Tag Archives: thriller books

Vivika's Musings

Creating chaos from calm

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Think about the conversations you have day to day.

“How was your weekend?”

“Did you get up to much?”

It’s all pretty mundane, as you would expect. There’s no harm in mundane. I’m a creature of habit and have a routine I rarely deviate from. However, when you want to write a story you want the audience captivated and mundane dialogue and events just won’t cut it.

Now imagine some the conversations you would have during life’s stand out events.

“We’re pregnant!”

“I’m so sorry to tell you this …”

Whether it’s good or bad the emotional stakes are raised and the dialogue naturally hits harder. Which brings me to my point.

Imagine you’re creating a scene and it is showing the character in an everyday situation. Sometimes you can learn more about a character in their day to day lives, but how well does that read? After a while it wouldn’t provide much to keep the reader intrigued. This is where creating chaos from calm comes in.

Say your character is having dinner with a friend. They are catching up as friends do. Is that what a reader wants to follow? After a while they will want to know any exciting news the friend is bringing. They will want to know why the character was so adamant they have dinner together. Or, my personal favourite, perhaps the both of them are expecting a quiet dinner when something major in the restaurant happens. Since I’m a fan of the more morbid, perhaps someone is assassinated. Perhaps a fire is started.

Don’t be afraid to keep your audience on their toes. Just remember some of the golden rules:

  • Avoid shock for shock’s sake
  • Keep it relevant to the overall plot
  • Use your setting to your advantage and pull your character out of their normality.

I am a thriller writer by trade so It is easy for me to immediately jump on those themes. But, the same applies to romance. When your character has met someone they have fallen for, naturally, even a quiet dinner is going to seem like a much bigger deal. Or comedy; this quiet dinner starts spiralling out of control leading to all kinds of ridiculous outcomes.

Give it a try. Create chaos from calm.

Enjoy this? Check out these thriller titles available now:

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BOOK BROWSE
Vivika's Musings

Trust me. I’m a writer

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There is one thing you should know about writers. No matter what you say to them, no matter how mundane the conversation may be, you are already being cast in scene of some kind. A quick interaction on the bus, or a simple passing gesture can escalate to a full scene with themes, and possibly contributing characters. You have a back story now. It may be nothing like your real life story, but it’s real now, at least to someone.

We all have imagination. More often that not it’s the simplest things that can stir it. People watching is a great activity for writers. Take a quick glance (we’re not creepy stalkers) to the person next to you at the cafe. If they were a character in your story, what would their name’s be? What would be their motivations?

It opens up the world around you and not only does it help get those creative juices flowing, it also opens up the world around you and reminds you, you are not alone. This world is made up of millions of different people with different stories, different thoughts and different songs on their lips. That’s a good thing to be reminded of when we live in an age where communication has never been easier, yet so is the option to completely cut ourselves off.

That being said, as a writer, it also means you can cast someone who displeases you in any scene of your choosing. Having someone mauled by a pack of wild dogs because they came off a little rude may be too much for some, but who am I to hinder the creativity of others.

Enjoy this? Check out these thriller titles available now!

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BOOK BROWSE
Vivika's Musings

Writer’s Block

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If you’re a writer yourself you will know the physical pain and agony that is writer’s block. If you’re not a writer you may think I’m being a little overly dramatic here. As dramatic as it may sound, the pain of writer’s block is very real.

Even if you’re not a writer, think of a time when you felt your mind just go completley blank. You’ve forgotten a dentist appointment. You’ve let the cat out for the second time today and you don’t even have a cat. You get the idea. It is a complete, all consuming state of despair when you believe you will never function properly again. Okay, that may be a little overly dramatic.

it’s always good to keep those creative juices flowing. Even if you’re not an artistic sort yourself. After all, creative thinking can make the world such a beautiful place. Maybe it’s thinking of all the amazing things your child could become. Maybe it’s planning a romantic trip with your significant other. Creative thinking reminds us we are alive. When that creative thinking is your very life, it can be stressful when it’s blocked.

My suggestions:

Take a walk. It’s an oldie but a definite goodie for so many reasons.

Clean the house. Chores area great way to focus your mind without having too much pressure. Bonus for having a sparkling home afterwards.

Read. I’ve always been a big reader and nothing stirs the creativity more than a good novel. If you don’t like what your’re reading, pick up something else. Take in a move or a series if you prefer. Indulge in storytelling.

Listen to someone else. Older relatives are by far the best for this. They have so many stories to tell and not enough people to hear them.

Take some time to think creating and imagination. What creative thinking have you done so far today. You may be surprised with just how imaginative you are.

Enjoy this? Check out these creatively dark thrillers available now.

Free to read on Kindle Unlimited.

Shady Shorts

March of Our Times (extract)

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BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. 

The irritating noise of the phone breaking through his sleep had been so frustrating, Jude reached up, collected it off the bedside table and launched it across the room. He hadn’t opened his eyes. He could hear a crack as the device hit the wall. At least the beeping noise stopped. 

When he did open his eyes, it was with a struggle. He took a moment to register where he was and gather his wits. He was in his own bed. He was alone. He couldn’t remember getting back. He tried to piece together what happened. His wife was gone. Helen was off to visit her sister, Hannah. She had just had a baby. Three summers ago Helen had caught them in bed together. It was best Jude just stayed at home. No point having unnecessary drama when the woman had just given birth.  

He had managed to work things out with Helen. They had been married for five years and despite the infidelity she would never leave him. Jude Baxter was a celebrated actor. He had been in front of cameras ever since he was a little boy and these days he was most known as Dr Shardlake on Coldford City’s most popular soap opera, MARCH OF OUR TIMES. She liked the lifestyle too much and your husband having it away with your sister whilst you’re at the hospital with your mother, was a price Helen was willing to pay for it.  

It left Jude on his own. He never did too well on his own, especially in the sprawling Cardyne Hills mansion he lived in. It was so vacant when there wasn’t a party going on.  

He must have gone out. Jude could vaguely remember heading into City Main for a beer. He would be damned if he could remember the name of the bar he started in. He must have drank a lot from there.  

He had kicked off his loafers. They were covered in mud. They were ruined and he had walked muddy footprints into the bedroom with them. He couldn’t remember even walking in mud. Hopefully someone would be able to clean the mess before Helen got back. He’d have a look online for another pair. They were from last season anyway. The more immediate issue was dealing with the headache. It was starting to get worse now that he had woken up. Oh shit! The phone! 

He remembered the cracking sound when he had launched it across the room. He picked it up. It was functioning. The screen was cracked. Through the damage he could see:  

25 MISSED CALLS 

EDNA CALL: ENDED – 25 MINUTES  

MSG: CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS – EDNA 

UNKNOWN NUMBER CALL: ENDED – 15 MINUTES 

1 VOICEMAIL – 4 MINUTES 32 SECONDS 

The battery was running low. He wondered what he had been saying to his agent on the phone for almost thirty minutes. He opted to check the voicemail, incase Helen had been calling with flight times. He called the inbox. As the generic voice guided him through the headache became really, fucking painful.  

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. 

1:53am  

“Mr Baxter? It’s Dr Winslow speaking. I assume you have returned home. The arrangements have been made. I must speak to you urgently about your next steps and small matter of payment. I’ll be at the clinic until four pm.” 

END OF MESSAGE. 

Dr Winslow? Why the Hell had he been calling a doctor at that time of night for? What kind of doctor even was he? 

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.  

The battery completely gave up. He left the loafer and muddy stains behind and drew himself to the kitchens, barely able to keep himself steady. That was no easy task. He found clothes by the door he must have pulled off, leaving him in the underwear he had slept in. A stool from the breakfast bar had been toppled over. A glass of whisky had smashed on the floor. He might have thought he had been robbed. The door had been left unlocked, and the security was off. His car wasn’t in the driveway either.  

His hands went to his ribs which ached. They were bruised. He was only just wakened enough to notice. Suddenly the memories of the previous night started to sharpen.  

He had been in an accident. He had been driving drunk. He was in an accident. Shit! He had hit someone. What happened to them. 

“It’s Dr Winslow. Please call me at your earliest convenience.” 

The full short story will be coming soon – free on Kindle Unlimited.

In the meantime check out these thriller titles:

Vivika's Musings

Frequently Asked Questions

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When I meet new people and I tell them I’m an author I always seem to get asked the same questions.

Whilst there are millions of books out there, being one of the ones who writes them still seems a rare find for a lot of people out there in the wild. Unless you happen to be at an event specifically for writers, it seems authors rarely venture out of their natural habitat of a comfy spot with a notebook and a coffee.

Here are some of the common questions that are posed to me:

HAVE YOU BEEN PUBLISHED?

Yes, my first book was released in 2013. That seems like a lifetime ago.

I do like the idea that people are making that distinction. It’s not a published book that makes you a writer. It’s writing that book that does.

