“It sounded so simple in theory; ready... aim... fire... but what actually transpired was so much more.”
Officer Nicole Nolan holds the gun steady in her hands, knowing that life will be forever altered once she pulls the trigger. Her position as a small town police officer is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is her job, her career and her life.
Amanda stands where protection does not exist. With several failed relationships behind her, Amanda turns a blind eye to the possessiveness Josh displays in order to sooth her desperate need to be loved. As the mental abuse turns violent, Amanda must deal with the denial and embarrassment of being a victim once again. With her emotional and physical health sitting on the edge, she must fight to regain control of her life.
A gripping story with one final destination, but will it be life or death?
Meet Author Stacy Eaton!
My dear friend and fellow volunteer at the World Literary Cafe, Stacy Eaton shares with us the amazing journey behind her fantastic new release, Whether I'll Live or Die.
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AM: Whether I'll Live or
Die. A heartbreaking, compelling story about two women's lives; the
first of Amanda and her life of domestic abuse and the other of Nicole and
her life as a police officer. Stacy, this was an amazing story that truly
touched my heart. Where did you come up with the premise for it?
SE: I have seen abuse first
hand in my life. In my job I see it on a daily basis. It is a topic that many
do not take seriously and I thought it was about time to put it out there for
others to read about and decide that this is a real problem that needs to be
addressed.
It’s not just physical abuse that victims encounter, it’s emotional and verbal abuse that actually breaks a person soul down and destroys their self-esteem. The bruises from physical abuse will heal, the broken bones will mend, but the damage to a person’s mind is what stays with them for years and is the hardest part to deal with.
Well you definitely gave the story justice. Your portrayal of character Amanda’s abusive life left me breathless in one spot and angry in the next as she seemed to roam from one abusive relationship to another. In your experience, is this a typical pattern for an abused victim to follow?
Yes it is. Many times victims grow
up seeing abuse in their younger years of life with their parents and they have
a tendency to except it. The mentality
that “it just happens” and “My mom dealt with it, so I must have to deal with
it too” is a very common thought to victims.
What they must remember is that no
person has the right to abuse a person. No person has the right to belittle
them, touch them in a way they do not wish to be touched. Somehow we need to
break the cycle of abuse – and getting the word out is one of the best ways.
And what an amazing way you went about getting the word out
by writing Whether I’ll Live or Die. Let’s flip hats for a second and look at
your secondary character, Nicole. Nicole is a police officer who shares with us
some of the hard things on the job she faces on a daily basis. While many of us
“know” police officers face such hardships on an everyday basis, I don’t think
we truly understand what it means to be “on the job”.
Your portrayal of Nicole’s routine as a police officer was
an eye opener for me, as I hope it is with others who read it. What can you
share with us about your own daily routine that would give the readers a better
understanding of what it means to be a police officer?
Most people think being a police
officer is about writing tickets and arresting people. What most don’t know is that we wear many
different hats. It is not uncommon for
us to be any of the kinds of things: a nurse, a psychologist, an animal control
warden, a parent, a plumber, electrician, accident Reconstructionist, investigator,
the bearer of bad news, a mentor, an enemy and a friend.
Most times when someone calls 911 –
they are in one of the most stressful moments of their lives. When we arrive,
we must figure out what is going on, we have to help in any way that we can,
whether that is giving advice, listening, helping with first aide or making an
arrest. We make serious decisions in
split seconds; we listen to people talk for hours. We hold their hands, we put on cuffs, we pick
them up and help them stand and we cry with them.
It’s just not in this book that I
show people what police officers really do. I show that in all my books and I
have heard over and over again how people love to see the side that they don’t
know. They see us pulling over cars or speeding past them with our lights and
sirens on and they don’t think twice about it.
What they don’t know is that car we
just pulled over might have a guy who is wanted for drugs or assault. Or the
reason we are driving like bats out of hell is someone just had a heart attack
and seconds count. Next time your readers see a police officer, I hope they
take a second to think about everything they do – not judge them for what they
see in front of them at that moment.
And how true it is in the day and age where we find it easier
to judge things simply by what we see right in front of us. I applaud you,
Stacy, and thank you for your service to the community as a police officer. Thank you for keeping the
streets safe so the rest of us can sleep worry free at night.
Whether I’ll Live or Die had a climatic ending that caught
me completely off guard, yet I loved all the same. Now that you’ve finished
with that amazing story, what comes next for you?
Well Amy, I know you are familiar
with my Paranormal Series, My Blood Runs Blue, but your readers might not be. As
you know there are already two book out in the four book series, My Blood Runs
Blue and Blue Blood for Life. Right now I am working on the third book in the
series, I think it will be called “Mixing the Blue Blood”, but I’m not positive
on that. This series is suspenseful and
intense with just the right amount of hot romance thrown in.
I am working on a guardian angel
book that could possibly be a series, but again… I’m still figuring that out. I
like the way this book is coming along. Of course it would be much better if I
had more time to write, lol… This book is about the Elite Guardian Angels that
are trained to protect the most important people in the world, and they are not
who you might think they are.
I also have a contemporary romance
that is about two-thirds completed and has been sitting on the back burner for
a while –I’d like to get that done and out soon. Det. Jacquelyn Liveon keeps showing up just
as Ryan Palmer, a silver screen God, finds himself at life threatening moments.
When she has to go undercover to protect him from an unknown person on the set
trying to hurt him, she has to protect more than him, she has to protect her
heart. We will see if she can do that…
Wow, you’re a busy woman! I’ve already read both of your Blue Blood books and loved them. They were very hard to put down and I am highly anticipating the third book in the series. Your Guardian Angel book definitely sounds like something I’ll be picking up as well. :0)
As we wrap things up, is there anything you’d like to add that I haven’t already asked?
Amy, I appreciate you allowing me to come today – and to
talk about my book. I do want to talk
about one more thing real quick. I want to talk about domestic violence and
those that are victims. I pray that someone out there that is reading this will
understand I am talking to them.
Do NOT feel guilty for being a victim – it is NOT your
fault. Find help – get support – get away and start a new life! There are people all over that will help you
get on your feet and live a life that you deserve to lead. It does NOT get better – they will not
miraculously “never do it again”. Abuse continues… over and over again – and
only you can break that pattern! Do it!
Get help!
Thank you Amy!! I
really appreciate you allowing me to come visit!
Thank YOU Stacy for coming, it was a pleasure having you here!!
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My 5 Star review of Whether I'll Live or Die:
Life changing, compelling and heartbreaking are just a few of the words I would
use to describe author Stacy Eaton's novel, Whether I'll Live or Die. The author
takes us on a compelling and life changing journey with characters Nicole and
Amanda, two women whose lives are at complete opposites and yet inextricably
intertwined. Whether I'll Live or Die focuses on the realities of Domestic
Abuse, something that is all too prevalent in this day and age. It also takes us
through life as a police officer and the violent crimes they face on a daily
basis. Nothing about this story is sugar coated.
This book is absolutely riveting, taking you on a kaleidoscope of emotions while you quickly turn pages to reach the climatic ending, an ending that won't disappoint. A highly recommended read.
This book is absolutely riveting, taking you on a kaleidoscope of emotions while you quickly turn pages to reach the climatic ending, an ending that won't disappoint. A highly recommended read.
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To read more on author Stacy Eaton, follow the links below!
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whether-ill-live-or-die-stacy-eaton/1111941743?ean=2940014655798
Website: www.stacyeaton.com
Twitter: @StacySEaton
Thank you Amy! A pleasure to be here! Had a great time with this interview!
ReplyDeleteMe too, it was a pleasure having you on!
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