Website: CAROL DAVIS LUCE–NightWriter
Author's Blog: CAROL DAVIS LUCE
Blog: Indie Chicks Café
Twitter: @CarolDavisLuce
E-Mail: caroldluce@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook
Pinterest: Check Out Pinterest
Author Description:
Carol Davis Luce’s first ‘night’ novel, NIGHT STALKER, was also her first sale.
“A dandy read,” wrote author Tony Hillerman. It went into three printings and became the flagship for the sub-genre “Woman in Jeopardy” at Kensington Publishers–strong heroines pitted against evil opponents.
She is the author of six suspense novels, NIGHT STALKER, NIGHT HUNTER, NIGHT PREY, NIGHT PASSAGE, NIGHT GAME and NIGHT WIDOW. And one Coming-of-Age Novel, AWAKENING: Secrets of a Brown Eyed Girl.
Short story collections: BROKEN JUSTICE and FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE. Carol Davis Luce lives in Sparks, Nevada with her husband, Bob, and their psycho cat.
SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author
What do you have on the drawing board next? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?
It’s back to a ‘Night’ novel. The seventh in the ‘Night’ standalone series (is that an oxymoron?) Release date is sometime late summer or early fall. Twins, separated from early childhood, reunite in adulthood. The two mirror-image women are seemingly alike in every aspect—appearance likes and dislikes, a telepathic connection, blinding headaches. They also share one other trait, a deadly one. A three-generation murder gene.
You have a good following on twitter. Since you starting before the social media buzz, what impact has social media relationships had on your current success? How much has it changed your book launch process?
I’m really not sure how much, if any, impact it has had on my so-called success. When I published my Kensington backlist to Amazon in 2010, I knew nothing about Twitter or Facebook, or social media in general. Yet the readers found my novels, and through word of mouth, made them bestsellers. I attribute my success to the readers. Especially the readers who keep coming back for more.
Do you do book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?
I took a fifteen-year hiatus from publishing and personal appearances to teach an online writing workshop for Writer’s Digest. I reentered the publishing arena two years ago. At the moment, I’m content to connect with readers and the book world through the internet. I have, however, been itching to attend a writer’s conference again and do some local book signings. I love chatting with readers, and encourage them to visit me on Facebook, Twitter, my blog, and through email.
You have great covers. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?
My book covers are designed by IndieDesignz. I usually give Dafeenah a basic story description and she takes it from there. With my coming-of-age novel, Awakening, a friend found the photograph of the little girl and Dafeenah did the rest.
Have you created a book trailer for any of your books to promote them online?
Not yet. It’s on my to-do list along with audio books.
We have had several of the Indie Chicks in the Author’s Spotlight. What a group of outstanding people. I feel so strongly about the group, I added their book in the list of your credits below (You are a co-author). What is the main thing that you get out of this association? Why is the book so successful, besides having outstanding authors?
Yes, they are great gals individually and as a group. I attribute some of my earlier success to the Indie Chicks and the three anthologies I have had the honor of participating in. The main thing I get out of this association is the camaraderie and support. Our first anthology, Indie Chicks: 25 Independent Women 25 Personal Stories, was just named Best Anthology for 2012 by eFestival of Words http://www.efestivalofwords.com/portal.php BTW, all of the proceeds from these various anthologies go to a charitable organization.
Has the advent of ebooks changed anything in your writing, your marketing and the relationship with your readers and fans?
Absolutely! I’m my own boss. My books are my own products. I love being in control, from cover design to book pricing. I’m not keen on having to market my own product since I’m a lousy salesperson, but if my book sales tank, I have only myself to blame. With the advent of ebooks, relationships with readers have reached a more personal level. I am truly interested in what my readers have to say. I welcome honest and constructive reviews and email comments.
Negative reviews are still painful and probably always will be. Although we writers try to develop a thick skin, it can never be thick enough.
What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?
