A Killer Among Us...But Only In Writing - Stuart West

All rise! Stuart West has just entered the room with his latest and best novel yet, The Secret Society of Like-Minded Individuals. I finished it yesterday and gave it a whopping 7/5. Yes, that’s right, a 7/5. It was that good. And if you leave a comment, you might just win an e-book copy of this ace story.

Stuart, my man, please do tell about this novel. This is so different than anything you’ve written yet. It’s so full of twists and turns and a person doesn’t stand a chance of getting bored for even a minute.

SRW: Well, thankee, thankee, Suzanne. High praise indeed. The Secret Society of Like-Minded Individuals is a conspiracy thriller about a regular, nice guy accountant, Leon. He’s also a serial killer (Um, maybe I should have lead with this). Wait! Don’t run! Leon only “takes care” of those deserving. But something’s missing from his life. He thinks the answer might be in a mysterious global corporation that contacts him, Like-Minded Individuals, Inc. They offer “insurance” to people like Leon—names of future victims, protection, false identities, new locales and jobs. Leon loves the sound of it. The only problem is they turn on Leon for no reason. A raging psychopath, two very odd hit-men, LMI, and the police are all after Leon. Now’s probably not the best time to fall in love. But, for the first time, it happens.

It’s an edge-of-your-seat (I hope) mystery suspense thriller with a twisted sprinkle of humor on top. Call it a cat, cat, cat, cat, cat (or a clowder of cats, I suppose) & mouse tale.

Wow! Who can top that? So, you’ve gone from writing teen novels to adult suspense thrillers. Why the change? Are there any skeletons we should be wary of in your closet? A head buried in the basement? A bloody knife in the drawer?

SRW: Um, do dirty drawers count? (Sorry, sorry, sorry, a zillion times sorry).

I guess there are several reasons. As much as I love my teen characters (who I’ll probably return to at some point), writing “Big Boy Books” allows more freedom to treat my characters any way I choose. I just can’t imagine Tex, the Witch Boy blowing someone away with a shotgun.

But I also think I’m making the world a safer place. I live through my books vicariously. So I’m one less serial killer you have to worry about.

Phew, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear that. Good thing I know what you look like.

Now the thing I really loved about this novel is the words. I’ve watched the evolution of your writing for a few years now, and you have risen from a fine writer to a master of words.

SRW: Aw, gawrsh (read in a “Goofy” voice), thanks. But cut it out. I mean it. I’ll give you five minutes more of praise and then I’m gonna’ get embarrassed. Seriously, though, I don’t see it that way. I’m still working at writing. Pretty hard. I’m maybe 40% of where I’d like to be. Someday, maybe, just not yet. Enough flattery already! My head’s gonna’ explode!

Well, alright then. As I neared the end of your novel, I figured it’d all end happily ever after, but it didn’t. You let everything fall apart again so they can take off where they left off. Is there a sequel coming?

SRW: Yep, I just started the sequel this week. Kinda’ a blast returning to these characters. (Although I won’t say who—out of the survivors, of course—will return). Expect more strange characters, more cliffhangers, shocks, surprises, and oddly endearing sociopathic behavior.

Can’t wait. Tell my readers some of the titles of your other series.

SRW: Let’s see…on the adult side, we have Neighborhood Watch (a pseudo-autobiographical ghost tale. It’s complicated), Godland (a “farm noir”thriller. Again, it’s le complique!), and an upcoming book from MuseItUp Publishing that’s so top secret even I haven’t finalized the title yet. On the teen side, there’s the Tex, the Witch Boy trilogy (Tex, the Witch Boy; Tex and the Gangs of Suburbia; Tex and the God Squad) and a spin-off of a lot of readers’ (and my) favorite character, Elspeth, the Living Dead Girl. Whew. I think we’re caught up.

Now where can we buy The Society of Like-Minded Individuals?

SRW: Why, Suzanne, I’m glad you asked. It’s really strange how synchronicity works out sometimes. Click here: The Secret Society of Like-Minded Individuals

Thanks again for having me, Suzanne. And remember…serial killers need hugs, too! Um, just don’t take ‘em home. (I’d put a smiley face emoticon here if I knew how to do it. Technologically challenged, you know.)

Yeah, I have the same problem too. So there you have it, folks. A great writer, a great book, a great interview. I strongly recommend this novel. And if you’ve never checked out Stuart's blog, it’s a must. I guarantee you’ll be laughing so hard you’ll fall off your chair. And don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win The Secret Society of Like-Minded Individuals.