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BUILDING A CONNECTED SERIES
We interviewed Susan Rogers and John Roosen about their series under the banner of Yoga Mat Mysteries. yogamatmysteries.com
With Cobra Pose as the second installment in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series, what challenges did you face in maintaining continuity from the first book, while also ensuring that it stands alone for readers who may not have read the first book?
ANS: Writing a series is much like building a set of nesting boxes or containers. One box can fit snuggly inside the other, but they are most often viewed and used separately. You start with the smallest box which is the first in the series and build from there.
The series writer knows that there will be layers upon layers developed with each successive book. Each book typically has some small carry-over items from the previous book. This is likely several characters or perhaps a continuation of an event. It might also be some small detail that is buried in one book to be fulfilled in another.
Overall, the objective is that each book stands on its own as a separate story. There may be small ‘refresh moments’ for a first-time reader choosing to start the series with a book other than the first one. These ‘refresh moments’ will provide the reader with an orientation of what happened in the beginning of the series. The trick is to limit this to only the necessary details and ensure the reader of every book in the series isn’t reading the same exact details again. An example of this is in Cobra Pose where we use the characters themselves to remember some details about each other. [Excerpt from Chapter 2 – Off Like a Rocket]
‘I found your canvas shoes,’ he said as they walked down the lane.
‘Yes, I remembered where they were … after you left. Thanks for letting me stay with you eight weeks ago; after those two break-ins at my apartment.’
‘You’re welcome. You do remember the finer details of things.’
‘Two months, Ric? And you’ve forgotten that I remember things? How about this? Height 194 centimetres, in bare feet. Shoe size 10.5. Your suit jacket is a “long”. Pants have front pleats. You’re partial to cotton, silk, merino wool and cashmere. RM Williams boots are worn for casual wear. Side speed-zip and lace-ups for work boots. You shave with a straight razor, use maca root shaving cream and wear Speedo bathing suits. And thanks to Peter, my blind neighbour, we know you like Irish Tweed cologne.’
‘Wow, pretty good, Ms Williams.’ Ric guided Elaina to the Lacey Lane building entrance. ‘Back at ya. You are 168 centimetres in height. Shoe size 6.5. You tailor your clothing to fit an hourglass figure. You also prefer cotton, silk, merino wool, cashmere and just about sheer everything else. Shoes are canvas for casual wear, leather for formal wear, and Birkenstocks are okay. I can attest a full-length bathing suit casts you as an Olympic swimmer. You prefer vegetarian pizza. Your perfume is an array of fragrances which was named after the Shalimar Gardens.’
Elaina took it all in. ‘Have you been measuring me while I sleep?’
‘Certainly not. How could I? You sleep curled up in a ball.’
‘You sleep on your back with your arms behind your head, like you’re poolside at a resort.’
‘Touché,’ Ric said.
Writing a series is like playing three-dimensional chess. The games are more difficult to build and more strategic, but they also allow time for more realism and complexity as the series progresses.
From a story perspective, a series also allows continuation of some of the characters, which becomes something readers and listeners often enjoy. This follow-on can also provide the characters time to continue to grow and develop.
How did you balance writing for two different formats – print and audiobook?
ANS: We always knew that we would produce audiobooks after each book was published. There’s just something magic about bringing the characters and plot together in an audiobook format, which is also a popular media format currently making a ‘comeback’ from audiotapes and discs.
We always read our books over and over again to each other during their construction. It allows us to hear the flow of the story, letting us know where we needed to add ‘the zing’ into the description or the dialogue.
Though reading aloud during the creation takes time. We like to listen to the words and how they sound. We work to make a ‘realistic but wonderfully descriptive’ story with the sounds. And it’s also easier for us to tell when we need to add or subtract words, concepts or connections.
We think that good storytelling naturally lends itself to audiobooks. We just had to find a way to produce the audiobook that we could hear in our heads. That was the challenge!
Did you consciously make decisions keeping the audiobook narration in mind?
ANS: We use a variety of tools to keep track of the ‘threads’ that we want to continue throughout the series, and those that may last only in one of the books. And listening to the story as we read out loud helps strengthen that structure.
