Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Ashes on the Wind: The Love Story Behind The Crime of the Century by Brandy Purdy. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Ashes on the Wind: The Love Story Behind The Crime of the Century by Brandy Purdy
Ashes on the Wind: The Love Story Behind The Crime of the Century
Genre: Historical Fiction, True-Crime Inspired
Setting – Chicago, Illinois 1920
Publisher : Independently published (April 15, 2024)
Paperback : 573 pages
Nathan “Babe” Leopold was a socially awkward genius who used arrogance as a shield. He cultivated a philosophy of absolute selfishness cherry-picked from his reading of Nietzsche and indulged himself with vivid sexual fantasies about kings and slaves.
Richard “Dickie” Loeb was the brightest of the bright young things, a social butterfly as fragile as glass inside, hiding his insecurities behind a dazzling smile and a mouthful of lies. He found escape in thrilling tales and fantasies of crime.
They were two brilliant and privileged boys, each harboring secrets it would have been social suicide to reveal in their 1920s world.
When Babe met Dickie, it was like his favorite fantasy had stepped out of his dreams into real life.
When Dickie met Babe, he thought he had found the accomplice who would help make his criminal dreams come true.
Dickie was willing to give Babe what he wanted, if Babe would give him what he wanted. Quid pro quo. Until Dickie wanted something more, leaving Babe desperate and willing to do anything to hold onto his dream. Even if it led down a dark path to the Crime of the Century and infamy as the thrill killers Leopold and Loeb.
Author Interview
Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!
Tell us a little about yourself.
How long have you been writing?
Since the summer of 2002, I started my first novel THE CONFESSION OF PIERS GAVESTON a few months after my mother died.
Did you always want to be an author?
No, I became a caregiver almost immediately out of high school, first for my mother and then for my father, so I never really had the chance to consider what I wanted to do. But I’ve always loved to read ever since I was old enough to hold a book, and now I can’t imagine doing anything else, I feel like writing is part of me.
How much research do you do before deciding to write a historical fiction based on an event?
It depends on how much previous knowledge I have on the subject and also on how much time I have and deadlines. When I was under contract with Kensington and had to turn out a book a year it was very difficult to cram research, writing, correcting proofs and doing promotion for the previous year’s book, and the expectations and requirements of real life and caregiving into a single year. When I started working on ASHES ON THE WIND I decided to take a full year for research. I love doing research, and I really wanted to enjoy the writing process again without feeling the pressure of such a tight deadline.
Have you ever researched something and decided not to write about it?
Yes, I very much wanted to write a biography about a silent film actor who means a great deal to me. I spent several years doing research as time permitted, in archives, libraries, and following every possible lead I could think of. But he was a very shy and private person, and I ultimately wasn’t able to find enough to make him come alive as a person for readers. And I didn’t want to write one of those biographies that reads like a padded filmography full of dates, reviews, and film summaries where you never feel like you really know the person behind that body of work.
What genre of books do you prefer reading?
I read anything and everything that grabs my attention, fiction and non-fiction. I am like a kid in a candy store with books and I have very eclectic taste, I may be reading about archeology one day and a rom-com the next, or it could be ANNA KARENINA and shark attacks.
What are you reading now?
I’m rereading an old favorite, THE HOUSE OF GENTLE MEN by Kathy Hepinstall. It’s the kind of book I should normally be able to read in a single sitting, but I keep crying myself blind over it so it takes twice as long.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
I’m a creature of habit and I always write at my desk. I like being in my home office surrounded by books with my cat and my music. But when I’m doing editing or taking notes sometimes I go sit on the porch so I can watch the birds at the feeder.
What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?
My laptop, a lamp that was an impulse purchase because it has a vintage peacock design on it, two framed pictures, one of those cubes of brightly colored paper, a paperweight, a mug filled with pens, and a bag of cat treats to try to keep my fur-baby off the keyboard when I’m trying to write.
What or who has influenced you the most as a writer?
Classic films I think because I’m very visual as a writer, whenever I’m writing a book I see it in my head almost like a movie playing, the challenge is to get down on paper what I’m experiencing in my mind.
Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing?
No, I’m always alone. I would love to have that kind of support because I do get lonely, and I struggle with anxiety and depression, but I don’t have anyone like that.
Do you belong to any writing groups?
No, because of my anxiety I always feel overwhelmed in group type situations, it’s one of the main reasons I don’t do social media, I tend to do better with just one person at a time.
Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?
Nothing at the moment. I’m going through some personal difficulties right now and I don’t know what, if anything, is next.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!
About Brandy Purdy
Brandy Purdy is the author of several historical novels including The Ripper’s Wife, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, The Boleyn Wife, and The Tudor Throne.
Blog: http://bybrandypurdy.blogspot.com/
Purchase Link – Amazon
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Ashes on the Wind TOUR PARTICIPANTS
September 10 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
September 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 11 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
September 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
September 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
September 15 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
September 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – REVIEW
September 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
September 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 17 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
September 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
September 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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