Any fan of movies or television has probably encountered the products of Neil Russell. A former senior executive of Paramount, Columbia, MGM/UA, and Carolco Pictures (which produced the “Rambo” movies, “Terminator 2,” and “Total Recall”), Neil also founded and led Carolco Television Productions. He’s produced or funded over thirty films, and right now he’s president of Site 85 Productions, which creates and acquires intellectual properties for entertainment media.

You’d think that all this would be enough to keep the man busy. But in 2010, Neil turned his hand to writing thrillers.

City of War marked the debut of his formidable tough-guy hero, Rail Black–an ex-Delta Force operator who also happens to be a billionaire. Black uses his vast wealth and deadly skills to help friends in harm’s way. He’s a kind of hybrid of Bruce Wayne, James Bond, and Chuck Norris…if Norris stood about a foot taller.

New York Times best-selling spy author Gayle Lynds described City of War as “utterly gripping,” a “fascinating mystery” with “exciting suspense that doesn’t release the panting reader until the last page.” He has followed on with two Rail Black sequels, Wildcase, and the forthcoming Beverly Hills Is Burning. Neil is a traditionally published author; his books are issued by HarperCollins.

Neil contacted me in May 2010 after reading and enjoying my article (archived here) about my favorite thriller authors. He was kind enough to send me a copy of City of War, and we’ve corresponded a number of times since. It’s only proper that this emerging presence in the thriller field have some face time with “The Vigilante Author”…especially since his own hero, Rail Black, is a vigilante, too.

~*~

The Vigilante Author:  Neil, why don’t you tell my readers a bit about your own vigilante hero.

Neil Russell: My character, Rail Black, is a billionaire living in Beverly Hills, with a unique set of skills. He does not take cases. He helps friends, many of whom are also rich. But there are no ticking bombs set to blow up the world. These stories start out very personal then expand.

The Vigilante Author: Describe a typical Rail Black adventure.

Neil Russell: It’s a mix of mystery, sex, and mayhem taking place in glamorous places, often involving glamorous people.

The Vigilante Author: What are the main influences on the kind of tales you write, Neil?

Neil Russell: My literary heroes are many, but my fiction is influenced by John D. MacDonald, Harold Robbins, and a whole lot of movies.

The Vigilante Author: I can certainly see some of John D. MacDonald’s protagonist, Travis McGee, in your knight-errant hero, and I see the Harold Robbins in your steamy sex scenes.

So, tell me: What prompted a successful Hollywood deal-maker to start writing thrillers?

Neil Russell:  I didn’t write a novel until three years ago, and then it was because I wanted to make a motion picture from a story I couldn’t get anyone else to write. I have sold screenplays for a considerable amount of money, but I am primarily an executive who raises money, makes deals, then oversees the manufacture of filmed entertainment.

The Vigilante Author: That reminds me of something Lee Child said to me. He said he primarily wanted to be an entertainer, not necessarily a writer. He’d been a TV director in Britain and started writing thrillers only because he got laid off. So, like him, your main motive is entertainment, then?

Thriller author Neil Russell

Neil Russell: I have stories to tell, and we’re turning them into movies. That would translate into money, which puts a lot of people to work. It doesn’t hurt me, either.

The Vigilante Author: Neil, I’m the last guy on the planet to criticize the legitimacy of money-making as a goal!

You know, a lot of wannabe writers complain that they don’t have time to write; then if and when they start, they complain about being stymied by all sorts of creative problems. How about you?

Neil Russell: I really don’t have any problems writing, just finding the time from my main business.

The Vigilante Author: I’m impressed that a guy as busy as you are has any time at all for writing. So, when you do sit down to write, what are your methods? Do you outline heavily or just let inspiration guide you?

Neil Russell: Probably because of my movie background, I think in terms of what we call “money scenes” then write them. After I have what I think are enough, I go back and bridge the scenes.

I have only a general idea of a plot when I start. It arrives in process. I tried an outline once and got bored with the story because I had to figure it out before I wrote it. I like to be surprised right along with my character. It makes each day at the computer an adventure.

The Vigilante Author: Besides wanting to create stories that might find their way to the Big Screen, is their anything else that motivates you to do this?

Neil Russell: If writing is not self-fulfilling, nobody should do it. God knows, except for a few writers, there’s no serious money in it. It’s always nice to have other people enjoy your stories too, but people are busy with their own lives and don’t have a lot of time to tell you how wonderful you are. So you have to be mirror-oriented.

The Vigilante Author: “Mirror-oriented”? You mean, you have to be focused on pleasing the guy in the mirror?

Neil Russell: You’ve got to like the guy you see and the words he writes. Everything else is a lottery win.

The Vigilante Author: Amen to that. Why don’t we wrap it up with you telling us something about your forthcoming novel.

Neil Russell: Beverly Hills is Burning is the third Rail Black novel, and it takes place in Hollywood, Cuba, and Laguna Beach. Since my background is in the movie business, it takes readers into that world through a mass murder inside a movie company that is really something else—but then aren’t all murders indeed something else? Doing a favor for a friend, Rail ends up owning a movie company. And there’s nothing fun about this place. Nor about Valentine Jones, the woman who is about to star in its biggest picture.

From ninety years in the past, a time when gangsters and tycoons roamed the earth and Hollywood together and scratched each other’s wallets, Rail is thrust into a story of murder, duplicity, money, and power. And somewhere, out there, is Matty Aspirins, a hitman on a mission all his own.

This story is fiction and contemporary, but many of the people and incidents are extrapolated from an earlier time in the industry, when the bad, the powerful, and the famous lived, worked, and played together. I think because my family goes back to nickelodeons, there is an authenticity and look behind the curtain you don’t often get.

I should caution anyone who has not read my previous novels, though, that I write about sex and violence in a sometimes graphic way. But there are a few laughs as well.

The Vigilante Author: We’ll consider ourselves warned. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to tell us about your work, Neil. I hope this interview wins some new fans for Rail Black, and I wish you every success with the new novel.

~*~

I’ve been getting a lot of email from writers who want to know “how I did it.” By “it” they mean: How did I manage to write and publish a debut novel that, without backing by a traditional publisher and with zero paid advertising, went on to become a Kindle bestseller.

Kindle Bestseller List 12/3/11, 9 p.m.

Now, the short, unsatisfying answer would be: HUNTER caught the eyes of the Amazon Kindle editors, who (bless them!) singled out my book for week-long focused attention and promotion on the Amazon website. But that merely leads back to a more fundamental question: Why did they single out HUNTER from over a million items in the Kindle Store? Did I do anything that made a difference?

I have no special inside knowledge about why my book was singled out. Nobody from Amazon has ever confided in me. But the following represent my best guesses about their reasons. These are the main things I did to try to make my book stand out from the self-published pack:

1. CARVE OUT A DISTINCTIVE NICHE. To succeed in being noticed in an overcrowded marketplace, you must distinguish yourself and especially your product. If all authors are blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, interviewing, pricing at 99 cents, etc., then there is nothing in that which makes the individual author or his book stand out. Likewise, if you are writing the umpteenth rendition of the same kind of protagonist in the same kind of story, aping other successful writers who pioneered that same sort of character or plotline, etc., you are not standing out from the pack.