We knew the ultimate work will be presented in two formats, and that drove us to spend the time crafting the structure to get it right for both formats.
The most difficult part of writing this book (and every book) is writing The End. We get very involved with the book, the characters and the plotline. So, it is like closing the door and saying goodbye to good friends, if only for awhile.
That is probably another reason we have gone on to develop audiobooks for our series. The Dead Man’s Pose and Cobra Pose audiobooks feature a world-renown voice actor, Rupert Degas. Thus, we can listen to our characters ‘in action’ whenever we have a moment. This helps reinforce where we will be going with the storyline and the character development in the future books in the series.
How did you navigate the process of writing a cohesive story as co-authors? Were there any specific challenges?
Anyone looking at our backgrounds would wonder how we met, how we stayed together, and how in the world do we write books together. It definitely isn’t easy, but it’s fun.
John’ s background was a little different, starting his career as a biologist, then serving as a commissioned naval officer. He was also a designated law enforcement officer and environmental emergency specialist in the United States. Susan’s life took a major detour when she became a commissioned naval officer and a designated law enforcement officer. Susan also headed a small arms weapons training team for the for the US Coast Guard and conducted safety and engineering inspections of ships at sea.
That’s where our paths came together. We met at Officer’s Candidate School in Yorktown, Virginia. Susan was a rule follower, doing things ‘by the book’. John liked to figure out ways to break the break the rules. There was an immediate attraction.
Now, when we write, we sit in a small bay window for 12-14 hours a day. We built a narrow American ash table that fits two computers and lots of coffee cups. Using this table, we finished our first mystery novel, Dead Man’s Pose, about a murder occurring in Sydney, Australia. It becomes three murders after wrangling a plotline from the creative ether. We argued over many things—from character flaws, to location descriptions, to unique methods of murder.
The narrowness of the table forced us to eventually see ‘eye to eye’ to continue writing the series.
How do you resolve the differences?
ANS: It is the passion between us that creates the tension in the stories. It isn’t easy to have two strong personality types build a gummy web of intrigue. As we both have military experiences, sometimes there is a bit of pulling rank or ‘drawing swords’.
Most of the time (miraculously), we maintain our humor. The impenetrable goal is always not to tarnish (too much) our long relationship by arguing over Oxford commas, how to place Australianisms, or where to bury clues so they are read, but not apparent.
We write, we focus and we share the passion that we have for each other and our stories. We laugh and cry and encourage Elaina – our main protagonist in books 1 and 2 – onwards in her journey. Our solicitor turned yoga instructor overcomes various issues in the first two books with a zig-zagging pathway.
Elaina’s handsome, dark horse partner, Ric, is easier to write about. He seems to collaborate with us throughout the mystery-thriller series, making us laugh at his wry humour and smart dialogue. Thanks Ric! Readers and listeners will get better acquainted with Ric’s past in books 3 (Tree Pose) and 4 (Warrior Pose).
We have dug deeply into our backgrounds and our personal experiences working across the world. We created a souffle of English, business, technical writing, biology, chemistry and trivia to create the series. Do we tear our hair out, gnash teeth, or threaten to jump from the 14th floor window? Well, the jumping would be difficult as we are on the ground level … but sometimes it seems like that.
During the blazing arguments and work-throughs, we pound out the direction were headed and how we would get there. That’s where our passion for writing burns brightest.
Would we do it again? You bet! We have worked together to release two eBooks and 2 audiobooks in about 16 months. And the next three are drafted and will be ‘perfected’ one by one. Drafting the stories in advance was another method to help us develop this series.
As the story of Cobra Pose unfolds in Brisbane, how did you ensure the city’s essence was captured effectively in the book?
ANS: We have spent 12 years in Australia working and exploring many of the locales in this extraordinary country of Australia. Cobra Pose takes place in the sub-tropical city of Brisbane and the surrounding area of Queensland. Brisbane is a great city which runs along the winding Brisbane River. The river actually reminds us of how twisty a mystery plot can go.
We have been fortunate to have lived and worked in many countries in the world. So, we always look for the ‘discovery’ of a city from the reader’s point of view.
