Blog Archives
Family is Family
Ghosts in the Glades follows a young boy with a growth hormone deficiency who, after moving to a new town, befriends a man at the center of missing children’s mystery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I like to pull little things from life into my stories to make the characters a bit more complex and believable. I heavily based the main character on my nephew who does have a growth hormone deficiency. The struggles that I have watched him overcome and his grit and strength have completely left me enamored and in awe of his grace and the way he moves through the world. He has never let his body define him, even when other people in his life have tried to categorize him and put him in a box. He absolutely shattered their preconceived image of who they thought he was. But there’s also a darker side to that, an evil that starts in some people as a small seed and their darkness lashes out at people who they think they can control. The transference of that darkness is what I find exhilarating, the questioning of can a good and kind soul be coerced or forced to the darkness? How much can a person take before they want revenge?
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
I tried to convey what was instilled in me all of my life, that family is family. Family is who you defend and protect. Can friends be considered family? Of course they can. Can you fully trust your family? Well… you should be able to..
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I think that a well-developed story should be able to stand on its own even without the plot twist. Are the characters fleshed out enough? Do the readers love them or despise them? I think that when I write, I have the general idea of what I want to transpire, but the great twists build themselves along the way. I am a HUGE fan of plot twists when I am reading, and I want to give the reader that same experience. To me, a plot twist is just the icing on the cake, but the story has to be strong enough to break your heart or make you invested enough to feel something on its own, even without the addition of a great twist.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
After a long wait, this book, Ghosts in the Glades, will be in preorder October 12th and will release in November 2024. It’s already won the Killer Nashville Claymore Award for Best Southern Gothic in 2024 and Maxy Award for Best Thriller, also in 2024.
I am currently working on three additional books, stories from all walks of life. One is about a boy grappling with the shady death of his father and goes on a camping expedition with his father’s best friend. Another is about a young guy who grew up in the seedy underbelly of Chicago, spending his days at the house of a local madam, and the twisted path that his life journey’s down, and another is loosely based on the story of how I lost my finger… and then twisted into a good old fashioned murder mystery of course. So, stay tuned! I should have another ready to release in 2025.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website | TikTok
Life is a Very Short Journey
Beneath Her Lies follows the gripping journey of Ruby who embarks on a journey through her family’s history, unveiling buried secrets that threaten to rewrite their shared future. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
Life is a very short journey when you really sit back and look at the big picture. It’s so tough to lose the ones we love, and sometimes when we do, we spend time going through their belongings and clinging to memories of the past. After losing both of my grandparents during the Covid pandemic and seeing my aunt begin the daunting task of sorting through their life’s worth of treasures, the idea spawned somewhere in my mind of the possibility of unmasking a whole other past buried somewhere within their things. I knew them as my loving grandparents, but what if they had something buried in their pasts that no one knew about, and how would that rock the family after they were gone? That is where the idea of this story really began to pick up momentum.
The cryptic letter plays a significant role in the plot. How did you decide on this element as the catalyst for Ruby’s journey?
Ruby trusted her grandmother her whole life and regarded her with so much respect. I knew that Ruby would find the value in the letter, and that it wouldn’t be something that her character would be able to turn a blind eye towards. I liked the intimacy of an old-fashioned letter, there is just something poetically nostalgic about that, and nostalgia is what is keeping Ruby grounded when, in reality, she is fighting to just cling to a life in the present that she has so carefully began to rebuild after becoming sober and stepping out on her own.
The exploration of Ruby’s family history forms the core of this book. How did you approach the task of creating this intricate backstory?
I had to look past just the character of Ruby and take a hard look at where she was in her life now. I knew that for her to overcome the things that she had to in the story, she had to have come from a close-knit family and that somewhere in her upbringing, loyalty would have had to have played a heavy hand in order for the story to move forward in the direction that I needed it to go. Ruby was raised with the values of respect, loyalty, and kindness, while witnessing a deep family bond towards her grandparents. She was also a girl who considered her younger sister, Banks, not only her best friend, but also felt a responsibility to protect her growing up, which lent nicely to the story.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just finished up with the final editing process of my newest thriller, Ghosts in the Glades, which will also be published by Kingsley Publishers later in 2024. That one really holds a space in my heart, as the story focuses on a young boy, Jett, with disabilities that grows up in the south, trying to find his way in the world among bullies.
