Tell Me All Your Lies by L.A. Detwiler
Everyone has a dark side. Everyone has potential to do something monstrous, and that’s what’s most frightening about the thriller and horror genre.
We like to tell ourselves the criminals in our tales, nonfiction or fiction, are far from who we are. But the one thing I’ve always found terrifying is that really, we’re all a few bad events, a few bad choices, away from being a monster ourselves. Because every human has the capability to do evil. That’s always been the theme of my novels, and Tell Me All Your Lies, my next book coming out in June, is no different. This is a story about a boy named Elliott Clairmont who grows up in Paris with his mother–and learns a dark way of life from her. When his mother’s criminal life, though, catches up with her, Elliott will be sent on a quest to find the truth about his roots, who he is, and what darkness lurks within him. There are several points in this dark tale that offer the potential for Elliott to turn things around. This is a book about nature versus nurture, about how our families impact our paths, and about how dark secrets can change everything in our lives. It’s a twisted family saga that will take you down both dark paths and paths of hope. And most of all, it will remind you how eerily close we all are to disaster. This is my favorite book I’ve written because it’s a complex, twisted tale that mixes the thriller genre with the interpretive value of literary fiction. If you loved my Serial Killer’s Daughter book, this one is like an even more grown up version of it. Follow the Clairmonts as the family business passes down…and truths come to light. You can pre-order now from your favorite bookstore. If you send me proof of purchase to authorladetwiler@gmail.com, I’ll send you a free VIP Reader’s Pre-Order Gift, which includes the first 60 pages so you can get reading now!
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East of Eden meets Stephen King in this dark serial killer saga.
I was in high school when I read East of Eden, the family saga of deceit, murders, and pain. And ever since then, Cathy’s character has stuck with me for her villainy. When I got the idea to write Tell me All Your Lies, I kept thinking about Cathy and about the family saga of pain. I wanted to write a serial killer thriller that had that family saga feel. I wanted to follow a messed up family through the generations and track how a killer is not only born but made. Lucy Clairmont is sexy, seductive–and a murderer. She teaches her son, Elliott, the ways of the world through her eyes. As he tries to sort out his own path after her murder, though, will he be able to resist the family business–or are some pulls too difficult to fight? This book spans decades. It takes you from Paris to Chicago to New York. Most of all, it takes you on a journey of how family legacies impact our stories for better or worse. If you like a dark literary journey with lies, murder, and deep twists, this thriller is for you. Get a free sample here. Tell Me All Your Lies by L.A. Detwiler
Here's an excerpt from my next dark thriller, Tell Me All Your Lies! You can pre-order now!
PLUS, if you pre-order using the links below and send proof of purchase to authorladetwiler@gmail.com, I'll send you a free digital gift, which includes the first 50 pages of the book AND a free piece of commissioned digital art! Tell Me All Your Lies EXCERPT: Unlike most children, you see, my first memories are not of ice cream or a childhood book or petting a stray cat in the street–although she loved to pretend they were. My first memories are of the blackish red splatters marring my mother’s sunshine yellow dress, her bright red lips seeming to match perfectly. My memories are of the odd, metallic smell that filled the apartment only to be stripped away by the stinging chemicals. My first memories in that Parisian apartment are about how sometimes a person enters through the front door and leaves in pieces. These are my memories because when I was three, my mother slaughtered the first man as I sat outside the room drawing. But all I saw, all I knew, was the aftermath. The red. Red splatters, red dots, red all over her just like the crayon in the box she’d given me. Can a mother's love go too far?