We purposely ground-truth each and every locale that our characters live, visit or explore. This includes both the protagonists and the antagonists.
As Cobra Pose was being written, we ground-truthed every street, every restaurant, and even took a few days to stay on Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. This was to carefully plot out the final emotional action scenes related to one of the overarching themes of this book – hacking.
And it was then that we received an email from our Australian communications company. We’d been hacked!
“At first it was very frustrating to learn we’d been hacked,” John commented. “But we realised in thinking about it, that it was the perfect validation for all the work we had done in preparation for Cobra Pose.”
“And some of the things we learned during that particular occurrence, also helped us better construct the plot!” Susan concluded.
Can you give us a hint about what you’re working on next?
ANS: Absolutely!
Tree Pose is the 3rd book in the series and Ric and Elaina travel to Tasmania (one of the states of Australia) which is an island in the southern part of the country.
Warrior Pose is the 4th book in the series and Ric takes Elaina to the place he was born – New Zealand.
Half Moon Pose is the 5th book in the series and Elaina persuades Ric to head to France where her mother was born.
How do you hope readers and listeners will feel after finishing your book or audiobook?
ANS: This is the best question of all. Our answer is for the reader and listener to be swept away with the mystery, suspense and thriller themes, as well as the romance and faraway places.
Stories are a magic way of taking one to another place in a relatively short time.
And of course, we hope that the reader and listener can’t wait to get into the next eBook and audiobook and are hungry for more!
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It’s not just a rippling ‘scam’ job. Has Australia been infiltrated at levels they’ve never known?
Elaina Williams uses a Cobra Pose in her Yoga studio to boost her energy – she will need it! Elaina’s father, Edward, is in trouble. He’s disappeared.
As a solicitor and now yoga instructor, Elaina drags Ric, a man she’s fallen for, into the bursting web of techno-thrilling intrigue.
Ric Peters has just returned from a disastrous trip to Indonesia. Ric bills himself as a photojournalist. Elaina suspects he shoots more than just photographs. Ric has insight into the journey he and Elaina must take. He knows Elaina isn’t ready for what’s going to happen. There are too many moving parts for him to control.
Time is running out before The Cobra and The Wolf strike with their heist. They are extending their fangs towards Australia’s ‘golden coastline’ to bite into and destabilise financial institutions worldwide.
The sparkling sub-tropical city of Brisbane, Queensland, is the epicentre of this hacking tsunami of the century! But these hackers are good at hiding. They make a living out of it. They are submerged Phantoms leaving no tracks.
Can the burgeoning amateur sleuth Elaina piece this puzzle together before her father’s fate is sealed? How far is Ric willing to go in deciding to save Elaina … or Australia?
Cobra Pose is the suspense-thriller and second novel in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series. This book is filled with a snappy plot, dynamic prose, witty dialogue, and slow-burn chemistry. You’ll love Susan Rogers and John Roosen’s atmospheric whodunit. Click Cobra Pose to stretch your sense of adventure today!
The first book, Dead Man’s Pose, is available online. Next in the YMM line-up is Tree Pose – coming soon!
TWO AUTHORS CREATING AN AUDIOBOOK…
WITHOUT KILLING EACH OTHER
(Especially when writing a series!)
Two authors, two military officers, two different personalities writing a mystery series about murder, mystery, thrills, and mayhem – We asked how they worked together.
Two years ago, we knew nothing about how to produce an audiobook. But after reading Dead Man’s Pose to each other about 50 times, we knew we wanted to try and create a quality audiobook. It’s almost undefinable what drove us to start this new and complex project. Our passion is telling a good story wrapped in the best art of the storytelling. But getting an audiobook together and produced? Well, now that’s a different story.
Blending two styles. Let’s start by saying we are two completely opposite personalities. We met in Officers Candidate School in the US military. In the military everything is alphabetized, hence with similar last names we were in constant proximity. Usually at attention. John is a tall, long-distance runner and a person good at predicting future events. Susan is a slender, brunette firecracker, full of action and a long list of things that must be done yesterday. We see things differently, and our ways of expression are a stark contrast.
