Those who have read the entire book will have to answer that question for themselves. I understand that you have come here for my opinion and here it is.
Calling Vicki is a book about survival.
The antagonist is a violent criminal. Carlos solves almost all of his problems with violence. I admit that I made that I made the conscious choice to show that violence to the reader so that when Vicki response with violence you as the reader can clearly see the difference.
There is never a moment where Carlos is engaged in violence where he is not emotional and that is where it comes from for him. Strong emotions like anger, lust, fear and rage.
When Vicki resorts to violence it is to protect herself or those whom she loves. She is almost always thinking it through when she uses a gun. Of course this is why she does not dwell on the actions that she had taken along the way. She uses a gun for a reason. Like the soldier that she was at one time she has learned to justify it and move on.
A few words about where I learned to write a modern thriller. There are two answers to that. My writing style comes from reading Robert B. Parker (the Spenser novels), Mickey Spillane, Dorothy L. Sayers and James Patterson. I am also influenced by movies. I am a screenwriter more so than a novelist. I do not have to struggle while writing a screenplay in the same way that someone who plays the guitar has to struggle when learning to play the bass. As a guy I hate to admit that I have watched a number of lifetime thrillers and suspense films. Most of them are terrible because they never take risk. They never break free of their basic formula. If someday I am asked to write a movie for the Lifetime network it would end up being something like the film Stoker or a lost classic like Mute Witness.
Here is a quick video that I found on writing suspense. If you are planning on writing your own suspense novel this quick tutorial can help you a great deal.
I suppose the next question for me would be, do I see Calling Vicki as film material?
It started out as a screenplay that I could not finish. Now looking at it finished in prose form I believe that it would make a very good movie. I believe that all three books in what will be the Victoria Winters series of novels would probably make good movies.
Who would play Vicki or Liz or Cash in a movie version?
That would be asking someone who is a indie film maker. If I did this book as a film rather than Hollywood who would play those parts? Well, I would pick a few actors that most of you have never heard of, but I believe are fantastic. I will not duck the question completely. As far as Cash goes, I could see either of the guys on the show Supernatural playing that character in a movie. (Duck Alert) Who would play Liz would depend on casting Vicki first. If I say a name then you will always associate that actress and her face with Vicki, that is why I did not want to put a face on the cover of this novel. I tell you what I will do and you guys can remind me when it is released. When the second book comes out I will tell you exactly who I believe should play her in a movie if I got to pick and who would do it if Hollywood got to pick. Also I will do the same for the character of Liz. I promise. Just don’t get upset if I suggest Joan Rivers. (I am Joking)
Okay that is it for today. Above you will see that I have posted the next chapter in the book. I am thinking that I will go ten chapters over ten post.
Please take a moment to share this post or one of the chapters with a friend. I need your help to market this book. I need your help to complete these series of novels. If this novel becomes a best seller it is going to be due to those who read it and shared it with others. I could buy ads and hire companies to push Calling Vicki, but I believe that it would be better in the long run if fans of the book sort of pulled it along.
Some of you guys have been great so far. I want to thank those of you who purchased the book. I want to thank all of you who have shared this blog on facebook and who have posted comments on stumbleupon. You are doing it because you like the characters and information that I am sharing with you. Thank you.
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