CJ Bedell – Ugly Beautiful People

Today, I have author CJ Bedell in the interview chair. We’re discussing his latest release Ugly Beautiful People, an LGBTQ+ thriller. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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1. Hi, CJ. First off, readers have an idea of the writer you, but what about the everyday you? Can you share about your personal life?

CJ: I’m currently in my late twenties and live in Connecticut. Also, I have a Black Mouth Cur named Blondie.

2. I’ve been perusing your Goodreads page, and see this is your first book release. Can you tell me why you chose to write in this genre?

CJ: I chose to write in this genre because there’s something exciting about writing a thriller. As long the cliffhangers are organic, it’s important for readers to keep turning the page. You just never know what’s gonna happen when writing/reading a thriller.

3. Let’s talk about the main characters. There are four. Audrey, Marcia, Ben, and Cassandra. What do you love most about them?

CJ: With Audrey, I love her inquisitive personality. Readers see that either Audrey being determined to uncover what really happened to her friend, Ivy. Most people are probably guilty of not being able to leave an issue/event alone at some point in their life. With Marcia, I like how she doesn’t let her distant marriage impact being present in her son Ben’s life. With Ben, I like how he represents the trials and tribulations of life. Ben is just trying to find his way in the world. But unexpected challenges constantly come up, and Ben must navigate them. With Cassandra, I like how she’s not afraid to be her true self. She makes no apologies for who she is.

4. And what makes you shake your head at them?

CJ: With Audrey, what I like about her is also what makes me shake my head. Audrey’s curiosity tends to get the best of her. With Marcia, I shake my head because she needs to start taking an active role in her life. Life will pass her by if Marcia doesn’t take an active role in her happiness. As for Ben, I shake my head because he can’t put the entire world on his shoulders. It’s great Ben’s empathetic and has a big heart. But he can’t solve other people’s problems if they aren’t willing to help themselves. Finally, Cassandra’s boldness is also what makes me shake my head at her. Cassandra’s big personality can get her into occasional trouble.

5. Without giving away any spoilers, what was your favourite scene to write and why?

CJ: My favorite scene to write was Audrey confronting Ivy’s husband, Tanner, in Chapter 16. Ivy is “allegedly” dead. And at this point in the story, it’s well established that Tanner had been abusing Ivy for the last two decades. I just love how Audrey puts Tanner on notice and isn’t afraid of him. Standing up to an abuser takes guts. A lot of abusers have a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” personality. They seem like a nice person in public, but are abusive in private. And Audrey confronting Tanner ultimately shows her loyalty to Ivy and what type of friend she is.

6. Why did you choose to focus on four main characters instead of one?

CJ: The reason I wanted the book to have multiple POVs because it opens up more storylines. The book is meant to be the book equivalent of a soap opera, so the ensemble element is important.

7. What about your title. Love it. How did you come up with it?

CJ: The title stems from how someone can be physically attractive but emotionally ugly on the inside. Ultimately, these characters are physically attractive and lead glamorous lives, yet they are extremely dysfunctional and have a lot of issues to work through.

8. What can we expect from you in the future?

CJ: You can expect me to continue writing thrillers (whether YA or Adult). Additionally, I hope to branch out into Romance and Middle Grade novels.

9. I enjoy doing random questions, so humour me:

What’s your favourite movie?
The 2007 LGBTQ film Shelter. It’s one of those movies that manages to balance conflict/drama with a happy ending. And it’s a film a lot of people can relate to even if they aren’t LGBTQ, because most people have problem been in a rut at some point in their life.
What book is currently in your e-reader?
Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters.
Who’s your favourite musical group?
Green Day. It’s one of those bands that never goes out of style. “Boulevard of Broken Dream,” and “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” have stayed with me to this day.
What song puts a smile on your face?
Avril Lavigne’s song, “Here’s To Never Growing Up.” It’s just one of those fun songs.

10. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just that I hope readers enjoy Ugly Beautiful People. The concept has changed slightly over the years, but this idea was in my head for around twenty years (since I was around eight years old). And it just feels so great that Ugly Beautiful People is an actual book now.

