Booklist has it right when with this quote, “Readers of novels set in the world of Special Forces have many choices, but Taylor is one of the best."
The Taylor is Brad and his latest release is ENEMY OF MINE, the third novel in the New York Times bestselling Pike Logan series. With an unrivaled ability to blend military knowledge and create three-dimensional characters, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Taylor is quickly rising up the ranks in his genre.
In this Pike Logan thriller, a tentative peace between Israel and Palestine has been brokered by the United States. But the Taskforce—a clandestine team operating outside of US law to protect the country from terrorism—gets wind of an assassination attempt on the American envoy sent to solidify the treaty. The Taskforce must devote every resource to saving his life—and preventing another bloody outbreak of violence.
Task force operator Pike Logan and his partner, Jennifer Cahill, are charged with following the assassin’s flimsy trail through the Middle East, a trail that becomes more muddled at every turn. They must contend with terrorist organizations, independent killers, and shaky allies to uncover the biggest threat of all: an American citizen hiding a secret that just may destroy everything, including the Task force.
Brad is on the road in the coming days with book signings. Check the listing below to see if he could be at a signing near you.
* Wednesday, Jan. 16 - Vero Beach, FL
Vero Beach Book Center - 6 p.m.
www.theverobeachbookcenter.com
* Thursday, Jan. 17 - Alpharetta, GA
Peerless Bookstore - 6:30 p.m.
www.peerlessbookstore.com
* Friday, Jan. 18 - Houston, TX
Murder by the Book - 6:30 p.m.
www.murderbooks.com
* Saturday, Jan. 19 - Cincinnati, OH
Joseph-Beth Booksellers - 7 p.m.
www.josephbeth.com
* Sunday, Jan. 20 - Okemos, MI
Schuler Books & Music -2 p.m.
www.schulerbooks.com
* Monday, Jan. 21 - Naperville, IL
Anderson’s Bookshop - 7 p.m.
www.andersonsbookshop.com
* Thursday, Jan. 24 - Charleston, SC
Barnes & Noble - 7 p.m.
www.barnesandnoble.com
Brad joins us today to talk about his book and has graciously answered several questions.
Mason - Looking back on your writing process for Enemy of Mine, what was the biggest surprise that occurred?
Brad - It’s embarrassing to say, but the biggest surprise was learning I had the ability to tell a compelling story for a third time. The thought of creating a third book was daunting, but halfway through writing the first draft of ENEMY OF MINE, I stopped and went back through for edits. When I was done, I told my wife, “Believe it or not, this might be the best stuff I’ve ever put on the page.” It was definitely a pleasant surprise. I write a series, which has its pros and cons. The reader, if he or she comes back, did so for a reason, so they connected to something on the page of a previous book. They want something familiar, but not the same. I want to capture the reader, immerse him or her in the story, and was afraid ENEMY OF MINE would be nothing more than ALL NECESSARY FORCE in a different setting. Surprisingly (to me) that fear ended up being hollow.
Mason - Being the third in a series, what were some of the challenges you faced writing ENEMY OF MINE?
Brad - Probably the biggest challenge was the continued development of Pike and Jennifer’s relationship, along with creating new, distinct characters. As I stated above, in no way did I want a re-hash of any of my other books. I write an action-oriented series, but getting the reader to associate with the characters – both on the “good-guy” side and the “bad-guy” side – is what really matters to me. It’s the heart of why I write. Bullets flying around and bombs going off are great, but they mean nothing unless someone is viscerally affected by the action. That’s what brings the story to life, and is the hardest thing I struggle with. I know – and use – a lot of current counter-terrorism methods in my writing, but at the end of the day, it’s the impact of those events on the characters that makes a reader want to continue.
Other than that, the Arab Spring continues to plague me. Initially, Syria factored as a major setting in ENEMY OF MINE, and I had a planned research trip to Damascus in conjunction with a friend
of mine that worked in the U.S. embassy there. Then, Syria went up in smoke and my friend ended up dealing with car bombs and closing down the embassy. It was a significant challenge attempting to predict what would occur next in the Arab Spring while writing ENEMY OF MINE.
Mason - What do you hope readers will take away from this book, if anything?
Brad - As always, my primary hope is that the reader has trouble putting the book down, wanting to get to the next scene. That’s truly why I write, and not for any overarching political or moral message. If the reader is forced to choose between some task and reading my book, and decides on the book, I’ve succeeded. Other than enjoying the narrative, in ENEMY OF MINE I left behind the global nature of fanatical Islamic groups such as al Qaida, focusing instead on terrorist organizations with finite political goals, in this case Hamas and Hezbollah. There’s a history involved that’s entrenched in the Levant, but not too well known in the United States. Hopefully, some of the issues seep through the fiction and illuminate the parameters of a story the next time the reader is watching the evening news.
Mason - When you write, do you jump right into a story or do you plan and outline?
Brad - I definitely plan in advance, but I don’t develop a detailed outline. I have to know the problem to be solved or the crisis to be averted before even beginning to start to write, and that requires a tremendous amount of research. For instance, I wanted to understand the dynamics of the entire Palestinian diaspora, Hezbolla and Israel for ENEMY OF MINE. I had a very solid basic foundation, but I needed to know more, so before even beginning an outline of EOM I read five or six books on the problem, from all sides of the debate. And I do that for every manuscript. Once that’s done I sketch what I call a “framework”, which thematically carries large brushstrokes, but doesn’t do anything finite. I want the ability to shift mid-type, as it were, and if I tie myself down with a finite outline, I lose that flexibility. From there, I begin to type, connecting the large dots with the granular plot.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Brad - As I said above, I’m done trying to predict the Arab Spring – at least for a couple of books. I just finished the initial draft for THE WIDOW’S STRIKE and I’ve moved to South-East Asia as a setting. I served there in Special Forces, and it was fun doing the research on some old stomping grounds. TWS deals with the horrific potential of a pandemic of the H5N1 virus, more commonly known as the avian flu – something that’s very real, and very deadly. And yes, I surprised myself again. The characters resonate more than ever, and the plot races. THE WIDOW’S STRIKE will be available in July of 2013.
