Interview with John Reinhard Dizon, Author of Redemption

Hello,

Today’s interview is with John Reinhard Dizon, author of Redemption.

Please see the interview below.

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

 

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

John Reinhard Dizon, permanent resident of the Great State of Missouri!

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

Redemption is a suspense/thriller that could also be classified as women’s fiction.

3) What is the book about?

It’s the first two-part book in the series. Sabrina Brooks is a masked vigilante known as the Nightcrawler. International crime syndicates have placed a ten million dollar bounty on the vigilante. The media has publicized the fact that Sabrina, the CEO of the Brooks Chemical Company, is suspected by Homeland Security of having ties to the Nightcrawler. As a result, the cartels initiate a series of attacks on her to draw the vigilante out of hiding. Her factory is bombed, her fiancee killed and her best friend crippled. She goes into seclusion, traumatized by the losses. In Part Two, she decides to take revenge against the perpetrators. She renounces her campaign principle of fighting her battles unarmed. As a result, these become the most action-packed episodes in the four-book series.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

As I mentioned, this could be categorized as women’s fiction because of Sabrina. The entire series is about her personal conflicts, which include her ongoing struggle to survive in the chemical manufacturing industry as a young female CEO. There is also the irony that the world thinks the Nightcrawler is a man. For her enemies, anything else would be unimaginable. Her relationship with NYPD detective Hoyt Wexford and her mentor and partner Jon Aeppli gave her a sense of balance in her life. Without them, her repressed anger is unleashed. As is said, hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.  

5) How long did it take you to write it?

About a year. Part One was originally intended as a stand-alone book in the series. However, as authors know, sometimes your characters take over the storytelling. Sabrina wasn’t letting this go, she had scores to settle.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

The Harlem section of Upper Manhattan in NYC is a major setting in each of the novels. As the tales are meant to be socially relevant and time-sensitive, my research required me to keep abreast of neighborhood developments. I continue to be impressed by how Harlem changes with the times while keeping its character and traditions intact. It is a wondrous community with strong and ambitious residents.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

The best place is my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/johnreinharddizonUSA — I also have a dedicated Sabrina page at https://www.facebook.com/sabrinabrooksnightcrawler/

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

Write, write, write and NEVER throw anything away. Writing is a lifetime effort, a gift that should be fully appreciated, a skill that must be developed. My publisher, Miika Hannila at Creativia, has done more than anyone to bring the Nightcrawler to the world market. My own enterprise, SPOILER Publishing Company, features some of my more obscure projects. Marcha Fox is the cover artist and editor that brings those works to life.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I’m at the stage of my life where the Bible is all that’s truly worth reading. However, I delight in finding gems in the works of my fellow authors. I am always open to a review swap (GASP!) and fairly well guarantee that I will give the other party the best of reviews. I am an expert reviewer and stand by my work.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

The Bible is the guidebook to human existence, the only one co-authored by the Holy Ghost. It is ironic that the second-greatest books of all time, the works of Shakespeare, are written in Old English. You can’t speed-read your way through to find the treasure. For technique, I’ve admired Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond) and Robert E. Howard (creator of Conan the Barbarian). They were greatly inspirational and influenced my style. 

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

I believe Jigsaw has his own fans among my Facebook friends and family. He is the Greatest Cat Who Ever Lived and has stood up to every dog he has ever met.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

Nope. I’m a hardcover and paperback guy. I review PDF novels on my PC. My phone is in the truck in case of emergencies. Walking around with wires sticking out of my ears is not my style.

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Pigs by Daniel James

Isaac Reid, a former professional thief, has just finished a ten-year stint in prison for a botched job turned bloodbath. Now all he wants is to go straight and make amends with his wife and young son. On his first night of freedom his loved ones are brutally slain by a bitter enemy. Surviving the encounter, Isaac struggles with his choices: do right by his late family’s wishes and abide by the law, or seek vengeance. But he’ll need to decide quickly, as another mysterious force from his past is now in play: a cold killer wearing a wolf mask, leading a band of pig-masked assassins. To Isaac, these men are strangers, but they’re prepared to kill any who get between them and him.

 

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Interview with Peter W. Blaisdell, Author of The Lords of Powder (A Miami Fantasy)

Today’s interview is with Peter W. Blaisdell, author of The Lords of Powder.

Please enjoy!

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

My author (and actual) name is: Peter W Blaisdell. I live in California.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

Title: The Lords of Powder.

Genre(s): Urban Fantasy, Supernatural Suspense 

3) What is the book about?

THE LORDS OF POWDER is a fast-paced, blend of modern fantasy, historical fiction and suspense.

 

In the story, Bradan is a 1500 year old magician, but only looks 30 years of age. Fifteen centuries has been plenty of time to get into trouble and he’s at various times fled Vikings and joined court-life in medieval Andalusia while trying avoid being strangled in the Caliph’s dungeon. Things haven’t improved much in 1978 Miami where he drives a haunted Volvo station wagon, keeps a high-strung wolf, and tries to woo a gifted musician. However, he needs money for his lifestyle. Lots of money. Bradan uses his magical talents to organize a lucrative smuggling ring, but success brings him to the attention of violent rivals as well as narcotics detectives, and the DEA. Will his modest enchantment skills and sardonic sense of humor save him? And can he balance the profitability of smuggling with its consequences for his romantic relationship, humanity, and survival?

