Steve Freeman has consented to be my third impromptu interview, and the links are to our Facebook pages – If you want to be friends,or follow, please click on the name. We’d be glad to have you aboard.
After several times of not being able to connect, we had an enjoyable talk ~
Hi Paula – is this a good time to chat?
We could give it a shot.
Okay – super.
I will try to ignore all my other lights blinking – if I should go dark and you’re waiting for an answer – it just means I jumped up to deal with something and will be back.
Okay
So how is number three in the series coming?
I just published it a few weeks ago. ***insert cheer***
Wow, wow, wow
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JM5BZEO
The Stokely Medical Group has a secret… When FBI Forensic Accountant Mallory Wilson is called to investigate the potential theft of narcotics from a local medical group, the routine case takes a sinister turn as she and boyfriend Alton Blackwell uncover a series of questionable patient deaths. Alto…
I’m pretty happy about that, of course.
You heard my question on the link even before I could ask.
Well, yes, I can understand you being happy with a new release-
I still need to get your second. Do you have your books in kindle?
Yes – all of them.
Here is book #2:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HUYU8F6
Ruthless (The Blackwell Files)
A disabled ex-Army officer turned world-class cryptographer…a beautiful FBI agent…and a ruthless murderer on the loose in Atlanta. A heartless killer ambushes and guns down ex-mobster Jay Mancini. Days later, the killer disposes of Mancini’s live-in girlfriend in cold blood. Desperate …
Fantastic! I love my paperbacks, but my holding them is not okay. I will get this one today. I have to pace my purse, but I just opened it so, you will be or that is, Ruthless will be, the first on the docket to be bought along with T-Wave.
Awesome – I hope you will enjoy it!
I shall, if your loveable characters are in this one, or if not, equally as loveable new characters.
It’s a series, so the new books have some of the main characters as “Nefarious.”
Great, it is time to get reacquainted.
Ha-ha. I didn’t feel the story of Alton and Mallory was over with “Nefarious.”
I felt it had only begun. I am always happy to come in on a beginning of a series – and when I can connect with the characters, I’m hooked into getting the rest.
I’m glad you’re anticipating their return.
My biggest problem is that I have either a hard time waiting for the new one to come out or do not have the money when it comes out. A dilemma for me, the reader, not so much for the writer.
That’s the good thing about eBooks. They’re almost always less expensive.
I’ve appreciated that as a reader.
I’ve gotten in my kindle big time not so much for that reason, but with my limited ability to hold any weight, the Kindle is great.
I had a dead spot for two years in my reading zone – my house
I’m glad that has worked out.
Me, too, – I love it –
I wanted to ask about your books in as much as the background
Sorry? I didn’t quite follow the question.
Is it purely fictional or do you draw on your experiences
Good question. The story line is fictional, but I do draw fairly heavily from my life experiences. Like Alton, I was a member of the Army’s Signal Corps and I work for a high-tech firm (although not in a cryptographic capacity).
I also had a mildly injured leg, but nothing nearly as drastic as Alton.
I think referencing something real in my writing, be it a personality trait, location, etc., confers a level of authenticity that readers notice.
I had felt the authenticity of the scenes and thought the same.
I’m glad to hear that. I work hard to portray it that way.
I think if you stick to what you are doing, it will not be hard. Your flow appears easy and believable. That is what I enjoy. I think I told you that I am not really into ‘war zone’ stories, but I got so caught up in your characters, it was hard to put the kindle off.
You know, I’ve had a lot of people say they don’t really like war stories but enjoyed “Nefarious.”
I think that’s because at its heart, “Nefarious” is really more of a mystery and a love story. It just happens to be set in a military setting for the first half of the book.
True – it is the characters that sell the story and the more the reader can relate to, the more the reader hangs around for more.
Setting also helps. I try to write most of the stories in areas with which I’m familiar.
To me, that makes perfect sense – I know I tend to do things backwards, that is, act first, then check, -could be deadly in some situations, but, the fictional kind , not so bad. I write what I know and now know, that is one of the points in writing courses.
Your empathy comes through.
I’ve never had a formal writing course, so I’m glad to hear I’m using a proven technique.
That is even better. When I wrote the first children’s story, I was writing it for my youngest granddaughter, so publishing was not a thought until her friends, kids, obviously, and in the range I wrote for, and adult friends and relatives read and urged publishing. At that point I got some books on children’s lit and how to write and found out I did it! I do think it shows in books, and the books that I read and like, have that quality.
Indeed.
Are you into full time writing now or torn between writing and an outside job?
Oh, I still have my day job, which I actually really enjoy, so I don’t feel compelled to give it up. Writing is my second job. In my heart, I still think of writing as a hobby, because I like it a lot, but I invest a lot more time into it than a typical hobby would require.
My day job is why these FB chats are a little tricky for me to work out.
I was thinking you were free because you are getting the books out there with good timing. One of my friends told me, a book every few months is good, one a month better – I can’t do that even with being in the house all day.