Brad, thanks for joining us and giving us a look at the detail research you do for your books. BTW, you have succeeded in making your books hard to put down.
To understand that Brad knows what he’s talking about in his books, you have to know a bit of background about him. He was born on Okinawa, Japan, but grew up on 40-acres in rural Texas. Graduating from the University of Texas, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry.
Brad served for more than 21 years, retiring as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. During that time he held numerous Infantry and Special Forces positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. He has conducted operations in support of US national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final assignment was as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel in Charleston, SC.
He holds a Master’s of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, with a concentration in Irregular Warfare. When not writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters. For more on Brad, his books and his writing, visit his website at http://bradtaylorbooks.com/
Here’s some additional comments about ENEMY OF MINE:
Booklist raved, “His obvious insider knowledge, combined with a well-constructed narrative, make all his work—and this novel, in particular—a delight for fans of the subgenre,” and Publishers Weekly agreed, “Those who prize authentic military action will be rewarded.” In a starred review, Kirkus said Taylor’s new novel “satisfies from start to finish,” and Vince Flynn, unprompted, blurbed, “When it comes to tactics and hardware he is spot-on.”
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Do you enjoy books that deal with current affairs and have a military theme?
White collar crime is constantly in the news and author G. Gordon Dean has used that background for his latest crime mystery exposé , SCAM FACTORY, where readers follow the main character, Michael Crayter, through pivotal current events such as Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the meltdown on Wall Street.
I’m delighted to welcome G. Gordon here today as he makes a stop on his Tribute Book Blog Tour. Thanks to G. Gordon and Nicole at Tribute, I have one eBook copy of SCAM FACTORY to giveaway to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway guidelines.
Here’s a summary of SCAM FACTORY:
Whoever said 'white-collar crime doesn’t pay' never lived in Washington D.C. TierGroup is a business consultancy firm located in the heart of DC. Its Division Heads have a very cold and calculating unorthodox approach to conducting business. Protecting and serving their clients is the only thing that matters. Nevertheless, loyalty can swing both ways in this journey through greed, corruption, and absolute lack of accountability.
As a former Las Vegas Casino Surveillance Director, Michael Crayter, a straight shooter, becomes an unaware, almost, employee of TierGroup in mid-2001. His transformation takes many shapes from idea man to fraud guru. He embarks on a journey to Iraq, through Hurricane Katrina and eventually takes part in one of the biggest scams in the history of the United States - the TARP funding program. His boss, Charles “The Czar” Zarin, is the ultimate manipulation mentor. Michael Crayter’s experience will last for more than eight years and will make his old Vegas job seem like child’s play. The investment opportunities the United States has to offer during this timeframe are seemingly endless and the public joins in on the greed. The whole country is riding high on the inflated value train with careless abandonment. There are no regulations followed or laws unbroken by the Mortgage Lenders, Stock Brokers, and Bankers. The bubble is getting bigger and the clock is ticking. It's every man for himself. Divide and conquer. Borrow and spend. No one sees the tsunami coming, except for Charles Zarin. Capitalism will be turned upside down and the money spigot will run dry.
By late 2007 the bubble bursts and our country’s economy is left in ruins. The Treasury is sent in to bail out the white-collar thieves. While losing most of its clients TierGroup and Michael Crayter are left to fend for themselves. The tables are turned on the fat-cat bankers who caused the meltdown. Michael Crayter uses his hard gained experience to get even with the fake bastards. Almost everyone loyal to TierGroup gets away with highway robbery and the American taxpayer is left holding the bag. Michael Crayter begins to tell his story, in this Four Part first-person narrative, during a 2005 interview at FBI headquarters in Washington D.C.
G. Gordon joins us to talk about his book and has also graciously answered some questions.
SCAM FACTORY started out as a dream I had about a job interview with a high-end consulting firm. I initially thought that my dream would make a great movie, but I decided to write a book instead. As I began to develop the plot and storylines I realized I could tie it all in with, past and current, real life events in the U.S. from 2001-2009. It was also relatively easy to combine some of my business experience, and people I have run across over the years, into this story. I grew up in Las Vegas and lived there for about thirty-five years so knowing about Scams, or coming up with my own for this book, wasn’t so hard. The TRUE events that led to the U.S. financial crash, mass business failures, and declines in property values in late 2007 were nothing but ammunition for this novel.
SCAM FACTORY is not a story about the guy in the white cowboy hat saving the town and riding off into the sunset. It is fiction based on reality with a ‘true to life’ outcome. The characters in this story get away with White-Collar crimes just as the real life participants did. The characters are sadistic and have a knack of getting away with almost everything, just like the in real world. It is as simple as that. One of the messages I wanted to convey in writing this story was to show what kinds of professionals were out there exploiting our businesses and citizens without legal retribution. The characters are mostly cold, calculating, and narcissistic.
