Spotlight/Guest Post: Admit to Mayhem by D.J. Adamson

About the Book

Genre: Mystery, A Lillian Dove Mystery
Publisher: Horatio Press
Release Date: August 2014



Synopsis from Goodreads...

With a contrary attitude and an addiction for independence, Lillian Dove admits she has not been a success in life. In fact, she considers failing as one of her addictions. Yet, when she comes across a suspicious house fire with a history of arson and murder, she instinctively attempts to help someone trapped. Lillian becomes the only possible eyewitness to criminal arson, and her life begins to spiral out of control.

Lillian Dove is an endearing “everywoman” struggling with life issues, emotional complexities and a habit of doing just the opposite of what she’s told to do. These qualities in a heroine give the reader an ability to vicariously struggle along with the protagonist in this intriguing Midwest Noir mystery.

Author Guest Post

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

What is good and what is not good when it comes to writing is really up to the reader. And, what is read is not read is sometimes left to destiny. Thus, those who like to put a pen to paper need to do so without expectations.

Art created for the sake of art becomes the most honest and gratifying work. Case in point: There have been many authors who did not see great enthusiasm for their work. Franz Kafka had a day job and saw little of his work heralded. At his death, he asked for his work to be destroyed. Thankfully, no one listened. What would literary life be without a man turning into a cockroach! Emily Dickinson didn’t publish much before her death, but they found 1800 publishable poems in her closet, which we are still reading and pondering over. They were found in shoe boxes. It figures. Melville was not liked in his circle of friends– No Moby Dick?–nor was Nathaniel Hawthorne truly respected for his literary genius during his lifetime. Yet, the A in The Scarlet Letter is still a much discussed subject by students and teachers. A for Able instead of Adulteress? Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austen, this list could be lengthy.

And, a lengthy list can also be made of those authors who wrote only one book. Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. I read somewhere that she didn’t care for all the “fuss.” Today, authors hire publicists just to get a smidgen of that kind of fuss. Or write blogs. Harper Lee is still alive today. I wonder what wonderful stories she has piled in her closet? In shoe boxes? Could such a gifted person not write more work? Boris Pasternah was a celebrated poet during his lifetime but only wrote one novel, Dr. Zhivago. I loved the movie and I am just now reading the book. It is a truly wonderful work, even with all the hard Russian names.

But, those are all old writers…..then let me bring you further up-to-date with Stieg Larrson. I am just finishing his second novel, Girl Who Plays with Fire. I listen to it as I drive. I wish he were alive today so that I could tell him how much I enjoy his work.

Oscar Wilde said, “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifetime romance.” A Latin proverb tells us to “Keep adding little by little and you will soon have a big hoard.” Even though I published my first poem at the age of twelve, I hardly ever showed my art to my family or friends. The expectations of both acceptance and rejection were far too frightening. I published off and on in literary journals, and barely peeked in one to take a look. But I wrote and wrote and wrote and stacked work in my closet for one day when. Am I a great author? Only a reader who likes my work knows. Am I a bestseller? Only my readers know. Will I be rich? I already am. I am writing.

It hasn’t been until my later years that destiny brought me around to putting my work bravely out. I chose to self-publish not wanting to waste another moment. Admit to Mayhem, the first in the Lillian Dove Series came out in September. Another Mystery/Syfy serial, Jake’s Story, Part One of The Deviation is launching in December 2014. While my journey did not come to the place where I was traveling until now, I have no regrets. I also continue to write with no expectations.

I write for the love of writing and leave the destiny of printed pages where they should always be…in the eye of the reader.

Follow your unknown path, with its twists and turns, on a journal short or long. It’s the road that is the adventure!

About the Author

D. J. Adamson is an award-winning author. She launched her first Lillian Dove Mystery Series novel in September 2014, Admit to Mayhem, and she has a Syfy/Mystery Serial due out in December. Her family roots grow deep in the Midwest and it is here she sets much of her work. She juggles her time between her own desk and teaching writing to others at two Los Angeles area colleges. Along with her husband and two Welsh Terriers, she makes her home in Southern California.

Review:

"Admit to Mayhem is a well-rounded, engrossing read that creates a memorable, believable protagonist and uses her to immerse readers in a... very human realm of motivation and twisted purposes." Midwest Book Reviews