Welcome to the Rhode Island Authors Showcase! Each day in November, this blog will feature a different Rhode Island author. Read the post and leave a comment and you are eligible to win this day’s giveaway!
Leave a comment every day this month for over 30 chances to win either our Grand Prize (a $250 Amazon gift card), our Bonus Prize (a $100 Amazon gift card), or a Cheer-Up Prize (amount to be determined), just in time for holiday shopping!
A winner will be randomly selected one week after the publication of the blog post, and the Grand Prize and Bonus Prize winners will be randomly selected on December 7, 2021. For the daily giveaways, the author will contact you directly to coordinate delivery. Print books for delivery within the US only, please.
GLEDE BROWNE KABONGO writes gripping, unputdownable psychological thrillers—unflinching tales of deception, secrecy, danger, and family. She is the Eric Hoffer, Next Generation Indie and IPPY Award-winning author of the Fearless Series, Our Wicked Lies, Swan Deception, and Conspiracy of Silence. Her novel Winds of Fear was voted one of 24 Books to Read During the Coronavirus by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine.
Gledé holds a master’s degree in communications, and has spoken at multiple industry events including the Boston Book Festival. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime (SinC), Crime Writers of Color (CWoC), and The Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA). Gledé also leads workshops and webinars on fiction writing and publishing. Her writing blog can be found at http://www.gledekabongo.com/blog. She lives outside Boston with her husband and two sons.
3 Reasons Why I Write Diabolical Psychological Thrillers
One of my favorite aunts once told me that I had a diabolical mind. She had just finished reading one of my novels and while I took the observation as a compliment, what she really meant was that the type of stories I write don’t mesh with the girl she knows. Growing up, I was the good girl. I got good grades, never talked back to my parents, and went to church on Sundays. In my spare time, I was either buried in a book or listening to the BBC. Yes, I was that kind of nerd. So how did a timid girl who spent her formative years on a small Caribbean Island end up writing twisted, diabolical psychological thrillers?
Reason #1 – The Genre Chose Me
Binge reading Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Famous Five Mysteries was only the beginning. What took my obsession with mystery, suspense, and intrigue to another level was a 1980s Australian radio drama called “The Castlereagh Line.” That drama taught me so much about nail-biting suspense, edge-of-your-seat thrills, cliffhangers, and ruthless, despicable, complicated villains. I’m looking at you, Jack Seager.
When I sat down to write my first novel, Conspiracy of Silence, I knew I wanted to include as many thriller elements as possible but also felt the need to dig deep into the motivations of my characters, their emotions, vulnerabilities, and deepest wounds. However, I wanted to do so through the lens of deception, misdirection, secrets, and lies, in an environment where nothing was as it seemed. At the time, I didn’t know there was a name for this type of story under the thriller umbrella until I was trying to figure out exactly what genre the book fell into. An editor I was working with at the time told me it was a psychological thriller and the rest as they say is history.
Reason #2 – The Inner Workings of the Human Mind Fascinate Me
The more seemingly normal a person appears, the more fascinated I am by the root cause of their deviant behavior, both in real life and in fiction. I went so far as to purchase the book, The Sociopath Next Door, and spent time understanding the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath. My understanding of the psychology behind what drives people to do horrific things or play with fire—oftentimes causing them to be ethically or morally compromised-—puts me in a great space to explore my characters and their motivations, flaws, and decisions they make that move the plot forward.
Reason # 3 – The Thrill of a Killer Twist
Although it’s a genre trope/expectation, one of my favorite things about writing gripping psychological thrillers is messing with the reader’s mind. It makes the big twist at the end so much more intense. My readers seem to like it, though. They will admit in reviews that they thought they had it all figured out until the plot took them in an entirely new and unexpected direction.
Many authors write in multiple genres. Will I ever consider doing so? Maybe one day in the very distant future. Right now, I’m having too much fun thinking of clever ways my characters can commit crimes and cause mayhem.
Find out everything you can about Gledé by visiting her website: https://www.gledekabongo.com/
Follow her on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2sja9xfr
Gledé is giving away a copy of Our Wicked Lies to one lucky winner (I read it and highly recommend this one!). Just leave a comment on this post and/or answer this simple question: What keeps you awake at night?
Join us on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the CROWNE PLAZA in Warwick for the 9th Annual Rhode Island Authors Expo!
Martha Reynolds Writes 
Weird dreams keep me up. Sometimes it’s anxiety worries if I had a little too much wine!
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I have often wondered how and why an author could write about evil the way they do; thanks for providing some answers! There’s nothing I hate more than having the story figured out in the beginning, so I really enjoy a good twist! As for what keeps me awake at night, unfortunately (or rather fortunately) it’s something boringly mundane like: what am I gonna feed the kid that hates turkey on Thanksgiving, or will the weather cooperate for our next visit to RI?
I wish you much success in your writing career.
