Blog Tour: Shattered Imperfections by Nicole Dunlap

Blurb / Synopsis

Nobody is perfect. Through the scandalous family lies that bind them all together the Shaw women have survived. Four generations of women have tackled ups and downs: now, Annette is perfectly comfortable wither life. Charlene has tasted the bittersweet notes of success. Raven is preparing for the wedding of a century, and a life rich in love afterward. Beautiful, young Royael has all the pleasures of a princess…

While Dallas is in uproar over a gruesome rape-homicide, a lead Detective transforms into the ultimate stalker. A hitman lurks nearby. And death will surely come. The list of those wanting vengeance has reached its peak, but the Bible says that “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

Take one last roller coaster ride with the Shaw and Devereux families. Will there be rest for these souls?

#2 Author Interview

Where did you get the inspiration to write The Shaw Family Saga?

The entire series is based on dysfunctional families that I’ve counseled. Bringing up the controversies of young teens dealing with depression, neglectful mothers, and more. As a family saga these stories take on a mother-daughter relationship over the better part of a lifetime. While Shattered Imperfections takes on forgiveness and revenge for those that are incapable of going the forgiveness route. As parents or children, we can always say sorry to each other. The issues can be swept under a rug, but the damage is done. It can take time to really solidify relationships after pain has been dished out.

What has been your greatest reward in writing this book?

Simple. Learning about me. There’s nothing better than learning that I can finish something I’ve started. Writing a book is time consuming and knowing when to “chuck it out in to the world” for others to enjoy is just as hard.

Are you an avid or occasional reader? If so, what is your favorite genre of books?

I’m an avid reader. My favorite is drama, but just about every genre can hook me, it all depends on my mood or the season. I find myself gravitating toward a good love story in the summer months and a suspense or mystery in the wintertime. If my husband is sitting next to me watching football or some other sport, I don’t mind reading about vampires and werewolves.

If you could make a movie out of one of your books, which one would it be?

I’d make a movie out of every book that I’ve thought of–I have a Tyler Perry mindset. Some of my dreams have turned into movies, I can think of one starring Loretta Devine that I dreamt of, long before it launched. Too bad I can’t type faster. Anyhow, I’d love to make this series into a soap opera. Charlene and Raven have so much emotion that would most certainly have a theater full of laughing, crying slightly-hysterical-with-emotions type of crowd.

As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish your book?

I wrote Shattered Imperfections in one month during NANOWRIMO (National Writing Month). It was my second successful year completing the program, and I love it. We authors must inspire each other. Writing a story can be a lonely task. Also some “self” competition is always good for the soul. But the process was really sort of me just purging my thoughts. Then I went back and read some, chucked other pieces, laughed at how crazy I am and kept fine tuning it until the story did justice to my main characters.

What's next for you?

As I love all sorts of music and movies, it goes to say that I have a new series beginning called Rock City. It takes on the raw, edginess of street literature. Growing up in Long Beach, California half my life and living in the ‘burbs with my dad the other half, I have led a diversified life. My alternate persona K’aliyah Knight will be rocking street lit to the fullest! So see you around, I got a lotta genres to tackle. Arrivederci! (wink: there will be an Italian mob, muhahaha)

Excerpt

“I’m going to kill myself…” The words pulled Raven in and shook her to the core. She closed her eyes momentarily and rubbed her face with the back of her hand.

Why of all times?

Her mind, her body, her soul warned her to hurry to the jaded teen, but the ease of the Marcielago engine indicated that she might not make it down the hill if she sped too fast. Less than fifteen minutes later, Raven slowed down in Sadie’s neighborhood of three-story mini mansions. She parked on the driveway of Sybille’s Spanish-style villa and hopped out of the car.

In distressed jeans and a long tee, Sadie loomed on the wrought iron banister from her bedroom balcony. The sun had been cast out by the willow trees, the day already misty–a muggy wet summer indeed–Sadie’s Converses could slip from the banister and down she’d go. All because she couldn’t take Raven’s breakup. Jon wanted Raven to rid herself of Tyriq, and knowing that brother and sister were so close, she’d called Sadie over to tell her the same.

“Please!” Raven held up her hands, eyes wet with worry.

“Come up, Sis. Come see me.”

“Okay, oh-kay…” Raven hurried to the front door, her hands went to the knobs and she yanked them both open. Mud on her feet trekked over the white carpet as she took the stairs two at a time. Inside Sadie’s room, with its mellow yellow walls, butterfly and smiley face stickers, scattered makeup. It was a room for… a confused soul who knew not if she wanted to transform from child to adult, a mixture of confused adolescence. When Raven stepped out onto the deck, there was no trace of Sadie.

“Sis…” Sadie called.

Raven turned around. She hadn’t seen this area before. There should’ve been just a wall with posters of young rap groups and pictures but no, the wall was gone. Within the folds was an opened stainless steel door.

“Sadie,” Raven hurried to her. She could’ve slapped the teen, but hugged Sadie instead. “Don’t ever do that again. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. That was stupid of me, but don’t…” her voice broke as Sadie let her go. The apology for abandoning a friend lay dormant within the bristling of her belly. She knew disregarding Sadie because of her brother, Tyriq was–

“Raven.” Tyriq spoke her name in multisyllabic, as if years apart had torn his heart into pieces and just this mere sight of her, slowly intertwined the meat of it back together.

She glared at him.

BOOM.

The steel door slammed shut. Raven looked around. His sister was out of sight, except for a few monitors linked to the panic room. Sadie stood just on the other side of the partition, looking into the camera.

“I need you and Tyriq to talk things out.” Sadie smiled, wiping away tears.

The five-by-five safe room decreased in size. Raven refused to look at him. Refused to acknowledge his presence, even though he tried. Too angry to retort, she glared at Sadie’s innocent eyes. A few minutes later Sadie asked how it was going.

Tyriq pressed the intercom, “Not well.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Raven asked.

He let go of the button. He looked at her with eyes that bore right through her soul. “Do you know how much you hurt Sadie?”

Forget that, she asked, “Was this your idea?”

“No.”

“How could you let your little sister stand on the ledge like that!”

“Sadie can tightrope walk. Look,” he began with a seedy breath. “This is not you–the breaking up of friends? That’s ridiculous. Even if we have a falling out, Sadie has nothing to do with it.”

“Well, you just brought her in to this!”

“I didn’t know what she planned. She just told me you’d be here today.”

“Okay, Detective,” she smirked in disbelief.

“You didn’t grow up putting friends aside. You’ve always been very loyal to the point of being at fault. Remember the time you picked up Sadie from that town at the tippy top of Texas! She’d shoplifted with her rich friends. You wouldn’t just stop being friends with her…”

Raven batted back tears. He was right. Though she wouldn’t admit, she hummed within the confines of her brain trying not to hear the things she’d done for Jon. Whatever her husband wanted, he got, and would always get.