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Title: Ugly Beautiful People
Author: CJ Bedell
Genres: Adult LGBTQ Thriller (3 out of 5 point of view characters are bisexual)
Themes: Coming out, Self-acceptance, finding yourself, death, grief, loss
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 59 000 words/249 pages
Release Date: August 31, 2023
Publisher: Next Chapter Publishing

Welcome to Crescent Hills where beauty only runs so deep. Scandal lurks just below the surface behind the McMansions, designer clothes, and fancy cars. And a death will bring the lies, secrets, and betrayals to a boil.

Blurb: Welcome to Crescent Hills, where beauty only runs so deep. Scandal lurks below the surface behind the McMansions, designer clothes, and fancy cars. When the town is shaken by the disappearance of journalist Ivy Fields, whispers of betrayal and intrigue begin to unravel the threads binding its elite residents.

Audrey, haunted by her own past, is determined to unveil the truth behind Ivy’s disappearance, hoping to find closure she never received. Amidst this, Marcia grapples with the confines of her seemingly perfect marriage, leading her down a dangerous path. At the same time, a young Ben navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and societal expectations. Meanwhile, Cassandra’s life gets disrupted by a ghost from her past.

As Crescent Hills residents confront their own dilemmas, the shadow of Ivy’s disappearance looms large. For behind every beautiful façade, there are secrets yearning to be exposed, and as they say, the past always finds a way to catch up.

Note: The book stands alone, but it is intended to be the first book in a trilogy. It ends on a small cliffhanger. Most of the plot points that happen in Book 1 are wrapped up, though.

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Birds screeched when Audrey opened her eyes. She yawned, then stretched. Her back hairs stuck up. Audrey might’ve been lying on the seating of the pontoon boat, but black no longer veiled the sky. Instead, sunlight beamed from the cloudless sky.

Audrey scanned the boat. Ivy was gone.

Dread filled Audrey’s insides—she couldn’t think of one logical explanation as to why Ivy would no longer be on the boat. Audrey did the only thing she could and leaned up against the edge of the boat and peered into the water. No sign of Ivy.

Something vibrated from her jean’s right pocket and she whipped out her iPhone. Sawyer was calling her. “Hello?” Audrey asked.

“I wanted to see how you were doing this morning.” Sawyer chuckled. “And don’t worry. I’m not mad you decided to have a fun night with Ivy. Just glad Ivy texted me about you staying over at her place. Most people wouldn’t be so courteous.”

“I’m still on the boat,” Audrey blurted. “And Ivy is nowhere to be found.”

“Come again?”
“We never went back to shore and had dinner.”
“How much did you drink last night?”
“Just one gin and tonic.”

A folded piece of paper on the driver’s seat of the boat caught Audrey’s attention, and she rushed over to it. “I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta go,” she said. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

Audrey pressed END before shoving her iPhone back into her pocket. Then, she unfolded the note and read it.

Dear Audrey,
I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but I’ve been very unhappy

with my life for a long time, and I’ve decided to end my life.

I know my suicide will probably come as a shock to you. However,

please always think of me fondly.

Love,

Ivy

Audrey crumbled the note and it fell onto the floor of the boat. After that, she screamed. Tragedies were supposed to be something that she watched on the news, not witnessed first- hand. But no explanation was necessary about how cruel life was and the universe often had a twisted sense of humor.

Tears welled in Audrey’s eyes. Nothing could’ve prepared her for this moment, because she wanted to cry. And cry. And cry. Ivy couldn’t be dead; she was only thirty-seven. So, she still had a little more than half her life left.

Ivy was in trouble and Audrey hadn’t seen the signs. So,

Audrey’d never forgive herself for Ivy’s suicide. Audrey had failed Ivy, and she couldn’t fathom how she’d continue with life.

Audrey’s throat tightened. Perhaps Ivy’s death was only meant to resemble a suicide and was really murder. There was a reason people always touted the saying about life being stranger than fiction. Audrey shook her head. Yeah, that had to have been it. Ivy couldn’t have been desperate enough to commit suicide.

The only thing Audrey was certain of was that Ivy was nowhere to be found. And that was why she’d get to the bottom of Ivy’s death. Whether someone murdered Ivy or Ivy actually committed suicide, there had to be more to the story.