This is the question that inspired me to write the Maternal Instincts thriller series, my next book release. The first book, The Delivery, is coming out on February 2022. It's a twisted domestic thriller that really digs into the psychology of motherhood, marriage, and instinct. It's a slow-burn that has a feel like "The Yellow Wallpaper" thanks to the first-person narration. Book two, The Labor, actually retells the story from the husband's perspective and is free when you purchase book one (There's a link in the back of the book!). I wanted to show both sides of the story but wanted to keep their perspectives isolated. Book three, Evette, releases in June of 2022 and is a continuation of the characters....and introduces some new ones. Read on to check out the full blurb, and then let me know if this sounds like your kind of book. Stay Safe and Be True, L.A. Detwiler From USA Today Bestseller L.A. Detwiler comes a brand-new chilling domestic thriller that will hook you from page one. Evette Harding's world of maternal bliss is perfect except for one thing: there’s something wrong with her husband. John is a lawyer and loving husband by day. However, ever since the baby came, his dark habits from the past are re-emerging. Once, she was fine with playing Bonnie to his Clyde. Now, with the baby to think about, it terrifies her. As she delves into his hidden life and dangerous lies, she begins to fear for her safety. But when maternal instincts creep over the line of paranoia, will she go too far to protect her child? And in a house full of dark secrets, will she solve the most important one before it is too late? The Delivery is a dark, page-turner of a domestic thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Read less Rejected.
The word in the email devastated me, and tears began to fall. The manuscript, The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter, was a passion project. I became so invested in telling the story of Ruby, a girl who was very unique, a poet, and the daughter of a serial killer. Still, after hours and hours of hard work and a belief in my story, that one word shattered my confidence. When not only one but several traditional publishers turned down my book after The Widow Next Door had seen such success, an old, ugly friend started creeping in—doubt. Dream chasing often is accompanied by this fear, no matter what goals you are chasing. However, writing, in my experience, is a particularly vulnerable craft, as is any form of art. You pour your ideas, vulnerabilities, and views into your words. After those rejections, I started to wonder if my dark, twisted story was worthwhile at all. Fears and questions plagued me: Should I abandon the book? My husband, though, helped me understand that the obstacle of rejection wasn’t actually an obstacle at all; in fact, as he helped me realize, it was an opportunity for me to take charge of my dreams. I decided to do something I had never done: self-publish my book. In a way, the rejection came at a perfect time. At this point, I had written over fifteen books. I had experience with the market, with publishing, and with how to finetune my craft. I knew all of the editing and formatting tricks. I’d taught myself so many of the marketing hacks, graphic design, and blurb writing involved in the process. Most of all, I’d experienced some success with The Widow Next Door hitting the USA Today Bestseller’s list. I told myself that if I wrote a book that could do that once, I could do it again. So I trusted my gut, and I trusted my story. Was it scary as hell? Absolutely. Did I cry a few times and wonder if I could really do it? Yes. Still, I trudged on. The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter came out in March of 2020—right in the middle of a global pandemic. So yes, the timing wasn’t wonderful. Still, it managed to sell thousands of copies and even win a book award. Most of all, review after review poured in from readers who understood the power of Ruby’s story, who really got the themes I tapped into, and who the story impacted in deep ways. For me, that last part is what it’s really all about. Our journey to our dreams will always be filled with obstacles, fear, and rejections. This should not stop us, however. Instead, if we let them, these rejections can strengthen our journey to our dreams and help us understand our true passions. Being rejected from traditional publishers reminded me why I wanted to write in the first place: to tell the stories on my heart. Not the stories others wanted me to tell. Not stories that were deemed commercial or watered down to meet some rigid book equation. I wanted to have the freedom to tell uncensored, sometimes dark, deep stories that touched on issues, especially about women, that many books in the genre shy away from. I wanted to illuminate real, genuine women’s issues and showcase the darkness in the world. I wanted to make readers think and not just give them a cookie-cutter story that the industry sometimes dictates. The other thing I learned that I hope you have learned, too, is that no one gets to reign in your voice or your dreams. You are the champion of your passions and of your goals. You get to decide what that looks like and what voice you share with the world. This is not to say you should ignore all experts in the industry, nor does it mean you should ignore constructive criticism. There is a fine line between confidence and cockiness, and one must learn to navigate that line in order to truly grow into the best version of themselves. However, you also cannot let experts tread on your passion, your dreams, or your future. Learn to trust your gut. If you believe in something, find a way to make it happen. Step outside of your comfort zone if you have to. Rejection is never easy or fun. We’d all love to hear nothing but “yes” and find our way to success paved in glittering, resounding assurances. However, sometimes rejection makes the final destination sweeter than we could have expected because it reveals a resilience, a dedication, and a passion we may not have even known we had. Want a free sample of The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter? Click here. Her son just killed a man. How far will a mother go to save her child?
