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Thursday, February 16, 2012

ACCUSED - Janice Cantore - Free Book


Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I don’t think I do write myself in the characters, at least not consciously. I know that the main character in Accused is a composite of a couple of women I worked with, women who I considered great police officers. I did my job, and worked hard to be the best I could, but these two ladies always impressed me and far outshone me. They are still on the job, one is a deputy chief now and the other is a sergeant. I just thought they balanced work and life so well. But I will say that my characters do often reflect my faith, the struggles, the weaknesses and the strengths. They ask a lot of the same questions I ask and they need the Lord every bit as much as I do.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I went to a Star Trek Convention several years ago. It was one of the first conventions held in Anaheim and William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy were both there. I consider Star Trek and all it’s spin offs one of my guilty pleasures but the convention was a bit much. I couldn’t relate to all the people running around in costume.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I’ve wanted to write since I was a child. I used to fill notebooks with stories about horses. But one incident in high school has stayed with me. I’d written an extra credit assignment for a health class. I don’t remember the topic, but I remember the teacher telling she enjoyed reading the assignment and wished she could give me extra, extra credit. She said I had a talent for writing. That little bit of encouragement went a long way.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Suspense and Mystery novels are my favorite, but I read biographies and historical fiction. Francine Rivers, Terri Blackstock, Randy Alcorn, Harlen Coben, Michael Connelly, Randy Singer, Catherine Marshall, and Elizabeth George are among my favorite authors. Francine Rivers’ books inspired me to write stories with a spiritual message.

I’ve read and enjoyed the books of several of the same authors. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
My morning quiet time is precious to me. I need to start my day with time in the Word or everything is off key and out of balance. My church gives out Bible in a year book marks and I love following the reading guide. I also find that exercise is essential to relieving stress. Walking my two dogs every day is also a must.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
For my new book Accused, I chose the main character’s first name, Carly, as kind of a tribute to Randy Alcorn. I had just read his book Deadline (awesome book, really made an impact) and I named my main character after a character in his novel. In my book The Kevlar Heart, the main character’s name was part of the backstory. Brinna had issues with her father and part of it had to do with the fact that when she was born her Dad was certain she would be a boy and had picked out the name Brian. When a girl was born he just changed some letters around, didn’t even try to think of another name. But those are the only special names I can think of. Usually, I use names I like, that sound interesting. Once or twice, with permission, I have used the names of people I worked with.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
This may sound odd, but I would have to say talking my aging parents into selling their big house and moving them to a smaller house. It was a battle that took a couple of years. My parents had lived in a big house with a lot of property for 40 years. But as they aged it got harder to take care of. My father was always the handyman, but when dementia set in, the house was pretty much falling down around them and the stress on my mom immense. Still, they adamantly refused to move. Finally, I was able to persuade my mom and we found a house she liked and made the move. Now, three years later, she is so happy with the new, manageable home. Now we have less stress, and it is easier for my dad to get around with his walker. I’m so glad I persisted.

My husband and I have dealt with an aging parent with dementia. I totally understand. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
An eagle. I would love the ability to fly, to soar above the world, to have the feeling of flying where God is.

What is your favorite food?
Chocolate with caramel, hope that counts as a food.

My kind of food, for sure. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My dad was my first roadblock, mostly because he grew up during the depression and steady, reliable work was an obsession. He discouraged my desire to write, believing it was a hobby, not a career. So I put the desire away when I went to college. The experience of working the front lines of the Rodney King riots that brought the desire back. I experienced so much during that chaos that I needed to write about it. I was on my own by then and even if writing was a hobby, it was an okay hobby. Once I sat down to write then, there really were no discernable roadblocks in my way. (Now selling the writing has many roadblocks, but that would be a different question and answer all together.)

Also for the last three years I have been the primary caregiver for my parents, and their health and sometimes doctor’s appointments and can keep me away from the computer, but the only roadblocks pop up when I procrastinate with computer games or some other such time waster. Discipline and wanting to put out the best story possible helps me bust the barriers down.

Tell us about the featured book.
Accused is a story I started writing when I was still working juvenile investigations for the Long Beach Police Department. The idea came from a real life crime that was kind of gruesome, and I remember seeing the suspect who was a minor, in juvenile detention. I thought about the crime and the kid and played the “what if” game, settling on the question, what if he didn’t do it? To put the cuffs on someone you need to be fairly certain the person is guilty. So I had my main character, Carly, operating from that assumption initially, but then seeing things that just didn’t add up. I mixed in faith, an unfaithful ex husband, and the bad guys who need a fall guy, and went from there. I loved how Carly grew and changed in the novel and realized there were more stages for her so Accused is the first in a three book series. (But not gruesome like the original crime that spawned the idea!)

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you, Janice, for giving us a peek inside your life and your book.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Accused (Pacific Coast Justice) - paperback
Accused (Pacific Coast Justice) - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

30 comments:

  1. It looks like I am the first one to sign here. Great interview, Janice. We also had to deal with Dementia with my mom. Fortunately not with my dad. "Accused" sounds like a awesome book and one that I definitely would love to read.