So how could we come together and write as one voice? By necessity, we’ve had a lot of practice. Through our wide-ranging occupations and projects over the years in multiple countries, we’ve learned to blend our styles to craft a unified approach in life. For example, John cooks, and Susan says how great it is. Works for both of us.
Classic Plus Cozy. Our books focus on classic literary fiction but with a heavy infusion of the ‘cozy-mystery-suspense-thriller’ approach. We spend a considerable amount of time working on the plot of one book, while we may be writing others in the series. As the characters, plots and activities may overlap, it is essential that we track our storylines. We tend to develop our own systems which includes spreadsheets, tables and lists.
Plots as Coat Hangers. The plots are paramount to us since they become the coat hangers on which we fashion our story and characterizations. However, we may also have a specific issue or flaw that our characters work on during each book. As we have two main characters, we alternate who is the ‘lead’ or protagonist for each book.
Occasionally, some of the sub-characters feature with different issues to solve and, and down the track line, they will have a book of their own.
For us, it is hard to choose one scene over another as our favorites, because our writing is very layered. Working separately and then together as a team, then apart again, we tend to go back and forth on the various scenes within each book. This includes reading the book ourselves, and then reading to each other.
Action Scenes. When an action scene occurs, we often take time to create a replica of the scene. Sometimes we do this spontaneously, as our creative streak might happen right when we are having breakfast. So, whatever is available is used during that moment.
Character Smorgasbord. The challenge of course, is to make each character seem authentic and multi-faceted. This includes various characters who may have quirky characteristics which allow them to be visualized in the reader’s mind. We also rely on the readers’ imagination to mold our characters to the people they might know or think about. It’s part of the partnership of willing participation between us and the readers.
Our wordsmithing plays an integral part in this. Writers have the delicious opportunity to use a smorgasbord of options at their fingertips when building a character. Like any artist, they can dabble in one method and then switch to another if that isn’t working.
Knowing the right balance can be a method of trial and error where we work at something repeatedly until it reads and sounds right. Sometimes the character comes to life with little or no effort like they are ready to jump out from the computer keys onto the page. Those are the extraordinary moments every writer loves.
Many of our characterizations are based on people we have met and interacted with over the years. One slender thread of the writing shows John as using the books as a form of therapy, while Susan is practicing her English Major (including the classics, Latin and Victorian poets) background. All writers have multiple strands that surface in their writing.
Audiobook Creation. But an audiobook creation requires, first, a story that sounds ‘fantastic’ when it is heard out loud. This involves the recipe of a compelling plot and complex characters. So, as we created Dead Man’s Pose, we purposely built it in ways where we could emphasize the ‘performance’ side of the story.
For example, Agatha Christie is known for her 66 detective novels and various short story collections. She sometimes has a scene in which all the essential characters are in a room, on a boat, or on a train, and the detective works through the known information. By the end of that section, the person or persons that committed the crime is revealed. We wanted ‘to play’ with that in Dead Man’s Pose.
12 Characters in One Room. In the chapter, The Crime Solver’s Potluck, we have 12 characters in a room with various interests and backgrounds. This includes: a blind man whose nose is tour de force; an outback detective who hopes nothing is revealed in this informal setting; two homeless men, one of whom resembles a Shakespeare’s Falstaff; and Professor Scott and his TackiNotes and Tabasco sauce. Of course, the hosts of the Potluck are our main characters in the entire series: Elaina (our solicitor / lawyer turned Yoga studio owner) and Ric (our mysterious dark horse photojournalist).
These twelve individuals are crowded into Ric’s small apartment. This was a coup de grâce for our voice actor narrator Rupert Degas, since all the voices must be unique during the lengthy dialogue. This alone took weeks in listening to voices across the planet. Did we want a Hugh Jackman voice for our Ric? And a Cate Blanchett voice for our Elaina? And what do we do about Alfred, the key homeless character? We knew we wanted Alfred to reflect that deep Chris Hemsworth voice that is both gravelly and understandable. The voice you want to listen to no matter what he is saying. We listened to voice after voice trying to bring together the ‘performance’ model of we had in our heads.
Acting it out. And when we got stuck on how the characters would respond, we acted out what we wanted each character to do and say.