John Locke stood out by being the first with 99-cent ebooks, and he did sensationally well. But now, a zillion indies have mindlessly copied him, and as a result, 99-cent pricing no longer stands out or moves ebooks. In fact, it screams “SELF-PUBLISHED!” to readers who have grown leery of quickie, low-quality, self-published titles. Similarly, Amanda Hocking triumphed by being one of the first indies to develop a big social-media following for her books via Facebooking and Tweeting. Now, everyone is doing it—and again, nobody stands out as she did.

To stand out in marketing, you must be first to do something new and different. You must pioneer something. It can be a new twist on an old formula, but it must be sufficient to create a kind of “niche monopoly.” Clancy invented the “technothriller,” a thriller subgenre. Rowling pioneered a parallel race/universe featuring young wizards. Flynn was first in the pool with political thrillers set in the post-9/11 “War on Terror.” Lee Child resurrected and refurbished the “knight errant.” Likewise, I tried to make Dylan Hunter a unique character–a “philosophical tough guy” or “intellectual avenger,” with distinctive, even controversial, ideas and values. And I positioned myself as “the Vigilante Author.” Etc.

Anyone wanting further insights about this should consult the marketing gurus from whom I learned this principle: Al Ries and Jack Trout in their classic book Positioning. That title and their others (including Marketing Warfare and Focus) are invaluable to anyone who wishes his product or service to grab attention amid the sound and fury of a marketplace jammed with countless competitors.

2. THINK LIKE A READER. I love this recent news story about Kerry Wilkinson, a self-publishing phenom who is currently #1 on Kindle in the UK. Read closely what he says about putting himself in the reader’s shoes.

So, if you were a reader in your genre, what would engage you? Apply that consideration to everything you do–from writing, to cover, to formatting, to pricing, to marketing, to websites, to blogging, etc.

Also ask yourself: Who are the readers for my kind of story? Where do they hang out? How can I reach them? What would catch their interest? If you answer those questions before you hit the “publish” button, you’re many times more likely to be successful.

3. CRAFTSMANSHIP COUNTS: NOTHING TRUMPS A GOOD STORY. Authors should spend well over 90 percent of their time and effort not on marketing, but on crafting the best stories they can possibly write.

A great story can sometimes succeed without marketing fanfare; but no marketing fanfare can long sustain a poor story. Catchy covers and pricing gimmicks may win attention for a book, but if that initial attention isn’t eventually affirmed by a positive and enduring reader response, long-term sales will be mediocre at best.

4. PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION COUNTS. When publishing, an indie author must pay attention to all the “little things” that lend an air of competence and professionalism to his book(s). Covers, design, formatting, logos, your author blog or website–all of these things must exude a quality equal to anything issued or overseen by Random House or Simon & Schuster.

And no, you do not have to break the bank to obtain that kind of quality. I was able to do it all for about $1000. I earned that investment back within the first month of HUNTER‘s publication. And with what I’ve learned subsequently, I probably can publish the sequel for even less.

5. ENCOURAGE ENTHUSIASTIC READERS TO LEAVE “READER REVIEWS” ON AMAZON. Prior to being selected and featured by the Amazon editors, HUNTER had sales that were good but not spectacular. One thing it did have, though, was one of the highest cumulative “customer rating” averages on Amazon–about 4.8 out of a possible 5.

Those customers, let me emphasize, are not predominantly friends and relatives, and no, I did not “put them up to it” in advance. Most are strangers who had emailed me about how much they had enjoyed the book. Whenever that happened, I wrote back and thanked them sincerely. I then asked them to share their enthusiasm with people they knew “and to consider leaving a ‘reader review’ on Amazon, too.” Many of them did, and my book quickly accumulated scores of 5-star raves. I can’t state this for a fact, but I am pretty sure that the Amazon editors took those stellar reviews into consideration before selecting my book for special promotional attention.

6. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PRODUCT PAGE. I believe that most authors, and even many traditional publishers, overlook the crucial importance of preparing first-rate promotional copy for a book’s Amazon product page: a compelling product description and enthusiastic blurbs to accompany whatever positive reader reviews the book generates.

Eye-catching covers and attractive pricing, tweets and blogging, online interviews and reviews–such promotional efforts should aim mainly at enticing a curious prospective buyer to check out your book by going to its Amazon page. But that product page is the book’s final sales pitch to prospective customers. Its job is to “close the sale.”

I’m simply astonished that so few authors appear to understand that and to treat what appears on that page as seriously as they should. I spent a great deal of time crafting every sentence of my book’s product description. That, plus the number of positive customer reviews, were probably critical factors in HUNTER being selected by the Amazon editors.

Am I just speculating here? An amusing affirmation of the importance of my preceding points came just a couple of days ago. I noticed that a popular website that tracks and lists self-published bestsellers had omitted HUNTER from its November and December 2011 sales records. I posted a comment about that on the site.

The site’s host wrote back to apologize for his oversight, explaining: “Your book is extremely well prepared. The cover, as well as Avenger Books logo, are professionally designed, and together with a non-99-cent price they turned me to believe the book was published by a newly-born indie publishing house.”

So HUNTER had stood out from other self-published titles so successfully that he mistook it as being a traditionally published book. Which, of course, was exactly what I had intended.

And that, I think, may help to explain why Amazon editors selected it. If not, I think it still explains why so many readers browsing the Amazon product listings spotted my debut thriller and decided to give it a chance.

So that is my “formula” for self-publishing success. In essence, it merely underscores what many successful self-published authors have been saying all along–with just a few tweaks and some common sense (I hope) added. Simple enough to summarize, though hard to execute well. In any case, I hope you find my formula persuasive and useful.

I first spotted Helen Hanson’s thriller titles on Amazon, and what especially caught my eye were the stellar ratings they are getting from readers. It’s clear that this indie author has studied her craft, and I knew that she was somebody I had to interview. Rather than try to write my own profile of her as a lead-in to this chat, I can’t possibly improve upon the one she has posted on her own website:

~*~

Helen Hanson writes thrillers about desperate people with a high-tech bent. Hackers. The CIA. Industry titans. Guys on sailboats. Mobsters. Their personal maelstroms pit them against unrelenting forces willing to kill. Throughout the journey, they try to find some truth, a little humor, and their humanity—from either end of the trigger.

While Helen writes about the power hungry, she genuinely mistrusts anyone who wants to rule the world.

Helen directed operations for high-tech manufacturers of semiconductors, video games, software, and computers. Her reluctant education behind the Redwood Curtain culminated in a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrated studies in Computer Science. She also learned to play a mean game of hacky sack.

She is a licensed private pilot with a ticket for single-engine aircraft. Helen and her husband spent their first anniversary with their flight instructor studying for the FAA practical. If you were a passenger on a 737 trying to land at SJC in 1995, she sends her most sincere apologies. Really.

Born in fly-over country, Helen has lived on both coasts, near both borders, and at several locations in between. She lettered in tennis, worked as a machinist, and saw the Clash at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium sometime in the eighties. She currently lives amid the bricks of Texas with her husband, son, and a dog that composes music with squeaky toys.

~*~

The Vigilante Author: You’ve now published two thrillers, Helen. Why don’t you describe the kind of fiction you like to write.

