Book Week Scotland event: Writing Gender Violence

It's Book Week Scotland, and I'm speaking on writing gender-based violence at the University of Stirling today. How can we use crime fiction to address social evils? Event is free - ticket information here.


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-gender-violence-tickets-39654980113

BITTER MOON available for pre-order!

I'm very excited to announce that BITTER MOON, Book 4 of the Huntress/FBI Thrillers, is now available for pre-order.

BITTER MOON is out November 1, and you can order it for just $3.99.

But remember, these books should be read in order! So if you need to catch up, start with:

     Huntress Moon

     Blood Moon

     Cold Moon

Pre-order BITTER MOON

As you might guess by the cover, this book takes Roarke deep into the desert, following a sixteen year old cold case that may be the key to Cara's bloody history. It's probably the most mystical of the books, unfolding on a dual time line, with the present and past intersecting as Roarke and fourteen-year old Cara both race to stop a sadistic serial predator.

There are new characters I think you'll love as much as I do, and you'll find out much more about Cara's past. And there are new settings! The California desert is possibly my favorite place on the planet, and for this one I'll be taking you to the magical Coachella Valley and the wine country of Temecula.

Scroll down for more details about the book - but if you haven't read the first three, you'll want to do go back and do that first.

                                                    Pre-order BITTER MOON

                                  ------------- WARNING:  SPOILERS FOR THE SERIES -----------

BITTER MOON

FBI agent Matthew Roarke has been on leave, and in seclusion, since the capture of mass killer Cara Lindstrom—the victim turned avenger who preys on predators. Torn between devotion to the law and a powerful attraction to Cara and her lethal brand of justice, Roarke has retreated from both to search his soul. But Cara’s escape from custody and a police detective’s cryptic challenge soon draw him out of exile—into the California desert and deep into Cara’s past—to probe an unsolved murder that could be the key to her long and deadly career.

Following young Cara’s trail, Roarke uncovers a horrifying attack on a schoolgirl, the shocking suicide of another, and a human monster stalking Cara’s old high school. Separated by sixteen years, crossing paths in the present and past, Roarke and fourteen-year-old Cara must race to find and stop the sadistic sexual predator before more young girls are brutalized.

HUNTRESS MOON wins Voice Arts Award!

HUNTRESS MOON has won the Voice Arts Award for Best Audiobook Narration: Crime/Thriller! Congratulations to my brilliant narrator, R.C. Bray - who also narrated THE MARTIAN.

All three of the Huntress books are available in audio, narrated by Bob, and we're currently collaborating on an audiobook of BOOK OF SHADOWS as well, to be released in early 2016.

Listen to a sample here
Buy the audiobook on Audible
Buy the audiobook on Amazon

Book 3 in the Huntress/FBI Thrillers: COLD MOON out now!

Cold Moon, book 3 in the Huntress/FBI series, is now available worldwide (ebook out now, print and audio coming July 7).

Anyone who's read the first two books in this series knows that I'm very passionate about it. More than passionate.

I'm writing these books because I've had enough.

Last summer I was at Harrogate, the international crime writing festival, and prominently displayed in the book tent was a new crime fiction release that featured a crucified woman on the cover. 

A crucified woman. On the cover.

It’s not like I’ve never come across a crucified woman in a crime novel before. In fact, I’ve had to stop reading three or four novels in the past two years when variations of this scene came up. But on the cover, now? The selling image of the novel?

2014 was also the year of the highly praised TV miniseries True Detective, which featured two complex male detectives and a female cast made up entirely of hookers, dead hookers, little dead girls, a mentally challenged incest victim, and the female lead: a wife who cheats on her husband with his partner because she’s too weak to just freaking leave him. Oh right, there was a female love interest who was a doctor – but she had, I believe, one line in the entire show. Maybe two.

Defenders of the show argue, “But the detectives weren’t sympathetic, either.” No, they weren’t, always – but unlike the entire female cast, they were actual, developed characters, not fuck toys for the male characters or – well, corpses.

Then there’s Game of Thrones – a great series that became unwatchable for me a while ago because of the overwhelming frequency of rapes. Defenders of that show say: “But in that world, in those warring countries, there would be a lot of rape. It’s reality.” Yeah, but if you’re arguing realism – the boys and male hostages would be being raped along with the women – just look at the US statistics of male-on-male rape in our own military. But on Game of Thrones, somehow it’s just the women. Over and over and over again.

