The Edge of Fear by Maura Beth Brennan

8/22/2021

Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Maura Beth Brennan introduces us to her latest domestic thriller, “The Edge of Fear”:
When you have everything you always wanted, you have everything to lose.

After years of struggling to overcome her tragic childhood, Hattie has the life of her dreams--her adored husband, Eli, her precious little daughter, Lilly, a beautiful home, and more money than she ever dreamed possible. But lately, a feeling nags at her, a sense of something not quite right. Is this just her imagination? Hattie's family and her best friend, Celine, keep telling her that it is.

Meanwhile Hattie's ex-husband, Frank, has learned of Hattie's good fortune and it's eating away at him. He comes up with a plan to get some of Hattie's windfall for himself--a plan that will shatter Hattie's life and bring about her worst nightmare. That's when Hattie notices odd things happening. Small things at first--but the incidents escalate, until finally the unthinkable happens.

Hattie does everything the police advise her to do. But as time passes and her life crumbles around her, it seems everyone fails her--law enforcement, a private detective, even her husband. Why has Eli suddenly gone off and left her to struggle with this alone?

Desperate but determined, Hattie decides to take matters into her own hands. Aided by her best friend, Celine, she sets out on a mission. Will she be able to take back what is hers? Or will she lose it all?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a mother fighting to regain her daughter and life.
The story is told in the first person and I love that for the intimacy it provides. The action builds up slowly as the ex-husband gets his plan rolling. The current husband is working his angle as well.
I enjoyed the dialogue and the plotting quite a bit.
The ending is so exciting! No spoilers from me! I was on the edge of my Kindle through much of the book.
Get it! Read it! You will be glad you did!
I award 5 stars to “Edge of Fear”!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Fear-Maura-Beth-Brennan
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-edge-of-fear

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/maurabeth2014

Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
Tags: mystery, thriller, police, family, child, kidnapping, gang, ransom, bestie, girlfriend, rescue

37 Comments

Maura Beth Brennan link

8/26/2021 09:47:09 am

Mark, what a thrill to see your great review of The Edge of Fear on your website! I'm a fan of yours and the quality services you offer writers, so to get your 5-star review has me over the moon! This book meant a lot to me, as readers kept asking me what happened to the heroine of my first book, The Edge of Memory, and I wasn't sure either! Then the plot idea struck me and I was off and running.

Mark

8/26/2021 11:05:52 am

You are very welcome, Maura. I enjoyed your book a lot. The dialogue was particularly fun!
First questions.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

8/26/2021 12:39:32 pm

Mark, I am a part-time writer, having started writing after my "early retirement" from my full-time job. After that, I still worked for quite a few years, just not full time. That's when I worked in a legal office, which played a part in my first book, The Edge of Memory, with my protagonist, Hattie, working in one at the beginning of the story. Something unusual about myself? Hmmm. I always tell people in interviews that I am supremely boring and I'm not lyin' folks. Let's see--this isn't unusual, but sheds light on my background--my Dad was an artist and designer, and when I was really young he worked at home. When I pestered him at his easel, he would teach me things, like how to draw an egg, shading, perspective, etc., just to shut me up. As a result, I took lots of painting classes over the years, but always found painting extremely stressful. I've tried all sorts of crafts--not always successfully--decorative painting, sewing, crocheting, needlecrafts, etc. I did that for years looking for something I really loved to occupy me. Then I found writing and was hooked! I've done volunteer work with dogs and babies, but all that ended with the pandemic. Hope to get back to that when it's over. I have absolutely no athletic prowess, but I love to walk (see--not interesting). Oh, here's something: my mother's family had a funeral business, and my Grandfather had a morgue in his basement. As a really young child I thought everybody had a morgue in their house, just in case. I mean, you never know, right? Maybe I should write a story about that, come to think of it.

