Thursday, November 17, 2011

Author Gerald G. Griffin: A Novel Is Like A Smorgasbord


It’s my pleasure to welcome ‘new-to-me’ author Gerald G. Griffin hereGerald G Griffin today as he makes a stop on his Nurture Virtual Book Tourz with his latest suspense thriller.

Gerald’s current release, OF GOOD AND EVIL, is available in eBook and paperback. Here’s a synopsis of it: A timely, quick-paced, action-packed story with vivid, vibrant characters and international locales, and villains both fictional and ripped from international headlines. 

Ron Sheffield, a gifted but tormented Green Beret, plagued by suicidal guilt because of his “special” abilities, is discharged from the army for going “crazy.” Immediately, he is brutally beaten and shot by the Mafia, and is hospitalized near death. His life is dramatically saved by Amber Ash, who also possesses “special” abilities; and from there the two are propelled against mobsters, terrorists, and a government cell out to kill them over Iraqi documents Ron possesses from his army service. Ron becomes a Mafia hit man, targeting fallen mobsters. This brings Ron and Amber into contact with the powerful and humane gifted secret society, Eros; this contact eventually actualizing Ron’s mental gifts to a point beyond his imagination. Ron is confronted with the imminent nuclear obliteration of a major American city by a suicidal terrorist cell that only he can stop. But will he be able to do it in time? Of Good and Evil is a spiritual fight against tyranny. 

Gerald is here to answer an age old question for me…What would you like your readers to take away from your book? 

Of Good and Evil CoverMy first thought is: What they please. But I know you're looking for a more extensive answer. There's so much that can be taken away from the novel, on so many different levels. It's like a huge smorgasbord. But what would I like readers to take away? 

Well, on the broadest scale, I'd like then to take away that they had a spectacular read unlike any before! A read timely, exciting, compelling, thought-provoking and entertaining from the first page, feeling the presentation was so crisp, clean and clear as to leave them in awe of the main characters and the story they have just read.

More specifically, then I'd like them to take away the nobility of the story; the nobility of spirit in the fight against tyranny. 

Then question rote notions of good versus evil, from perspectives personal to geopolitical.

The value of love, friendship and family. and the trials attendant to each.

The humanity of living and survival amid the conflicted possibilities of living skewed by the possible anomalies of the life force.

The ingenuity of the human spirit in facing flawed government and failing politics in a threatening nuclear world.

Respect for the military. They should be valued for protection against external enemies out to destroy us. Internal enemies will have to be dealt with by an equally valiant breed.

These are but some of the important things I would like readers to take away from the book. But like I say, when it comes to what is important, the novel is like a smorgasbord. There's plenty left to eat!

Gerald G Griffin Good and Evil Tour Banner

Gerald, thanks so much for guest blogging. There is so much we can take away from a story when we stop and think about it. It is a smorgasbord.

Now let me tell you a bit about Gerald. He was born in Flint, Michigan, and received his MA and Ph.D. in psychology from Michigan State University. He set up private practice in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Consulting Psychologist, a practice of 18 years doing psychotherapy, counseling, diagnostics and executive consultation. From there he moved to Gainesville, Georgia, to enter writing full-time, at first doing ghost-writing and screenplays before turning back to novels. At present, he is putting the final touches to A TIME OF RECKONING, the sequel to OF GOOD OR EVIL.

For more on Gerald and his writing, visit his website atNURTURE Tour Hosting Team Member badge http://www.authorgeraldgriffin.com, drop by his blog at http://www.geraldggriffin.blogspot.com, find him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/#!/GeraldGGriffin, or stop by his tour page at http://nurtureyourbooks.com/vbtblog/?p=2270.

You can also follow the remainder of Gerald’s tour at these sites:
November 17th – @ Everyone Loves A SiNner
November 18th - @ News and Reviews from the Heart of the Dragons Den
 
As a writer, do you want readers to take more than one thing from your work? As a reader, do you normally find more than one thing you take away from a book? Thanks so much for stopping by today. 
 

10 comments:

  1. Loved the post! Sounds like such an exciting book! Your new fallish background is really cute, also!!

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  2. No two people will take away the same message because we are a collection of our own experiences.

    Your book sounds very interesting!

    Teresa

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  3. Mason - thanks for hosting Gerald.

    Gerald - Thanks for sharing with us what you intended - the messages you were sending - with your book. I always find it fascinating to learn what authors want readers to take away with them. I wish you much success.

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  4. Gerald, thanks again for guest blogging. There is so much we can take away from a book. Wishing you much success.

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  5. Laurie, thanks so much for your kind words and for stopping by.

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  6. Teresa, I love your take on why we take different meanings from the same thing.

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  7. Margot, I'm like you and enjoy knowing what authors want us to take from them books. Then if we take that or more, adds to the book.

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  8. Mason, thank you for such an enticing post. Well organized and poignantly presented!

    Laurie, Teresa, Margot and Alex (and those to come): Thank you so much for your thoughtful and reassuring comments, expressions of nobility in itself. I welcome your interest in my book and happily embrace you as fans. I love my readers!

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  9. An interesting and thought-provoking blog post, but as Teresa says, it very much depends on the reader what he or she takes away.

    My first English novel is purely fun so I don´t care too much what readers think about it as long as they laugh, but my Danish debut is darker and gives away more of myself. The first reviews are fine, but I have already realized it matters to me in a way "The Cosy Knave" never could.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.