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| Me in my beautiful garden in Palms Springs! |
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by The Desert
Sun. The main theme of their interview and all the articles that have been
written about Casino Queen is that this is a story about a strong woman. Here
is an excerpt from their review, “Casino Queen” arrives at the perfect time when crime-solving
tales that revolve around strong female protagonists aren’t just a luck of a
draw. They’re downright successful. (See TV’s "Equalizer" and
"Poker Face" for samplers.)
Booksbywomen.org is the
online magazine for the Facebook group, Women Writers, Women’s Books. It’s
creator Barbara Bos wanted to have a supportive place for women to talk about books
and the writing process. I wrote an article for them in which I explained the
inspiration for my novel. With their permission I am reprinting it here at my
blog. Hope you enjoy it. If you like to write or you like to read be sure to
check them out.
WOMEN WRITERS, WOMEN’S BOOKS
We were in good company, at the same time
thousands of people from all over the world had the same idea and were flocking
to the desert to find work. Some of those people had escaped from some of the
most oppressive regimes on the planet. Compared to that, handling an unruly
gambler probably seemed like a piece of cake. What I admired about my
co-workers is that most of them arrived in the United States penniless and
worked hard to make their American dream come true. A casino is a
multi-cultural environment where every day I learned a lesson about their
culture and their stories. I found myself in awe of their resilience. Whether
they came from Afghanistan or Communist China, everyone quickly adjusted to
life in America. They just got on with it, they didn’t have time for
self-pity.
The characters in my book were familiar to me
from my two decades working in the casino industry. Fortunately, my boss was
the most charismatic tribal chairman in America. I really loved my employers
and my job. People always asked me, “What’s a nice girl like you doing working
in a place like this?” Now I can honestly say, “Research.” Through the years I
took writing classes to hone my craft. The characters in my head just kept
letting me know how they wanted their story told. All the pieces of the story
came together in an organic way to capture that special time and place when
gaming arrived in Southern California.
I wanted to tell the story of a strong but
relatable woman, because I worked with so many smart independent women. When my
main character Caroline Popov loses everything Tribal Chairman John Tovar
throws her a lifeline. The other reason I wrote Casino Queen was to give the
readers an insider’s look of what really goes on behind the scenes in the
gambling industry. I know that I like to learn something when I read a novel,
and from the reviews, I know that my readers really love that aspect of the
book. I want them to step into Caroline’s shoes and feel like they have a
connection with the Shotowa tribe.
I found the perfect backdrop for Casino Queen in
the High Desert of Southern California. A refuge for artists, ex-Marines and
desert rats. The brilliant blue sky framed the chocolate mountains in the
distance. The rocks at Joshua Tree National Park looked like giant Jenga pieces
precariously balanced, ready to fall. Located about an hour from Palm Springs,
we loved hiking in the park, an isolated place near the largest Marine base in
the world. The Night Hawk casino near that base became the setting for my
novel.
Writing a thriller, is like designing a jigsaw
puzzle where every piece has to fit, but it can’t be too obvious. The most
challenging scene I wrote was the climax of the book. You know the place in the
thriller where the crime and the villain are revealed and the protagonist lays
her life on the line. For me it was important to write a realistic novel, one
that could actually happen. I also had to tie up all the plot points. But most
importantly I wanted the ending to be a surprise and you can tell me if I
succeeded once you read Casino Queen.
What you don’t know reading my novel is that the
series was inspired by actual incidents so coincidental that if you put them in
a novel, they would sound like a contrivance. We arrived in Palm Springs and
got married three weeks later. My husband’s roommate from the cruise ships was
the best man at our wedding. Dave, left his job at our casino and moved to
Albuquerque to take a job as a shift manager there. Working there he met Julian
and encouraged him to move to Palm Springs for greater opportunities. Even
though they switched places they couldn’t avoid their fate. They were both
murdered under mysterious circumstances.
The casino industry has been good to me, but I
always witnessed corruption just perfect for a thriller. Schemers and thieves
operated on both sides of the tables. Millions of dollars passed through the
casino every week, casino fleas operated their personal side businesses on the
gaming floor, and you never knew who might walk through the door itching for a
fight. My hope is that after reading Casino Queen you will walk into a casino
more aware of what goes on behind the scenes.
Here is the link to the original article in Women Writers, Women's Books
Behind the Scenes of the Casino Industry
Cara Bertoia is the author of the critically acclaimed Casino Queen, a new suspense novel published by The Wild Rose Press. She has drawn from her years in the casino industry to create a fascinating thriller. It is all true although the names have been changed to protect the guilty. It had been featured at The Big Thrill and Women Writers Women's Books and at many other sites. Read the blurb here.
Caroline Popov, alone, heartbroken, and deeply in debt ends up in glamorous Palm Springs, California where Native casinos have just opened, offering employment to thousands. She lands a job at the Palm Oasis Casino and is mentored by the charismatic tribal chairman, John Tovar.
Embraced by casino culture, Caroline works her way up to casino manager of the Night Hawk, in the High Desert town of Joshua Tree. There, she is responsible for managing multicultural team members, satisfying the demands of challenging guests, growing revenue while rooting out corruption.
In the process of rediscovering her inner strength, she learns, you have to gamble like your life depends on it. With her life on the line can she pull out a win?
Click the link below to order at Amazon, enjoy your stay at the Night Hawk!
Click the link below to order at Barnes and Noble
Casino Queen by Cara Bertoia | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
To check out my interview in The Big Thrill, click the link below.
Casino Queen by Cara Bertoia | THE BIG THRILL
Below is the links to Cruise Quarters - A Novel About Casinos and Cruise Ships to buy at Amazon or read as a part of Kindle Unlimited. Cruise Quarters Amazon
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