The Torching
by Kerry Peresta
May 8 – June 2, 2023 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
Mysterious fires. A haunting past. A secret file.
Three years ago, Olivia Callahan endured an assault that resulted in a devastating brain injury. She survived, but she couldn’t remember anything about her life or who she was. Now, she’s determined to build a bridge between the past she lost and the life she must reclaim.
When Olivia crosses paths with PI Tom Stark, she is drawn to the investigative field, and becomes his intern. She finds a heavily redacted, forty-five-year-old file locked in his desk drawer that mentions her mother as a young woman. Why had her mentor hidden the file from her, and why had he never mentioned a case involving her mother?
As Olivia moves forward with her fledgling career, a string of mysterious fires moves through the community, puzzling the Baltimore Arson Investigative Unit. One of the fires strikes Olivia’s beloved farmhouse in rural Maryland. Now, in addition to uncovering the secrets bound within the redacted file, she becomes convinced that the fires happening around the area are disturbing calling cards…and they’re meant for her.
Inside the Author of The Torching:
I’m so excited to share that The Torching, author of Kerry Peresta visited with me recently. Here are some highlights from our conversation.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I’d just survived a complex divorce, and after an appropriate time of regaining balance, I tried online dating. Strange as this sounds, this activity mended something in me. I dated some lovely and not-so-lovely men, and my confidence soared. As many of you know, there’s a pretty huge learning curve to online dating, and if one is not careful, it can snag you. Become obsessive. When I remarried five years later, I thought these experiences would make a great story…especially if my character got addicted to online dating! After all, if a woman gets a lot of attention online, it can become an elixir like no other. My first published book (2013) is loosely based on these experiences, and my character pushes her boundaries to the limit. In between working on my Olivia Callahan Suspense series, I have lovingly resurrected this story with new characters and plot points, and a jaw-dropping conclusion. Back Before Dawn releases May, 2023, by Level Best Books.
OHMYGOSH! Kerry, this sounds fantastic! I’m grabbing my copy NOW!
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Sure. I think every author would change sentence structure, delete an unnecessary chapter, or change an ending. We are never finished with a book, just as an artist is never finished with a painting. We want to make it better and better. However, the truth is…if a writer keeps second-guessing themselves and over-edits, the freshness is lost. There’s definitely an art to knowing when to put ‘The End’ on a manuscript! And fun fact…most writers don’t search for typos or errors once their book is published. One evening, after one of my author events, a thoughtful, aspiring, writer approached and said something to this effect: “I loved your last book. I found several timeline errors. I have them all written down. Would you like my notes?” He extended a piece of paper. I lifted my palms and backed away. “No way. Thank you.” I tried to explain, but could tell he didn’t understand. As he walked away, I’m thinking, why would I do that to myself? The book is out in the wild! Printed! Finished! How depressing would that be to find an error after hours and hours of mind-numbing proofing, and everyone has signed off on it? I won’t scrutinize my books once they are published. Between my editor, copyeditor, beta readers, and critique group they’ve probably had fifty passes. There’s a time we must set it free! After the books release, I set my personal copies on the shelf and admire the finished product.
I LOVE that! I know there are necessary reasons to re-release books but few consumers know how difficult it would be to just “fix” something?! If was sweet of him to offer but… OH MY! 🤯
Who has impacted your life the most and in what way?
NO doubt! Jesus Christ. He changed my life forever, and I am in awe of what he’s done! To put this question in an earthly context, I’d be unable to choose just one. We moved around a lot when I was growing up, so I didn’t have many lasting friendships or mentors. I’d have to settle on teachers, and certain authors that have passed through my life. One or two in particular were so kind and encouraging…through them I had early glimpses of my writing ability and they kindled a spark in me that never left. As I write, I often think of these people. Their kindness, encouragement, and a support were priceless.
Kerry, thank you for sharing. In my experience, you reflect the kindness, encouragement, and support you’ve received.
What event in your life do you remember first when asked for a humorous story?
I was twenty-six and lived in Denver, CO. I met an interesting guy—a pilot. He asked to take me flying. I jumped at the chance. A few days later, I’m on the tarmac striding toward this tiny, aluminum canister with a propeller on the front. It’s so small it looks like a toy. He gives me headgear with a mic, and I climb into the plane, my heart in my throat. I’m thinking, how scary can it be? He’ll take me for a scenic tour over the Rockies, and that’s it. Easy peasy.
I didn’t realize this guy was an expert pilot who tested jets and things.
In no time at all, we’d climbed up, up, up, into the freakin’ stratosphere. Nausea climbed my windpipe. “When are we going to level out?” I screeched.
He gave me the side-eye and smiled.
Finally, he leveled the plane. I took a breath.
“Having fun yet?” he asked.
With a wink and a grin, he pointed the plane STRAIGHT DOWN. I’m sure I yelled something profane. He laughed. “Thought you’d like to experience zero gravity,” he called over the rush of wind screaming around us, clouds zipping by. I closed my eyes and clung to the grab bar. As an encore, he BARREL-ROLLED the plane. By now, I’d entered full-fledged terror mode.
“Take me down!” I cried. “I can’t do this!”
To his credit, he realized he’d overstepped. Down, down, down, we went. Exactly like the relationship, which fluttered right down the drain soon after.
🤯 Overstepped? 😂 Sheesh! My stomach is doing a barrel roll just reading this!?!
Kerry, it’s been an honor getting to know you. I hope we get to chat again soon!
The Torching Trailer:
Book Details:
Genre: Traditional mystery or Suspense
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: March 2023
Number of Pages: 323
ISBN: 978-1-68512-323-9
Series: The Olivia Callahan Suspense series, 3 | Each is a Stand Alone Novel
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
Smoke assailed us halfway up my long, winding, driveway. A dingy, gray film coated my windshield. I jabbed the brake to slow down, but my trembling foot slipped off the brake. Lilly gave me a look that broke my heart.