And difficult as it is to confront the videogame images dissected in Anita Sarkeesian’s sobering series, “Tropes vs.Women”  - I think we can’t afford not to watch and learn. We’re going to have to wake up to the messages teenage boys are growing up with.

Those are just some high-profile examples. Believe me, I could go on all day and not scratch the surface.

So what do we do? How do we counteract the brutalization of women in crime fiction and media?

I suppose as an author you can avoid the issue by writing cozies, or another genre entirely. But I don’t read cozies, and I wouldn’t know how to write one. I used to teach in the L.A. County prison system. I want to explore the roots of crime, not soft-pedal it. For better or worse, my core theme as a writer is “What can good people do about the evil in the world?”

So my choice is to confront the issue head on.

The fact is, one reason crime novels and film and TV so often depict women as victims is because it’s reality. Since the beginning of time, women haven’t been the predators – we’re the prey. Personally, I’m not going to pretend otherwise.

But after all those years (centuries, millennia) of women being victims of the most heinous crimes out there… wouldn’t you think that someone would finally say – “Enough”? 

And maybe even strike back?

Well, that’s a story, isn’t it?

So my Huntress Moon series is about just that.

The books are intense psychological suspense, and take the reader on an interstate manhunt with a haunted FBI agent on the track of what he thinks may be that most rare of killers – a female serial.

Now, I’ve been studying serial killers for years. Years ago, when I was a screenwriter writing crime thrillers, I tracked down the FBI’s textbook on sexual homicide before it was ever available to the public. I attend Citizens Police Academies and other law enforcement and forensics workshops whenever I get the chance. If I know there’s a behavioral profiler at a writing convention, I stalk that person so I can pick his or her brain about serial killers. And I attend Lee Lofland’s fantastic Writers Police Academy (a yearly three-day conference that’s a law enforcement and forensics immersion course).

And here’s what’s really interesting. Arguably there’s never been any such thing as a female serial killer in real life. The women that the media holds up as serial killers actually operate from a completely different psychology from the men who commit what the FBI calls “sexual homicide”. 

Even Aileen Wuornos, infamous in the media as “America’s First Female Serial Killer” wasn’t a serial killer in the sense that male killers like Bundy, Gacy and Kemper were serial killers. The profilers I’ve interviewed call Wuornos a spree killer with a vigilante motivation. (I write about her case, and the psychology of other real life mass killers, in Huntress Moon.)

So what’s that about? Why do men do it and women don’t? Women rarely kill, compared to men — but when it happens, what does make a woman kill?

Within the context of my Huntress series I can explore those psychological and sociological questions, and invite my readers to ask – Why? I can realistically bring light on crimes that I consider pretty much the essence of evil – and turn the tables on the perpetrators.

I do not depict rape or torture on the page. I can assure you, no one gets crucified. I think real life crime is horrific enough without rubbing a reader’s face in it or adding absurd embellishments (my personal literary pet peeve is the serial killer with an artistic streak or poetic bent).

In this series I can pose questions about human evil, as it actually presents in real life, without exploiting it. And I’ve created a female character who breaks the mold – but in a way that makes psychological sense for the overwhelming majority of people who read the books.

Whoever she is, whatever she is, the Huntress is like no killer Agent Roarke – or the reader – has ever seen before. And you may find yourself as conflicted about her as Roarke is.

Because as one of the profilers says in the book: “I’ve always wondered why we don’t see more women acting out this way. God knows enough of them have reason.”

So I’d like to know: do the authors among you grapple with the issue of how to counteract the brutalization of women in crime fiction?  And what about readers? Do you ever feel that violence against women in crime fiction, TV and film has gone over the top?

     -- Alex

http://AlexandraSokoloff.com

________________________________________________________________________

   

Books 1, 2 and 3 of the Huntress/FBI Thrillers, Huntress Moon, Blood Moon, and Cold Moon are available now from Thomas & Mercer.

I very strongly recommend that you read the series in order, starting with Huntress Moon.   

                                                                                                     

    

Buy on Amazon US        Buy on Amazon US         Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon UK       Buy on Amazon UK        Buy on Amazon UK

£1 Sale!!! HUNTRESS MOON and BLOOD MOON discounted at Amazon.uk for April!

Amazon.uk has dropped the price of HUNTRESS MOON and BLOOD MOON to just  £1 each for the entire month of April, leading up to the release of Book 3, COLD MOON. Fantastic deal!



