BooksChatter: ℚ Death by the River - Alexandrea Weis, Lucas Astor

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Alexandrea Weis to talk about Death by the River (1 October 2018, Vesuvian Books, 320 pages), a Young Adult Thriller.

"... a horrifically brilliant book..."

"... a full speed rollercoaster that doesn't slow down until the final page."

"... psychologically engaging, emotionally rich, and utterly absorbing."

|| Synopsis || Trailer || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Alexandrea Weis; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Death by the River ?

"Death by the River was born from a nightmare. Lucas Astor has strange dreams. After teaming up with him on a multi-award-winning series, we felt my experience as a nurse with victims of sexual assault could breathe life into the characters who suffer at the hands of the psychologically twisted Beau Devereaux. My understanding of mental health issues also brought to life Beau’s decline into depravity."

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

"Being a nurse for over twenty-five years, I brought my experience working with patients in mental health crisis and victims of battery and sexual trauma to this book. Luke has a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face."

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

"The cover was developed by my publisher Vesuvian Books. It began with the image of the girl, by photographer Carolina Heza (of herself). Michael J. Canales took that photo and created the remainder to give the feeling of a foreboding thriller."

Why should we read Death by the River and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"It is an entertaining and riveting in-depth look at a man’s descent into depravity and the psychological instability he suffers from. How he manifests his fantasies by hurting the innocent also ignites the need for revenge in the women he harms. How his mental illness develops, and how it affects others is the crux of the story. Beau Devereaux for me is a fascinating character."

Can you tell us something quirky about Death by the River , its story and characters?

"The name Beau Devereaux took a long time to establish. The book had been written and was through editing, but we kept changing it to find the right fit that represented the area he came from and suited his character. As for the story, I live near the river we use in the book, and there is a seminary there. I thought it would be a great way to contrast good and evil. A reviewer picked up on that and couldn’t have said it better: “It is ironical that the horrors are taking place along the river that runs so close to a seminary, an establishment that should evoke a powerful sense of God and reverence for life.” ~Readers’ Favorite"

Who would you recommend Death by the River to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"This is a YA, but I would recommend it to mature readers, 16+ years old. There is violence against women and rape in this story, but it is an integral part of understanding who Beau Devereaux is. The violence escalates as he descends into his self-made hell. "

If you could / wished to turn Death by the River into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Location: Outside of New Orleans. Director: Louis Shaw Milito (Gotham (FOX) and Lucifer (FOX/Netflix). And the look of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series (Netflix) is terrific, created by showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale (CW), Carrie-film adaptation)."

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 tend to stick with thrillers and paranormal stories with a thriller undertone when I write. I also enjoy reading novels with a thriller element as well."

What is your writing process?

"I just sit and write. I don’t have a process. I’m more of an organic writer than a plotter."

What is in store next?

"My next YA (historical) novel is complete and will be out in May 2019. Realm (Vesuvian Books) is about the sixteen-year-old Persian wife of Alexander the Great—Roxana. The daughter of a local governor in Bactria, Alexander married her and took her with him on his travels across Persia and India. It is about her time with him and the years after his death when she is bounced around his myriad of generals who are vying for control of his empire. It is an epic tale of love, conquest, and the plight of women in ancient times. History tells his story. This is hers."

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 am a permitted wildlife rehabber and am always taking in orphaned and injured wildlife. I have lots of domestic rescues as well. My most famous rescue is Rodney. He has fans on Facebook, and his life and adventures will soon be in a book—Raising Rodney. The picture speaks for itself."