It can be useful for the first in a series, and for new authors breaking into the market. I’ve had better success with the .99 cent book promotions where, after the sale, I gift books to those that entered the Rafflecoper contest on my blog. I’m not a big fan of giving my books away. The two times I had a Free promotion, my ranking dropped significantly, only to quickly rise higher than before the promotion. I strongly feel that in the past year the market has been glutted with free ebooks. Stop the insanity, please!
P.S. I’m planning a big giveaway in the very near future to reward my loyal readers and welcome new readers. Stay tuned.
You started with the “Night” series but your last novel was not a thriller. Why did you switch to Women’s Fiction for that book?
I took a detour from the ‘Night’ series to write my coming-of-age novel, AWAKENING: Secrets of a Brown Eyed Girl. This book is loosely based on my own quirky and challenging childhood.
It begged to be told. I thoroughly enjoyed writing the journey of this curious little girl growing up in the 50s (who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time). Although the genre shift from thriller to coming-of-age is a stretch, some readers of my thrillers have taken the big step favorably. This is one reader’s review: ‘Extremely well-written. I had read other novels by this author. This book was something different for her and I was amazed at how a book about a girl growing up could pull you into her world and keep you up all night until you finished. Highly recommended.’
Well now to the big deal. Tell us about the psycho cat? What is its name? Does it go anywhere it wants? Does it have an influence in any of your writing? Does it get excited when it hears the jackpot sounds from a slot machine?
Ahhh, this is the big deal. Six-year-old Pookie is an American Bobtail. Yes, she goes anywhere she wants. She also herds us. If we don’t go where she wants us to go, she attacks our ankles.
Like the Kung-fu Kato in The Pink Panther, she lives to ambush us when we least expect it. The only influence she has on my writing is to bring it to a complete halt when she jumps into my lap while I’m typing. She doesn’t like the tapping on the keys. She gets excited and annoyed about many things and then takes it out on us. Aside from her wild side, she is the best cat imaginable.
Who needs a watch dog when you have a psycho cat?
In the above photo, she bit Bob’s ear (twice) moments after I snapped this picture.
Author's Book List
NIGHT TRILOGY
- Three Night NovelsFor the first time in one volume, three of the 'night' novels by Night Writer, Carol Davis Luce. The 'night' books are standalone thrillers that go bump in the night.
Over 48 Five-Star Reviews. This volume contains two Amazon bestselling novels, and the newest release. The three books are valued separately at $11.97
NIGHT STALKER:
Things were looking up for Alexandra Carlson. With her divorce behind her and the mysterious death of her father fading in her memory, she was moving on. Then things began to happen. Anonymous phone calls full of heavy breathing. A broken tree branch outside her bedroom window. Her cat gone without a trace. A moving shadow above the skylight. Surely it was all her imagination...
Then one day she picked up the phone. In the background she could hear a scratchy record--an old song that brought dark memories out of the shadows. That night something woke Alexandra out of a sound sleep. This time, the heavy breathing wasn't coming from the telephone. Someone was in house with her. And she was at his mercy.
NIGHT GAME:
4 weeks in the Top 100 Best Sellers in Kindle Store.
The exclusive King's Club resort casino is a glittering playground for gamblers with everything to gain...and the hunting ground for a shadowy killer with nothing to lose. So far, the odds are in his favor. Until casino owner Jay King places his bets on a beautiful private investigator. . .
Kasey Atwood is an expert at undercover surveillance, and no stranger to this dazzling world of high stakes and low morals. Her attraction to the sensual, enigmatic King is immediate--and incendiary. As their love affair heats up, she becomes a pawn in a dangerously seductive game of passion and revenge. Then more innocent blood is shed, and Kasey knows she can't afford to make one false move. At risk is nothing less than her heart--and her life. . .
NIGHT WIDOW:
Murder. Mayhem. Madness. . .
