Every writer needs a 'hook for the book.' By this I don’t mean only a grabber
beginning, but something unique about the theme or setting. So for my June
novel, Deep Down, I
decided to hang the intrigue of the story not only on the romance between the
hero and heroine or the murder mystery they must solve together, but on the
rare, endangered and precious herb ginseng.
That's right—an herb, a root. The tag line on the front of Deep Down, screams "Evil
takes root!" The herb ginseng is one of the most valuable but increasingly rare
herbs in the world and has been for centuries. The Chinese emperors used to
guard their imperial ginseng under pain of death. George Washington knew and
traded the herb as did Daniel Boone. Some the best 'sang' in the world, as the
Appalachians call ginseng, grows in the forests of Kentucky. Today, this cure-
all is in demand by Chinese cartels, power drink companies, herbal
conglomerates and the US Government, which has put it on the Endangered Species
list. Tests are starting to prove that it delays (perhaps can help to cure?)
certain endocrine-driven cancers. What an herb! What a hook for a scary, deep
woods romantic suspense novel.
The US government pays 'sang counters' to go out in the woods and valleys
where, by the way, cell phones don’t work. The heroine’s mother is such a
counter and disappears, so the heroine, now a cancer researcher in Lexington,
who left Deep Down
years ago, hurries home to help the small-town sheriff trace her mother. And
the small-town sheriff: the man she loved and left years ago.
So sip some ginseng tea and lock your doors and take a look at Deep Down. RT Bookreviews
says of the story, "A strong plot, a pair of well-written characters and a
genuinely spooky atmosphere add up to yet another sterling effort from Harper.
Fast-paced and absorbing, this one will keep readers turning pages far into the
night." Please visit the author’s website.
7 comments posted.
I'm definitely going to have to read this! And if ginseng is so powerful, I hope they rescue it so we'll all have plenty!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 3:44pm June 10, 2009)
Cultivated ginseng from Wisconsin is just about the best in the world, even over that from China. Most of our crop goes to China, in fact! Wild ginseng is even better, though. Sounds like a good book. I'll have to go look for it.
Later,
Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 4:04pm June 10, 2009)
Karen, what a different spin you've added to 'Deep Down' and what a fun way to learn about ginseng. This book will be on my summer vacation list.
(Rosemary Krejsa 5:16pm June 10, 2009)
I thought I'd let you know how much I enjoyed "Mistress Shakespeare." It was a very interesting take and tale on the missing years in 'Will's' life. I almost felt as if I were there myself.
(Sigrun Schulz 12:59pm June 14, 2009)