You can imagine what occurred when someone came to our front door, and we were dressed in an array of clothing and hats to quickly go from one character to another. Naturally, we didn’t bother explaining.
But we will say that we have purposely acted out how Ric would kiss Elaina in a few scenes. Susan insists we had to do that particular action with many retakes to get everything right. John has questioned whether it will take at least until Series 5 or 6 of the Yoga Mat Mysteries before the method is perfected.
Focus on the Outcome. Writing is hard work. Production of an audiobook takes it to a whole new level. And no amount of effort guarantees anything.
When we started writing together, we aimed to have fun, focused on creating quality fiction and overall enjoy the outcome. Before Yoga Mat Mysteries (YMM), we published three books. With our new YMM series, we published Dead Man’s Pose as an ebook and Cobra Pose as an eBook. This year both Dead Man’s Pose and Cobra Pose are Audiobooks which takes the stories to a ‘whole new level. We admit though, we are learning all the time.
Have we had fun in all this writing and producing? You bet! We most surely have met that goal. And while there are moments of tension and frustration, Susan suddenly stands up, signaling we have to practice the kissing scene again. John is happy to give it another go.
A spirited yoga teacher teams up with a dark horse partner (determined to right wrongs); and together they seek closure on the sudden and mysterious death of a friend.
Throw in a cast of quirky characters that includes a savvy outback detective, an eccentric academic, a highly observant (but sight-challenged) witness, an exotic hairdresser, a Falstaffian nomad, crooked officials, and some assorted mob thugs.
Add some heat between the investigators, plus Ric’s wry humour and Elaina’s smart dialogue, while they both tumble into chase scenes to avoid sharks, cruise through a darkened saloon and conduct late-night spying on a ‘high roller’ that floats.
Combine that with word pictures of Sydney, one of the world’s most picturesque cities (which also has sleazy backstreets and a gummy web of intrigue), and you have the cocktail mix of Dead Man’s Pose.
It’s a jigger of Agatha Christie’s compelling plotline; adding two parts of Cherringham Murder Mysteries; shake in the backdrop of Sydney, Australia which acts as another character and garnish with the mood and tempo of a Michael Connelly’s clue-packed charge. Dead Man’s Pose has all the classic hallmarks of a whodunit genre … But presented as a gin fizz romantic mystery with extra fizz.
Your Dead Man’s Pose eBook is just a click away. Hungry for more? Dead Man’s Pose is first in the Yoga Mat Mysteries’ line-up. Second in the series (now online) is Cobra Pose. Next will be Tree Pose – coming soon!
Cobra Pose: Yoga Mat Mysteries, Book 2 Audiobook
As a yoga teacher, Elaina Williams knows all about the calming, rejuvenating effects of her practice. But even she can’t escape the pull of real-world chaos every now and then. With her companion Ric Peters, she embarks on what she wishes could be a tranquil trip to Brisbane. But alas, it’s not a vacation; it’s a mission. Elaina’s father has mysteriously vanished. His last communication was nothing short of odd, creating a whirlwind of worry in Elaina’s mind. Upon scrutinizing her father’s final message, she knows that the situation is nothing short of critical. Leaning on Ric’s strength and support, she resolves to uncover the truth about her father’s disappearance.
Susan Rogers and John Roosen bring us the exciting second book of the Yoga Mat Mysteries series, “Cobra Pose.” The story pivots around Elaina’s courageous quest to uncover the truth about her father’s disappearance. Ric, who happens to be Elaina’s romantic partner, stands by her side as a pillar of strength, providing valuable assistance as their search intensifies. The relationship between Elaina and Ric feels real, infused with tangible energy that resonates deeply with readers.
Rogers and Roosen have a gift for storytelling, drawing listeners into the narrative from the get-go. While Elaina and Ric are undeniably the driving force behind this installment, a rich tapestry of secondary characters adds nuance and depth to the story. And what’s more, these characters are brought to life beautifully by Rupert Degas’s incredible narration. His vocal prowess lends authenticity to the characters, making their experiences feel all the more real. Rogers and Roosen’s depiction of the blossoming relationship between Elaina and Ric, beginning in the first book and evolving in this sequel, reflects their mastery over dialogue creation.