8/26/2021 01:07:33 pm

We have much in common. I have volunteered with children also, but not animals. I have a little bit of artistic talent but no skill as I have not pursued it beyond high school. You love to write and I love to read! That is where it ends, I don't know anyone with a morgue in their basement. But I do love your comment bout that. You made me laugh out loud. That's LOL for you youngsters who are lurking about.
New questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

8/26/2021 01:24:10 pm

As I mentioned above, readers of my first book kept asking me to write more about Hattie and I decided to do it. I wondered what would happen to a person who achieved many of her dreams - the loving husband, beautiful house, adorable child, money, etc - and I figured the worst thing would be for something to threaten that, especially for someone like Hattie, who had suffered from guilt and low self image for many years before. She would (very likely) be worried that she didn't deserve good things and they would be taken away.
As for the genre, I love to read books that are classified as Women's Fiction, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller, etc. So, I wrote what I love to read. Give me a woman beset by seemingly unsurmountable problems, a comfy chair (and a glass of wine) and I'm in heaven!

8/26/2021 01:59:33 pm

Brilliant! You read in this genre a lot it sounds like and you know it well. Your book fits in quite well.
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?

8/26/2021 04:09:23 pm

My cover was designed by Exquisitely Covered Books (https://www.exquisitelycoveredbooks.com/). It is a one-person (Courtney) shop and she does a great job. The cover is pretty forthright, I told Courtney that I wanted a cover that exuded a feeling of fear and danger, which I think it does well. When you look at it, you know you wouldn't want to walk into that forest! Also, I had told her that there are several scenes in the book where Hattie and her friend, Celine, are in the woods at night, foolhardy and determined little rascals that they are.

8/26/2021 04:34:25 pm

She did a great job on the cover! I love the instructions you gave her also.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

8/26/2021 05:45:00 pm

The title - I just wanted it to have the word "Edge" in it, because the title of the first Hattie book was The Edge of Memory. The "fear" was just that Hattie was in danger of losing someone very precious to her. As for names, sometimes, I just "feel" them, and sometimes I consult lists of names from certain time periods on the internet. For Harriet, later called Hattie, I wanted a name that didn't sound glamorous or current, because when her story started in the first book, she wasn't either of those things. I gave her the cute nickname when she found love with Eli and became more self-confident and aware of her looks. Eli as a name for her husband just poped into my head, I have no idea why, but I liked it. Celine, I picked because her family was supposed to be of French origen, and that seems like a French name. And Frank for the villain in The Edge of Fear, again, popped into my head. I was later sorry it did, because it is the name of the deceased husband of a good friend of mine, which I had forgotten. It seemed to fit my character, though, so I kept it.

8/26/2021 06:14:26 pm

Those are good reasons. A lot of authors go to lists of names for their characters. There are multiple websites that list popular names by decade, some going back hundreds of years. I bet there are lists for different countries also.
Titles are so important. It's the first or second thing a prospective reader sees. It has to grab their attention in half of a second.
New questions.
Is this your newest book?
What other books and genres have you written?
Have you entered any writing contests?

8/26/2021 07:32:09 pm

Yes, this is my latest book. I have one other novel which I mentioned before, The Edge of Memory. Right now I have four short stories published as stand-alones. I like to do short stories, as they give a prospective reader a taste of the writer's style. Two of them are humorous, one has a bit of magic, and one is contemporary fiction. I have two more shorts coming out in the next weeks. As for prizes, my first "Edge" book did win a prize in the Readers' Favorite contest in 2018. Also, one of my short stories, not yet published, won honorable mention in a Writers Digest contest in 2020. I have The Edge of Fear entered in Readers Favortie and although I got some 5-star reviews, winners haven't been announced yet. I have just begun entering short stories in contests again so I'll see how that goes. I'm working on another book right now, another domestic thriller type story, with shades of the old gothic stories, as it centers around an old house and the history of the house. I'm having great fun writing it, but it is far from finished.

8/26/2021 08:14:28 pm

Congratulations on earning the awards. There is a lot of competition in some of those contests. Some contests are quite crooked also. Here is a good blog about recognizing the warning signs to avoid loss. Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests Anne Allen is one of my favorite bloggers.
Short stories are perfect for introducing your books to new readers. Short stories are also great for practicing writing craft.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?
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?