I figured that using a first person narrative was the best way to tell the story. There are many subjects involved in this story so I divided SCAM FACTORY into four parts to further make it easier to read and understand. Loyalties are lost and revenge is certainly 
in the plot, but figuring out how to write about it was the key to the story. There is no mention of any existing, or real life, companies-only industries and fictional business entities. Another challenge was making the fictional writing seem realistic. Several of the initial book reviewers were asking if some of the events in the story actually took place. The answer is probably yes, except that only a hand full of people knows how those events really took place.
The consulting firm in (TierGroup) in this story, that represents the seventeen major industries, is politically neutral. The idea is that if your money is green then TierGroup, and its clients, do not really care what your political affiliation is. This is also very relevant in the real world, but it seems to be changing for the worst. Although SCAM FACTORY contains many dark sides, it strongly reflects a ‘behind the closed door’ characterization of the reality we have faced over the last six years. The lessons we are still learning as a country are obvious and it may take many more years to recover. Control, perception, manipulation, and greed are still the number one driving forces in the business world today, but on the other hand, there are always two sides to a coin. Only time will tell.
Enjoy SCAM FACTORY and become a fan on Facebook.
Please tell us about your current release.
G. Gordon - SCAM FACTORY is a modern day white-collar crime novel that begins in 2001 and continues into 2009. The 4-part story tells about the events that led to the U. S. Financial Crash that started in late 2007.The story’s main character, Michael Crayter, begins a new career, in mid-life, with an ultra-private Washington D.C. Consulting Firm. The Consulting Firm (TierGroup) represents seventeen of the worlds’ largest and most powerful industries who are making tremendous financial gains with no end in sight. SCAM FACTORY is also a story that takes its reader to Iraq, New Orleans, the Caribbean, and other major US cities. I believe I have described the story well in the back cover copy and prologue.
Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?
G. Gordon - The journey for writing SCAM FACTORY started with a dream I had one night about interviewing for an executive position at a major Consulting Firm. I landed the job in my dream, but after I woke up, I still had no idea what they did. I thought to myself: That was not a legitimate company, it was a Scam Factory. Then I further thought to myself that it might make an interesting book or even a movie. The war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the U.S. financial crash, which all occurred within the last 12 years, were also a perfect fit for this story.
Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?
G. Gordon - I designed and created the book cover with help of an associate. The title says it all: SCAM FACTORY. There is a silhouette of Washington D.C. in the background on the bottom of the cover, with the Washington Monument broadly standing out almost like a smoke stack from a factory, and sub tittles give the reader added information about the story. The font colors are also mean to stand out. I may add a light watermark of hurricane Katrina in the background later.
What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?
G. Gordon - That is a very good question. I had to do some research on this since SCAM FACTORY is a work of fiction. I only found one white-collar fiction book being sold today to compare it to: “RUDIGER” by David Lender. It had some of the same types of crimes committed in parts of my book. Several modern nonfiction books, currently on the market, also include many of the same types of crimes that I wrote about. I didn’t have much luck, but it could be that I don’t know where to look. Maybe someone out there will find other comparable books and share them with us.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
G. Gordon - Over all I can say that writing SCAM FACTORY is the biggest quirk because I only type with two fingers! I was not using the ‘Tab’ key where needed and hit the ‘Hard Return’ key too often, which made more than double the work for editing and formatting. This is my first novel and I am almost surprised that I was able to accomplish the challenging task of writing it.
Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
G. Gordon - SCAM FACTORY - PART 3 - Chapter 20 – Failure Is An Option:
During a private meeting with the three largest U.S. bank owners Michael Crayter (the CEO of TierGroup) speaks privately with Henry Strassburger (the secret owner of 100 independent banks) against the strong advice of his legal team. Michael knows that now is the time to take advantage of a very lucrative opportunity, find cracks in the system, and manipulate Strassburger. Their ‘mutual’ goal is to keep Strassburgers’ interest in the 100 independent banks a secret while acquiring the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funding from the US Treasury Department. The amount Strassburgers’ banks need is about $125 million for each bank(or $12.5 billion total).Michael Crayter does not trust Strassburger at all. He senses Strassburger is hiding the 100 banks loses and making false statements about their true financial condition to the government. What Henry Strassburger does not realize is that Michael Crayter does not intend to help him keep the banks from taking major loses or closing…
Do you plan any subsequent books?
G. Gordon - I am not sure about that right now. I have two or three other fictional book ideas in mind, but want to see how this one goes. I have been told that SCAM FACTORY would make a great movie, so a movie script may be in the works in the near future.
Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.
G. Gordon - I am not an avid reader, but I am always interested in new documentaries, news, and events that help me stay connected to current events. I watch programs on public television, cable and learning channels, and other major media outlets. I am usually going over Business and Real Estate opportunities being offered by others. Sometimes I am doing the actual business planning, modeling, and research for others, which requires a ton of evaluation, writing, and revisions.
G. Gordon, thanks for joining us today and sharing this background look at SCAM FACTORY. It is an intriguing premise and a very realistic read.
G. Gordon is a real estate agent and business consultant currently living in Arizona. He has been a media buff for over two decades. As a media buff he has kept himself well aware of past and current events in business, government, and politics. He lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 30 years. This is his first novel.
For more on G. Gordon and his writing, find him on Facebook, visit him at Goodreads, find SCAM FACTORY on Goodreads or visit the SCAM FACTORY blog tour site.
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Scam Factory.” Your message should include your name and the email address you’d like the eBook sent to. And, just so you know, I don’t share any of this information with anyone other than the publisher/tour promoter nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a copy of SCAM FACTORY will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Jan. 21.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Have you read any books that compare to SCAM FACTORY?
