Theresa Winslow, a staff writer for the Annapolis Capital newspaper, just published a feature profile of me in the paper’s Sunday “Lifestyle” section for January 22, 2012. The article chronicles my background and the sudden success of HUNTER.
Ms. Winslow spent a long time interviewing me and others for the piece. I thank her for one of the most concise and accurate articles about me yet.
A note to residents of Maryland, especially those living in the Annapolis or Eastern Shore areas: I thought I’d share with you some local events and media concerning HUNTER.
* The Capital newspaper in Annapolis interviewed me at length in my home and will run a feature story on HUNTER and me on Sunday, January 22.
* On Thursday, January 26, from 6-8 pm, I’ll be selling and inscribing copies of HUNTER at the Ram’s Head Shore House, 800 Main St., Stevensville, MD, 410-643-2466. It’s their “burger night,” so plan to stop by and have a good time.
* On Saturday, January 28, from 3-6 pm, I’ll be signing and selling HUNTER at the Annapolis Bookstore, 35 Maryland Street, Annapolis. The store also will stock HUNTER for sale starting January 22.
* On Monday, February 13, 7 pm, I’ll give a talk on “The New World of Ebook Self-Publishing” at the Kent Island Branch of the Queen Anne’s County Library, 200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD (on Main Street, across the street from the Ram’s Head Shore House, mentioned above), 410-643-8161. I’ll be outlining the new publishing options now emerging for authors; how I used them to publish HUNTER, independently and quickly; and how I employed online social media to help HUNTER become a bestseller in December. I’ll distribute a free “how-to” handout to attendees. NOTE: I will not be signing or selling books at this event, which is free and open to the public.
If you’re nearby during any of the scheduled events, please come on by. I’d love to meet you.
Since I first spotted the intriguing noir covers of his Nick Bracco crime-thriller series—which are so similar to my HUNTER cover in style—I’ve been eager to learn more about indie author Gary Ponzo.
Gary has a generous spirit and he loves to showcase other authors on his blog. A while back, he generously invited me to be interviewed there—one of the first fellow authors to shine a spotlight on HUNTER and me. I was grateful, and now I’m pleased to return the invitation. From his official biography:
“Gary Ponzo lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Jennifer and two children, Jessica and Kyle. His short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including Amazing Journeys Magazine and Potpourri. Two of his short stories have been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. His first novel, A Touch of Deceit, won the 2009 Southwest Writers Contest (Thriller category).
“Gary is currently working on Nick Bracco thriller #3 as well as continuing to place his short fiction in magazines. When he’s not busy trying to find a solution to the problems in the Middle East, he enjoys running, golf and spending time with his family.”
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The Vigilante Author: Welcome, Gary, and thanks for accepting my interview invitation. Let me begin by telling you that I first noticed your books because of their amazing covers. They’re riveting!
Gary Ponzo: As far as my covers go, I created the first one for A Touch of Deceit with a graphic artist. I told her what I wanted, and we worked together for almost a month before I was happy with the results. The second book, A Touch of Revenge, was done by Kate Cornwell. She’ll probably be doing all my covers from now on. She’s also a fine writer and creates covers for herself and her husband, Jonas Saul.
The Vigilante Author: Well, they do exactly what good covers should do: catch the book browser’s eye, and suggest the genre. I love them.
So, tell us about the latest installment in your crime-thriller series.
Crime novelist Gary Ponzo
Gary Ponzo: My newest book, A Touch of Greed, will be released in January, but the reason that was born is because of the original book in the series, A Touch of Deceit, which won the Southwest Writers Award and prompted me to give this publishing thing a whirl.
A Touch of Deceit is about FBI agent Nick Bracco, who recruits his Mafia cousin, Tommy, to help him track down the world’s most feared terrorist. Bracco is haunted by bouts of PTSD and has a loving wife who endures his dangerous occupation.
