Lethal Journey by Kim Cresswell @kimcresswell

Chapter Three

Detective Eric Brennan sat at his usual table and sipped the night’s beverage of choice—a cola. In Chunkers Bar and Grill loud pointless chatter overpowered the ‘80s rock and roll band on stage.

The last week was a blur. Every waking hour he pounded the streets in search of his father’s killer.

Eric knew every detail of the shooters face, but not the kid’s name. He’d heard from one of his informant’s, the kid was a young tough-guy looking to be made—a “cugine” ready to make his mark into New York’s most influential crime network, the Valdina family. As part of his induction into the mob family, the asshole had already killed a low-life rival family member and Eric and his father were working the homicide case when they got a tip.

That steamy June evening had started like any typical bust. Within minutes after Eric and his father arrived at the warehouse, dozens of DEA agents secured the perimeter. Eric entered the warehouse first, his father followed. Amid the stench of mildew and dust, the first pop of an automatic echoed within the barren walls.

They were ambushed.

His father, a veteran with twenty-three years on the force never saw the shots coming. Eric threw his body against his father in hopes of shielding him. It was too late. Instead Eric witnessed his father’s face, the sickening whitish blue tint that came with death...

While Pete checked in with the precinct, Eric shifted in the chair. His left knee still burned where the bullet had grazed his leg. He rubbed the scar, a permanent reminder of a drug bust gone bad. Very bad.

“Hey, Brennan.” Pete threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table and downed the last swallow of his beer. “Come on. I think we got a lead.”

Outside on West 35th Street, a full moon peeked through the clouds. Jagged streaks of lightning ignited the sky as rain sprinkled against Eric’s leather jacket. He lit a cigarette and leaned against his white pick-up truck parked in front of Chunkers.

Pete smirked. “Man, I thought you quit.”

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-18

More details about the author

Connect with Kim Cresswell on Facebook and Twitter

Website http://kimberleycresswell.wordpress.com/

Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Inside the Mind of #Author Alex Mueck @AlexMueck #Historical #Humor

Why Mentors Are Important

Every author needs help, support and guidance.

Inside the Mind of the Author

I think every author needs to set the mood.  Some escape too remote cabins, but that is not always possible.  But I do my best work when there are no distractions.  I like to have the room dark with a candle or two, and play soft jazz while I generally listen to hard rock.  Once I feel ready I try to lose myself to the characters and imagine I am them.  Some days the words just flow, others not, but I try to always forge ahead, and can always strengthen the writing later.
The Footsteps I Follow: Authors I Admire

Too many to mention.  I am always reading, and I have a wide varied interest in fiction and non-fiction.  I will just say that with each book I tried to do something in the vein of authors I respect in that genre, and yet ensure that it was unique. The first book was a financial thriller, the second a detective/serial killer story, and the third a comic farce.  In the latter genre I love and admire authors like Carl Hiaasen, Christopher Moore, and others, so I would cite them on my most recent book.

How to Overcome Radio Stage Fright

I love to talk, so I doubt I would have an issue.  I suppose one would imagine they are not on the radio, but rather having a chat with someone.

Why Writing is a Form of Personal Therapy

I think it is important for an individual to have a hobby, a passion, something that brings inner satisfaction.  We all have different gifts, it may be art, mechanics, athletics, and pursing these goals makes us feel alive with purpose.

How to Find a Critique Buddy

I have a friend or two who are also authors, and we all seem to have different strengths and weaknesses.  For instance one has great imagination and the author does a splendid job of capturing characters thoughts and emotions, and I feel I am good with dialogue and plot ideas.  So getting feedback and opinion always helps.  Even if you don’t agree, I feel if you even change one thing, then you still improved the book.

How to Create a Great Work Area for Inspiration

I think you need to remove yourself from distractions, family, friends, TV, phone and lose yourself into the characters and setting.

How to Write by the Seat of Your Pants: Outline or No?

I like a semblance of an outline.  What is the goal of the story?  What am I looking to achieve.  Who are the main characters, and what is the main plot, beginning and end.  So I definitely give a fairly large rough outline.  I expand on them as ideas form, but I like to write as I go, let the words come natural, although I script out each chapter in advance.

How to Research Your Story Before Writing Your Book

Depends on the book.  On m y 2^nd book which dealt with religious leaders being offed by the killer, I read quite a bit about each religion, and then sat down and visited places of worship and even participated in some ceremonies.  So basically every scene in the book I had visited.  This new book is a historical fiction comedy.  I read several books on Jesse James and outlined areas of his life that worked in the framework of the story I wanted to tell.

