Author Eden Winters interviewed by Jon Michaelsen;

Eden, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group.

Thanks for letting me be here.

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

I live in a very small town in upstate South Carolina.

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns…lol, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

Personally? It’s tuning out the naysayers, writing and publishing a novel. Professionally? It’s the writers I’ve had the pleasure of encouraging, as a beta, editor, and friend, several of whom were like I once was, with stories to tell but having allowed people to convince me I wasn’t smart enough, educated enough, or anything thing else enough to become an author. It’s a great feeling to see someone who’s been discouraged spread their writer’s wings and fly. I love proving detractors wrong too. J Oh, and one of my books was a Lambda Award finalist, and several have won honors at the annual Rainbow Awards.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

My two children are now grown and out on their own, so I live alone, the proud pet parent of two rescue cats. Thanks to my writing, I have made many friends within the US and beyond, and love to visit with them or invite them to my home.

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

I am a pantser all the way. I may start with what I think is a sound design, but as my characters develop and take over the story, all my plans get tossed to the side.

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your gay novels are released, and if so, what form(s) has it taken?

Mostly I’ve received some less than stellar comments by readers who didn’t realize my book starred a gay couple. I’ve also been asked “how can a woman write a gay man?”

You have a rather interesting trio of novels known to fans as the Diversion series in the mystery/thriller genre which specialize in pharmaceutical crime. Can you share a little about the series with us?

The series stars a royal pain in the ass, former drug trafficker who’s working off a ten-year sentence in service to the good guys. His time is almost up and he’s assigned to train his replacement. My hero, Lucky, doesn’t get close to anyone, and uses his snark and attitude to keep other at bay. College-educated, former Marine turned pharmacist Bo is everything Lucky is not: neat, compassionate, caring, vegetarian, and in Lucky’s eyes, too perfect. When on assignment together, they realize how much in common they really have.

Your Diversion series features pharmaceutical crime in each novel, as investigated by the Southeastern Narcotic Bureau. Do you have personal experience with the pharmaceutical industry? How do you go about your research for each novel?

My day job is in the pharmaceutical business and I read a lot of trade magazines. Far from being bored, I’m fascinated by the things going on in the industry that most people don’t know about, like drug shortages, pill mills, and cargo jackings. But when I read about a multi-million dollar drug shipment being stolen, eighteen-wheeler and all, in two minutes flat, something clicked and ideas began to form. I had intended Diversion to be a stand-alone about diverted drugs, but the articles kept coming, the ideas kept spinning, and along came Collusion, based on the ongoing US drug shortage crisis.

Although a lot of material for the books comes from my work knowledge, I still spend hours upon hours researching, as I’m a details kind of writer. In September I’ll attend a writer’s police academy to further hone my crime writing skills.

Corruption is the third novel in your Diversion series, which has SNB Agent Bo Schollenberger going undercover and joining a biker gang to investigate a designer drug that turns people violent. What was your inspiration for the plot? Do you have future novels in the series planned?

I’d been reading articles about designer drugs which, until recently, were sold over the counter. It was also time to bring Bo out of Lucky’s shadow and give him time to shine, even though the story is told from Lucky’s point of view. Through Lucky’s eyes we watch Bo become so ingrained in his undercover persona that at times he forgets who he really is. It’s also a wake-up call for Lucky. If he wants Bo in his life, he has to start meeting the man halfway.

I’m currently working on books four and five in the series, and hope to release the next installment later this year.

Which living actor would you cast to play protagonist, former drug trafficker, Simon “Lucky” Harrison, from your Diversion mystery/thriller series and why? How about his partner, former marine and bedmate Bo Schollenberger?

Fans of the series have mentioned Matt Bomer, Tom Hardy, or Steve Amell (with dark contacts) for Bo, and Ben Foster, Colin Ferrell, or Ryan Gosling for Lucky. Someone else suggested Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, but only because he wanted to see them make out. Their boss, Walter, is based on a younger Brian Dennehy at about sixty-three.

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

The tagline for Manipulation is: “Lucky Lucklighter has a new life. His old one wants him back.” Lucky’s past returns to haunt him in the form of a man he used to know. Will the thrill of the chase lead him back to a life of crime? He has some hard decisions to make in this book, and faces a lot of revelations. Look for it to publish in late summer or early fall.

Oh, and the first book in the series, Diversion, is being re-polished for a second edition, due to publish in May.

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

Thank you!

Find Eden Winters on the web:

www.edenwinters.com

BOYSTOWN 4: A TIME FOR SECRETS – Audio Version

Written by Marshall Thornton – Narration by Brad Langer

Review by Jon Michaelsen

In Boystown 4: A Time For Secrets, Marshall Thornton has penned the first full-length novel featuring tough, rough around the edges, at times jaded, former Chicago cop turned private detective, Nick Nowak, which is perhaps my favorite of the series thus far. A Time For Secrets contains a stunning mystery that reveals an older gentleman’s longing to learn whatever happened to his long lost lover, a decades old murder and a mix of Chicago politics; the novel is first rate and deftly written with enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep a reader flying through the pages to find out what happens.

Also contained within the pages is further insight into the sometimes odd relationship between Nick and his cop-currently on medical leave-boyfriend, Bert Harker, who still has both feet firmly in the closet when it comes to his overbearing and unaccepting mother, Mrs. Harker. Unlike previous Nick Nowak stories, Thornton tosses in a budding friendship his lover, Harker, has with an ambitious young reporter with starry eyes, and seemingly ulterior motives. The boy inserts himself more and more into Nick and Harker’s home — and relationship — in the guise of learning more about the vicious Bughouse Slasher, the last case Harker was working before having to take medical leave as his health got worse.

The Bughouse Slasher case continues a story-arc that has existed since the release of the second Nick Nowak novel, Boystown 2: Three More Nick Nowak Mysteries and comes to a head by the end of the novel when readers learn Harker has been secretly carrying on the investigation into discovering the identity of the serial killer, perhaps aided by the doe-eyed young reporter who has now inserted himself into Nick and Harker’s relationship. Not surprising, really, considering the time – early 80s – and the openness of most gay relationships of the time, but readers come away with a real sense of the deep love Nick has for Harker, especially when he is forced to face his own jealously, something even Nick didn’t think he could ever exhibit.

Once again, I listened to the unabridged audio book version. Boystown 4: A Time For Secrets. As I’ve said before, reading and/or listening to a Nick Nowak novel is like slipping on a well-worn leather coat, comfortable and warm and the same feelings holds throughout this novel. Nick Nowak continues his tough man, studly persona, while just beneath the surface he knows he must come to terms with his lover’s worsening health and be there to support Bert. Yet, it’s Harker who comes across stronger than Nick in this regard, working to prepare and provide support to his lover through the enviable, clear his conscience by finally coming out to his mother, and to enjoy what remains of his life.

Narrator, Brad Langer, who has narrated the previous Nick Nowak mysteries, has become Nick Nowak to me. His voice is perfect for the series and I couldn’t imagine anyone else in the role. Not only can I highly recommend Boystown 4: A Time For Secrets, but I can also assure any reader of mysteries the entire Nick Nowak mystery series is destined to become a classic, ranked up there with the likes of Michael Nava’s Henry Rios, Richard Stevenson’s Donald Stratchy and Greg Herren’s Chanse MacLeod series.

Author Josh Lanyon interviewed by Jon Michaelsen

Josh, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group. 

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

I live in sunny Southern California. So Cal is pretty much its own world. You have the extremes of Beverly Hills, the movie industry, and then very remote, redneck areas — which is where I live now.

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

I think my greatest accomplishment is simply being able to support myself comfortably as a writer of fiction. That’s actually pretty rare, even these days. I’m able to do what I love for a living and I’m my own boss. How many people can say that? And on top of that, I’m successful enough at it to be able to help out my parents and family when they need it. That means a lot to me.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

I have a very patient and very supportive SO. Mostly my life revolves around work. I pretty much work all the time. Even my vacations are based on places I plan to write about. When I’m not writing, I’m dealing with all the other stuff: translations, audio books, the details of publishing, marketing, promotion. My work is my passion. That said, I’m trying to be better at taking evenings and weekends off.