Buy on Amazon UK    £1.00                                                                  Buy on Amazon UK    £1.00

Buy on Amazon US:  $3.99                                                                    Buy on Amazon US: $3.99



Pre-order on Amazon UK



Pre-order on Amazon US

The Huntress/FBI Thrillers

Special Agent Matthew Roarke thought he knew what evil was. He was wrong.

FBI Special Agent Roarke is closing in on a major criminal organization in San Francisco when he witnesses an undercover member of his team killed right in front of him on a busy street, an accident Roarke can’t believe is coincidental. His suspicions put him on the trail of a mysterious young woman who was present at each scene of a years-long string of “accidents” and murders, and who may well be that most rare of killers… a female serial.

His hunt for her will take him across three states, and force him to question everything he knows about evil and justice.

                                                             -------

Book 1 of Thriller Award-winning author Alexandra Sokoloff’s Huntress/FBI Thrillers, Huntress Moon, became a #1 Amazon mystery/thriller bestseller and was nominated for a Thriller Award for Best E Book Original Novel. The series has now been picked up by Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint. The highly anticipated Book 3, Cold Moon, will release on May 5.

Told in continuous, serial format like True Detective and The Killing, and utilizing the intricate psychological/forensic procedure of Criminal Minds, the Huntress series sets a cast of complex FBI investigators in pursuit of an unforgettable female suspect who has been called “a female Dexter.” The story combines nail-biting suspense and a twisting mystery plot with deadly erotic tension, and has garnered hundreds of rave reviews from readers who find themselves sympathizing with its haunted male lead and unexpectedly empathizing with its highly unusual killer.

For thousands of years women have been the victims. Isn’t it time someone turned the tables?


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BLOG TOUR

I’m blog hopping over the next month or two, and I'll be posting the places I've visited here:

- Talking about serial killers on Grab This Book 

- Talking about Cold Moon with Sandy Vaile 

- Video on my writing journey

    

            -  And I’ll be chatting live online on May -------  in the Writerspace chat rooms, at 9 pm ET.  Drop by and talk about anything you want – and maybe win books and audiobooks! 

Win a Kindle!

To celebrate the January rerelease of Huntress Moon and Blood Moon,  I'm giving away a Kindle! Enter on my Contest page.

Chat with me tonight, 9 pm ET

I'll be doing a live chat on Writerspace tonight, December 7, at 9 pm ET (6 pm PST, 2 am UK). Come talk about the Huntress books, writing, Scotland, indie publishing, Craig Robertson, and whatever else you want to know.

Drop in to win a Kindle! - everyone who stops by tonight will be entered in my monthly contest to win a Kindle and free books! If you can't make it, you can still enter on my Contest Page.

Link to chat room.

Hope to see you tonight!

- Alex

Huntress Moon book club discussion questions

- The story begins with Agent Greer's death and Roarke witnessing the mysterious blond woman in a turtleneck. What were your early conjectures about her? Were you believing her to be a paid assassin?

- Roarke seemed to have an unusual connection to this mystery woman from the onset. What do you think of this phenomenon? Is it limited to just the Huntress, in your opinion?

- When did you begin to see a connection between the victims?

- Connecting the victims to the Huntress required some intricate procedural work. What was your opinion of the work overall? Was the team ahead of you or were you ahead of them?

- The only murder by the Huntress that we as readers witnessed from her perspective was that of the trucker at the rest stop. What are your thoughts about this?

- Were you ever concerned that Mark Sebastian was a potential target of the Huntress? His son Jason? Why or why not?

- The Huntress appeared to have a strong, affectionate relationship to Jason. Do you think she has feelings for Mark?

- Why do you thin the Huntress spared Mark Sebastian’s ex-wife and killed her dealer/pedophile boyfriend instead?

- Preacherman was the only victim (that we know of) that does not appear to have had a sexual predator connection. How do you think he got on the Huntress’ radar?

- When did you begin to suspect that the Huntress had a specific method or mission to her killings?

- Do you believe the Huntress and Roarke have a unique bond?

- We learn that Cara/Leila is an avenger and her victims to date were predators of a sort. What are your feelings about what she’s done? What do you feel should be done with her if she’s captured?

- Roarke appears to have somewhat complex feelings about Cara. Has he lost his perspective, or is he dealing with an unusual/paranormal connection, or something else? Explain your rationale.

