Interview with Cristelle Comby for Danse Macabre @Cristelle

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides.
 
Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent.

She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.

Danse Macabre is her third new-adult novel, and she’s hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

Website

Twitter

Amazon

Goodreads

1. At any given time do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are there many ideas racing around your head?

I like to plan ahead. Although the books in the Neve & Egan cases series can be read as stand alone, there’s a larger story arc playing out. In such cases, I believe it’s important to know what’s coming next to make sure clues align. 

2. Is there a genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write in?
I’d love to try some Urban Fantasy next. Make up a story with some wizards or something.

3. Do you add an element of romantic suspense in your stories?
It’s the one thing that seems to keep happening without me wanting it to. Thing is, I hate reading those stories with will-they-won’t-they situation that go on for ages, so I try to stay away from those clichés. But characters are at the center of each of my work, and relationships are what makes them evolve. So yes, there’s some romantic stuff happening here and there.

4. Say you have unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for yourself?
I’d love to have a little house on a beach shore somewhere, on some tropical island. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, a large modern kitchen, and a little garden with an ocean view where I could write in the shade. Maybe toss in a hammock while you’re at it.

5. If you could turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do? Where would it be set? Network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS), Cable (AMC, BBC, Lifetime) or Premium Cable (HBO, Showtime, Starz)?
I doubt there’s enough room for nudity or violence in the Neve & Egan cases to qualify for Cable, so I’d go with a channel like ABC or CBS. They make some good crime drama.

6. Finally, tell us about your latest release!

Well, Danse Macabre is the third installment in my Private Investigators series, the Neve & Egan cases.

PI Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan are hired to find a missing Prima Ballerina who’s vanished from her home in East London. Local police is also on the case, but there seems to be no clues as to what happened to the missing girl and overtime is frowned upon. Will Neve & Egan be able to score leads where the police cannot?

 

Excerpt:

 

I take a better look at the dancer facing us. He looks… fragile more than shy. He has bags under his eyes, his nails show the traces of nervous biting, and his clothes are ill-fitting. Lack of sleep, tension, weight loss. What is going on in Marc Jules’ life? What is he trying to hide from us? ‘That’s not all, is it?’ I lean forward, look at him square on. ‘There’s something you’re not telling us. It’s plain to see.’

The young man shrinks in on himself even more. ‘No… no, nothing. I told you everything I know. I have no idea where Isabella is. I swear.’ A thought strikes me, and I try another angle. ‘She obviously means something to you.’

The man’s eyes shift to the side as he focuses all of his attention on the half-empty lemonade glass sitting on the table. Gotcha!

‘You like her, yet you refuse to help us; it doesn’t make sense,’ I continue. ‘What would Isabella say if she could see you now?’

‘I don’t know anything,’ Marc protests with fervour.

‘Really?’

‘I’d tell you if I knew. I like her, she’s my friend. I want to find her too.’

‘Then stop lying to us,’ Egan says. ‘What are you not telling us?’ 

‘If what you’re saying is the truth, you would do well to stop keeping things from us. You’re slowing us down, Marc; you’re wasting our time,’ I continue, relentless. I can feel we’re close to breaking him, so very close. ‘Do you know how valuable time is, in a situation like this? Time is everything. Every second we’re wasting on you is taking us further away from Isabella.’

‘You’re letting her down, right now.’ Egan adds. ‘Maybe you’re not her friend after all.’

‘No — she’s my friend. I swear.’ Marc rushes the words out, tears welling up in his eyes.

 ‘She’s helped me when no one else would. I owe her so much.’

My eyebrows rise up at the words and I cock my head to the side, my expression expectant.

Marc bites down hard on his lip the second he finishes his sentence. He didn’t mean to reveal this much to us, but it’s too late now. The cat’s out of the bag. I soften my tone now that I’ve got what I wanted. ‘What do you mean, Marc? How did she help you?’

‘I don’t… she just…’ He stops himself, crosses his arms over his chest. ‘It’s nothing to do with any of this.’

‘Let us be the judges of that,’ Egan says. ‘If Isabella was involved, it could be relevant.’

‘It’ll stay between us,’ I promise. ‘We’re not the police, Marc. Whatever it is, no one else needs to know.’

The young man lets out a long breath as he uncrosses his arms. Defeated, he lets his hands hang limp in his lap.

Signed copy of book titled Danse Macabre during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway