Authorpreneur Dashboard – Jan Murphy
The Art of Seeing Truth
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Nina, an accomplished watercolorist, has finally achieved her dream award. Moments afterwards she glimpses a man sprawled unconscious through his open hotel room. Images of her father, found in much the same condition spins Nina’s world out of control.
Soon she is a person of interest in the man’s murder. Nina, driven to clear her name, teams with Jack, who, unlike the police and the press, doesn’t paint Nina as the killer. They partner to expose the real murderer. The problem is she might not want to see the truth.
The closer Nina gets to discovering the link between her father and the man in the hotel room, the less she trusts herself. The police are connecting the dots.
Set in and around the area known as The Galleries, a sprawl of urban kitschy shops and lush gardens, Nina dives into her past and finds secrets hidden in plain sight.
Book Bubbles from The Art of Seeing Truth
Memories Stir Slowly
It's a good thing that bad memories stir slowly. For Nina, the main character, her mind can only handle so much. Since painting is her world, her memories come in familiar ways. She's reminded of a painting. She sees brilliant color in the room. At the end of this excerpt the reader is left with a feeling that develops within her. Simply, something felt off. At times I feel that way. A growing sense morphs into an internal warning that something isn't right. It's best to listen to these niggles. For Nina, she's only beginning to understand what may have happened in the library where this scene takes place.
Trusting our inner thoughts
All of us have stray thoughts, images or scents that arouse our senses. Real or imagined isn't the point. Rather the fact that this happens to all people, including my character. The concept holds its own mystery and adds to the main character's battle of finding herself as well as an obstacle to solving the mystery. Even in a cozy mystery this added layer shows Nina is just like all of us...wondering what this or that means. Can she believe what just happened? Is she going crazy? . My goal is always to create an interesting and thought-provoking story where the reader might find glimpses of themself on the page.
Revealing Character
It was important to immediately show Nina's commitment to her craft. Being a painter, defined every fiber of her. I wanted the reader to see through her eyes what sparked her interest as she traveled along a hallway in the Caspian hotel. At how an artist see things differently, from different angles, in patterns and vibrant colors.This opening chapter gives the reader a deep dive into the day her life changed in a clear case of being in the wrong place and getting caught.
