'The Perfectionist': The Book Cover

The launch period for 'The Perfectionist' has been chosen. Drums rolling... It's going to be mid-January 2016. The book will be available in paperback and in ebook at the major retailers.

All is more or less ready; the promotional plan will soon be in full swing, and last week I was proud to receive a copy of the proof paperback. Impressed with the result, I am now in a position to publically-disclose the book's layout and cover artwork.

So without further ado, here is an exclusive sneak peek at the book cover. Thank you to my trustworthy and insightful collaborators, Oscar Sanchez and Bertrand Raes. You don't change a winning team!

 

 

Here's the back cover blurb:

"Iowa, 1988. An unidentified severed head is found rotting in a corn field. Confronted with this gruesome discovery, Gerry Stokes – an arrogant and obnoxious newspaper reporter – agrees to cover up the affair. But the truth can't be concealed forever.

More than twenty years later, Stokes must finally atone for his errors as the past returns with a vengeance. Forced into an investigation to discover what happened all those years ago, he stumbles upon a sordid truth: the victim is one of many; people seemingly chosen at random across America by a serial killer at large for more than two decades; a killer with a unique and horrific modus operandi who’s flown under the radar. Still at large the killer seeks to achieve artistic perfection in his methods of execution. He is "The Perfectionist".

While tracking the killer under the cloak of FBI suspicion, Stokes sets himself an ambitious target and potential path to fame: write a book that leads the police to the killer, a first in the history of publishing.

The stakes are high and the pressure is on. Stokes is in the race of his life to discover The Perfectionist's identity and publish his bestseller, while forced to bend the notion of what is ethically right."

Exploring Evil

I recently attended a roundtable held during the 7th edition of the Toulouse Polars du Sud crime fiction festival (9 October 2015), during which participants RJ Ellory* and Donato Carrisi** asked the questions, "Is evil external to the human condition?" and "Can you be born evil?"

While there is no consensus on our inherent nature, one may be concerned about man's genetic predisposition towards evil behaviors like selfishness, violence, and cruelty. Is evil inherent, or is it an unfortunate side effect of our society? It is understood that personality comes early and is influenced by outside circumstances and upbringing. We enter this world as innocent children. However, we all have the potential to descend into evil over the years. As Ellory puts it, "evil is an additive."

Carrisi looked no further than at a man who has been coined as one of the most evil men in history: Adolf Hitler. When you look at the popular photo of Hitler taken when he was a toddler, it is hard to fathom that he started off so innocent-looking.

Fortunately for the human race, only a tiny percentage of people turned out to be figures of evil or what one may call evil geniuses. Yet these people are subjects of our fascination. We are drawn to them, yet we can't really justify such attractions. Why is this?

Through his novels, Ellory touches upon the incomprehensible nature of evil, a concept that can be described and discussed, but never completely understood. Although we condemn rapists, thieves, or people who kill out of rage or jealousy, we can fathom the coherent and human thought processes behind such acts, for we too are human. "But why don't we understand pure evil?" Ellory asks. "It's because we don't really understand ourselves," he says in answer.

The behavior of the evil geniuses or less genius serial killers is seemingly inexplicable and without a coherent motive which we can relate to. Serial killers are driven by inner demons that even they may not comprehend. We are drawn to these killers, not really by disgusting morbidity, but more because we cannot understand their violence. We thus feel compelled to understand, and by doing so we side with evil. It's basic human curiosity.

Besides the killer himself, many of my characters in 'The Perfectionist' are linked to this fascination we can have in serial killers. I carried out some research into profiling and criminology. I even looked at some forensics science. But above all I looked at factual data about these evil men. Be reassured, real serial killers generally do not possess unique or exceptional intellectual skills (think of David Berkowitz - aka Son of Sam - who in the 1970’s, terrorized the people of New York City, murdering six people and prompting a police operation known as Operation Omega, comprised of 200 detectives trying to stop him before he could kill again. What caused his downfall and subsequent capture? ... A parking ticket!) The image of the evil genius serial killer is mostly a Hollywood invention - think of Kevin Spacey's character in 'Se7en' or Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lecter in 'Silence of the Lambs.' This makes the intelligence of serial killers a popular culture stereotype, but it sure does make great entertainment. Wouldn't you agree?

It is understood that it isn't intelligence, cunning or genius that makes real serial killers successful. No, instead, it is obsession, meticulous planning and a decent amount of cold-blood to operate, outsmart law enforcement authorities and to remain at large. 'The Perfectionist' takes all that and all we know about the serial killer persona and goes an extra step.