- Do you believe you know all there was to know about Agent Greer’s role in the human trafficking business? Do you believe he had crossed the line in his undercover work? Why or why not?

- Why do you think the Huntress set Greer’s death up to look like an accident when the others’ deaths were done more brutally and covertly? Do you think she knew he was an undercover agent?

- What is your opinion of Matthew Roarke? Do you believe he will be drawn back to the BAU and profiling?

- What is your opinion of Roarke and Epps as a team?

- The story ends with Cara still at large and Roarke determined to find her. How do you feel about this cliffhanger approach?

- Do you see a potential romantic connection between Roarke and Cara?

- How would you rate the book as a mystery? Did you have sufficient clues to help you in your ongoing deductions?

- Were there any standout moments in this story?

- What’s your overall opinion of the book? Do you plan to continue the series with Blood Moon and Cold Moon?

       Discussion questions by Jonetta, The Book Nympho

       Read The Book Nympho’s interview with Alex 

       See the Huntress Moon discussion on Shelfari’s Mystery and Suspense group.

Saints of Suspense Bookseller/Librarian and Blogger/Reviewer Party!

A big N'Awlins welcome to booksellers, librarians, bloggers and reviewers attending our Romantic Times Saints of Suspense party!

I'm Alex Sokoloff, author of eleven supernatural, paranormal and crime thrillers. I'm a Thriller Award winner and Anthony and Bram Stoker Award nominee, a recovering screenwriter, and the  workshop leader of the internationally acclaimed Screenwriting Tricks for Authors series (and the one on the right in this photo, taken at the historic and haunted Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter.)

I'm thrilled to be able to introduce my Thriller Award-nominated Huntress/FBI series to you all in my favorite city on the planet — and in a haunted brewery! I like to cross my crime thrillers with a hint of what might be supernatural, so even though the series is set in California and the Western states, New Orleans' natural spookiness is a perfect backdrop for me to talk about the books.

The series follows haunted FBI agent Matthew Roarke on a hunt for what may be that most rare of killers: a female serial.

"This interstate manhunt has plenty of thrills... Sokoloff's choice to present both Roarke's and the killer's points of view keeps the suspense taut and the pages flying."  

-- Kirkus Reviews

I love the suspense and range of cross-country investigations, but I also wanted to explore crimes that are generally perpetrated by men against women - but from a completely different point of view than we usually see from male authors (and filmmakers). I've been very gratified at how readers have responded to the series and by their dedication to my characters.

I first published Books 1 and 2, Huntress Moon and Blood Moon independently (and was nominated for the first-ever ITW Thriller Award for Best e Book Original Novel). Now the Huntress series has been picked up by Thomas & Mercer, and both books will relaunch in June, with brand-new Book 3, Cold Moon, coming in October.

There will be free books available to all who attend the party, but if you don't feel like lugging books back in your suitcase, or if you prefer e books, you can request any of these three books in any format, and we'll get them to you free of charge. Just drop me an e mail at alex AT alexandrasokoloff DOT com with your snail mail and/or email address to request:

    - Huntress Moon (Book 1 of the Huntress/FBI Thrillers):  signed ARC, all e formats
    - Blood Moon (Book 2 of the Huntress/FBI Thrillers): signed ARC, all e formats
    - Cold Moon (Book 3 of the Huntress/FBI Thrillers)  signed ARC, all e formats

Or just download a copy of Huntress Moon here.

Please also feel free to request a signed hardcover of my spooky thriller Book of Shadows.

And if you are a librarian and would like permanent e book copies of any of my books for your library (unlimited loans for all branches for a one-time fee of $4.99) please ask me about E Books Are Forever!

Of course I'm most looking forward to our Saints of Suspense bash, but I'll also be participating in these events throughout the conference.

   > Saints of Suspense party, Tuesday, May 13 6:30-9 p.m.
   > Mardi Gras World party:  Wednesday, May 14, 6:30 p.m
            Parade and booth with Heather Graham (lots of giveaways, and food!)
   > Stealing Hollywood's Magic: panel:  Friday, May 16,  10 a.m.-11 a.m.
   > Heather Graham's Vampire Dinner Theater:  Friday, May 16, 8:45 pm to 12 am
            Mardi Gras Magic and Mayhem. Dinner, show, costume contest, giveaways, dancing

Can't wait to meet everyone at any and all events! It's going to be the best Romantic Times ever....

..... Alex