 

As one Goodreads reviewer noted about THE LORDS OF POWDER, “Peter Blaisdell’s second novel – a prequel to his first (THE LORDS OF OBLIVION) – is a fast paced and exciting read. The dialog is realistic and often humorous. Even if one hasn’t read the first novel, it would be easy to become invested in his characters. And who doesn’t secretly want a pet wolf?”

 

Another reviewer stated, “This was very good. Very good dialog and entertaining plot. The author has obvious talent, and I’ll check out his other book. I hope he has more in for us.”

 

THE LORDS OF POWDER is the second work in this urban, noir fantasy series, which includes the previously published THE LORDS OF OBLIVION. Each book can be read as a stand-alone story, but they work really well together.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

Themes are always what comes to me first even before character, setting and plot. So…for THE LORDS OF POWDER, besides wanting to write a really fun read, I wanted to touch on borders including geographic, psychological and emotional boundaries. People move around a lot in this story – either willingly or not – so it was interesting as an author to think about all the internal and external frontiers that they’re forced to cross. On a related point, I also wanted to write about compromises, My story starts in 1978 Miami and Bradan, the main character, has aspirations about gaining a lavish life-style. However, just what is he willing to give up to achieve the life that he thinks he wants? Along these same lines, my main character has led a very long life (the story has flashbacks to Viking-era England and medieval Spain) and he’s made any number of choices and compromises along the way and I wanted to touch on how shaped what he did in Miami. Plus, it’s just a cool thing to be able to set part of my story in Andalusia and Lindisfarne! 

5) How long did it take you to write it?

I’d thought about the themes, plot, and characters for the book for quite a while before putting fingers on keyboard, but once I started writing, it only took about four months to complete a 100,000 word draft manuscript. However, I’m a careful editor and I also hired an outside copy editor and proof-reader. That added another two months – I wanted to do a high-quality job at this ‘cleanup’ stage and catch all the continuity and syntactical errors long before the final book was published and got to the reader.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Great question! I could write another whole book on lessons learned in authoring THE LORDS OF POWDER and THE LORDS OF OBLIVION (my first book). My website has postings on some of this, but briefly, here are some key lessons that apply whether you get an agent and traditionally publish or self-publish your book: 1) Finish your book! Without that, nothing else can happen. 2) Be supper thoughtful in the editing/proofing process. Almost every aspiring writer has great ideas and can slap together a first draft, but what separates mediocre writers from good ones is how carefully their work has been edited. 3) Plan your marketing. If you traditionally publish, don’t just assume that the publisher will magically do this all for you. No one knows your work better than you so develop a marketing plan that considers: who’s your audience? how will they know about your book? what platform(s) will sell your book? should you advertise? how will you get quality reviewers? what will make your book stand out from the literally thousands of other titles in your genre that hit the markets every year?  

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog?

blaisdellliteraryenterprises.com

On my site, of course I have the usual links to my books, but I also try to share thoughts about the writing process and book marketing. I’d love to have folks stop by!

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

Per my responses above, my success tips include editing your work carefully and being prepared to expend effort on marketing your work. I had a great cover designer: Heidi North.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I have very broad tastes in reading in both fiction and non-fiction and, as Stephen King noted, the best way to improve yourself as a writer is to read other writers – and think about what you liked and didn’t like about their work – that is, don’t just read for entertainment, critique what you’re reading. ! I do read new authors, though unfortunately, I have little time to do formal reviews of their work – I’m writing my own stuff! In the Science Fiction and Fantasy space, I get a lot of my recommendations for new writers from Locus magazine.  

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. It’s got really interesting themes, conflicted, complex characters – almost anti-heroes – and a post-war setting in Spain and Paris. This was his first famous book and it was early enough in his career so that it has an edge of self-mockery which his later stuff lacked. 

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International Suspense Due by Michael Meyer

Two international thrillers in one

COVERT DREAMS

What if the government said that your missing wife never existed?

A business trip to the Middle East for Stan and Valerie Halsey ends in chilling confusion and despair as Valerie seemingly falls off the face of the earth, leaving no trace of her existence behind.

Back in the States, B.J. wakes up night after night in a cold sweat from the exact same torturous nightmare that takes place in a country he has never been to. Both B.J. and Stan suspect that they have been sucked into a conspiracy that threatens to consume them and everyone they love.

With time running out fast before they can get answers, they have unwittingly entered into a very dangerous game…one that they may not survive.

If you love fast-paced international thrillers, then take on COVERT DREAMS. It is like “reading Robert Ludlum and the Bourne series” – Dale Roberts, mystery writer.

“Don’t start reading this book on an evening when you have to get up early the next morning, because you’re going to find it hard to put down!” – Nick Russell, NY Times bestselling author of BIG LAKE

DEADLY EYES

Could murder threaten a rocky romance?

When Cuff and Rosie, laid-back lovers on their idyllic Caribbean paradise of St. Croix, are just beginning to move their relationship to the next level, they suddenly find themselves entangled in the crosshairs of an unknown stalker whose relentless pursuit knows no bounds. Now, with their lives on the line and time running short, they know they must act fast or they will die.

If you enjoy mysteries set in exotic locales, then don’t miss DEADLY EYES with its “fast paced action coupled with the mesmerizing and intense suspense.” (Marilou George – The Kindle Book Review)

Semifinalist for the Best Indie Books of 2012 award. It’s like having two books in one – with two alternative endings.

 

 

 

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