We’re almost half way through the first month of 2013 and it’s time for the second Sunday Salon of the year.
Sunday Salon is the time we share our book finds from the previous week and discover new ones to read.
Make sure your cup is filled with your favorite beverage, settle back, relax, and get ready to talk books. With the holidays behind us, I’d like to share my thoughts on a thriller from one of my favorite authors.
Just when you think there can’t be anything new, author J.D. Robb presents Lt. Eve Dallas with a twist on a case that will leave you wondering - could it happen?
Brought to life my narrator Susan Ericksen, the world of Eve and the NYSPD seems realistic despite its futuristic setting. Ericksen’s excellent vocalization gives such distinct voices to each character you forget there is only one narrator. She relays the emotions and spirit of the characters with great detail.
It’s a normal after-work happy hour at a downtown bar. One minute everyone is talking, laughing, drinking and eating - the next hostility breaks out everywhere. The mood escalates, madness takes over and within minutes 80 people are dead. The few survivors aren’t sure what happened.
Eve and her partner Peabody, along with other members of the police department, try to unravel the mystery. The bar is owned by Eve’s husband, Roarke, but he doesn’t seem to be the target. They soon learn the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that caused them to go temporarily insane.
A second business is the target of the mysterious cocktail and more people die. Eve and her team scramble to find the mad man behind the killings and stop him before the cocktail spreads throughout the city and beyond.
Robb brings all the beloved characters of this series back with a special look at Sommerset, Roarke’s gentleman butler. A bit more is learned about his background during the Urban Wars and its lasting effect on him.
The story moves at a fast pace with numerous twists and turns for a full-blown adrenaline rush. Robb keeps the suspense riveting and the tension high, but blends in a few romantic moments for Eve and Roarke. The interaction between Eve and Peabody shows a strong friendship and loyalty highlighted by humor.
DELUSION IN DEATH, the 35th installment in the series, makes some references to a prior story but can be read/listened to as a stand alone without losing new readers/listeners. Returning fans will enjoy the new developments as the tough and sexy protagonist continues to grow emotionally learning there are people she can rely on.
This series just keeps getting better and better. DELUSION IN DEATH, a must read/listen for Eve Dallas fans.
Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb, Eve Dallas Series, Performed by Susan Ericksen, Brilliance Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1455818310, Unabridged, 11 Discs, Listening Time: 13 Hours 15 Minutes
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Hope the New Year is treating you well. Are you a fan of futuristic thrillers?
Grand Central Publishing and Forever have some fantastic historical
romance titles coming out this month including MISTRESS OF MY FATE by Hallie Rubenhold.
Hallie is an authority on British eighteenth-century social history. She has written two works of non-fiction to critical acclaim: The Convent Garden Ladies and Lady Worsley’s Whim: An Eighteenth-Century Tale of Sex, Scandal and Divorce.
In addition to writing books, articles, and reviews, Hallie regularly appears on TV in the UK as an expert contributor to documentaries. She lives in London with her husband.
RT Book Reviews had this to say about MISTRESS OF MY FATE (Top pick!): "Rubenhold's eye for rich detail and dialogue, coupled with witty writing and deft prose, turn this first-person "confession" into a "you are there" novel that readers will never want to end. The smart and sassy heroine and her every adventure are an irresistible delight. Be swept away into another world, another life and another mop of a read."
In keeping with the historical theme, Hallie shares a few 18th century beauty remedies and quiz.
An excellent receipt to clear a tanned complexion At night before going to rest, bathe the face with the juice of strawberries, and let it lie on the part all night, and in the morning wash yourself with chervil water. The skin will soon become fair and smooth.
To sweeten the breath Chew every night and morning a clove, or a piece of Florentine Orris root, about the size of a small bean.
Now let’s see which 18th century courtesan you are. Are you: Henrietta Lightfoot, Gertrude Mahon ‘The Bird of Paradise’, Mary Anne Greenhill ‘The Greenfinch’, Letitia, Lady Lade, or Caroline Ponsonby?
1. When it comes to expressing myself:
a. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m not very good at disguising my emotions.
b. I think before I speak and am always aware of the damage I can do if I’m not careful.
c. I try to conceal my real feelings, but sometimes I come across as a bit false or even bitchy.
d. I call a spade a spade and don’t mince words.
e. I often don’t think before I speak. I can say some stupid things sometimes.
2. I would describe my attitude towards life as:
a. Honest, full of integrity, but I do try to look out for myself.
b. Savvy and experienced. I’ve seen a lot in my day and virtually nothing surprises me.
c. I’m on the way up. I’m ambitious and I know how to get what I want.
d. I don’t mess about and I certainly don’t suffer fools. I’m not obsessed with possessions or appearances.
e. Easy come, easy go. I get myself into scrapes, but usually things turn out alright in the end.
3. I would describe myself as:
a. Good and wholesome.
b. Seasoned and wise.
c. a bitch.
d. sporty and fun loving. I’m a lad in petticoats.
e. A little scatter-brained.
4. I would describe my dress sense as:
a. Modest, classic, not over adorned.
b. stylish but well suited to my age.
c. a slave to fashion, jewelry and the latest styles.
d. sporty
e. not too fussy.
5. My attitude towards relationships is:
a. I believe in true love.
b. I’ve had my heart broken and am now quite practical about my relationships.
c. I need a rich man to make me happy.
d. I spent many years playing the field but now I’m happily settled.
e. When it comes to love, sometimes I think I’m still learning the ropes!
