I'm excited to host my first local writer guest post! Please welcome Des Zamorano, an Altadena author who has just published an engrossing detective mystery set in familiar surroundings.
Isn’t it fascinating, that while even from childhood we viscerally know life isn’t fair, we still crave justice? We want a world where good triumphs jubilantly, and evil, instead of building philanthropic foundations to cover up its crimes, actually withers, dies and rots.
That, in any case, is part of the reason I love mysteries. I’ve loved them since a friend of mine introduced me to the works of Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler, and I’m always looking for contemporary favorites, like Naomi Hirahara, Craig Johnson, and Gillian Flynn.
My protagonist, Inez Leon, a private investigator, kicked down my door one writing morning, and refused to go away. I told her to beat it, I had a great American novel to write, filled with languorous language and sensuous subtlety. She rolled her eyes at me and sat down, then began pacing while I worked. Losing all patience, she rapped her Beretta on my desk and said, “My story’s the kind you actually read. And it’s all about right where you live, the nooks and corners you’ve never even visited.” I scowled, listened, and began writing it all down.
Human Cargo
is the latest story she’s told me. She has a knack for noticing things other people miss.(Human Cargo is an e-book. If you can read this post, you can download it.)
Do you have a suggestion for a local writer guest post? Are you a local (SGV), published writer/author/journalist? Email me. I'd love to hear from you.
23 comments:
I'm getting Kindle just to read it.
Great good luck with the book.
Question: When you finished it, did Inez finally leave you alone? Or is she still hanging around for the next in a series?
Hi Des, Welcome to PDP! I've downloaded the book and it's going to be fun. Thank goodness you didn't choose to go with the long, langorous book a la Thomas Pynchon; life's too short for that. I can only handle mysteries and whodunnits nowadays.
Does anyone know how I can read this as an audiobook? I fall asleep as soon as I start to read, but I can just about stay awake when listening to a book in the car.
PS Love the cover!
I hope you win a Pulitizer Prize. Best of good fortune to you.
I love that Inez rapped her Beretta on your desk. I'd have been terrified. If any of my characters ever intimidates me with a gun the first thing I'll have to do is go to target practice.
that foto looks familiar. i've scene it befour sumwhere.
Cooool!!! Will have to download it!!! And welcome to blogging!!!
woohoo, Petrea, thanks for the spot light moment!
AH--
Although Inez hates commitment, she tells me she's around for the long haul. B: Re audio book, you're the third person to ask, so I need to chat with the publisher to see what steps should be taken. Thanks, people, for the kind words!
Meanwhile, Chieftess, click on Desiree's name to go to her blog, The Restless Chef.
I need to get on the e-book bandwagon. Haven't made the leap yet.
I'm very excited. Desiree is incredibly talented. And Restless Chef is one of my favorite blogs.
PIO, you don't need an e-reader. You can download the book to any computer--your home computer or laptop, for instance.
I do love Restless Chef. It's very snappy. I'm a desperately lazy and unimaginative cook and Desiree has saved me more than once.
I just got an email from my sister, who loves this post and wants to read the book!
Sounds like a great book Des! And thank Petrea for alerting us non-Kindle folks that we don't need one to get this book. Can't wait to read it!
Looks like a good read!
This is wunderful! Who needs to go to bookstores anymore!!!!
Hee hee, Cafe. I think e-readers will replace books just like TV replaced radio.
I'd like to thank Desiree for bravely taking the plunge to become my first guest poster. Des, I love your post.
You can see Des's snappy writing right here on my blog! I'm just all puffed up and excited.
Petrea--you are so sweet, I just dropped by to thank you for the fun day!!! And thanks so much, everyone, for the encouraging words--
Purchased and looking forward to reading it. Now, how do e-book signings work?
A wonderfully snappy guest post. I can't wait to read this, Desiree. The only obstacle is my indecision about whether to download and print it or get a Kindle or a Nook. I'll check out Restless Chef while I ponder that big decision.
I'm gonna read it on my laptop.
Keith, check this out. I'm thinking, depending on what I spend on the eReader, well, okay, if you're Charles Dickens or William Shakespeare.
That's funny! Those are definitely options, but it's just not the same.
I know I will not read it. No time. I have two shelves fully loaded for "I will read it someday" dreams. I do not have time to read my friends' blogs, that is the heavy problem)).
How does it work in your life, writers? You start writing and then the book tells you what to write further? At least my paintings like this trick for sure.. Mysteries of creativity.
Irina, I know some writers outline a book before they write it (like a sketch for a painting) and some just let it flow as they go! I do a little of both.
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