"NIGHT WIDOW has all the ingredients of a first-class thriller: a reclusive former movie star, a strong and capable heroine, and a story that twists and turns like Mulholland Drive. Nothing is as it seems in this present day story of Old Hollywood, obsession, and murder. As Luce delves deeper into the life of fading film star Sybil Squire, the stakes escalate to a stunning climax." --J. Carson Black, author of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
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AWAKENING
- Secrets of a Brown Eyed Girl"A powerful book! The characters are incredible...they spring right off the page. A fabulous coming-of-age story." JoAnn Wendt--author of The Golden Dove. Behind closed doors, a young mind is awakened to a world bigger than innocent brown eyes can imagine. Suzy Kovak learns early how to keep a secret. One secret she didn’t keep. “When I was six, I sat Danny down on the curb and told him his mother was his grandmother and his sister was his mother—and that made him a bastard. A bastard, I said, was a really bad thing to be. It sent him into his house wailing, and bought us a one-way ticket out of my Aunt Flora’s court complex.” Latchkey kids, Suzy and her brother, watch out for each other until he finds a new best friend. Forced to fend for herself, Suzy becomes a target for bullies. Growing up in Southern California in the 50s wasn't exactly root beer floats and sock hops. Their single mother struggles to keep the family together. Suzy feels lucky to get in good the cool kids who would cut their mark into the flesh of anyone clumsy enough to cross the gang. Tough teen-agers take care of themselves. Yet sometimes a girl still needs her mom even if her mom is less than perfect. Suzy holds tight to her secrets—until she meets the one person who unlocks her mind and sets the secrets free.
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50 First Chapters
- An Indie Chicks AnthologyAnother anthology from the award-winning Indie Chicks!
For a reader, there is nothing more enjoyable than discovering a new favorite writer. Now, for the first time ever, in one volume, you may dip into 50+ novels from the fabulous Indie Chicks. You will find first chapters from bestselling authors as well as a few undiscovered gems from promising new writers.
There is something here to please almost anyone. You will find a wide selection of genres, including - Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Crime Fiction, Paranormal, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Thriller, Romantic Time Travel, and Young Adult.
Authors include: Carol Davis Luce, Cheryl Bradshaw, Cheryl Shireman, Christy Hayes, Consuelo Saah Baehr, Donna Fasano, Faith Mortimer, Georgina-Young Ellis, Gerry McCullough, Heather Marie Adkins, Karin Cox, Katherine Owen, Kimberly Gould, Lia Fairchild, Linda Welch, Lizzy Ford, LK Gardner-Griffie, Louise Voss, Melissa Smith, Patrice Fitzgerald, Peg Brantley, Penelope Crowe, Sarah Woodbury, Sibel Hodge, and Traci Hohenstein. This anthology is like opening an enormous and elegant box of chocolates. Settle into a cozy chair and open the lid. You're in for a treat!
Founded by Cheryl Shireman, the Indie Chicks are a group of women writers who enjoy supporting and encouraging other women writers. In our ranks you will find much-acclaimed bestsellers and also a few writers who are just starting out. We live in various parts of the world and come from a variety of backgrounds. We believe that together we can make a difference not only in each other’s lives, but in the world. All proceeds from the various Indie Chicks Anthologies go to charitable organizations. For more information on the Indie Chicks, and the other Indie Chicks anthologies, see our website indiechickscafe.com where you will find all of the women blogging about topics they are passionate about.
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Night Widow
Murder. Mayhem. Madness. . .
"NIGHT WIDOW has all the ingredients of a first-class thriller: a reclusive former movie star, a strong and capable heroine, and a story that twists and turns like Mulholland Drive. Nothing is as it seems in this present day story of Old Hollywood, obsession, and murder. As Luce delves deeper into the life of fading film star Sybil Squire, the stakes escalate to a stunning climax. NIGHT WIDOW will haunt you long after you turn the last page." --- J. Carson Black, author of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
"Once again, Carol Davis Luce weaves a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue that brings characters to life on the page." K. C. May, author of THE WAYFARER KING
Piper breaks away from her lavish LA life-style and controlling husband and makes a temporary home in a Hollywood Hills guest house, which happens to be next door to her favorite actress, a legend in her time. When Piper witnesses one strange event after another, she calls in the authorities, who peg her as a meddlesome neighbor obsessed with the 50's screen goddess. No one takes her warnings seriously. Piper, a film editor who pieces stories together, now has to use those eagle-eye skills to save her neighbor's life. Events escalate into a deadly game of cat and canary with Piper becoming the canary.
