We are delighted to welcome author Liv Hadden to Omnimystery News today.
Liv's debut novel In the Mind of Revenge (March 2016 trade paperback and ebook formats) is published this week, and we recently had the chance to spend some time with her talking about it.
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Omnimystery News: Why did you choose to write In the Mind of Revenge as the first in a series as opposed to a stand-alone novel?
Photo provided courtesy of
Liv Hadden
Liv Hadden: I didn't really have intentions of writing a series at first. As the story developed, I realized there were a lot of intricacies and plot lines I couldn't cleanly wrap up in one book. Instead of forcing the story to fit into a mold, I decided to just make it a series to maintain the story's integrity. I expect series character Shame will change and evolve in every book.
OMN: Into which genre would you place this series?
LH: After doing some research with my publicist (thanks Sami!), I think "thriller" is the best description. I think there is some suspense in the sense there are a lot of unanswered questions and the novel is pretty fast-paced. However, thriller seems to capture it best. The only disadvantage I see to the labeling is that it's not a typical thriller; I also waffled with it being "horror" because of the graphic nature of many of the scenes. In an ideal world, there would be a single word for a Suspense/Thriller/Horror novel.
OMN: Tell us something about In the Mind of Revenge that isn't mentioned in the publisher's synopsis.
LH: The main character Shame's gender is never revealed in the book.
OMN: How would you tweet a summary of the book?
LH: Raw, vivid, honest, fast-paced & beautifully vulgar, In the Mind of Revenge takes a dark look into how monsters are born #theshamed #revenge
OMN: How much of your own personal or professional experience have you included in the book?
LH: I actually started writing the story during a bought of depression, so the very first line of the book is from me. I changed everything after that, but it definitely provided the inspiration. I also named four of the characters after my cousins, but that's where the likeness ends.
OMN: What is the best advice — and harshest criticism — you've received as an author? And what might you say to aspiring writers?
LH: The best advice I've received wasn't necessarily in regards to me being an author, but it has been so applicable: Don't take anything personally. I read in an amazing book called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It's the second agreement, and it has really changed a lot for me. The harshest criticism I've received was that there were parts in my novel where the reader felt things were forced and I didn't allow certain possibilities to unfold naturally. Going back to the best advice I've ever received, I was able to acknowledge that was their experience and look at it objectively. I took the parts of the criticism I thought were valid and left the rest. There are two things I would tell aspiring authors. 1: Begin the begin! There will always be a reason not to start; get clear on your WHY, write it down, and don't let your inner critic stop you. 2: Don't take anything personally (shocker!). You're writing for yourself and the right reader, not all readers.
OMN: Complete this sentence for us: "I am a thriller writer and thus I am also …".
LH: I am a thriller writer and thus I am also an inherent conspiracy theorist and homebody.
OMN: Tell us a little more about your writing process.
LH: I let the story develop as I write. I find that too much planning or thinking stops me from moving forward and limits the possibilities of where the story will go. I don't think that's the only or even best way to write, it's just what works for me. Because I write that way, there is no expected cast of characters; they just seem to pop up as a natural progression of the story line. It's usually not until after I've gone back to edit and revise that I start to see the parallels and plot lines forming. I like this approach because it keeps the story new and fresh for me. After you've gone back to edit your own work for the millionth time, it's nice to make new discoveries and see new possibilities!
OMN: And where do you most often find yourself writing?
LH: I work from home for my day job, so it's me in my office (which has many shelves packed with books) with a large cup of tea or coffee and my soul mate (my dog, Samuel), writing into the wee hours of the morning.
OMN: Tell us more about the book cover. And how did In the Mind of Revenge come to be titled?
LH: I LOVE my book cover! The designer did an amazing job and really took my insight into account. When you read the book, you'll find that the main character is always wearing a hoodie (to stay disguised!). And this book is clearly dark and ominous, which I think the cover captures well. The book title was actually inspired by my editor! When I first sent my manuscript over, she responded after the first five chapters and commented that "… it was like being in the mind of revenge." I saw that and thought, "THAT'S IT!"
OMN: How did you go about researching the plot points of the story?
LH: Google. Google is my best friend. I'm a pretty good sleuth, so I'm able to find and cross-reference things pretty quickly. There are elements of bullying, particularly in the beginning of the book; unfortunately, I didn't have to do much research on that topic. It's been all over the news and social media for a couple of years now, so I used a conglomeration of what I have read and documentaries I have seen for that part. I am also certified in Workplace Bullying, so I know a lot of statistics about bullies and targets!
OMN: How true are you to the setting of the story?
LH: I stayed realistic to a point; the distance from Texas to Baltimore and the states in between are accurate. However, once you get into Baltimore, I took liberties with the streets and places. The setting is important to the circumstances, but it could have been in any city!