The killer whom my main character (Gerry Stokes, a veteran journalist working at the Chicago Tribune) tracks has flown under the radar for more than 20 years. His unique modus operandi and his inner demons or ambitions make him hard to fit into any category of killer seen before. In 'Level 26: Dark Origins', authors Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski explore this fictitious notion of killer classification. In the book, law enforcement quantifies evil and murderousness on a scale of 1 to 25, with naive opportunists at Level 1 and organized, premeditated torture-murderers at Level 25. However, the killer in the book is so awesome, that a level 26 has to be considered. The killer in 'The Perfectionist', meanwhile isn't subject to such classification because he simply doesn't exist in the eyes of the law. It takes an unfortunate set of circumstances and a lot of reporter's flair to put Gerry Stokes on his trail. My killer simply got unlucky.

Can the Perfectionist be considered the ultimate serial killer? You'll soon find out. Significant progress has been made and most of the pre-publication work is over. Finally, cover artwork is close to being finalized. All is on track for an early-2016 launch. I expect to share more news soon on this blog in the coming weeks. Additionally you can follow me on Twitter at @SimonGDuke and/or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/simonduke

'The Perfectionist' touches upon the evolution of the serial killer. And similar to the killers who are its messengers, evil has evolved too. It has become more cunning and comes under many shapes and disguises. But evil remains evil, true to form.

Dare enter the mind of the ultimate killer? 'The Perfectionist' is out soon.

* RJ Ellory's 'The Anniversary Man' has been released in France. French title: 'Les Assassins.'
** Donato Carrisi's 'Il Cacciatore del Buio' has been released in France. French title: 'Maléfico.'

It Ain't a Dog's Life No More

New day. New inspiration....

It Ain’t A Dog’s Life No More

A long time ago I used to own a stray mutt.
Found the mongrel wandering near a sinister fairground.
He wasn't exactly what you’d call the most charming hound in the pound.
And sometimes he was a real pain in the butt.

I cared for him just the same.
You see, he was loyal; he would give his life for me.
But I saw it coming in his eyes... that darned curiosity.
Flickering like a flame.

It was getting the best of him.
He wanted to know what was on the other side of the forest.
So one winter morning I walked him outside; wanted to put his mind at rest.
Removed his chains. Set him free. And off went my pilgrim.

But it wasn't long before he came back.
Running to me, straight out of the fog.
There was something different about my dog.
He had a scar from his belly to his nut-sack.

And I knew right then: he was changed.
He never ran away again or tried to hide.
He never left my side.
But like I said, he was different. Somewhat estranged.

Because that day his growl turned into a deafening screech.
He learned that the world that lies beneath.
Remains unforgiving, relentless, and gnarls with sharper teeth.
And he learned the most valuable lesson that I could ever teach...

Life's a fight. Stand tall or snap under its strain.
It's a bitter pill to swallow. But show some dignity. Show some virtue.
Dog, you gotta get them before they get you.
And don't cry like a bitch when you feel the pain.

Nasty Noir: Stakes Raised in 'The Corruption of Chastity'

I am once again thrilled to have been one of the recipients of an advance copy of the new crime-thriller ‘The Corruption of Chastity’ by Frank Westworth. ‘Chastity' is the second book of the Killing Sisters Trilogy and a great read. I was also honoured to have had an extract of my review for 'A Last Act of Charity' (the first book of the trilogy, released last year) included in the ‘Praise for the Author’ section. Thank you, Frank, Rowena at Murdermayhemandmore.net, and The Book Guild.

Here is my review of ‘Chastity’:

Nasty Noir: Stakes Raised in 'The Corruption of Chastity'

Unlike most sequels, 'The Corruption of Chastity' doesn't disappoint. I'd go as far as saying that the energy and zaniness which made 'A Last Act of Charity' a thrill to read enter a new dimension with 'Chastity'.

Story-wise, the characters I very much enjoyed in the first book continue to surprise you as author Frank Westworth gives them additional psychological substance and emotional development. The rollercoaster experience I felt with the first book's momentum intensifies with 'Chastity', all the way to a captivating finale, yet remains well-punctuated with welcome breathers. And stylistically, the book’s certainly got something cool going on...