8/26/2021 08:43:11 pm

About Kindle Unlimited, I could be mistaken, but I thought I would have to publish through KDP in order to have my books offered in Kindle Unlimited. KDP seemed too limiting, so I chose to publish through Draft 2 Digital,which places your book in all the on-line retailers. They are great, can't say enough good things about them (like you, Mark!) I never went through the query process, although back when my first book was a rough draft I sent it direct to two publishers, with no success. After working with a good editor, I saw why! But by then, I had decided that life is too short (especially mine at this point, lol) to wait around for months and months to get answers from publishers, so I went the self-publish route. I've been happy with my decision.

8/27/2021 08:46:49 am

I am not sure if publishing with KDP is a prerequisite for placement in KU. But you are correct, using KU is very limiting. They require an exclusive contract so you cannot have your book on any other platform.
You are also right about traditional publishers. They might take more than a year to bring your book onto the market. They have lost so much market share to Amazon, most of the large publishing houses have folded or been swallowed up by others. I think there are only four or five large publishers left on the scene. Their profit margins have shrunk so much they are fighting tooth and nail to stay afloat.
New questions.
How did you pick your publisher?
Will you stick with this publisher for your next books?
Is your publisher doing anything to market your book?

8/27/2021 09:58:35 am

My very first publisher was a hybrid publisher, but it cost quite a bit, so I looked for something cheaper. I think I found the name of Draft2Digital in a Mark Dawson course that I took, and checked them out by publishing a short story. It was so easy and stress I free, I stuck with them. They don't do marketing, however, so unfortunately, I have to do it myself. I appreciate that you offer this exposure and marketing through your site, Mark! It's great and a huge help. I must admit, I am terrible at marketing but hope to get better.

8/27/2021 11:08:47 am

Very few publishers do any real marketing other than a listing on their website or on Amazon. Their profit margin doesn't allow for it. Unless your name is proven multi-million seller no publisher is going to spend much on marketing, even the big traditional publishers.
The real burden of marketing and promotion is on the author. As you have probably learned by now marketing is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint. Anyone who promises it's a sprint is going to empty your wallet or purse.
The topic of promotion and marketing is always being discussed on blogs all over. There are several guest blogs on my website and many links to other blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page also.
I encourage every author to pursue the local author angle. In most medium to large cities there are local radio stations and cable access stations that are always looking for content to fill airtime and an author interview is a win-win situation. Additionally, there are local newspapers and magazines with the same needs. If there are tourist oriented businesses sometimes they will accept a small counter display with a few books by a local author. Some bookstores will host a meet the author event, also instructors in writing courses will bring in an author for a lecture/Q&A session for the students sometimes. There are many ways to promote a book locally.
New questions.
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

8/27/2021 03:10:56 pm

How does my book compare to a traditionally published book? Wow, that's a tough question, Mark, and difficult for me to answer. There are lots of terrible self-published books out there, but there are some pretty bad traditionally published ones as well. As a matter of fact, I just finished reading a Harper Collins book that really shocked me--full of grammatical errors and very repetitious throughout. Also, I guessed the advertised "plot twist" on about page 20. I kept hoping I was wrong, but no. I have recently read two other traditionally published books that really disappointed me as well, leading me to think that maybe the publishers aren't hiring the best editors and proofreaders! So, I think my book holds up well, it has a plot twist that surprises people (so they tell me), and I invested in a great editor, Valerie Brooks (thewriteedit.com) and fabulous proofreader - Mark's unparalleled Word Refiner!! As for publishers being unethical, I know some hybrid publishers promise to edit and proof, and then don't seem to do any of that. A friend of mine was taken in by that, and his book had an embarrassing number of errors that would have been picked up by someone like Mark. He could have hired an editor and proofreader for what he paid the publsher. So, lying about services that the publisher obviously doesn't do--that is my pet peeve with publishers.

