Author Jennifer Chase

A Writer’s Basic Instinct of 20 Questions

Posted on September 16, 2011 by jchasenovelist

It’s time to lighten things up a bit and put all the thrills and chills of serial killers aside.

I’ve been busy working on a deadline for my third Emily Stone Novel, Dark Mind. I thought it would be fun to share some of the most common questions I’ve received from book signings, interviews, appearances, and guest blogs.

How do you come up with your story ideas?

Everything around me and in the world inspires me. I like to use my interest in the criminology and the forensic fields to be the blueprint to the story. The rest is imagination and worse case scenario situations.

Do you write everyday?

When I’m working on a book project, I write six days a week.

Where do you write?

I write in my home office where I can completely focus and be the most productive. I find it too distracting to write in other locations like outside or in a café.

What’s around you when you write?

I have a corner desk with my computer, books, lots of notebooks, bulletin board with things (inspirations) that pertain to my story, a dry erase board, and plenty of sticky notes. And, usually my two Labs at my feet.

Do you spend the entire day writing or do you take breaks?

I spend most of a long day writing (afternoons). I do take frequent breaks to stretch my legs, go for a walk with my dogs, run quick errands, workout, and just take time to breathe to get refocused on my story.

Do you write mostly on the computer or in a notebook?

I write mostly on the computer; however, I do make notes and have a complete outline in a binder that I refer to and make additional notes.

When do you research?

I do most of my research before I begin writing. I find myself looking for more information during my current book project and sometimes I begin the research for the next book before I’m finished with the current one.

Do you work on one book at a time?

For the most part I do, but sometimes the mood strikes me to begin research and notes for the next book to keep everything moving along. I’ve also found myself writing some short stories.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. Writing has been a part of my life since I was a teenager. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing instead?

I’ve only wanted to be a writer, but if I couldn’t I would have applied for the FBI or another investigative agency.

Do you write mostly in the day or at night?

I write during the day. I find when I write at night I don’t get enough sleep and then I’m cranky that I can’t finish my quota of words for the day.

How long does it take for you to write a novel?

This varies, but it seems to take me approximately six to eight months to complete a novel.

Is it difficult to write from the opposite sex point of view?

At first I thought this would be challenging, but I don’t find it difficult at all. I’ve worked with men, have men friends, and I’m the only girl with two older brothers. All of these experiences have helped me to write from the male point of view.

How do you feel about writing in a primarily male dominated genre?

I’ve been asked this question quite a bit. I don’t see it that way. There are many women who write in this genre. I just love to write thrillers and I never stopped to think about it being male dominated.

Is it difficult to write about serial killers?

It’s challenging and disturbing, but I enjoy it because I feel that the possibilities are endless in creating these types of characters. It’s a great avenue to create for my protagonists.

What’s your second favorite genre after thrillers?

I enjoy mysteries, horror, and sci-fi (paranormal) stories.

What famous writers have inspired you throughout your life?

There have been so many incredible writers that it’s difficult to list especially the classic writers such as John Steinbeck. Books by Stephen King, James Mitchner, Jeffrey Deaver, David Baldacci, and Dean Koontz have inspired me over the years. There are just too many writers to list.

What’s your favorite food to have when you’re writing?

When I’m in the middle of writing a book, I try to have things that are easy and healthy for me to grab in a hurry to keep my energy and focus. I have things in my frig ready to go like cold chicken, gourmet pasta salad, deviled eggs, cut up veggies, apples and mangoes (my favorite), and Greek yogurt.

What book are you reading right now?

I’m reading several books: The Sixth Man by David Baldacci (thriller), Criminal Profiling (4^th edition) by Brent Turvey et al (non-fiction), and Prayer of the Dragon by Eliot Pattison (mystery).

If you were on a long car trip, what three famous people would you like to ride with?

That’s a tough question… so many interesting people out there. I would pick Dean Koontz (author), Jon Bon Jovi (singer and rocker), and Martin Sheen (actor). I think that’s a balance of creative people that would be fun. I sure hope I’m driving.

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Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch Blog: www.emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting

Posted in Writing | Tagged author interview, award winning author and criminologist jennifer chase, compulsion, crime fiction, dead game, silent partner | Leave a comment

No New Trial for Cleveland Strangler

Posted on September 13, 2011 by jchasenovelist

There is often a moment in the television crime dramas that I watch in which a police officer has an emotional discussion with the victim of a violent crime regarding the upcoming trial. Olivia Benson from Law and Order: SVU, for example, will tell a woman who was attacked that she will find closure and a needed sense of justice if she faces her rapist and helps to put him behind bars. Even though the woman may be scared, she is convinced that taking the stand is the right thing to do. Maybe there are instances, though, when sharing your story with a jury is not the best way to find peace.

The serial killer Anthony Sowell, who became known as the Cleveland Strangler, had rape and felony assault charges against him dismissed this week. Sowell has already been sentenced to death for the murder of eleven women, whose bodies were found in and around his home. These new charges would have been based on the crimes committed against two women who survived his attacks. The two victims already testified against Sowell in his previous trial, and they believed they found closure through that process. Prosecutors decided to spare them the pain of another trial, and also stated that they did not want to give any more attention to, or spend any more money on, Anthony Sowell.

It’s a compelling argument—drop the charges in order to spare the victims. Sowell is already serving a punishment that ensures he never spends another day as a free man. And, his conviction is due in part of these two women to come forward once. It does seem like it’s time to let everyone move on.

What do you think?

Although it’s impossible really to put yourself in the position of someone who has been a violent crime if you haven’t been in that situation, can you imagine that justice reached for others would satisfy your need for resolution?

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Posted in crime, Serial Killers | Tagged Anthony Sowell, author jennifer chase, clevland strangler, compulsion, crime fiction, emily stone series, serial killers | 1 Comment

What Does Forensic Science, Charles Manson, and a Black Labrador Retriever Have in Common?

Posted on September 12, 2011 by jchasenovelist

No, this isn’t the silly punch line for a joke. I found a very interesting article that immediately captured my interest about three things that I study on a regular basis: forensics, serial killers, and Labrador retrievers.

Undisputed, Labrador retrievers are one of my favorite dog breeds. It’s not a secret that I share my life with these intelligent, energetic canines. Labs are trained in assistance, police work, and are loyal family dogs. I was intrigued about a black Labrador that had been trained as a human remains detector and used from the forensic science perspective to locate buried murder victims.

In October of 1969, the Barker Ranch located in a rural part of Death Valley, California was the last hideout for the Charles Manson Family after their brutal murder spree. There have been rumors that has lingered on for decades that there are buried bodies of other Manson victims located around that famous property. Despite other attempts to recover bodies in the past, they have not been successful.

A police detective from Mammoth Lakes, California with his human remains detector, a black Labrador, was allowed to search the vast area in hopes of picking up the scent of possible victims. His dog alerted to several potential burial areas. Later, other human remains detection dogs alerted on one of the spots that was previously hit on by the first dog.

These amazing dogs are trained to alert and pinpoint the largest scent source, which may not necessarily near where the body is buried. The odor of decomposing remains doesn’t always migrate upwards especially in the desolate environment of the Ranch. The heaviest scent source could be as far as 10 meters away.

Scientists also used instruments to detect the chemical evidence of decomposing bodies. These instruments did confirm the molecular profiles that the dogs alerted to finding – not all but some of them. That’s truly amazing indeed.

However, there were four sites that were carefully excavated, but no human remains were found. This doesn’t automatically mean that the dogs and scientific instruments were wrong. There seems to be a scent of human remains out in that area that was confirmed by both sources – dog and machine. The question is not whether or not scientists and law enforcement can find human remains, but when and who were the victims.

There seems to be no limit to what a Labrador retriever can be trained to find. For me, I know that these incredible canines are worthy of their abilities.

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Posted in Forensic, Serial Killers | Tagged author jennifer chase, award winning author and criminologist jennifer chase, barker ranch, charles manson, crime fiction, forensic science, human remains detection, labrador retriever | Leave a comment

Out & About Magazine — September 2011

Posted on September 10, 2011 by jchasenovelist

It’s that time again! Out & About Magazine is available and full of great things to do in the valley and around the Monterey Bay area in California. You don’t have to live here to enjoy great articles, recipes, theater, book reviews, and much more.

Visit Out & About Magazine on the web and view a digital version or pdf file.

This issue my book review and crime safety column is available on pages 16-17. Check out my new mystery book review of Dog On It by Spencer Quinn.

Take time out and enjoy the weekend!

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Posted in Writing | Tagged award winning author and criminologist jennifer chase, award winning silent partner, book review, crime fiction, dog on it, out and about magazine, spencer quinn | Leave a comment

Boy Facing Murder Charges in the Death of His Stepbrother

Posted on September 8, 2011 by jchasenovelist

In my first two novels, Compulsion and Dead Game, protagonist Emily Stone works in solitude to track down and bring to justice those who prey upon the most vulnerable in our society. The same goes for Deputy Jack Davis, whose work is featured in my third book, Silent Partner. They both have a passion for taking the most violent criminals off the street. I wonder what they would do if confronted with the reality that one of those who we normally consider among the vulnerable was the one who was now accused of murder.

A twelve-year-old boy in Indiana will appear in court this week to answer for the murder of his stepbrother, who was only six years old when he was shot in the head and died. The accused, who was eleven at the time of the event, is being tried as a juvenile but still faces detention if convicted. His attorney is arguing that while his client is the one who pulled the trigger, the episode was a tragic accident.

The boy first said in interviews that his stepbrother had shot himself. When a recreation of the scene proved that assertion impossible, he admitted that he had been the one holding the gun. He also admitted that he had threatened his siblings with loaded weapons in the past. This time, he says that he thought the gun had been emptied of bullets and he was reacting to his little brother’s refusal to do a chore.

His mother and her boyfriend are both being charged with neglect in this case.

The boy’s former stepfather claims that he taught the accused about gun safety, but admits he can’t remember if he talked with the boy specifically about the .22 caliber weapon that eventually killed a six-year-old boy. That leaves the question—is such a weapon ever considered safe in the hands of a young adolescent?

What do you think about this preteen boy being charged with murder? Is this an appropriate measure? Do the adults in this situation deserve more accountability? I would love to know your thoughts on this case.

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I wrote a previous blog post about children and whether or not they should be diagnosed as a psychopath. You can view the article HERE

Posted in crime, Criminology | Tagged author jennifer chase, award wining silent partner, crime, crime fiction, hand guns, homicide, murder charges juveniles, tried as juenvile | 1 Comment

Reconstructing a Shooting Incident at the Crime Scene

Posted on September 6, 2011 by jchasenovelist

Have you ever wondered? Hey, how’d they do that?

One of the most difficult and scientific parts of reconstructing a shooting incident is to determine the direction of the projectile travel and the angle of impact by examining the bullet holes that were left at the crime scene. The projectile hole at the impact site must be identified as bullet hole before continuing with the investigation and examination.

There are many things to consider, such as entrance versus exit, entrance angle, and direction of travel. All of these clues will help investigators to know what exactly happened and hopefully bring them to the person responsible for the crime. There are many important aspects to consider in this type of dogged investigation.

For example, if glass was involved because of a bullet that had been fired through a plate glass window or a car windshield, the investigator must be familiar with each of the results it left behind. Depending on the type of glass, it will directly result in the type of fracture it left behind. Plate glass usually leaves a cone-shaped fracture. Tempered glass, which is generally much stronger and thicker, can leave many small cubical or rectangular-shaped fragments. Laminated glass will give more of a crescent shaped fracture that resembles boat-shaped waves.

The determination of projectile paths will help investigators learn what actually happened at the shooting incident.

There are two basic methods used: probe and string method and laser method. The probe and string method utilizes the use of a probe, which consists of various rod diameters, that will represent the impact and/or exiting of the bullet. It can be used to show two points of a reference or a single point of reference. The laser method (shown in photo above) assists in longer path distances in outdoor shooting incidents. The laser device can be used to estimate the projectile path or for guiding the examiners to the most likely locations that the bullet took.

