This Time You Lose
by Chris Stralyn
Genre: Suspense
Approx. 75,000 words
What would you do if street thugs invaded your home? What if you’re a daycare provider, caring for a dozen children at the time? Lisa Kaamp, a most unlikely heroine, faces just such a nightmare in This Time You Lose, the suspense driven story of one woman’s struggle to survive when she and the children she cares for become victims of a home invasion gone terribly wrong.
This title is available from Amazon US and Amazon UK.
Chris, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
Originally, I’d titled it Daycare Nightmare. However, some of my first test readers were men, and they pointed out that title could pigeon-hole it as a woman’s book. They noted that while they really liked the story, they would never have picked it up off the shelf. So… I gave it a lot of thought and finally settled on the title This Time You Lose – which is actually a line of dialog in the story.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Lisa Kaamp – the heroine in This Time You Lose. Although Lisa starts out quiet and shy, when pushed to the limit she becomes one very strong and resourceful woman. One reviewer called her “a tough cookie” and ranked her high on the ‘Bad-ass Heroine’ list. I guess I’d agree with that.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
No, not really. I wrote it to simply be a fun, intense read for those that love suspense thrillers. No deep message or theme to figure out.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about your writing that shows they “get” you as an author?
Several readers/reviews have pointed out that I have no “extra, unnecessary, weird, or unrealistic” elements in my writing. I write clear, concise stories. No extra “stuff”. I love it when readers “get it” and comment that all that “stuff” isn’t needed for a good story.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“This book is beyond excellent – could not wait for my lunch hour to go read. It starts off with a bang and never lets up. The writing is fantastic. You will not be let down.”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
http://www.thistimeyoulose.com
Great title and cover, Chris. The cover grabbed me especially, since I almost used that stock image for my indie book Savage Cinderella, about a girl who had been kidnapped. The photo is so powerfully evocative, it suits your story premise for sure. It was a bit too dark for mine, so i went with something else, but i love what your cover artist did with this one. Great job! i bet the book is a roller coaster ride of thrills and chills. It is certainly everyone's worst nightmare these days.