If you're a fan of dark thriller authors like Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn, I've got a FREE short story for you to grab! This one is a fast-paced psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. It looks at a mother's love and how far a mother will go to save her child. This is the major theme of my upcoming Maternal Instincts series, so I'm super excited to offer you a glimpse into this idea for free. This story is an ebook and a quick read, so even if life is cutting into your reading time, you can give it a try. It will also give you a chance to try out my dark, emotional writing style and see if it's your kind of read. Click here to claim your free copy, and be sure to drop a comment below and let me know what you think, The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter
There’s just something about reading a diary that is intriguing, at least from my perspective, especially if it's about a serial killer.
Growing up, I loved the Dear America series, which were diaries told from girls in different points throughout history. I loved feeling like I was in on a secret or really getting to know the main character. When The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter first came to mind, I was nervous about the diary format. Could I pull off an entire thriller in diary style? There were a lot of challenges that I would face…but still, the idea was intriguing. For one, I haven’t read any thrillers in purely diary format. I liked the idea of doing something different. I’m always looking for a challenge in my writing, too. So even though it seemed intimidated, I decided to go for it. And I have to say, I’m happy with the final product. The diary format really gives you a different vantage point of the thriller story line. It puts you right in there, on the front line with Ruby. It also lets you see a sense of honesty that you don’t always get from the characters in a traditional book. It gives you a deep, insightful peek into the mind of a girl living in an unthinkable situation. I can’t wait to share Ruby’s diary with you and her story on March 12th. If you’re not sure if the diary format is for you, use this link to download a free sample of the first portion of the book. I want you to love it before you buy it and make sure it’s really for you. Stay Safe and Be True, L.A. Detwiler What secrets are the elderly in your life hiding?
When you look at the elderly, what do you see?
Someone fragile and frail with wrinkled, shaking hands? Someone with a longer list of things they can't do than a list of what they can? Someone near death, harmless, and washed up? In many cultures, the elderly are revered and respected...but I would argue that in American culture, the elderly are often overlooked, forgotten, and discounted. I think often about how frustrating that must be. Because behind those fading eyes and those shaking hands, there is a person with a history that they haven't necessarily forgotten. Behind that elderly person's eyes are stories, regrets, memories, fears, sorrows, rejections, and guilt. There is a lifetime of living....and a lifetime of choices. When I started writing first romance and then thriller, I was drawn to this idea. I tend to write stories centered around emotions. I want to dig into the gritty, raw feelings of life, even if they're hard to face. No, especially if they're hard to face. Aging provides a perfect backdrop to all sorts of heavy emotions. I think the second reason I wanted to write about the elderly in my thrillers is because it just seemed like an exciting idea. I know, I know....it seems like a terrible match to write a thriller about someone who is aged. Aren't thrillers supposed to feature the young, vibrant, sexy leads? For me, the answer was: not necessarily. I started thinking about the fact that darkness lurks in everyone, and that regrets and guilt probably play the loudest near the ends of our lives. Thus, I started imagining characters whose bodies perhaps were declining but their sinister minds were still intact. What would it be like to be a villain with malicious plots and desires....but a failing body? How would it feel to be trapped by physical limitations? And most of all, what secrets are harbored behind those eyes we assume are nothing but innocent? An aged person often becomes a different persona in our minds. We look at an aged person with unassuming viewpoints. We stereotype them in our heads. Elderly equals calm, frail, and sweet. Elderly equals slowing down and innocent. The elderly are paragons of morality in our minds. But I wanted to ask the question: Are they really? What secret desires, guilt, and frustrations could be lurking in an overlooked and misjudged group of the population? What sinister capabilities could they still be hiding? And, above