Title: Deceitful Truths
Series: The Caspian Wine Series # 2
Author: Maggie Thom
Published: March 2014
Publisher: Quadessence Solutions
Word Count: 105,000
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Content Warning: Non-graphic sex and abuse
Synopsis:
He created a legacy that no one could imagine…
Tarin has lost a week of her life. She doesn’t know what happened but not long after she returns to work she is suspended from her job. Confused and pregnant, she quits and agrees to marry Stephen, only to be thrown into a whole new nightmare. Desperate, she grabs her son and moves across the country to get away from her abusive husband and to avoid her unforgiving father. Thrilled at getting the job at Knights Associates, where she’ll help them solve cyber crimes but also be able to use their connections and resources to find her own answers. Who stole a week of her life? And will they return to steal the secret she is now protecting?
Graham and his partner Guy, can’t keep up with the demand. They are being flooded with requests at Knights Associates, where they offer a combined service of private investigator and that of solving cyber crimes. It appears that someone wants to get their attention as not only have they been hacked but Guy’s family business, Caspian Winery, seems to be under attack as well. Hiring an assistant seems to be the answer but when Graham discovers she’s been accessing their high-security accounts, he realizes the cause of their predicament might be closer then he thought. Is there new assistant behind the problems they’re having? If she’s so innocent why does someone want to abduct her?
Tarin and Graham discover that although they don’t trust each other, they are forced to work together to solve several seemingly unrelated crimes that may lead to one disastrous conclusion. Can they figure it all out before Tarin’s nightmare plays out? An eighty year old woman pays with her life? Or before Tarin learns a truth that may seal her fate and be the one secret that will keep her and Graham apart as neither one of them may be able to forgive or forget…
(Caspian Wine Series, Book Two – Standalone but is a Sequel/Companion Novel to Captured Lies)
About the Author
Excerpt
"I could get my dad to help if money is an issue?"
"God, no!" The words were spit out at her almost before she was done saying anything.
"Okay. I just–"
"I know. You want to fix it like you do everything. Just leave it alone Tarin. Okay?"
Tarin nodded but was taken aback by Bobbie's forceful, hard tone. Just then Bobbie's phone rang.
"Dammit. It's Mom. I'll be a while."
"No worries. I'll figure out something for this afternoon." She watched as her friend walked out of her room, already talking away. She hated to see her so upset. Her mom was something else though. Tarin had always thought she was a very selfish woman. Everything was always about her and what she needed. She'd rarely come to visit Bobbie and when she had she'd done nothing but complain about her life and gossiped about everyone else.
Tarin gasped. If Mrs. Benson told her dad, he'd know. If she asked for help for Bobbie, he'd know.
How did my life become such a mess?
She had to get answers before her dad discovered anything about what was happening in her life. There was no way he was aware of the mess she was in and there was no way he knew he had a grandson. If he had, he would have taken control of everything but more importantly he'd have taken Chance and raised him like the son he'd always wanted.
She jumped out of bed almost in a panic. Her dad couldn't find out about her and what she was up to. Not yet. If Bobbie's Mom talked...
Chance's squeal of delight from the other room, where he was being entertained by Kim, was like a beacon pulling her back from the edge.
She had to do something. The pamphlet for a wine tour she'd seen on Bobbie's table, came to mind. There was no reason she couldn't go and take a look around at Caspian Winery. She might as well do something. She'd moved across the country to get answers. Maybe she'd get lucky. She rolled her eyes at that thought, as she really had no idea what she was looking for or what she hoped to gain by going there. If she could get near a computer maybe she could get some information.
She fell back against the wall, surprised by what she was thinking. She, who had never stolen a thing in her life, although she'd been falsely accused once, which had ended disastrously, was thinking of actually going and stealing something... something that really could land her in jail.
Interview
Put your heart into it. What I mean by that is learn it and love it. Be passionate about what you're doing, the more you believe in you and your writing the better it will be for the reader. Feel what you're writing, let your writing take you on a journey, the more you feel, again the more the reader will feel.
When did you start writing?
I was nine, I think. I know that's when I had started writing a book, anyway. I was going to write the tiniest book ever. I cut up yellow paper into one inch squares and then started writing really small with a pencil. I'm sure it was a fabulous story. J
What made you decide to publish your first book?