Helen Hanson: I write about ordinary people from various strata of society who don’t possess the ninja skills of Chuck Norris. My characters stumble into dangerous situations created by others with nefarious motives. They don’t create their own disasters. My characters use technology to advance their position even if it isn’t strictly legal. They won’t go quietly without a fight. All my works feature some aspect of computer technology, so “cyber thriller” is the best category I’ve encountered. My background is entirely high-tech, and I’m told that I present the salient details of the technology employed without burdening the reader.

My characters are smart people who possess a vein of humor. As in life, I prefer to meet my disasters with a cushion of mirth. It adds a pleasant bounce to my landing.

The Vigilante Author: So, tell me about your latest book.

Helen Hanson: In my latest novel, Dark Pool, Maggie Fender is a young woman who struggles to provide for her convicted hacker brother, who swears he was framed, and their father, who suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Meanwhile in the news, forty billion dollars disappears from a hedge fund run by a manager who never invested a dime. It was all a Ponzi scheme, and he’s earned some dangerous enemies.

After a man tries to kill their father, Maggie’s brother thinks Dad may know something about the missing money in spite of his diminished capacity. Unfortunately, so does the Russian mobster who lost thirty million dollars in the financial scheme.

In part, this work speaks to the fiasco that is the Bernie Madoff case. While no one sweats Steven Spielberg losing a mill or two, not all the swindled investors were able to absorb the loss. If the SEC had investigated as required, it would have mitigated this financial disaster. But they didn’t investigate until their neglect became a public embarrassment. The SEC was criminally negligent in this case, yet, none of the officials responsible were ever brought up on charges.

The Vigilante Author: Let’s chat about your genesis as an author, Helen.

Cyber-thriller author Helen Hanson

Helen Hanson: I was a delightfully unrestrained wild-child. The youngest of seven, I lived in a house with three miles of pine forest for a backyard. We routinely brought injured critters home for rehabilitation. Many survived. For the others, we conducted appropriately solemn funerals. My first earrings were lizards which I caught in the woodpile. I’d coax their mouths open and let them clamp my earlobes. I played with baby black snakes, frogs, and caught lightning bugs. I even kissed a snapping turtle. Once. Only once.

The Vigilante Author: Ouch. Where, exactly, did you grow up?

Helen Hanson: My father was full Sicilian, first-generation American, but he moved back to Sicily as a boy. My mother was raised on a dairy farm and the two met in the Navy. After they married, he switched to the Army, and they spent many years overseas. Conceived in Bordeaux, I’ve lived all over the U.S., so I can claim ties to a variety of regions and micro-cultures. No one can accuse me of provinciality.

The Vigilante Author: I interviewed Gary Ponzo a few weeks ago, and he has a Sicilian background, too, which plays into the Mob-related tales he writes. So, what drew you into becoming a writer of your kind of stories?

Helen Hanson: I’ve had an abiding love for stories since I was a toddler. My favorite place to hang out was the library because it was a veritable shrine to books. Books are an honorable thing. I remember being shocked when I’d see other kids writing on the pages. I didn’t even highlight them in college. That ranked as a venial sin, minimum. Libraries are livelier these days because librarians don’t shush people anymore.  But I admit, I miss the reverent quiet of a well-shushed library.

The Vigilante Author: Funny you should say that. I remember feeling the same way about books and libraries as a kid.

Helen Hanson: And film noir. As a kid I preferred the old suspense movies with James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, or Edward G. Robinson over cartoons—Looney Tunes excepted. Alfred Hitchcock was a film genius. He could build tension by filming a man standing on a road doing nothing, à la Cary Grant in North By Northwest.

The Vigilante Author: I love Hitch’s films, too, and that one is my favorite.

Helen Hanson: The Depression and Prohibition era gangsters fascinate me. I recently read a book about Bonnie and Clyde that dispelled any notion of their competence as outlaws. They simply stole faster cars and bigger guns than any local authority could access. Plus, the laws of jurisdiction at the time always kept them a border away from arrest.

I’ve always written, but decided to work on a novel once I left corporate life. In high-tech operations, I spent most of my waking hours on-the-job. Now I draw from my background to write stories that speak to our times. Technology defines the era for both polite society and criminals. I write about people who are as comfortable with a computer as they are with a gun.

The Vigilante Author: Literary influences, Helen?

Helen Hanson: Call it silly, but Dr. Seuss gave me a love for words: their sound, collective rhythm, the way they look in print. Even in my thrillers, I keep an ear tuned to the absurd or the humor of catastrophe.

John le Carré’s George Smiley is one of my favorite characters. George was the frumpy, world-weary genius, counterpoint to the flamboyant, gadget-wielding, debonair James Bond, and to my ear, he rang more true. The multi-story tension between Smiley and his nemesis Karla kept me anticipating the moment when one would triumph. As a reader, I was not disappointed.

The Vigilante Author: Anybody else?

Helen Hanson: John Grisham’s early works contained an element of humor that I found particularly appealing. Harlan Coben writes gritty stories with a sliver of humor. At my best, I’m reminded of him.

The Vigilante Author: So, what makes Helen write?

Helen Hanson: I write to please myself. I like to see how the ordinary people find the extraordinary in themselves when faced with adversity. No one is surprised when Jason Bourne survives. But we aren’t ever sure that Maggie Fender can escape unscathed. As unique beings, we each need a different spark to light a fire. I like to explore the sparks.

The Vigilante Author: I love to ask authors how they deal with the social isolation of the writer’s life. And also about the trials and tribulations they have to deal with along the way. What say ye?

Helen Hanson: If you’re asking where I buried the bodies, fuggedaboutit. You’re safer not knowing. . .

The Vigilante Author: Yikes! I’m backing away slowly. But what about the loneliness and the challenges of the work?

Helen Hanson: Anything worth doing has its tough and lonely time. I don’t really think of the obstacles when I’m writing. That time is so internalized it passes as daydreaming in some ways. The tough part is after you write the thing. Now what? How do you get people to notice amid the din? That’s the part of traditional publishing that I long for as a writer, the team of marketing experts.

But the new reality is that all writers are expected to market their work. So what’s a girl gonna do? Me? I’m going to write another book and pray for divine favor.

The Vigilante Author: I don’t claim divinity, but I hope this interview helps at least a little bit.

Another question I ask authors is about their writing methods. Most of those I’ve interviewed are a lot more “seat of the pants” than I am; I outline and research extensively. How about you?

Helen Hanson: I need a skeletal outline and a sketch of my main characters to start, but it’s more of a suggestion than a flight plan. I detail the specifics of the next scene or two, and I keep an ongoing list of what-could-happen-later in a spreadsheet. Yes, I know spreadsheets are geeky, but it works for me. I keep notes on my storylines in case I want to change something later and to keep the pertinent details straight. I know my ending, but not necessarily the how of the ending. I like to be surprised, too.

The Vigilante Author: What about the mechanics of the process? Where and how do you work?

Helen Hanson: My husband runs a software business from home, so I typically write in the afternoon, evenings, and weekends. I keep a separate laptop just for writing, and I won’t use my normal office desk because I want a new perspective, even if it’s only six feet away. I plop my tuckus on a couch in my office and use an Air-Desk to prop my laptop. I have a liter of water at my side and occasionally stop to tousle the head of a needy canine.

The Vigilante Author: What do you find to be hard or easy about writing? And what are the rewards for you?

