Chalk Outline By: Veronica Smith

Chalk Outline

By: Veronica Smith

Let me just start out with this: if you know me, you know I am Criminal Justice Major ok? Now go look at the cover of this book. Now tell me; this cover doesn’t just make those who enjoy investigating crime or reading crime will not want to check this book out. Meaning I had to read it, right? Ok then, here’s the scoop!

Next, I learn that the book has Detectives in it, meaning yes, I am going not going to be putting this book down anytime soon. And their names are Darius and Jake, and they have been doing their jobs for quite some time, so it’s not like its nothing new to them. These guys have seen their fair share of… well you know, just about anything.

But let’s face it people, when the victim ends up being a child, the entire universe feels it, and mourns with you. Everyone will be watching, and you know it. From the victim’s parents, to the Newspapers, the TV stations, and not just the local ones either, and it will be on blast on social media. So, your best bet is to be on your best behavior and do everything you can. And God willing, at top speeds. And doing this job: isn’t going to easy….

And what’s even worse, is the person isn’t stopping with one child, no this killer is going on a vendetta for more and more children. Putting everyone on edge that have Children.

Eventually, Darius and Jake meet Jessica. A mother to one of the victims. Jessica has gifts, as she calls them. And she thinks that these gifts may be able to help the Detectives catch this morbid killer and bring him to justice.

Yes, it is Jake is in fact skeptical, but Darius, he is not. And he is going to put his faith is Jessica. And he wants to use her skills to help find this person and solve this mystery.

And when the killer finally strikes way too close to home, the team go into overdrive to solve this case. This is when Jessica will start wondering if this gift is a curse, after all. Because now her gift has bought the truth into reality right in front of her very own eyes. Is this the answer she really wanted? Is this what Darius and Jake expected too?

To get all your answers answered, you must read this book and find out. But I promise you, it is a five-star age turned that will keep you guessing with every turn of that page. So why not get your copy today and find what you’ve been wondering! I promise you an exciting ride, because this writer will give you the thrill you have been craving and much more!

Here are my questions for Veronica Smith:

1.      What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

I heard a song on the radio one day driving home from work. The line was something about being in a chalk outline. My mind took over from there. I wondered what would happen if someone could see what happens to a victim while being in the outline. I fine tuned it to where Jessica can see the last few seconds of the victim’s life. It took me over two years to write it despite it only being 30K words. At the time, that was the longest story I’d written. I’d only written short stories before.

2.     Who designed the beautiful cover?

The artist is my friend, Lisa Vasquez. Not only is she the CEO of Stitched Smile Publications, she does amazing covers. She is also a talented author as well.

3.     Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters that you can share with us?

I tend not to put too much description into my characters. When I read a book I tend to form my own ideas of what they look like. So I keep it kind of vague when I write. In Chalk Outline I did have Shemar Moore, from Criminal Minds and SWAT, in mind while I wrote the character of Darius. He’s my TV crush. He’s very hot!

4.    What are you working on now?

I’ve just have had a Collection of short stories accepted for publication with Stitched Smile Publications. It’s called Transparent Walkways and is only at the beginning stages of publication. I’m very excited about it. It had several stories in varied forms of horror. From psychological to creatures to my first dark humor; it has a little bit of everything. I’ve also put a little of my flash fiction in between the stories. My current WIP is a Young Adult zombie novel called Just Get There. This originally started as a short story called The Treehouse that was in the anthology Bite Sized Offerings. My friend, Mysti, told me many times to turn it into a novel so I’ve expanded it. I’m around the halfway point now at 40K words. And as always, I’m still writing short stories when an idea hits me. I’m currently on a new one called Retribution.

5.     What motivates you to write?

It’s like an impulse. When I get an idea (and I get them in the weirdest places, the shower, in the car driving home) I have to jot it down. Sometimes it’s just rambling; incomplete sentences, just whatever I need to get out of my head so I don’t lose it. I also keep a small audio recorder in my purse to record whatever I need to while I’m driving. I may not touch it again for weeks if ever (I have several partials that have never been finished) but at least I haven’t lost it. Nightmares make for great stories and more than one of mine as well as my husband’s have been turned into stories.

6.    If you were to get writers block, or have ever had it, what do you do for it?

Oh yeah I’ve had it. In fact, back in August of 2017 I got stuck on my WIP Just Get There. So I put it aside and went to something else, putting my Collection together. Once that was done I went back to the book and sure enough I had ideas bleeding from my ears and I’m cranking out words on it.

7.     What suggestions can you offer for the aspiring writers out there?

Never, ever give up. No matter how many rejections you get, keep submitting. I’ve had stories rejected several times only to be accepted when I least expected it. I always say that each rejection is just a stepping stone to the story’s home.