    Blessings,
    Jo from Southern Arizona
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  2. Such a great sounding novel. Thanks for the interview and post, ladies. My 85 year old mom lives with me, so when i moved, she was happy to move with me just so she could stay with her family. She's so awesome...says she never misses the place she lived with Dad for 39 years, and another 13 years without him, just the people!
    Thank you for the opportunity to win!

    Marianne from El Mirage, Arizona

    mitzi[underscore]waham[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  3. I am excited to check out this book and would love to be entered!

    cbus.blogger at gmail dot com

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  4. I agree I'd be an eagle as well - so majestic. thanks for the chance
    msboatgal at aol.com

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  5. Great interview. I would love to win this novel. It sound amazingly interesting.

    Kianna Rose
    New York City
    kiannaskorner{at}gmail{dot}com

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  6. Thank you all for the kind comments!

    Janice Cantore

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  7. I would love to win a copy of this book.

    California

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  8. I think a Star Trek Convention would be too confronting for me.

    I look forward to reading ACCUSED.

    Mary P

    QLD AUSTRALIA

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  9. love to be included in this book giveaway thanks
    live in ND

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  10. Very interesting book. I'd like to be enterted.
    Tammie from Illinois
    teshaw(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  11. Please enter me to win this book. I didn't get a chance to grab it from tyndale blog but it looked really good. Plus I love how she writes from experience.

    Jen from FL

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  12. Enter me!
    Abigail
    Blanch,N.C.

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  13. Thank you for the Interview, it was great and I loved it.
    I had to deal with my Mom's dementia and know what your talking about.
    Your Book "Accused" sounds so great , please enter me in your Contest.
    Blessings to all.

    I live in S.Illinois

    ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. Sharon Richmond1:50 PM

    Enter me I would love to win a copy of this book it sounds like a great story! Thanks and God bless.
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch, NC.

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  15. great book!

    Ali from Ny
    alibaby374@gmail.com

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  16. I'm just to the point where I'm trying to my parents to downsize. Neither have dementia, but as children just after the Depression, they don't throw anything away. We all live in NC now, but we lived in Long Beach, CA for several years. (I loved it - except for the Santa Anna winds!)
    Your book sounds wonderful. I would really like to read it. Thanks for the opportunity!
    Rebecca from NC
    rrgreene62(at)gmail.com

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  17. Janice and Lena - Thanks for the great interview. We are dealing with aging parents also, and they are still on the farm. Very fortunate that our nephew (their grandson) spends the weekends and helps out.

    "Accused" sounds like a great read. A few ladies in our book club are hooked on suspense books. Would love to win a copy "Accused" to share with them.
    Sharon
    Eagan, MN

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  18. I have never watched an entire episode of Star Trek! *gasp* I'm going to try to read the Bible in a year! Wish me luck. Now where did I put that list? My father-in-law has lived in the same house since 1970 and he has so much stuff. I would HATE to move him. Yikes! I know some young adults that would have benefited from some earlier intervention from law enforcement. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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  19. This book sounds really interesting to me. I enjoyed the interview. I live in S. CA.

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  20. The sounds like an interesting novel. I like the way you took a real crime and gave it the "what if?" he didn't do it. Now I want to read it to see what you did with it.
    Please enter me in the draw.
    Jan from B.C. Canada
    janet(underscore)kerr@msn.com

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  21. Great interview. Accused sounds like an exciting suspense read, add me please!
    Merry in TX

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  22. Rebecca and Sharon and those caring for parents; prayers to you, I have found this to be the toughest trial of my life. I know that God has held me up and will continue to do so. It has made me truly value every precious minute of life because it goes by so fast!
    God bless and thanks for taking the time to comment.
    Janice Cantore

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  23. Anonymous5:32 PM

    Janice's book, Accused, sounds wonderful. She's had experience enough to know what she's writing about. Love that and love to be added to the list.
    Thanks.

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  24. Chocolate with carmel is a hit with me, too!!! This novel sounds like a real page-turner. Can't wait to read it.

    coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
    NE

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  25. Hi Janice, Great interview. I have already added Accused to my wish list. Can't wait to read. I love mystery, suspense and thrills. lol I would like to be a cat. I have 4 that do what they want to do. Sometimes I have to get my spray bottle and point it at them so they get the message. lol You can't get them to obey like a dog. Like getting on top of kitchen cabinets and my ceiling is 9 ft. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share.
    Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

    Brenda from Georgia
    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  26. Thank you for the great interview. I used to live in LA county so I am familiar with Long Beach. I like that you have a great background for writing mysteries.


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  27. I've read this book and its wonderful! I would live to win this book so I can have an extra copy. Please enter me in this giveaway!

    I live in New York

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  28. This book has a great storyline and I am love to read it.
    The review says read me!
    I live in Ontario, Canada.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

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  29. I really enjoyed reading this interview (and yes - chocolate/carmel is definitely a food! LOL)

    This looks like a great read.

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  30. Enter me in the drawing!
    Nathanael
    Blanch, NC.

    ReplyDelete