As far as Nick goes, he’s an interesting story. Believe it or not, I began writing that character modeled after the James Spader character in the movie, “Sex, Lies and Videotape.” In the movie, James Spader’s character couldn’t tell a lie. So the entire movie he tells people the truth, even if it’s embarrassing or socially unacceptable. I wrote the entire first novel having Nick unable to lie. It seemed like a great tension-builder. Except I couldn’t make it work. It was too hard, and I kept having to remind the reader of his problem, and it seemed forced; and after a couple of years, I finally scrapped the idea and wrote the entire book all over without his lying issue. Instead I gave him PTSD, which seemed much more plausible for someone chasing terrorists all day.
As an aspiring thriller writer, I kept noticing the bold, brassy covers of books by one Mel Comley sitting high in the genre bestseller rankings on Amazon. I was impressed by this indie author’s considerable creative output, dominated by thriller novels but including quite a few romances, novellas, and short stories, too.
Because I admire strong female fictional protagonists, I wanted to chat with Mel about her series heroine, a police investigator named Lorne Simpkins, as well as her background and writing methods. Mel graciously consented to my grueling interrogation, and here is the transcript of the session:
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The Vigilante Author: Welcome to my little piece of the Internet, Mel. I’m delighted to host you here as the first female author I’ve interviewed. And the second native-born Brit, after Lee Child. Why don’t we begin with a brief self-introduction?
Mel Comley: First and foremost, I’m a thriller writer. My “Justice” series has reached the ”Top 10” in the thriller genre on many occasions throughout the year in America. To date, my highest rank in the UK has been #37 in the Kindle “Top 100.”
My romances are also pacey and have either a mystery or thriller element to them.
Crime-thriller author Mel Comley
The Vigilante Author: What’s your most recent book?
Mel Comley: Cruel Justice is the third book in the D.I. Lorne Simpkins trilogy, although in order, it is the first book you should read, just to confuse you.
The Vigilante Author: Okay, I’m confused. What’s the plotline of Cruel Justice?
Mel Comley: A serial killer taunts the police . . . and he has his sights on D.I. Lorne Simpkins.
The story starts off with the discovery of a headless body in the woods. The victim is found on D.I. Lorne Simpkins’s patch, and she and her partner are assigned to the case. A few days later yet another victim is found; this time the body is that of a young woman, different from the first victim. Who could the killer be, and what’s the connection between the two victims?
After a third murder, the killer contacts Lorne with a grisly surprise. It looks like she has a serial killer on her hands—and one that has become fixated on her.
I feel a special sense of kinship with any author of crime fiction who explores the “vigilante” subgenre. Especially if the writer happens to be an “indie” or self-published author, like me.
Claude Bouchard is one of “us.” He was born in Montreal, Canada, where he still resides with his spouse, Joanne, as well as the rulers of the household, Krystalle and Midnight, their cats. He completed his studies in human resources, accounting, and management at McGill University and worked in various management capacities in the fields of HR and finance for a handful of firms “for too many years,” he reports.
Claude’s first stab at writing was in 1995 with his debut novel, Vigilante. He followed on with The Consultant (1996), Mind Games (1997), The Homeless Killer (2009), and 6 Hours 42 Minutes (2011)–all part of the Barry/McCall Series born from Vigilante. He recently completed ASYLUM (2011), which is not in the series, and he is currently working on Discreet Activities, the sixth Barry/McCall crime thriller.
When Claude isn’t writing or editing his work, he spends his time making noise with his guitars, painting in oil and watercolor, reading, traveling (budget permitting), and planning to work out. I’m delighted that he has agreed to be interviewed for “The Vigilante Author.”
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The Vigilante Author: Congratulations on your books, Claude. I and readers of this blog are particularly intrigued by your first novel, Vigilante. Why don’t you tell us about it?
Claude Bouchard: Thanks, Robert, and let me start by telling you how much I appreciate your inviting me to do this. I’m touched, considering the greats you’ve interviewed in the past.
Though I’ve always been an avid reader, I had never really considered doing any creative writing before Vigilante. What initially spurred me at the time was the O.J. Simpson fiasco, which got me thinking about violent offenders who escape justice. With this notion in mind, a story started taking shape and, before I knew it, I was sitting at the computer every evening typing like a mad man. Two months later, the first draft of Vigilante was complete.
