Today, I’m delighted to welcome Darcia Helle, author of wonderful stories of thrill and suspense. I’ve read her paranormal novel, Into the Light, and simply devoured it. Review to follow soon. For now, let’s meet the terrific lady behind it!

Max Paddington refuses to go into the light until he finds his killer. This presents a dilemma, since Max is even less competent as a spirit than he was as a live person. No one sees or hears him and he can’t manage to get anywhere or do anything on his own. Joe Cavelli is a private investigator, living an ordinary life. Then one day he walks across a parking lot, gets yelled at by a ghost, and his life only gets stranger from there. Max and Joe team up to find Max’s killer. In the process, they form an unlikely friendship and change each other’s lives in ways they never expected.

VISIT AMAZON

Eli’s dark legacy holds murder as his rite of passage. They say his ability is a gift. He calls it a curse. A life of violence and heartache leaves him with nothing left to fight for. Or so he thinks.

Amanda steals his heart, but love makes him vulnerable. He must give her up or accept who he is and fight. Will he risk stepping into the darkness that could consume him?

VISIT AMAZON

For Michael Sykora, killing started as blind rage. Then it became something he’s good at. To most of those who know him, Michael is a software designer, a smart but average guy with a workaholic nature. To a chosen few, Michael is a part-time hit man whose specialty is eliminating hard-core criminals.

Michael has managed to keep his two personas separate. Until now. When Nicki, a close friend, gets into trouble, Michael steps in to help. Having lost his fiance to a brutal crime, Michael will do whatever necessary to keep from losing another woman in his life.

“NO JUSTICE” IS PERMAFREE!

VISIT AMAZON

Hello Darcia and welcome to my blog!

Thank you, Fros, I’m excited to be here.

What has inspired you to write the Michael Sykora Novels?

The character of Michael Sykora came about during a conversation I was having with my husband. I think our discussion started out on the topic of the death penalty, and then moved into vengeance killing. I asked my husband what he would do if someone tortured and killed me (yes, we have some odd conversations.) As he was talking, Michael Sykora’s character quite literally popped into my head, complete with a story to tell.

Originally, I’d planned for a stand-alone novel. Turning it into a series hadn’t even occurred to me. Halfway through writing that first novel, I realized I had way too much going on. Michael Sykora has a complex history and a variety of directions in which to go. At that point, I decided he was a series character. I rewrote No Justice, the first book, with a narrower plot, and put some of the extra content into Beyond Salvation, the second book. Killing Instinct is the third book. I’m now working on number four. Each book is designed so that it can be read as a stand-alone, so readers aren’t obligated to read in a specific order.

It sounds like a fabulous series. What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?

The first thing I remember writing is a ghost story and picture book. I think I was five years old. It was on blank white paper, with a cover and title, and my mother let me staple the pages together.

Tell us a little about your other published books.

I’ve written 10 novels, one short story collection of my own, and I am part of an ongoing collection of short story anthologies inspired by photographs. All of my books fall somewhere within the suspense genre, including romantic suspense, psychological suspense, supernatural suspense, and suspense/thrillers.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I am as obsessed with music as I am with books. I have a vast, eclectic music collection, with sounds for my every mood. I’ve recently become a regular contributor to the Rock And Roll blog with Maria Haskins and Maria Savva, which is the perfect outlet for sharing my obsession.

Due to the progression of late-stage Lyme disease, with pretty severe neurological complications, I am mostly housebound these days. The activities that I choose to occupy my time are more restricted than I’d like. But I keep myself entertained with books, music, three dogs, one cat, and an incredibly tolerant husband.

I’m sorry to hear that, Darcia, but I’m glad you have a lovely set up for entertainment at home, and a husband to take care of you.

Thank you, Fros.

Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

On my website, readers will find information about all of my novels and short story collections, along with excerpts and audio samples. The ‘Things of Interest’ page offers a variety of material I’ve written, such as true crime articles, information about my writing process, personal essays, and a few short stories.

On my blog, I post all of my book reviews. I read 100+ books per year, so that alone is about half the content. I host a few book tours per month, typically including giveaways. I feature new releases by authors whose work I read and enjoy, and spotlights for books by a variety of authors. And I post my own random, personal ramblings.

Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?

I consecutively lift my tea mug throughout the day, alternating hands in order to evenly distribute the muscle development. I used to get a lot more exercise, chasing my cat when she brought lizards inside the house to torment. She’s now a senior citizen, and we’re both too tired for that sort of theatrics. I do still walk my dogs, which also allows me to practice my agility while hopping over tangled leashes.

(*laughs*) What lovely pets! What were your most and least favorite subjects in school?

In general, I found school too restrictive. For instance, I love history, but I hated most of my history classes because “learning” amounted to memorizing dates and assorted lists. I wanted to delve into the guts of it all. Overall, English was always my favorite class. I hated earth science, because there was no way I was cutting open a frog.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in life the hard way?

Is there an easy way to learn a life lesson? Everything of value I’ve learned has come by way of at least some emotional and/or physical discomfort. The most important thing I’ve learned, and perhaps the hardest lesson I will ever learn, is to listen to the stories of older people in your life. I mean really listen. Ask questions. Lots and lots of questions. Let them tell their favorite stories over and over. You don’t realize how much those stories matter until it’s too late to ask to hear them.

How right you are, Darcia. Thank you for being here with us today. It’s been a treat for me!

Thanks a lot, Fros, for introducing me to your readers.

Darcia Helle lives in a fictional world with a husband who is sometimes real. Their house is ruled by spoiled dogs and cats and the occasional dust bunny.

Suspense, random blood spatter and mismatched socks consume Darcia’s days. She writes because the characters trespassing through her mind leave her no alternative. Only then are the voices free to haunt someone else’s mind.

Amazon page: http://amzn.to/1Xf39Kr

Website: http://www.QuietFuryBooks.com

Blog: http://www.quietfurybooks.com/blog

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DarciaHelle

Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/quietfurybooks

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