OMN: If we could send you anywhere in the world to research the setting for a story, where would it be?
LH: Ireland! I absolutely love it there. Anywhere there would be fine, but I love Galway. My husband and I both plan to buy property and retire there.
OMN: What kinds of feedback have you received from readers?
LH: I most enjoy getting feedback where I really feel like the reader understood what I was going for and appreciated it. Alternately, the opposite is what I least enjoy getting, simply because I feel like I didn't do my job well. That being said, my book isn't for everyone!
OMN: You mentioned that the main character's gender is unknown to the reader. But suppose In the Mind of Revenge were to be adapted for television or film. How would the character be portrayed?
LH: I left the description of the main character vague; all we know for sure is that Shame is androgynous, tall and thin. I haven't even identified ethnicity. How Shame appears to me changes all the time, so I can't say for sure who I would cast. I think make-up artists are very talents, so I'd be less concerned with looks and more concerned with them having the acting jobs to pull off such a complex, heavy character!
OMN: What kinds of books did you read when you were young?
LH: Given my age, it's no surprise that the largest influence to my life as a young reader was the Harry Potter series. My book is clearly NOT that! I love to read all kinds of books. My taste in the arts of any kind really has more to do with quality than any one genre or type. I do think my love of the Harry Potter novels fostered my love for reading and writing. And J.K.'s story is certainly inspiring! Plus, she is a total rock star and definitely a hero of mine.
OMN: Have any other authors influenced how and what you write today?
LH: Stieg Larson won't surprise anyone who had read the book. I think J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins also played a part in the sense that they wrote flawed main characters that are in part products of their circumstances. George R.R. Martin's graphic style and bold choices probably come through. I think Gail Z. Martin's ability to write about love without it being too "romance novel" (no that there is anything wrong with that, just wouldn't work in my book) helped guide me with Shame's love interest.
OMN: What do you read today for pleasure?
LH: I love reading books my female bad asses, fantasy novels, mysteries and crime dramas. Right now I'm reading #Girlboss and The Name of the Wind.
OMN: Do you have any favorite series characters?
LH: I love Eve Dallas from the In Death series. She doesn't take any shit!
OMN: What kinds of films do you enjoy watching?
LH: This will seem like a cop out, but what movies I like depend on my mood. I will say, movies that are stressful are difficult for me. That probably seems hilarious given my book is stressful, but I have to be in the right mindset to watch suspense films. My favorite movies are the entire Lord of the Rings series (including The Hobbit films), Bridesmaids, Horrible Bosses, Bridesmaids, Forgetting Sarah Marshal, Step Brothers, Zoolander, Train Wreck, Burn After Reading, Snatch and I Love You Man (off the top of my head).
OMN: What are some of your outside interests? And have any of these found their way into your writing?
LH: I love to travel! I go abroad once or twice every year. My last trip was a cycling trip around Lake Konstanz, which is on the border of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. That hasn't really influenced my writing that I'm aware of.
OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us on any topic.
LH: Top 5 Best Disney Villains:
1. Ursula;
2. Jafar;
3. Maleficent;
4. Cruella de Vil; and
5. Scar.
OMN: What's next for you?
LH: I'm working hard this year to transition to being a full-time author! So, there is a lot of writing in my future and some pretty solid hustle to sell my book.
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Liv Hadden has her roots in Burlington, Vermont and has lived in upstate New York and Oklahoma, where she went to college at the University of Oklahoma, and earned her degree in Environmental Sustainability Planning & Management. She now resides in Austin, TX with her husband and two dogs, Madison and Samuel and is an active member of the Writer's League of Texas.
For more information about the author, please visit her website at LivHadden.com and her author page on Goodreads, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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In the Mind of Revenge by Liv Hadden
Book One of The Shamed Series
Publisher: Liv Hadden
Set in a society that glorifies "normal" and demonizes different, this dark tale takes its readers on an emotionally wild ride of vengeance, murder, pain and desperation. Though the reader is warned by its main character, Shame, not to develop an attachment, the first person narrative combined with Shame's uninhibited vulnerability makes it nearly impossible not to do so.
Mine is a tale of pain, hate, lies, murder, injustice, vengeance, and love unreturned. It began much like yours; a hopeful innocent born to a world of endless possibilities. But my journey has rarely been paved with opportunities of light. Confronted by those who sought to eclipse what light I had found, the darkness came for me. Wrapped in its intoxicating embrace, I have risen from the dead to reclaim my dignity and the life that was taken from me. I have begun my journey into the mind of revenge. Revenge for me. Revenge for those like me. Those who are shamed.
This is a story for the shamed, by the shamed. The question is, are you ready for it?
— In the Mind of Revenge by Liv Hadden. Click here to take a Look Inside the book.