I have been a writer a long time. When I wrote Captured Lies, I enjoyed it but quickly put it aside to start writing the next book. But… it was one of those stories that kept hanging around and I would find myself thinking about it. So I pulled it out and read it just like I would any other book... and I discovered I really liked it. It wasn't perfect, it still needed some work but I truly enjoyed it. Because I didn't trust that I was unbiased enough, I asked a few other people to read it. When they told me they loved it, I decided to take the leap. I rewrote a fair bit of it and then had it published.
What motivates you to write?
It's just part of who I am. The stories, the ideas are there constantly. I love to play with them and mold and meld them into something new. It's so much fun to see what kind of situations I can put people in and then see what they are going to do to get out of them. J
Do you ever feel frustrated with your work?
For sure, it doesn’t always go perfectly. There are times I write and write and write and feel like I haven't gotten anywhere. When I wrote Deceitful Truths (book two in the Caspian Wine Series), I really struggled with getting the story written so that it was Tarin's story. The characters that came over from Captured Lies (book one in the Caspian Wine Series) were taking over and making it their story. So I had to work hard to get Tarin's story out and to make it hers. I am really happy with where it ended up but it was a lot of work to get it there.
What makes you keep writing when you get frustrated?
The stories never leave me alone. The characters never leave me alone. And there are lots of things in life that are frustrating and if I have to be frustrated I'll take what comes from writing.
How do you get over writer's block?
You know it's been a while since I have had this. What I find works for me is not to force the story. I write as much of my story away from the computer or writing as I do when I sit down and type. I play with the information in my head until I get it flowing where I think it needs to go or where the characters will take me, then I go back to writing.
How do you handle negative reviews of your books?
I read them, I see if there is anything constructive that I can take away and I learn from it. Those who just didn't like it because it wasn't there thing, I'm okay with that because I know my books aren't for everyone. Those who are nasty, I ignore and actually feel sorry for them.
There are a lot of distractions around, especially with social media, how do you block it all out and write?
It really takes practice. It's a matter of sitting down and writing and making that your focus. It's about keeping my focus on what I really want to be doing and want to accomplish. I think ensuring I plan for writing time by scheduling it into my day, really helps.
What do you enjoy, outside of writing?
I love hiking, kayaking, going to the mountains, going out in nature, being outside, doing things with my family and friends.
Have you ever had to rewrite portions of a book because the characters decided to be someone else than you intended?
Oh my god yes. Deceitful Truths was a true testament to that. I had a struggle with a few characters who were really going off on their own tangents trying to make the story theirs. Thankfully we came to an agreement and they settled down but it took a lot of rewriting.
Did you ever think you'd be a published author?
I think so. It's definitely something I've been working towards. And I love the day and age we are in because you can make things happen without waiting for others to make up their minds.
Do you ever write characters you hate?
Oh yes. Geoff, first shows up in Captured Lies and then reappears in Deceitful Truths. He was a tough character to write about, he's pretty vile and does some very nasty things to people.
Who is your favorite character that you've written?
I've had several that I really loved writing about. My favorite character though I think has to be Bailey from Captured Lies. Her story was very emotional but empowering. And her story was the one that gave me the impetus to leap and become a published author.
What was your first published book? How do you feel about it now?
Captured Lies was my first published book. I love it. It was such an emotional book for me to write, a lot was going on in my life when I wrote it and the story became very cathartic for me. I still feel very connected to it and it was the book that gave me the impetus to leap and become published.
Where did you get the idea for your books?
Honestly, everywhere. Everything I see, hear about, feel, I take out of context and think what if this happened when… I also combine things from different things I've learned or have seen or heard about and see where that takes me. They really come from bits and pieces of things in life and melding them together to see what happens.
Were there any scenes in it that were difficult for you to write?
In Deceitful Truths there were a few scenes that were a bit tough to write. Tarin is in a mentally and emotionally abusive relationship in the beginning. I do not give graphic details but you do get a good sense of what kind of man her husband is and what their relationship is like.
Do you have a favorite genre to write?
I love writing suspense/thrillers, although my books really cross several genres - there's murder, mystery and an element of romance.
Is there a type of genre you refuse to write?
I don't think I'd ever write horror but I never say never.
Do you prefer your books in print or e-book format?
I have to say I've converted, I'm an ebook lover.
What are you currently reading?
The Aerenden Series by Kristin Taber - really good series.
Humor me, because this is my favorite (mythical) animal: Would you ever consider putting a platypire in one of your books?
Okay I'll be honest I don't know what a playtpire is J but if it could be a pet or something that I can make it believable in a real-life story, sure.
Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
- A $15 Amazon Gift Card.
- 2 ecopies of Captured Lies by Maggie Thom.