all, how would the fact that no one would suspect an elderly person of something evil and malevolent play into the story? These were the reasons I wrote my debut thriller novel, The Widow Next Door, the way I did. I've had some reviewers comment that the tale was too depressing because of the age of the protagonist. Others found it boring to follow an elderly woman's point of view in a thriller. I get that. It's not typical. It's not expected, and it may not even be desired by some. But I also know this is the story I felt compelled to tell because it was the story that spoke to me. The widow isn't the typical thriller protagonist--and I'm more than okay with that. Because I think the tale she tells can open our eyes to the way we look at aging and to the way we look at our own physical demise. Her story forces us to tap into our darkest, deepest versions of ourselves and ask: When I'm older, what regrets will haunt me? And what parts of my true self will perhaps unearth themselves? It's a question terrifying in its own right, and its a question I was happy to explore. What do you think? Do you think the elderly can house dark secrets? Do you think a thriller can feature an elderly protagonist? Let me know in the comments. Stay Safe and Be True, L.A. Detwiler
L. A. Detwiler is an English teacher and a thriller author with Avon Books, HarperCollins UK. Her debut novel, The Widow Next Door, is available now. Be sure to click the button below to connect with her on Facebook and learn more about her upcoming novels, appearances, and more.
Where thriller book ideas come from
So many people ask where my ideas come from. For The Widow Next Door, the answer is: in our whirlpool tub.
I know. I know. Sorry for the imagery. But my husband and I were relaxing one weekend in our huge whirlpool tub (in all honesty, it's what sold me on our house). I was talking about how I loved the romance genre but wanted to step outside of it and write something different. With romance, I typically started with characters and the story came from there. I wanted to write something more complex, more plot-centered, and more twisted. I wanted to write a book with layers of meaning that could be unpacked with each read through. I've always been fascinated by the elderly in my writing because there's just so much complexity there. It's an emotionally heavy time of life, and I usually explore that in my romances in some aspect. My husband, however, threw out the idea to explore the elderly in a horror/thriller. The main idea was simple: an old, lonely woman looking out a window. However, the tale quickly took me on a very dark, very twisted path as I explored her character, her regrets, and the secrets she harbored. I learned that day to never underestimate your abilities....and that sometimes the bathtub can lead to new paths in life. So it is true what they say--writing inspiration can happen anywhere. You just have to have your eyes open...and sometimes, you just have to leave the hot water on for a while. Stay Safe and Be True, L.A. Detwiler Are you a fan of eerie, twisty thrillers?
Thank you so much for joining me here! For those of you new to the space, I am a thriller author with Avon Books/HarperCollins UK and a high school teacher in Pennsylvania. My debut novel, The Widow Next Door, released in ebook format in November and in paperback on January 24th. It's a slow-burning, super eerie novel about the secrets we harbour and the evil in us all. It's been rocking the Amazon UK charts in horror since it's release, and I'm so thankful that the widow's story is reaching so many new readers.
The Widow Next Door will always hold a special place in my writer heart because it's the book that showed me who I really am as a writer. However, I'm also super excited about book two that will be releasing later this year. It's another eerie, twisty tale full of dark reality, secrets, and a whole lot of deaths. It challenged me as a writer in new ways, and I can't wait to tell you all more about it in the coming months. Dark realism. Emotion so deep, you'll feel like you're there. Harsh truths others shy away from. These are my goals with my thriller writing. These are my focal points. Thanks again for joining me to talk all things creepy and real. I'd love to learn more about you! Tell me a little bit about you in the comments and feel free to list your favorite thriller. I'd love to hear from you. Also be sure to connect with me on Facebook, where I share a whole lot about my author journey. Stay Safe and Be True, L.A. Detwiler |
L.A. DetwilerUSA TODAY Bestselling Thriller author with Avon Books (HarperCollins), The Widow Next Door, The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter, and other creepy thriller books Categories
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