8/27/2021 04:05:46 pm

You are not the only one to mention errors like that in Traditionally Published books. Every TP book I have read had errors, though I haven't read any for a couple of years.
I do read 50-60 indie books a year and find errors in all of them, almost. Once a year I find a book with no spelling errors, for the last 6 or 7 years. I have not found a full-length, error-free book this year yet.
I always recommend engaging an editor, use the proofreader as a polisher when all of the rewriting is done and you think the book is ready to publish.
I appreciate the compliment, thank you.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

8/27/2021 05:07:57 pm

Favorite book - I would have to say I love, love, love Jane Eayre, and have reread it multiple times. I have a copy of it with notes in it on my bedside table. I do love old "gothic" type books, with the secrets & betrayals, so that fits right in. As a child, I can't remember a particular favorite, except I think I read every one of the Nancy Drew books! I dreamed of solving mysteries myself, and actually used to prowl around the neighborhood with my best friend, looking for something we could possibly turn into a mystery to solve. We never found any. As for favorite authors, I have so many I love, I couldn't even list them all, but some authors I will read anything by include: P. D. James, Elizabeth George, Jodi Picault, Liane Moriarity, Joyce Carol Oates, John Grisham, Benjamin Black (great, brooding, dark mysteries), Sue Grafton (fun!), Robert Goddard, Steve Martini, oh, I could go on. So many great authors, so little time! As for classic authors, I love the Russians, the Bronte's, Wilkie Collins, Somerset Maughm, Fitzgerald, and lots of others, I'm sure I forgot lots of great ones. I think I should stop now!

8/27/2021 05:53:11 pm

That is an impressive list! I love it, you have read so many different authors.
As a child, I read a series called the Happy Hollisters. It was 6 or 7 kids who solved mysteries in their neighborhood. We had at least 20 volumes. They were great fun.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

8/27/2021 07:20:27 pm

In answer to your first question - All of the above! Really, I don't think I'm alone in saying that sometimes writing is healing, sometimes energizing, and when it gets tough to get it right or find the "groove" it makes you feel tired and anxious. Mostly, I find it energizing to get the idea onto paper and see a story take shape. It's a fun experience in those cases and very engrossing; the real world falls away. As for spiritual, not to get weird, but sometimes there is a feeling that you've found your niche in life, so that can feel a bit spiritual too. As for the emotions of characters - to me, they form the most important part of any story. I like to close my eyes and concentrate on "feeling" what my character would experience in a particular circumstance, and then think of how to describe or show it on the page. What drives the character? Is it guilt (like my character Harriet in my first book), fear (like Hattie in The Edge of Fear), dread, anger, envy of others, pride, arrogance, etc. Once I get that driving force set in my mind, I try to show it in actions and words on the page. I find if I don't do that, the character doesn't really come to life and I have to stop and find a way to tap into that emotion.

8/27/2021 08:27:37 pm

You covered both questions very well. Many authors would agree with you that a good writing session is very satisfying even if they are tired. Getting the emotional connection to transmit to the reader is critical and you know when it isn't working.
New questions.
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?
If so, what kind of preparation do you do before it starts?

Maura Beth Brennan

8/28/2021 10:31:46 am

Good morning, Mark! A lazy Saturday start to the weekend in our house! Let's see - NaNoWriMo? Yes! That is what to led to the publishing of my first book. I did NaNo for The Edge of Memory and looking back, may not have ever finished any book but for that experience. They offer great tips and advice to authors, as well as an incentive to keep at it. To prepare, I did a complete and detailed outline, and a character questionnaire for each major character. That really helped me, but when I went back and checked my outline - I had strayed from it quite a bit. I hear authors say that all the time, so know I'm not alone. I would strongly recommend NaNoWriMo as a sort of "jump start" for any writer. I am thinking of doing it again this November for something thhat has been rattling around in my mind.

8/28/2021 01:58:50 pm

hi Maura, you are having a lazy day and I am having a very busy day. Mrs. word refiner and I are helping our daughter and her family move and there is lots of furniture to assemble.
That is wonderful to hear that you had a good experience with NaNoWriMo. Many writers have found that experience to be formative and encouraging.
New questions.
What are the Amazon keywords you choose for your book?
when you finish writing in the thriller genre what is the next genre you would like to write in?

8/28/2021 03:11:18 pm

Mark, what a day you must be having - moving AND putting furniture together! Hope you don't end up with any leftover parts! Good luck with it all and hope your daughter loves her new digs!
As for keywords, I went with: thriller, suspense, womens, psychological, friendship. I used friendship because the interaction between my heroine, Hattie, and her BFF, Celine, is central to the plot. I really enjoyed writing that aspect of the story and dedicated the book to my best friend since 9th grade. We've helped each other through so much, broken romances, moves, births, etc. As for genres to try, I have been researching a genre called "Sweet Romance" and thinking I might try my hand at that. I have a few plots in mind that could work. The Romance genre is very popular. It could be fun to add a paranormal element, ghosts or hauntings or something, too. We'll see. Meanwhile Mark, hope the move is going smoothly and you can all take a break and relax before long.