6. In my free time I like to:
a. Read, paint, think, go for long walks.
b. plan outings and events.
c. Go out, be seen, flirt and go shopping.
d. participate in sports or larking about with the lads.
e. pretty much go along with whatever my friends have in mind.
7. My picture of home is:
a. A beautiful country cottage which I share with my true love and our children.
b. A nice place in town which I have all to myself.
c. An extremely expensive and fashionable address, decorated to my taste.
d. A house where my husband and I throw wild parties for our crazy friends.
e. A secure place, where I know the rent will always be paid.
What were your results?
Mostly A’s : You are Henrietta Lightfoot – intelligent, quick witted, honest and principled. You were not born to deception and dishonesty, but you’ve learned how to look out for yourself in the real world. No matter what anyone tells you, you’re a firm believer in true love.
Mostly B’s: You are Gertrude Mahon, ‘The Bird of Paradise’ – No one gets one over on you. You’re a true woman of the world. You’ve known love, but you’ve also seen the darker side of people. Over the years you’ve cultivated some very loyal friends. You’re totally in control and have a mature outlook on life.
Mostly C’s: You are Mary Anne Greenhill, ‘The Greenfinch’ – You’ve climbed the greasy pole to a life of comfort and luxury. You are sophisticated, fashionable and materialistic – but only because you know how hard life is likely to be without these things. You’re canny, clever and always looking for the next opportunity to better your life.
Mostly D’s: You are Letitia, Lady Lade - You can’t be bothered with flattery and falseness and you’re very matter of fact in your approach to life. If you’re hit with a crisis, you tend to pick yourself up, stop moaning and get on with it. You’re sporty, fun-loving and quite like male company because it’s no nonsense. You can swagger and swear as well as any lad.
Mostly E’s: You are Caroline Ponsonby – Life seems to carry you along in its current and you’re alright with that. Although bad things have happened to you, it’s remarkable how everything always seems to turn out alright in the end. You’re basically quite a positive person and people tend to look out for you.
To get a better understand and feel for MISTRESS OF MY FATE, here’s a portion of Chapter 1. For the entire excerpt, visit Hallie’s Facebook Page.
Chapter 1
5th March 1835
My dear reader, how pleased I am that you have purchased this volume! It warms my heart that you have requested it from your bookseller; that he has wrapped it carefully in brown paper and string and handed it to you. How happy I am that you have taken it home with you to read in the quiet of your sitting room or library. Now you may know the truth, and nothing gives me greater relief than this.
I have no doubt that many of you have come to this work out of curiosity. You have heard so much about me, most of which is pure fabrication. Now that you have torn off the packaging and cut the pages, you can begin to read my story and to know who I am. You see, for some time a relation of mine has been attempting to discredit me in the most reprehensible manner. I have no doubt that he too sent a servant to his local bookseller to collect a copy of this work. As you read this, so does he. His eyes are scanning every word, searching every syllable. He is among you, taking in my story alongside you.
To him I say, Lord Dennington, do not think I have written these memoirs because of you. Do not flatter yourself. You are only part of the reason. There is much I need to say on the matter of my life and I have grown weary of your slander. Whomever you have hired to do your disgraceful deeds, whether it is those shameless scribes who will print anything for a crust of bread, or that unscrupulous little spy you planted among my loyal staff, they are not capable of telling the truth. You pay them and so they will say anything. Certainly, a man who has seen as much of the world as you should know this.
Now it is my turn to pick up my pen, to clear my name, to scrub away the lies with which you have stained it. I must commend you for the amusement you have provided for me and my friends. We laughed heartily at your accusations—that I had been a circus performer, that I worked as a charlatan attempting to revive the dead and, worse still, that I murdered a ship of sailors. Really, this is quite absurd.
No, sir, as you will come to realize, these memoirs are not written solely because of you. I write because it is time for the public to hear my story, because for as long as I have been called Mrs. Lightfoot, great men and women have asked for it. The world wants my confession yet, until this moment, I refused to honour that request. I wished to keep my life and my adventures quiet. Like you, my lord, discretion was one of the virtues I was taught as a child.
As for my other readers, whose sensibilities I wish to protect, I feel the need to issue a warning. In these pages I set out to tell the absolute truth. If you take offence easily, if you are faint of heart or of a delicate nature, there is much here that you are likely to find objectionable. It is necessary for you to understand why I have, in the past, refused to discuss these private matters. My story is not an easy one to relay, nor is it likely to be short.
I shall begin by telling you what I remember most vividly: an early morning in late October. I was but seventeen and so unprepared for the world that I hardly knew how to dress myself, let alone judge character or transact the business of ordinary life. I sat on the floor of my bedchamber in the darkness, entirely unaware of the hour. There was no fire in my grate, nor would there be anyone coming to light it. I shivered, from both the cold and a complete terror of that which I knew I must do.
For most of the night I had sobbed. I had lain outstretched on the floor, like a condemned prisoner, unable to move or think, able only to ache. My life as I had known it was now about to end. But, as any good Christian will tell you, with death there also comes resurrection and the possibility of a better existence elsewhere. I knew this in my heart, and that rebirth was the sole path open to me. I had only to muster the courage to grab for it and, in doing so, let go of all that tied me to the girl I had been.
So I did this, while the moon threw its dim cast across my windowsill. I worked without so much as a candle to guide me, rummaging through the most essential of my belongings: linens, stockings, skirts, a petticoat and, most importantly, the few small items of value that I as a young lady owned. Of all a woman’s possessions, jewels will get her the furthest and mine, on several occasions, have saved me from experiencing the grossest of depredations. At the time, I had but two trinkets: a gold and pearl cross, which I always wore upon my person; and a pair of simple pearl eardrops. I was too young for diamonds. Those are for married women, and in any case, owing to my precarious position within their family, Lord and Lady Stavourley saw no need to adorn me so lavishly.
I wrapped my bundle as a servant would, in a sheet. I had never before carried my own belongings and I did not even know how to tie them up securely. However, I found that soft packet offered me some comfort as I clutched it to my breast. It calmed my trembling.
I dressed for the road, but not without some struggle, sliding on my sturdiest shoes and fumbling with the buttons of my grey riding habit. Around my shoulders I threw my blue cape, the hood of which rested atop my black hat. I hoped to look respectable for my journey without drawing attention to myself. In truth, I knew that most people would be able to guess my circumstances. It is not usual to see a well-dressed young lady with spotless white gloves and a quivering expression traveling unchaperoned.
It was not until after I had attired myself and gathered my belongings that my mind, like a lamp, flickered out. My lungs and heart and legs took over. My breathing was so harsh that I feared all of Melmouth could hear my gasps as I carefully navigated the treacherous steps of the back stairs. The chill within the stony walls turned my breath to steam. I was like an animal, clambering through the darkness. I stole through the narrow corridor near the kitchens, passing by the doors of servants, still sunk deeply into their warm straw mattresses. In an hour, the first light of morning would wake them and, with so many pairs of eyes on guard, my flight would have been impossible. You must understand that, by then, they hated me. They would have set upon me like a pack of slavering dogs.
Aware of this, I picked my way carefully along the row of doors. To my ear, the gentle clack of my heels reverberated like cannon fire. How I wished to bolt when I saw that window above the entryway, illuminating the porthole to my release! Instead, I continued to creep nearer and nearer, until my hands rested on the entry door. At last, with a firm push, I passed out of one life and into the next.
I can understand why infants scream when they come into our world. The strain of birth is enormous. The cold that greets them foretells what awaits them in life. It is as if they know from their very first breath that the warmth of the womb and all of its comforts have been lost for ever.
When I stepped over the threshold of Melmouth House and into the sprawl of parkland, I bawled as if my heart would break. The sobs came with such force that I feared they would echo through the park and wake the entire household. I had to stop my mouth with my fist. As I ran, scrambling, tripping across the frost-crusted grass, I howled, unable to contain my anguish. I have never known such heart-tearing pain as I did that morning, when I cut the cord that held me to my only true parent.
My legs knew where they carried me: to the perimeter wall. I would not risk passing the gatehouses, or scaling the heights to my freedom. There was one break, filled in loosely with stones, where an old door had been. Poachers were known to slip through it, their sacks dripping with Lord Stavourley’s grouse and rabbits. I had seen the spot several months earlier, but finding it in the dark was to prove difficult.
I tumbled through the park, startling sleepy deer, dislodging bats and rousing a variety of creatures that squealed and scampered off at my approach. I tore through the copse with an urgency that they alone might have understood. Although I knew every path and trail, every pool and corner of Melmouth, I was not so familiar with it while it lay beneath the curtain of night. With my eyes ablaze with tears, I traveled in a state of near blindness, sinking in mud to my shins, my cape hemmed with filth and fallen leaves, my stockings already sodden and stained beyond laundering. It took some scrambling for me to find the precise point in the wall. By then the sky was softening into the deep blue of dawn. I pushed and kicked with all my might. Eventually, three of the stones fell away and I was able to squeeze myself, mouse-like, through the opening.
Doesn’t this make you wonder what happens from here? What else does this memoir have to tell? Thanks everyone for stopping by today. I hope you had fun taking the quiz and please let me know if you give the beauty treatments a try. What do you enjoy most about historical romance novels?
It’s always exciting meeting new authors and discovering new books. Being able to share both with you is an added bonus. That’s why I’m delighted to welcome 'new-to-me' author
Colby Marshall to Thoughts today as she tours blogdom with her latest release, CHAIN OF COMMAND.
A reporter discovers the simultaneous assassinations of the President and Vice President may have been a plot to rocket the very first woman—the Speaker of the House—into the presidency.
R.L. Stine, New York Times bestselling author of Red Rain, The Haunting Hour, and the Goosebumps series; had this to say about CHAIN OF COMMOND: "The first chapter will shock you--and the shocks keep right on coming. Colby Marshall has written a book that deserves to be called THRILLER."
Colby, who also just happens to be a Georgia author 
, graciously answered some questions about her writing.
Mason - Why write this book? What made this story so compelling to you that you had to tell it?
Colby - What a question. Insanity, maybe? No, I joke. CHAIN OF COMMOND was an idea that came to me years ago during a conversation with friends about how, if I was a man, I’m not sure how I would feel about running for the presidency with a woman since either way, trouble would be imminent. If the woman was the president, I’d worry some group would be so angry they’d bump her off, and I’d be forced to be president (and in a horrible way). Worse would be having a woman as my vice president, because some crazy who wanted to make the first woman president would surely kill me. At the time, the third person in line for the presidency—the Speaker of the House—was a woman. As soon as that little fact entered my brain, the story began to click into place. Our country has never had a female president, though with every election, more and more female names seem to crop up. I’d already started to think, “I wonder when it will happen,” and the recent political climates planted seeds of how it could happen in a fictional world.
Mason - How did you go about doing research for this book? Was it something you enjoyed doing or just necessary?
Colby - Call me a nerd, but I’m a sucker for research. I love it.
