*Book Tour & Giveaway* Ashes on the Wind-GUEST POST

 

The love story behind the Crime of the Century

Ashes on the Wind:

The Love Story Behind the Crime of the Century

by Brandy Purdy

Genre: Dark Historical LGBTQ Romantic Suspense, True Crime

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.

   

I have read all but one of Brandy Purdy’s novels, since 2010 and I have enjoyed them all including Ashes on the Wind. Brandy spends extensive time doing research and has the knack for telling a great story.

~CelticLady Reviews

   

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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.

  

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GUEST POST

How did you come up with the title ASHES ON THE WIND?

It comes from a pact made in a cemetery between the two main characters.

What inspired you to write this book?

I've been fascinated by the story of Leopold and Loeb since childhood, but for me it's the personal relationship between the pair, not the crime that made them famous. And their prison years, which are not well documented, sometimes we only have Nathan Leopold's often unreliable autobiography to get a glimpse of those times. Most books on the subject tend to focus on the crime and the trial so I wanted to write a novel that would put the relationship centerstage. And I have always loved the challenge of writing from the viewpoint of an unreliable narrator, the kind of character the reader has to decide whether or not to believe, or to what degree. For me, that's part of the fun of taking the journey of a book like this.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

With Babe (Nathan Leopold) it's obsession and fantasy, and it's ALL about Dickie. When they met, it was like the figure of his favorite fantasy stepped out of the realm of dreams into real life, and he can never truly accept the person Dickie really is. That leads to a lot of friction and frustration in their relationship, especially since Babe is a very sexual person, and Dickie is asexual at a time when he wouldn't have even known what that meant only the frustration of knowing he's different. 

With Dickie, it's all about appearances and popularity, and being the life of the party. He was raised by a very strict governess to always strive for perfection, and when he can't be perfect he lies and pretends until it gets to the point where he isn't always sure where truth ends and lies begin, and he starts to fear he's lost the person he really is. At first, he gets a real kick out of the lies he tells and the crimes he commits while everyone thinks he's the nicest, sweetest boy in Chicago, but there's a lot of loneliness, sadness, anger, and frustration lurking behind the charming, always smiling facade he's erected. 

What are your favorite scenes from this book and why?

It's a tie between two. There's a scene on the beach where Dickie is expecting to lose a very dear friend because a very jealous Babe exposed what he considers some humiliating secrets. What happens changes Dickie's life forever. The other is the scene where Dickie and Babe say goodbye at Joliet prison when the warden reveals his intention to separate them. It's not exactly a typical farewell scene, especially not for Babe.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?

When I was under contract I had to stick to a strict outline, but I had much more freedom with ASHES ON THE WIND. One of my main characters surprised me several times by going against my original vision, sometimes in very big ways, and it was wonderful to have the freedom to go with that and see where it led. For example, in one scene there was a letter smuggled inside a tube of toothpaste when Leopold and Loeb were being kept apart in prison and what that letter ended up saying completely surprised me, it was like Dickie dug in his heels and said "Nope, this is my letter and this is what it's gonna say!" and it just poured out, it was one of my most amazing experiences as a writer. And another character who was originally meant to be just a brief mention became a full-fledged character and caused significant changes to the rest of the story. But I didn't mind, even though it made a lot more work for me,  I love things like that!

If your book had a candle what scent would it be and why?

Cinnamon, for Dickie's favorite gum, and the cinnamon rolls that are their special treat in prison.

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

Definitely ASHES ON THE WIND, that would be my first choice and a dream come true, I would also love to have it done as an audiobook. And I would love to see THE RIPPER'S WIFE with Colin Firth as James Maybrick / Jack the Ripper. So if anyone knows Mr. Firth, please send him a copy of my book! I promise, it would make a great movie!

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kindle ebook of Ashes on the Wind (US only)

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