A Margin of Lust Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Greta Boris to the blog today. Greta pens The Seven Deadly Sins series. A MARGIN OF LUST, the first book in the series, was released earlier this year.

Kathy: What made you choose the seven deadly sins as the theme for your series?

GB: I was playing around with a few horror stories, which will never see the light of day, but while I was doing some research for them I stumbled into the world of DANTE'S INFERNO. I became captivated with the idea of sin and consequences.


Kathy: Which deadly sin causes you the most problems?

GB: I'm not sure if you mean personally, or in the series, but I think the answer is the same---envy. I wrote and rewrote THE COLOR OF ENVY four or five times, and although I really like many of the characters in it, I had to put the story away. I plan to tackle it again as book 4 in the series.


Kathy: In A MARGIN OF LUST Gwen Bishop signs her dream listing, a multi-million dollar beachfront property in Laguna Beach, California. What would be your dream house?

GB: Not the house Gwen lists, that's for sure! That one is my version of Dracula's haunted castle. There is another house in the book Gwen lists, which is based on a house my husband and I saw a few years ago that I fell in love with. It's well laid out, big living room with a fireplace and an ocean view, well landscaped garden and has a comfy outdoor area for reading and watching the sunset.


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

GB: Nancy Drew, of course! I started there, devoured everything Agatha Christie ever wrote, moved on to Agnes Sanford, Arthur Conan Doyle, and all the classics.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

GB: I write nonfiction. My first book, THE WINE AND CHOCOLATE WORKOUT, is about health and wellness, and I've written quite a bit for magazines. I really enjoy the work of Steven King and Dean Koontz and plan to write some stories set in the real world, but with supernatural elements.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

GB: A MARGIN OF LUST, the first book in The 7 Deadly Sins Series, is actually my debut novel. The second book, THE SCENT OF WRATH, is coming out this December. They're loosely linked stand alone books. Since they are domestic suspense, not amateur sleuth or detective novels, I couldn't very well have the same protagonist running into serial killers every other month. Each book has its own main character, but she is introduced in the story before. Characters from previous books show up in future books if I need them.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

GB: I loved writing Esther VanVlear in A MARGIN OF LUST. She only plays a small part in the story, but she's funny. She's president of the Neighborhood Watch Committee and an incredible busybody. She injects, what I hope is, a welcome bit of humor into some pretty dark scenes.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

GB: I really enjoy Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's books. Although theirs are detective stories and mine aren't, the atmosphere in their early books was terrifically creepy. I wanted that feel in mine.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

GB: Isn't that every writer's dream? Finding a publisher was a long slog, but it was well worth the effort. I wanted a publishing team: a great editor, cover designer, and marketing experts to make my books the best they could be.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?


GB: C.S.Lewis always first and foremost. I love how he infuses his fiction with meaning. The Chronicles of Narnia, SCREWTAPE LETTERS, and even his crazy Science Fiction trilogy all have had a big influence on me. Then I'd invite Ray Bradbury, whose creativity staggers me, Agatha Christie, in the hopes her genius for plotting would rub off, and Tana French, for lessons in how to write beautiful prose.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

GB: I'm reading Linda Castillo's Amish murder mystery series, which is excellent. I'm learning about Amish culture while being entertained by some very tight stories.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?


GB: Sure! I'm a singer and guitarist and have a duo (soon to be trio), Eclectic Blends. We sing in wineries, which is awesome because one of my other interests is wine. I love visiting small vineyards and going wine tasting on California's coast. I also love camping and hiking.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

GB: Wine, chocolate (bet you guessed that), coffee, and soy or coconut coffee creamer.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

GB: Since I've only released one of The 7 Deadly Sins, I have a lot of work to do! Book two is in final edits and I'm writing book three now, but I have rough sketches for all the other stories. I also plan to write a short story in between each book that's set in the city the next release is located in. For instance, I have a short story available on my website now, June Gloom, set in Laguna Beach.

I don't stick as closely to the domestic suspense guidelines with the short stories, but allow myself a little more latitude. June Gloom is more domestic than it is suspense, and I just finished a ghost story, Ghost Walk, that has supernatural elements.


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

GB: Now that I have a publisher, my favorite thing is the creative interaction between myself and both my editor and my publisher. I find writing in a vacuum difficult.




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