Do you know? I think I've just read a fiction winner before anyone else has!
J.A. Corrigan's "Falling Suns"
(My review)
I was lucky
to receive an advanced copy of this psychological thriller. Rachel Dune’s small
son is murdered and her cousin is found guilty. As a consequence and oh so
common in many of these cases, Rachel’s marriage is rocked to its core. When it
seems Rachel’s life cannot get any worse, the reader begins to wonder whether
Rachel’s cousin was in fact guilty and the rotten secrets harboured by some
family members are revealed. The only way Rachel can cope with her awful loss is
to seek to avenge her beloved son’s death.
Nothing
is certain in this very cleverly but deceptively smoothly written plot. The
author holds no bars in leading her readers down avenues that have no way out,
back-tracking their steps again only to have another possibility open to them
to explore. She had me guessing right to the end and nothing can be more
satisfying than that, along with all loose story-lines neatly tied up.
I
thoroughly enjoyed “Falling Suns” even though the content could be viewed as
dark at times. However, these harrowing moments affect all of us in some way
and the author has treated them with care.
Ms
Corrigan deserves great success with “Falling Suns”, it stands on the bookshelf
alongside the best thriller writers.
***
Feeling so excited about this book, I couldn't resist asking
J.A. Corrigan a few questions which she kindly answered.
Sue: “Falling Suns” is an amazing
achievement. Is it your first book?
J.A. : Thank for the compliment!
"Falling Suns" is in fact my second book. Like
most debut authors I have one sitting in the drawer – that one day I intend to
pull out again. It is an historical ‘literary’ thriller. Set half in 1976
(Spain and the UK) and half during the Spanish Civil War. It’s the novel I ‘cut
my teeth on,’ so to speak. After writing it, I do think I became more aware of
both my strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and tried to address these
weaknesses in Falling Suns, but also play to my strengths too.
Sue: It seems to me that you must
have spent hours plotting and planning it out. Is that true?
J.A. : I had a very clear idea of maybe three or
four scenes, including the end part of the book. Then I wrote the book around
these scenes. Although I knew I wanted Rachel, Jonathan and Michael Hemmings as
my main characters, many of the minor characters, like Mrs. Xú, Doctor
Patterson and Stanley, emerged as I wrote the story. It’s great fun when
personas emerge like that, and I do believe that this gives the characters a
more ‘real’ feel.
Even with my main characters I try not to plan them too
much, but obviously I need to know something about them before I start. For
example, in my minds eye, Rachel is tall and strong, both mentally and
physically. She has to be, to contemplate what she plans to do. Jonathan was
very clear inside my head.
Lovely guy, but a bit of a maverick (like Rachel). Michael
was the interesting and challenging character to write – for reasons that
become apparent when reading the book.
I do write very ‘organically,’ as well as outlining the
major parts of the plot beforehand. But as rule, I try not to plan too much
because I think then the story can become too formulaic. I think one
of the most important things I learnt with writing the first book was to trust
myself – that there is always an answer to a plot problem.
As one of my writer friends puts it: ‘Trust the man in the
basement.’ If I have a plot issue or something that isn’t quite working, I
always sleep on it (and that can be a nap in the middle of the day) – it does
work!
Sue: When is "Falling
Suns" available? And where can people buy it?
J.A. : "Falling Suns" will be published in
paperback and Kindle on July 14th 2016. It will be available to buy at WH
Smiths, and online at Amazon, Waterstones, the Guardian Bookshop, the Mail
Bookshop, etc. The book is available for pre-order.
Sue: Is this your favourite genre to read?
J.A. : I do really love a good psychological
thriller, mystery, espionage story, but I also like to read in other genres
too. My taste is quite eclectic. I’m very partial to the ‘quiet’ novel. I also
love a good historical, preferably set in in ‘modern’ history, i.e. twentieth
century. I do like to read some literary fiction too – where characterisation
and writing is more important than plot. I think a writer should read in
all genres if possible, and preferably read in a genre that you are not
actually writing in at the time!
Sue: How was your road to publishing “Falling Suns”?
J.A. :The road was/has been quite a long one, but I don’t
think any more so than for other aspiring novelists. "Falling Suns" has seen four
substantial redrafts, and of course the writing/publishing business is
understandably slow. Everything takes time. I have had to learn to be patient –
not a trait that I’m known for.
Sometimes the whole journey can be frustrating, but I’ve
amassed a great circle of writer friends in the last five years, and they do
keep me going. We keep each other afloat through the dark periods, and
celebrate together during the better times!
Sue: What can your readers look
forward to now? Is there another book in progress?
J.A. : Yes, I am in the process writing another book. It’s
another dark tale, and I’m really enjoying working on it.
I do love making up stories …
***
Thank you so much! Now I'll stand back and watch J.A. Corrigan's meteoric rise. If you want to pre-order (and I do recommend it), here's the link:
