Vindictive by Ryan Lawrence

Please welcome Ryan Lawrence author of Vindictive

Ryan Lawrence will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Vindictive

by Ryan Lawrence

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GENRE: Thriller

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INTERVIEW

1. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I don’t know if I would classify this as “expertise,” but I am grateful for the writing and editing skills I learned at University. From preparing my thesis to constant creative writing, many things aided me in achieving my goal to create a level of pacing, descriptive detail, and character development with my novel that I am proud to put out into the world. I did not want to disappoint my readers by not doing my best to entertain them. Perfectionism, something I have dealt with since adolescence, made it hard for me to accept that, with Vindictive, I crafted something as good, as tight, as accessible as I could while retaining a level of dramatic intelligence that I look for in adult-oriented thrillers. But accept it, I did. And yes, adults curse, plot to destroy lives and sometimes kill people—not necessarily in that order.

2. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

I know how to make a mean chocolate peanut butter ball—or several dozen. I worked in a bakery for four years. I have a big sweet tooth.

3. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

After Vindictive, Vengeful, and the third unnamed book are all published, I would like to write a few spin-offs. There are two that have been percolating in my brain for some time now. I would love to do a historical novel featuring the mysterious, sordid Bergé family; I would also like to do an adventure/origin story featuring everyone’s favourite blonde (L)GBT assassin Amanda Reid.

Aside from my revenge novels featuring my characters from Fairporte, Ontario, I would like to write a gay male romance book and a sweeping historical saga working back and forth from ancient Greece/Rome to today, and include many supernatural elements.

4. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

Jules Cartell. Her mastery of planning and manipulating events (and people) to ALWAYS benefit her is a trait I find truly fascinating. It’s the kind of “talent” that is generally unattainable outside the world of fiction, but it is a skill, a power I envy. Maybe even covet. Her sassy attitude, devastating wit, and ability to produce a look to wither the confidence of others are all talents I can access when necessary, but of course, I am really Canada’s sweetheart, through and through. 😉

5. If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

I started writing Vindictive when I was in my late teens. Though I wrote less than 40 pages at the time and then forgot about it for years, I had specific images of people in my head who embodied the physical attributes of my characters: actors from both television and film during the early-mid 90s. After seeing Sharon Stone’s performancein Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recallas a beautiful butt-kicking ice-queen, I knew she could perfectly embody the image I had for Jules Cartell—or Amanda Reid. The suave, handsome Daniel Day-Lewis, with his black hair and tall, slender musculature, fit the look I had envisioned for Jacque Bergé. The refined, classic beauty of Hollywood TV Icon Angie Dickensen had the acting chops (have you seen her in Hitchcock’s Dressed to Kill?!) to play the take no prisoners Stella Cartell, former model now the matriarch of the Cartell Clan. There are still more that instantly come to mind to play other characters—except Phillip, who I did not have anyone specific picked out. The problem is that these images have stuck with me for decades.

In 2022, I need to determine current, age-appropriate actors that I believe could at least physically embody the characters in Vindictive. Amanda Seyfried is a candidate for Jules or Amanda. I have long considered Justin Theroux a total “Jacques Bergé,” but if I wanted to go younger, I think Joshua Sasse or Julian Morris would work nicely, as long as they dye their hair black. These handsome men speaking french? A no-brainer! I will now always see Chris Hemsworth as Phillip—do not argue with me. As for Stella, my tough-as-nails Cartell Matriarch? Perhaps Sharon Stone might make a reappearance in my dream cast.

6. Do you have an all-time favourite book.

My favourite novel of all time is Dracula by Bram Stoker. Even though I have loved vampires since childhood, having watched numerous films on “The Count,” it was not until my late teens that I actually sat down and read Stoker’s novel. I fell madly in love with the descriptive text and “journal entry” style of writing used to tell the Victorian gothic-horror story. Stoker’s work is intelligent, complex, compelling, and brilliantly paced. It is a far cry from being just the pop-culture vampire story of its time. I collect Dracula novels and especially love it when the covers are embossed or brilliantly illustrated. Though I have countless books in my collection, I have yet to snag a first edition copy of Dracula. A copy featuring Bram Stoker’s autograph is like the Holy Grail of novels to me. Getting it is definitely on my bucket list.

7. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?

Currently, I am putting the finishing touches on Vengeful,a companion novel, not a sequel, to Vindictive. The storylines of both works take place over the same three days, and by the end of Vengeful, the two novels will have converged into a cohesive storyline leading into my third, currently untitled novel. Many characters that take centre stage in Vindictive take a back seat in Vengeful, allowing the story to focus significantly more on the Bergé family, Stella Cartell, the mysterious bearded man, and several new and compelling characters, including more additional LGBTQ ones. There is a certain gay police detective I am very excited to introduce.

8. Who is your favourite actor and actress?

My favourite actor is Daniel Day-Lewis. I have been a fan of his work since first seeing him in the film adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel, A Room With a View. Martin Scorcese’s, The Age of Innocence, based on the novel of the same name by Edith Wharton, is my favourite movie of all time. Day-Lewis’s portrayal of Newland Archer in the film was a big inspiration for me during the creation of my character Jacques Bergé from my novel, Vindictive. (Don’t tell Daniel, but I am a bit obsessed with Kit Harington.)