I recommend “Cobra Pose” to all mystery lovers. If you’re a fan of complex plots, compelling characters, and a sprinkling of romance, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy the series.
Listening Length: 9 hours and 59 Minutes | ASIN: B0C6YLYZ3F
Dead Man’s Pose (Audiobook)
Dead Man’s Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen begins with an ordinary day in the life of Elaina, a yoga instructor who knows her clients well, from the occasional drop-ins to the regulars. When one of her clients, Mario, is found dead following a yoga class, Elaina and a few intriguing characters must determine whether the deceased succumbed to their fate by natural means or if a darker, more sinister culprit is responsible.
This mystery is well narrated in this engrossing audiobook, with many plot twists and complex but interesting characters that delve into a deeper story with unexpected details as they solve a morbid puzzle. The more Elaina, Ric, and other players, in this case, dig into the past, the more involved the mystery becomes, shedding more secrets than expected. I found the characters very entertaining, with a healthy dose of dark humor and wit mixed into page-turning suspense.
Narrator Rupert Degas does a spectacular job of drawing the reader into the story, from one mind-bending development to the next. The characters are fun, too, and offer a glimpse into a world that appears straightforward on the surface, with many dark and complicated layers beneath. The author weaves a nostalgic, almost noir theme throughout this modern, engaging story, which reads like a classic. It’s a great read for anyone familiar with traditional whodunnit stories, with a unique twist and memorable characters.
Dead Man’s Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen is a thrilling crime story that’s taken to a whole new level by the fantastic narration. It’s a brilliant story that’s perfect for first-time mystery readers or long-time fans of the suspense and action genre. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work, and diving into the fascinating world of murder mysteries and the complex backgrounds of these cases, woven expertly into the plot. Susan Rogers and John Roosen are top-tier authors, and I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for an exciting story that will be difficult to pause.
Both Sides Of The Hacking Equation
“Cobra Pose” follows a solicitor turned yoga instructor and her photojournalist love interest as they race against time to stop a group of hackers from destabilizing financial institutions worldwide. What were some new ideas you wanted to explore in this book that were different from book one?
We have been fascinated with the concept of hacking for almost ten years. We started researching various groups that were involved in hacking, as well as their methods. Hacking often leads to theft, fraud, or other scams, and often appears more efficient and less costly than other methods. We also wanted to know what counter measures were available to prevent hacking. To us, it was always a race, a contest if you will, between the two opponents. Just when one method seems to be the solution to prevent hacking, hackers come up with means to overcome the countermeasures. It’s the ultimate chess game. The stakes are high, and we have definitely seen an uptick in the volume hacking over the years.
We wanted the reader to become immersed in both sides of the hacking equation. We developed a stable of characters who are orchestrating the hacking, as well as a counter-group trying to prevent or at least control the outcomes of the hacking event. We also identified the White Hat Hackers that hack for justice and Black Hat Hackers who hack for gain and disruption.
As it turns out, just when we were in Australia ‘ground-truthing’ all the locations for Cobra Pose, our communications company was hacked. It was such a massive hack that half of Australia was affected (about 12 million people). Driver’s licenses, streets names, phone numbers etc were up for grabs. We happened to be two of the people that were affected.
As writers we do love irony, and we thought this was the greatest irony of all.
What were some challenges you felt were important to developing Elaina Ric’s characters in this book?
Our books focus on classic literary fiction writing. We spend a considerable amount of time working on the plot of one book, while we may be writing others in the series. Since the characters and books have plots and direction that may overlap, it becomes a tracking process which includes spreadsheets, tables and lists. The plots are paramount to us as they become the coat hangers on which we fashion our characterizations. However, we also have a specific issue or flaw that our characters work on during the course of each book. As we have two main characters, we alternate who is the ‘lead’ or protagonist for each book. Occasionally, some of the sub-characters will feature in a strong way and down the track line have a book of their own.
The challenge of course is to make each character seem real and multi-faceted. We actually try to make each character have small characteristics that allow them to be visualized in the mind of the reader. We rely on the readers imagination to form the construct of what our characters appear like and act like. The word-smithing plays an important part in this.
