Authorpreneur Dashboard – Sheri Wren Haymore
A Deeper Cut
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
When Hunter Kittrell and his beautiful friend Miki arrive in Beaufort, NC, for their summer stay, they decide to liven up the small town by pulling a harmless prank. That prank, however, quickly finds them deeply entangled in a blood bath face-off with a knife-wielding serial killer. As the usually peaceful town is plunged into chaos, Hunter and Miki find themselves drawn more deeply into the investigation, and it turns out their connection to the murders might not be as tenuous as it seemed at first. As the investigation continues, burning questions bubble: Why is Hunter being framed for at least one of the murders? And why does his missing father's name keep popping up all over town? Everything crashes to a startling conclusion on Hunter's 21st birthday, when Hunter is forced to face the truths he's been running from his whole life.
Book Bubbles from A Deeper Cut
Hunter's Father Shows Up
All summer, with a serial killer on the loose, Hunter Kittrell has been hit at every turn with questions about his long-lost father. Hunter's first meeting with Rob Kittrell in eighteen years is nothing like he expected. The big question is, will Hunter continue to seek revenge against a father whose absence and secrets have damaged Hunter's life? Or--after all the events of the summer--will Hunter choose forgiveness?
A Menacing Presence
Even as Hunter Kittrell's story unfolds--a normal college kid, visiting his Granny, caught up in the investigation of a serial killer--always in the background, there's something sinister. We go from everyday life in Beaufort to jarring encounters with the killer, who calls himself The Cat.And always, the menacing presence of The Cat draws closer to Hunter.
Romance and Murder
Even though A Deeper Cut doesn't fit the Romance genre, it does have a touch of romance. While Hunter's girlfriend, Miki, slips further away from him, he and his childhood friend, Amy, reconnect as they do every summer. In the midst of serial murders, with Hunter's life spinning out of control, Amy is a steadfast presence during Hunter's darkest moments.
Wise Words from Granny Jen
In the midst of chaos, as the small town of Beaufort, NC, comes under siege by a knife-wielding serial killer, Granny Jen is her grandson's rock. She challenges him with wit and wisdom, keeps him grounded. She can get by with saying things to Hunter Kittrell that no one else can. And she offers him a bit of spiritual guidance, whether he wants it or not. It comes as no surprise, then, when a reader discovers that "A Deeper Cut" refers to things going on in Hunter's heart as much as to the murders.
Tight Suspense
A Deeper Cut is an Indie Excellence Book Award Finalist. Perhaps the reason has to do with the internal conflicts among the characters within the tight suspense of the serial murders. Here you see an example of the ongoing conflict between Hunter Kittrell, our college kid caught in the middle of the investigation, and Jack Franklin. There are also constant conflicts between Jack and our local police chief, Grayson Tucker. Added to that, the story has a touch of romance as Hunter seems to lose Miki to Jack. Will Hunter fight for Miki? And what about Hunter's childhood friend, Amy?
Small-town Police Chief
I've taken liberties with the investigation, but I feel Police Chief Grayson Tucker does justice to every good cop out there. He doesn't have big city resources. What he has is a Southern cop's gut, which tells him everything isn't as it appears to be in the investigation. Even with a Federal investigator laughing in his face at his small-town efforts, and national press in his face daily, Grayson carefully and methodically puts the pieces together. The way he keeps Hunter Kittrell focused is one of my favorite parts of the story.
An Unlikely Hero
Hunter Kittrell is an unlikely hero, a typical college kid--cocky, athletic, noncommittal, a bit of a player and party-guy. Yet as he is drawn more deeply into the investigation of a serial killer, we find that the cocky attitude hides deep-seated hurts. True courage begins to emerge as Hunter must use his entire focus to find out what his connection to the killer is...before it's too late.
A Higher Voice
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
How far will a man go to protect his family? Legendary rock singer Britt Jordan is stopped dead in his tracks by a woman's smile--just as his world is unraveling. With the same determination that propelled him to stardom, Britt throws his all into creating a new life with Dena and her daughter. Nearly undone by his damaged voice, a tangled past, and a brother who'll stop at nothing to destroy him, Britt must use every resource he has to protect his wife from a stalker. Will he face his past in time to live the future he envisions for his family?
Book Bubbles from A Higher Voice
Hero to the end
This will have to be our final bubble--to go further will reveal too much! Britt has done everything in his power to keep his wife safe, but is hasn't been enough. The stalker finally finds them. Whether Britt lives or dies today, he is determined to protect his family. A word regarding genre: A Higher Voice is a Suspense novel. It was never my intention to fit the story into the Mystery genre, with hidden clues and a suspect the reader would never, well, suspect. It was my intention to write Britt Jordan so well that by this point in the story, the reader cares deeply what happens to him and is caught up in the story's tension--even if she's guessed the stalker's identity.
