Hide and Seek

It started with a game and ended with murder. A complex investigation follows, at the center of which is a lingerie bar………

Hide and Seek is the second in the Jackson mystery series, and can also be read as a stand-alone. Two years after I started writing this book, based on the childhood game, I’m thrilled (if you’ll pardon the pun) to announce it is finally available for Kindle. The paperback version will follow shortly.

I’m now taking a departure from the San Francisco settings I love so much to return to my homeland and spend time researching and writing my 4th suspense, Fatal Fury (title subject to change), which is set in the delightful city of Oxfordshire, England. Corporate execs are mysteriously dying……….

Here is a taster of Hide and Seek:

Halloween. A group of friends gather at a mansion and decide to play a game. When one of them disappears and a large pool of blood is found on the grounds, San Francisco homicide inspector, Mac Jackson, is called out to investigate. Two days later, the body is discovered.

As Jackson questions the guests, he uncovers old hostilities, secretive pasts, and the victim’s ties to another unusual death. At the center of it all is the lingerie bar, where the victim once worked. Are the girls in some sort of danger? Who is the thug with the scar? His best chance at solving the case hinges on an uncooperative source and Jackson must work fast, before it’s too late and his source disappears.

Sean Hayden faces his fear…romance

GREETINGS AND SALUMATATIONS DENIZENS OF EARTH!

Hey. Guess what? I’m in CyberCalifornia! Wooo hooooo. Cough, cough. Sorry, Cyber Smog. First of all thank you so much, Jenny for agreeing to let me take over your blog this fine Monday! Always appreciate your support in my quest for world domination

Well, we’ve talked premise, plot, and characters so far on the tour. Today I’m going to focus on something a little different. Today, I’m going to talk to you about the single scariest thing I have ever faced when writing a book…ROMANCE!

I’ve written steampunk. I’ve written horror. I’ve written young adult. I’ve written vampires, demons, werewolves, and FBI thrillers. Never in a million years did I EVER think I would write romance.

Every time I heard the word I think of rugged pirates and wenches with heaving bosoms. Lately they’ve been replaced by bushy eyebrowed, sparkly vampires and teens with little to no personality. I could have written MY SOUL TO KEEP as just an urban fantasy. Know what? I hate to admit this, but it NEEDED the romance. It made it a better story.

So how does a horror/vampire/steampunk writer tackle writing a genre he has never even read before? That part was easy. You see, I have the best inspiration in the whole wide world. My partner is the most amazing person in the world. She brings out the romantic side of my dark and twisted persona. I pictured what it would have been like if she and I had gone to high school together. I wrote the characters around it. I pictured her being very, very sweet and me being a fumbling, stumbling dork. To me, that’s what makes the romantic aspect of the book so VERY special. I hope you agree.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little insight into everybody. There are legions of demons and angels, vampires, students, monsters, reapers, teachers, principals, and lunch ladies galore. Basically everything frightening in the world today. Except clowns. I hate clowns. Too scary, even for me.

SHWAG TIME!

Now we get to the fun part of the blog tour! Your chance to wind some awesome Sean Hayden Swag (SHWAG). All of it features…YOU GUESSED IT! The cover of MY SOUL TO KEEP! There’s a WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER AND COPIES OF MSTK FOR SOME OF THE LOSERS! Here’s the DEETS!

CLICK THE PICTURE TO ENTER!

Contents include:

1 MSTK Tote, 1 MSTK Notebook, 1 MSTK Keychain, 1 MSTK T-shirt (size large),  1 MSTK Coffee Mug so you can enjoy tasty hot beverages in style…and…cue drum roll…are you ready…1 copy of My Soul to Keep. So what you say? Gasp. You don’t understand. This copy is in paperback. Not only that but its an AUTOGRAPHED ADVANCED READER COPY!!!!!!! Yes ladies and germs, you get the paperback before anyone else in the whole wide world!!!!!! That’s over a $125 value! Why? Cuz we wuv you.

What’s the risk worth?

What would you do to get what you want? What are you willing to risk? I love a challenge, but I also love the security of a paycheck.

15 years ago, I gave up the latter (the paycheck) for the former (the challenge) and relocated from the UK to the US. I planned to stay in the US for 5 years. Things often don’t go according to plan.

I’ve loved my time in the US and have no regrets about the decision I made to experience life here, but I’ve reached a crossroads. What I sacrificed to try something new came at a huge personal cost. For 15 years, I’ve lost time with my family and have not shared a single birthday with my nephews. They’ve commented I’m never around.

I’ve not been out of work since I left school, several centuries ago. I know it’s tough to find a job, and I enjoy what I do, which makes it harder to give up. But it’s time to accept another challenge. In August, I’ll give up the security of a regular paycheck and get on a flight home. I’ll have 6 months to spend with my family and I’ll be there through my nephews 8th and 9th birthdays. I hope they enjoy having their old Auntie around. I’ll work full-time on my books while I’m there.

50 years from now (yes, I plan to live a long old life), I’ll never regret taking this chance to be with my family, but I’ll regret not taking it. Things worth having in life don’t come easy, but I’ll never know their worth if I don’t take the risk.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it (quote unknown).

Teen Killers

When I write about crime, I consider the age of the killer. I’m shocked most by crimes committed by the elderly and the young. Some years ago, I wrote an article about Teen Killers and argued about the appropriate form of punishment. So far, I have not ventured into writing a novel where my killer is a teen. I’m not sure I ever will. I find it too disturbing. I don’t believe they should escape the harsh punishment for their crime, but executing a teen seems as appalling as the original crime. Do they deserve lenience? A chance to rehabilitate? Or are they born bad?

A piece from my essay states: evidence exists to show that, while the juvenile system and the three-strikes law may assist in rehabilitating minor juvenile delinquents and less serious offenders, the system has failed in the attempt to rehabilitate juveniles who commit brutal crimes, such as rape and murder. Some juveniles are evil and sadistic in nature, and intentionally kill. These juveniles must be held accountable for the severity of their crimes in the same way as adults.

It’s a tough subject. I’d like to know what you think.

Building character depth

How do you give your characters depth? I’ve been asked this question a few times by readers. My simple answer is to study people, spend time (if you can stand it) with someone you consider shallow and learn from them. Try to understand what matters to them. Near the top of their list will be themselves, physical appearance, and what makes them look good. They aren’t concerned with the well-being of others. Give your characters opposite traits.

Another way I add depth is to reveal personality in layers. Human tendency is to form instant opinions and judge others, often on sight. I do it when I’m reading, decide early on if I like a character or not. When I get it wrong, I learn something about the person/character I misjudged; perhaps an underlying reason for a certain behavior – another layer, if you will.

What do you like about the people you enjoy being around? What do you find absorbing about them? Work some of those traits into your characters. Avoid stereotypes and make the personalities multi-faceted, complex. Give your characters battle scars. What they do and say must have meaning. Give them secrets. How do others behave around each character? What do they draw out of each person?

These are just some of my ideas.

In Cold Blood

True crime is the most disturbing kind to read. In Cold Blood is the true-life story of a despicable crime against an innocent and well-respected family committed by contemptible criminals. Truman Capote starts the book by placing the reader in the village where the crime occurred, a lonely area of Kansas that feels even more isolated by Truman’s descriptions of the wail of the locomotive whistles and the scuttling tumbleweed; a quiet place where residents don’t even lock their doors. Perhaps this is what makes the crime more shocking.

The writing is exceptional. A lot of time is spent on detail of the criminals backgrounds, which slows the pace. For me, the suspense lies not in the crime itself, but in the investigation and the capture of the killers. Capote’s account of their trial, their time and experience on death row, culminating in their execution, was fascinating to read.

The story is told through several points of view, giving the reader a feel for the depth of each individual and the impact of the crimes, or lack of, on each one of them. The writing almost leaves the reader with a sense of empathy for the killers – almost, for the reminders are woven in that this is true crime – and leaves them to question their own opinion on capital punishment. In the words of one of the killers : “it’s revenge.”

Definitely recommended reading.

This time, I sucked less

The LA Times Festival of Books is a pretty major book festival. It’s huge. I’m not the most aggressive sales person, so last year, when I shared a booth with other authors for the first time, I found it a bit daunting. The selling stuff, I mean. I’m an author, not a sales person. My sales were okay, but not great, and this year I learned why.

A week ago, I shared the same booth at the same event, with the same group of authors, and this year I sucked far less at selling than I did the year before.

I’ve sold my books at plenty of street fairs, but they’ve been much smaller events, with lots of distractions: food, toys, gadgets and gizmos. These events generally don’t attract too many readers. The LA Times Festival Of Books is different. People come here for books. They are serious readers and they want to buy books. Our books. Yours and mine.

Some of us feel awkward blowing our own trumpet, or horn, or whatever you blow . I find it easier to talk about other authors books than my own, yet I’m the best person to talk about my own books. No one knows the stories better than me. Last year, I talked more about the other authors books. I couldn’t nail down a tag line well enough on my own. By the 2nd day, I was so disappointed with my performance, I wanted the floor to eat me up.

This year, I shared space next to Joel Fox, author of  Lincoln’s Hand, and I listened as he repeatedly told readers the gist of his story. Each time I heard it, I fell a little more in love with the sound of his book. So did the readers. He hooked them.

When the readers asked about my book, I got tongue-tied on the first day, realized I still hadn’t nailed down the tag line – not like Joel. I watched him sell, and all I had to offer was a bag for the readers to put his books in.

I went back to the hotel room and practiced my pitch, tightened my hook, kept it short and punchy, enough to bait the reader (or so I hoped).

Day 2.

I got off to a good start. Sold 2 books right at the opening bell (there’s not really a bell). Then things slowed down. Sunday was less busy, but there was still a good crowd. I remembered my tag line and I used it. I worked it like Joel, and it worked for me. “An international pilot goes missing. His girlfriend’s body is discovered. His wife has no alibi for the night of the murder.” (my new practiced tag for No Alibi)

“Oooh, sounds like my kind of read.” The reader bought my book. I did the same thing for Madness and Murder. Both my books sold equally, and far more than last year. I signed readers up for my newsletter and told them about my new release, Hide and Seek (due out in June). I’m still not fantastic at selling, but I’m better. I suck a lot less than I did. Next year, I’ll be awesome!

Here are a few tips that also make it easier at large events: get a friend or couple of friends to stand outside the booth, talk to readers, hand out your bookmark and send readers over to your booth. When they arrive, have your tag line ready, then shut up while they read the back cover of your book. As they finish reading, and still have your book in their hand, tell them you’re offering a deal – a discounted price for the event, and a double discount if they buy both your books. This works wonders. Not only do they get a discount, they get signed copies.

I realized you don’t have to be aggressive to sell. All you need is to know your books and develop a great tag line. Find a good catch phrase that will stick in their mind. Joel’s for Lincoln’s Hand is “a little history with your mystery.”