The Sense of Darkness
by Cinzia De Santis
Genres: suspense, romance, thriller
Word Count: 64,915
A world of intimacy, of smell and touch, is all Clara knows. Blind from birth, she is gifted with an extraordinary sense of smell which guides her through life. Raised by her aunt Trinidad in a small village in Latin America, Clara becomes a renowned healer. She can smell people’s diseases and can heal them with her special recipes. Their lives fall apart when members of a guerrilla gang bring to their home a wounded prisoner whom Clara has to heal. While she struggles to understand the feelings he produces in her, Trinidad’s past returns, carrying the power of an obsessive love. But will it be enough to save her and Clara’s lives?
The Sense of Darkness is available from Amazon.com and Amazon UK
Cinzia, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
The title has a dual meaning. Clara, the main character, is blind, but her extraordinary sense of smell allows her to flourish despite the darkness. Just as important, the violence that closes in on her small village threatens her life – but even that darkness can have a sense, a meaning.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Clara, definitely. Her blindness and her extraordinary sense of smell make her unusual, of course – but she is also beautiful, stubborn and funny. She rises above poverty as well as blindness and takes great joy in life.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
Violence takes many forms and occurs in many places. So does love. The struggle between the two is a universal theme and this novel shows how hope can survive against huge odds.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
Here is a story teller, who uses all the traditional building blocks of a novel – people, places, plot – but gives each an extra twist that keeps you turning the pages.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“The Sense of Darkness has love, romance, betrayal, compassion and mystery…an engaging story that I recommend without hesitation.”
Where can people learn more about you?
http://www.cinziadesantis.co.uk/
