Scream by Mike Dellosso
In Mike Dellosso's latest novel, Scream, whenever a man hears otherworldly screaming during a phone call, the person on the other end of the phone dies. But when he acts to try and prevent the deaths, he gets another call. This one is from his estranged wife, and the screaming starts...With lightning pacing and clear high stakes, it's clear why Scream was named Best Christian Thriller of 2009.
You've mentioned that spiritual themes are important to you as a writer. What is the spiritual experience you hope readers will have while reading Scream?
I just want the reader to start the whole process of thinking about eternity. Look, the reality is that we are all going to die. That's an appointment you can't cancel. So what happens after that? I believe there are two choices, heaven or hell. I want the reader to think about that. Because thinking about that directly affects the way we live now and the decisions we make now.
I recently tangled with colon cancer and this truth was never more real to me than when I peeked around life's corner and saw that hooded guy lurking in the shadows.
Scream has been described as having "one of the wickedest villains this side of a nightmare." What scares you? What's your strategy for scaring your readers?
What scares me are people with no conscience or a warped conscience. People who have their own idea of right and wrong and justice. They don't play by the same rules the rest of us do.
My strategy for scaring readers is to make my villain as believable as possible, to cause the reader to travel the spectrum of emotions toward him, from anger and fear to pity and sympathy. This keeps the reader off-balance and nurtures a sense of uneasiness about the villain. It also leads the reader to identify with the villain in ways, to recognize there's a potential for wickedness in all of us.
Was the writing different for your second novel? If so, how?
I dove more into the psyche of my lead characters, explored more of what makes them tick, what gives them their motivation. I focused on creating characters that were as real and transparent and flawed as Average Joe and Jane.
What kind of research do you do for your novels?
Thankfully, I don't write historical fiction because I hate research. I do enough to get by and give the story some texture. I focus on researching all the little details that readers normally wouldn't even notice but make the story more true to life. It's thankless work, really, but (sigh) somebody's gotta do it.
I also spend considerable time researching people, their emotions, personality traits, quirks, and yes, psychoses. I'm a tireless people-watcher.
You go to some pretty dark places. How do you climb back out?
I'd like to think I'm pretty rooted in reality. And reality is that there are dark places in this world. Heck, there are dark places in each of us. But my security is in my faith. I can go to those places knowing they have no power over me. I want to expose them for what they are and point the way to the light.
What's next for you?
I'm working on a story about a little hick town haunted by fear and one couple trapped in that town. To get out they will have to face their greatest fears and find the strength to overcome them.
What's the last book you finished, the book you're currently reading, and the next book on your list? What's the one book you would re-read if you had time?
I just finished Isolation by Travis Thrasher; I'm currently reading The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King; and next I'm going to read Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker.
Contributing editor Rebecca Cantrell
sold her house, quit her high tech job, and moved to Hawaii to write a
novel. Her first novel, A TRACE OF SMOKE, starts a mystery series set
in Berlin in the 1930s. It will be released in May 2009. As of this
writing, she lives in Hawaii with her husband and son.
I dove more into the psyche of my lead characters, explored more of what makes them tick, what gives them their motivation. I focused on creating characters that were as real and transparent and flawed as Average Joe and Jane.What kind of research do you do for your novels?
Thankfully, I don't write historical fiction because I hate research. I do enough to get by and give the story some texture. I focus on researching all the little details that readers normally wouldn't even notice but make the story more true to life. It's thankless work, really, but (sigh) somebody's gotta do it.
I also spend considerable time researching people, their emotions, personality traits, quirks, and yes, psychoses. I'm a tireless people-watcher.
You go to some pretty dark places. How do you climb back out?
I'd like to think I'm pretty rooted in reality. And reality is that there are dark places in this world. Heck, there are dark places in each of us. But my security is in my faith. I can go to those places knowing they have no power over me. I want to expose them for what they are and point the way to the light.
What's next for you?
I'm working on a story about a little hick town haunted by fear and one couple trapped in that town. To get out they will have to face their greatest fears and find the strength to overcome them.
What's the last book you finished, the book you're currently reading, and the next book on your list? What's the one book you would re-read if you had time?
I just finished Isolation by Travis Thrasher; I'm currently reading The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King; and next I'm going to read Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker.
Contributing editor Rebecca Cantrell
sold her house, quit her high tech job, and moved to Hawaii to write a
novel. Her first novel, A TRACE OF SMOKE, starts a mystery series set
in Berlin in the 1930s. It will be released in May 2009. As of this
writing, she lives in Hawaii with her husband and son.ThrillerFest
ITW's annual celebration of the thriller world is the largest event of its kind, a meeting place for authors, readers, budding writers, and publishing industry professionals.
For 2011, we’ll be back in the heart of New York in July with the ThrillerFest conference including CraftFest and AgentFest.
ThrillerFest VI will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
The dates will be July 6-9, 2011.
More information to follow.
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