She tore that sucker to shreds.

If I never hear the words “dialogue tags, woman,” again, it won’t be soon enough. And I know I will, because that is a tic I’m working on. Anyway, plot holes had spotlights pointed on them, and character development became a major issue.

Getting back into the heads of characters I hadn’t spoken to in three years was tough, and the editing grueling, but I am so proud of the finished product. Scenes were slashed and burned, new words were added. The bad guy’s motivation was strengthened, and that one little mistake Emilie makes at the end of the book that made her such a dumb female? Fixed.

More importantly, Emilie and Nathan’s relationship was developed much earlier on. I won’t give too much away, but I will say Nathan is inside the bank with her during the hostage siege.

Roughly 12,000 words were cut and about 10,000 new added. Everything about the book is better, and I’m very proud of the end result.

And while some readers may not want to read the new version (which I do understand) I am a much better writer after the hellish edits of this book. That alone is worth the effort.

If you are interested in checking out INTO THE DEVIL’S UNDERGROUND, you can find the buy links here.

And don’t miss the release party on Facebook on Thursday, May 14. We’re giving away a very cool limited edition prize!

The Last Child by John Hart.

I started this book several weeks ago when we were at a swim meet. It’s very good, but I got away from it and haven’t gone back. DON’T TAKE THAT AS A SIGN OF QUALITY. This is what I do. I am a mood reader, which is bad because I need to be reading all the time. The book has a great premise and excellent, fast paced writing with good character development. I just have to get back to it.

Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is the suspense queen as far as I am concerned. I’ve learned so much from her writing, and once I start reading one of her books, I usually can’t stop until I’m finished. D.D. Warren is a great character, and this looks like an excellent story.

In The Blood by Lisa Unger

I heard of this one via the Mystery, Crime and Thriller Group on Goodreads. It looks like something that is right up my dark ally, and I hope to get to it soon.

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Of course I’ve read this book, but it’s been a long time, and the newest Kindle version has a forward by Harris about creating Hannibal Lector. Likely a must read for any thriller writer!

Faithful Place by Tana French

I love French’s writing, and her Dublin detectives series, set in Ireland, is a fascinating study in characters. Her plots are twisty and suck you in from the start.

So what’s on your TBR list? How many books do you read a week?

But I need your help. As you know, the trilogy is set in the deep South. Initially, I thought I’d need to make sure the narrator had a southern accent, because that would add authenticity. Then I realized that brings problems. First, how would I know if she got the accent right? The South has several different dialects, and figuring out the correct one will be tough. Second, would the accent be distracting to non Southerners? I know heavy British accents in movies can be distracting to me because I’m not used to them. Obviously the story comes first, and I don’t want that ruined by highlighting the accent.

So I’m seeking opinions. If you’re reading a novel, does dialect matter? Would a southern accent be distracting, or would it bring you closer to the character?

Thanks so much for your help!

And guess what?

The final book in the Delta Crossroads Trilogy, ASHES and BONE, is LIVE ON AMAZON! The book will be available in print and all digital formats on Tuesday, February 25, but Kindle readers were blessed with an early bird special!

Buy on KINDLE