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

I plan things out, but not in detail. I like a general outline. It keeps the story focused and on track. But the details change because the story naturally evolves as it grows. The best part of storytelling is giving yourself over to that tide of imagination, letting it sweep you along. I love that creative rush. But I still like to keep an eye on the coastline.

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your gay novels are released, and if so, what forms has it taken?

I get the occasional piece of hate mail, and I’ve been turned down for a few projects, but I use a pen name so my personal and professional life stay separate. I have more trouble with stalkers than anything.

Which novel and/or series was the most fun to write?

Well, they all have their pleasures and their pains. The Adrien English series was the first series I wrote, and so there was a beautiful freedom in not having a clue about what I was doing. Plus I feel a sentimental attachment to Adrien and Jake. The Holmes & Moriarity stories are classically structured mysteries, so that’s fun and intellectually satisfying. And the Dangerous Ground series is very much pulp fiction action-adventure. Those are the easiest to write because of their high octane episodic nature and the focus on emotions and sex.

The Adrien English mystery series is by far what fans have come to know you for. Why did you choose to end the series with the release of The Dark Tide?

This is where keeping an eye on the coastline is useful. J  All the major character arcs and plot lines are resolved by the end of The Dark Tide. For me, that’s the signal to bring a series to a close. I wanted to go out on a high note.

It’s not easy though, which is why most writers wait too long to pull the plug. We all come to love these characters and the worlds we’ve created. It’s tempting to stay just a while longer. But the danger of waiting too long is that sales start to decline, and there is actually less interest in your new projects because you’ve already started to lose the attention of all but your most fanatical readers.  It’s tricky because it takes a while to build interest and readership for a series, so it can be hard to tell whether you’re still growing or whether interest is already slipping!

You are a stunningly prolific writer, with several ongoing series, stand-alone novels and short story releases? How do you manage both writing and self-promotion so seamlessly?       

See above — in particular, that part about not having a home life. J  You can’t have it all. For me, it’s the personal stuff that gets shortchanged.

Fair Game is my favorite mystery/thriller novel you’ve written. (You knew I’d have to ask since I’ve bugged you before!) Is there a sequel in the works with ex-FBI agent Elliot Mills?

Yes, indeed. Carina Press is publishing Fair Play, the sequel to Fair Game, in November of this year. (JM-OMG! I can’t wait; I so loved Fair Game and always felt it needed a sequel.) Have you considered a serial with Elliot Mills?

I never really thought about Elliot Mills as a series character. He didn’t have much in the way of unresolved issues at the end of Fair Game — and his relationship with Tucker Lance is pretty straightforward. But I loved the story possibilities of his father’s radical past, and so that’s what drives Fair Play. Also Tucker’s background seemed like it might have some interesting possibilities. But I think after Fair Play, that will be it.          

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

I’ve got an M/M romantic suspense novel coming out from Carina Press on May 5^th. It’s called Stranger on the Shore, and it’s about a young reporter who is invited to a decaying Long Island estate to investigate a long-ago kidnapping. Most of the family does not want him poking around — and someone is willing to do pretty much anything to stop him.

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

Thanks for inviting me, Jon! 

Find Josh Lanyon on the web:

Website: http://www.joshlanyon.com/

Blog: http://joshlanyon.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @JoshLanyon

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Josh-Lanyon-Fan-Page/107401402656849?ref=hl

Author, playwright & Publisher, Geoffrey Knight interviewed by Jon Michaelsen

Geoffrey, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group.  (Full disclosure – Geoffrey Knight is one of the publishers of Wilde City Press, which currently has released two of my novels) 

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

I live on an island in Far North Queensland, Australia, right on the Great Barrier Reef. I moved here from Sydney almost two years ago and I have no intention of ever going back. Don’t get me wrong, I love cosmopolitan life and the energy of big cities. But you can’t beat walking the dogs every day on a perfect, deserted beach with a calm tropical sea as blue as the sky.