An impromptu chat is just that – I am just asking questions as they pop into my mind – if you have anything you want me to know, just put it out there.
As a self-published author, I don’t know how I’d come close to one book a month. I still have to review my first draft with beta readers, my critique group, etc. That takes time.
Okay – fair enough.
That is what I said to her and totally agree
I’m really happy to crack out the books as quickly as I have, to be honest.
You’re doing great
Thanks
Time wise and storyline wise
I’ve mostly finished my fourth book, “Havoc.”
Hahahhahha….
I need another round of edits, then proofing.
I hope it will be out in August or September.
I need to read faster!
And I’m really pleased with the cover my graphic designer made.
That is good to know – do you want to share who your designer is?
I have pretty solid ideas for the next three books. I just don’t have time to write them all down.
Sure, I can share. Let me look up her link…
Our readers are always looking for designers that are good.
That is, the readers that are authors
Laura at LLPix Photography and Design. http://www.llpix.com/customcovers.html
Laura Wright LaRoche, Author and Photographer, owner of http://www.llpix.com website. Book Cover designer, Book Trailer Creator, Photography, Books. Author of Black Woods Series, Broken Soul, Two Sisters: prattle tales of playful girls. ” In a world of words, anything is possible. ” – Laura Wright LaRoche
She is great to work with and produces a fine product.
Want to see the “Havoc” cover?
Thank you, yes! Did she do all of your covers?
No, she only produced “Havoc.” (I only discovered Laura recently.) “Havoc” is a special story, and I wanted a special cover.
Your T wave reminds me of Creighton and this one, Havoc, of Steve Berry.
haha – cool
I can definitely see the Creighton reference.
I thought of The Amber Room
I don’t know that work, but I’ll take your word for it!
I know, it does not correlate, but in my mind it did.
You know, I only started writing about 1.5 years ago. This has been a fun ride so far.
I am into a lot of genres, but a suspense with a happy or at least wiggle room ending, then I’m hooked.
I think you’ll like my other books, then.
The end to “Nefarious” was happy, I think.
You are quite prolific for only a year and a half career
Yes, the ending to Nefarious was happy.
***********Spoiler Alert – next few answers**********
Of course, I had to torture readers at the end by hinting maybe the ending wouldn’t be so nice.
But it makes the happy ending even more satisfying, at least for me.
oh dear
yes?
I think that having a questionable ending coming is fine, but our world is so fraught with too much reality, that having a positive outcome is welcome
*******ALERT – THIS ANSWER HOLDS HEAVY SPOILERS –*******
I hope so. That’s how I’ve geared all my books.
In “Nefarious,” I first hinted that Mallory had died…then I suggested Scott was her boyfriend… before I revealed that she was alive and free to love Alton.
It also sets up the next few books quite nicely, too.
Good – you’ve got me for a fan, for what that is worth.
That’s great. I appreciate it!
I know, you are still trying to pry a review out of me
Ha-ha – yes, that’s true.
It will come as we get this interview up and running.
I, believe it or not, am getting better at doing formal reviews – but I do get back to the authors if I’ve run into them online.
I only give 5 star reviews because I do not read everything I start, so finishing is the key.
Okay –
So I take it you finished “Nefarious,” then… or I just gave away the ending.
No, I finished it. In fact, I did not like the ending on the pdf and took the book and looked and you had switched a couple of paragraphs and I *sighed* and said, much better!
You liked the hardcopy better?
Yes, I did.
That’s good to know. Maybe I should switch the PDF to align with the hard copy. I hadn’t thought about it for a while, to be honest.
Many of us do not rely on reviews, but read the free inside to get the gist.
Yes, I do that a lot, too.
And we promote one another
But reviews can get folks to the point of looking inside your book, at times.
I will do a review, but now I will tie it in with your interview with me.
Awesome!
So did I provide the information you were hoping to acquire?
Oh…want my author website address?
Yes – you told me the background and when I like books I usually find the author is in fact putting his life into his art. Any links you want me to use put in.
Sounds good–thanks! Here’s my website:
The Blackwell Files: A Series”The Blackwell Files” chronicles the exploits of Alton Blackwell, ex-Army captain and telecommunications expert, and Mallory Wilson, former Army lieutenant and FBI agent. Together they risk their lives tackling intractable mysteries….
I’m glad our lives collided – always nice to meet another type A personality!
Ha – yep! You hear that too, huh?
yup
Well, thanks for your time!
Actually, I’ve been called a bulldozer
hahah
Take care. I’m glad we finally connected to actually talk about you, your method, and your books.
Okay – thanks again!
Mr. Steven F. Freeman, as he is listed on Amazon, is an author which with you want to get in on the ground floor. His fourth novel, Havoc is to be released August or September 2014 which gives you enough time to read his first Nefarious,
My review of Nefarious at Paul and Paula’s Place
paulandpaulasbooks 