The Connubial Corpse received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Thomas J. Thorson.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Connubial Corpse published March 11, 2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
“My concentration level is acute and the tension palpable as my attention narrowly fixates on the task at hand.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
What begins as concern for a college student from China who starts missing classes takes a more sinister turn when the body of another young Asian woman is found in a shipping crate heading overseas. Reluctant sleuths Malcom and Vinn uncover a baffling set of clues as they race around Chicago’s Chinatown trying to find the student before she meets a similar fate, along the way enlisting the help of a crossdressing businessman, an elderly faux Cuban cook, an overeager journalism student, a government source hiding behind a Vladimir Putin mask, and a posse of eccentric misfits. Their actions draw the attention of the local triad, putting a target on their own backs before a final confrontation in a most unexpected place.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
This is actually the second book in a series. The first book came about because as an English major eons ago I was instilled with the desire to write my own book, and after turning 60 I realized I was running out of time. Once that one was published, my characters’ demand to return for more adventures wouldn’t leave my head.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It’s a quick, fun read with memorable characters and an intriguing plot.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Malcom’s strongest desire is to live a normal, almost boring life, yet his compassion for helping others draws him into one dangerous situation after another. I’d like to say he’s based on me but the only things we have in common are his insecurities.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
The obvious choice for Malcom is Matthew McConaughey. The right age, appearance, and a wry outlook at life. For Vinn, maybe a combination of Emma Stone and Keira Knightly?
When did you first decide to become an author?
As a kid. I loved to read. Started at least 200 books that never got past the first page.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
No. My first book was a non-fiction book about serendipitous events that changed history. The first in my mystery series is “Heirs Apparent.”
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m a real estate lawyer.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Depends on how much energy I have after the workday. Once the book is plotted and I have a direction to go, at least a couple of hours every night and more on the weekend.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best is having the ability to publish the book I want to put out there with minimal interference. The worst is being solely responsible for marketing.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Write for yourself.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Probably not, just because of how long it takes to get a finished manuscript published. On the other hand, if they came to me with enough cash in hand that I could leave my law practice and write full-time, it would be hard to resist.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Legacy. I’d like to leave a piece of me behind after I leave this world.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Rex Stout. He led a fascinating life, his Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin are among the best characters in the mystery genre, and his writing is so pure.