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns…lol, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

I guess my books are my greatest accomplishment. Writing a novel isn’t easy. As we all know it takes a lot of hard work and discipline and imagination. But most of all it takes courage. You’re pouring your heart and sweat onto the page for the whole world to praise or rip to shreds. There will be people who will like what you create… and there will be people who will hate it. It’s inevitable that your hard work will be trashed by someone out there. You will be called some terrible things, you will be abused, mocked and have your ego crushed. Rejection is hard for anyone, let alone when you’ve worked night and day and emptied your soul into something. But we’re writers because we write. We tell stories because it’s what we’re born to do. And finishing those stories and putting them out there for the world to admire or hate, for better or worse, now that’s a real accomplishment.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

I live with my three dogs and two cats, which is quite a houseful of pets. My partner Brett lives on the mainland in a city called Townsville which is about a half hour ferry ride. We tend to spend one weekend on the mainland, then one on the island. Brett is quite high up in disability care and has a very demanding job, so when it comes to the weekend we try to unwind as much as possible, taking the dogs to the beach, watching DVDs, going to the basketball, cooking or going out for dinner. We have lots of great friends so it’s always nice catching up with them for a barbie or a swim at someone’s pool. It’s pretty much hot all year round in Far North Queensland so we’re never far from someone’s pool.

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

I plot till I drop! Everything has to be completely planned out. I’d love to be one of those writers who can make it up as I go along, but I think with some genres – in particular actions and thrillers – that’s very hard to do. Knowing where the next twist is coming from and when a clue needs to be planted is extremely important. Having said that, one thing I do like to do is put my characters in a dire situation with no idea how to get them out of it. I figure if I don’t know how to save them, the reader won’t be able to guess what will happen next. It’s a great way to raise tension plus it makes me think twice as hard trying to come up with a creative way to save their arses.

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your gay novels are released, and if so, what forms has it taken?

No, I’ve been very lucky never to have had to deal with that. If anything it’s the opposite. People are delightfully intrigued when they find out what I write. They find it fascinating. Some don’t take it very seriously, but they still love to talk about it. And no matter how many times I tell people that I write several different genres in gay fiction, I always get labeled as a “gay porn writer”. I used to get annoyed but nobody means any harm by it, so I go with the flow now. If that’s the best way they can deal with it and describe it, then that’s okay with me. At least they’re trying in their own way to get their head around it and accept it, and I have to take my hat off to anyone willing to accept new things.

Harm’s Way is a mystery/suspense novel I am dying to read which has a unique plot I don’t think I’ve ever read anywhere, especially not with a gay theme. What influenced you to write Zach Taylor’s story?

Years ago a friend of mine told me she had a dream that she discovered her father was a serial killer, and her first reaction was to question whether that would be something you inherit. It was only a dream, but I thought it would make for a great story, so I wrote it… but I have a confession to make: Harm’s Way was originally written as a straight thriller. I wrote the first version way back when I wanted to be the next James Patterson, in the days before I turned to gay fiction. I like that story a lot, but it didn’t really jump out as a straight thriller. Then one day, after I found some success as a gay fiction writer, I decided to turn the main protagonist in Harm’s Way from a straight woman into a gay man. The process was a lot more complicated than I initially thought, it was so much more than changing “she” to “he”. Men react to situations and dialogue very differently – both emotionally and psychologically. It gave the entire story a very different vibe, and I think it’s even better than before. There was also the added element of the daughter. A gay character with a child completely changed the back story of that character and their sense of self. I was stunned (in a good way) at how different the story became and the issues I needed to address. It made the book so much more layered.

Not many readers of your novels realize that you, along with author, Ethan Day, started a new publishing company almost a year ago? You currently own and operate your own advertising and design company, so what possessed you to start Wilde City Press? Can the members of Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction expect to see more releases with mystery, suspense/thriller themes? 

