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Wednesday, August 9, 2017

DEFINING AN AUTHOR'S VOICE





Nancy Mehl is a best-selling, award winning author who lives in Missouri, with her husband, Norman, and her Puggle, Watson. She’s authored almost thirty books and is currently writing a new series for Bethany House Publishing based on the U.S. Marshals. The first book, FATAL FROST, in her Defenders of Justice Series, released on November 1st, 2016. The second book, DARK DECEPTION, hit store shelves in June of 2017. Book three, BLIND BETRAYAL, will be released in the spring of 2018. She is also working on a new cozy mystery series for Guideposts, The Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard. 

Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook.

Defining an Author's Voice


Although I rarely read my reviews, sometimes I’ll stop by Amazon or some other site just to see how a book is doing. From time to time I might catch one or two reviews. Every once in a while, however, I will run across a review I hadn’t planned to read. This can be a real encouragement, a downer, or possibly, a head-scratcher. The other day I stumbled across one of those “head-scratchers.” A well-meaning reviewer had noted that my newest book “wasn’t really my voice.” I found it funny that someone else was sure what my voice was. So…what is an author’s voice? Can they have more than one? Do you assume that the first books they wrote were in their voice but at some later date they suddenly changed for some reason? Actually, the reverse is usually true. And then again, it isn’t. Now that I have you scratching your head, what do I mean by that?

Many times authors start out writing what the market calls for. Their publishers decide what they want…and we write that. Readers may think that’s our voice, but many times, they would be wrong.

I believe I have two voices. One is cozy mystery. Yes, I originally wrote cozies because I was asked to – but I fell in love with them. Thankfully, I still write them for Guideposts. 

But I have another voice, and you can hear it in my Defenders of Justice series. Even more in a new, upcoming series. Will my readers follow me into even edgier suspense and mystery? Will they hang in there if the romance isn’t as strong? Will they give me a chance to win them as I go in a little different direction? I hope so, but no matter what I’m still going for it because I believe it’s what I’m supposed to do – and because it truly is my voice.

Just like you might decide to make a change in your life – go a different direction – sometimes authors do the same thing. You might be surprised by what happens. Maybe you’ll love that new direction too if you'll give it a chance.

Today I’m giving away books in both of my voices.

Two winners will have their choice of either an ebook copy of MISSING MABEL or FATAL FROST. (Two very different books in two very different voices.)

MISSING MABEL: Curl Up and Dye Series

Watch the tangled mess a Kansas hairdresser gets herself into when she reports to the funeral home that the body she is to work on is not the same as in her reference photo. Is she being punished when the director accuses her of stealing a diamond ring? Will Hilde Higgins’s former boyfriend help her unravel the issue or only bring more trouble to her life?


 

FATAL FROST: Defenders of Justice Series

Mercy Brennan followed in her father's footsteps in a law enforcement career, but she has no interest in any other connection to him. A U.S. Marshal in St. Louis, Missouri, she's assigned to a joint task force with the St. Louis PD that puts her back into contact with her father and in the sights of St. Louis's most powerful gang.

When the gang has reason to believe Mercy has possession of some highly sensitive and incriminating information, her boss assigns Mark St. Laurent--a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Mercy's ex-boyfriend--to get her out of town until they can guarantee her safety.

Initially unaware of the danger she's in and uncomfortable working with Mark, Mercy's frustration escalates when she discovers the extent her boss and Mark have been keeping her in the dark. It isn't until a freak ice storm hits, stranding them at a remote location and out of contact with the district office, that the full severity of their situation becomes clear. As the storm worsens, the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy closing in to put their lives at imminent risk. Can they survive long enough for help to arrive--if help is even coming at all?

Leave a comment, along with your contact information, for a chance to win a Kindle copy of either MISSING MABEL or FATAL FROST! 

38 comments:

  1. I would love a chance to win Missing Mabel. I've not read any of your cozy mysteries. I have, however, read Fatal Frost and will read the next book in that series when it comes out. That is my very favorite type of suspense so please keep writing those.
    lhanberry1@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Linda. I think you'll enjoy the next series as well. I'll be ramping up the suspense even more.

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  2. I think that a author has been blessed if they can branch put and write in different genres or "voices". If I follow an author and I am anxiously awaiting the next book it is refreshing to have a chance to read anything that they offer!
    Thanks for your giveaway. I would love to read Missing Mabel.
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I do feel blessed, Connie. I love cozy mystery and edgier suspense. I get to write both and I truly enjoy it. Thanks for your comment.

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  3. Would love to win Fatal Frost!
    thedanielsr(at)comcast(dot)net

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  4. Nancy I've read some of your books and they are so good!
    My in-laws owned a flower shop and delivered to funeral homes. I've heard some crazy stories from them of their experiences. I'd love to win "Missing Mabel".
    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thank you so much, Gail. I think you'd enjoy Missing Mabel. :)

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  5. You are one of the newer (to me) authors that I really enjoy. I'd love to win Fatal Frost.

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  6. Would love to win Fatal Frost. I Iove suspense and don't see as many books in that genre.

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  7. I would love the chance to read Missing Mabel. I love your writing and always look forward to your new releases
    jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com

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  8. I would enjoy reading either of these books written with your different voices...Thanks, Pat...johnson_dalel@yahoo.com

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  9. Although both books sound very interesting, I would love the opportunity to read Fatal Frost.

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  10. I loved Fatal Frost! Had a hard time putting it down!

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  11. I would enjoy reading Missing Mabel.
    Martha T.
    CRPrairie1(@)imonmail(dot)com

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  12. I love your books, I have read Fatal Frost would like to read Missing Mabel.

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  13. I have both on my TBR table! And I think our voice can change, especially when we 'channel' a character. I know different characters have me writing differently. Go figure. lol

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    1. Hey, Pat! I just bought one of your books. Looking forward to reading it. :)

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  14. I would love to win. I've read all of your Suspense but none of your cozy mysteries. Would love to win and try one.

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  15. I would love to read FATAL FROST! Nancy your stories are awesome!
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  16. Not to worry, Nancy. I think you, as a writer, can have several voices as a writer. It will keep you from getting bored with any of your series of characters. I will read you in all of your voices!

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  17. Enjoy your books.
    betsylu2@msn.com

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  18. I would love to win Missing Mable. I had not thought about an author using different voices before. You explained it very well. Thanks rose blackard at Gmail dot com

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  19. I've read books by authors when they write in a different genre. It doesn't really matter to me as long as it's quality writing :-) If I know the author well enough, I will always read their "voice" in it.

    I already have Fatal Frost and I don't really read cozies.

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  20. Nancy Mehl, you mean I have to until spring for "Blind Betrayal"? Not sure that's possible! I loved "Fatal Frost"!

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  21. I haven't read either book, so please start me off with #1. :)

    Arletta
    tmkgrup2soon(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

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  22. You are a new author to me. I really enjoyed the description of both books. Would love to read.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. You are a new author to me. I really enjoyed the description of both books. Would love to read.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I applaud you for sticking to your convictions and would love your "voice " to keep on writing! Count me in. It's going to be tough to decide. Thanks. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  25. Both books sound amazing! If I get one free, I'll buy the other one!

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