Portrait of an Artist: Nancy S. Thompson

Today Nancy S. Thompson is guest posting on my blog as a part of her two-week-long book blog tour to celebrate the release of her debut novel The Mistaken! Released on 18 October 2012 by Sapphire Star Publishing, The Mistaken is a fast-paced psychological thriller with loveable characters—and plenty of characters you will love to hate. Nancy is a gifted writer, freelance editor, and interior designer who often offers wonderful encouragement on her blog, where she shares her writing journeys. I highly recommend this book to thriller fans. You can find my review of The Mistaken here. Happy reading!

Now it's time to enjoy an author interview with Nancy S. Thompson:

Thanks for sharing your blog with me today, Aimee. Go ahead…ask me anything!

How did you first get the idea for The Mistaken?

My inspiration came from a song, 30 Seconds To Mars’s "Hurricane." Its lyrics—“Tell me, would you kill to save a life?  Would you kill to prove you’re right?”—made me wonder: what could a drive a genuinely good man to break the law and commit a violent crime, and could he ever be the man he once was? I wanted to understand what kind of situation would make an otherwise decent human being turn to the dark side.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during the writing process?

It was the violent act itself that needed toning down. There was no way I would ever get my novel published with the act as it stood originally, so the trick was to scale it back, but only slightly, so the character was still faced with the severe ramifications of his behavior, but he wouldn’t be considered deviant and therefore unredeemable. It was a balancing act, to be sure.

What was it like going so deep into characters that had experienced such great loss?

It was pretty rough at times. About two months after writing the first draft, I slipped into a bit of a depression. I found living every day within the brutal confines of my characters’ horrific lives to be too much—way too sad. I had to take a big step back, like for three months, just to get my emotional bearings.

What is the best piece of writing advice you've ever been given? 

Writing what you love is important, so is using critique partners, but I think the greatest advice I received was just to not give up, to persevere, and always believe in your dream, because you have nothing to lose yet everything to gain.

What type of books do you like to read, and what is your favorite book? 

I love to read thrillers more than any other genre, though it would be hard to pick an all-time favorite. I can say my recent favorites are by Edgar Award winning author John Hart, including Down River, Iron House, and The Last Child. I also love Turning Angel by Greg Iles.

What are you working on now? 

I’m in the outlining phase of the sequel to The Mistaken. It’s tentatively titled Unfinished since the story is all about unfinished business between the returning protagonist, Tyler, and the son of his former enemy who believes Ty stole his legacy by killing his father. I’ll be putting the characters through another round, testing their mettle and fortitude, as well as how they live up to the people they believe themselves to be. It should be another emotional rollercoaster ride to hell and back!

Blurb for The Mistaken:
Obsessed with revenge following the violent death of his pregnant wife, Tyler Karras pledges the woman responsible to sex-traffickers in San Francisco’s Russian Mafia. In exchange, they’ll finally let his brother leave the business for good—with his debt wiped clean and his heart still beating. But when Tyler mistakenly targets the wrong woman, he’s forced to protect her from the very enemy he's unleashed, and the Russians are holding Nick as leverage to force Ty to complete their deal. Caught in a no-win situation, Ty must find a way to save himself, his brother, and the woman, but with the Russian Mafia, even two out of three makes for very long odds.

Visit Nancy’s blog, follow, and leave a comment during her book tour (10/18-11/1) for a chance to win an ARC of The Mistaken. Plus, 5 runner-up winners will each receive an ebook.

You can also find her on her publisher's website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Beginning October 18th, The Mistaken will be available at Amazon Books, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes & Noble. It will also be available at Sony, Kobo, iBooks, Diesel Bookstore, and Baker & Taylor by early November.

Early praise for The Mistaken:
“A deliciously slow burn that builds to a ferocious crescendo, Nancy S. Thompson's THE MISTAKEN kept me riveted until the very last page. Tyler Karras is a complex and flawed protagonist, and his redemptive journey makes him the perfect anti-hero. This psychological suspense is a standout, and I can't wait for Thompson's next book.”
~Jennifer Hillier, author of CREEP and FREAK

“Nancy S. Thompson's debut novel, The Mistaken, is a first-rate thriller full of hair-raising twists and turns. Pursued by the police and the Russian mafia in San Francisco, brothers Tyler and Nick Karras are fascinating, fully-drawn, desperate characters. The action is non-stop. Thompson's taut, intriguing tale of revenge, mistaken identity, kidnapping and murder will keep you enthralled and entertained.”
~Kevin O'Brien, New York Times Bestselling Author of DISTURBED and TERRIFIED

“Fast-paced and emotionally gripping - once the ride begins, you won't stop reading until it ends." ~Alex J. Cavanaugh, author of CASSAFIRE and CASSASTAR

The Mistaken Blog tour:
10/18: Mark Koopmans & Nancy S. Thompson
10/19: Alex J. Cavanaugh & Arlee Bird
10/22: Carrie Butler & Jeff O’Handley
10/23: Julie Musil
10/24: Donna Weaver & Melissa Maygrove
10/25: Matthew MacNish
10/26: LG Smith
10/27: Aimee Jodoin
10/29: Heather M. Gardner
10/30: Lisa Regan
10/31: Jennifer Hillier
11/1: Angela Peart & Livia Peterson
11/19: Arlee Bird