Helen Hanson: The hardest part is the sitting-on-my-butt-for-hours part. I will switch to sitting on a large exercise ball to alleviate the discomfort. Or go jog. The inactivity is difficult.

The greatest pleasure is a happy letter from a reader. Or when I make myself giggle. Just after I released 3 Lies, I received an email from a man who runs a helicopter service in Manhattan. He said he loved the story and thought my choice of helicopter for the scene was appropriate. That was a nice moment. Otherwise, I’ll let you know in another year.

The Vigilante Author: I’ll check back with you, Helen. Now, like most of the other authors I’ve interviewed recently, you are an indie-published one. How and why did you do that, rather than going through traditional publishing?

Helen Hanson: I had the interest of a New York agent on my first novel, 3 Lies. He thought the premise was extremely strong, my writing great, even wanted to see any of my other works. He had a couple of suggestions, and I revised the manuscript based on his request. Then I never heard from him again. This was mid-2010. I set a deadline for November 1^st either to have a warbling bird in the hand or go solo.

The Vigilante Author: So, I gather the bird remained silent and out of reach.

Helen Hanson: The idea of self-publishing appealed to my inner control-freak anyway, so it wasn’t a difficult decision. It’s an individual sport. I wouldn’t recommend it en masse. I absolutely recommend that every writer investigate the option.

The Vigilante Author: I would agree with that. It’s not for everyone. It takes a streak of independence, and success requires a strong entrepreneurial spirit. But beside that, what qualities do you think are most important for any would-be writers? From your current vantage point, do you have any words of wisdom for them?

Helen Hanson: Perseverance and an internal compass. Study the craft to the point where all the information sounds redundant, and then write to please yourself.

I encourage all writers to have a critique squad of some sort. I’m involved with two on a monthly basis. When everyone agrees that something doesn’t work, it’s best to listen. When they don’t, listen to the people who enjoy your voice as a writer. Remember, not everyone has to love you or Stephen King.

The Vigilante Author: I save the critique group until after the novel is written. That’s when I find that beta readers are invaluable: They catch all the stuff that you would never have noticed is wrong.

Where can people buy your books, Helen? And how can readers learn more about you and contact you?

Helen Hanson: Readers are welcome to visit my website.

Dark Pool is available at Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and at iBooks.

3 Lies also is available at Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and at iBooks.

The Vigilante Author: Thanks much, Helen. I hope my blog readers start clicking those links today!

Helen Hanson: Thanks, Robert.

~*~

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.”

~*~

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.

The Vigilante Author:  You knew you had the seed of something good with his psychological quirk; I’m glad you found a way to adapt one that works. Is Nick the indispensable central character in all the stories? Any plans to change that?

Gary Ponzo:  Nick will always be the main character in the series—I mean, after all, it is the Nick Bracco series of thrillers. But there’s many times where he’s not the main protagonist. I’ll switch points of view to put you in his cousin, Tommy’s, head, and let you see and hear what a Sicilian from Baltimore would say to a terrorist.

And that’s really the beauty of the series. What if the FBI used the Mafia to track these terrorists? This, of course, has happened in real life. Just recently, there were some agents in Boston who’ve been using mobsters as informants. It’s a messy situation.

Nick doesn’t open up the story wanting to use Tommy, but when a terrorist kidnaps his brother, then Tommy wants to help. After all, Tommy is family. As I say in my pitch for the book: “Things get messy fast. As fast as you can turn the pages.”

The Vigilante Author:  I suppose that Nick, being the hero, is the easiest character to write?

Gary Ponzo:  The Mafia characters are much easier for me to write, since my father owned a candy store in Brooklyn when I grew up, and some of the Sicilian boys would hang around the store. My dad was Sicilian, so the guys treated me like gold. They drank coffee and we talked about baseball and their kids. I didn’t know how dangerous they were until I was older, but by then, they were part of the family. It’s funny, but every other business on that street got robbed except ours.

The Vigilante Author:  That solved a lot of research problems for you. Even though I come from an Italian background, too, you obviously had a more colorful childhood hanging out with Brooklyn mobsters. Explain how you made the transition from that to writing crime novels.

Gary Ponzo:  I was born and raised in Brooklyn, but moved to Phoenix when I was 17 and I’ve been here ever since. Writing has always come easy to me; even at an early age I knew I was able to conjure up images on paper which created attention in my classes.

For example, as a senior in high school, I’d forgotten to do my English homework one morning. The assignment was to write two paragraphs of action. That’s it—just an action scene. So I scribbled the two paragraphs on my lap while taking the bus to school.

When I received my paper back that day, my English teacher gave me an “F” and wrote, “Who are you kidding?” across the top of the paper. I thought she’d known by the terrible handwriting that I’d written it on the bus, but when I asked why I received an “F,” she said, “You didn’t write this, it’s too good.”

Well, I was flattered, naturally. I guess she noticed my sincere reaction to the comment, so she asked me to sit down between periods and write a brand-new scene for her. I did, and when I was done she yelled at me for wasting my time in her class and not doing something with my exceptional writing skills.

Well, Mrs. Haney, I’m finally doing something with my skills. I hope you approve.

The Vigilante Author:  I don’t know, Gary; she sounds kinda hard to please. So where did you get those skills? You must have been reading some fine writers.

Gary Ponzo:  I began reading science fiction at an early age, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury—these were my original influences, just because they took me places I didn’t know existed. And of course they didn’t, but that was the beauty of it.

The Vigilante Author:  I read those guys, too. I especially loved Heinlein. Who else?

Gary Ponzo:  As I grew older, I discovered Raymond Chandler, and his sardonic tone really blew me away. I had no idea you could write so casually, as if telling a story over a beer in a bar. There was always so much structure to the fiction I’d read, and Chandler introduced a voice which I could emulate. It was my own voice, of course, but without reading his work I think my voice would’ve sounded an awful lot like someone else’s.

Later, I discovered Elmore Leonard and Nelson DeMille, and it just reinforced the fact that writing was more about telling a story in your own way and not just a mixture of narrative and dialogue.

The Vigilante Author:  DeMille is another one of my favorites, especially his John Corey stories—the first-person hero has a truly memorable voice.

Every good writer I know has his own way to motivate himself to sit at the desk for hours and do the doggie work of pounding the keys. What’s yours?

Gary Ponzo:  I’m self-motivated. I have a full-time job during the day and have a wife and two kids, so my writing is relegated to the evenings after everyone’s asleep. But I continue to write and set deadlines by telling my readers when the next book is coming out. So I need to keep on that timeline, or I get threatening emails from readers who tease me and ask for the release date. That’s why I put the date out there to begin with, so people will hold me to it.

The Vigilante Author:  Gary, if the people you used to hang with are among your readers, you really don’t want to make them mad. You really don’t.

But I admire you for how you manage to juggle so many responsibilities and still write. I find it very difficult to concentrate if a lot is going on in my life. Of course, I’m completely O.C.D. in my writing habits—I outline plots obsessively and research a lot in order to get all my crazy notions under control. What about you? How do you work?

Gary Ponzo:  Well, as I said, I’ll write at night in my office at home. As far as outlines go, I really don’t get too specific. I treat each chapter like a short story, and I’ll begin in the middle of the action and try to keep the tension up until the end of the chapter. At some point early on, I’ll have to know the ending of the book. This way I can steer the reader away from what’s really going to happen and give them a bit of a surprise. At least that’s the idea.

