Venetian Blood – Murder in a Sensuous City – Book GiveAway

Venetian Blood – Murder in a Sensuous City – Book Competition

Every so often I get so lucky to get asked by writers from all over the world to read their books set in Venice and to give my opinion.

For me there is nothing nicer than receiving a book with dedication just for me….makes me feel so special!

This week it was the turn of Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City by the great Christine Evelyn Volker.

Christine was so nice to send me her book with a lovely Venice themed card! So sweet.

1.  There are so many books written about Venice.  Why should someone be interested in reading yours?

I feel that mine is a fresh take as the story of a female tourist who’s cerebral, suspected of murder. It’s multi-layered: part mystery, part romance, part psychological thriller, but ultimately a journey of self-discovery.

2.  Why did you write this book?

I was going through a painful period in my life and decided to write my way out of it. Through time, I fused that with my love of a special and intriguing city which endlessly fascinated me. As a writer you spend a lot of time in your setting, so you’d better enjoy it.

3.  How do you deal with writer’s block?

I listen to music, like a female vocalist, or instrumental. Music transports you. If there’s an acute writing issue that’s bothering me, I continue to think about it, late at night, turning it over in my mind. Sometimes the right treatment appears in the morning.

4.  What did you write in earlier drafts that ultimately wasn’t used?

There was another female character, a libertine type, named Pauline. I got a kick out of her, but I listened to early feedback indicating there were too many women with similar voices. I dropped Pauline; I preserved her best lines which now are spoken by other characters.

5.  What advice from early readers did you not take?

Eliminating Anna’s backstory. I see it enriches her. She’s 40 years old, she had a life before coming to Venice, and those same demons accompany her in this new setting.

6.  What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?

Perseverance and resilience are indispensable in this life. We’re all given different obstacles.  It’s best to tackle them using both our rational and intuitive sides.

7.  If your novel were made into a movie, who would you pick for key roles?

Anna: Rachel Weisz; Margo: Jennifer Connelly; Biondi: Daniel Craig; Agatha: Helen Mirren; Pablo: Javier Bardem; Count Alessandro Favier: Giancarlo Giannini. That’s as far as I’ve gotten.

8.  What’s your next project and how did you decide on it?

Jaguar Moon, my international mystery set in Peru (Cuzco and the Amazon). I wanted to expand themes from Pablo’s story in Venetian Blood. So I followed him across the ocean, and I’m delving into a journalist’s return to Peru after escaping as a child. It’s a broader story than Anna’s.

Christine Evelyn Volker became intrigued by foreign cultures at an early age, which propelled her to study Spanish, German, and Italian. After pursuing an MLS and an MBA, she was drawn to international banking and became a senior vice president at a global financial institution. Her career brought her to Italy, where she immersed herself in the language and made frequent visits to Venice. A native New Yorker, she resides with her husband in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, where she heads a local library non-profit organization and writes about environmental sustainability. She is currently at work on her second international mystery, this one set in the rainforest of Peru.

Prizes: ​ Win a signed copy of Venetian Blood and a $10 Amazon GC (2 winners total, open international)

Ends Oct 14

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