My favourite actresses are Sharon Stone and Mimi Rogers. Stone’s masterful portrayals of powerful, brilliant, self-empowered manipulative ice-queens are transcendent and inspirational. Rogers is a phenomenal actress able to embody a plethora of roles. Her work in films like The Rapture,Bulletproof Heart, and my favourite of hers, the film Somone to Watch Over Me, showcase her range beautifully. She is an underrated actress. Someone To Watch Over Me, along with Rogers’ co-star in the film, Tom Berenger, feature in my forthcoming novel, Vengeful.

9. Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?

Without giving too much away, the “black moment” is right at the beginning of the novel, in the Prologue, when Jules, as an 8-year-old child, is forced to confront something she cannot stop or circumvent. It is a pivotal moment in the story that contains the symbolic “death” of her innocence, where she is stripped of all hope and must accept that she has limitations, even weakness.

10. Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?

I am an avid collector of many things. My husband amusingly calls me a stage one hoarder, but I am a true collector, and everything I own symbolizes a part of my personality, my passions. Every piece in my organized collection has a home. There will never be a need to have an intervention for me: I can see the floors. I have collected comic books and superhero toys since childhood. My favourite hero is Nightwing/Dick Grayson, the original Robin, the Boy Wonder, all grown up. In Vindictive, Phillip is a superhero fan, and he wears a pair of Nightwing socks to his big meeting with Jules and Charles towards the end of the novel.

I also love cologne, and in Vindictive, Christophe, like myself, is addicted to Jean Paul Gaultier’s “Le Male” fragrance. Again like Christophe, I once joked that I would like to take a bath in it.

BLURB:

The best revenge is revenge. Getting it is all that matters.

Jules Cartell has it all: wealth; beauty; a handsome, loving husband; a partnership in her father’s law firm; and the top executive position at one of Canada’s leading corporations, Cartell Worldwide. Aside from her secret, problematic desire for the married owner of the internationally renowned Château Bergé, Jules believes she and her life are pretty perfect. But the discovery of an unforgivable crime perpetrated against her family by her husband, Phillip, years before the two met sets Jules down the path of revenge. There is no option for forgiveness. Phillip has to pay. An eye for an eye.

It is said that when seeking revenge, you should dig two graves. Someone from Jules’s past, someone aggrieved by her actions, seeks vengeance for themselves. This is an enemy without compassion, without morality, without mercy. An enemy who will accept no restitution short of Jules’s death.

In the city of Fairporte, ON, secrets, lies, and betrayal can be found everywhere. As adversaries close in, will Jules get revenge before her past catches up with her? Unexpected allies may be instrumental to her success. They may also be the key to her very survival.

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EXCERPT:

She cried for Ethan and for the bright-eyed girl she could no longer be. Jules wanted to run away from this place of death. She also wanted to run away from her selfish choice to ensure her survival, her future. Jules wished all of it had never happened. But it did happen, and she would have to live with it for the rest of her life.

“Ethan! No! Ethan!”

Startled, Jules quickly turned and looked in the direction of the shrieking bellow. It was William, tearing down the woods, screaming his brother’s name over and over again.

Having discovered his charges missing from the house, William had reluctantly gone about searching for them outside. Sadly, it was not soon enough to intervene and prevent the devastating incident.

When William finally reached the clearing, he stopped at the edge of the lake and looked out upon the scene of broken ice and still water. With clenched fists, he fell to his knees and screamed in anguish. His brother was dead and gone, swallowed whole by the cold, murky depths.

Angrily turning towards Jules, William showered upon her a rage so pure, so palpable it might as well have been a physical smack across her face. His glare was full of hate. And so were his words.

“Why didn’t you help him, you fucking bitch?! You did nothing! You let him drown!”

Jules stood as immobile as a stone and ate her emotions, swallowing all her sadness, guilt, and self-reproach. She owned the choice she had made. The only one possible. The correct choice. She understood William’s pain, but she was well aware of his vile nature.

Jules had her suspicions of what might diffuse her attacker: using his own words—his ignorance and prejudice—against him. Maybe then he would leave her alone. She had only done what was necessary. All she could do.

And who was he to blame her anyway? Was he there when it happened? No! He had been too busy playing video games to look after them, too busy to save his brother, too busy to have prevented all of this in the first place.

Be mean, Jules silently told herself. Act like a grown-up.

With unwavering resolve, staring William down with cold, hard eyes, Jules scoffed, “What the hell could I have done? I’m just a girl. Right?”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ryan Lawrence was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario. He is a 2000 graduate of The University of Guelph in English. Ryan has worn many hats professionally, including working over 12 years as a custom art framer. While writing has always been a part of his life, it was only after leaving this profession that Ryan seriously took his education and passion for writing by the horns and began the journey towards Vindictive, his first novel.

Since 2002, Ryan has lived in London, Ontario, with his husband, Todd, together since 1997, their cat Dora, and his massive comic book collection that once fell on Todd. He’s okay.

CONNECT WITH Ryan Lawrence

WEBSITE – ryanlawrenceauthor.ca

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/RyanLawrenceAuthor/

INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/ryanlawrenceauthor/

TWITTER – https://twitter.com/RyanLAuthor

GOODREADS – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22020369.Ryan_Lawrence

PURCHASE LINKS Vindictive

AMAZON.COM – https://amazon.com/dp/0228864739

AMAZON.CA – https://amazon.ca/dp/0228864739

AMAZON KINDLE – https://amazon.com/dp/B09HFZ4C56

INDIGO CHAPTERS – https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/vindictive/9780228864752-item.html

BARNES & NOBLE – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-ryan-lawrence/1140231175

APPLE IBOOKS – https://books.apple.com/us/book/vindictive/id1588454627

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Ryan Lawrence will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4122