BooksChatter: ℚ Fixed in Fear: Justice [5]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author T. E. Woods to talk about Fixed in Fear (2015-12-08, Alibi, 298 pages), a Thriller, book five of the Justice series.

“Hot and unpredictable, this debut hurls you down the curvy gray avenues of right and wrong at about a hundred and fifty miles per hour. Strap yourself in!”—Amanda Kyle Williams, author of The Stranger You Seek

“Pitch-perfect . . . solid characters, unpredictable twists and excellent plotting; a must-read for those who enjoy crime fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to T.E. Woods; thank you for joining us on Bookschatter!

What was the inspiration for Fixed in Fear?

"I recently had the experience of learning that an age-old family story was a lie. A situation from the past had been sanitized, cleaned up, and made more fitting for gentle company. I grew up hearing the story and simply accepting it as true. When I learned it was all a fabrication, I began to question whether or not I could trust any story regarding family history. I also realized our trust makes us vulnerable to accepting…and continuing…the lies we’re told. Fixed In Fear is built on the premise of a long-told lie and the chaos that ensues when it’s laid bare."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Lydia, one of my main characters, is a female clinical psychologist in private practice. I, too, am a female clinical psychologist in private practice. Lydia lives in a house that is set on a piece of property on which I once lived. Like Lydia, I tend keep my private, inner life to myself. And for those of you who have read my series, I promise you, that is where the similarities between me and Lydia end. (Read the series and you’ll know why I need to put in that disclaimer.)"

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Fixed in Fear - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Fixed In Fear is the fifth instalment in The Justice Series. Each cover in the series reveals bits and parts of a woman. Small snippets. Just enough to make you think you’ve got the picture. But of course, you only have what she wants you to see. That, for me, is emblematic of Lydia. I love the art work. I’m blessed to have an incredible team at Alibi. It’s their art department that builds these incredible covers. It’s like Christmas when they run their ideas by me. They always come up with something that, at once, is something I never would have dreamed of, yet is simultaneously the answer to my fondest dreams for cover art."

Why should we read Fixed in Fear and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Several things come to mind. First and foremost…and the reviewers seem to agree with this…it’s the twists and turns in my plot lines. The story lines in this series are like life…filled with surprises and gasps and wows. There are plenty of things you’ll never see coming, yet when they do, they all make perfect sense. Another unique aspect of the series is the relationship between Mort and Lydia. Over the arc of the series their relationship moves from antagonistic to genuine love…yet it’s not the romantic love we’ve seen in so many series. Lydia has never experienced parental nurturing. Mort’s a caring parent whose daughter throws away his love as she chases her own twisted goals. Mort and Lydia come together and form a new kind of family. And let me put a shout out to Bruiser. That dog has wormed his way into my heart as much as any human character I’ve written. I hope he’ll do the same for readers."

Can you tell us something quirky about Fixed in Fear, its story and characters?

"Bilbo Runyan is a child of the ‘60’s. In all his tie-dyed, long-haired, marijuana-loving glory, he’s a fellow time forgot. He finds himself in the middle of Mort’s murder investigation. He offers comic relief. Readers will smile when they read about Bilbo. Maybe they’ll even relate to knowing a person like him. Bilbo is the boy who never grew up…until, of course, he shows another side of himself."

Who would you recommend Fixed in Fear to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"All of my books are realistically gritty. My bad guys are bad. They act like bad guys. They speak like bad guys. And they do the most despicable things. The Justice Series is not cozy mystery. But if you’re the type of person who likes to feel his/her heart pound and you’re not afraid to get a little dirty, The Justice Series will take you on a ride that will leave you breathless and wanting more."

If you could / wished to turn Fixed in Fear and the Justice series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Ah! I love this question. Three men come to mind to play Mort. I’d cast either Ed Harris, Viggo Mortenson, or Tom Hanks in the role. I see Allie being played by Scarlett Johannson. Lydia’s an enigma to me. I have her so fully fleshed in my mind, yet I know no actress who fits her type. Perhaps it’ll be a breakout role for an incredibly talented, yet as of now unknown, actress capable of playing such a complex character. As for who directs? Ridley Scott! Call me Ridley! Let’s make this happen."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I love humans. I like our complexity. Our frailty. Our never-ending range of behaviors. We’re the species who can figure out how to change the flow of a river and destroy the ecosystem. We can transplant the tiniest organs to save a life and wage genocide against one another. We’ll put ourselves in harm’s way to rescue a puppy and we’ll turn our backs on displaced refugees. What’s not to love about that? We humans are capable of just about anything…and it’s intriguing to me to write stories that take the reader right to the edge of sanity, and then plunge on over to the other side."

What is your writing process?

"For me, it starts with a crime. I like my body count to begin on page one. Once I have the murder, then the story develops around it. It’s pretty basic. I choose the how, the what, the when, and the why. Very often I’ll also have the who. But there have been times when, as the characters develop, the person I originally planned to have dunnit has to take a back seat to another character who’s screaming to be the perp. When reviewers tell me they enjoy my plot line twists and turns, I often want to tell them it came as much a surprise to me as it did to them."

What is in store next?

"I’m putting the finishing touches on book six in the series. It’s called Dead End Fix. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say Allie and Lydia have their moments."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I’m a dog person from the word go. I have had occasion in my life to be in the company of humans and had a bad time. I have never…not once…not EVER…been in the company of a dog and had a bad time. I currently serve as staff to two of them. Tugger is a 12 year old Cavachon. He’s an impish cuddler with a smile that melts my heart. Gitch is a 2 year old Cockapoo. She’s a sassy, mouthy, bossy bundle of fluff who always needs to have the last word. I call her my puppy-goat. I’ve yet to encounter anything she won’t at least try to eat. Here’s a photo of them waiting for dinner."

Aww, cuties! Hello Gitcher and Tugger! You both have beautiful smiles :-)I know exactly what you mean, give me animals any day! They are always so wonderful and individual; the worst part is saying goodbye to them... which we had to do yesterday with our kitty GrandMa Tequila :-(