Writers have the delicious opportunity to use a smorgasbord of options at their fingertips when building a character. Just like any artist they can dabble in one method and then switch to another if that isn’t working.
Knowing the right balance can be a method of trial and error where we work at something over and over again until it reads and sounds right. Sometimes the character comes to life with little or no effort, like they are ready to jump out from the computer keys onto the page. Those are the magic moments every writer loves.
Many of our characterisations are based on people we have met and interacted with over the years.
We hope people enjoy the many characters we have created in both Dead Man’s Pose and Cobra Pose. Our books are the combination of a wide variety of quirky characters and a well-crafted plot.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
For us, it is hard to choose one scene over another, as our writing is very layered. Working separately and then together as a team, then apart again, we tend to go back and forth on the various scenes within each book.
This includes both reading the book ourselves, and then reading to each other. In Dead Man’s Pose, when twelve characters come together in The Crime Solver’s Potluck, we basically acted out what we wanted each character to do and say.
You can imagine what occurred when someone came to our front door, and we were dressed in an array of clothing and hats to quickly go from one character to another.
In Cobra Pose, we ground-proofed each of the streets, locations, and areas we wrote about as we did in Dead Man’s Pose That means we walk or drive, take a boat or a plane to get to where the characters are going to move around.
If there isn’t a building that meets our needs, we do have the ability to create one, as we did with The Observatory. However, in this case, we both have about 20 years of emergency management experience each, to build our ideal of what a multi-agency operations centre might include. So that combines the mix of: years of experience, within the plot developed for that book, with the creative need for the actions envisioned.
The scene that stands out in Cobra Pose is near the end. Of course, we aren’t going to give away any spoilers away, but there is a massive response effort that takes place. It was complex and exhilarating to write and gave us an adrenalin rush just reading it to each other.
What can readers expect in book three in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series?
Book 3 in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series is Tree Pose. In book 1, Dead Man’s Pose we explored the theme of corruption, fraud and justice, along with a budding romance. In book 2, Cobra Pose, we explored the theme of hacking and a potential collapse of financial institutions.
In a similar manner, for book 3, we have chosen an ‘overarching’ theme which we have explored along with the individual flaws and themes of our main characters.
We interweave all this with romance. What’s not to like about that? We often think there is something universal about love that makes it so very compelling to write about. So, the reader will see this overarching theme played out as well.
By the way, for those wondering how far we are going with the series, buckle up. We have book 3 – Tree Pose, drafted; book 4 – Warrior Pose drafted; book 5 – Half Moon Pose drafted. Our goal is always to try and maintain a quality fiction approach, so we spend a lot of time perfecting each one. We hope this gives the reader a desire to ‘read that one again … and again’.
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It’s not just a rippling ‘scam’ job. Has Australia been infiltrated at levels they’ve never known?
Elaina Williams uses a Cobra Pose in her Yoga studio to boost her energy – she will need it! Elaina’s father, Edward, is in trouble. He’s disappeared.
As a solicitor and now yoga instructor, Elaina drags Ric, a man she’s fallen for, into the bursting web of techno-thrilling intrigue.
Ric Peters has just returned from a disastrous trip to Indonesia. Ric bills himself as a photojournalist. Elaina suspects he shoots more than just photographs. Ric has insight into the journey he and Elaina must take. He knows Elaina isn’t ready for what’s going to happen. There are too many moving parts for him to control.
Time is running out before The Cobra and The Wolf strike with their heist. They are extending their fangs towards Australia’s ‘golden coastline’ to bite into and destabilise financial institutions worldwide.
The sparkling sub-tropical city of Brisbane, Queensland, is the epicentre of this hacking tsunami of the century! But these hackers are good at hiding. They make a living out of it. They are submerged Phantoms leaving no tracks.
Can the burgeoning amateur sleuth Elaina piece this puzzle together before her father’s fate is sealed? How far is Ric willing to go in deciding to save Elaina … or Australia?
Cobra Pose is the suspense-thriller and second novel in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series. This book is filled with a snappy plot, dynamic prose, witty dialogue, and slow-burn chemistry. You’ll love Susan Rogers and John Roosen’s atmospheric whodunit. Click Cobra Pose to stretch your sense of adventure today!
