Do you enjoy murder mysteries? Well, Pravina has written an amazing, gripping murder mystery / romance. (I'm really impressed by her ability to intertwine a complex mystery plot with a well-developed romance at the same time. Not an easy feat, I'm sure.)
I'm putting the spotlight on her book, Angel of Ice, and I've also interviewed her. This is her debut full-length so she's very excited and nervous too, I'm sure. She's also one of the authors who took part in the anthology for charity - Second Chances.
Blurb:
A blond female was lying facedown, at the feet of an angel toward the rear of the stage, her arms and legs sprawled out. Laura glimpsed one half of the woman’s face. Her blue eyes were open and glazed, her frosted lips parted slightly. An ice pick was lodged in her left shoulder blade. Scarlet blood stained the white ice.When PI, Nick Holt is hired by wealthy industrialist Reginald Baxter to find out who murdered his granddaughter Cindy Capwell, in the small town of Edenville, the last thing he needs is a meddling florist to distract him with her alluring beauty.
Laura Fenwick is determined to figure out who killed her friend and insists on aiding Nick in his investigation. In the pursuit of the killer, passion explodes between them, and Laura realizes a danger far greater than trapping a killer: it’s having her heart captured by a man who doesn’t believe in love.
Angel of Ice is a keep-you-on-your-toes suspense and romance. The romance is deep and hot, the plot complex and well-paced, and the characters will keep you glued to the pages. You’ll try to solve the puzzle along with PI Nick Holt and Laura Fenwick.
Buy Links:
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Author Bio and Interview:
She loves hearing from listeners - connect with her online:-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PravinaMaharajAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pravinamaharaj8
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pravinamaharaj/
Blog: https://chaptersofmyworld.wordpress.com
That I get to create different worlds and characters. And I get to
direct the events that will unfold in the lives of these characters. Although
some characters tend to veer off in a different direction from what I planned.
Things certainly get interesting when that happens!
What is the hardest thing for you about
being a writer?
It is finding the time to write! I have a
day job as a radio producer and it’s a challenge to juggle work, family and
personal commitments with my writing. I find I have to carve out some time each
day to devote to my writing or I will lag behind on my projects.
What genre/s do you write and what genre is
your latest release?
I’ve always read more romance and
occasionally mystery and thrillers. So I started out writing romance. Angel of
Ice is a romantic suspense and I loved the challenge of blending romance with
mystery. I had fun mixing up the genres.
What essential things have you learned
about writing in the last year?
I had done a novel writing course a few
years ago and whilst working on Angel of Ice, I found myself really getting to
grips with the key elements that make up a novel and putting it all into
practice. From plotting, to characterisation, to creating atmosphere, writing
convincing dialogue and point of view which I found particularly tricky. And
then there was creating conflict and also ensuring that the motivations of the
primary characters was strong enough to carry the story through.
Who is your favourite heroine from your
books and why?
I would have to say it is Laura Fenwick my
heroine in Angel Of Ice. She is strong, independent, brave and she certainly
knows how to take care of herself. She also is grounded in her feminine power
and her creativity and passionate nature round her off perfectly.
What type of hero do you like? Super alpha,
wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could
give an example from a movie or well-known book.
I think definitely somewhere in between. I
like a hero to be a bit arrogant, to have a commanding presence but also to
have a vulnerable spot that just makes him more human or which can show off his
tender and sensitive side. I think my ultimate alpha hero would be Jane
Austen’s Mr Darcy from Pride & Prejudice.
Tell us about your journey in writing this
book.
Angel of Ice actually started out as a
short story for YOU magazine. As I wrote it, I suddenly realised that a short
story couldn’t do justice to Nick and Laura’s romance. So it evolved into a
full length novel. Along the way, I had to research forensic details and also
speak to a medical professional regarding the autopsy scenes etc. I’m a huge
fan of forensic TV shows such as CSI and Bones etc. So it was a good challenge
to write about a murder mystery and add in all the little details to make it
convincing.
Tell us three quirky or interesting things
about yourself.
1. I like talking to angels and I do angel
card readings. My favourite angel is Archangel Michael who I call upon daily
for protection and guidance
2.
I’m vegetarian
3. I’m
a huge animal lover. I have four dogs Ria, Leo, Snowy and Jasper and an African
Grey Parrot named Sage. They basically rule my house!
What rituals do you use to help you focus
or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack?
I practice a technique called Right Brain
writing which was taught to me by Felicity Keats Morrison. And I listen to
classical music – my favourite is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Mention something unique about your books
and your writing style.
I try to write the kind of books I enjoy
reading. Which is fast-paced, with engaging characters and an interesting plot
with a couple of twists and turns along the way. My writing style is in the
mode of contemporary romance novelists.
What book would you like to work on next?
I actually have a completed novel which I
am going to be sending out to publishers in the new year. It’s part of a series
featuring three Indian brothers living in America. While I await feedback from
publishers about the first book, I’m going to start writing book two in the
series.
