The Raven’s Cry received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Kim Herdman Shapiro.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of the book is The Raven’s Cry. It was released by Level Best Books on March 14, 2023
What’s the book’s first line?
The water slapped against the side of the boat, playing a staccato counterpoint to my racing heartbeat: beat, beat, beat, slap.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
TV producer Kate Zoë Thomas, fleeing an abduction in Afghanistan and heartbreak in Boston, accepts the first job that gives her a fresh start: station manager at a tiny community channel on Wynter Island in the Canadian Gulf Islands.
But, try as she may, Kate cannot outrun her bad luck. On a moonlit walk to a local beach, Kate spots a body bobbing in the surf. In shock, she recognizes the lifeless face and realizes there is only one person on the island with a motive for his murder.
Herself.
Will she manage to solve the mystery before the murderer stops her?
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I have always wanted to write a mystery, mainly because this is the genre I read the most. When the pandemic arrived, I found myself with a window of time where I could try writing a mystery. I wanted to base it on my home, the places I knew and loved when I was growing up: Vancouver, the Gulf Islands, and Victoria, BC.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I think there is a demand for what I call the modern cozy: mysteries that include the small town characterizations which add life to a story, while still exisiting in a modern world with modern problems. I hope readers come to love the citizens of Wynter Island, while also enjoying the puzzle of the mystery.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I think the actress to play the role of Kate would definitely be Emma Stone. She comes across as very honest and direct, but still with a good sense of humor. And still able to be a bit of a goofball. That’s very much like Kate.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have written stories for pretty much as long as I have been able to hold a pen and paper. I received a fair amount of attention for my writing as a child, so in many ways I never really expected to do anything else. The only question was what was going to pay the bills! 🙂
Is this the first book you’ve written?
No, but it is the first book I’ve written since having children. I put my writing career on hold for twenty years to look after my sons as well as our growing herd of small, furry creatures.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I used to be a journalist, first in print and then broadcast journalism.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Probably about four hours a day, including weekends. I usually either write, outline or research in the mornings and have a late lunch.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is having a really close, co-operative relationship with my editor and publishing house. Small presses are doing this because they love the work – not for the money. The hardest is not having a large marketing department behind your book.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Network, network, network! Join local and national writer’s organizations and attend their in-person or zoom meetings and seminars. Writing, like most businesses, is helped by forging relationships with people who will not only help you with your manuscript, but also offer sound advice and support when you need it.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
By traditional I’m thinking you mean one of the Big Five publishing houses. Well, never say never, but I am happy with Level Best Books and the excellent working environment and support they provide for their authors.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
It is a lovely feeling to have someone come up and tell you that they enjoyed your work and that, perhaps for a short time, it gave them a bit of joy and distraction in their life. That’s really why most of us do this.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
As far as mysteries are concerned, I am a huge fan of Louise Penny and her Inspector Gamache novels. Also Julia Spencer-Fleming, Ann Cleeves …. The list could go on and on. There are so many excellent writers out there.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Two books that I found transformative when I was young were To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.