Tag Archives: author interview

Peroozal Spotlight: Critically-Acclaimed Mystery Novelist Bill Cameron

Written by EmilyK. Posted on February 16, 2011. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , , , , , , , . 66 Comments.

“Portland homicide detective Skin Kadash just wants to survive cancer treatment so he can get back to the work he loves. When his partner tries to drag him into an unofficial investigation of a series of deaths, he’s not interested — he’s dead-dog sick and doesn’t need the grief — until she reveals the victims all suffered from cancer themselves, and all had one thing in common with Skin. His oncologist…”

Critically-acclaimed mystery novelist Bill Cameron is the author of the dark, gritty mysteries Chasing Smoke and Lost Dog, both featuring irascible Portland homicide cop Skin Kadash. The next Skin Kadash mystery, County Line, will be released in June 2011 by Tyrus Books.

Bill lives with his wife and poodle in Portland, Oregon, where he also serves as staff to a charming, yet imperious cat. He is an eager traveler and avid bird-watcher, and likes to write near a window so he can meditate on whatever happens to fly by during intractable passages. He is currently working on his fifth novel.

The author tweets at twitter.com/bcmystery. His Peroozal page and recommendations can be found here.

Bill is interviewed by Teresa Bergen for Sparkle: The Creativity Hour. Listen to the podcast here.

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A New Archaeological Thriller? Bring It!

Written by EmilyK. Posted on January 27, 2011. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , . No comments.

The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra cotta warriors, has remained sealed for 2200 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it.

Why not?

What thriller writer takes readers on “globe-hopping adventures in pursuit of the most fantastic objects from history, mixing myth with reality and spicing that elixir with relentless action”? Well, Steve Berry of course!

We thought you’d enjoy this excellent piece on Berry, including an interview and some compelling details about Berry’s new book The Emperor’s Tomb.

Steve Berry’s thrillers blend global adventures, objects from history
By Allen Pierleoni

It seems fitting that action- adventure thriller writer Steve Berry lives in St. Augustine, Fla. After all, the city founded in 1565 is the oldest in the continental United States. And Berry specializes in headlining ancient history in his novels.

Berry takes readers on globe- hopping adventures in pursuit of the most fantastic objects from history, mixing myth with reality and spicing that elixir with relentless action. The result: 11 million books in print.

His ninth novel, and the sixth in a series starring Justice Department operative-turned-rare book dealer Cotton Malone, is “The Emperor’s Tomb,”…

Read more here.

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What Happens When The Weatherman Writes?

Written by EmilyK. Posted on December 14, 2010. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , , , . No comments.

Who knew Al Roker, longtime weatherman of Today Show fame, is a mystery author? Have you read his work? We haven’t yet, but now we want to. Please enjoy this interview with the author – we think you’ll be smitten:

Al Roker talks about writing mystery novels
by David Martindale (The Dallas Morning News)

Al Roker was 7 when he read his first mystery novel.

“It was a Hardy Boys book,” the longtime Today show weatherman says. “From there, I graduated to Sherlock Holmes, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve always enjoyed a good mystery.”

Now that Roker is himself a mystery novelist, that’s what he most hopes readers think of his work, that it’s a good mystery.

“It’s like my philosophy about going to the movies,” he says. “After I’ve plunked down my hard-earned cash, I do not want to leave the theater feeling worse than when I went in. That’s the way I feel about my books. All I really want is for people to feel a little better and to have enjoyed themselves reading it.”

Roker will be in Dallas Wednesday to meet fans and sign copies of The Midnight Show Murders (Delacorte Press, $26). It’s the second in a series that showcases Billy Blessing, a celebrity chef and amateur sleuth.

We chatted with Roker recently about his side career.

Being a fan of the genre is one thing, but actually writing a mystery novel is another. How did you get started?

I’ve written a couple of cookbooks and written a couple of books on fatherhood. In the back of my mind, I always thought, “Someday I’m going to write a mystery.” I had this idea for a crime-solving chef who’s on a morning show…

For the complete interview click here.

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Steve Martin Talks About His Object of Beauty

Written by EmilyK. Posted on December 3, 2010. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , . No comments.

Here’s a little audio treat for you today: Legendary writer, actor, and performer Steve Martin talks about his long and varied career, his many talents, and his latest novel An Object of Beauty which tells the story of an ambitious woman climbing through New York’s social and art world…

Enjoy!

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Venom: An Urban Fantasy

Written by EmilyK. Posted on November 17, 2010. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , , , , , . No comments.

I keep seeing this particular “urban fantasy” book around the internet as it gains in popularity, and though I have not read it yet, I thought I’d post an interview with its author in the hope that you will decide to pick up the book – it sounds like a lot of fun.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep has penned several great books including the Bigtime paranormal series, which is set in the world of superheroes and ubervillains, and the Elemental Assassin series. Her latest Elemental Assassin novel, Venom, was published at the end of September.

You can read an excerpt of Venom (as well as some of Jennifer’s other novels) over at her website.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.

Venom focuses on Gin Blanco, an assassin who helps a friend who’s being stalked.

What inspired you to write Venom?

