Welcome! Today, I have a guest author at my blog. Chrys Fey, the author of The Disaster Crimes Series, and the Write with Fey books, is here to discuss a serious aspect of her romantic suspense series.
Tyrean Asked: Why are a lot of your
characters survivors of domestic violence/abuse or advocates for victims of
abuse?
Chrys Fey’s Answer: It’s
not something I consciously do. It’s automatic. So many of my characters
(published and unpublished) have a history dealing with some kind of abuse, and
I think it’s because I can relate to that.
Growing up, I experienced sibling/domestic abuse, as a child
and through to my teen years. I never knew it had a name. I didn’t even know to
call it sibling abuse until a couple of years ago when I learned this term and
realized, holy shit, that’s what I experienced. I had also witnessed
child-to-parent abuse, meaning the child (in this case a grown adult) abuses a
parent. All of those things impacted me heavily. Still do.
I never discussed it, never understood that for all those
years after, even while removed from the person in question, that I was going
through PTSD. Knowing that it’s possible, that you can have PSTD from any level
of abuse, I can look back and pinpoint moments when my PTSD was aggravated—the
fear I had whenever I heard a loud truck outside my apartment or saw a note
stuck to my front door.
I am drawn to characters who are survivors, as I am a
survivor, although they may have gone through different things. I want to write
about these heroines of steel. I want to live through them and feel their
strength.
In my life, I also want to be an advocate for those who
have or are experiencing abuse, so that’s why my characters stand up for victims
of all kinds, as that’s my goal, too.
I will always write about these characters. Maybe not for
every single story, but for a lot of them. It’s my calling.
Pages: 154
Genre:
Romantic-Suspense
Heat
Rating: Hot
BLURB:
*A FIGHTING CHANCE is Book 6 in the Disaster
Crimes series, but it’s a spin-off featuring a new couple, so it can be
read as a standalone.*
Thorn has loved Amanda from afar, giving her whatever she
needs as a survivor of abuse—space, protection, and stability. He yearns to give
her more, though, to share his feelings, kiss her, love her, but he's worried
the truth will frighten her away.
And Amanda is afraid. She’s scared of her attraction for
Thorn. Most of all, she’s terrified of her ex-boyfriend, who is lurking nearby
where no one can find him. When she grows closer to Thorn, Damon retaliates,
jeopardizing their happy ending.
Up against an abusive ex and Mother Nature, do Thorn and
Amanda have a fighting chance?
Book
Links: Amazon / Barnes
& Noble / Kobo / iTunes
EXCERPT:
Amanda looked up from the current list of up-to-date
payments for classes. A movement outside the glass storefront caught her eye.
She tilted her head to see a man coming up the sidewalk from the side where the
picnic bench sat. Through the vertical blinds, she glimpsed a square face—a
short, rugged beard and long, dark hair pulled into a man bun. Her breath fled
from her lungs. Her body went from icy cold to flaming hot in the span of a
millisecond. She dropped to the floor and slid under the counter, beneath the
ledge where they put their purses and cell phones.
“What—” Beth peeked at the windows. Then she snapped her
fingers at April and pointed at the stools.
April jumped into action. She pushed the stools in so they
blocked Amanda. The bell attached to the door jingled as April removed the
jacket she wore and draped it across the stools, creating a curtain to shield
Amanda.
From a crack, Amanda watched Beth move to stand in front of
the twins, who were in their walkers playing peacefully. “I’m sorry, but we’re
going to be closing.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’m here for Amanda.”
The sound of Damon’s voice had her heart beating even
harder. That voice had haunted her nightmares, had come back to life in her memories.
Beth cocked her head to the side. “Who? There’s no one by
that name here.”
“Don’t bullshit me. I know she works here.”
His voice was closer now.
***FREE
FOR A LIMITED TIME***
THE
DISASTER CURSE
Book
Links: Amazon / Barnes
& Noble / Kobo / iTunes
Author’s
Note: I wrote The Disaster Curse to answer a few
lingering questions readers may have after reading A Fighting Chance,
and to tie the whole series together with a neat, shiny, perfect little bow.
Plus, there was one disaster that I hadn’t written about yet. *wink*
The
Disaster Crimes Series:
*The
Crime Before the Storm (prequel)
Hurricane
Crimes (novella, #1)
Seismic
Crimes (#2)
Lightning
Crimes (free short, #2.5)
Tsunami
Crimes (#3)
Flaming
Crimes (#4)
Frozen
Crimes (#5)
A
Fighting Chance (spin-off, #6)
The
Disaster Curse (short story, #7)
*Free
exclusive story to newsletter subscribers.
***LAUNCHING
A WEBSITE***
TheFightingChance.org is a
website dedicated to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Inspired
by the Disaster Crimes series.
***GIVEAWAY***
Prizes:
Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes 1) and Seismic Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2)
eBooks (mobi or epub), Hurricane Crimes Playing Cards, Girl Boss Sign, and a
Volcanic Blast Scented Candle
Link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a92670/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique
concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure
Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur
Press. https://www.chrysfey.com
Author
Links:
Newsletter / Website / Facebook Group /Blog / BookBub
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon
Thank you, Chrys, for your advocacy and your excellent writing!
13 comments:
Knowing your calling is half the battle.
Congratulations on the release!
Thank you so much for participating in my blog tour, Tyrean, and for giving me a place to share this bit about my childhood. <3
That is half the battle. Thanks, Alex!
More people than you realize have been through some level of abuse, including verbal and emotional.
Alex - so true
Chrys - I'm glad to have you!
Diane - so true, sad, but true.
So sorry for the difficult situations that led you to write about these characters. I've learned so much about you reading your answers today. Congrats on your new book!
@L. Diane, it's so sad, but it seems every single person has experienced some level of abuse, whether physical, verbal, or emotional.
@Natalie, thank you! I'm trying to open up in small ways, knowing others out there could use what I share. <3 Thanks for visiting my other blog tour posts today!
I love the idea of being drawn to survivor characters. It seems that by giving them strength in your writing, you're able to give strength to yourself.
Hi Tyrean and Chrys ... your books sound ideal ... especially as you've had some real trials in your early life ... I congratulate you - also all the best - thanks Tyrean ... take care - Hilary
@Sarah, they do give me strength. :)
@Hilary, thank you!
Very glad they have Chrys as an advocate. <3
@M.J., thank you! I am doing (and will do) my best. :)
Thanks for supporting Chrys, Tyrean! And thank you for sharing your personal story, Chrys. You are a wonderful example of resiliency and a source of hope for others. People can rise above all kinds of hardships and forge meaningful lives.
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