The Vigilante Author:  When I began writing fiction, I was surprised at what I found to be easy and what I found to be difficult. I figured that plotting would be a breeze for me, because of how my mind works. But it was a big challenge for me. I also worried that my dialogue would be awful, but it actually turned out well. How about you: What’s hard about the process of writing, and what’s easy? What gives you the most pleasure?

Gary Ponzo:  For me, the hardest part of writing is finding the time. I’ve never been one to stare at the screen for an hour with nothing to write. Now, I may look at what I’ve written the next day and delete the entire thing, but I’ve never been stagnant. Heck, I’ve tossed 30 or 40 pages away without blinking an eye, but at least I was going somewhere.

The Vigilante Author:  I’m like that, too. “Writer’s block” isn’t a problem, and I’m not so in love with my words that I can’t be ruthless about cutting them if they don’t belong.

Gary Ponzo:  As far as the greatest pleasure, I’d have to say hearing from readers who’ll tell me which character they liked and why. I never get tired of that.

I am particularly proud of my two Pushcart Prize nominations. These are given out to the best short story published in literary magazines each year. These nominations gave me the confidence to move on to writing novels. Without them, I might still be wondering about my skills.

The Vigilante Author:  Well, Mrs. Haney told you that you had exceptional skills. Why didn’t you believe her? Given that, plus the prestigious awards, why did you decide to self-publish instead of seeking a traditional publisher?

Gary Ponzo:  Yes, well, I did try the traditional route for a while. It seemed everyone really liked the book, but were afraid to pull the trigger with an unknown author.

The Vigilante Author:  Yes, well, traditional publishers also rejected Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Vince Flynn, and J.K. Rowling. They aren’t exactly renowned for their editorial acumen. So, what happened?

Gary Ponzo:  Finally, my literary agent at the time, Robert Brown, who is a prince of a man, cajoled me into publishing A Touch of Deceit on my own. He even helped format the manuscript. It took him a couple of months to convince me, so I went kicking and screaming, but I’m glad I did it. It was the best decision for me.

As far as recommending this to other writers, I’d have to say: Follow your heart. I was at my wit’s end when I entered this ebook market. It’s not for everyone, I promise.

The Vigilante Author:  No, it isn’t. It depends on your goals and your personality. Speaking of which, what traits do you think a writer needs in order to succeed in this process?

Gary Ponzo:  The most important part of the process is the writing itself. Everything else is just window dressing.

The Vigilante Author:  Amen!

Gary Ponzo:  I’m uncomfortable giving any author advice about writing, because there are so many stories which haven’t been told, and so many ways to write them. I would hate to tell someone how they should create their own novel.

Write outside the lines. Do whatever feels write. Be creative. Don’t listen to other people telling you how it needs to be done. Especially me.

The Vigilante Author:  Amen to that, too. Lee Child told me the same thing: “Ignore all advice.” The book has to grow organically from who you are, as an individual.

Gary, how can people find out more about you and where to buy your Nick Bracco novels?

Gary Ponzo:  First of all, thank you, Robert, for this opportunity. I appreciate your generosity.

Currently, my books are available as Kindle books on Amazon, and as Nook books on Barnes and Noble; however, I may be going exclusively on Amazon in the near future. As for contacting me, anyone can get a hold of me through my webpage. I always respond to my messages.

The Vigilante Author:  Gary, this has been great. Thanks, and I wish you and your family every success in the new year.

~*~

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:

~*~

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.

The Vigilante Author: Don’t you hate it when that happens? I assume there are other complications?

Mel Comley: As she tries to solve the crimes, Lorne is also coping with a failing marriage and a new, unsympathetic boss with whom she has a secret past. Despairing at the lack of clues, Lorne receives help with solving the case from an unlikely source.

The Vigilante Author: Yes, those would be complications. Is Cruel Justice typical of your novels?

Mel Comley: My full-length novels are all crime thrillers. They’re pacey and the main character has plenty of conflict to contend with.

The Vigilante Author: So, Mel, how did a nice girl like you wind up writing crime thrillers?

Mel Comley: I’m a Brit, but now live in beautiful France. I was raised by my mother; my father walked out on us when I was four. To say life has been a struggle up ‘til now would be an understatement.

After my father left, we had to move in with my grandparents while my mother went back to college to train as a chef. Having three generations in one household meant that life was often fraught and full of arguments. Maybe that’s the real reason why I married at eighteen. Needless to say that the marriage failed after seven years.

The Vigilante Author: That difficult background must have fueled your sense of drama. How and when did you begin to write?

Mel Comley: I’ve always written a diary, et cetera, but it wasn’t until we moved to France and I no longer had to work 70-80 hours a week that I threw myself into writing. After reading my first James Patterson novel, I was hooked and set out to emulate the way he writes (used to write): short chapters and fast-moving plots.

The Vigilante Author: Any other literary influences beside him?

Mel Comley: Recently I have to say reading Karen Rose’s books has been influential to me. Some kind readers have likened my work to Lynda La Plante, “if not better,” in one instance!

The Vigilante Author: You’ve produced a number of works rapidly. Apparently “writer’s block” isn’t a problem for you.

Mel Comley: Nowadays I find writing addictive. If I don’t write every day I have withdrawal symptoms. I aim to write a full-length 80,000-word novel every six months. This year I’ve released three novels, two novellas, two novelettes, and a few short stories, all from my backlist. One of my novelettes is It’s A Dog’s Life, the proceeds of which are going to charity.

The Vigilante Author: I confess, I don’t know how you keep up that pace! I’m envious. You must be really focused. Do you have any time for socializing?

Mel Comley: I’m lucky that I regard myself as one of life’s loners, really; I prefer my own company. Does that sound awful?

The Vigilante Author: Not to me. I can relate.

Mel Comley: I also belong to a great group of writers. We proofread each other’s work and give genuine feedback on our novels. We all have professionally edited books, but we try and catch anything the editor has missed, so hopefully our products stand out from the rest.

The Vigilante Author: Readers give your books very high ratings, and that’s a testament to your craftsmanship. Do you begin with a detailed outline, like me, or do you wing it, “seat of the pants”?

Mel Comley: A bit of both really. I have the outline of the plot set in stone, but as soon as a project starts, my characters have a life of their own. I tend to make lots of notes as I go along—a key sentence that has been used in a section of dialogue, et cetera, that I might refer to later on. I write in my bedroom on a laptop most of the time—I get good vibes from that room for some reason. I like to write a minimum of 2,000 words a day.

The Vigilante Author: Do you find writing to be hard or easy?

Mel Comley: Yikes, this time last year I would have said the whole writing process is hard. Now, I’m struggling to think of anything. Like I say, the more you write, the more addictive it becomes.

The Vigilante Author: What are you most proud of in your writing?

Mel Comley: I’m definitely most proud of my main character, Lorne Simpkins. I’m 10,000 words into the fourth book in the series, and it feels comfortable walking in her shoes once again.

The Vigilante Author: You’re a self-published author now. Did you try the traditional publishing route first? And if so, are you tempted to go back to it?

Mel Comley: Yes, I’m self-published, and yes, I tried the traditional route. I sent Impeding Justice out to several agents, but after months of waiting for a response, I decided to take the plunge and go indie. After selling 30,000 copies back in April this year I had agents knocking on my virtual door.

After much deliberation I signed a contract with top New York agent Richard Curtis. He’s doing his best to get me some kind of deal, but has informed me that because of the success of indies, the traditional publishing world is in turmoil.

The Vigilante Author: That’s being reported everywhere now. They don’t seem to be able to adjust well or quickly to the ebook revolution.

I like to ask successful authors what qualities they think are most important for any aspiring writer.

Mel Comley: Stamina! You have to be in this job for the long haul; it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme.

The Vigilante Author: Any specific advice for them?

Mel Comley: Yes, the old saying says that we all have a book in us. But actually putting a great story together that excites the readers is a very challenging job. I would always advise people to get a good, recommended editor. As a writer, you never see the faults, if there are any, in your own work.

The Vigilante Author: I absolutely agree, and the outside feedback I received from others was invaluable.

Okay, you’ve aroused a lot of curiosity among our readers. So, where can they buy your books or contact you?

Mel Comley: My books can be found for Kindle , for Nook , and at Smashwords for other ereaders.

I have a main author blog and a blog for my romances.  I also maintain a Facebook page.

The Vigilante Author: Final words?

Mel Comley: Thanks for inviting me, Robert. I’m following your own success with a touch of envy and admiration. Good luck with your sequel, too.

The Vigilante Author: Thanks, Mel, and best wishes with your continuing Lorne Simpkins tales. I hope our chat inspires a lot of new readers to check them out.

~*~

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.”

~*~

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. Surprised, he stepped back and started to protest and I hit him again, several times. Seconds later he was high-tailing away from me. I could relate others but you get the picture.

What I’m trying to say is, I was brought up to fight when something or someone is wrong. That’s where the vigilante concept is fueled from for me. People who prey on others deserve to get taught a lesson. Doing it on paper allows me to make those lessons more “meaningful.”

The Vigilante Author: I can relate to that. Without giving away any plot spoilers, in what ways are our two treatments of the vigilante theme similar or different?

Claude Bouchard: Our vigilante themes are similar in that both our protagonists have become avengers as a result of having been personally affected in the past by the wrongdoings of others. Though each their own person, our vigilantes resemble each other in their ingrained sense of justice which, however wrong legally, is morally right. They are not mugging innocent people, raping women, and terrorizing neighborhoods. Quite the contrary: They are “removing” the muggers, rapists, and other violent offenders which the justice, penal, and correctional systems failed to adequately deal with. I happen to be rather proud and fully support both our vigilantes.

The Vigilante Author: All reasons why I can’t wait to read Vigilante, Claude.

You mention the two ongoing characters in your series, computer expert Chris Barry and police Lt. Dave McCall. I find that for many authors, their main focal characters represent symbolic projections of things that are personally important to them. Is that true of these two characters for you? And if so, would you mind sharing what they symbolize to you? Do they represent variations on some common theme, or do they represent completely different themes?

Claude Bouchard: Indeed, both Chris and Dave are strong proponents of justice and they reflect my beliefs. This is clear with Dave simply on the basis of his position as a hard-working, devoted cop.

In regards to Chris, a little elaboration, if I may. My background is in human resources, a field in which I held various management positions with a handful of firms over the years. During that time, I was involved in three separate criminal investigations, one of which had to do with a truck heist of $600,000 of merchandise and the subsequent reselling operation of the goods. Long story short: The case was cracked, arrests were made, and working with the detectives on this was a massive adrenalin rush.

When I wrote Vigilante, there was no doubt that Chris Barry would be a white-collar professional; but I felt going on the IT side of business opened the door to more possibilities in his assisting the cops nab the killer than if he’d been a HR executive.

The Vigilante Author: Is there any overarching theme, concept, or moral that connects all the tales in your series, or that motivates the two heroes?

Claude Bouchard: Simply put, the common theme throughout the series is: “If you’re doing something illegal, you just may end up getting hurt.” My heroes are motivated by their sense of justice and determined to make the aforementioned theme a reality.

The Vigilante Author: Claude, I wonder how you would characterize the genre of your fiction?

Claude Bouchard: I’ve always considered my novels to be crime thrillers. Following Vigilante, I wrote four other novels with Chris Barry and Captain Dave McCall as central characters, and I’m currently working on Discreet Activities, the sixth in the series. I’ve also written ASYLUM, which I’ve called more of a psych-thriller, though there are definite crime and suspense issues involved. I particularly enjoy ending a story with a twist whenever possible.

The Vigilante Author: Care to share a bit about your background?

Claude Bouchard: I was born and raised in Montreal, though we did live in San Francisco for eighteen months when I was 3-4 years old. My brother, two sisters, and I were brought up by our loving parents who taught us proper morals, respect, and work ethics. We were a tight-knit family then and we’re even tighter now.

Reading was a popular activity in our household, a regular form of entertainment, from magazines such as Readers Digest and National Geographic to novels of various genres. I fondly remember graduating from The Bobbsey Twins to The Hardy Boys and Tom Swift, followed by my brother’s complete series of Alistair MacLean novels. Mystery, crime, and espionage novels always attracted me, which is why I write crime thrillers today. Though I don’t remember his stories in detail, as it has been a while, I do remember enjoying MacLean’s novels, where the protagonist was generally a lone, quasi-indestructible man who managed to succeed against all odds.

The Vigilante Author: I loved Alistair MacLean for the same reason. In fact, he seems to have been the inspiration for a lot of contemporary thriller authors, including Lee Child. Any other decisive influences on your thriller writing?

Claude Bouchard: Over the years, writers such as Ludlum, Connelly, Clancy, Crais, and others have taught me, however indirectly, about format, structure, and flow, character and plot development, and so on. What I mean to say is the more we read, the more we learn for our subsequent writing, even including additional vocabulary.

As far as comparing my writing to others, at least in terms of genre, the authors I mentioned, as well as Lee Child and Jeffery Deaver, would be in the ballpark. I’ve had one person tell me he enjoyed my writing as much as that of his favorite author, Stephen Leather, which was rather flattering.

The Vigilante Author: Tell us a bit about your writing methods. Outliner, or “seat of the pants”?

Claude Bouchard: Definitely seat of my pants. I’ll start with a vague idea and begin writing. Strangely enough, I’ve always had my title from the get-go and that’s what I typed first. I might loosely plan upcoming sequences and jot a few notes, but the story usually takes me where it’s going.

The Vigilante Author: If I spied on you through your office door keyhole, what would I see?

Claude Bouchard: Anyone spying on me during a typical day would see me jumping from my WIP [work in progress] in [Microsoft] Word to one of several tabs open on the Internet, sending a promo tweet on Twitter or responding to some tweets received, checking website visitor stats, books sales numbers, researching, etc. At some point, one would no doubt observe Midnight, one of our cats, come join me and scream for attention.

The Vigilante Author: I should introduce Midnight to Luna, the cat I share with Dylan Hunter. She poses similar distractions for me. Besides your cat, what’s the biggest challenge for you in writing? What comes easiest to you, and what do you love about it?