In a nutshell, it’s the tale of a 10-year-old boy who witnesses his sister’s rape by their abusive step-father and vows to get even when he’s older. Some years later, he keeps his promise and starts eliminating violent offenders who have literally gotten away with murder. While the police, headed by Lt. Dave McCall, are attempting to track this serial killer, the media are rooting for the “hero” who is cleaning up the streets.
When the Vigilante starts sending emails to the police and media, taking credit for the murders, Chris Barry, a brilliant computer exec, becomes involved at the request of the police to try and trace the source of the emails. The action and suspense just keep growing from there until the shocking ending in the last line of the book.
The Vigilante Author: It’s next up on my reading list, Claude. You’ve had the opportunity to read HUNTER, which of course is also a vigilante tale. Clearly, there is something in this type of story that appeals to both of us, especially since they are our first novels. What was so compelling about the vigilante concept for you?
Fellow "vigilante author" Claude Bouchard
Claude Bouchard: My father has always been a fair and honest man, but also one who never accepted being bullied or getting his feet stepped on. This way of thinking was successfully transmitted in our upbringing and, as a result, neither I nor my three siblings ever let ourselves be intimidated by those who lean towards aggression to get their way. I’m not a big guy and was never known to be a brawler, but on the few occasions someone tried to physically push me around, I stepped forward, not back.
For example, a jock in high school started pushing me around one day, just to rile me, and I warned him to lay off or I’d punch him in the face. He continued; I punched him in the face and he laid off. On another occasion, while waiting for the bus one evening years ago, a bigger dude was strolling down the street, and just as he walked past, he turned on me and demanded my wallet. It had been raining earlier, so I had a closed umbrella in my hand with which I immediately whacked him on the side of the head. Continue reading
I noticed Stephen England and his work pretty early during my own efforts to become an “indie” author. His Pandora’s Grave was attracting comment, and when I checked out his feisty online comments, I found that he sounded a lot like me—which, as I see things, is a good sign in any human being.
Anyway, I’ve finally started to read his novel, but I don’t want to delay any longer the publication of the interview I conducted with him recently. I first asked him for a brief biographical self-portrait, and here’s what he supplied:
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“Writing isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am.
“The desire to write is nothing new—I’ve been writing for over ten years. In that time I’ve put my keyboard to just about everything—novels, short stories, political opinion pieces, even the odd bit of poetry. The manuscripts from my early days will never see the light of day, much to the collective relief of the world: It is said the definition of self-improvement is when you can recognize your previous work for the ill-written trash it was.
“My efforts at writing culminated in the publication of Sword of Neamha by Lulu Publishing in December of 2009. A first-person adventure novel set in pre-Roman Britain, the story was very much a departure from my previous efforts. Covering over thirty years, Sword chronicled the rise and fall of a kingdom as seen through the eyes Cadwalador, a young Gallic warrior caught in the middle of civil war.
“Following the publication of Sword of Neamha, I’ve turned back to my first love: counterterrorism thrillers. Pandora’s Grave, the debut novel of the “Shadow Warriors” series, came out this past summer, introducing the world to CIA paramilitary operations officer Harry Nichols.
“Pandora’s Grave is a complete novel in and of itself, but it is the start of a series, and work has already begun on the sequel, Day of Reckoning.”
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The Vigilante Author: Thanks for joining me, Stephen. Your recent thriller, Pandora’s Grave, has been getting great reviews from Amazon customers, fellow authors, and reviewers. It has an Amazon reader ranking of 4.8 out of a possible 5. And one of my thriller-author heroes, Brad Thor, highly recommends it, calling it “a terrific read from a great new author.” That’s a pretty auspicious beginning for a thriller series. Tell us about it.
Thriller novelist Stephan England
Stephen England: Pandora’s Grave is a political/spy thriller, the debut novel of the “Shadow Warriors” series, centering on the efforts of a CIA strike team to stop a biological attack launched against Jerusalem by the regime in Tehran. The book is written in a time-stamped format reminiscent of “24,” events unfolding in real-time throughout the weeks leading up to the attack.