During research for CHAIN OF COMMOND, I interviewed many active and former members of the U.S. military, including those in Special Ops. I was often amazed at how wrong my preconceptions 
about certain things were, but then again, that’s what research is for. I was also taken aback by some answers I got. For example, one question I asked a former Delta Force member was, “What is your biggest fear when on a real world op?” His answer? “Dead batteries in my night vision goggles.”
I also use Google like it’s going out of style, and I’m sure said searches in research for a book like this have landed me on all sorts of fun government watch lists. Luckily, when the FBI came looking for me, they were huge Monty Python fans with a penchant for musical theatre, so all I had to do was break out the cast recording of Spamalot and we were in the clear.
Mason - With the book’s release, as you look back what was the biggest surprise that came out of writing this story?
Colby - How much it changed since the first draft. When I first wrote this story, a MAJOR character wasn’t even part of it. Now, I can’t imagine how it ever worked without him. When I rewrote it and included this new character, he seemed so vital to the plot that it was ludicrous to imagine it had ever come together without him, and yet, it had!
Mason - What is an average writing day like for you? Do you write longhand and/or on the computer, have a favorite place to write, a favorite time to write, listen to music, etc.?
Colby - I could never write longhand - I have carpal tunnel flares, and while typing isn’t the best for those, writing longhand is infinitely worse. A true night owl, I write my best in the hours after 6 p.m. into the wee hours of the morning, most often in my “writing chair”: a green leather recliner I inherited from my grandfather when he passed away. I have to have my space heater on me at all times (my husband jokes that I’m a lizard and that I must “bask.”) I rarely listen to music, but I nearly always have a movie going in the background, preferably one in which Denzel Washington or Mark Wahlberg walk away from something that just exploded like it ain’t no thang.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Colby - Right now, I’m working on the second novel in my Dr. Jenna Ramey series while the first, COLORBLIND, is being read by agents. COLORBLIND is a psychological thriller about forensic psychiatrist Jenna Ramey, who possesses a rare condition that causes her to associate gut feelings with colors — a condition that famously helped put her mother behind bars years ago. Now, she must use the same tactic to stop a killer with an intricate knowledge of her past before she becomes the next victim.
I also hope the next book in the McKenzie McClendon series — The Trade — will soon be available. You can read more about those books on my website.
Colby, thanks so much for visiting and giving us a look at how CHAIN OF COMMOND came about. The plot for your second novel sounds intriguing too. Can’t wait to find out more.
Now let me give you a bit of background on Colby. Writer by day, ballroom dancer and choreographer by night, Colby is a contributing columnist for a local magazine and a proud member of International Thriller Writers. She's active in local theatres as an actress and choreographer. She lives in Georgia with her family where she is hard at work on her newest thriller.
For more on Colby and her writing, visit her website at www.colbymarshall.com, follow her on Twitter and ‘Like’ her on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Jon Land (bestselling author of Pandora's Temple) had this to say about CHAIN OF COMMAND: "Carved from the tradition of top-flight political thrillers, Chain of Command is a sizzling potboiler of a tale that threatens to rewrite the rules of the entire genre. Not since Seven Days in May, Six Days of the Condor, and the marvelous work of Alan Drury has an author so wondrously captured the government in ultimate crisis. Colby Marshall's sterling debut may transpire over more than six or seven days, but like me you'll probably finish it in a single night, racing the dawn to flip the last page. A classic concept updated to fit our politics wary world."
CHAIN OF COMMAND is currently available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and also on Kobo, iBooks, Sony and others.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. What are your thoughts on a female president (from a mystery plot viewpoint)?
I’m delighted to welcome author Hy Conrad to Thoughts today as he makes a stop on his Premier Virtual Author Book Tour for his mystery debut, RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE, An Abel Adventures Mystery.
Being a fan of the TV show ‘Monk,’ which Hy was a writer and producer of, I’m thrilled to have Hy joining us. He has graciously answered some questions about his writing and is offering a copy of RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE to one lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway guidelines.
Here’s a brief description of RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE, which I reviewed yesterday:
Amy Abel needs a fresh start as it‘s been two years since the death of her fiancée. And what better way for a shy, risk-averse woman to start over than to sink her savings into a travel agency specializing in adventure. Her first project? A mystery road rally through the European countryside.
At the starting line in Monte Carlo, Amy finds herself attracted to Marcus Alvarez, the most mysterious of her two dozen game-loving clients. But the rally gets off to a rocky start when an eccentric writer, the only person who knows the game's solution, is himself murdered back in New York.
Weird accidents begin happening along the route and Amy discovers that this fictional mystery was based on a real, unsolved case, one that Marcus knows too much about. Now she has no choice but to join forces with Fanny, her domineering mother, before the killer strikes again.
Now Hy answers questions.
Mason - Why write this book? What made this story so compelling to you that you had to tell it?
HY - RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE is my first mystery novel. It’s hard to think that I’ve been in the world of mysteries for so long – writing for “Monk” and “White Collar” plus numerous collections of short mysteries and games – without writing a novel.
The idea behind the Abel Adventures series was to combine an intricate mystery with exotic locations. My amateur sleuth, Amy Abel, leads high-end tour groups around the world, where she always runs into murder. I wanted to keep the tone light, but at the same time make the stories a little larger and more complex than the usual cozy.
RALLY, the first Abel book, is my attempt to have fun with the mechanics of a traditional story. It’s basically a mystery within a
mystery, which was something I always wanted to do.
Mason - If you had to write this book over, would you do anything differently -- content in the book, your writing schedule, the way you researched it, etc.?
