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About

Kelli Jae Baeli began writing as a child, exploring poetry and journaling, and eventually moving on to short stories. After a romantic fling in the military with another female soldier, she decided to write a book based on the experience. The story that evolved took on a life of it's own, but it became her first novel, As You Were. This was followed quickly by Armchair Detective, a book she said she wrote because she couldn’t find other lesbian fiction she liked and so wanted to write something she would want to read. She's been doing that ever since.

There is nothing like experience to craft a character. Baeli has plenty to spare-from a stint in the military to late nights spent delivering newspapers or waiting tables, to office and restaurant management, to a reporter for a local newspaper, to a technical writer for a corporate jet company. Some of Baeli's fondest endeavors were fronting an all female band for seven years and as a managing editor for a women's press. Each job was one that Baeli turned into a study in human nature.

She pursued eight years of higher education, in the curriculum for a B.A. in Professional Writing & Editing, founded Kindred Ink Writer's Initiative and Kind Red Ink Editing Services, and maintains an author site, the blog Synaptic Circus and three forums. She is an also an independent publisher, editor, webmaster, blogger, artist, and singer-songwriter, with over 200 songwriting credits. Not shackled to one genre, she has authored (at last count) 33 books both fiction and nonfiction, and numerous stories and articles. She makes her home in Southland region of New Zealand, now, with her partner, author Kate Genet, and together they founded Lesbian Literati Press.

Description

"A somber, disturbing mystery fused with a scathing look at the fashion industry. Mangin writes in a confident, razor-edged style." - Kirkus ReviewsCondom dresses and space helmets have debuted on fashion runways.A dead body becomes the trend when a coat made of human skin saunters down fashion's biggest stage. The body is identified as Annabelle Leigh, the teenager who famously disappeared over a decade ago from her boyfriend's New York City mansion.This new evidence casts suspicion back on the former boyfriend, Cecil LeClaire. Now a monk, he is forced to return to his dark and absurd childhood home to clear his name. He teams up with Ava Germaine, a renegade ex-model. And together, they investigate the depraved and lawless modeling industry behind Cecil's family fortune.They find erotic canes, pet rats living in crystal castles, and dresses made of crushed butterfly wings. But Cecil finds more truth in the luxury goods than in the people themselves. Everyone he meets seems to be wearing a person-suit. Terrified of showing their true selves, the glitterati put on flamboyant public personas to make money and friends. Can Cecil find truth in a world built on lies?In high fashion modeling, selling bodies is organized crime.

Story Behind The Book

This is my first attempt at a mainstream novel, and although I thought the challenge would lie in writing about only straight characters, I discovered that whether characters are straight or gay, they essentially live the same lives, face the same challenges, and have the same fears, joys and affections. The challenge was one of juggling details in what became a multi-genre work. This book taught me how to be a better writer.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RRRFJ1UL6T3V7/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003BEE00I&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text">Another Great Book From Baeli!</a> August 29, 2012 By <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1O8ZM0ARQ9Z9Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">Vix Reader</a> Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase I love this author! Ms. Baeli has quickly become one of my "must read" authors. This novel is particularly engrossing with its somewhat detached and esoteric mood. I think the way the author describes the inner life of the main character, Amy, really lent itself to creating an almost haunted tone. Bless her heart; Amy is a tender soul who lacks the ability to shrug off the emotional effects that present themselves in her profession as a paramedic. Over a very short amount of time she becomes witness to senseless acts of violence and neglect and she realizes her lack of power over the outcomes of these situations. Her ensuing depression and despondency seem very authentic and what I really admire is that the author in no way portrays this character as a whiney victim. The story kicks into high gear when Amy's sleep disorder begins to color the events of the narrative. Are we seeing dreams, post-cognitive visions or memories? I was continually kept guessing right up to the end. The end and the resolution of the plot were a bit sudden for me, but the epilogue more than made up for it. This book was a wonderful read. Totally & Happily Surprised! This is the third of Ms. Baeli's books I've read and I plan to read more of them. She is an absolute MASTER of characterization! After I read her books, I catch myself wondering about the characters as if they were real people. And, no, this is not a sign I need to be in a mental ward somewhere; rather, it is a testament to how authentic her characters are. This authenticity extends to her plots as well. I can especially speak to the authenticity of the plot and characters in this particular book because I work in the emergency services field myself. This book in it's entirety, down to the smallest of details, is real enough to be based on people whom I know and work with daily. One final big plus!... more often than not, I can guess "who done it" before the ending of a murder mystery and that just ruins the whole book for me. I also view it as a weakness in the writer's talent. However, not so in this gem of a psycho-thriller/murder mystery! I was totally and happily surprised! Reading this one was time well spent! ~Tanya Gotcher, Little Rock, AR ------- "Baeli has outdone herself with the new offering of Achilles Forjan. Prepare for an quickly paced, psychological thriller that captivates the reader with dynamic characters and sleight-of-hand clues covering a gamut of genres. This witch's brew of medical, legal, psychological, and mystery motifs, is rendered more tasty by the pinch of romance Baeli adds. The result is a potpourri of all things found in the news, too strangely absurd to be fiction. Achilles Forjan is a modern day, forensic packed who-done-it that will tug you by your hair through each scenario. I was left with a lingering taste for more as the dichotomy of Amy Jane Spenser engaged all my senses." ~Justice Harlow author of The Recipe "Achilles Forjan was a quick read and maintained my interest. I felt many different emotions, especially through Amy's character--sadness, regret, concern, happiness...I really wanted her to be okay. The story kept me on the edge, and it was an attention grabber. When I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about it. Kelli Jae Baeli's novels are easy to get interested in, and hard to put down. They always have an unpredictable but happy ending. This ending was a big surprise- I was very pleased with it. I'll be looking for the sequel!" ~Shell Smith Truman AR "Enjoyed the story very much and did have trouble putting it down when I had to. Had that 'want to read more by this author' feeling when I reached the end. I was actually hoping Baeli would include a preview at the end, with an excerpt from one of her other books there. I also felt that the ending came too soon; I wasn't quite ready to be done with Amy and her friends. That's a good thing! The plotting and pacing is excellent. Love her characters and the tension/conflicts revolving around them--very three-dimensional. Spicy details tastefully employed. Well done! The setting was great, too--fit her story perfectly. Overall, "recommended." Say, four outa five stars? Baeli spins an engrossing tale, moves it right along, and mixes things up splendidly. Any sex she included was used to further the plot, without being offensive or prurient. She's a good, solid writer who deserves to be published. That's my take on it." ~Jim Bessey Fairport, NY

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