But Pandora’s Grave is more than a fast-paced story of technology, of weapons—it is an intensely emotional story of the people on both sides, particularly one man, CIA paramilitary operations officer Harry Nichols. For as the minutes tick down—as Iran and Israel come to the brink of war—one thing becomes clear: to save the world, he will have to kill his friend.
The Vigilante Author: I used the time-stamped format myself in HUNTER; I like the way it slowly adds to the suspense. And I love intimate personal conflicts woven into the fabric of some grand-scale plot. So, tell us about yourself, Stephen.
(Note: My review of Larry Abrams’s debut mystery novel, The Philosophical Practitioner, can be found here, and I think it’s worth reading before proceeding with this interview. —RB)
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The Vigilante Author: Okay, Larry, why don’t you tell us about your book?
Larry Abrams: The Philosophical Practitioner is a mystery/thriller/romance about a man (Eric) who helps people find answers to the big questions (and some small ones). Meanwhile he is trying to solve his own romantic problems with his old sweetheart who has the fame and fortune that he lacks. At the same time, a woman he’s never seen before is trying to kill him. He has to stop her, but to do so he needs to find out who she is and why she wants him dead. There’s also a lot of humor in the book, mainly because Eric sees the world largely the way I do, and I couldn’t resist.
The Vigilante Author: As I said in my review, I loved the humor throughout the book. Very wry, very dry. How would you characterize the tale? To me, it doesn’t seem to fit a neat category.
Larry Abrams: In addition to being a mystery/thriller romance as stated above, I’d say it’s also a self-help book, because some of the problems and conflicts Eric’s clients bring to him are and have always been universal.
The Vigilante Author: I loved the originality of the entire concept. The book is light-hearted and fun, but at the same time grapples with some big issues.
Now, tell me about this fellow Larry Abrams. Where did this guy come from?
Larry Abrams: I was spawned in a ditch by a mother who…no. Born in Brooklyn, went to Brooklyn Tech, where I met a great bunch of guys. Then on to the University of Chicago when I was 16 and to the University of Pennsylvania for a Masters, armed with which I couldn’t get a job for six months.
I worked in the 9-to-5 world for four years before quitting to devote most of my time to reading, thinking, playing chess—I became chess champion of NYC Mensa and the state of Connecticut, neither of which I could come close to doing today—and occasional attempts at writing. Meanwhile, I supported myself by sporadic forays into the stock market with my meager savings (more about how to begin doing this in the book). The Philosophical Practitioner is my first novel.
The Vigilante Author: I love the fact that you’re such a logical “numbers guy,” yet you have such a creative imagination. You really put a lot of that into the character of Eric.
Whatever possessed a man like you to write fiction, Larry? Teachers? Adolescent traumas? An encounter with a burning bush on the way to a Mensa meeting?
In an age of formula fiction, a novel with a fresh premise is an unexpected delight. The Philosophical Practitioner is such an original, witty, thought-provoking, and polished bit of writing that it’s hard to believe it is Larry Abrams’s debut novel.
Eric, the first-person protagonist of this clever tale, is a “philosophical practitioner.” That’s something like a psychotherapist or “life coach.” But instead of focusing on emotions and childhood traumas, Eric emphasizes the key role that reason, and his clients’ philosophic ideas and values, play in causing and resolving their problems, and ultimately, in achieving their dreams and happiness.
Eric isn’t rich, but he loves the intellectual challenges of his work, and he enjoys helping people straighten out their lives. He has a small roster of colorful clients, a cat named Circe, and a girlfriend named Sheila who is a famous movie actress. (How and why they are a couple is part of the story.)
Eric also has his own problems. Reconciling his modest New York lifestyle with that of his superstar, Hollywood-rooted girlfriend. Coping with his ailing father, who lives in a Florida nursing home. And — oh yes — worrying about that strange lady with a gun who shows up, repeatedly, at his office door, promising to kill him for reasons she won’t specify…then vanishing.
