Tag Archives: Crime Thriller

Shelly Frome, Author of Tinseltown Riff: On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on November 7th, 2013

Publisher: Sunbury Press (March 2013)
Category: Hollywood Crime Caper, Action/Adventure, Thriller
ISBN-13: 978-1620062050
Tour Date: October, 2013
Available in: Print and ebook, 239 Pages

Tinseltown Riff centers on Ben Prine, a thirty-something Hollywood screenwriter who, on a Labor Day weekend, finds himself in desperate straits. Latching on to a dubious last-minute opportunity, he unwittingly embarks on a collision course with a Montana tracker connected with a Vegas mob; an odyssey which culminates in a showdown on an abandoned Western movie set.

Praise for Tinseltown Riff:

“Tinseltown Riff is a twisty tale of quirky characters in a dangerous world of shadows and subterfuge, that company town called Los Angeles. Shelly Frome opens the door on a fascinating and all-too-real scene of hustle and hope. One lovely riff.” – Donald E. Westlake, Oscar nominated and three-time Edgar Award winner, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, author of over a hundred crime novels, many of which have been made into motion pictures.

“Tinseltown Riff is a kick — a funny, well-told tale about the world’s most insane business.” – Peter Lefcourt, Emmy Award winner, screenwriter and best-selling novelist specializing in the Hollywood scene.

“Shelly Frome’s Tinseltown Riff takes us on a ride along the Hollywood fringe that is equal parts gritty intrigue and social comedy. In a subculture where get-rich-quick screenwriting workshops are a con and even the Santa Ana winds can be an illusion, Frome’s characters are heartbreakingly real. Under this pulp fiction facade lurks an unsettling yet compelling truth about the Dream Factory and its high-risk allure.”– John Fusco, mainstream Hollywood screenwriter of Young Guns, Thunderheart, The Forbidden Kingdom, winner of two Bronze Wrangler awards and the Spur Award for Hidalgo, an Academy Award nominee for Best Screenplay and showrunner for Marco Polo.

“Shelly Frome writes with loving attention to the moment and the milieu of Hollywood and the aridity that surrounds it. Some of the best scenes give us a real taste of the Hispanic world most tourists never see. A fast moving and intriguing book with real energy.” – Lee Jacobus, book critic, Connecticut Public Radio.

“An amazing writing technique that actually makes the reader feel they are watching a movie. Frome’s remarkable details fill each page as if viewing a film scene. You find yourself nearly breathless trying to keep up with the constant action. Danger, humor and narcissistic sex co-exist in the Hollywood world of fantasy and selfish ambition.  Each chapter brings a change of direction.  All is finally resolved like the Santa Ana Winds finishing their breezy run. Enjoy this Hollywood story, but hold on to your hats, you’re in for a ride!“- Herbert Siegel. Amazon Reviewer

“Tinseltown Riff by Shelly Frome took me on a trip through the movie industry that was a surprise and a lot of fun.
From C.J. Rodriguez, the Hispanic wild surfer undercover cop, Leo the mad Russian whose visa is about to expire, Mrs. Melnick who will do anything to get on the Jay Leno show, Ray the sleazy front man from Vegas under the gun from the mob, to Angelique, the desperate rock star on the skids, you’ll find people caught between hustle and hope. Oh, and let’s not forget Molly, the actress wannabe who happens to be a younger version of the desperate rock star, and Deke, the cowboy with a mission and not much conscience.
On this wild ride through the industry, you’ll be watching over Ben’s shoulder as he does his best to make it in the Big Time, only to trip and fall, time and time again.
What could all of these people possibly have in common with Ben? Read the book and find out. I did, and I wasn’t disappointed. I recommend this story to readers looking to get away from it all, who are looking for an adventure, and who want to be entertained.”– A. McGraw, Amazon Reviewer

About Shelly Frome:

Shelly Frome is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a professor of dramatic arts emeritus at the University of Connecticut, a former professional actor, a writer of mysteries, books on theater and film, and articles on the performing arts appearing in a number of periodicals in the U.S. and the U.K. He is also a film critic and a contributor to writers’ blogs.

