A Shattering Glimpse
Nicole Putter
Publication date: December 10th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller
The dreams: For years, Claire Baxter has been haunted by ceaseless dreams of an FBI Agent.
The dilemma: She has no idea who he is or if he even exists.
The death: Right before she’s set to graduate from college, a dream reveals him dying in a brutal explosion.
One touch and not-so-normal Portland girl, Claire Baxter, can get a glimpse of your nearby future. She considers nothing about her clairvoyance a gift, it’s a curse, to say the least. Her parents raised her with the rule that she is to keep the secret at all cost, leaving little room for relationships of any kind. As if the burden isn’t enough, FBI agent Byron Black becomes the phantom of a series of sinister dreams.
The night before her final college exam, she has another dream, except in this one, he dies in a nuclear explosion. Does he exist? Will she find him? If so, can she save the countless lives affected by a blast that can crush steel like it’s a piece of paper, or… is this something her lost, psychic mind conjured up?
BOOK TRAILER
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h1hEV8-N4i6-Yp1CrREMp440Vafi8zSk/view?usp=drivesdk
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EXCERPT:
Claire had no sooner ended the call than the fleeting nightmare returned, as tangible as the test she would take in an hour. Her hands started to shake, causing her phone to drop to the floor. Sweat striped the back of her neck. Her phantom was in danger. As she raked her trembling fingers through her blonde curls, she experienced a sense of déjà vu from her 14-year-old self.
30 March 2014
Claire woke in a pool of cold sweat. That was a first. She had always been able to predict the future of those with whom she came into physical contact. Never before had she seen someone without touching them, let alone not knowing them at all. Her visions were subjective. If she warned the receiver of her touch, it could change, though she would never tell. Only her parents and best friend, Brent Lee, knew about her unique gift. They called it a gift, Claire often considered it a damn curse.
The man from her vivid dream was tall, not buff, but rather lean and toned. He was at the beach with his friends: Tanned with dark, ruffled hair and deep, brown eyes above a sharp jawline. A deep scar puckered his left cheekbone.
Attempting to impress some girl, he meandered deeper and deeper into the ocean. Later, he was laboring for breath as the wild rollers clutched at him and the desperate torrent sucked him further and further from the shore. It was a battle of arms, legs, and waves. He coughed and gasped, splashed and jolted, doing everything in his power to stay alive until a coastguard came to his rescue.
Once they reached the safety of the beach, she learnt his name as everyone bustled around to ensure he was okay. He was alive, smiling and called Byron.
That night Claire had met Special Agent Black of the FBI for the first time. He had been the centerpiece of her dreams for the next eight years. Okay, perhaps centerpiece was overdoing it, but he did feature often. Not every night, but at least once a month. Maybe less. Definitely less. The dreams changed. Sometimes they reflected significant instances in his life, like graduation and his sister’s wedding. Other times, she merely saw his face. No sound, just him. She knew a lot about the man of her dreams. Nope, the man from her dreams. Now she even knew how he would die. If he even existed.
I can’t let this happen. She squeezed her eyes shut and flopped back down on to her black-and-white mess of a bed. I must warn him.
Why a romantic thriller?
Is romantic thriller even a genre or is this a meta genre? Romantic suspense seems to be the more accepted term but even that doesn’t have a perfect definition. I have scoured the internet and I couldn’t really find a definitive answer. Most would agree that the plotline should include equal parts love story intertwined with mystery and intrigue.
Iconic romantic suspense writer, Sandra Brown, tells Novel Suspects in an interview that the heroes should be reluctant allies against a common threat or enemy who desire each other, badly. Some underlying truth, such as fireman vs arsonist, should make it impossible for them to act on the desire. She says that the suspense is posed as a question early on which goes unanswered for as long as possible.
This definition from a trained hand in the genre sheds a little more light on the structure. I agree with her, but I have to add that I don’t think romantic thrillers and romantic suspense are necessarily the same thing. Here’s my personal take on it and the reason why I chose this genre.
The romance
I’ll admit, I’m been a sucker for a budding attraction since I can remember. Whether in books, movies or television, I can’t resist. But romance plots can sometimes feel unoriginal when it’s a simple love triangle or forbidden due to classism or emotional unavailability. This is where I like to add the element of surprise and uncertainty. The reader should feel a constant ambiguity due to components other than the norm.
In ‘A Shattering Glimpse’ Claire has been dreaming about this man since she was fourteen years old. Due to her psychic condition she doesn’t pursue many relationships and forms a bit of an obsession with the man from her dreams. She has no idea if he’s real or if it’s something she dreamt up out of utter loneliness and boredom.
A romantic suspense constitutes equal parts romance and suspense while romance takes the passenger seat in a romantic thriller. The romantic plotline should still form an integral part of the story, but the thriller should dominate. Also, a happily ever after is not a certainty.