He befriends a small crew of self-described misfits his own age, as well as a curious older gentleman by the name of Mr. Scroggs, who has a notorious, yet questionable past in town. The story follows the boy out of high school and college, and catches him in quiet a predicament, as he is now a successful businessman with his own family, dealing with questionable investors within his lucrative foundation.
As always, loyalty will rear its head once again, and the story of Jett will leave the readers breathless and in shock, which has become my calling card. A reminder that perfection is just an illusion, and that we are all hiding something.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok
It has been said that you can’t go home again. You can’t go home to the past, to where your favorite childhood memories lie. You can’t go back to where you once felt the most content and safe.
Ruby has run away from safety for her entire adult life, while running right towards danger. A true wild child, she found a false comfort in the arms of a man who drug her into his own personal hell. It would take years for Ruby to claw her way back out and be strong enough to crawl back home.
But what was home? Was it truly the place that her contorted heart remembered it to be? After the death of her Granddad, she was lulled back under the pretense of sorting out his affairs, only to be blindsided when she arrived, finding herself in a web of lies and deceit, while still trying to cling to her newly found, and carefully rebuilt sober life.
The twisted web becomes all-consuming, as Ruby is still struggling to find solid footing with her own past.
She may be able to outrun her own shadows, but can she keep her family secrets buried?
Mama Bears
Lake Laps follows a woman trapped in a jail cell whose harrowing tale of familial bonds, mystery, and resilience unfolds as she confronts the shadowy figure known as ‘He’ that plunged her life into despair. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
I wrote this novel when I was at a very low point in my own life. Through commiserating with other families around the bonfire and helping to heal each other’s wounds, we bonded over our own issues that we all were trying to maneuver as our kids were growing up and leaving the nest, some more gracefully than others. A tight knit little family is never prepared for one of their own to fall pray to manipulation, and no matter how strong you may think your family bonds are, no matter how smothering your little blanket of love and protection is, any princess can be lured out of her fairytale if the dragon is cunning enough.
I basically built characters by using scraps of nightmares that were told from one family to another, all of us left standing at a breaking point trying to decide how to hang on and when to let go.
Maxine is an intriguing and well-developed character. What inspired the creation of the complex character Maxine, and how did you navigate her emotional depth throughout the book?
In truth, Maxine is all mothers if they are pushed far enough. All of us “mama bears” who consider our children to be the center of our worlds, and when we are poked, and their security is threatened… well, watch out.
In creating Maxine, I had to remember that at one point she had it all, the perfect job, perfect family, perfect house, perfect marriage. When she wasn’t paying close enough attention, a monster snuck his way into her world and she was pulled into a deep depression, with only the thought of saving her daughter slowly consuming her soul. Poor Max got very dark, and had to decide who and what she was willing to let go of in her own life in order to salvage the life of her daughter.
The story is filled with dark ambiance and only sporadic moments of levity. How did you balance this mood to keep readers engaged without overwhelming them?
I think that the main goal of Maxine’s story was to really throw a gut punch, a dire warning as to what can happen to even the most seemingly perfect families. By balancing all of the darkness and levity with happy memories of the past, the reader is given a taste of all that Maxine stood to lose and why she was spiraling so far and fighting so hard to keep the family together.
When and where will your book be available?
Lake Laps releases in paperback on January 25, 2024 on Amazon, Amazon UK and Waterstones, initially in paperback, with E-Book and audio versions to come.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok
Shaken, Yet Satisfied
Fraidy Hole follows a grandfather and his granddaughter who must navigate their shared grief and the uncertainties of life while unraveling a series of mysterious clues in a world that challenges their preconceived notions. What was one goal you set for yourself as a writer with this book?
My goal was to make the reader feel like they were right there, in the middle of the nightmare. Too many times, I read a book and just don’t feel connected in any way to the main characters. These are very relatable, yet twisted characters that I needed the readers to feel their confusion and pain. The whole premise of my writing is to show the vulnerability that the human experience weighs down on us.
How did you balance the elements of suspense and the more intimate, emotional aspects of the narrative throughout the novel?
It’s simple really. I just went back to my happiest memories, of being a kid at my grandparents’ house, of warm summer days and bare toes. In order for my readers to understand the pain and heartache, first they have to experience the love and sheer simplicity of being a kid. Once that is accomplished, the suspense just kind of tags along for the ride, almost as an afterthought. Just like in real life, it’s the happiest of memories that your heart clings too, they, for the most part, overshadow the horrors.
