Gone Before
by Terry Korth Fischer
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GENRE: Mystery
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BLURB:
Small-town detective, Rory Naysmith, thought he’d seen it all, but a young woman’s brutal murder is especially hard to stomach. Doubly so, when he recognizes the murder’s MO is identical to that of Tobias Snearl—the killer he put behind bars a decade before. His frustration grows after a series of senseless accidents plague those dearest to him, and a second woman dies—this one too close to home. Searching for answers, Rory races against time, plunging deep into the murder investigations, drawing ever closer to becoming a casualty of the dark, angry deeds himself, until he finds no one is who they pretend to be—and none are beyond evil’s reach.
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Excerpt:
“I think my guardian angel is off for the Fourth.” The detective studied the cloudless sky and tried not to think about his foot. It didn’t work. “Just use the crowbar to break one of these frickin’ stones loose.”
The jack handle didn’t do the trick. Opening the trenching tool and using the pick end, Thacker swung it against the largest stone. It bounced off the surface.
Rory suppressed a scream as pain shot from his knee down his encased leg. “Easy!”
“Sorry, boss.”
“Try removing one of the outer stones. Loosen them, and maybe we’ll be able to budge these. I’ll hold the light, and you make room for these damn jaws to unclasp. Try finding the cornerstone.”
A fine layer of perspiration covered Rory’s face. He felt defeated and a little nauseous. He leaned back on his elbows and looked at the sky. “Thacker,” he said, “this is damn unlucky.”
The rookie moved down the mound to the edge of the pile. Using the crowbar and a lot of muscle, he attacked. Finally, he was able to roll one stone out of position. Then another. He was still three feet from Rory’s crevice, working his way toward the more enormous boulders and Rory’s ultimate freedom, when the rock he was prying loose rolled out of place. He hesitated. “There is something funny here, boss.”
“I could use a good laugh.”
“Not ha-ha funny, peculiar funny.” “Tell me anyway.”
“There’s someone else in this rock pile.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Terry Korth Fischer writes mystery and memoir. Her memoir, Omaha to Ogallala, was released in 2019. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies in print and online. Terry is a member of Sisters in Crime, Pennwriters, Inc, and Clear Lake Area Writers. Transplanted from the Midwest, Terry lives in Houston with her husband and their two guard cats. She enjoys a good mystery, heat and humidity, and long summer days. Visit her website at https://terrykorthfischer.com
Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
No imaginary friend for me. I had too many siblings and no need to invent more. However, seven years my junior, a brother had an imaginary friend named Jacky Dewbee. While the rest of us went to school, Jacky Dewbee was his constant companion. Later, another brother had a stuffed animal called Benny. Benny was a mammal, but we were never sure if he was a bear, dog, or buffalo. They were inseparable. Both Jacky and Benny were valid members of our family.
Do you have any phobias?
Not that I will admit. However, I'm not too fond of flying insects and have a healthy respect for tall grass where snakes might hide. When boating, I want to see the water. And I hate to fly on an airplane with the shades down.
Do you listen to music when you're writing?
I never, or rarely, listen to music while I write. When concentrating on a scene, I visualize it, playing it out in my mind’s eye as if watching a movie. Noise of any kind interrupts this thought process. On the other hand, I will play a particular type of music to get into a frame of mind before writing.
Do you ever read your stories out loud?
Part of my self-editing process is listening to my story. This practice results in an astonishing number of corrections. I have read aloud to myself but found it ineffective because knowing what should be in the text, I fill in missing words, and skip over wrong usage. I will even substitute one word for another, a practice that is easy if you are a poor speller—and you know what you intended. Using text-to-speech software exposes these mistakes and alliteration, word frequency, and overuse. I use Natural Reader by NaturalSoft Ltd., which not only reads while I follow along on the screen, but it will convert it to MP3 so I can listen from another device. The latest version of MS-word and Google Docs have “read aloud” features. I truly recommend all writers utilize some form of text-to-speech software.
Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.
My protagonist, Rory Naysmith, is a fifty-something detective with deep convictions, strong work ethics, and a wry sense of humor. He is a bit of a curmudgeon but with heart. Rory is a combination of people I have known and respected including my dad, a former employer, and my sister. I see Rory as having equal parts of strength, empathy, gratitude, and integrity.
Social media contacts:
Website: https://terrykorthfischer.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terryiswriting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerryIsWriting
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/terrykorthfischer
Goodreads Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14349440.Terry_Korth_Fischer
BookBub Author: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/terry-korth-fischer
BookGems Author: https://www.bookgems.com/profile/tkfischer/
BLOG Website: https://www.terryiswriting.com
Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/TerryKorthFischer
Amazon Buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Before-Rory-Naysmith-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09KQVCM6M/ref=sr_1_1?
Barnes & Noble Buy link:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gone-before-terry-korth-fischer/1140489584?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59457770-gone-before
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