IRWYW- How do you define success as an author?
TA- Publishing a book is a success in its own right, whether you publish traditionally or self-publish. It took me until I was thirty-nine to publish my first book and I’ve been writing since I was about nineteen. I’m a member of a number of writing groups and I watch the progress of my fellow writers. Many of them are ready for publishing and they just haven’t taken the plunge yet. I was one of those people for years. I published my first book last year and that was the moment of my success. Having something tangible to hold in my hands made every bit of effort worth it. I wanted my name on the cover of a book and I made that dream come true.
IRWYW- What do you look for in a story as a reader?
TA- I want a book that will keep me asking questions. That goes for any genre. If I still have questions, I will stay hooked and have a need to continue reading. I also need to have some sort of connection with at least one character. It doesn’t have to be the main character but I want someone I connect with, someone I care about.
IRWYW- Who is your audience?
TA- I want to tell you my audience is anyone who is interested in my books. But my target audience is women, typically between 30-50, who love the psychological elements portrayed by my characters.
IRWYW- What has been your favorite reader feedback?
TA- All of it. I love feedback, good, bad, and in between. As long as the feedback is honest, I welcome it. The good is always a nice little ego boost. The constructive criticism gives me a place to focus on my upcoming manuscripts. No feedback is ever truly bad as long as it’s honest.
IRWYW- What difference do you see between a writer and an author?
TA- This is always a debate within the writing community. Personally, I see a writer as one who is in the process of drafting a book or one who journals or blogs. I see an author as someone who has published a book or has written an article or short story for a well-known publication.
IRWYW- What would the title of your autobiography be?
TA- Don’t try this at home: If it seems like a good idea, it’s probably not.
IRWYW- What advice would you give a writer working on their first book?
TA- Keep going! No matter how frustrated you may get or how often you fall into the hole of feeling like your writing is terrible and you question why you’re even trying, keep going. Every bit of time you put into your writing, every bit of energy you focus on your writing, it is all worth it. If you have a dream of being published or seeing your name in print, it is worth it to push through the hard times and see it out until the end.
IRWYW- What are you working on in the near future?
TA- So much. I am currently working on the second draft of my pride and Joy novel, The Puppet Hunter. Of all the manuscripts I have in progress, this is the one with my favorite writing style, my favorite cast of characters, and my favorite storyline. I’m so excited about it.
I’m also in the planning stages of two cozy mystery series. I’m hoping to have the first book of at least one of them out by the end of the year.
After I published my first book, Nursery’s Rhyme, I had a number of readers reach out to me asking if there would be a second book. I had no intention of writing a sequel, it was supposed to be a stand alone novel. But, after almost a year and having people still ask, I have decided to write a sequel. It’s going to be a while before it’s ready to publish, but if my readers want it, they’re going to get it.
IRWYW- What is your author spirit animal?
TA- A bat. Mostly because they only come out of hiding when they’re looking for food. But, in my case, I’m usually looking for coffee.
IRWYW- If you knew you could not fail, what would you do?
TA- Nothing. If I knew I couldn’t fail, I think it would take the fun out of whatever I was trying to do. There would be no achievement, no sense of accomplishment, and no talent or creativity involved.
Distorted Perception
by Trish Arrowsmith
March 28 – April 29, 2022
Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
At twenty-six years of age, Kathleen has almost everything she needs: a fulfilling teaching career, a new car, and a recently purchased home. She dedicates her free time to her students, supporting them in a manner she never had growing up. Her days are filled with love and hope, but her nights are empty without a family to call her own. While spectating the first home baseball game of the season, she meets a man that she believes will change her evenings in the best possible way. With no children of his own, he committed his free time to bringing his young nephew to watch the game, hoping to encourage him to play. Kathleen is immediately drawn to him and sees him as a true family man.
Maxwell is handsome, successful, and charming. When he proposes marriage shortly after they begin dating, Kathleen is eager to accept as the desire to start her own family consumes her. Within months of their marriage, Maxwell’s sweet, doting personality gives way to a more sinister, controlling side. Kathleen quickly realizes that while she was looking for a partner, Maxwell was looking for someone who existed solely to fulfill his needs.
When he suggests a move to the country, Kathleen is hesitant to leave her job but believes the change of atmosphere will be an opportunity to bring them closer together. She soon realizes the isolation of the countryside only serves to enhance his power over her. It doesn’t take long for her to learn the devastating truth of who her husband really is, and she finds herself left with two choices: She can try to escape and hope he doesn’t find her, or she can stay and fight the battle in which all odds are against her.
Book Details:
Genre: Suspense, Domestic Suspense, Drama
Published by: Trish Arrowsmith Author
Publication Date: February 24, 2022
Number of Pages: 276
ISBN: 9781736755952
Purchase Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
He reached out and grabbed her hand like he used to when they were dating. “We’re moving. Next week.”
