Stolen by KA Woodford

11/13/2021

Debut author, KA Woodford introduces us to her psychological thriller, “Stolen”:
Jenna Brandt can't stay out of trouble for five minutes. When she sees one of her friends about to be abducted, she launches into action not thinking of the consequences. Detective Sergeant David Sawran doesn't know what to think; troublemaker or daredevil. The vehicle she stole has evidence from a cold case fifteen years and fifteen hundred miles away causing Sawran and the original detective to team up hoping they can catch a killer before he finds Jenna.

This was an interesting read! Yes, it was a little gory in places. How could it not be when the story is about the hunt for a serial killer. This hunt stretched over a couple of decades, hundreds of miles and there were lots of missing girls.
All the steps the police had to go through to eliminate suspects to find the killer was quite fascinating. I really do enjoy police-procedural stories.
There was a little bit of jumping around in the timeline. There was also changing first-person point of view, that was not clearly defined sometimes. I do like the intimacy of first-person POV, however.
Excellent closure at the end of major plot points.
I award 4.5 stars to "Stolen".

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-KA-Woodford-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-stolen

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/woodfordauthor
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ka-woodford

Psychological fiction, crime, thriller, police, kidnap, murder, killer

Copyright ©2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

30 Comments

KA Woodford

11/16/2021 05:37:43 pm

Thank you, Mark! I am thrilled that you enjoyed my debut novel!

Mark

11/16/2021 05:40:03 pm

You are very welcome. I enjoyed your book.
Here is your first question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

11/16/2021 05:47:00 pm

I grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, so the main neighborhood where part of the book takes place was my old stomping ground for over ten years. I always wanted to write a novel, but I didn't attempt to do that until my thirties. Mostly I wrote short stories until I came up with a solid idea for a book.

11/16/2021 06:04:54 pm

I have been through the airport in Chicago a few times, that is all. I have read it is a beautiful area.
Short stories are a great way to learn about writing.
Knowing the area makes for a lot less necessary research so the reader will feel comfortable in the settings you use and want the readers to see and experience.
New questions.
What kind of work do you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.
Does your work have any influence on your writing?
What inspired you to write this book?

11/16/2021 08:01:21 pm

I almost got kidnapped walking home from detention in the 5th grade. Stolen was a very personal story for me because I had nightmares for a long time after my close call. It’s hard not to think about what would have happened to me had he caught me. Those nightmares became part of the story.

11/17/2021 07:31:41 am

That is a powerful inspiration for a story. I can easily imagine that writing the book helped you deal with some of that trauma. I hope the nightmares have abated.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent? I ask because sometimes I miss an item that is less than obvious.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?

11/17/2021 05:39:42 pm

Thank you, Mark! It definitely helped. The Stolen cover was designed by Kostov Designs. I don't have a website for him, but his twitter handle is @art_kostov, and he did a great job! Without giving away spoilers, the van represents the moment when Jenna attempts to save her friend from his assailant, and if you look closely, you can see her behind the wheel.

The title came to me pretty soon after I started writing. I thought it was appropriate considering the subject matter, and also thinking back to when I was 11, and how close I came to being "stolen".

11/17/2021 08:22:14 pm

The thought of being kidnapped is very scary and completely dehumanizing most of the time.
I am going to guess and say the figure in the far background is the kidnapper.
The cover is powerful and that moment is so pivotal for the rest of the story.
New questions.
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?
This is the first book you have published, will you be writing more?

11/17/2021 09:34:28 pm

It is scary to think about being abducted. You’re right, Mark. The figure in the foreground is the bad guy. As far as character names, I go by instinct. Whatever pops into my head while I’m writing becomes the name, and then the character builds over the course of the story.

11/18/2021 08:31:24 am

Many writers, especially those writing in an historical genre, rely on lists of baby names. Most of them are organized by year or decade, showing the most popular names in each time period for boys and girls. It is fascinating to see how tastes change over the years. Some of these websites go back for many decades, even hundreds of years.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

11/18/2021 06:08:54 pm

I used to enter short story writing contests, but that's really not my thing. I haven't won awards for my writing, yet, but hopefully someday I will. In the meantime, I enjoy reading my reviews i like when people tell me they loved the book and they can't wait to read the next one. It's a big warm fuzzy really.