YOU SHOULD WRITE A STORY ABOUT (SUCH AND SUCH)

Part of the fun of being a writer (at least for me) is twisting real life and make it grittier and filthier than it generally is. Be sure you really want your experiences to be a part of that before pitching story ideas.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY ABOUT?

Every other author I know freezes up like a deer with a big old truck smashing towards it. Thousands of words come together to make a novel, sometimes hundreds of thousands, yet it is virtually impossible to sum up the story in just a few. It’s like asking for you to fit your entire life experience so far into a few cohesive sentences.

WHAT GIVES YOU THE IDEAS FOR YOUR BOOKS?

Everything really. From observing an argument on the bus, up to the way the postman was walking down the street.

WOULD I LIKE YOUR BOOKS?

That all depends on what you are into as a reader. It’s no use telling someone who adores romance set during world war one to read a crime procedural book set in a post apocolyptic planet in the far reaches of the galaxy. That’s not to say they wouldn’t enjoy the change of pace, it’s just people’s tastes are different.

If you do spot an author in the wild and they look a little confused and grumpy, just urge them to the nearest coffee house where they can be collected by a loved one. Then feel free to ask them about their work!

“If you do happen to be my kind of reader, feel free to check out these thrillers, available on Kindle Unlimited.

Shady City Tour

5 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Penn family

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They are known in Coldford City as the royals of Main. The immediate family consist of REGINALD and RITA, with their identical triplet sons MARCUS, SIMON and REGGIE (Reginald Junior). The are prominent figures in the city and have featured often in the series of Shady City Thrillers. However, here are a few facts you might not know about them.

Reginald Penn with his triplet sons.

1 – THEY HOLD ACTUAL ROYAL TITLES

Originally from the country of Luen, the Penn lands are huge, expansive and have held a lot of power for centuries. They were one of the greatest marquessates in the country, with Marquis Philippe de Penn being given much of the credit for its founding during the Ballad of Blood age (centuries before the events of KNOCK KNOCK).

Their official house sigil is a white tower on a sea of royal blue. Although often, the marchand (merchant) pin is worn by the head of the house symbolising their auctioneering background.

After the second great war, Main was declared a legitimate kingdom making Reginald and Rita the reigning King and Queen of Penn and Main.

2 – THEY HAVE A LONG STANDING ROYAL RIVALRY IN KINGSGATE

The land of Main was originally granted by the The Chamberlain Crown who rule the Coldford Isles. At the time, Philippe de Penn and King James the first had a strong alliance and Philippe helped James maintain his throne. As thanks for that Philippe was granted the hand, or LE MAIN as it was called in the marquis’ mother tongue.

After the wars the alliance between House Penn and House Main shattered. The became enemies and ever since, the Chamberlain Crown has been trying to oust the Penns from the Coldford Isles sometimes resorting to real filthy tactics.

3 – THE PENNS ARE EFFICIENT IN TORTURE METHODS

From the rack to the pendulum, members of House Penn have always been known for their creative approach to torturing their enemies. They are a noble house in that they will stand by their people. They can also be ridiculously cruel to those deemed deserving. No thought is spared for an assaulter. No tear is shed for those who would harm innocents. No apologies are made for the pain inflicted upon molesters.

4 – ENGLISH IS NOT THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE

Whilst the immediate family and their extended relatives speak English of the Coldford Isles fluently, their native language is the French of Luen.

5 – THE PENN AUCTION HOUSE IN MAIN ISN’T THEIR LARGEST

At the heart of it, the family are an auctioneering dynasty. The Penn Auction House in Main has equally been a symbol of hope and of fear for generations. What you may not know is their largest and most prestigious auction house sits in the Penn lands in Luen.

“Enjoy this? Check out more on the Penn family and other notorious dynasties of Coldford by reading these thriller titles available now.

Shady City Tour

Dalway Lane Gallery

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Location: City Main

Features in: MUSE ; HARBOUR HOUSE ; KNOCK KNOCK

The city’s most well known art gallery holds the finest art from all around the known world. Owned by partners Harper Lane and Gabrielle Dalway it is well respected. It is considered an excellent achievement for any artist to be exhibited there. With it’s close connection to the PENN AUCTION HOUSE, the prestige of the gallery cannot be argued with.

The gallery holds paintings from one of Coldford’s local artists, DAVID FINN. Despite his troubles, his time in rehab and his clash with Harper Lane, his work is still considered fiere, challenging and an absolute must for collectors.