"She pulled the body, still warm and willing, to the floor of the nave, carefully slid the long blade between two of the exposed neck vertebrae and sliced. The bones parted. One more slice and the head fell free. Black skin and wide white eyes staring at the religious painting on the ceiling.
Chastity glanced up. 'Can you still see? That's some bad old white man's God on his big white cloud, welcoming the sinners to their hereafter. But there is no hereafter, is there buddy? None. Just one big fat silent nothing. Hope you enjoy it.'
She stood. Stretched. Placed the handgun beside her clothes and walked, naked apart from the long knife, to the church door. Opened it. stepped outside, crossed the small car park, the small road, and ran lightly down the clean beach to the calm waters of the big lake. Waded in. squatted down and relieved herself luxuriously..."

As this segment shows, Westworth's writing comes in outbursts of tough, streamlined elegance. Oftentimes it is paired with sharp and punchy dialogue, which is astutely delivered and ultimately pushes the plot forward, maybe more so than the action scenes.

Plot-wise it is also interesting to see how the cool and determined master blues guitarist/contract killer JJ Stoner is no longer the main driver of the story, as is the case in the previous opus. What may be perceived as a lurid and gritty man's world is increasingly overtaken by the female characters, all of whom have important roles in Stoner’s life. Be it, Chastity, Charity, Bili the bassist, or Jenny, a cruise ship love interest… they are fleshed out and constantly surround Stoner. And dangling like a Sword of Damocles, the mood of uncertainty which prevails in the book is upheld by these strange femme fatales with hidden agendas; and it's fun trying to decipher their intentions while being under the influence of their sexual power and enchantment.

In 'Chastity', Westworth pushes the boundaries of classic noir further by making once familiar characters more elusive and mysterious. He also successfully weaves in elements of the spy novel: the alpine forests, the boat cruises, and the stints in exotic, luxurious hotels - all are rather reminiscent of Bond movies. And the book's solitary sniper/assassin sequences have nothing to envy from the genre. Yet despite the influences, Westworth preserves his own, unique voice. Add in the weird sex and the not-so-distant vibe of blues music in the background, and you have a sincere attempt at creating something new: something which I've never really come across before, something Westworth has mastered; something I dare name 'nasty noir'.

However, at times I found 'Chastity' hard to digest. Occasionally the conversations go on a wee bit too long and thus feel contrived. And I couldn't help myself from smiling at all the wisecracks which are arguably too numerous for a regular human being to spurt out if his/her intention is to make him/herself understood. There is a delicate balancing act to maintain in order to keep the reader both focused and entertained, and at times it felt like Westworth went a bit too far. I had to re-read segments to make sure which character was speaking; and by doing so I interrupted the flow of my reading, which possibly made me miss out on some of the finer subtleties. But maybe that's me being finicky? Having said that, the long chunks of dialogue are just a minor blip in what is a second great chapter of the Killing Sisters saga. Looking forward to the third and final book.

'The Corruption of Chastity', the second installment of the Killing Sisters Trilogy, is out on September 24th 2015.
Check it out here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Corruption-Chastity-Killing-Sisters/dp/1910508683

Finding the Limelight Again?

September is the start of the academic year in many countries in which children go back to school after the summer break. With September comes the sapphire, representing clarity of thought, intuition, and peacefulness. In September we celebrate "Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month". And September 2015 marks the beginning of my own little DIY project. After having submitted queries and manuscripts to indie publishers and agents all year, I have decided to once again pursue the route of self-publishing.

This time I am not entering new territory, neither am I very anxious. No, this time I am equipped with extra self-confidence, knowhow, and what may be the most crucial of all when it comes to editing your own book: patience. Self-publishing a second time was a carefully-planned and long decision. In June, it seemed like I'd found my publisher after receiving a publishing contract in the mail. But after much debate, I turned it down. I had to avoid falling into the trap of what seemed to me like vanity publishing. As I've said before, I must think bigger and more long-term. My book was deemed worthy of publishing, but by accepting such an offer, I would've been setting the ambition bar too low.

Now with 'The Perfectionist', I have to fine-tune a marketing strategy and make sure to blow my own trumpet in the months prior to the launch, during, and in the weeks following the launch. I shall seek additional readership, but being better prepared than I was for 'Out of Bounds'. And who knows? Maybe I'll get spotted by someone who can take my work to the next level or I could stir up some kind of buzz? Whatever the outcome, I'll try to do my best. Larger commercial success can come later. I'm not in a hurry. Maybe novel number three, or number four which I'd like to work on in the coming months, or one of those I will write in the future will be my ticket to stardom? Dream big, I say, for no-one will do it for you.

I've set up a calendar listing the main tasks at hand and what I need to do between now and the time of the book launch, which I have penciled in for early-2016. This gives an overview and makes sure I don't lose focus. I have learnt valuable lessons with 'Out of Bounds', which I hope to put into practice in the coming months. I must ramp up promotional activity. I need to be more active on the reviewer front and more interactive as far as social media is concerned. And I have to generate more following and cater to my existing followers - or dare I say fans? - by writing here too, on this blog. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! 

My team is in place to help me with the book cover and formatting before I undertake the self-publishers' grinding process. In fact it's the same one. I loved the 'Out of Bounds' book cover and, as they say, you don't change a winning team. It's so good to brainstorm and bounce ideas off each other. We've got a great understanding and I'm impressed by what the guys can come up with. I'm also currently working on the book's inside, making sure that it all looks good. 'The Perfectionist' is approximately 115,000 words long. That comes down to a bit less than 400 pages (paperback). Add on the front and back covers, as well as the spine, and we'll have a hell of a book.

Feel free to contact me if you wish to be kept informed of the editorial process and the book launch. All you need to do is send an email to simonduke31450@gmail.com

Here's the synopsis (in case you haven't yet seen it):

Synopsis – The Perfectionist – by Simon Duke

1988. A severed and decomposed head belonging to an unidentified old man is found rotting in an Iowa corn field. Confronted with this gruesome discovery, rookie reporter Gerry Stokes is urged by the local sheriff and his newspaper editor to cover up the affair. But the truth can't be concealed forever.

2010. Stokes, now an arrogant and unpleasant sex-driven, yet seasoned veteran journalist at the Chicago Tribune, must at last atone for his wrong-doings as the shunned-upon past returns with a vengeance. Payback ultimately comes in the attractive form of Sarah Howard, a nostalgic but committed young woman, who believes she has identified the old man as being her own long-lost grandfather, Ted Callaway. Unwilling to be exposed by the young woman, Stokes is forced into an investigation to discover the truth of what happened twenty-two years ago.

Looking for Callaway's killer leads Stokes to an even more sordid truth: Callaway is one of many victims; people seemingly chosen at random across the nation by a serial killer who has been at large for more than two decades: a killer so cunning that he has flown under the radar of the cops and the FBI by navigating through the loopholes of the federal law enforcement system while respecting a unique and horrific modus operandi. By fine-tuning methods of execution, the killer seeks artistic perfection. He is "the Perfectionist".

As the case is in full swing, Stokes's parents die in a tragic car crash. Reluctantly he must temporarily halt his pursuit and travel back to Iowa for the first time in years to take care of the funeral with his brother, Joe. Stokes faces Joe's anger regarding his decision to leave the family hog farm behind and never come back. Little does Stokes know but this tragedy and its aftermath impact him more than expected.

As the hunt for the killer progresses, Stokes becomes obsessed with the case and questions his own selfish nature. The evil lurking behind the investigation causes a gradual attitude shift inside him as he looks back on his former Iowa life, this time with feelings closer to regret. He not only tries to resurrect a difficult relationship with Joe, but he also begins to feel a mixed array of emotions for Sarah who becomes a crucial part of his life, in some ways his anchor.

2013. Three years later, the investigation is given a new lifeline after Stokes is alerted to a series of gruesome Colombian neckties in California. Stokes realizes that the Perfectionist, who had been dormant for a long time, is still at large and has resumed his hunt for new victims. The current nature of the murders and the media buzz around them put the FBI in the hot seat, and Stokes must confront their determined lead investigator, Special Agent Elliot Keppler, to obtain confirmation that his killer is still active.

At the same time Stokes is quick to identify a promising path to journalistic success. He sets himself an ambitious and innovative target; a risky objective preventing him from keeping law enforcement in the loop, one which may very well merit a Pulitzer prize and pave the way to fame: he wishes to publish a truly special book; a book, which for the very first time in publishing history will give the police the means to capture a serial killer. And not just any serial killer... America's greatest and smartest: the Perfectionist. Using the potential shared success generated by such a book as bait, Stokes finds unlikely help along the way from Frank Craven, his editor at the Tribune; Dr. Ken McFarland, a forensic autopsy technician and old friend; Prof. Dennis Morton, a criminology professor; and James Henry Johnson, a death row convict - all of whom acknowledge the need to proceed in discretion. But to keep his book project alive, he has to keep on hiding the full truth from the FBI. And by doing so he becomes a Person of Interest, arousing Keppler's suspicion.

With such high stakes, the pressure is on. Stokes is in the race of his life to discover the killer's identity and publish his bestseller, while bending the notions of what can be considered ethically right.

Summer Sun

Before my next article I just thought I'd share a new poem I've written in French. The beautiful summer here was somewhat inspirational!