The character of Bobo is quite intriguing. How did you come up with his character, and what challenges did you face in effectively portraying his emotions and memories?
Bobo was heavily based on my grandpa, his mannerisms, his working life. I took all of what I loved in that man and then twisted him, giving him a new past and new narrative. Writing from a male point of view was a new venture for me, and at first it was a little daunting. I found that when I just allowed myself to view the story as a movie, Bobo’s voice was easily coming to me, actually in the form of Sam Elliott! (Ha! Did you hear that, Sam Elliott?)
How do you hope readers will feel after finishing Fraidy Hole and what do you want them to take away from it?
I hope my readers are shaken, yet satisfied when they get to the end, the way you feel when you are walking out of an awesome movie that made you cry, got you angry, and left you stunned. I want the reader to reevaluate their own human connections within their own family and friend circles, because our days are numbered and you just never know when you will be saying your last goodbyes.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok
What happens though, when the lines are blurred… when reality and the nightmares of your past collide? Can the mind make sense of it all? Can the brain and heart sort out the drama and the subtext? What happens to the soul when the mind cracks, even just a little?
Fraidy Hole, the fictional dark suspense thriller that centers around a grandfather trying to save his granddaughter from herself, plays upon exactly that line of questioning.
Told from a Grandfather’s perspective, Fraidy Hole follows the unconventional life of his Granddaughter, Arlo, as she navigates the pitfalls of adolescence into adulthood, paired with the unfortunate events that unfold while she is being influenced by an unusual leader into her darkness, her best friend, Bast. Together, they are torn between hiding in and trying to escape the Fraidy Hole.
Thrive: Ghosts in the Glades
Thrive: Ghosts in the Glades, by Staci Andrea, is a compelling narrative centered around Jett, a young boy grappling with a growth hormone deficiency. The story unfolds as Jett and his family relocate to a new town following a series of surgeries that have strained the family’s finances. This move offers Jett a fresh start, introducing the potential for new friendships and the daunting challenge of facing a new bully. Amidst these changes, Jett becomes entangled in the mystery of the town’s missing children which many locals attribute to his mysterious new adult friend, Mr. Scroggs.
Years later, now a successful adult, Jett confronts a revelation that upends his understanding of his past, threatening to unravel the life he has built. Andrea’s narrative adeptly explores themes of human complexity and the flawed, intricate nature of our beings. The story delves into the nuanced motivations of its characters, by-passing simplistic labels of good and evil in favor of a more layered portrayal. Both the protagonist and antagonist are crafted with relatable depth, enriching their roles within the story. Throughout the book, Andrea skillfully navigates a spectrum of emotions, from curiosity and indignation to sorrow, engaging the reader with a well-crafted, emotionally resonant journey. The characters are developed with an understanding of self-perception and its influence on their interactions with the world around them. The novel’s conclusion delivers an unexpected and exhilarating twist.
Thrive: Ghosts in the Glades is a fine choice for those who enjoy fiction with a thrilling edge. While it contains elements of a coming-of-age story, the presence of mature themes such as murder, domestic violence, and bullying suggests a more adult audience. Thrive: Ghosts in the Glades offers an immersive and thought-provoking reading experience, indicative of Staci Andrea’s skill in blending emotional depth with suspenseful storytelling.
Pages: 249
Fraidy Hole
In Staci Andrea’s exquisite thriller, Fraidy Hole, readers are invited into an alluring realm of uncertainty that gradually unravels the core beliefs they harbored about the story. As a masterful piece of suspenseful literature, the novel seizes your attention from the onset and continually keeps you on the edge of your seat, compelling you to remain engrossed in its intricacies.
Fraidy Hole is skillfully constructed, imbued with anticipatory hints that escalate the tension, culminating in a climactic revelation that powerfully shatters any preconceived ideas. While it delves into the often grim realities of loss, grief, and adversity, the novel also explores the inspiring resilience of the human spirit, as we battle life’s most daunting trials.
The heart of the narrative beats in its characters’ multifaceted relationships and their astonishing human potential. We see the world through the eyes of Bobo, one of the novel’s two main characters, who shares a bond with his granddaughter, Arlo. Left to fend for themselves, their mutual reliance and the intricate dynamic they navigate offers a rich vein of emotional depth.
