It’s the 25th of the month , I am honoured to feature another British thriller & suspense author. Mrs… yes Mrs L.J Kane. She’s one of those mystery authors that like to keep their gender in question I’m assuming, with initial usage. Reminds me of another certain household name British female author. Let’s get to know L. J’s style….
Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?
Hello. I’m L.J. Kane, the author of Snatch Girl, the shocking, fast-paced, kidnap thriller released in April 2017.
I live in the UK with my husband, and I love learning about the Earth Sciences. I dream of seeing the Northern Lights, but my fear of flying has stopped this ambition being realised, but it is still on my bucket list. My interests are diverse: geology, country walking, painting, and watching movies. And reading, of course!
How did you start writing? What was your inspiration to create?
About twenty years ago, I wrote the very first draft of Snatch Girl (it was untitled back then, and Darren Broderick was the only recognisable character in it). I read the first few chapters to a friend who loved it, and when I met up with her, about 5 years later, she asked me whether I’d written more, she liked it that much. So, I guess I knew then, that I’d be an author. It just took twenty years to take the plunge and bring Snatch Girl to life.
I love people-watching, overhearing conversations on the bus, dreaming up exciting plots while waiting in traffic, and while walking the dogs. I am having so much fun with my novels, and it’s because I’ve always believed in myself, that I have finally become an author after procrastinating for twenty years!
I live with my husband who’s a great soundboard, full of encouragement, and great ideas. Between us, we have met many unusual characters over the years, people with extraordinary lives from whom I can derive lots of inspiration.
Kim: Twenty years??? Wowzers…. Twenty years ago I was just fourteen. It’s rude to ask a lady her age, but I guess you’re a mature lady. Welcome ma’am pleasure to have you here.
Who is your favourite author, is there anyone out there that inspires you?
Stephen King. His books just hook me in, even if I don’t feel like reading. I also read his book ‘On Writing’ and it really helped me focus on my own project, but I still can’t bring myself to read the axe scene in ‘Misery’.
Kim: He is such a great writer, I agree.
What genre do you enjoy reading?
I love reading (and writing) thrillers. The genre is exiting, fast-paced, and you can explore a range of emotions. I love movies and novels that keep you glued to the screen and to the page, with thrills all the way through. What I like most of all, is to finish reading a great book, and then start the book all over again!
Kim: I hear ya!
Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants “pantster” as a writer?
I prefer to outline the novel first, and then plot each chapter, so I know where it’s heading. Snatch Girl started out as a ‘write and see’ type of novel, but I had to reign it in pretty quickly for the re-write, so I guess I’m a ‘plotter’!
Kim: Salute, me too your approach is the same as mine. It’s nice to connect with another plotter, most MTA features have all been pansters.
What are you working on now? What will you release next?
I have three thrillers in the pipeline! I am currently writing the first draft of a thriller mystery set in the UK where the witness to a murder becomes the target, and the other two novels are scary psychological thrillers, exploring the dark side of human nature, which I have plotted, and can’t wait to start.
Kim: Lawd! These have “Kim’s read” all over them, please let me know when they are released I’d love to read them both.
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So… where can we get your books?
Snatch Girl is available as an ebook and paperback worldwide on Amazon: http://amzn.com/0995627312
http://amzn.eu/gztq2JU
I’m also considering opening up Snatch Girl to other online retailers soon.
Kim: great, I’ve got my copy 🙂
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It’s amazing how much research goes into a novel. Things you think you know well seem to take on another level and suddenly, you’re researching little things, like how to apply butterfly stitches, and what the hell does an animal trap look like anyway? I spent many happy holidays in and around Dartmoor in Devon, so I didn’t need to research the landscape for Snatch Girl, but I did need to brush up on my knowledge of hypodermic needles!
Kim: I’m so glad you feel this way, I think in our genre because of the level of detail in things like police involvement, ways to …err, well ya know kill people or personality disorders /traits we give characters the really sick ones, research is needed. Can’t afford to brush over certain things in this genre, the story will lose its edge and gritty feeling.
What was your hardest scene to write?
With Snatch Girl, I found that the scenes just flowed, and amazingly, the scariest parts were the easiest! I think it helped that I had all of the characters firmly drawn in my mind, and knew just how they would react to each scenario. The hardest scene was where Ellie faced Braddon alone.
Kim: Great job!
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Once I’d dusted off the original manuscript, it took me about 6-7 months to finish Snatch Girl. I could write a first draft in about two months, as long as I don’t flick over to edit mode…
Kim: haha … hmmm.
What’s your favourite movie?
My favourite movies of all time are, ‘Vanishing Point’ and ‘Get Carter’ from 1971. Vanishing Point has a surreal edge to it; a gritty film so different from the modern day, with a nod to escapism that I love. In one particular scene, the filmmakers overlaid a violent attack with gentle music, which stressed the poignancy of the scene, and changed the mood of the film.
Kim: Okay… I wasn’t even conceived then, I’m sure my mum was still partying the night away in 1971. Sounds like a good movie though.
What music do you like?
I like music from across most genres, so I don’t have a particular favourite. I enjoy Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Boy George, and also Don Williams, Abba, David Bowie, Adam Ant… and I love classical too!
Kim: Adam Ant haha, my older sister loved him. My mum told me she’d wear the stripes on her face too.
Tell us about how you develop your characters?
I create backgrounds for each of my characters, with jobs, relationships, and a reason for their hang-ups and flaws. I wanted the characters to be as natural as possible, so that they would react, as any of us would, to the situations in which they find themselves.
Kim: I think I’m going to enjoy your work after hearing that. 🙂
Which one of your characters is your favourite and why?
It has to be the star of Snatch Girl, Ellie, the kidnap victim we follow right through to the end. We have been at her side throughout her ordeal, and I really felt her emotions as I dragged her through nightmare situation after situation. I guess I have to feel sorry for her, maybe even a little guilty!
And that’s a wrap, it has been a pleasure to speak with another British author in this great genre. I’ve even got readers an excerpt, the first whole chapter from Snatch Girl... you lucky things you. I’ve read it, I like L. J’s style I look forward to reading the full novel. Download below click the link:
Girl missing. What if you’re with her all the way to the end…if it ends…? Will Ellie survive? Would you?
Snatched from her sadistic captor’s lair by his own getaway driver, eighteen-year-old student Ellie realises that she’s still kidnapped. As the enigmatic Darren Broderick drives off into the night with the terrified girl beside him, the sadistic Jon Braddon is not far behind.
Thrown together, on opposing sides, Darren and Ellie must stay one step ahead of Braddon’s twisted mind, and Ellie must resist Darren’s Aussie charms to the end. Darren Broderick needs the ransom, Braddon needs a victim. And he will fight to the death to get her back.
The shocking, fast-paced, suspense thriller that will hook you from the very first line.
Connect With Author L. J Kane:
Blog: http://www.ljkaneauthor.wordpress.com/blog
Website: http://www.ljkaneauthor.wordpress.com
Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/L_J_Kane_Author
LibraryThing: https://www.librarything.com/author/kanelj
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