His fiction includes Lilac Moon, Sun Dance for Andy Horn, the trans-Atlantic cozy The Twinning Murders and Twilight of the Drifter, a southern gothic crime-and-blues odyssey. Among his works of non-fiction are the acclaimed The Actors Studio and texts on the art and craft of screenwriting and writing for the stage. Tinseltown Riff, his latest novel, is both a social commentary and a Hollywood crime caper.

Shelly Frome’s Website: www.shellyfrome.com
Shelly Frome Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shellyfrome
Shelly Frome Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellyFrome

Buy Tinseltown Riff:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Sunbury Press

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious books Oct 7 Review & Giveaway
Dr. Bill’s Book Baazar Oct 8 Review
Butterfly-o-Meter Books Oct 9 Interview
Joy Story Oct 10 Review
Ann’s Reading Corner Oct 11 Review
Ordinary Girls Oct 14 Review
From L.A. to LA Oct 15 Review & Giveaway
Paperback Writer Oct 15 Guest Post
Deal Sharing Aunt Oct 16 Review
Bookalicious Travel Addict Oct 22 Guest Post
Kate Eileen Shannon Oct 24 Guest Post & Giveaway
Hollywood Daze Oct 25 Review
Sweeps 4 Bloggers Oct 29 Review & Giveaway
Rose & Beps Oct 31 Spotlight & Excerpt
Literary, etc Nov 1 Review & Giveaway
I Feel So Unnecessary Nov 4 Review

Jame DiBiasio, Author of Gaijin Cowgirl

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This post was most recently updated on June 27th, 2013

Publisher: Crime Wave Press  (March 8, 2013)
Category: Action/Adventure, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense, Crime Thriller
Tour Date: Mid May, 2013
Available in: Print &  eBook, 380 pages

Working Tokyo nightclubs is easy money for beautiful and troubled American Val Benson – until a client with a rather unusual hobby – painting the private parts of his female liaisons – reluctantly gives up a map to a stash of Japanese war loot and tempts his favourite girl into a dangerous treasure hunt.

The Congressman’s daughter is not the only one interested in the map: yakuza, bent cops, human traffickers, rogue CIA agents and her father are hot on her trail, snapping at her high heels.

So begins the dark, epic journey of a new anti-hero of Asian Noir, a protagonist both ambiguous and courageous, and utterly unreliable. From comfort women and tomb-raiding in Japanese-occupied Burma to the murderous echoes of the Vietnam War, long forgotten crimes come roaring back to life, as Val leaves a trail of destruction and chaos in her wake.

Together with her best friend, the equally unreliable nightclub hostess Suki, Val travels through Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok to the Thai-Burmese borderlands for a dramatic showdown with her pursuers. Finding the treasure before everyone else does is her only hope for survival, and perhaps redemption.

Praise for Gaijin Cowgirl:

“Val Benson – a rich kid with a few family secrets in her locker winds up in a Japanese hostess bar before entangling herself in a treasure hunt for lost gold in the Thai / Burmese jungle. Along for the ride are Suki (great name) her Japanese hostess friend, Muddy (again great name choice) a gritty Australian treasure hunter, and Simon- a sarf Londan kick boxer.

Reminiscent of Karin Slaughter’s Tokyo the beginning opens with Val arriving in Tokyo, finding her feet in a hostess bar, and meeting an old flame who happens to be a lawyer working on busting former Japanese war criminals. One of whom is also Val’s number one customer, painter of female genitals, and holder of a lost treasure map. Val goes to the client’s home, takes the treasure map along with a bag of cash, battles C.I.A agents, watches the old war criminal nearly die, and escapes with her life, the cash, and the map. Her diplomat father gets her out of the country to Hong Kong where she meets up with Muddy and then onto Bangkok where the search for treasure starts proper.

