Book Three: The Maison de Danse Quartet
Suspense
Date Published: 08-01-2022
Publisher: Épouvantail Books
Private investigator Joy Nakamura is working the strangest cold case of her career, the 1999 disappearance of the five Sanger children. Working the old files, she tries to make sense of a twisted and clearly delusional interview within the records, the closest thing to a confession or explanation. Fighting her personal demons and ruinous alcoholism, she latches onto a clue and goes on the hunt.
The trail leads Joy to Maison de Danse, a family compound in Ormond Beach. Gaining access,
she questions Bo and Jangles Danser, a handsome man with two distinct personalities: one well-mannered and kind; the other vicious and deadly. They are soon entangled in lies and deceits as she presses on with the investigation, determined to find out what happened to the five children.
When she next meets Izzy Danser, her world is turned upside-down as the mystery gets dark and menacing. Caught up in the family’s ménage, she’s drawn into their eccentric lives and secrets, desperate to discover what happened to the Sanger children. As she draws closer to the answer, a long black shadow threatens to consume her.
Risking her life and sanity, Joy will stop at nothing until the killer is made to pay for his crimes.
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
Some of the finest of strange minds fight
their demons and compulsions while others embrace them. In “On the Beach” both
IM Danser and his pursuer, Joy Nakamura, are in a personal dance with their own
forms of madness. IM Danser sways and hides in shadows and darkness as Joy Nakamura
braves the stark white light of daylight. They are on a collision course, no matter
that their interior compasses are severely damaged.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
During the months of research and the write of “On
the Beach” there was always the challenge of continuity concerns. In a
nutshell, this means remembering such things as the gun on the kitchen table is
a .357 and not a 9mm. Thankfully, I work with the brilliant editor,
Nicki Kuzn, and together we catch and correct these. Other than that concern, writing
this and any Danser novel is a delight, a daily, rewarding blend of
concentration and focus where imagination is turned loose to have its own say.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
There are thirty-four
Danser novels written and I think nineteen in print so far. Because I write
seven days a week, my publisher has a back log of my titles, which is why they
are currently releasing four per year. All of the Danser novels are like to
daughters to me, so I don’t dare pick a favorite, but I can barely wait for “Cream
of the Wheat” to be published in 2024. This novel, written in 1988, brings so many of the Dansers together on
stage, with each cast member revealing and embracing their madness and
creativity as the mystery unfolds.
If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
I
think Tom Waits would bring a sparkling and dangerous edge to the IM Danser
role,
adding a complexity with his brilliant and
inspired craft.
Takako Matsu would be an ideal choice for
Joy Nakamura, balancing wit and desperation with style and a somewhat clumsy
grace.
This seems like a fine cast to set the sparks flying
during their dance of death and pursuit and madness. And justice.
When did you begin writing?
In
my mid-twenties, when I could no longer be a literary passenger and decided to
grab the wheel, a choice that changed my life. When the fictional Danser family
jumped into the backseat, I knew we were all in for a good and interesting
ride. Years later, the family has grown and some have perished, but there are
enough members of this odd and compulsive family that I might be trading in our
old Buick Roadmaster for a used Winnebago.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
An
absurdly long time, those being the days of multiple crafts and no word
processors. These days, after a few months of research, it take from three to
five months to complete the first draft of one of the Danser novels. That might
seem quick, but I do write every day.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
There were many, but these days it is Elmore
Leonard, who I read and study with a fine tipped pen. I rarely read other
fiction writers because doing so often tries to infect my work, which I refuse
to let happen. If there ever comes a time when I take a day off, I’ll spend it
with Peter S. Beagle, Truman Capote, John Cheever, Anne Rice and a few other writers
of genius.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
For
“On the Beach” it was the research while also sketching the ingredients and skeleton.
As always, I didn’t start the write until all three began to blend and work
together and tell me the story that had to be told.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Our dangerous private worlds.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the
future for your writing?
Right now, I’m writing three novels instead of one
at a time, which is my norm.
“Cannibals
in Love”
“Flight
April (w.t.)”
“Chas
and Kazu”
I’m also working with my professional editor,
Nicki Kuzn, on “Dreaming of Zebrafish” and “Small Lunatics” which means the
days are a bit chaotic. That is fine with me because it also means the writes
are fresh and lively. Because I’m a number of titles ahead of my publisher, the
aggressive editing schedule is my curse and blessing (laughter). While I love
the process, making every story the best it can be, I have to live inside new
books as part of the hours at the desk.
About the Author
Greg Jolley earned a Master of Arts in Writing from the University of San Francisco and lives in the very small town of Ormond Beach, Florida. When not writing, he researches historical crime, primarily those of the 1800s. Or goes surfing.
Contact Links
Twitter @gfjolle
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