The surging, ballooning smoke hurled itself at us like angry fog. Visibility fell to near-zero the longer I drove. I slowed to a crawl. We inched along the lane until the strobing white-and-red lights cut through the smoke. I counted two fire engines and one black SUV on the lane as I approached. A couple of firefighters raced into my house. My door lay on the porch in three pieces, and an axe was propped against the wall. Each firefighter wore oxygen tanks attached to large, anteater-shaped masks. With their cumbersome, reflective-striped protective gear and masks, they looked more suited to step on the moon than inside my beloved Maryland farmhouse.
I brought my car to a shuddering halt.
We stepped out. I put my arm around Lilly.
Vaporous clouds of smoke cloaked my house. A couple of firefighters worked with giant, yellow firehoses. The men had divided themselves into teams, and the muted shouts told me some of them were behind the house. Flames leapt toward the sky from the backside of the roof. I counted six firefighters working on the house that I could see—plus the ones in the back. Tears trickled down my cheeks, and a terrifying thought struck—what about my cat?
“Lilly,” I said, my voice shaky, “Where was Riot when you last saw him?”
Lily’s face went white. “Mom…”
I grabbed her by the shoulders. “No, no…Riot’s smart. He will have found safety. I’ll find him. Stay here.”
I ran across the yard to a woman dressed in navy slacks and a white shirt with metal glinting on the front and official-looking patches on the arms. “I’m the owner,” I yelled over the whump of igniting flames, batting my way through smoke.
She shook my hand and identified herself as the public information officer. “Sorry to meet under these circumstances, but glad you were out of the home. We have it controlled. The team inside is checking to make sure it was contained. As far as we can tell, the seat of the fire is in the attic. Give us thirty minutes, okay? But ma’am, I’ll need you to stay back. Our investigator will be here soon. She’ll let you know when it’s safe to go inside.”
“My cat’s in there,” I yelled. “Can you have someone look for him?”
She spoke into a radio.
The smoke started to let up. Three hoses trained on the roof gushed out torrents of water. The huge flames stretching into the sky began to shrink. Radio chatter stuttered around the space. The firefighters stayed in constant contact, radios slung across their chests with a strap that held a mic.
These guys would not know where to look for Riot.
With an apologetic glance at Lilly, I skirted around the trucks, avoided the PIO, and dashed across the yard, up the front porch stairs, and into the house.
“MOM,” Lilly wailed through the billowy smoke.
Coughing, I ran inside. “Riot,” I screamed. “Riot, I’m here, buddy.”
I looked behind the couch. Underneath the dining room table. On top of his cat tree. Underneath the wingback chair. He wasn’t in any of his favorite spots. I plowed through the murkiness and melting sheetrock.
A bullhorn blared, “Ma’am. We need you to exit the building.” “Now!”
My throat was closing. My eyes stung like crazy. I needed to find him and get the heck out.
I scrambled into the kitchen and opened the lower cupboards, then the uppers. Searched the seats of the barstools, underneath the kitchen table. My heart thrashed like a wrecking ball in my chest. “Riot? I’m here, boy. Come on out,” I begged. A timid sound reached my ears. I waited. I heard it again, louder.
A shaggy, orange head appeared on top of the cabinets. I climbed up, grabbed him, and raced out the back door. The backyard firefighter team made group gestures that I interpreted as ‘get the hell out of here and let us do our job, ma’am’.
I zigzagged through the first responder obstacle course to my car, blinded by the strobing lights. Lilly spurted fresh tears and held out her arms for Riot. We watched in silence as the flames soared into the sky.
***
Excerpt from The Torching by Kerry Peresta. Copyright 2023 by Kerry Peresta. Reproduced with permission from Kerry Peresta. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Kerry Peresta is the author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series. “The Torching,” book three, releases March, 2023, and books four and five in 2024 and 2025. Her standalone suspense thriller, “Back Before Dawn,” releases May, 2023. Additional writing credits include a popular newspaper and e-zine humor column, “The Lighter Side,” (2009—2011); the short story “The Day the Migraine Died,” published in Rock, Roll, and Ruin: A Triangle Sisters in Crime Anthology, articles published in Local Life Magazine, The Bluffton Breeze, Lady Lowcountry, and Island Events Magazine. She is past chapter president of the Maryland Writers’ Association and a current member and presenter of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, Hilton Head Island Writers’ Network, South Carolina Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Kerry is the mother of four adult children, and spent thirty years in advertising as an account manager, creative director, copywriter, and editor. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her working out, riding her bike or kayaking, enjoying the beaches of Hilton Head Island, or cuddling her two cats, Agnes and Felix. She and her husband moved to Hilton Head Island in 2015.
Catch Up With Kerry Peresta:
www.KerryPeresta.net
Goodreads
BookBub – @kerryperesta
Instagram – @kerryperesta
Twitter – @kerryperesta
Facebook – @klperesta
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Oh my word! What an amazing, interesting, and fun interview!
No wonder I love you! LOL
I saw on IG that you were releasing – Back Before Dawn, can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Hi Wendy I’m so blessed that you love my books!
Hott Books, I love the format of this interview, with your kind responses! Terrific job with this feature. Hope I receive a review from you at some point as well! By the way, BACK BEFORE DAWN’s release was delayed. It releases June 27. Ebook is available to pre-order. I look forward to hearing if you like it! xo
Ooohhh!! Thanks for sharing! Don’t worry, you’ll definitely get a review from me 😀 I can’t wait to grab BACK BEFORE DAWN!!