Gaijin Cowgirl is a high-octane chase thriller; the action level only drops when the author fills us in with historical details – all of which are probably not a hundred percent essential to the plot – interesting nonetheless. The cast is wide and colorful and the backdrop always illuminating. This is a fine first novel by author Jame DiBiasio who moved to Hong Kong from New York in 1997. DiBiasio has researched and structured his novel well, tension rises and lowers, the plot is strong and well resolved. Val finds out something about herself, her family and her place in the world during this adventure. And that, my fellow readers, is what writing character adventure fiction is all about.”-J. Newman, Amazon.com Reviewer

About Jame DiBiasio:

Author photo by Kelvin Fok

Author photo by Kelvin Fok

Jame DiBiasio is an award-winning financial journalist and editor. He is author of the non-fiction The Story of Angkor (published by Silkworm Books in 2013) and blogs at http://asiahacks.com. He lives in Hong Kong.

Jame on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JameDiBiasio
Jame on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamedibiasio.author

About the publisher:

All info can be found on the website of Crime Wave Press: www.crimewavepress.com
Crime Wave Press on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CrimeWavePress

Buy Gaijin Cowgirl at:

Amazon

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books May 29 Review & Giveaway
Books, Books & More Books May 30 Review & Interview
In This World of Books May 31 Review & Giveaway
Dab of Darkness June 3 Review
Dab of Darkness June 4 Guest Post
Ordinary Girls June 4 Review & Giveaway
Book Dilettante  June 5 Review
DWED Blog June 7 Review & Interview
From L.A. to LA June 10 Review
Ohana Day Academy June 11 Review
VVb32 Reads June 12 Review & Giveaway
Books & Tales June 13 Interview
Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings June 17 Review
I Feel So Unnecessary June 18 Review & Giveaway
My Cozy Corner June 19 Guest Post & Giveaway
Indie Writer’s Review June 20 Review & Guest Post
Romance & Inspirations June 21 Review
Book Lover’s Library June 24 Spotlight
Book Lover’s Library June 24 Review
Book Lover’s Library June 24 Interview
Romance & Inspirations June 25 Interview
Alive on the Shelves June 25 Guest Post

D. A. Serra, Author of Primal: On Tour Again

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This post was most recently updated on February 13th, 2013

Primal by D.A. SerraPublisher: Perry Street Pictures, Inc., May 13, 2012
Category: Crime Thriller, Suspense/Thriller
Tour Dates: January & February, 2013
Available in Print and ebook: 191 Pages

PRIMAL by D.A. Serra (screenplay originally purchased by James Cameron)

The most dangerous place on Earth is between a mother and her child…

With everything at stake – what are you capable of?  What if the worst happens and you’re not a policeman, a soldier, or a spy with weapons training and an iron heart?  What if you’re a schoolteacher – a mom?  In this gritty crime thriller a family vacation takes a vicious turn when a fishing camp is invaded by four armed men.  With nothing except her brains, her will, and the element of surprise on her side, Alison must learn to kill or watch her family die.

And then, things get worse.

Praise for Primal from Tour I:

“D.A Serra does a great job in making the reader connect to the characters.  I could picture everything as it happened, right as I was reading it.  D.A Serra paints a picture, and puts you in it as it’s happening, and once the action starts there’s no way you’re stopping until you get to the very end.  This is a great read, and one I thoroughly enjoyed, and James Cameron just purchased the screenplay.” Jamie, Minnesota Girl in LA

“Serra delivers a suspenseful thriller that is packed with fear, hope, family love, revenge, and desperation. The adrenaline rush will keep you on the edge of your seat anticipating the next move. The characters are well-developed. Serra gives a sense of balance in both a functioning and dysfunctional family. She draws the reader in with a story that flows smoothly and at a steady pace filled with action and drama.  Serra also paints a beautiful, yet terrifying setting in the woods of Northern Minnesota. Her vivid descriptions places the reader in the scene as the action unfolds.” Mason Canyon, Thought In Progress

“Ms. Serra is a screenwriter of many years and this book has been optioned for a movie byTitanic and Avatar director James Cameron. Can I see this as a movie? You bet I can, and a good one. Primal is smart, well written with a strong willed female lead that I think women and men would flock to see on film. This is an exciting story that I can happily recommend.” Dark Haven Maven

