A.J. Banner – Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner

About the Book

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BPJNQ14P
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (October 10, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 10, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 263 pages

My Thoughts

This book presents a complicated and emotional story of a family in turmoil after a young girl drowns in a neighbor’s reflecting pool. Almost two decades have passed and Astrid, the older sister of young Nina, is loathe to return to Heron Bay but does so when her aunt urgently summons her. The action really begins to pick up and keeps a fast pace once Astrid arrives in Heron Bay and confronts her past and all of the ghosts that haunt her dreams. There is an eerie feeling that something is missing from her memory and Astrid is determined to discover the truth about Nina’s drowning, a tragedy for which Astrid blames herself. As Astrid delves deeper into mysterious letters typed on an old manual typewriter, I was fascinated with the research into how the letters matched the typeset and the expertise of Astrid as one who verifies documents. The entire story flowed seamlessly, even with multiple characters and flashbacks into an illusory, dreamlike past. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, but I especially liked the clever character development which was slowly revealed and so brilliantly written. The plot was compelling and multi-layered, with secrets hidden by most of the characters and plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. The drama is intense, the characters are dynamically unique and the entire book is a well-crafted dive into the waters of what you think you know because your subconscious tells you it is true. As the story progresses to the climax, it fairly crackles with tension that captivated me all the way to the stunning conclusion. For fans of suspense that does not waiver and authentic details that are riveting, this novel is perfect!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

About the Author

As a child, **A. J. Banner** loved reading everything from Nancy Drew to Tolkien to her parents’ spy novels, borrowed from their bookshelves and hidden beneath her pillow. She wrote her first thriller, Mystery at Crane Corner, at the age of 11. She drew her own cover art and bound the pages with staples.
Born in India and raised in North America, A. J. graduated from high school in southern California and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. She tried various professions after college, including a stint in law school and a memorable job at a veterinary clinic, since she loves animals, but eventually she returned to writing.

Q and A with A. J. Banner

1. What was the most interesting (or most frightening) thing you learned in the research you did for this book?

A letter written in blood.

A typewriter used to type threatening notes.

During my interviews with a forensic document examiner and a former police detective, I learned that people act in extreme and unexpected ways. Reality is stranger than fiction, seriously! It’s true: a forensic document examiner (not the one I interviewed, but someone she knew) was once asked to analyze a letter written in blood! And the former detective told me about a case in which a man stalked his ex‑girlfriend and typed her sinister letters on a typewriter. He thought that if he used a typewriter, he could remain anonymous, but he didn’t know what each typewriter has a particular “fingerprint.” The typewriter in his possession was identified and matched to the letters, and he was arrested.

2. What was your favorite part of writing this book/series?

I always love typing my first drafts on my collection of manual typewriters! A typewriter is like a percussion instrument. I find the clacking sound extremely satisfying, and I can see the print appearing on the page as I type! I cannot go back and edit what I’ve typed. No distractions, no digital notifications. I have to set aside perfectionism and simply keep going, wonderfully liberating!

3. Did anything in the story end up surprising you or changing trajectory?

My stories always surprise me and change direction! In my first draft, I presented the entire story in chronological order, beginning with Nina’s drowning 17 years ago, the aftermath (about 100 pages in that early draft), and then moving forward in time to Astrid in the present day. But I ended up completely restructuring the book and opening with Astrid’s arrival in Heron Bay in the present day, with occasional flashbacks to her sister’s drowning. Also, the final revelation changed! It was entirely different in the first draft. No spoilers.

4. When and how did you know that you wanted to be an author?

From the time I was about eight years old, growing up in a small Canadian town on the shores of the Winnipeg River, I knew I wanted to be an author. I typed stories on a toy typewriter, drew cover art, stapled the pages together and wrote little copyright notices inside the front covers. When a little boy in town self-published his stories, and they appeared in a box set in our local library, I remember feeling incredibly envious of him! I also thought that having a book published was an impossible dream, like shooting for the moon. But eventually, my dream came true.

5. What is your writing process like?

When I’m writing a book, it always feels like the first time. I’m full of fear, joy, pain, worry, self‑doubt, and I feel as though I’m writing garbage. Then I love what I’m writing. Then I hate it. Then I love it again. I tear down the story and rebuild it again multiple times. Whoever said writing was easy? It’s extremely difficult, but it’s also wonderful. In the end, I’m the only one who cares if I ever complete a writing project. So I need incredible self-discipline and inner drive.

6. What would be your advice to new authors?

If you’re an unpublished, aspiring writer, I suggest reading a lot, writing a lot, treating writing as a lifelong endeavor, and learning the craft. Respect the profession. Find a mentor.

7. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing or reading a book?

I enjoy antiquing and discovering vintage stationery and typewriters. I regularly exchange typed letters with wonderful type pals all over the world. I love walks in the woods and on our wild Pacific Northwest beaches. I also play piano, take care of rescued cats, and I love photographing the wildlife in our garden, which is a certified wildlife sanctuary.

8. Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

I hope my readers enjoy Dreaming of Water and reach out to me with comments and questions! Thank you for a wonderful interview.

Purchase Links

This is an amazing book and I sincerely hope that all of you will grab a copy and enjoy it as much as I did!

This is one of those books that entertains, teaches a life lesson (or several of them) and makes me think, all at the same time. Phoebe is a widow who also lost her young daughter in a horrible car accident. Still having difficulty dealing with her loss, she is startled by the appearance of Pauline Steele at the mortuary where she works, especially because Pauline is like a mirror image of herself. Thus her quest for the truth begins, taking her along a path that she never wanted to travel and one which will take her to the brink of insanity. Along the way, Phoebe is pulled back from the edge by friends like Renee and Mike, but she is also determined to find out the truth about her husband Logan and his possible relationship with Pauline. This book, with all of its complexities and hidden truths, was an engrossing read, one that I had to pause as I read in order to think about applications to my own life and the things that we take for granted. I enjoyed discovering about Phoebe’s strengths and weaknesses just as she was discovering them herself. My favorite parts of the book were her realization about the truth and the ending, a very satisfactory one, I might add. This is a book that should be savored, just as you savor a fine wine or a good meal. It sits there with you for a while, you think about it and then you move on to the next part of the story. The action was somewhat slow-paced, but I found that this technique worked for me with this book because I needed the pauses in order to reflect on what was really happening. The reality is there, just hidden beneath layers of self-deception and a psychosis that can destroy if not handled well. Fans of domestic drama with some suspense added in will enjoy this book and look forward to more from this author.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”