READ EXCERPT OF MELODY BELOW!!!!!!
Hi All! Welcome to my page!
My name is Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne). I am a veteran author of twelve years. I began writing professionally when I was nineteen years old. I write mainstream fiction including mysteries and thrillers. My first book, "Divas of the New Millennium" was published in 2005 by Amber Communications Group Inc and became a very popular seller. My second book is "Everlasting" published by Strebor Books of Simon and Schuster in 2007. My recent book is the thriller "Melody" published by Strebor Books of Simon and Schuster in June 2008. I was also featured in the 2006 book, "Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Writing"
My favorite writers are Kay Hooper and Linda Howard. I grew up reading the classics and love the authors, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and Charles Dickens.
I welcome you all to my page. I am fun-loving, kind and I also try to lend advice to aspiring writers when I can. You can find lots of helpful information by visiting the link to my articles:
http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/stacy-deanne/79527.htm
Also check out my recent interviews. You can check out all my interviews and reviews by doing a search for me online but here are my most recent:
http://www.wildonbooks.com/interviews/2008/stacy_deanne.htm
http://www.tnc-magazine.net/dapen-sdeanne.html
http://www.urbanreviewsonline.com/insideout-stacydeanne.html
ABOUT MY RECENT THRILLER MELODY:
Melody by Stacy-Deanne (available now wherever books are sold)
Publisher: Simon and Schuster/Strebor Books
Released: June 3, 2008
Genre: Mystery, Thriller and Suspense
ISBN: 1593092032
Two stories of deadly passion intertwine in this gripping mystery by best selling author Stacy-Deanne, who weaves a thrilling tale of love and death.
Melody is unlike any other thriller...
Melody Cruz is certain her sister’s new boyfriend, the wealthy, charming and handsome Keith Taylor, has a dark past that he will do anything to hide. Wanting to protect her sister, Melody works to uncover Keith’s secrets, not realizing that in doing so, she is sacrificing her own safety---because Keith will go to any lengths, dangerous or violent, to keep himself in control.
At the same time, a man named the “Albany Predator” has been brutally raping black women throughout the city, and Melody is convinced that her best friend is the rapist’s next target. Detectives Brianna Morris and Steven Kemp are placed on the case, determined to bring the sadistic felon to justice. But when things couldn’t get anymore complicated, all evidence is turned around to reveal a surprising suspect.
Full of forbidden desire and unwavering strength in the face of danger, Melody is a chilling tale that will leave readers breathless as they navigate all the plot twists and turns. Struggling to survive until the end, the diverse cast of characters will be left questioning their loyalties, their passions and how far they might be willing to go to protect the ones they love.
MY BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE EVERYWHERE!
(MELODY EXCERPT: This is the beginning of one of the biggest twists in the novel. Melody (Sarah's sister) is confronting Keith (Sarah's boyfriend) after he tricks her into coming to his place. It's juicy and you won't believe how this scene turns out but you gotta get the book to read the rest!!!! Note, this is from the actual manuscript!!!! Buy the book to read the rest and see how it all ties together!
Note: I've blanked out two curse words since this is a public message board, LOL! Enjoy!
Her heart pounded. She didn’t have time to think. Sarah needed her. Battling with her soul on the porch had been silly at best. She knocked on the door. No one answered. She called for Keith. No one answered. She peeked in the windows. The living room lights were off. What the hell was going on here?
She leaned against the door. It swung open. She stepped inside. She’d never been in a room so still. She could taste the air. She called for Keith and Sarah. No one answered. Maybe they had taken Sarah to the hospital. That would be the logical thing to do. She chuckled for nearly scaring herself to death. But why had Keith’s door been unlocked? Had he been in such a rush that he’d forgotten to lock it?
Melody turned to leave. The lights popped on. She stood in a fantastic living room that would put Martha Stewart’s decorator to shame. Keith stood against the large bookshelf. He moved his hand from the light switch. Melody overlooked his serene behavior. If Sarah had been hurt, how could he be so calm?
“Keith you scared me.” She held her chest. “Where’s Sarah?” He walked past her. He shut and locked the front door.
He crossed his arms. He leaned against the door. “Jesus, Melody. I can’t believe how easy it was to get you here.”
“What’s going on here?” She trembled. He cracked his knuckles. “Where’s Sarah?”
“She’s fine. I imagine she’s at home resting after a hard day’s work.”
“What?” She sucked in her anger. Something told her this wasn’t the right time to
confront him. “I don’t believe this. You set me up? You made me believe that Sarah was hurt so I would come over here?” He nodded. “Why?”