The latter mystery provides the story’s thread of mounting suspense. Eric must deal with that looming threat, emotionally and practically, while he wrestles with the problems that his neurotic clientele bring into his office. What is most clever about the story is how Abrams uses these sessions to explore some of the fundamental philosophical questions that we all face: how to find meaning in life; our need to define fulfilling goals; how to navigate the shoals of intimate relationships; whether to choose personal independence versus the siren calls of money, fame, and power.
If this material sounds dry, trust me: In Abrams’s hands, it is anything but. His dialogue is razor-sharp banter; descriptions of dress and mannerisms are transparent windows on characters’ souls; and Eric’s first-person, internal monologue is a virtual stand-up comedy routine for the reader, loaded with hilarious but incisive observations about all things large and small — anything that seizes his attention (which seems to suffer from a touch of A.D.D.). It’s great fun to look at the world through this character’s wry, shrewd, but quirky perspective.
Larry Abrams brings a fresh new voice to fiction that I want to hear again. There’s plenty of potential for Eric, the philosophical practitioner, to have a long and happy career, both in his office, and also in the pages of future books.
(The Philosophical Practitioner is available as an ebook or as a trade paperback. Read my interview with author Larry Abrams here.)
The cover of Rambling — Edd Voss’s collection of thirteen beguiling short stories — uses such adjectives as “unique,” “heartwarming,” and “legendary” to describe his tales. Well, they are all that, and more.
Mr. Voss is a cross-country truck driver. The cover photo shows a guy who looks like Charlie Daniels, and the stories he has collected sound like the kind that the famous country musician might tell — if he could write. Fortunately, Mr. Voss can write, and the compelling yarns he spins for us have a charm, sensitivity, and voice that are utterly distinctive.
The collection opens with “Welcome Home,” a poignant tale of a Jim, a trucker, and his youngest son Dave during a too-rare visit home. The boy has discovered a footlocker in the attic filled with mementos from his dad’s tours of service in Vietnam. Jim has never spoken of those days, but prompted by his youngest son’s questions, he opens up. Then he’s off to spend more weeks on the road. He finally returns, and the story ends with a touching twist that reminded me a bit of O.Henry.
Family takes center stage in a number of these stories, and Mr. Voss’s deep love for his own is everywhere evident. Particularly moving are “Christmas on the Mesa,” where a cowboy looking for a lost calf finds more than he bargained for, and “Jo Anna” — a hauntingly sad, stoically restrained, fictionalized retelling of the author’s loss of his own young daughter in a horse-riding accident. Another bit of autobiography is “Airborne: One Man’s Journey,” a vivid account of the grueling training he underwent during his Army days to become airborne-qualified.
Mr. Voss is a product of the American West, and he captures its vast grandeur and legends in such tales as “Apache Tears,” “The Ghost of Hi Jolly,” and “Storm.” But there are surprises, too. “Blind?” is a short story filled with an ominous, tactile sense of creepy menace that would have made a wonderful episode of the old “Twilight Zone” TV series. “Shade” is a futuristic, dystopian thriller that ends all-too-suddenly, with the promise of future episodes that could blossom into a novel. And there’s much more in these pages for you to enjoy.
Edd Voss is an American original. His unique voice rises from the heartland, and his diverse anthology of stories is as sprawling and charming as is the vast country that he explores from the cab of his eighteen-wheeler. This is a terrific collection, and I can’t wait for Mr. Voss’s next book. But you shouldn’t wait a minute longer to buy Rambling.
(Note: Check out my earlier interview with Edd Voss.)
While HUNTER has been a Top 10 Kindle bestseller, not every ebook reader uses a Kindle. There are Nooks, Sony Readers, Kobos, iPads, Android phones, and a host of other ereaders that obtain books from sources other than the Kindle Store.
That’s why it is hugely gratifying that HUNTER hit the Wall Street Journal’s “Top 10 in Fiction Ebooks” bestseller list for the week ending December 4, 2011, listed at #10. This list includes sales of ebooks from a host of sources other than Kindle, and it demonstrates the amazing sales generated by HUNTER from the date that the special Amazon promotion began, on November 27, through December 4. During that period, over 24,000 HUNTER ebooks were purchased.
Photo (c) by Debbie Scott