Claude Bouchard: I’ve always striven to make my stories believable. My characters don’t take a bullet to the chest to then yank it out with their fingers and toss it back at the shooter. I want my novels to reflect things which could actually happen. That said, if I have an idea about something I’d want to make happen, it has to be doable and this at times requires a lot of research before finding the confirmation that it can, in fact, be done.

The easy part for me is the actual writing in terms of sentence structure, punctuation, and the like. The ultimate rewards and pride generators are sentences such as, “I LOVED your book!”

The Vigilante Author: What drives you to sit in your chair before the keyboard every day? Is it that external response, or is it something inside of you?

Claude Bouchard: My main motivation is simply the pleasure writing brings me. There is something unexplainable about when I start writing, get “in the zone,” and words, sentences, and paragraphs rush out. It may seem strange to some, but other writers will surely understand the excitement I’m referring to, which is akin to an adrenalin rush.

I write with the intention of providing believable, quality entertainment to my readers. Since research, writing, and subsequent promotion are all time-consuming tasks, another objective I hope to attain is a level of sales sufficient to allow me to keep on writing without any serious concern about paying the bills.

The Vigilante Author: Like me, you are a self-published author. Did you try traditional publishing first?

Claude Bouchard: When I wrote my first three novels in the mid-to-late ’90s, the publishing world was a different place. Submissions to agents or publishers were done via snail mail, and cost-effective self-publishing did not exist. Responses to queries were usually negative, when they were even received to begin with. Having put so much effort in getting my stories out and then having to beg for recognition was quite frustrating. It left a bad taste in my mouth and led me to back away from writing for several years.

The Vigilante Author: So, when and why did you make the switch to indie publishing?

Claude Bouchard: When I decided to self-publish in 2009, the first intent was simply to see my novels as actual printed books. Then a few people I didn’t know bought them and told me they enjoyed them. That got the bug going, and I started looking into possible marketing avenues.

I did end up finding an agent through my social media networking and was represented for eighteen months until she pulled out for personal reasons. While other of her clients hoping for a traditional deal were left hanging, I had the satisfaction of knowing my novels were already out there working for me.

The Vigilante Author: So how is it working? What have been the challenges and rewards for you?

Claude Bouchard: Self-pub opportunities are readily available today with ebooks and POD [print on demand] books, but the selling and marketing tasks are quite demanding. Until one can develop a solid readership which morphs into word-of-mouth advertising, selling the books is practically a cold-calling activity with one-on-one sales. The only thing to be done with such an obstacle is to persist. Thanks to social media, support, encouragement, and help can be found through other writers battling similar obstacles.

While the indie route is a lot of hard work, it’s also quite exhilarating to have complete control, whether it’s book cover choices, pricing decisions, or anywhere in between. I definitely do recommend self-publishing to others, as long as they’re willing to put in the required effort.

The Vigilante Author: So do I. Which compels me to ask: What qualities do you think a would-be author needs most?

Claude Bouchard: If one wants to be a writer, one must have thick skin. You have to be able to handle rejection and criticism. Not everyone will like you or your work, and if you can’t deal with that, you’re not going to make it. I’ve known people who burned out because their first and only novel turned out not to be the bestseller they believed it was.

An obvious required quality, but one which many people don’t seem to recognize, is you have to be able to write or get the services of a good editor. I’ve read too many books by indie authors in recent years, some of which actually had great storylines, which were ruined by lousy grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes and improper formatting.

The Vigilante Author: As you know, Claude, those are pet peeves of mine, too. Tell everyone where they can buy your books and how can they contact you.

Claude Bouchard: My books are available in print and ebook format at a variety of online retailers, all the links for which can be found on the  “My Books” page on my website. Any readers who wish to contact me can do so via the “Contact Me” page on my site. I can also be reached on Twitter (@ceebee308) and on Facebook. They should visit my Amazon.com Author’s page, too. 

The Vigilante Author: Great. Any final words to our readers?

Claude Bouchard: Robert, I want to thank you once again for granting me this opportunity as I truly enjoyed participating in this interview. I wish you continued success with Hunter and look forward to the sequel so, keep on writing!

The Vigilante Author: Thanks, Claude. You too!

~*~

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:

 ~*~

“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.”

~*~

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.

Stephen England: I was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but I’ve spent almost my entire life in Cecil County, Maryland. A red county in a sea of blue. In contrast to my characters, I’m no globetrotter. I was homeschooled K-12, which accounts for the fact that I could read by the time I graduated. (Laughs.) Don’t get me started on the marvel of public education.

The Vigilante Author: No, let’s not go there, or we’ll spend the rest of the interview time sharing our mutual indignation over the state of the nation. So, how did this homeschooled kid become a thriller writer?

Stephen England: I’ve been blessed since childhood with the mindset of a rogue, which is curiously apropos for a spy novelist.  For me, the fact that my peers were all doing one thing was always sufficient reason to do another, an individualist attitude that was sure to cause to trouble in a world that values conformity above all other virtues. But no conformist has ever changed the world—or written a good novel.

The Vigilante Author: How true. Conformity and creativity are logical opposites. Any other early influences that propelled you on the path of writing fiction?

Stephen England: My parents will have to take the rap here—I’m sure I would have never become a writer without the lifelong love of reading they instilled within me.

I grew up the son of a Baptist pastor, a life that I would highly recommend for anyone looking into a writing career. Nothing else can give you such a ringside seat on human nature. I’ve seen the good, the bad—and that most dangerous of all homo sapiens—the well-intentioned. As Henry David Thoreau once said, “If I knew that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.”

We probably don’t want to get into how many of my characters are drawn from real life.

The Vigilante Author: No, let’s avoid frivolous lawsuits. How about your literary pedigree? What authors have you read that left a stamp on your own writing?

Stephen England: Tom Clancy is undoubtedly one of my prime influences in terms of style and execution. From the first time I read through Hunt for Red October, I was hooked. That being said, imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but as a business policy, it stinks on ice. I had to chuckle when I ran into a reader of Pandora’s Grave the other day who said, “It was just like Tom Clancy—except completely different!”

The Vigilante Author: That sounds so clever that I just don’t get it.

Stephen England: As paradoxical as her statement sounds, it was a confirmation that I had accomplished my goal. There’s enough Clancy imitators out there, no need for someone else to add to the dogpile. I am a huge fan of Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, and Daniel Silva, but my own style was firmly established by the time I was introduced to their work. In terms of other influences—other than books, the TV show “24” was hugely formative. Everything I know about pacing I learned at the feet of Jack Bauer.

The Vigilante Author: Like all good thriller heroes, Jack was always “running out of time.” Okay, what makes Stephen tick as a writer? What compels you to take on the lonely task of sitting for hours in a chair before a keyboard, making things up in your head?

Stephen England: Writing is intensely personal for me—I had to laugh the other day as I watched a writer take a poll on his blog on what he should choose as the topic of his next novel. I could never do that—if I’m going to spend years of my life on a nearly 150,000 word novel, then it had better be about something I feel passionately about, not a topic chosen at random by a few bored Internet surfers.

In the case of Pandora’s Grave, the threat posed by Islamic terrorism. Despite the fact that over a decade has passed since the attacks of 9/11, America has still not come to terms with the nature of the threat. There is a huge difference between being honestly fair and being politically correct—and the American left has taken great pains to err on the side of political correctness, even blindness to the dangers we face in this country. Until the leadership of this country wakes up to the reality of Islamic jihad and our position in the Dar el Harb—the house of war as defined by the jihadists—we will continue fighting the “war on terror” with one hand tied behind our back.