8.    How long have you been writing

My first short story was accepted into an anthology and published in December of 2014 but I’ve been writing since I was a child. When I was in Junior High (they call that Middle School now – damn I’m old!) I’d started two detective books, similar to Nancy Drew, which heavily influenced me. I’ve never seriously finished anything until that first accepted short. Once that happened I realized my dream could actually be a reality. It was the push I needed to keep going.

9.    What are your hobbies?

 Reading (when I have the time) and writing. I’ve learned to love flash fiction. It’s fun although it’s a lot harder to do than it looks. I love camping even though we haven’t been in a while. Not primitive of course (remember I’m old – haha). We used to have a travel trailer and that was about as primitive as we got. We did the tent thing for years and I’m done with that. I still enjoy cabins though. When my in laws were alive we would all go camping at Thanksgiving. So many funny things happened during these. BTW -  make sure you lock your ice chests that are outside. Raccoons can into anything that isn’t locked. Haha!

10.                        Do you put yourself into your characters?

I have several times, especially the stories based on my nightmares. Sometimes I base my main character on what I wish I could be like, more so than how I really am. Everyone wants to be brave and tough and I’d like to think I’d really do those things in real live but I would hope I’d never have to test that theory. I use friends as other characters as well and not just their names. If I use a friend or someone who wins a part in a book, then I always ask them for some of their more interesting hobbies or quirks. I like to turn the character more into them.

11.  Where is your favorite place to write?

Sometimes I write at home but I have a laptop and I REALLY hate typing on a laptop. Flat keyboards are my downfall. I can’t type worth a crap on them. I’m usually at work more than an hour before I start work (I carpool with my husband most days) and then I get an hour for lunch. So I have an hour, sometimes two to write. I have two really nice big screen monitors (I’m a drafter by day so I need big screens) and a regular keyboard so I can kick ass while I’m on it. The only problem writing at work is I’ll be typing away, my ideas flowing and I’m really into it then suddenly realize I have to start work or lunch is over. So I have to cut it off right then and there. I have to just hold in everything else that wants to spill out from my brain. That’s hard to do.

12. Please share with us your social media and book links:

All my published work is here on my Amazon page:
Chalk Outline is my novella and Salvation is my novel. The other books are anthologies that I have short stories in.

viewAuthor.at/VeronicaSmith

https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B014JCZQT4

I have a Facebook author page as well as a Twitter page (although I don't always get the Tweeting thing)

www.facebook.com/Veronica.Smith.Author

https://twitter.com/Vee_L_Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-smith-author/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/veronica-smith

https://kvzsmithwordpresscom.wordpress.com/

13. Anything to add:

I’ve been doing several cons and vendor tables in the past year and found how much fun it is. You get to meet people who want to buy your book in person. Several times it’s someone who bought one before only to come back and buy a different book because they liked the first one so much. I love that. I write because I love it. Sure everyone would love to be able to write full time and I’m no different, but until that day I’m happy to be able to write out my stories and I love to hear from readers.

Chalk Outline by Veronica Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me just start out with this: if you know me, you know I am Criminal Justice Major ok? Now go look at the cover of this book. Now tell me; this cover doesn’t just make those who enjoy investigating crime or reading crime will not want to check this book out. Meaning I had to read it, right? Ok then, here’s the scoop!

Next, I learn that the book has Detectives in it, meaning yes, I am going not going to be putting this book down anytime soon. And their names are Darius and Jake, and they have been doing their jobs for quite some time, so it’s not like its nothing new to them. These guys have seen their fair share of… well you know, just about anything.

But let’s face it people, when the victim ends up being a child, the entire universe feels it, and mourns with you. Everyone will be watching, and you know it. From the victim’s parents, to the Newspapers, the TV stations, and not just the local ones either, and it will be on blast on social media. So, your best bet is to be on your best behavior and do everything you can. And God willing, at top speeds. And doing this job: isn’t going to easy….

And what’s even worse, is the person isn’t stopping with one child, no this killer is going on a vendetta for more and more children. Putting everyone on edge that have Children.

Eventually, Darius and Jake meet Jessica. A mother to one of the victims. Jessica has gifts, as she calls them. And she thinks that these gifts may be able to help the Detectives catch this morbid killer and bring him to justice.

Yes, it is Jake is in fact skeptical, but Darius, he is not. And he is going to put his faith is Jessica. And he wants to use her skills to help find this person and solve this mystery.

And when the killer finally strikes way too close to home, the team go into overdrive to solve this case. This is when Jessica will start wondering if this gift is a curse, after all. Because now her gift has bought the truth into reality right in front of her very own eyes. Is this the answer she really wanted? Is this what Darius and Jake expected too?

To get all your answers answered, you must read this book and find out. But I promise you, it is a five-star age turned that will keep you guessing with every turn of that page. So why not get your copy today and find what you’ve been wondering! I promise you an exciting ride, because this writer will give you the thrill you have been craving and much more!



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