In many ways I think ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn could also qualify. A large part of Amy’s diary entries in part I of the story, tells a romantic tale without a definite conclusion. In the 2010 film ‘The Tourist’, starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, the romance is seamlessly woven into the thriller plot where spies rope an unsuspecting tourist into their search for a thief.
The thrills
In all the abovementioned examples, the story is told through the eyes of an unreliable narrator that keeps the reader guessing about both plots for as long as possible. Unreliable narrators are remarkable literary tools for grabbing and retaining attention.
As mentioned, I love a good romance, but I can’t deny a twisted and suspenseful thriller that will keep me reading through the night. Whether it’s a whodunnit or the perverse life of a serial killer, there’s nothing more satisfying than getting swept up into shocking twists and turns.
While thrillers come in a wide variety, certain elements should be present to qualify: Danger, excitement, suspense and mystery. In my opinion, this should be the focus of a romantic thriller. As Brown suggested, in romantic suspense novels, the heroes will work together in trying to solve the mystery or defeat the threat. This is not necessarily the case in a romantic thriller, in my opinion.
Love can often be the cause or give rise to the thrilling events as is the case in the novel ‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover. ‘A Shattering Glimpse’ follows somewhat of the same recipe but I can’t say too much without giving anything away.
This testimonial from award-winning thriller author, Andrew Salomon will give you more or less of an idea: “The novel deftly manages to combine both thriller and fantastical genres, along with a good dollop of romance, and without resorting to clichés and sentimentality. This is a significant achievement,and the reader is skilfully drawn into a love story intertwined with murder, interwoven with a special agent thriller.”
Deviating from the norm
To create something a little more original, I had to deviate slightly from the norm of romantic suspense and fast paced FBI thrillers. It was a risk but so far, the response has only been positive. I tried to combine both genres in way that could fulfil both readerships without overcompensating. I enjoy romance and thrillers and I felt a lack of stories that effortlessly merge the two. As Toni Morrison once said, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
A Shattering Glimpse’ Playlist Explained
I compiled a playlist on YouTube with songs that complementand feature in the novel. Music can create a great vibe while also explaining the theme and mood of a story. Here’s the list of songs with reasons for why I chose them.
Dreams – The Cranberries
I had to include this iconic song because dreams is a big theme in this story. While Claire Baxter can glimpse the future with touch, she has been dreaming about someone she’snever met for years. She’s always been curious and searchingbut a dream of his death and others sets her on a journey to find him.
Who Are You – Raign
I think this song might be better suited for the prequel novella I wrote which tells a detailed story of Claire growing up. Her dreams of this mystery man evoke a very human curiosity.Claire wants to know the ghost of her dreams and yet it seems like he doesn’t exist.
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
Those opening lines:
I’m waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I’m breathing in the chemicals
Claire has this terrifying dream of a nuclear explosion and the ghost of dreams dying. Basically, when she wakes up, she can still see the ash and dust and breathe in the chemicals. Those lines alone made it the perfect fit. Also, I’m a huge fan of the Imagine Dragons.
Nothing Really Matters – Metallica
Classic rock is one of Claire’s favourite music genres. At one stage she has to turn Metallica louder to drown out her own inner mocking.
Secrets and Lies – Ruelle
Secrets and lies represents another theme in this story.Unfortunately, I can’t elaborate too much without spoilers. Most people have secrets and tell lies. Some innocent andsincere, others negligent or to purposefully mislead for personal gain. But the story also hints that there’s always someone who will uncover the truth.
Dangerous – David Guetta
Claire Baxter has a bit of a Nancy Drew personality and cannot seem to keep herself out of trouble. She’s stubborn and unstoppable when she’s made up her mind. The danger increases as the journey goes on.
Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver and Chop Suey – System of Down
I included both these songs because they feature in the story. Both times in the car, on the radio since a lot of the story takes place on the road.
Titianium – David Guetta ft. Sia
Titanium alludes to Claire’s resilience. It doesn’t matter what curve ball is thrown her way, she overcomes it, stronger and more determined than before. She won’t let anything stop her from finding the truth and a solution. Does she?
Photograph – Ed Sheeran and Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve
My lips are sealed about these songs, but I would love to know if you think they’re fitting once you’ve read the novel.
Author Bio:
Nicole Putter is the author of the Shattering Series and several short stories. She completed four creative writing and journalism courses with honours between a successful career in finance. When she’s not writing fiction, she blogs about her passion for books and writing. She’s also happily married, and a proud mom of one son and a Jack Russel Terrier named Striker.
You can connect with Nicole on:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter
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1 comments:
I love the book cover and the synopsis and excerpt are intriguing, this sounds like a thrilling read. Thank you for sharing the book details and author interview.
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