Soleil d'Eté (Summer Sun)

 

O mon Soleil...
Est-ce toi qui caresse ma peau à mon réveil?

C’est une des plus belles sensations
Que de sentir l'expression de ta passion

 

Extrais-moi de ma somnolence
Et illumines-moi de tes milles feux de jouvence

Même quand tu restes caché là-bas à l'horizon
J'aime ouvrir les yeux et contempler tes premiers rayons

 

O mon Soleil
Chaque jour tu brilles et tu m'apportes conseil

Dans tes bras je sens une douce et exquise langueur
Alors berce-moi avec ta chaleur...

 

Jusqu'au soir
Où tes feux s'apaisent mais promettent l'espoir

Lorsque tu te couches au dessus d’une mer que je vois rougir
Je sais que c'est à mon tour de m'endormir

 

Ainsi, la paix dans l'âme, je ferme les yeux
Je pense à l'avenir et à nous deux

O mon Soleil éternel, tu brilles d'amour
Sourire aux lèvres, j'attendrai ton retour

 

 

Why I Walked Away From A Publishing Contract

A few weeks ago I received a publishing contract in the mail - a contract enabling paperback and hardback copies of 'The Perfectionist' to be distributed to the likes of WH Smith and Waterstone's across the UK, supported by a traditional pre and post launch promotional push, and with a mention of what I could expect, should the book be exported or considered for a movie adaptation.

I turned it down.

I assure you, the decision wasn't an easy one to make, and I was torn.

Before I explain why, it is important to stress that it is an honour for me to have reached such a level of recognition and to be offered a legitimate publishing contract. I was (and I still am) excited by the opportunity and thrilled to know that ‘The Perfectionist’ was an enjoyable read for the aforementioned publisher who reckoned my work deserved to be published.

However, having read through the contract, I was rather disappointed to find out that the publisher was offering me an author contribution type contract based on the fact that I am a debut author without an agent and a public track record of prior success. The contribution requested by the publisher is a lot of money. And despite having been offered interesting royalty payments, I calculated that it would require a fair amount of book sales to cover my initial expense. I reckoned that a proposed 1,500 paperbacks, 500 hardbacks, + ebooks wasn't ambitious enough for a first print run.

The publisher is an independent organisation based in London. And due to its smaller size, I understand that they face more risks when publishing books than their larger rivals do. However, my concern wasn't so much the financial aspect (though, I did think of eating potatoes for a year to afford it!), it was more to do with the uncertainties related to the type of promotion I would be getting and with the ethics of the publisher's agreement (after all, aren't all debut and untested authors a risk, no matter how big the publisher is?).

Obviously books shipped to stores by indie publishers aren't featured on the shelves as prominently as let's say, the new releases from HarperCollins or Hodder & Stoughton. Nevertheless I was concerned that 'The Perfectionist' might just end up on a bottom shelf somewhere at the back of the shop. I do appreciate the fact that stores rotate their stock regularly, and this is down to the individual store managers. Therefore it is impossible to guarantee which books will be held by which stores at any given time. But having said that, I wasn't entirely convinced by the publisher's arguments with regard to their marketing to keep my book in stores.

So in a nutshell, I wanted to avoid falling into the trap of what increasingly seems to me like vanity publishing. I must think bigger and more long-term. Sure it's a wonderful feeling to know that my second novel is deemed worthy of publishing. But by accepting such an offer, I am afraid that I would be setting the bar too low. I think I was right in rejecting the contract and not being lured by the singing of the sirens.

As I said before, I dream of blatant commercial success. I wished for it for 'Out of Bounds'. I still wish for it for 'The Perfectionist'. But maybe I have to wait some more and wish again for novel number three, or maybe number four, or five, or six? I think I'm capable of greater things and I have set my ambitions high. I must continue the work and persevere. Basically, I must continue to write and send samples of my work to those who could possibly promote me best. I must hold out for a better contract and dream big. That is my take-home message.

These words are slogans. In turn, the slogans become my mantra. And I continue my quest.

Confucius once said, "The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." Well, it certainly does feel like that sometimes.

I too will get there one day. But here's a brief update for the time being: At the end of the summer, I shall make another crucial decision concerning the outcome of 'The Perfectionist'. And at approximately 85,000 words so far, I am near to the completion of novel number three. Additionally, I have a cultural side-project in the town where I live which is taking shape little by little, and could be in full swing this autumn. I hope to disclose more details soon.

So what do you think about my decision to reject a publishing contract? Good or bad idea? Will I later regret what I've done? Are my reasons valid? What would you have done in my situation? Feel free to share your opinion and drop a comment.