“What?” Kathleen cried. “What do you mean we’re moving?” She pulled her hand from his.
“We’re moving to the country. I bought us a house out there.”
Kathleen went from being the happiest she had been in a long time to livid in a matter of seconds. Her whole body begin to shake. “We can’t move next week, Maxwell. I own this house. I’ll need to clean it and put it up for sale. It could take months.”
“Already taken care of, beautiful. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”
She cringed at his choice of the word ‘beautiful.’ “It’s going to take me weeks just to pack everything.” She sounded like she was whining but she didn’t care, this was a huge decision he made for both of them without consulting her. He had never even mentioned a desire to move, and certainly not to the country. She had never been outside the suburbs of the city. She was already feeling lonely and now she would really be by herself.
“No need to worry. I hired movers. They’ll be here Tuesday.”
“Tuesday? Like five days from now?”
Maxwell laughed. “Well, yes. What did you think I meant when I said next week?” He continued eating his dinner like this was a normal conversation they would have on any given day.
Kathleen had lost her appetite. She slid her plate away from her and shook her head. She was upset that she hadn’t gotten to tell Maxwell her news. She wanted to make it a joyous occasion for them both and it had completely lost its appeal. At least for now. She got up and left the table without eating any more. She needed some time away to process what he told her.
She stood in the bathroom for five minutes fighting back tears before she went to stand in the doorway of the kitchen. She leaned against the frame with her arms crossed. “What do you mean it’s already taken care of? Did you sell my house? How is that even possible?”
Maxwell’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling. After all this time she still didn’t seem to get it. Her naivety both humored and annoyed him. “You seem to forget rather easily that I’m a lawyer. There are so many things that I can do, so many things that I have access to, it would make your head spin. And yes, to answer your question, I did sell it. Got a pretty penny for it, too.” He smirked at her. “Did you make any dessert?”
Kathleen was furious that he had managed to sell her house without her knowing about it. She was sure his job gave him access to information like that, but it didn’t mean he had to abuse the privilege. How did he even know she bought the house outright, maybe she had inherited it from her grandmother or bought it from someone else in her family? She didn’t, of course, and she guessed he had access to that information as well, but this was the first house she had ever owned. She was proud of her little house. And considering it was hers, she would have liked to have some say in selling it. She decided now was not the time to ask him for specific details, but eventually she wanted to know why he sold it and how much he got for it.
She dropped a plate with a slice of Boston crème cake in front of him. The fork rattled and bounced from the plate to the table. Kathleen crossed her arms over her chest again and stared at him. “I know you have access to a lot of information but how did you manage to sell my house without my consent?”
Maxwell straightened his posture, he pulled back his shoulders, puffed up his chest, and smiled so wide it made Kathleen want to slap it off his face. “As a lawyer, I should advise you to read all forms and documents thoroughly before you sign them.”
Kathleen squinted and shook her head. “But I never…”
Maxwell howled with laughter as he watched the realization hit her.
Her mouth hung open and she sighed with shame. “Our wedding day.” Her arms dropped to her sides; her head fell forward.
He nodded his head and shoved a fork full of cake into his mouth. “What’s yours’ is mine.”
***
Excerpt from Distorted Perception by Trish Arrowsmith. Copyright 2022 by Trish Arrowsmith. Reproduced with permission from Trish Arrowsmith. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Trish recently moved across the country where she found her forever home, enjoying the desert sunshine and wildlife all year long. She was born and raised in a small town in northern Connecticut. Growing up, she was always fascinated by unsolved mysteries and true crime as well as the psychological elements behind them. As an avid reader, her go to books are thrillers, suspense, and true crime.
Catch Up With Trish Arrowsmith:
www.TrishArrowsmithAuthor.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @trisharrowsmith
Instagram – @trisharrowsmithauthor
Twitter – @author_trish
Facebook – @TrishArrowsmithAuthor
Tour Participants:
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03/28 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
03/29 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads
03/30 Interview @ I Read What You Write
03/31 Showcase @ The Suspense is Thrilling Me
04/01 Review @ Pages and Pups
04/02 Showcase @ Books Blog
04/05 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
04/08 Guest post @ Quiet Fury Books
04/08 Showcase @ Geauxgetlit
04/08 Showcase @ nanasbookreviews
04/14 Review @ Instagram -@ mokwip8991
04/15 Review @ The World As I See It
04/17 Review @ Margaret Yelton
04/18 Guest post @ Novels Alive
04/20 Review @ Pat Fayo Reviews
04/23 Review @ Blogging With A
04/25 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
04/26 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
04/27 Review @ A Room Without Books is Empty
04/27 Review @ flightnurse70_book_reviews
04/28 Guest post @ Author Elena Taylors Blog
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I Read What You Write! 
Great and interesting interview! Thanks so much for letting us get to know you a little better. 🙂
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