Comical Interlude
This little section almost didn't make the cut in the final editing, but I'm glad it did. Besides being funny--not only this Bubble but Britt's camaraderie with his old friend during the course of the evening--it reminds us of the huge life that Britt gave up in order to keep his family safe. And a scene later in the evening, when Dena honestly answers a playful question from Mark Blue, allows another opportunity for Britt's deep introspection.
The Strongest Addiction of All
I loved writing the friendship between rock legend Britt Jordan and Charlie, a regular guy. Often, Britt intimidates his new friend, but in this scene, he opens up about his struggles. Britt shrugs off the spiritual conversation that follows, but ultimately, Britt must face the questions that Charlie raises.
Blind rage
Britt's brother's invasion of their home sends Britt into blind rage, and Phillip's plot gets Britt arrested. Days have passed in which Britt hasn't slept, and Dena has neither confronted nor advised him. We're pushing Britt farther and farther. When he pops, will he allow himself to be transformed?
Guards aren't enough
Britt's look-alike brother makes his way into Britt's home. His step-daughter is alone, and nothing will ever be the same for this family. The big question is--if fences and guards can't keep the brother out, how will they keep Britt's family safe from the stalker?
Britt's story heats up
How far can we press Britt into a corner before he pops? Is there anyone he can trust? Even his own brother, as we learn in this scene, will stop at nothing to destroy him.
An Old Girlfriend
Britt Jordan has many secrets which threaten to undo him. One of them involves his old girlfriend. Dena has her own method of extracting at least one secret from him.
Songs, of course!
Of course, a novel about a rock legend must have original songs! This story includes four songs. Britt sings this one on his birthday to his family and the only two friends he trusts to know their whereabouts. At this point in the story, Britt has been working on his damaged voice for several weeks.
Battle Lines
The stalker's detailed threats drive Britt into a desperate attempt to lure the stalker away from his wife. His every move has been bounced around the tabloids and the internet. Dena knows he's not been truthful with her, and a confrontation is imminent. I love this chapter because they approach the argument with humor and great care, and we learn new things about both of them.
Humor Above All
My favorite thing I hear from readers is when they describe A Higher Voice as "funny." Humor is what gets Britt and Dena through their difficulties, and it keeps Britt sane as his life continues to unravel. Britt's quirky humor might not stand alone in a Book Bubble, but Dena has her own brand of humor.
Sacrifice
Their abrupt return from their honeymoon triggers a trap set by the stalker. Dena's daughter might have been killed had Britt and Dena not returned before expected. Britt sets about finding a more secure home for his family, and does so in his unconventional manner. Britt Jordan is the antithesis of 50 Shades' Christian Grey. Yes, he's lived a self-serving life, but now that he's given his heart to Dena, he's willing to make any sacrifice to keep her happy. We have yet to see just how far he'll go, and how much he must sacrifice...
Life Unravels
Life as Britt has always known it continues to unravel. After the abrupt end of his career, he takes Dena on their deferred honeymoon to his home in Antigua. His friends expect him to be the same old party-guy, and Britt has to face some unpleasant truths about himself. He is forced to make a difficult decision between his past life and the future he desires with his new family. He has no idea that the unraveling of his life is only beginning.
Career Crash
If you'll look closely at the image of the mic on the cover of A Higher Voice, you'll realize that this image is telling us...something's wrong. One secret Dena learns just four days into their marriage is that Britt's struggle with his damaged voice is exhausting him to the point of collapse. This Bubble picks up toward the end of Britt's final--and most brilliant--concert. The entire chapter is so visual that if I were to make a movie of this book, I wouldn't change a thing that happens in this portion.
The racket ends...
Rock legend Britt Jordan's world is unraveling...until he is stopped dead in his tracks by Dena Martin's smile. And thus the racket in his head that has been tormenting him for months ends...and Britt's new story begins. Little do they know that his presence will put her life in jeopardy and change the course of both their lives.
Quirky and Unraveling
Britt Jordan made for a rocking good ride as I wrote his story. He is quirky and funny; disciplined, yet erratic. Detailed, yet forgetful. When we meet him, his world is unraveling, and he's trying to hold it together with every ounce of his being. Little does he know that this very night he'll finally meet the love of his life--or that she will be his only anchor over the coming months.