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NIGHT HUNTER
Then
She is young, she is in love, and she is the first runner-up in a San Francisco beauty pageant. Regina Van Raven's head is filled with hopes and dreams but they're shattered in one unspeakable instant when a psychopath, obsessed with the destruction of feminine beauty, attacks her friend Corinne--the pageant winner. Corinne's life is destroyed forever and the horror lives on in Regina's heart. . .
Now
Regina's memories of the ill-fated contest have finally begun to fade. She has a successful career in television, a beautiful seventeen-year-old daughter, a whole new life. It sounds like fun when a talk show host invites the five 1970 finalists for an on-the-air reunion. But someone is waiting in the wings, ready to strike again. . .and again.
Now it's Regina's turn.
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Night Passage
DARK, ENDLESS PASSAGES...
Puzzling secrets, eerie atmosphere, vicious murders, these surround the Nevada town of Eagleton, where Roni Mayfield is trapped, compelled to investigate the brutal slaughter of her mentor Caroline Holt. While rumored a suicide, Roni knows that Caroline's death is a result of sinister foul play. As a reporter who needs to investigate all happenings exhaustively and as a friend who demands revenge, she seeks to restore balance to the scales of justice. With only the rotting corpse, and ally John Glazer, she fights against a killer in the dark tunnels of the night. . .
When Roni Mayfield was nine, the ground gave way under her feet as the mine shaft collapsed, trapping her in the damp rot and cold dirt. Now a grown-up big city reporter, unearthing other people's trauma, she still fears the dark--or what was in it. Some memories never fade.
Roni escaped the stigma of being the outsider in an isolated Nevada mining town, but a desperate plea from her childhood mentor, Carolyn Holt, drags her back to Eagleton where memories should be buried, and outsiders couldn't be trusted. Roni is the only one Carolyn dares trust. Both were outsiders. But Roni is too late. Carolyn killed herself, according to the local sheriff--end of story. Not for Roni.
Carolyn is dead. But her son isn't. Eleven and alone in the aging Victorian house at the edge of town, he hides in the attic leaving only under the cover of night, while a killer stalks.
In Eagleton, Nevada, when Roni digs up details about a devastating tragedy twelve years ago, no one is safe. Everyone has a motive. In this town, what you know…can kill you.
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Night Game
When a serial killer begins targeting the high-stakes players at Navada's King's Club resort casino, undercover investigator Kasey Atwood is hired by and enters into a passionate relationship with casino owner Jay King. Original.
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Night Prey
Roberta Paxton's worst premonitions may be realized as a killer with a perverse desire to kidnap two sisters--killing one and loving the other--stalks her and her sister Tobie. Original.
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Night Stalker
"Night Stalker -- a dandy read -- tense, original...Add Carol Davis Luce to your list of writers not to be overlooked." -- Tony Hillerman author of Talking God
Things were looking up for Alexandra Carlson. She had finally gotten her life back together again. She'd moved into a wonderful secluded house on a mountainside in Reno, her paintings were beginning to sell, and there was even a hint of romance on the horizon. Then things began to happen. Little things. Anonymous phone calls full of heavy breathing. A broken tree branch outside her bedroom window. Her cat, Winnie--gone without a trace. A moving shadow above the skylight. Surely it was all her imagination...
Then one day she picked up the phone and there was someboby--somebody who knew her childhood nickname. In the background she could hear a scratchy record--an old song that brought dark memories out of the shadows.
That night something woke Alexandra out of a sound sleep. This time, the heavy breathing wasn't coming from the telephone. Someone was in house with her. And she was at his mercy.
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Author Recommended by: Cheryl Bradshaw
Author Cheryl Bradshaw is a best-selling Author. She is the creator of the Sloane Monroe series and the founder of the hugely successful Indie Writers Unite group on Facebook. Click here to see Cheryl's Author Spotlight post.
Thanks so much, James, for spotlighting me on your blog. It was fun!
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