The story not only engages the reader in the present, but it also dances with the past, adding a note of poignant nostalgia. The narrative slips seamlessly from the immediate into Bobo’s cherished memories of his late wife, a victim of cancer, deepening the characters’ complexity. Fraidy Hole plays deftly with perceptions, challenging the reader to sift through the enigmatic clues to distinguish the plausible from the misleading, providing an engaging, mental challenge.
Readers should be aware that the novel does include some potentially disturbing themes, including references to suicide, rape, and murder. However, for those untroubled by such content, Fraidy Hole promises to be a riveting journey that will leave you stunned and pondering long after the final page is turned. In essence, it is an enthralling read that demands to be devoured, one startling revelation at a time.
Beneath Her Lies
In “Beneath Her Lies” by Staci Andrea, protagonist Ruby rediscovers her family – they are decent folks with a long history of hard work dedicated to their farm. However, upon Ruby’s return to this familial haven, she confronts an alternative narrative of her family’s past. A cryptic letter from her grandmother launches Ruby into an unprecedented scavenger hunt around the farm, compelling her to destroy evidence that could significantly reshape their collective future. Unbeknownst to Ruby, she is about to unveil an extraordinary saga of her family lineage.
“Buried Aces” presents an unparalleled mystery genre masterpiece, offering readers an enchanting tale that is both irresistible and compelling. Andrea’s captivating narrative and eloquent writing style will have readers yearning for more as each chapter concludes. Ruby’s quest to uncover the distressing truths hidden within her family history is a heart-rending journey. She stands as a beacon of resilience and leaves a lasting impression as a remarkable protagonist. The intricate manner in which Andrea has designed this enigmatic family drama is truly exceptional.
Andrea demonstrates remarkable talent in drawing readers into Ruby’s world. The depiction of Ruby’s memories, her time spent in her grandparent’s house, and life on the farm will resonate deeply with readers. The exploration of her family’s past is shrouded in a mix of warm nostalgia and searing pain that Ruby experiences as she follows her grandmother’s cryptic guidance. This emotive journey is rendered with such realism that it virtually leaps off the pages, chapter after chapter.
Andrea’s narrative is masterfully interwoven through Ruby’s perspective. The first-person narrative is powerfully impactful, adding numerous layers to the story. Ruby’s personal tribulations add authenticity to her character, positioning her as a relatable figure grappling with her own adversities, striving for independence, and forging a fresh start from scratch. Andrea’s knack for sculpting a stellar main character deserves substantial recognition.
I highly recommend “Beneath Her Lies” to readers seeking a captivating thriller that will ensnare you right from the prologue.
Lake Laps
“Lake Laps” artfully unravels the intricate narrative of its protagonist, Maxine, a character teetering on the precipice of despair. The plot immerses us into the world of Maxine who, while confined within the bleak walls of a jail cell, recounts the catastrophic events that led to her current predicament.
This captivating narrative revolves around the complex relationships within her family and their unsettling encounters with an enigmatic character known only as ‘He’. This unidentified antagonist perpetually projects an ominous aura, suggestive of impending disaster, his very presence proving to be a disruptive catalyst within their lives. The elusive nature of ‘He’ deepens the sense of intrigue and fuels the suspense that propels the story.
Maxine, often depicted as being on the verge of tears, becomes a beacon of perseverance within this somber tale. Her enduring battle for mental equilibrium, coupled with her unyielding love for her children, paints a portrait of a woman under immense strain. Despite her evident flaws, it is these imperfections that make her a compelling and relatable character. Her resilience and determination will resonate with readers, who will find themselves rooting for her.
Although the remaining cast may not always command the spotlight, the character ‘He’ stands out, often stealing scenes with his unsettling yet intriguing presence. The narrative unfolds at a pace that is simultaneously taut and unpredictable, ensuring that the reader’s attention is relentlessly captivated.
The story maintains a consistently dark ambiance, sparingly punctuated by fleeting moments of levity. It is an edgy, suspense-laden narrative that provokes introspection, compelling readers to imagine their reactions under circumstances mirroring those of Maxine and her family. This powerful empathetic connection renders “Lake Laps” a truly remarkable tale.
Geared towards those with an appetite for compelling, dark narratives culminating in unexpected denouements, “Lake Laps” promises an enthralling reading experience.
LITERARY TITAN 