E.C. Diskin's Blog

Hey friends! Just learned that Broken Grace is 1.99 today only. Gotta love a bargain!!Broken Grace

Hey all! I’m running a quick audiobook giveaway on my FB page for my newest release, Desperate Paths... winners announced next Monday, April 22nd... so head over to my FB page and take a guess at my 2truths and a lie post and maybe you’ll win!!

Tuesday, 3/19, is Launch Day for my newest thriller, Desperate Paths, and instead of a local launch party, I'm jumping on Facebook for a quick LIVE video chat to share a little about the road to Desperate Paths, take some questions, and giveaway free stuff! Only those who tune in will know if this is a great idea or a horrifying reminder that writers like me should probably stay off anything that starts with 'LIVE'...

(I'm taking bets regarding whether I can get through it without completely embarrassing myself:) BUT... I do love to chat with readers so if you join me, please say HI! And thanks in advance for reading, reviewing, sharing. Your enthusiasm is the fuel that keeps me going. Just jump over to my Facebook page for event details.

Six years ago, I was unsure if that first book would ever see the light of day. What a ride this has been! Today, I'm knee deep in a fifth book and prepping for release of #4-- Desperate Paths-- that's coming on 3/19/19. So I hope you'll add it to your shelf, look out for contests in the coming weeks, and if you read it, reach out and let me know what you think!

My first review just came in...and deep sigh, it was lovely! (I'll share a link to that at the bottom.) None of this gets old. I still find myself excited and terrified in the weeks before a launch. I still look at my work in progress and wonder if I will ever be able to shape it into something that's worthy of public consumption. And I still marvel over the fact that I can come up with a plot and characters, assuming they are no more than a product of my wild imagination, and suddenly, after the work is drafted, find myself deeply embedded within the story-- either in characters or issues or places or problems or dramas... I don't think I ever realized how personal writing mysteries and thrillers would be! Anyway, this story resonates with me on a variety of levels, and I hope it does the same for my readers.

http://windycityreviews.org/book-revi...

Facebook keeps sending me memories from my own timeline and it's impossible not to pause and think about the roller coaster ride of the last few years and particularly the wild swings of emotion in 2015. It's hard to believe that at this time 3 years ago, I was still pondering what to do with my unpublished manuscript after the long and disappointing attempts at finding a publisher. Then there was the terror of self-publishing, the thrill of favorable  responses, and the excitement of my deal with Thomas & Mercer. But then more terror and angst followed while writing another book, wondering if everything good that had happened had simply been luck.

Things looked up in late 2014 when Thomas & Mercer offered me a book deal for Broken Grace, but then in early 2015, a new cloud of uncertainty rolled over our house when Jim's longtime employer decided to sell itself and unload the employees.  Luckily, he's a bright and talented guy and he found other work, but 2015 was not what I'd call carefree. 

Then came the end of summer and the launch of Broken Grace and though I held my breath in those first weeks, you--my readers, my supporters, my cheerleaders, my friends--eased my mind with your reviews, letters, notes, and phone calls.  I can't even tell you how humbled and grateful I am for every one of you who have chosen to spend your time with my characters, who have taken the time to reach out to me, who have told others about my books through reviews and posts. You've made my dreams come true and you've all truly helped the Diskins get through a pretty rough 2015.

And though there are people in the world who see Amazon as the big-bad wolf and the beginning of the end of publishing--I have a different perspective. The team at Thomas & Mercer has encouraged and supported me, promoted my work, and brought me readers from all over the world. I couldn't get a deal three years ago, but today I opened an email from my team, congratulating me on reaching another big sales benchmark and landing in the top ten bestsellers list in the kindle store. So today I just want to say a BIG thanks to Amazon and my team at T & M, and most importantly,  a BIG thanks to my readers. I hope to produce more for you to enjoy for many years to come. Happy New Year:)   

I was thrilled to open my inbox the other day and see an invitation to come over to the Chicago PBS station for an interview that they will air during their annual New Years' Mystery Marathon! More details to come:)  

I’ll be at Beverly Arts Center in Chicago on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 2pm for their Author Afternoon series. Should be fun!

The last time I went to Nashville, I attempted a 1/2 marathon and nearly died from heat and hills. So I associate Nashville with near-death experiences already. And now I’m heading back for another thrill: Killer Nashville. I’ve heard great things and look forward to meeting readers, writers, and taking …

Windy City gives Broken Grace 5 stars!

Great news! I know I’m not supposed to care about reviews, but Phew! What a thrill to see such a great response. My favor bits: “The tension never relents in this five-star page turner“ and “This is a masterfully crafted story in the best traditions of classical murder mysteries.“  The folks at Windy City have made my day. I’ve still got several weeks before the official launch, but this certainly calms the nerves.
Full review: Windy City Review of Broken Grace

Great news! I know I’m not supposed to care about reviews, but Phew! What a thrill to see such a great response. My favor bits: “The tension never relents in this five-star page turner“ and “This is a masterfully crafted story in the best traditions of classical murder mysteries.“  The …