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I don’t sleep well if I can’t get one of the cats in. I also am restless if I have an early morning appointment. I fear I’ll over sleep…alarm clock or not.
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My dog keeps me awake at night. Tap, tap, tap with his paw on my arm to take him out. Of course, he never wakes my husband. I keep a flashlight by my bedside to accompany us since it’s not unusual to see a coyote in the area. I began taking a flashlight to survey our surroundings ever since I had a nightmare that a coyote snatched him from me.
Your books sound like interesting reads. Lately, I’ve been so busy with work and creative projects that I haven’t had much time to read. I’m usually an avid reader and miss it, so I comprised and checked out a few audiobooks from my local library for my car rides.
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Glede, your suspense novels sound like my favorite type of read. Adding a psychological twist makes them seem even more intriguing. I wake up at night, and stay awake, after hearing a noise in the house. Has someone broken in?
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Nothing keeps me up at night, but that doesn’t mean I’m out for the whole night. At 80, the plumbing sometimes needs to be fixed. I have heard of your books and I would love to read one. When you have seven mystery thrillers yourself, it is sometimes difficult to read someone else’s work. if i win the book, my problem will be solved.
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What keeps me up at night is the current state of the world. I just hope that my next novel doesn’t come true. I too write crime thrillers, although my crimes aren’t conventional. Mine are the outcome of genetic design. I only wish I could write as well as you.
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Hi, I love books that keep me guessing or just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, nope , I had to start figuring it all out all over again. I love books that keep me on the edge of my seat. I love mystery , suspense, thrillers. I love the sound of your books. It is very interesting how some peoples minds work, why people do what they do and to learn what actually got them to think and be that way. Thank you so much for sharing about your great sounding books. Have a great week and stay safe.
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The events of the day and flashbacks of the past keeps me awake at nights.
Whenever I read your books glede’, I’m flabbergasted.
You are very gifted.
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What keeps me up at night are the noises I hear and an active mind. I was never able to fall asleep quickly.
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I love how you think! I thoroughly enjoyed reading what makes you tick. What keeps me up at night is worry about little things that I shouldn’t worry about! Oh, that and the snoring husband and snoring dog that share the bed with me. Thanks for the opportunity to win your book.
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Great post and introduction to a “new to me” author. Will be adding Glede (great name by the way) to my reading list!
Thankfully very little keeps me up at night
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Very informative and interesting post. I will stay awake at night if my mind begins to write what I think is the perfect way to say something I’ve been working on for an article. I’ve learned that if I don’t get up I won’t get to sleep at all!
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“Big twist at the end” is my kind of book. I love to be surprised when I read.
When I’m in the depths of writing a new story, my characters keep me up at night because they didn’t behave well that day when I tried to get their actions and thoughts on paper. In the middle of the night, the answers come.
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Unputdownable, that’s a high rating. Last night I was dreamt I could not find my party at a restaurant. The night before is was Young Frankenstein attempting to animate me.
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I greatly enjoyed reading this informative post and look forward to reading your books.
As a writer, I am kept away at night composing drafts, most often for book reviews to be posted on goodreads.The only problem: remebering everything I “wrote” before drifting off to sleep!
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I was fascinated by your post, Glede’! What keeps me up at night is when my mind keeps obsessing on the many things to do the next day/week. I try to use meditation to clear my mind; sometimes that works, other time not.
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Thanks, Debra. I’m so glad Martha allowed me the opportunity to talk about that. It’s one of the questions I get often so it made sense to tackle the answer in a blog post.
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My cats wake me up sometimes. If I’m having a dream, like I was last night, I immediately write down the dream content.
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Karen, that doesn’t sound fun if you’re having an awesome dream, lol.
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Glede, I too wonder about the human mind—how some people can do atrocious acts yet fit into society. Your books soon fascinating. Not much keeps me up at night.
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Good point, Hank. From what I’ve read, it seems that psychopathy for example can be inherited. Not all the time but there’s definitely a genetic component to the condition.
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A wondering mind, the what ifs keep me up.
Your books look fascinating.
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Leslie, ‘What if” is a writer’s best friend, especially in the mystery and thriller genres. Sometimes it takes us to places we never anticipated but it works out for the story.
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Strange noises and fretting keep me awake at night.
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I’ve been following you for a long time, Glede. Happy that you are doing so well.
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Thanks, Paul.
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My heating system is too noisy and causes me to lose sleep at night. This is the first winter I have had this system, hopefully, I will get used to the noise or find some way to soundproof the system. Occasionally, I will have a nightmare that keeps me awake at night and I get up and do some cleaning.
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I’m really noise sensitive so I hear you. We just moved into a new house and I also feel the heating system is too noisy. Any kind of noise can keep me up, even something as simple as water running.
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Forgot to answer the questions. Noises at night keep me up
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What a great post. I love your reasons for writing.
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