I’ve always loved reading about assassin characters, especially in fantasy literature. One day, I thought it would be cool to write my own assassin character with my own magic/world building. That was the start of my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, which features Gin Blanco, a semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. The first two books in the series are Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies. Venom is the third book in the series.

In Venom, I wanted to deal with the consequences of some of Gin’s actions in the first two books. Gin is trying to get revenge on the person who murdered her family, and she really ramps up her efforts to get that revenge in Venom…

For the complete interview click here to go to Trashionista.

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Sick To Death Of Vampire Novels? Try Vampire Sonnets!

Written by EmilyK. Posted on October 27, 2010. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , , , , . 3 Comments.

As we approach the Halloween weekend, it’s impossible to deny that it’s in our human nature to adore all things vampire. If you think you’ve experience every vampire in literature to date, you’ve yet to experienced the most recent vampire genre: Vampire Sonnets!

Interview with David Nelson Bradsher, author of The Vampire Sonnets.
(Bertena Varney, examiner.com)

Q: Could you tell us about your new book, The Vampire Sonnets?

A: The Vampire Sonnets are what I’d call a beautiful accident. I’d written a solitary sonnet about a vampire toying too long with a serving wench, and in doing so doesn’t see the sun coming up behind him. In order to escape the exacting price of his exposure, he has to flee into a nearby forest for cover.

Based on that sonnet, a fellow writer told me he’d like to hear more of the “story”, so one sonnet became two; two become four, and so on. What started as an isolated image become a full-fledged verse drama totaling 200 + sequential Shakespearean sonnets. Specifically, it’s the tale of Tristan Grey, a 19th Century Londoner who is drawn into the world of Nina, a diabolically insane vampire, who leads the Chelsea Coven. Between his sudden turn, bouts of conscience, and confrontations with his human past and immortal present, he’s a portrait of conflict and internal questions.

Q: I know that I when I first heard of it I thought “Sonnet?” But after reading it I LOVE the idea. Why did you decide to make it in a sonnet form? Are there any specific theme or atmosphere that you are trying to reveal within the story by using the sonnet?

A: I’ve always been partial to the Shakespearean sonnet, specifically because it tells a story within itself in fourteen lines, and the final couplet is like the resounding click of a box as it closes. The form lent itself well to continuation, as the couplet is the “a-ha” moment that leads from the end of one to the beginning of another. The beauty of it is that each stands by itself, but is just a part of a greater whole.

For the complete interview click here to go to Bertena Varney‘s page at examiner.com.

“Our coven’s creed is, ‘Kill! Compassion’s dead. When London quivers…paint Her bloody red.’” Buy the book at www.nelsonpearlpublishers.com.

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Getting Cyberpunky With William Gibson

Written by EmilyK. Posted on October 26, 2010. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . No comments.

If you’re like me and enjoy intelligent glimpses into possible futuristic realities, you are already a fan of author William Gibson. If you’re not a fan yet, it’s time to get cyber-punky and read up:

(From The Globe & Mail)

“William Gibson is a pioneer of cyberfiction with his award-winning novels Neuromancer, Mona Lisa Overdrive, The Difference Engine (co-written with Bruce Sterling), Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrow’s Parties and Pattern Recognition. Gibson lives in Vancouver. His latest novel is Zero History.

Pitch: You have 30 words, tell us about your latest book.

Post-industrial, post-crash contemporary quasi-thriller: secret brands, stealth luxury, military contracting, RC video drones, Japanese denim, London, Paris. Plus quiet comic romance, even.

Process: What’s your writing routine?

Sit in front of writing every day, during actual period of writing the book, in case that-which-writes-book arrives. With any luck it starts to arrive on a fairly regular basis and does that which it does. Can tell I’m doing it right if simultaneously impossible to “have a life”…”

For the complete QA, please click here.

(Curious about sci fi? William Gibson recommends ten books: Click here.)

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A Few Words With Thrillerfest Star Mark Greaney

Written by EmilyK. Posted on September 30, 2010. Filed under Author news. Tagged , , , , , . No comments.

I have not yet had the pleasure of reading ON TARGET, but I plan to – especially now that I know Mark Greaney and I share the sentiment that writing at home is quite impossible, there’s just way too many things to do there…

Mark Greaney: The Back Story by Leonard Gill (the Memphis Flyer)

ON_TARGET.jpg

It was back in July, and Mark Greaney, author of The Gray Man, last year’s hit thriller starring international hit-man Court Gentry, was just back from New York City, where he was a featured author at this year’s ThrillerFest. And when I talked to Greaney by phone, he was back where he often is — at work, writing, this time on his third Court Gentry book.

But by the time you read this, Greaney’s second Gentry book, On Target (in trade and mass-market paperback from Jove Books), will have reached its official publication date: September 28th. Greaney kicked things off at Borders in Germantown last night. But if you missed the event, he’ll be at Cover to Cover Bookstore in Arlington on Thursday, September 30th (6:30 p.m.). And as for Greaney’s whereabouts during our phone interview last July?

As Greaney said, “I do all my daytime writing at this East Memphis Starbucks. I don’t know how people work at home. There’s always a million things to do there.”

Among the things to do this day: me to ask and Mark Greaney to answer a few questions:…

For the complete interview click here.

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