8/28/2021 04:00:12 pm

I have read one or two sweet romances and found them to be enjoyable. I just finished reading a reverse harem paranormal shifter romance. That was a mouthful. It was quite well written and it made me laugh a lot it was some great dialogue and interesting situations. Some of them are steamy also what is this when I just finished reading was a little bit.
Can you questions.
is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy for your books?
Have you tried using ads on Amazon, BookBaby or Facebook? If you did how did that work out for you?

8/28/2021 04:10:50 pm

Well, my romance won't be steamy, as I find it difficult to write that. That can be quite a lucrative genre to write, though. Oh, well! I do use Twitter to market books, and I go in and out, so to speak, with Facebook. Sometimes, I post something daily and sometimes it's weeks between posts. Also, I find it more difficult as I use a pen name, and have two accounts. It gets confusing! I really drag my feet on social media. I need to get better. I've tried Facebook ads, but never garnered much interest or response with them. As for Amazon, no, never tried an ad. That is something I am hoping to learn to do, though. Bookbaby, I did contact them about marketing, but they told me I need to publish through them to use that, and I didn't want to do that. So, mostly Twitter. I do have a couple of promotional sites I use, that aren't too expensive. One is Books Go Social and one is Book Raid. Both got me quite a few sales. Still a novice in the marketing area, I'm afraid.

8/28/2021 07:16:04 pm

A lot of writers try Amazon and Facebook with mixed results. Of course, there are lots of blogs written about that topic. I have links to several posts by Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur.com on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. He does a lot of research and stays current with the changes, on the 'zon especially.
I am glad to hear that you have had success with those two promoters.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?
Are you talking about sentences, paragraphs or a chapter that didn't survive the final cut?

8/28/2021 07:45:48 pm

I would say a bit of both, Mark. I seem to write a bit more than I need in spots, knowing I'll have to cut back, but waiting to see how it reads as a whole. Then, although I cut (especially in The Edge of Fear, where I overwrote a good bit), I then go back and maybe flesh-in certain spots with more emotion, etc. So it's a mixed bag. I got a great technique idea, and I can't give credit because I can't remember where I got it, but it's this: Go through your draft and write a very short description of each chapter. Then go back and write the reason (very short) for each. If it seems unneeded, take it out! That did wonders for me. But I save all those bits and pieces in case I could use them elsewhere. And what I cut or add could be a line, a paragraph or a chapter.

8/29/2021 08:04:06 am

That is a good idea. It fits well with the current idea about keeping the writing tight depending upon the genre. Every word and thought is supposed to carry its weight and move the story forward. No extraneous descriptions or overly flowery prose, especially for action. With so many sources of entertainment to draw from it is harder to keep eyes on the page. If the reader gets bored they will close the book.
If I was a writer I would save all of the unused pieces also.
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a character for a starting point in a story? Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?
If you used a close friend or family member in a book, would you tell them or make sure that they wouldn't recognize themselves in the story?

8/29/2021 11:24:57 am

Mark, guilty as charged. I have often used real-life characters, and did use three of them as the starting point for my first book, The Edge of Memory. Harriet was based on a very sad person I worked with once, who had run away from her husband and left her kids behind. My heroine didn't do that but I used some traits of that person in Harriet and built on that. For instance, she was hard on herself, felt terrible guilt, held herself back. I also used an old (terrible) boss of mine as Harriet's boss in the beginning, and a wonderful, magnetic person I worked with as the model for Harriet's benefactor, Agnes. I have often used real people as inspiration in short stories as well. I add lots of traits, though, and doubt if any of them would recognize themselves (well, maybe the horrible boss. Hope he never reads my book!) But more often, I make characters up and they become pretty real in my mind, so sometimes I feel I know them. That is what I love the most about writing, I think, forming the characters and then imagining "What would (character) do? It's so much fun.

8/29/2021 02:23:50 pm

I think a lot of authors do exactly that. Find somebody that they’ve known to use as a starting point and embellish to fit the needs of the story.
Being careful so the real people won’t recognize themselves in print is very wise. Because you never know what minor negative trait or emotion might trigger something in the real person.
I think it’s perfectly fine if the characters seem real to you as the author. But when the characters start to take over and direct the story that might be a moment of concern. Although, some authors say their stories actually benefit when the author Listens to what the characters are trying to say about the story.
New questions.
Do you have a newsletter that you send out to subscribers or fans? Why or why not?
Do you subscribe to any author newsletters yourself?

8/29/2021 06:10:50 pm

No, Mark, I do not have a newsletter and if I subscribe to any, it is because the author asked me thru an email or some other way to subscribe and I am trying to support them. Perhaps if I were one of those authors who publish one or two titles a year, I could see the value of a newsletter. Or, if I were a genuine expert in something, like you, Mark. Till either of those things are true, I will probably hold off on the newsletter. Because, let's be honest, and don't hate me for this, but do we really read all the newsletters we get? And do we really have "news"? Not sure either of those things are true.

8/30/2021 08:21:32 am

I subscribe to quite a few newsletters. I wanted to see how to do it. I don't have a newsletter also. I do read many of them, but not all of them.
I do see the value in them for an author. A newsletter can help build a fan base. Many blogs have been written about that topic also. That can translate into more sales. At the same time, it can get expensive to pay the fees to have a company do the footwork. If an author goes DIY then there is less time to write. Like most of life, there is always a tradeoff.
Last questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

8/30/2021 11:48:42 am

Mark, one more comment about the newsletters - if an author enjoys or finds value in doing them, then great! I do read and enjoy a few. But, at this point, I just do not feel ready to embark on that yet. Maybe when I get a decent email list built up, I will rethink that. Now, for your last questions! I have to say, I love writing a good villain! I assume I am letting some of the least desireable aspects of my own personality out and exaggerating them. I try to write up a profile of each villain to give them some depth, because as writing teachers will tell you, villains must have a redeeming side as well. With my antagonist, Frank in The Edge of Fear, I loved that he had a wistful feeling about children, and that he would have liked to have had one with Hattie. That was his redeeming feature for me. As for what I hated about my protagonist, Hattie, I wouldn't say I hated this trait, but I didn't like that she was so distrustful of Eli, even when her distrust of him in the first book, The Edge of Memory, was found to be based on misconceptions. Still, in "Fear" she reverted to distrust in her thoughts when things were at their worst. You'll just have to get the book and read it to find out what happens with that!

8/30/2021 01:04:24 pm

Email lists and newsletters seem like a chicken-and-egg thing to me. How do you develop an email list without a newsletter? Who do you send the newsletter to without an email list? Maybe it's like in the old movie Field of Dreams, 'if you build it they will come'.
I agree with you 100%! The antagonist needs to be more than a standup piece of cardboard. The antagonist thinks they are the hero in their story. They need to have some redeeming features to seem real. Your villain, Frank, loved kids and had some artistic talent. He also spent a lot of time creating his plan and then working it. He was excellent.
Hattie slipped back into old thought patterns and habits when her world fell apart. She can be forgiven because that is such an easy thing to do.
Our time for this interview has come to an end. Thank you for being such a great guest. I enjoyed this conversation very much. Perhaps we can continue it down the road.
Until next time, keep on writing.

8/30/2021 01:53:35 pm

Mark, I get your comment about the chicken and egg! It has made me think, to be honest. Maybe I need to do the Newsletter first (hmm...). I will have to think about that. Actually, Mark, you have given me a lot to think about with your insightful questions. I've enjoyed our discussion very much and would be delighted to continue it in the future sometime! Thank you so much for being such a gracious host and allowing me this opportunity to be introduced to your followers. Your service, Word Refiner, is the best of the best, and I hope any writer reading this will give it a try. They will not be disappointed!! Thank you again, Mark, and may every day be a happy one for you, your family, your clients, and your followers.

The Edge of Fear by Maura Beth Brennan

Leave a Reply.

Who am I?

Archives

Categories