"“A historical fiction comedy that packs
as much heart as humor.”
—Michael Dadich, award-winning author of The Silver Sphere

When a Harvard history professor receives a thesis paper titled Jesse James and the Secret Legend of Captain Coytus, from Ulysses Hercules Baxter—an underwhelming student—he assumes the paper must be a prank. He has never read such maniacal balderdash in his life. But after he calls a meeting with the student, Professor Gladstone is dismayed when Baxter declares the work is his own. As he takes a very unwilling Professor Gladstone back in time via his thesis, Baxter’s grade hangs in the balance as he attempts to prove his theory.

It is 1864 as philanderer and crusader Captain Coytus embarks on a mission to avenge his father’s death and infiltrates the Confederate Bushwacker posse looking for the man responsible, Jesse Woodson James. Accompanied by the woman of his dreams, Coytus soon finds himself temporarily appointed to be the sheriff of Booneville and commissions his less-than-loyal deputy to help him carry out his plan.

But when tragedy strikes, the Captain is forced to change his immature ways and redefine his lofty mission—more or less."

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Humor, Historical Fiction

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Alex Mueck on Facebook & Twitter

#Author Meet with Bryan Taylor (The Three Sisters - #Humor #AmReading)

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

Nuns just want to have fun! But when three former Catholic nuns have too much fun and get in trouble with the law, they become nuns on the run.

Driving back to Washington D.C. where they work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Parts, the three sisters are arrested in Tennessee. After defeating the local deputy in strip poker, they escape from jail, and are pursued by the zealous Detective Schmuck Hole, who has personally offered a $10,000 reward for their capture on the 700 Club. Little do they know that when the three sisters visit the Washington Monument, their lives will change forever.

Set in 1979, The Three Sisters is a humorous, adult satire that skewers not only organized religion, but the government, the media, intellectuals, corporate greed and every other part of the establishment. Maybe not the greatest story ever told, but possibly the funniest.

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I try to write every week.  I write blogs both for the company I work for as well as to promote my novel, The Three Sisters.  Since the two types of blogs are completely different, I schedule different times for each.  My writing on financial data and the stock market is done during the day and during the week.  My writing for The Three Sisters and related fictional subjects is done either in the evenings, or more likely, on the weekends.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?

I hope my readers will find my book funny.  I hope they will be drawn into the book and be able to associate with my three nuns and feel what they feel. I hope it will also get them to think about religion and politics and the other subjects of the novel.

What movie do you love to watch?

There are hundreds I love to watch, mainly movies from the 1930s, The Wizard of Oz, Screwball comedies like The Awful Truth or Bringing Up Baby, pre-code Warner Brothers films.  You just can’t beat the classics.

How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?

I’m not much of a Facebook person.  I mainly put up cartoons and other visuals on Facebook, but only do so periodically.  I am not a Twitter person.  I don’t see why anyone cares what other people say in 140 characters or less.

Are you a city slicker or a country lover?

I’ve lived in the city all my life and couldn’t imagine living in the country.

How do you feel about self-publishing?

Since I self-published my book, I obviously support it.  Self-publishing enabled me to get my book published the way I knew it needed to be published.  Self-publishing gets a bad name because of the bad content that is out there.  I downloaded a book from Smashbooks last week that was not edited and virtually illegible.  That gives self-publishing a bad name.  Nevertheless, if you don’t know someone on the inside track of mainstream publishing, or you aren’t already a celebrity, publishing mainstream is virtually impossible.  For this reason, I’m glad self-publishing is a viable alternative.

When you get free time on the internet or you go to the library – what do you want to read about?

Usually I prefer economics and finance, especially the historical aspects of each.  Outside of nuns, economics is my main preoccupation.

Last book you purchased? Tell us about it.

The last book I purchased was The Great Salad Oil Swindle about Tito de Angelis who ran a scam that bankrupted his company, got him sent to jail and nearly sank American Express.  I find stock market scandals and swindlers fascinating.

Nuns just want to have fun! But when three former Catholic nuns have too much fun and get in trouble with the law, they become nuns on the run.

Driving back to Washington D.C. where they work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Parts, the three sisters are arrested in Tennessee. After defeating the local deputy in strip poker, they escape from jail, and are pursued by the zealous Detective Schmuck Hole, who has personally offered a $10,000 reward for their capture on The 700 Club. Little do they know that when the three sisters visit the Washington Monument, their lives will change forever.

Set in 1979, The Three Sisters is a sacrilegious satire that skewers not only organized religion, but the government, the media, intellectuals, corporate greed and every other part of the establishment. Maybe not the greatest story ever told, but possibly the funniest.

Buy @ Amazon

Genre – Humor, Satire, Catholicism, Politics

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Bryan Taylor on Facebook

Website www.threesistersnovel.com