Dalway Lane gallery deals in fine arts. Behind the beautiful sculptures and astonishing paintings lies a painful story that needs to be told. Isn’t that what the best art does, though?

Enjoy this? Check out these thriller titles, available now.

Characters

Character Profile: Eugene Morris aka The Tailor

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Age: Unknown

Occupation: Funeral Director.

Features in: HARBOUR HOUSE ; THE BOSS

One might assume that the work of a funeral director in Coldford would never be done. The streets of the Shady City are perilous after all with violence, corruption and oneupmanship waiting around every corner. Eugene Morris doesn’t let that distract him though. His job isn’t a pleasant one but it must fall to the hands of someone. He finds himself in homes from the Shanties strips to the mansion houses of Filton. Death is equal in its pursuit.

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Eugene Morris aka The Tailor pays close attention.

He treats his clients with the utmost respect, courtesy and dignity. In return he expects nothing less for himself. No matter the name, BECKINGRIDGE, OWEN, DOYLE or FULLERTON, they all lie the same way on the Tailor’s table. Eugene pays no mind to disputes and squabbles rising around him. It is simply his job to clean up the mess and kiss the foreheads of those who would otherwise be forgotten about. No one would want him choosing sides anyway. When death favours, things get really messy.

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Not an easy job but someone has to do it.

He earned the title of The Tailor because of the attention to detail he places on his client’s final suit. Exceptionally talented at capturing the life of the deceased in how they are laid to rest, his skills as an actual tailor come in quite handy. He is whimsical in appearance, timeless and elegant. Eugene is a personable enough man, pleasant and kind but like the death which he serves no one really wants him to be knocking on their door.

Coming May 02 2020

Harbour House rehabilitation clinic brings together regrets, losses and life long bonds. If the program doesn’t work then there is always space on the Tailor’s table.

Click to preorder.

Vivika's Musings

Oh, the horror!

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One thing I find quite common in fans of horror like myself is we were exposed to the genre from an early age. For some this was an exciting experience. For others, myself included, it was – not to put too fine a point it – horrifying.

Poltergeist, IT (the original series with Tim Curry) and Child’s play were just some of the movies I saw when I was arguably way too young. I was always an imaginative child so the scenes these movies presented, as corny as they may be now, played on my mind and formed lifelong phobias. Those lifelong phobias, I just happened to turn into a career.

Lets start with Pennywise. Released in the early nineties I was still in primary school when I first saw it. What stuck out most to me was the vibrancy of Pennywise’s red hair. It stood out to me against the duller, New England backdrop. The colours made him more eyecatching, more threatening. Even as a youngster I never saw clowns as anything less than nightmre fuel.

Then there was Chucky. The doll possessed with the spirit of an evil man. Another red head. As an imaginative kid with little to no real friends toys, stuffed animals and dolls were my most treasured companions. To see what a doll was capable of doing, at least by movie standards, was horrifying.

Cut to several decades later and I find myself still lost in that imagination. I do still have treasured toys and dolls, Pennywise and Chucky being one of them. I also sport vibrant (yes you guessed it) red hair. I knew there were some correlations between how my approach to creativity was shaped by these old horror movies as a child. However, it wasn’t until I started to write this blog I began to realise just how much.

The villainy, the vibrancy, the outldandish plots and the reactions from viewers were something that became embedded in my ambition. I came to enjoy writing material that made a reader shriek, gasp or become unsettled. I could have written happy little stories with lovely endings. I ask though, were would be the fun in that!?

Enjoy this? Check out these horrifiying thriller titles, available now.

Characters

Character Profile: Lloyd Walden

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Name: Lloyd Walden

Occupation: Proprieter of Waldens Wine bar and part time MMA fighter.

Features in: THE BOSS ; ERROR 65 ; KNOCK KNOCK

“I am one of the best!”

The Walden family vineyards have been providing the best wine to Coldford for centuries. Lloyd Walden, youngest son, has been riding those coattails throughout his entire life.

LLoyd is considered a braggart by all those who know him. He’s showy and likes to believe he’s quite the lad. Picking up on the misogynistic views of his father, Harris, Lloyd can be disrespectful.

Compared quite often to boxing champion, SIMON PENN, Lloyd doesn’t have the skill nor the family name to match up. That doesn’t stop him from trying. He’s constantly vying for notoriety.

Underneath it all lurks a decent man who could prove himself if he just allowed it. If for a few moments stopped ‘faking it to making it’ he would find he has a lot of potential and he would receive much more genuine adoration.

Enjoy this? check out these thrillers available now!

Free to read on Kindle unlimited.