INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Tainted Waters
by Maggie Thom
Tainted Waters is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my interview with the author and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her ...
Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been since her dad committed suicide there, twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offense to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up, may be false.
Keegan, who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book, is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was murdered? The descendants of the four families, who own the land around the lagoon, are dying off.
Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from their deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed ... including them.
Book Video
Excerpt
“Don’t do it. Please don’t do it,” she begged him.
“I have to. Do you really think I like this anymore than you do? I hate it but I want her to have a life. A good life. I want her to live.” He punched the wall grunting in pain. Cradling his hand, he turned to face her.
“But we don’t know for sure that she needs this. Just wait.” She could barely contain the soft sobs.
“Wait until what? The Doctor says oops we can put her on a waiting list but it could be years. You can check your family but oh yeah, we really can’t. We don’t have any options. I know it’s not the conventional route–”
She snorted. “Oh, my god. Please tell me you know how dangerous this is?”
He reached for her hand, squeezing it. “I do. I know... it’s not safe. But I have to do this. I love her as much as you do. She’s mine in every way that counts. If we follow the rules, we may lose her. You know that she’ll be put way down on the list for a transplant. If they’ll even put her on it. She’s not considered a good candidate. She’s disabled so why would they even care.”
“It’s not fair.”
“I know. I have to do what I think is right. I don’t want to lose her.”
Sobbing, she turned and ran from the room, her body convulsing with the depth of her pain. He hated that he had to hurt her but it just strengthened his resolve that if he didn’t do something soon, it might be too late. Picking up his cell, he checked for the number he’d recorded in his contacts. The reality of what he was doing was overwhelming. It took him a minute to calm his nerves before he could hit call. The phone rang four times before he was given a voice mail message.
“Leave your name and number. I’ll call you.”
Even though it was one of those recorded standard phone company recordings, a chill descended through his body sending out tentacles that wrapped themselves so deep, they felt like they’d settled into the marrow of his bones. Knowing he was dealing with the black market which meant some unsavory people, he hesitated only a second before leaving the required information. Clicking off his cell, he went to set it down, only to find his hands were shaking so bad that it slipped out of his fingers, clanking onto the counter. His first thought was that he’d destroyed it and would never have to use it again. It wasn’t his everyday phone it was one that was pay as you go. He’d bought it specifically for this purpose. Maybe he’d watched too much TV but the less information that he had to give them, the more he felt in control. Tentatively picking it up, he flipped it open. The screen lit up immediately. It still worked.
“You’re in this now,” he whispered softly.
Praise for the Book
Book of the Year 2013 - Suspense and Thriller ~ Turning the Pages Magazine
"I LOVED this book! It was fast paced and had me gripped from the start ... And talk about twists! Just when I thought I knew where this story was leading ... Bang! ... Plot twist! ..." ~ Orchard Book Club
"... Exciting story, loved the beginning introduction to Sam. She is a firecracker and had me chuckling ... Another wonderful read from Maggie Thom ..." ~ Musing from an Addicted Reader
"... the book will truly keep you on the edge of your seat unable to pry yourself from it ... Maggie brilliantly creates suspense and the atmosphere of unease ..." ~ The Most Happy Reader
"... What makes Tainted Waters by Maggie Thom stick out from the crowd is that you really don’t know exactly what you’re getting into ..." ~ The Queen of All She Reads
"... Thom’s book was like one of my Nana’s triple layered chocolate cakes, impossible to walk away from without licking the plate ..." ~ Author Jeanne Marie
Interview With the Author
Hi Maggie, thanks for joining me today to discuss your book, Tainted Waters.
For what age group do you recommend your book?
I think my books are best read by adults but they are okay for teenagers. There are some tough subjects but nothing graphic.
What sparked the idea for this book?
Would you believe a bad camping trip? We had gone to this lake that appeared to be quiet, a great lake to canoe on. It seemed perfect. And it was during the day, we had lots of fun playing in the water, hiking, just being out in nature. Exhausted we were in bed probably by 10:00pm only to be woken up at about midnight by these big trucks driving up and down the road all night. And then we could hear the sound of a big plant about a mile or so away. Needless to say we didn't get much sleep. Tired and a little ticked in the morning, my overactive mind started to think, what if those trucks were hauling something other than water. Then some other ideas started coming to mind, particularly a documentary on human organ trafficking I had watched, and Tainted Waters was the result.
Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?
For Tainted Waters it was definitely the idea for the novel. That's not always the case, it truly varies for each book I write.
What was the hardest part to write in this book?
I think a scene where Keegan and Sam have been caught by the bad guys and Sam learns what is really going on at the end of the lake. And she realizes how serious these guys are when she sees how badly they've beaten Keegan.
How do you hope this book affects its readers?
I hope that while someone is reading this story they feel like they are there with Sam, going through all that she is. I also want them so involved in the story they will try to figure out who is guilty and what exactly is going on. Once the reader is finished reading the story, I hope they feel like they have gone on one heck of a journey, without ever leaving their house (or wherever they are reading). J
How long did it take you to write this book?
It was written over a period of about nine months. It really only took about three months of writing but there were several rewrites, reading by the beta team, editing, rewrites and then it was finally ready to be published.
What is your writing routine?
What writing routine? J Again, for each book that I write, it is very different. Once I get into writing a book, I tend to spend several hours every day writing. I love to write first thing in the morning, but I don't always have that luxury.
How did you get your book published?
I independently published it.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Go for it. There are so many options open to you now. If you can find a traditional publisher and that feels right, then do it. If self- or indie-publishing feels right, then do it. The key is to follow your dream and get your work published. Writing is hard work, put the time in, get your story to where it is compelling, intriguing, and then publish it.
Great advice, Maggie. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love to read, hike, spend time with family and friends, kayak, be out in nature, bake ...
What does your family think of your writing?
They love it. They are so supportive of me and my writing. They help in whatever way they can, which sometimes is leaving me alone so I can write. J
Please tell us a bit about your childhood.
I grew up on a farm. I had several siblings so we were often outside playing or exploring the countryside. I loved it.
Did you like reading when you were a child?
I loved to read as a child. We were always going to the library to take out books.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
At a young age. I don't know the actual age, but I know that when I was nine, I wrote my first novel, if it could be called that. J
Did your childhood experiences influence your writing?
I would think so. I can't imagine a writer who isn't. I think every experience in life affects a writer in how they write, what they write about, etc.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
Robert Ludlum and Sandra Brown are two that have, for sure. There are many, but these two stand out for me. Ludlum's stories introduced me to the concept of introducing many characters and adding in misleading information to take the reader on a convoluted journey. Sandra Brown wrote stories that crossed several genres and she also taught me about adding in twists and turns.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I do hear from my readers and I am truly humbled by them. One that contacted me recently, thanked me profusely and asked me to never stop writing. I often get asked how I come up with my stories, my characters, the ideas for the twists, that my stories are different, original, not cookie cutter... I love hearing from readers. They are truly what keep me writing.
Fantastic! What can we look forward to from you in the future?
I have two novels that I am currently working on - Deadly Ties and Split Seconds.
Deadly Ties - What connection could there be between a twenty year-old murder and a thirty year-old murder and a present day attack on Kyara's mother? Did her grandmother falsely go to jail for twenty-years?
Split Seconds - Twins sisters meet for the first time as adults and soon discover that someone has gone to great lengths to keep them apart and will even kill to ensure that continues.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by today, Maggie. Best of luck with your future projects.
About the Author
An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. She is a wholehearted nature lover and likes nothing better than to take a book, hike to a remote spot by a river or waterfalls, and read. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love, and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and read to escape.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes.
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