Linda Ladd's Discussions
Where are the best mystery writing conferences?
16 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Margot Renne Payne Aug 13, 2007.
Linda Ladd's Page
Profile Information
- Hometown:
- Missouri
- About Me:
- My latest book, Dark Places, will be out in August. It's the second book in my new detective mystery/suspense series featuring Homicide Detective Claire Morgan at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. My biggest fear is that nobody will show up for my book signings. : )
I also administer diagnostic developmental tests to pre-schoolers (three and four years old), which is very rewarding and enjoyable.
I'm married to the greatest man who ever lived and have the greatest daughter who ever lived, the greatest son who ever lived, not to mention the greatest son-in-law and daughter-in-law who ever lived. ; ) I am indeed blessed in that department. My mom and my brothers aren't bad, either, pretty great, in fact. : )
I love cryptograms, crosswords, any kind of word game or board game. I recently bought a game called Loaded Question, which is very interesting to play and gives players insight into how and what their friends and family think. Apples to Apples is also a lot of fun, as is Catch Phrase.
I like reading, watching movies and playing tennis. I do yoga to relax and love all Italian food, bar none. As for music, I like Toby Keith because his videos usually make me laugh, and I love to laugh. I like the new country and all the oldies goldies, but truth is I like just about any kind of music, except really, really high-pitched opera. Ouch. I especially love animals and have dogs, cats, and a parakeet. I lost both my old dog and my old cat last summer within a two-week period, and it nearly killed me. My pets are like members of my family.
- I Am A:
- Reader, Writer
- Website:
- http://lindaladd.com
- Books And Authors I Like:
- Right now I'm reading Fatal Flaw by William Lashner. This is the first time I've read his work, and I really like his style, especially the humor.
Actually I've been reading all summer: The Ruins by Smith, The Road by McCarthy, Cage of Stars by Mitchard, The Innocent Man by Grisham, Water for Elephants by Gruen. Next up is Blaze and Cell by King, the Dean Koontz Odd books, and Hannibal Rising by Harris. I am waiting impatiently for the new Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, and James Lee Burke. I admire so many authors, it's hard to narrow it down.
- Movies And TV Shows I Like:
- I like the crime shows, of course, especially the ones featuring real-life law enforcement officers. The First 48, Cold Case, City Confidential, Psychic Detectives, Haunting Evidence, all of them. I like American Idol and Survivor sometimes, and Lost. I also like The Closer and 48 Hours Mystery and The Sopranos. I did not like the ending but thought it was clever to end it that way.
I love to watch movies and recently enjoyed The Cider House Rules again. I thought Mystic River was very good, both the book and the movie. I liked Little Miss Sunshine, and I thought Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett was excellent. She should've won the oscar for that performance. I also liked the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars movies. I'm waiting for the Bourne Ultimatum to hit my theater because I think Damon does an outstanding and realistic job as Jason Bourne, especially in The Bourne Identity.
Missouri detective Claire Morgan is eager to get back to work after recuperating from injuries sustained on her last job. But the missing persons case that welcomes her home in the dead of winter soon turns more twisted and treacherous than Lake of the Ozarks’ icy mountain roads. . .where a killer’s tracks can only lead to dark places. . .
Now available at bookstores and other outlets throughout the country, the dark-edged mystery/thriller, "Dark Places" is the sequel to book one, "Head to Head" published in March 2006. Both fictional novels deal with a female homicide detective on the trail of serial killers and is set at Lake of the Ozarks. Each book in this police procedural series features parallel storylines–the killer’s descent into madness and murder alongside the on-going homicide investigation.
Ladd also has sold a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing for novels 3 and 4 featuring the same characters and setting. "Die Smiling," Book 3 is tentatively scheduled for release in 2008. In addition, Ladd’s literary agent has negotiated a film option with RHI/Hallmark Entertainment for possible adaptation of her novel, "Running Scared." A diversified entertainment company, RHI is a world leader in the production and distribution of groundbreaking, quality miniseries and movies for television. "Head to Head" is also being considered for film rights.
With more than 3 million books in print, Ladd is the author of 21 novels with a book published nearly every year between 1984 and 2007. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages, including Chinese and Hebrew. Currently she is at work on book 4 in her Claire Morgan series.
Ladd will sign her new novel at the Poplar Bluff Hastings bookstore on Saturday, August 4, 1-3 p.m.
She will also sign books at the Cape Girardeau Barnes and Noble on August 25 from 3-5 p.m.
Praise for "Dark Places"
"Dark Places is an exciting, thrill-a-minute police procedural. . ."
~Harriet, Klausner, Midwest Book Review
"Chilling, compelling suspense. . .be prepared to lose sleep!"
~Author Eileen Dreyer
"A tough, no-nonsense detective with a well-hidden vulnerable side. . .edgy, clever. . ."
~Author Beverly Barton
"A bright new voice in suspense. . ."
~Author Patricia Gaffney
About Head to Head:
"A clever a plot as has ever been developed. . .leaves the reader breathless. . .something previously beyond experience creeps up a reader’s spine. . ."
~Author Nadine Roberts
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Best regards
Preetham Grandhi
Early Endorsements for “A Circle of Souls”
Linda Fairstein, NYT Bestselling Author: "A fascinating debut - this novel takes the reader to the darkest places in the human soul, from a writer with the authenticity to lead us there. A stunning thriller and an important read."
Judge Judy Sheindlin, star of the Judge Judy Show: "The seminal work of this fine author kept me glued to my chair until the adventure was over and the mystery solved. A great read!"
Book Synopsis:
The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.
Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.
The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.
In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.
Cheryl the elder
we have so much in common! I worry about nobody showing up at my book signings, and I am married to the greatest man who ever lived! Imagine that.
Cheryl
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