The Vigilante Author: I couldn’t agree more. You know, from even a quick look at your online presence, one might infer that you are an opinionated—some might say “fiery”—  conservative. How has this impacted your writing career? And can people expect to find those same political viewpoints in your novels?

Stephen England: If that was the inference, it would be right. I am a conservative and a TEA Party activist in my “spare” time. To the right of Rush and the left of God, as the saying goes. It’s not the type of political philosophy that makes a guy my age popular among his peers, but there goes the rogue. I wasn’t placed on this earth to win popularity contests.

The Vigilante Author: I can relate.

Stephen England: In terms of impact on my career—I might count myself blessed. While the “literary” world is dominated by liberals, the best-selling novelists in my genre—authors like Clancy, Thor, Silva, and Flynn—are predominantly conservative. Which tells you a lot about the market.

As far as the “Shadow Warriors” series, while the stories are told from a conservative Christian viewpoint, the books themselves are not political. Covert officers work in the shadows—political grandstanding is not part of their playbook. The political views of Harry Nichols are simple: Politicians are universally corrupt and self-serving. His primary concern is how to protect his men from the bureaucrats and politicos sending them into the field. Their party is of no particular concern.

The Vigilante Author: I think you’ve accurately captured the attitude of most people in covert and special ops. When I’ve interviewed other authors, I’ve asked them why they’ve chosen such a tough and lonely profession. How about you?

Stephen England: Life is tough and lonely. Writing is what I’ve done about it.

The Vigilante Author: I really like that. In fact, I love that.

Stephan England: Writing is definitely a form of catharsis for me—it’s a way to express how I see the world. Harry Nichols is definitely not a physical alter ego of his creator, but he is that emotionally. Writing what you know is Writing 101, and I’ve done that. I know what it feels like to be betrayed. I know what it feels like to lose someone you love. It’s just a matter of amplifying those emotions to the level of a thriller novel.

The Vigilante Author: People who’ve never written are fascinated by an author’s writing habits. Tell us about yours. Are you a compulsive planner and plotter, like me, or more “seat of the pants”? Where and how do you work?

Stephen England: Seat of the pants, definitely. All my outlining is mental, juggling the flow of information from one character to another, which is so important when you’re writing a novel about the intelligence community. It’s all about information. My “special place” is my desktop computer, often early morning or late evening. Any time I can slip on the headphones and completely zone out. Finish one scene, figure out where it’s going—write the next scene. Rinse and repeat.

The Vigilante Author: What gives you the greatest kick as a writer?

Stephen England: I love it when a plot comes together. That quite simply is the greatest pleasure in writing. Positive review, reader feedback, customer reviews—those are all simply gravy on top—confirmation that your message got across. The ultimate satisfaction is when you see the threads of the plot converge and say to yourself, “Yeah, this is going to work.” The ending of every book is the same for me—a euphoric race to the climax. At that point, I can often write 6-7 pages in a day—and I think the adrenaline rush conveys itself through the writing.

The Vigilante Author: Like me, Stephen, you chose self-publish. Why did you do that, instead of going after an agent and a traditional publisher? And how is indie publishing working out for you?

Stephen England: I never submitted my manuscript to a traditional publisher, for one primary reason—I had already been forced to change the plot twice over the course of writing it in order to adjust for unfolding world events. No way I was going to sit on it for another ten years shopping it around to agents.

The Vigilante Author: This also sounds familiar.

Stephen England: Independent publishing is the future of the industry, but it’s not going to be an easy road, for several reasons. For one thing, writers have gotten the idea that publishing their first manuscript is bright, when it is anything but. To give a sense of perspective, Sword of Neamha, my first published manuscript, was my seventh fully realized manuscript. The first six will never see the light of day, for good reason. There’s a lot of indie trash out there, and people are starting to get tired sifting through it.

The Vigilante Author: Yep. I’ve been complaining about this for some time. It sustains the stigma against self-published work that we have to fight against.

Stephen England: Secondly, the indie gurus are pushing hard for people to write fast, faster than New York—which is absurd, when you think about it. If you watch the big-name industry authors—the good ones generally last a decade before the strain of producing a top-notch novel every twelve months breaks them down. And then they put out another five to seven sub-par books before enough people catch on to stop buying. The premise is to keep people reading your books, which I gave up on the day I realized that an avid reader could read in thirty minutes the chapter that I labored on for a week. Tell authors to write fast? You must be out of your ever-lovin’ mind.

The Vigilante Author: You sound like a recording of me, because I’ve been saying the same thing to indies: Take your time and write a quality book.

Stephen England: And finally, we’re going to have to brace for even stronger pushback from New York. There’s a lot of big-name authors that are seriously unhappy with both the e-book and indie revolutions. I think Niccolo Machiavelli put it best: “The innovator makes enemies of all who prospered under the old order.”

The Vigilante Author: But it’s easy to conform. It takes certain qualities of character to go against the flow when it makes no sense. So, what qualities do you think are most important for an author to cultivate?

Stephen England: You’ve got to be self-critical, above all. Contentment is the sworn enemy of excellence. I’ve talked with writers who tell me, “Well, yes, I could be better, but I’m selling books now and that’s the important thing.” It is, and it isn’t. The most important thing is to never stop honing your craft. You’re never as good as you could be, and it’s that type of self-motivation that will keep you going in the long run.

That said, while you always want to keep learning, you must be very careful who you listen to. Never take counsel of your peers. Most people who know me know that I have a very low opinion of critique groups. It’s the rogue within rearing its head—along with the practical observation that the successful authors are already out there, doing their thing. The people in the critique groups are typically people just like you, the people who haven’t figured out what they’re doing. Find your niche and leave the losers behind.

The Vigilante Author: Great advice.

Pandora’s Grave ends with a teaser for the next book in the “Shadow Warriors” series, Day of Reckoning. Can you give us a look as to where you’re headed with your writing, Stephen?

Stephen England: Sure thing. Day of Reckoning is going to put a new twist on the series as the action comes to the shores of America. The Agency has never operated on US soil, but all that is about to change when a bomb targets CIA Director David Lay in suburban Virginia. With a kill team of ex-Spetsnaz on the loose, there are no answers, only the question: Who ordered the hit?

As the FBI and CIA coordinate the search for suspects, it soon becomes apparent that the attack was one part contract hit, one part misdirection. And the kill team is the least of their worries. It should be quite a ride.

The Vigilante Author: I think you’ve got a lot of readers here eager to buy and read your books. Where can they get them, and how can they follow or reach you?

Stephen England: They can find out more about my writing and read short stories and excerpts at www.stephenwrites.com. They can also follow me on Twitter by searching for @stephenmengland

Pandora’s Grave is available in paperback, and for e-readers in a number of venues and formats: on  Smashwords;  on Barnes & Noble; and on Amazon.

The Vigilante Author: Great. Any final comments?

Stephen England: Only this: Many thanks for hosting this interview, Robert. It’s been a pleasure talking with you—I know that your own success has been an inspiration to many of us. From the Rogue to the Vigilante, here’s to the future.

  ~*~