A kiss in Harajuku

A girl is walking on the street in Harajuku, Japan.

She's disappointed that her boyfriend had other plans for the evening.

Without warning a stranger, a boy, rushes up to her and kisses her.

He disappears into the crowd.

Intrigued, she attempts to find him and in the bat of an eye, becomes entangled in a dangerous game.

A biologist has been murdered and a deadly virus is on the loose.

What a great premise for a novel. We're pleased to have Linda Hamonu join us as our guest blogger this week to introduce her latest book, Harajuku Kiss. Linda and I became acquainted due to our participation in the Weekend Writing Warriors project. Regular readers of these columns will be familiar with my photography, which is another interest in which Linda and I have in common. You can see some of her images HERE.

First, a bit about Linda and then an excerpt from Harajuku Kiss.
Welcome Linda!

Author bio:

Born in November 1983 in Brittany, France, Linda Hamonou spent a lot of time lost in Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels. She entered university to study physics and obtained her PhD at Queen's University Belfast in 2009. Her studies allowed her to travel to Europe and America. She then moved to Japan and after three years doing research in Tokyo, she is currently doing a new postdoc in Sendai, Japan.

Excerpt:

As I walked, I had the bizarre sensation someone was observing me. I could have run like Seiji, but it seemed impossible with my backpack.

On one hand, I always carried heavy stuff. Even when I wanted to travel light, I ended up with something unnecessary, like books I wouldn’t read or in this case my computer. I had been too lazy to bring it back home before coming here.

On the other hand, I was a terrible runner. Running made my jaws ache. Running in this street, I would for sure never reach the station, let alone escape someone. I decided to pretend I didn’t notice. It could be that old man again or just my imagination. I didn’t look back. I just dug my hands further in my pockets, if that was at all possible, and held tight on the memory stick. I needed to be more careful with it for sure. The old man knew I had it and other people surely did as well. I was afraid. I heard the steps of a man coming closer. I turned right, I was far from the station. The streets here were not so crowded anymore. I wanted to get somewhere with a lot of people. It felt safer, in the middle of people nobody would try anything.

It came from my left side. Someone pulled on my shoulder and quickly put his hand on my mouth, dragging me in the dark. I panicked using very disorganized movements to try and free myself from the grasp, not really knowing how to do it.

“Would you stay quiet? I’ll free you if you promise to stay quiet?” It was the voice of the old man from earlier.

I tried to calm down and nodded. No matter, who he was, this time I was no longer afraid of running. He pushed me against the wall, still keeping his sweaty old hand on my mouth. It was salty and disgusting. I would never have imagined this old man could have such strength.

“They are not people to take lightly,” he said as he took his hand away slowly.

I took few steps toward the exit. I didn’t want to stay in this dark alley with him. He was freaking me out even more than the feeling of being followed, but he pulled me back holding on my bag.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I wanted to yell, but the fear made my voice sound like an inaudible whisper.

I had always wondered why some people wouldn’t yell while in danger, here was my answer: their voice was frozen. And unfortunately or fortunately, tonight, I was one of them.

“Two men are following you,” he said.

“I know that, thanks,” I answered.

“You know it and you still walked in this empty street, are you insane?” he said shaking his head in disbelief.

Catch up with Linda here:

Harajuku Kiss on Amazon

Harajuku Kiss on Linda's blog

Harajuku Kiss on Smashwords 
Linda's Facebook Author Page

Paying It Forward

Recently another author invited me to participate in a “blog tour” by posting an article in which I answer several questions. Here goes.

My writing time in addition to blog articles is focused on my third novel, A Year Without Killing. This will be volume three in the “Barry-Hixon Conspiracy” series. It is also the sequel to my first book, The Tourist Killer. Writing is not my full time occupation, so it make take a while. If it all works out, maybe AYWK will be available in time for Christmas shopping.

While some books neatly fit into a particular genre, I’m not a big fan of the genre-labeling game. My first book prompted this comment from reviewer, Blaine Coleman, “The Tourist Killer is a complex story that’s difficult to pigeonhole into a single category: is it a novel about crime, international intrigue, a psychological thriller, a look into the mind of a paid assassin, or, is it a romance?” You could say that my books are “crossover” in terms of genre and that’s what makes them different.

Dale Carnegie said to speak about something that you have: 1. earned the right to speak about (personal experience) or 2. done extensive research and can speak about with knowledge. Applying his advice to writing, I write about what I know. My wife says I talk too much and she’s probably correct. My editor prefers me to use dialog to drive the story so I put my experience to work. The combination has earned kudos from reviewers for the conversations in my books. From a review of The Presidents Club, “Also intriguing are the elderly men themselves, their histories, and their opinions. Although they are, at times, catty, insulting, and sly, they seem like people we'd want to know (Hey, Louie, bring me a beer.) Etier has captured real conversations as the characters' comments overlap, entertain, and yes zing each other.”

I write for the same reason many readers open a book -- escape.

The time spent with my characters is wonderful and meaningful.

If I can escape and become totally absorbed with my characters in the story, then, perhaps my readers can also.

When I write dialog, it helps to (as they say in the theater), "get into character."

When a few weeks pass without writing, and then I return to it, I'm always surprised at how much I missed being with my literary friends.

When I begin a project, I think about characters and make notes on them. An overall story arc helps and then I write the first and last chapters. At that point, I turn the characters loose and hang on for dear life. It is often surprising what the characters do.

It is never disappointing and that’s why I love writing.

At least three of my writer friends will receive an e-mail from me soon with an invitation to answer the same questions and invite three of their fellow authors.

Reciprocity

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” -- Matthew 7:7-12 KJV [from The Sermon on the Mount]

Culturally literate humans, regardless of their race, religion, sex, or political persuasion, will be familiar with that classic axiom often referred to as “the golden rule.”

Another well known phrase is “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

Many interpret the former as a proactive approach to human relations while the latter is clearly a response to the actions of others.

A blogger friend of mine complained recently about a conspicuous absence of comments on their posts.  I said, “You saw the movie, Chicago, didn’t you?  Remember that great song by Queen Latifah? You want more comments, make more yourself -- and comment on the work of fellow bloggers first.”

So what’s the one conclusion I can bring this blog piece to?
When you’re good to others,
They’ll be good to you!

So...you want a good review?

“Published reviews are cheap advertising; the only cost to the author is that of the book and postage. Being reviewed, though, is not the most important thing – getting a positive review is. The more a reviewer raves about a book, the more interested people will be in reading it.” -- Bob Etier, Jan. 2010 Blogcritics - There’s So Such Thing as a Bad Review

Author Claude Nougat agrees and writes about her experience HERE.

Bob Etier, author of "Bob On Books" and known to many as, “Miss Bob,” wrote the essay quoted above almost two years ago. During that time, she has written over one thousand reviews. Most of those reviews were for books and DVDs.  

She recently began a series of articles for Venture Galleries aimed at helping authors set themselves up for success. At least success in receiving favorable reviews for their work.

In case you missed them, here are the first five:

1. Introduction http://venturegalleries.com/uncategorized/thjere/

2. Research http://venturegalleries.com/blog/the-science-of-getting-good-book-reviews/

3. Etier interviewed: http://venturegalleries.com/blog/thoughts-from-a-professional-reviewer/

4. Character http://venturegalleries.com/blog/characters-the-key-to-great-reviews/

5. Grammar vs Style: http://venturegalleries.com/blog/the-great-debate-style-versus-grammar/

The weekly articles appear on Mondays in her blog on VentureGalleries.com.

So...read her articles and get more favorable reviews.