11/18/2021 06:29:10 pm

Contests can be tricky, they can also be crooked as a dog's hind leg. Fortunately there are people out there who keep an eye on those things. One of my favorite bloggers is Anne R. Allen, I have links on my Highly Regarded Blogs page to many of her posts. Here is a copy-and-paste link to one Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests
Yes, nice comments are wonderful and they make us feel so good. But what about less than favorable comments or even worse, trolls? They can hurt quite a bit. If it comes from a troll, the best thing is to ignore the troll as they enjoy nothing more than getting others all riled up. I have told many authors that one bad review proves all the good ones are real. They are not just comments from their mom and her cats. Sometimes there is even something to learn from negative comments. Being an author or a proofreader does require a thick skin.
Next question.
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?

11/18/2021 07:54:32 pm

I’ve had a few less than positive reviews, but more so on the other genre that I used to write in. I used to write erotica, under the name JA Martin. After about 18 months, I pivoted to crime thrillers. What we all need to remember about bad reviews is they are subjective, not personal. Depending on what is said, they can feel personal, and it is hard not to let it get you down. At the end of the day, I’m not going to stop writing because someone doesn’t like my book.

11/18/2021 07:59:47 pm

That is true, you can't let it get you down. Even though the reviewer is saying not-so-nice things about your baby.
Your fans are glad you are going to keep writing.
Next question.
Is there anything you can tell us about your next book? Will it be a sequel to Stolen or something new?

11/19/2021 10:03:53 am

It's not a sequel to Stolen in the true sense, although the police characters Sawran and Mandel come back, and we will meet many more colorful characters, in Jezebel.

The central premise is about a woman who decides to play cat and mouse with a killer, knowing what he is, and she thinks she is the cat.

I named it Jezebel after the woman in the bible who is renowned for her devious and manipulative nature. This is still a work in progress, so I don't expect it to be out before March of 2022, but more probably May 2022.

11/19/2021 02:00:38 pm

That promises to be an interesting story. Your fans are looking forward to it.
The biblical reference adds a nice frame of reference also.
New question.
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

11/19/2021 03:03:55 pm

I did go through the query process with Stolen, years ago, when I was going to publish it under my own name, I had a few full manuscript requests from agents, and I had one interested, but communication broke down, and that was as far as I got. I waited a few years before self-publishing, and reworked the manuscript for Stolen several times before I finally self-published it on Amazon in January of 2021. I think what happened at the time was that Stolen was not yet ready to be published. It needed more work. So I put the work in and published it myself.

11/19/2021 03:48:42 pm

I think you made a wise choice. You remain in control of your book. Traditional publishers take control of your book for the time period negotiated in the license/contract you sign. They want the right to determine when the book should be published, what the cover should look like, what the content of the book should be. Yes, a publisher can ask the author to rewrite the book from a different angle or point of view. That happened to a client/friend of mine. The published book may barely resemble the book submitted to the publisher. That is not all bad, the publisher is doing everything they can to ensure the book sells and they make money. it can be very disconcerting as the author.
Almost every author's first book needs a lot of work. Some editors will take a first book and throw it away. They will tell you that was good for learning and practice, now you are ready to write a real book. Truly, there is a steep learning curve when it comes to writing a good book.
New question.
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

11/19/2021 05:53:30 pm

I think the most unbearable idea is for me to put everything I have into writing the book only to have someone else turn it into something completely different. At that point, the book is no longer mine. That would be like a razor sharp lemon straight to the heart.

11/19/2021 06:14:44 pm

That would be pretty bad, without a doubt.
The image of a razor-sharp lemon is stunning.
There are a lot of people out there who are trying to separate a writer from their money. There are bogus publishers, agents, and promoters who want your money and in some cases, the rights to your intellectual property.
The licensing of future projects is where a lot of money can be made.
New question.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?