Once the projectile path has been illustrated with the probe and string or laser methods, then the task of measuring the impact, any deflective obstacles, and exit angles are carefully recorded. The bullet path determinations are somewhat approximate because of variables that will affect the accuracy and precision of bullet travel.

According to forensic scientists, the dynamics of bullet interaction with various materials and the morphology of holes, impact sites, and ricochet sites exhibit various predictable results. It is a general rule that the deflecting angle of a projectile striking a hard or unyielding surface, such as concrete or steel, it will be significantly lower than its incident angle.

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Posted in crime, Forensic | Tagged author jennifer chase, bullet trajectory, crime reconstruction, crime scene investigation, emily stone series, forensics, shooting incident | 1 Comment

Looking for a Thrilling Read?

Posted on September 4, 2011 by jchasenovelist

SILENT PARTNER

WINNER: 2011 Suspense, Readers Favorite, Silver Award

FINALIST: 2011 Thriller, Readers Favorite

One Cop, One Serial Killer, One Witness

Northern California’s elite Police K9 Units arrive at an abandoned warehouse after a high-speed chase and apprehend two killers after they have fled a grisly murder scene. This barely scratches the surface of a bloody trail from a prolific serial killer that leads to unlocking the insidious secrets of one family’s history, while tearing a police department apart.

Jack Davis, a top K9 cop with an unprecedented integrity, finds himself falling for a beautiful murder suspect and struggling with departmental codes.

Megan O’Connell, suffering from agoraphobia, is the prime murder suspect in her sister’s brutal murder.

Darrell Brooks, a psychopath who loves to kill, is on a quest to drive Megan insane for profit.

Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a secret. Someone else must die to keep the truth buried forever. Silent Partner is a suspense ride along that will keep you guessing until the bitter end.

AMAZON

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DEAD GAME

WINNER: 2010 Thriller, Readers Favorite, Bronze Award

In this Video Game, ‘Game Over’ Means You’re Dead

In her independent efforts to catch child killers, Emily Stone discovers the evidence that the cops can’t—or won’t—uncover. Now, this covert investigator is back on the hunt for the world’s most sick and twisted murderers. But even with help from ex-police detective Rick Lopez, this time she’s facing her most dangerous opponent yet.

The headlines in the San Jose Mercury News blare updates on a serial killer who seems able to slaughter with impunity. Men, women—it doesn’t matter; the victims serve only to satisfy a perverted need to kill. The killer watches the moment of death on multiple computer screens, over and over again. The only connection is that they’re all devotees of the latest video-game craze—a sophisticated brain-puzzler called EagleEye.

When the killer goes after Lopez’s law-enforcement mentor, Lopez and Stone decide to give the cops a little extra, unsolicited help. What follows takes them deep inside a shocking high-tech world, a kind of social-networking community for serial killers. But when they start getting too close to the truth, all hell’s going to break loose.

Now, Stone and Lopez become the killer’s next target as Stone must make a difficult decision to leave the ones she loves in an all-or-nothing effort for survival. Can they stay alive long enough to blow the whistle on this unlikely perpetrator?

AMAZON

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COMPULSION

2009 EVVY Award Nominee

When Serial Killers Terrorize a California Beach Community,

One Woman Stands in Their Way

Emily Stone doesn’t have a badge. But that hasn’t stopped her from tracking down some of the West’s most dangerous child-killers. Armed with a digital SLR camera, laptop computer and her trusty Beretta, Stone uses her innate gift for detective work to identify the perps—and then anonymously e-mail the evidence to the cops.

Now, the hunt for two brazen serial killers on the loose right in her own coastal California town threatens to expose Stone’s identity—unraveling her carefully constructed cover and jeopardizing her life’s work. But when she gets too close to the action, this razor-sharp hunter becomes the hunted. Cooperating with the handsome local police detective could be the only hope for stopping the rampage directed at unsuspecting young women—and saving herself. Can they piece together the clues in time?

Compulsion mixes CSI-style investigation with a ripped-from-the-headlines plot and a dose of romance for a keeps-you-guessing, fast-paced and savvy thriller, right up until the shocking finale.

AMAZON