HY - I was extremely happy with the way it turned out. But now that I’m working on the sequel, I’m discovering the difficulty of my premise. In every book, I have to send Amy off with a group of suspects and a victim. Then I have to deal with international police and local customs. Finally, I have to bring the mystery home to Greenwich Village, in order to spend time with Amy’s mother, Fanny, a character that everyone seems to love.
I didn’t realize how hard this would be to do over and over. So, in retrospect, I might have gone easier on myself and picked a simpler premise.
Mason - Did anything unusual, scary and/or funny happen during the course of your writing this book?
HY - I wish the writing process were more unusual or scary or funny, but it’s not. Not for me. The only interesting thing I can think of is the genesis of Abel Adventures.
In the early days on the web, no one knew what kind of Internet content would be successful. So I was asked by Prodigy (an early version of AOL) to write a monthly mystery serial with a different chapter every day. The result was Tom Abel, a character similar to Amy Abel, who led adventurous tours around the world. This idea has always stayed with me, even though the original stories have been lost to time – and a few computer crashes.
Mason - You have been shipwrecked on an island. You have 2 books to keep you company until help arrives, plenty of drinking water and 1 food item, plus your _____. Name the books, what food item would you want and fill in the blank.
HY - The joke answer is “Cooking with Coconuts” and “Boat Building for Dummies”, freeze-dried protein and a satellite phone.
My real answer would be the collected works of P.J. Wodehouse and something new by Ken Follett. In case you can’t tell, I love humor and good plotting.
My food would be pineapple upside cake and my item would be a combination bug repellent and sunscreen, which no one seems to make but would be a best-seller, at least on desert islands.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
HY - Obsidian Press has hired me to continue writing the Monk novels. I just finished the first, MR. MONK HELPS HIMSELF, which will be out this summer. In addition, I’m working on second Abel Adventures novel, IF I DIE BEFORE THE WAKE.
Hy, thanks for joining us today and answering these questions. Having Amy run a travel agency may cause a few problems for your writing, but after reading RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE I can’t image Amy doing anything else. It’s such a fun twist.
As I mentioned earlier, Hy was a writer for the TV show Monk. In fact, he was one of the original writers for the groundbreaking series. He worked on the show for all eight seasons, the final two as Co-Executive Producer, and received three Edgar Nominations from the Mystery Writers of America for "Best TV Episode."
In a related project, Hy was Executive Producer and head writer of Little Monk, a series of short films featuring Adrian Monk as a ten-year-old. His latest TV work was as writer and Consulting Producer for White Collar.
Hy is also the author of hundreds of short stories and ten books of short whodunits, which have been sold around the world in fourteen languages. Hy's first full-length comedy/mystery play, Home Exchange, premiered at the Waterfront Playhouse in Key West in May 2012. And, in a different vein, he recently authored a humor book called Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know.
Hy splits his time among Key West, Vermont and New York City. For more on Hy and his writing, visit his website at http://www.hyconrad.com
Now for the giveaway guidelines. To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Rally ‘Round The Corpse.” Residents of the U.S. and Canada can select either a print copy of the book or an eBook. Your message should include your name and mailing address for the print copy or the email address you’d like the eBook sent to. If you are an international visitor entering the giveaway, please include your name and the email address you’d like the eBook sent to in your message. And, just so you know, I don’t share any of this information with anyone other than the publisher/tour promoter nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a copy of RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Jan. 18.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Would you participate in a mystery road rally if one was held near you? You can follow Hy on his blog tour here.
Making a game out of a mystery and a European road rally is the
perfect combination for intrigue and suspense.
Author Hy Conrad puts an amusing spin on a traditional board game with his debut mystery, RALLY ‘ROUND THE CORPSE. His protagonist oversees a mystery road rally through the European countryside.
It’s been two years and Amy Abel is trying to start over after the death of her fiancé. With the help of her mother, Amy puts all her savings into a travel agency. But this is not an ordinary travel agency, Amy’s specializes in adventure. Her first project - a mystery road rally through the European countryside - may be her last.
With two dozen clients participating in the rally, Amy finds herself drawn to the mysterious Marcus Alvarez. Starting in Monte Carlo, the rally has problems right off the bat. The eccentric writer who penned the rally is murdered in New York. Then weird accidents begin to happen along the route.
What Amy soon discovers about the mystery game has her seeing Marcus in a different light. Teaming up with her mother, Amy sets out to solve the real mystery before her business (and her life) are terminated.
Conrad has created well-developed characters that are realistic with just a touch of zaniness. He takes the story on a whirlwind adventure while placing the reader in the midst of the action with his vivid descriptions. As the story unfolds, Conrad incorporates red herrings keeping readers on their toes as to who the real killer is and what could possible happen next.
RALLY ’ROUND THE CORPSE is well-written and flows smoothly. It’s a fast pace mystery featuring bits of humor and romance with suspense and intrigue always lurking nearby. This is a fun read mystery lovers will adore and eagerly await the next adventure Amy undertakes.
Author Hy Conrad’s website is http://www.hyconrad.com
Rally ‘Round The Corpse by Hy Conrad, An Abel Adventures Mystery, Seven Realms Publishing, @2012, ISBN: 978-0983735045, Paperback, 348 Pages (Also available in Kindle, Nook, Sony eReader, iTunes)
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this story was sent to me by the author as part of his Premier Virtual Book Tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Please be sure to stop back by tomorrow when author Hy Conrad visits and answers some questions about his writing. Have you ever acted out a mystery board game? What would you think of participating in a mystery road rally?