The first book, Dead Man’s Pose, is available online. Next in the YMM lineup is Tree Pose – coming soon!
Cobra Pose
Elaina Williams is off to Brisbane. Any other time, she would look forward to this trip–relaxation, time away with Ric Peters, and a little reprieve from her job as a yoga instructor. This, however, is not her ideal vacation. Elaina’s father is missing. It’s been a week since she last spoke to him, and the last message from him is cryptic and filled with clues that something is very wrong. Elaina’s fears are confirmed when she asks Ric to listen to the message and use his skill to analyze her father’s voice. One quick listen is all it takes for Ric to realize that things are definitely not what they seem, and their mission begins.
Cobra Pose, by Susan Rogers and John Roosen, is the second installment in the thrilling Yoga Mat Mysteries series and centers around Elaina’s fight to find her father and bring him to safety. Ric Peters, her love interest and partner in all things mysterious, is by her side throughout her search, lending her his skills and support. The two make a phenomenal team, and their energy and rapport are unbeatable.
This is the second book by Rogers and Roosen I have read, and I found myself fully invested in the storyline each time. This writing duo knows how to hook readers in the first chapter. One of the things I love most about their writing is the intriguing cast of characters present throughout their works. It goes without saying that Elaina and Ric are standouts, but the secondary characters who appear throughout the book are equally as fascinating and give their books a well-rounded feel. From homeless Broady to Priya, ever sassy and in charge, Rogers and Roosen know how to add fabulous layers to their cast of characters.
I enjoy a well-planned mystery and often have a difficult time finding one that is not steeped in narrative and lacks rich dialogue. That is never an issue with Rogers and Roosen’s work. The banter between Elaina and Ric continues in this second book in the series and expands upon the relationship that began in book one. These authors have hit upon the ideal mix of action, romance, and comedy.
I highly recommend mystery fans give Cobra Pose a try. Nowhere else will you find a better-developed cast of characters and a more engaging plot. Fans who appreciate a blend of genres in their mysteries will become instant fans of Rogers and Roosen.
Pages: 343 | ASIN: B0BTJV4V1H
Dead Man’s Pose
Mario went to yoga class like any other day. He definitely didn’t leave in better shape than when he arrived. Mario, as it turns out, left in a body bag. Elaina’s yoga class was certainly not the place anyone expected to find a dead body. Shortly after Mario’s fateful visit, things begin to take an even more frightening turn for Elaina. She needs answers, and she wants them quickly. When she makes up her mind, very little stands in her way. With more than a little help from a friend, Elaina sets out to solve the mystery and get her life back in order.
Dead Man’s Pose, by Susan Rogers and John Roosen, is a fantastic mystery filled with rich characters and the perfect mix of action and suspense. Set in Australia, the culture is evident and much of the dialogue includes terms and phrases specific to the setting. I enjoyed the premise of the story immensely. Rogers and Roosen have created a truly unique series of books centered around yoga studios. The Yoga Mat Mysteries are appealing on many levels.
Main characters Elaina and Ric are the perfect team. From the moment they start their mission to solve Mario’s murder, their chemistry is ideal. I enjoyed the exchanges between the two. They give readers a really wonderful pair to watch throughout the story. Rogers and Roosen provide readers with a great mix of dialogue and narrative. I am easily turned off by books that have an inordinate amount of dialogue or far too much narration. The authors have made Dead Man’s Pose a true pleasure to read with fast-paced exchanges within a great dynamic.
The whole yoga studio backdrop is actually kind of amazing to me. It provides a wonderful sense of peace and calm compared to the chaos around the main characters. I found myself breathing a sigh of relief when everything circled back to this place of zen. This is a truly unique background for a book in the mystery genre.
I highly recommend this installment of the Yoga Mat Mysteries to any readers looking for a new author to explore. I am a big fan of Agatha Christie’s work and voraciously read any mystery set outside the US, so I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Elaina and Ric and look forward to more books in this series.
Pages: 331 | ASIN: B09SYJG1YP
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