Reviews & Articles

 

LADEAN WARNER

 

Over the past few years a number of "Christian" authors have ventured into the genre of horror, science fiction and fantasy. Some have come away with excellent results, some with less than stellar works. You can put author Ladean Warner among the writers of excellent work. Her latest effort, The Keeper of Darkness is a tale that fits very well into the supernatural/ thriller class of fiction. This is a tale that kept me coming back to it every spare moment that I had until I reached the last page. I find that the older I get, the less tolerance I have for what my friend Mike Roe has labeled as sub-standard material. This book is top quality in every way from writing style to plot twists to the eventual ending. Or is it the end?

Former police detective Jake Peterson has returned to his small upstate New York town as the associate pastor of a local church. He has returned just in time to be thrust into a difficult leadership position due to the senior pastor having a heart attack. He has also returned in time to coincide with a mysterious series of apparent abductions throughout the area. The small town police department asks for his help in solving the case but the church needs his full attention.

Rather than degenerating into sappiness, Jake's emotional struggle is handled with a deft hand and intelligence making it even more real to the reader. Jake's dealings with his former boss and his present calling  to his ministry makes for a very interesting sub-plot simmering just below the surface of an interesting tale of terror. Who or what is behind the disappearance of local women and why are they being abducted, This is a book that kept my attention from beginning to end and left me wanting a sequel, which I understand is happening. 

Check out Ladean Warner on Facebook and add this book to your summer reading list before autumn falls on us.

Chris MacIntosh aka Grandfather Rock       http://www.tollbooth.org/2010/books/warner.html.

Text Box: New thriller brings chills to Saratoga Published: Saturday, July 24, 2010

http://saratogian.com/articles/2010/07/24/entertainment/doc4c4b29a25b927045571052.txt

ROUND LAKE — A new book from local author Ladean Warner is bringing suspense to Saratoga County.

“Beyond the Keeper’s Gate,” ($12.95, Mélange Press) continues the story of Warner’s first novel, “The Keeper of Darkness,” which recently took over the No. 1 spot as Publish America’s best-selling fiction book.

In this sequel, Pastor Jake Peterson has settled down and has no regrets about leaving law enforcement — that is, until a mysterious letter arrives and darkness returns to Saratoga County. Faces from the past reappear, a woman close to Jake disappears, a boy goes missing, and the past begins to repeat itself. His faith shaken, Jake turns to his old friend, Meg Riley, to help find the missing woman — and the one who is at the center of the darkness — before it is too late. Haunted by the past, Jake and Meg must face it together or be destroyed by it.

Before completing the sequel, Warner held a contest locally: the retailer in Saratoga County that sold the most books would be mentioned in “Beyond the Keeper’s Gate.” Sorelle Gallery won that honor, and Warner recently presented gallery owner Sandra Pelletier with a copy of the new book.

Warner, a finance director at a girls’ school by day, author, motivational speaker, and life coach by night, lives in Mechanicville and enjoys spending time with her husband, three children and grandson. She is an active member of Saratoga Abundant Life Church, is an avid reader, and enjoys other creative pursuits.

She says her writing brings together her love of suspense stories and her deep faith in God. She is working on the third book in the series.

Warner is working on two new novels that she expects to be released next year. She also is leading a one-day writers workshop Sept. 24 at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.

For more information or to register, go to www.ladeanthewriterscoach.com 

“Beyond the Keeper’s Gate,” which retails for $12.95 and is 180 pages, is available locally at Sorelle Gallery at online booksellers, such as Amazon.com and at ladeanwarner.com. “Beyond the Keeper’s Gate” is distributed by Baker & Taylor.  Mélange Press, a division of Word Alchemy, Inc., is an independent publisher in Round Lake.

