“In the idyllic halls of a forgotten retirement home the shadow of Death looms large.
When a woman new to the facility begins to question why rules seem so harsh and residents so unhappy she quickly finds she has become the target not just of the management of Violet Hills but of a mysterious figure as well that may just make her their next victim.
At Violet Hills, the only rest you may get is…eternal.”
I have spoken in the past about the creation of this book, and how I wrote it as a challenge to myself. I had never written anything like this and it was fun to take on something new. I had to write the book in a month to meet the needs of the person who had thought it might be publishable, and it came together quickly for me. When it was done, the cover I was presented with offered a look at a book that seemed to promise monsters or ghosts, and my book had neither. I balked at the cover, despite how engaging it was. It just wasn’t my book.
Nor was the title they presented to me.
I ended up putting the book out myself, against the recommendation of my contact, and in so doing, I returned the original title, and had a friend create a cover based on my concept.
I love this cover.
I love this book.
The cover is meant to give you a cozy feeling. The kind you get when visiting a beloved grandparent. But looking longer at the cover you see the blood coming off the flower, and it gives a hint at what may lie within.
It’s subtle, granted.
It’s not in your face.
It doesn’t bash you over the head.
That’s why I love it.
I take pride in doing my own covers, or having a hand in their creations.
“A Shadow on the Violets” is a different sort of “cozy mystery,” one that brings a deeper darkness, and hints at horrors behind the scenes. The book features a feisty cancer survivor, and a group of friends who come together to fight for their fellow patients.
I love this book.
I think you will too.
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 