“What a great book! It’s scary, suspenseful and very thought provoking. It will keep you grab you and not let you go, even after you’ve read the last word.  This book is about something that every mother fears…her child in danger. It shows what lengths you would go to, to make sure your child is safe.  Much happens in this book and if you decide to read it, make sure you have first the time, and second won’t be interrupted. It’s hard to put down.” Vicki, I’d Rather Be Reading At the Beach

“What a fantastic story, this had it all while keeping me on the edge of my seat.  At only 222 pages this seriously left a thrilling impression on me.  Primal was so much more than I expected, great characters, intense situations, the flow and energy, dialogue, plot and overall I found it came together and was believable. What a great wrap up ending, even if you figure it out it is still shocking, very well executed.  I was thoroughly impressed and entertained throughout.  I thought this can cross over to many genre fans appreciating it but it is a Thriller.  You get Suspense, Romance, Adult Fiction, Crime all wrapped up to create a memorable story.  Another read for the men in your life, they will appreciate as much as females.” Marcie, Tea Time With Marcie

What Some Other Reviews Have Said:

“I honestly loved Primal. It is incredibly well-written with deep, emotionally-charged characters and a storyline punctuated with fear and adrenaline. I found Primal to be an incredibly quick read, mostly because I had a hard time putting it down. I also liked the fact that author D.A. Serra delved into the emotional spiral eclipsing Alison’s life after the horrifying events on the island and wasn’t content to simply go for all-out action, although there’s action a-plenty. I highly recommend Primal if you are looking for a thriller to read this summer. You won’t be disappointed.”-Psibabe, GameVortex Communications (AKA Ashley Perkins )

“To some, Minnesota’s North Woods are a soothing antidote to the stresses of civilization. But to others, all that unpaved, unpeopled wilderness is just plain unnerving. And therein lies the seed of some very spooky storytelling.”- Amy Goetzman, MinnPost

“The book was originally written as a screenplay and there is certainly a cinematic quality to it, with moody descriptions, lively dialogue and a relentless sense of pace. The writing, however, is unexpected, poetic and philosophical by turn, without impinging on the action. The description of a mother hiding a gun in her son’s Batman pyjamas must be one of the most moving, yet ominous, passages of crime fiction I have read in a long time, while the use of household props to distract a rampant killer is ingenious.  A very confident debut novel, highly recommended as a summer read, although perhaps not if you are planning a camping trip.”- Marina Sofia, Crime Fiction Lover

About D. A. Serra:

Deborah Serra was a screenwriter for twenty years and recognized by the Writer’s Guild for her long term continuous employment. She has written ten TV movies, four feature films, and numerous TV episodes including two years as a staff writer for NBC.  She worked for top producers, directors, and actors.  She has taught writing at the University of California, San Diego, Wofford College and at writers’ conferences nationwide.  Serra has now turned her attention to novels, and she was honored as a recent recipient of the prestigious Hawthornden Literary Fellowship, and as a semi-finalist for the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Award given by the Faulkner Society in New Orleans, LA.

Deborah’s  Website

Buy It:

Amazon.com: Paperback or Kindle
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Follow the Tour:

Romance & Inspiration Jan 17 Review
Book Lover’s Library Jan 18 Guest Post
The Top Shelf Jan 24 Review
The Top Shelf Jan 25 Guest Post
Eclectic Books & Movie Jan 28  Interview
Eclectic Books & Movie Jan 30 Review (Postponed)
Teena in Toronto Jan 30 Review
Mom In Love With Fiction Jan 31 Review
Oh Chrys! Feb 5 Interview and Giveaway
Peaceful Wishing Feb 5 Review
Peaceful Wishing  Feb 6  Interview|
Buried Under Books Feb 6 Review
CelticLady’s Reviews  Feb 7 Review
Hannah Violin Feb 8 Review & Giveaway
Walk on Words Feb 11 Review
Walk on Words  Feb 12 Interview & Giveaway
Reviewing Shelf Feb 12 Review
Book Lover’s Library Feb 12 Review