Text Box: Q&A: Local author pens serial killer suspense—Published: Sunday, February 15, 2009 http://saratogian.com/articles/2009/02/15/entertainment/doc4995ea71d5c39671416645.txt By ANN MARIE FRENCH, The Saratogian Typically people do not associate Saratoga County with serial killers, but in the world of fiction, anything is possible. Ladean Warner of Mechaniville has penned her first book, “The Keeper of Darkness,” a suspense novel that unfolds in several storylines, set against an easily identifiable Saratoga County locale. Centered around a case of missing women — one eerily similar to a case several years ago which closed with a man’s conviction on murder charges — the story also explores a variety of personal conflicts among its characters. Jake Peterson, the primary detective on the case, is no longer with the police department but is instead beginning a second career as an associate pastor in the community’s small church. He spends much of the novel struggling to reconcile his two careers as he is asked to assist with the new investigation. Peterson’s own struggles regarding his faith are amplified by his former partner and ex-fiancée’s open hostility about his choices. The Saratogian asked Warner for some insight about her inspiration and the storylines. I understand your “day job” is finance/number related. What was your motivation for writing the book? Since I started writing stories back in middle school, I always enjoyed writing mysteries and thrillers. I used to tell ghost stories on the bus and loved scaring my friends. Writing has always been something I loved to do. From the time I was young, I wanted to be a writer, but chose to pursue a business career because it was practical. But I always had a passion for writing and dreamed of being a published author. When I started writing “The Keeper of Darkness,” I had just gone back to college and was taking macro economics. I was stuck one night on an assignment so I opened up a new document in my Word program. I started writing because I was procrastinating and wrote the first chapter. I let one of my daughters read the chapter and she wanted me to tell her what happens next. At that point, I didn’t really know where I was headed with the story line. How did you determine the type of book you wanted to write and your unusual storyline? Although I enjoy reading any genre, the suspense/thriller genre is my favorite. My favorite author is Frank Peretti, who writes spiritual thrillers. I even heard him speak when his book, “The Prophet,” came out. He was the first author that I read that combined a thriller with a spiritual side and I was hooked. I have always been an avid reader. My father used to take us to the local library when we were young. I loved going and would spend hours reading books. My father introduced me to Mary Higgins Clark and I soon found others, like Stephen King, John Saul and Dean Koontz. Many times, I would rewrite their stories for myself, retelling the stories the way I would have ended them. Even before I made a commitment to myself to finish a novel, I knew that this was the type of book I would write since I always believed that a writer should write about what they know the best. What kind of research did you do? I did a minimal amount of online research about werewolves. But then, decided that I didn’t really want to go in that direction. So, I decided to just invent the creatures the way I imagined them. I didn’t want the reader to have any preconceived notion of what they should be so, I made them up and the myths that surround them. This just came from my imagination. In addition to the main storyline, there is a second storyline related to faith and religion. Why did you include this in the book? When I originally started “The Keeper of Darkness,” the secondary storyline didn’t exist. I thought that if I wanted to be a more marketable author, I should keep my stories more mainstream. Jake was originally the lead detective in the case. But about four years ago, I started attending Saratoga Abundant Life Church. I had gone through a rough time in my life and having a relationship with God had become very important to me. My reasons for incorporating my faith into the story were really two fold. First, I felt that my talent comes from God and that I should use that talent for Him. Through writing, I wanted to show people how much He loves us and that they can know Him, too. The second is that since the major storyline deals with evil and darkness, I needed to have a strong opposing side to fight against the darkness through faith and prayer. So Jake became that person who was the expression of my faith and, as a minister, he was able to openly talk about it and keep the story real. How long did it take you to complete the book and how did you balance working on it with the other demands of a full-time job and family? I started “The Keeper of Darkness” about six years ago, but didn’t get serious about finishing it until last spring. After completing my MBA, I had extra time that I had spent doing my college work. My family had been used to me spending a lot of time doing college assignments, so it was part of our lifestyle. My husband, Joe, has been a wonderful support through the years — first with college and then writing. He has always told me that I could do anything I wanted to and encouraged me for years to finish my book. Joe usually makes dinner, helps with housework, the children and our menagerie of pets. He has been wonderful, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend. He’s my biggest fan. Do you anticipate doing more writing and would you stay in the same genre? Yes, I do plan to continue writing. At this time, I have four other books that I have started. One is the sequel to “The Keeper of Darkness.” Two others are in this genre and another is a historical fiction. Since I enjoy reading a wide variety of genres, I enjoy writing them as well. I even have a plot in mind for a romance novel.