Goddess Fish Promotions VBT + Interview: Lake Of Sins: Hangman’s Army by L. S. O’Dea

Title: Hangman's Army
Author: L.S. O'Dea
Published by Self Published
Date Published: January 20th, 2017
Pages: 583
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian
Purchase: Amazon

A rebellion is brewing in the world of the Lake of Sins while Hugh Truent sits in prison days away from his execution.

After taking his findings about the genetic similarities between the classes to the Supreme Almighty and the Council, Hugh had been arrested for treason and all his evidence had vanished as if made from smoke.

To protect his family, he cut off all contact with the outside world while he sat in prison for over four years waiting for his execution. He has no idea that some of his reports were leaked to the other classes and that civil war looms on the horizon.

Trinity and her friends have no hope of winning the war unless they can unite the classes. In order to do that, they need someone everyone will follow. They need the one person all the classes trust and believe in. They need Hugh.

That means they have to break him out of a maximum security prison and convince him to lead their army, but that won’t be easy because Hugh wants revenge and he’s not going to let anything get in his way especially mouthy, attractive, know-it-all Trinity.

Excerpt:
Hugh

Trinity didn’t reply, but her back was straighter than before.  He was getting on her nerves.  Good because she sure got on his.  She was nothing but trouble, an attractive know-it-all who refused to listen to anyone.  His hand met the end of the rope.  It was still a long way to the ground.  

Jackson waited alongside the building with Tim.  They were both flat against the wall, trying not to be seen.  

“Drop.  You’ll be fine.”  Her voice was soft, no longer acidic and mocking.

He couldn’t deal with her being kind to him.  They’d done so well bickering.  The trip had been fast and he hadn’t thought much about the danger.  “I’m an Almighty.  My kind doesn’t always land on their feet.”  

“Let go,” she said, a hint of anger in her voice.

“I will.”  His hands tightened on the rope.  A fall like this could break something.  

“Now,” she snapped.  “Or I’ll kick you in the face and say a prayer that you land on your head.”

Her foot waved above his head.  He wouldn’t put it past her to do what she threatened.  She’d probably enjoy it.  He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, pushed back with his feet and let go.  He was free.  It was glorious.  No chains.  No cell.  Just the air and the sky and…the ground.  He hit hard, his legs taking the brunt of the fall.  He rolled onto his back as Jackson’s hand grabbed his and pulled him to his feet.  He touched his face, the impact of his landing still rattled through his teeth.  Trinity dropped gracefully next to him.  He hated House Servants, every last one of them.

Interview:
1. What was your inspiration for becoming a writer?

I’ve created stories in my head for as long as I can remember. My mother even says I was a very “different” child. She never had to worry about me wandering off. I’d just sit and play by myself for hours. I think it’s because I wasn’t really alone. I had stories and characters in my head.

When I was in maybe first or second grade my brother read me a story that he had written for school. He was probably in fifth or sixth grade. It was a scary Halloween story and I loved it. More importantly, that’s when I realized that anyone could write a story. I mean if my brother could do it then I certainly could. I think that’s when the first desire to share my stories was born.

2. Who are your biggest influences?

I was a voracious reader all through my life. Basically, it’s only now that I’m busy writing my own stories that my reading has slowed down. It’s hard to pinpoint authors who have influenced me because they all have in one way or another. But, if I had to name a few I’d say any of the animal stories that I read as a child – Water Farley, Albert Payson Terhune, Richard Adams, along with numerous others who may have only written one or two books. Then, add in Stephen King, Julia Quinn and Carl Hiaasen along with television shows such as Twilight Zone, Dr. Who and Star Trek and you get…well, you get the Lake of Sins—a dark fantasy about animals and humans where you spend time in the minds of the human-animal hybrids.

3. What are your favorite genres to read?

I don’t really read genres. I read books that look interesting. I read contemporary, young adult, mid-grade, fantasy, science fiction, romance, suspense, thrillers, erotica and probably a few others. I’d have to say that the only genre I kind of stay away from is Westerns. Not sure why, but they don’t usually appeal to me.

4. Do you have any book recommendations for your readers?

Like I said, I haven’t done a whole lot of reading lately (besides my own books) so this list is a little old but, I’d recommend:

World War Z by Max Brooks. I hated the move, but loved the book. It was different and it worked.
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. This was the first book I read where the main character was truly flawed and yet I rooted for her.
The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Just a fabulous book.
Anything by Julia Quinn – fun romance novels with great characters
Ghost Story by Peter Straub — truly scary!
Watership Down by Richard Adams –this is a great read for children and adults
The Dune Series by Frank Herbert – I haven’t read any of the books that his son wrote.

5. Do you have any advice for upcoming writers?

Yes. Start taking marketing courses. Even if you go the traditional publishing route instead of indie publishing you’ll have to market your own book. I wasted a lot of time and money advertising with every company I could find and there are better ways to get your book out there. If anyone wants more details on what I’d recommend, email me at lsodea7@gmail.com. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned in greater detail but I don’t want to use this forum to plug a product (except my own books of course ).

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