Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles (orders@mystery-bookstore.com).