Happy New Year, Noters!
I hope your holidays were peaceful and that 2024 will be a year of endless possibilities. I had a lovely time visiting with friends and family, doing my best not to do any work. I drove myself pretty hard throughout 2023, and it was so refreshing to take the last two weeks of the year to unwind and just be in the moment rather than thinking about all the tasks ahead.
2024 has kicked off with a bang — the next Trending Topic Mystery is almost here! I shared the cover of DM Me for Murder on socials yesterday, and I’m so tickled by how fun you all think it is. Coco’s next mystery outing drops on February 13 from Level Best Books. Right around the corner! A little birdie told me that it will soon be up on NetGalley for review 😉
My first Noteworthy guest of the year is a fellow Level Best author.
Without further ado…
A Bit About the Author: Ivanka Fear is a Canadian crime fiction author, born in Slovenia. She lives in Ontario with her family and feline companions. Ivanka earned her B.A. and B.Ed. in English and French at Western University. After retiring from teaching, she wrote poetry and short stories for various literary journals. The Dead Lie, A Blue Water Mystery, is her debut novel, with the second in the series, Lost, Like Me, scheduled for release in March 2024. Ivanka is also the author of Where is My Husband?, a Jake and Mallory Thriller. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Canada. When not reading and writing, Ivanka enjoys watching mystery series and romance movies, gardening, going for walks, and watching the waves roll in at the lake. Learn more at www.ivankafear.com.
Ivanka, welcome to Noteworthy! I’m looking forward to learning more about you, your new novel, and your writing. What book made you fall in love with reading?
It’s hard to pinpoint just one. I have always loved to read. When I started school, I didn’t speak English. My parents couldn’t help me learn the language, but they provided me with books to supplement my education. The first book I recall having was a big book of fairy tales that I read over and over. I was always excited when my teacher sent home the monthly Scholastic order forms. I still have some of those books from the 60s--Shadow Castle, A Ghostly Trio, Clarence the T.V. Dog. I read Beverly Cleary books, and The Hardy Boys. One of my all-time favorite children’s books is Little Women.
Getting a Scholastic book order form was always the best day at school. As children, it gives us a chance to see all the worlds out there, waiting to be explored. How did your love of reading evolve into a love of writing? How did you begin your writing journey?
My love of reading naturally led to writing. As a child, I enjoyed writing stories for school and decided early on that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. In Grade 9, my English teacher had us keep a journal for personal writing. He encouraged me in my writing, suggesting that I submit my work to journals, and he connected me with author John Robert Columbo. Although I didn’t publish any of my writing, I developed a love of poetry and wrote for my own enjoyment. In university, I studied literature and earned my English teaching degree. However, it wasn’t until I retired from teaching that I actively pursued a career as a writer. Having more time on my hands, I wrote poetry and then short stories. It began as a hobby, but my husband suggested I try to publish my work. After many acceptances in literary magazines, I decided to try writing a novel, something I had aspired to do since I was a child. Not only did I complete that novel, I wrote five more before I was offered a publishing contract.
The Dead Lie is the first book in your Blue Water Mystery series. Please tell us a bit about your protagonist, Lana.
Lana is a Canadian-born young woman of Croatian background. When she was 18, she became involved with a young man who, unknown to her, was the son of a Serbian Mafia boss. Learning of his family connections and looking for an escape from him, Lana took drastic action, changed her identity, and moved away. Eleven years later, she thinks it’s safe to return to her hometown to visit her parents and reclaim her life. That’s where The Dead Lie begins. Trying to put the trauma of the past behind her, Lana hopes to be a better person, making her husband and children a priority. Knowing that her past could put her family in danger, Lana will do whatever is necessary to keep them safe. Despite her relative naivete and introverted nature, Lana is a journalist who relentlessly seeks answers, especially to protect her family. Her curiosity and need to know make her a good amateur sleuth but also put her in the path of danger.
It sounds like the stakes are quite high for Lana! What made you want to write a mystery?
As a reader, I’ve always been drawn to books with an element of mystery. That includes romantic suspense, thrillers, mild horror, and gothic fiction. I was hooked at an early age by The Hardy Boys, Agatha Christie, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Victoria Holt. As an adult, I enjoy reading a broad range of crime fiction and thrillers. I wanted to write the kinds of novels that I would enjoy reading. As an author, you must read your manuscript many times before it is published. I don’t tire of reading the books I have written. And I think that’s because I chose to write what I love to read. My first idea for a book came from a short story I wrote about a young woman who unwittingly involves herself with a Mafia family. That originated from a phone call asking if I was interested in colored diamonds. Real-life incidents that make me wonder ‘what if?’ have the potential to become novels. Life is always a mystery.
What was one of the best lessons you learned while writing this book?
This is the fourth book I wrote, but it was the first published. So, this was my first experience in making revisions and edits beyond what I had already chosen to do as the author. Although the prospect of editing a book for my publisher was scary at first, I learned that it is far from that. Working with an experienced editor is crucial to making a book the best it can be. Also, much research goes into a book. I enjoyed learning more about Croatia and imagining myself in the real and fictional places Lana visits. Creating the main character’s world is a lot of fun!
What does your workspace look like?
My workspace is minimalistic. No office, no desk. I could work anywhere. Mostly, I write in my living room, in a chair facing the large bow window that overlooks the quiet countryside. I write on my laptop, with my cats for company. In warm weather, I sometimes head outside to the deck or porch.
Is there anything you need for a successful day of writing?
I need to be inspired. I’m not good with ‘on-demand’ writing where I have to force myself to sit down and write. When an idea comes to me, the words just flow. Time, of course, is necessary for a successful day of writing, as is peace and quiet. Distractions like social media slow me down.
What book (other than your own ) have you been recommending to people lately? Any must reads to share?
I’ve been reading some great mysteries from my publisher, Level Best Books. Also, I’ve made connections with other writers, and am constantly expanding my list of favorite authors. I review the books I read on my website, and you can check them out here: https://www.ivankafear.com/blog.
Wonderful! Noters, make sure to stop by Ivanka’s blog and check out her latest recommendations. Ivanka, thank you so much for being here and sharing a bit about yourself and your writing. The Dead Lie is available now—pick up your copy from your favorite book retailer!
About the Book
You can run. You can hide. But in the end, the past catches up with you.
Lana, a young mother, who suffered a traumatic event 11 years ago, has been living under an assumed name. She visits her hometown to check if it’s safe to reclaim her identity, but becomes accident prone. When her parents die in a car crash, Lana blames her own past misdeeds, then discovers her mom and dad weren’t who they claimed to be, leading her to suspect their own secrets may be responsible for their deaths.
Lana returns to her family’s native Croatian village to visit her grandma in hopes of learning the truth about her parents. When she meets the villagers, they slam their doors in her face at the mention of her father. Meanwhile, the accidents that happened back home have followed her to Croatia, as has a tall, dark stranger.
Lana probes into the village’s past and uncovers a cold case and a decades old curse, bringing out the ghosts of the past, and putting herself in the same danger her parents ran from years ago.