“Well…” He stepped towards her. She moved back. “I enjoy playing with you, Mel. Didn’t you know that?”
“God damn you!”
He chuckled. “It amazes me how easy it is to fool you. You claim I won’t manipulate things but I keep doing it don’t I? I got Sarah to believe me over you many times. I even got it where you moved out. I got it where you can’t break us up and I got you here tonight. Do you finally see how this is going, Melody? You can’t win. I hope now you realize you’d better give it up.”
“You sick bastard. What is the point of all this now? I’ve been gone for a week! If you loved Sarah so much then why would you want to come between us?”
“I never did, Melody. But when you kept making things harder for me I needed to eliminate the problem. And we all know that’s you.” He lowered his eyes to her skirt.
“What the hell do you want from me, Keith?” She held her purse for protection.
“I only want to be your friend.” He looked at her breasts underneath her white blouse. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. But you had to act like some little child and keep Sarah all for yourself!” He hit the wall. She shrieked. “I wanted to love you both, Melody. It could have been so beautiful. I know that you really want that too.”
“You stay away from me, Keith.” She shook.
“I know you want that too.” He moved towards the couch. “You’ve always wanted that haven’t you? You wanted a taste of what Sarah had didn’t you?”
“No!” She ran to the door. He blocked her.
“You’re tired of being in her footsteps aren’t you? You wanted to know why she always got everything! You resent her, just admit it!”
“No!” She held her head. “I love Sarah with all my heart!”
“Is that why you try to manipulate all of her relationships, Melody? You couldn’t get the point that I am not going anywhere.” He grabbed her.
“Let me go!” She screamed.
“I told you not to ---- with me, Melody. I meant it.”
“Please, Keith!” She sobbed. “You’re scaring me!”
He licked his lips. “I guess I never told you how beautiful you are when you’re scared.”
(END OF EXCERPT)
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Thanks for your excellent and supportive advice.
I have not given up the traditional route into publishing. In fact as I said on my blogspot blog a few days back I someone looking at my manuscript at the moment.
If that will come to anything I cannot say.
I am a bit browned off by rejections, but not demoralised or anything.
I became somewhat interested in self publishing after attending an emerging writer's festival here in Melbourne in June, epublishing and self-publishing were two topics there. So it is just something I am thinking about at the moment, not a plan.
There are a few additional problems in getting published from Oz, the market here is tiny and local agents/publishers usually want to know why your story is not about Australia or Australians.
Then (as I read it) when you try in the USA or UK they usually want to know why you aren't published in Oz first.
I have had very positive feedback from a professional manuscript assessor and copy editors about the book. So I don't think it is just sour grapes on my part.
Probably I just need a bit more practice to get a great query sorted out! Self promotion is not something I have ever been good at.
Thanks again for your support.
Kind Regards
Allan
Thanks for inviting me to be your friend.
Cheers
Allan
Your book sounds really familiar to me, I think I may have read a sample somewhere else. Are you part of of other book blogs?
Loved your extract! My kind of novel.
Nice to meet you.
Louise
Loved the excerpt!
I am the author of He Who Sings Last, a suspenseful crime novel scheduled for release on July 28, 2009. Former famous crooner Jimmy Covelli is accused of a cold case murder and is in desperate need of an alibi. My novel is sure to appeal to anyone who's ever been a fan of any celebrity! I am also a columnist (Lisa's Lair); many of my human interest articles have appeared in the chattanoogan.com.
All the best,
Lisa
Best regards
Preetham Grandhi
Early Endorsements for “A Circle of Souls”
Linda Fairstein, NYT Bestselling Author: "A fascinating debut - this novel takes the reader to the darkest places in the human soul, from a writer with the authenticity to lead us there. A stunning thriller and an important read."
Judge Judy Sheindlin, star of the Judge Judy Show: "The seminal work of this fine author kept me glued to my chair until the adventure was over and the mystery solved. A great read!"
Book Synopsis:
The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.
Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.
The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.
My book Medusa, is science fiction and it was published by Xlibris. I plan to get an agent so that a main stream publisher can pick it up. How did you get into Simon Schuster? Was it difficult? Right now I'm working on breaking the book into two as it is over 700 pages & I've been told that publishers prefer smaller books from first time authors. You can see excerpts on the website at www.larksong.org.
I wish you further success and great job! Hope you're having a great weekend down there in Texas....that's actually where I'm from originally...East Texas that is.
Thanks for the friends request. Congrats on all your success...that's my next stop. :)
M.D. Griffith
Marc
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