11/19/2021 06:55:41 pm

Thank you, Mark. I have a few favorites. Under the Poison Tree by Brenda Guiton, Queen of Diamonds by Sandra Cox, The Package by Bryan Quinn, Nightshade by Jennifer Pierce-Gaeta, and Her Dirty Mountain Men by Mika Lane.

From my traditionally published favorite authors, I loved the Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay, 61 Hours and Tripwire by Lee Child, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, The Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton, and just about everything from Stephen King.

11/19/2021 07:08:19 pm

That looks like a nice collection of reading material. I haven't read any of those.
When I was young I had a dream of reading every book written. I have given up on that dream. I would have to live forever to achieve that. Despite the best efforts of Elon Musk and others I don't think it will happen.
OTH, if there are books in heaven, who knows.
New question.
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

11/19/2021 07:12:57 pm

Yes, I wish we could read every book too, but there is just not enough time. We should come up with a top 100 books that other authors can add their favorite books and create a new summer reading list for people. That would be cool!

My favorite book as a child was Bunnicula. I really loved the whole series including Celery Stalks at Midnight and Howliday Inn. Great reading fun for kids and adults. I read Bunnicula to my son when he was a child and it was such a neat experience watching him learn to love books the way I do.

11/20/2021 08:09:04 am

That is an interesting idea. I would like to create a database of the 5 or 10 favorite books of authors. It would be interesting to see what comes to surface after a 100,000 authors responded.
I have not read that book. But, like you, I read to our children when they were young. I wanted to instill in them the love of reading and it worked. All three of our adult children love to read and they have passed that love to their children. We are very pleased with that.
New questions.
Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

11/20/2021 07:47:07 pm

I’ve read many books more than once. There are too many to name here, but one I’ve read multiple times is Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas. I love the idea of living in 17th century France with all the romance, intrigue, and danger that comes with it.

Reading energizes me, and makes me feel like I’m living in another world. That’s why I love reading so many different genres. Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Historical fiction and more. The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon is another of my favorites.

11/20/2021 07:57:48 pm

Reading does the same to me. It can fill me with energy and excitement.
The seventeenth century was a brutal time and filled with romance, adventure and derring-do. Palace intrigues are certainly fascinating.
New questions.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?

11/23/2021 08:25:52 pm

It is important for a writer to be able to tap into the characters' emotions to flush them out, and make them feel like real people, not just names on a page. I create character bios for each character, trying to get a feel for who they are, what are their personalities like, what are their pet peeves? How do they handle anger? This last one is important, especially for my villains, my killers. This makes a difference to potential victims as well,. Their ability to recognize covert hostility in others can mean the difference between life and death.

I see that a lot on the ID Channel. So many of the episodes revolve around the victim trusting the wrong person at the wrong time, often someone close to them. Often that person has been angry at the them, but did not show it until it was too late for the victim to do anything about it..

11/23/2021 08:36:30 pm

Quite a few authors create biographies of their characters. Some include physical characteristics and bits about what the characters like, especially if they are writing a series. I have heard of some drawing pictures or seeking photos that resonate for their characters.
One of my clients, Rick Hall, has created a website to assist writers with the psychology of their characters. Here is a copy-and-paste link for the blog and his website: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation I hope you find it useful.
Last questions.
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a starting point for a character in a story? Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?

11/24/2021 08:01:31 pm

I do sometimes go to different photo websites to get a feel for what my character look like. I use IMDB and find the actors and or actresses that have the right look. I don't put real people that I know into my books, but I will often use what I know of my friends to predict my characters' responses.

An example would be my MC in Stolen, Jenna, stealing the van to save her friend. One of my female friends is a real bad ass, and I can picture her doing that. I can picture her doing a lot of the things that Jenna does in the book, and speaking the way she does.

11/24/2021 08:08:21 pm

You have an exciting friend! That must be quite helpful for your writing.
Our allotted time for this interview has come to an end. I want to thank you for being a fabulous guest.
Your fans are looking forward to the further adventures of your detectives.
Until next time, keep on writing.

Stolen by KA Woodford

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