This month marks our first birthday, it’ll be a year on April 16, so we’re very excited about that! I love design and advertising, but I love writing so much more, and starting Wilde City felt like a great way to combine the two. I wasn’t sure how I’d go, but I really love publishing. I love dealing with all our wonderful authors and readers beyond the realm of my own books. And yes you can expect LOTS more thrillers and mysteries being released by Wilde City this year. This month alone we’ve got some delicious, dark tales such as Clipped by Devon McCormack, Breathless by Alex Morgan and a superb thriller called The Next by new author Rafe Haze, which is like a sexy, sinister, gay version of Hitchcock’s Rear Window. There’s lots of thrills to look forward to this year!

You have an incredible action/adventure, romantic thriller, mystery/suspense series known to fans as Fathom’s Five, which include the novels, The Cross of the Sins, The Riddle of the Sands and The Curse of the Dragon Gold. Can you share a little about how your self-confessed nomadic life influenced the development of this series?     

Thanks for the compliment, I do love the Fathom’s Five books. And yes, I love traveling so wherever I go I look for the adventure in a place, whether it’s a marketplace in the Middle East or a snow-covered mountain or a remote island. Of course, I haven’t visited every exotic location that my Fathom’s Five boys have been to. But that’s when research and imagination come into play.

My favorite mystery/suspense novel written by you (and fellow writer, Ethan Day) is To Catch a Fox. (You knew I’d have to ask this next question!) Is there a sequel in the works with the enigmatic and sexy, Jon Fox?

Haha, yes I knew I wasn’t going to dodge that bullet. And yes there is a sequel in the works called A Fox in the Hole which will hopefully be ready later this year. This book will be a lot creepier than the first with a main focus on the spooky things that go on in New Orleans, including the evil work of the book’s main villain, a Voodoo Queen named Sister Sacrifice. And yes, we’ll be putting Jon in lots of bad situations and then try to figure out how to get him the hell out of there. The opening scene sees him drugged and being buried alive (hence the title A Fox in the Hole). How he gets out of that… well you’ll just have to wait and see.

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

Well A Fox in the Hole is top of the list, along with the third instalment in my action series Drive Shaft which is called Drive Shaft 3: Russian Roulette. I’m also working on my sexy gay Tarzan-inspired adventure novel, Zan of the Apes. After that I think I’d like to do a comedy. I actually love writing comedy, I had so much fun writing Guess Who’s Coming At Dinner, I’d love to do something quirky and fun like that again. Aside from those I have about a thousand other projects I’m working on at any given time. Who knows which one will bust out of the gates first!

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

Thank you so much for having me, Jon. This interview was a lot of fun! Keep writing and reading everyone, and if you want some great mysteries and thrillers, we have a stack over at wildecity.com – hope to see you there!

Find Geoffrey Knight on the web:

www.wildecity.com

Author Syd Parker interviewed by Jon Michaelsen;

Syd, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group. 

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

Thank you, Jon. I live with my partner of eight years in the very red state of Indiana, just north of Indianapolis.

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

I am incredibly timid, so for me, it was taking the rejections I received from traditional publishing houses for my first few manuscripts and using those as a platform to self-publish. I knew putting my work out there would open me up to reviews, good and bad, and that was a big hurdle for me to overcome. For me personally, being a #1 bestseller in my genre was validation for all my hard work.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

Not at all, I tell people all the time, there are very few questions I won’t answer. I live with my partner, Sarah. We love to spend time cycling, hiking and hitting the golf course. We both dabble in cooking which means we have to stay pretty active. We have one son and a ton of nieces and nephews. No pets, but only because we are running all the time and neither one of us wanted to leave them home alone. We enjoy gardening in the spare time we have left. For the most part, we are pretty normal and boring.

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

I generally have the basic plot in my head, but where and how I get to that point is never set in stone. I have tried putting together an outline, but I always stray from that, so for me it’s easier to have a goal and take whatever turns the story goes through on my way there, rather than tying myself down to a specific outline.

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your lesbian novels are released, and if so, what forms has it taken?

Fortunately, I haven’t experienced it with regard to publishing my novels. I have been pretty lucky in that everyone who knows the genre that I write has been respectful of it, even if they won’t read my books. It makes it easier to put out a lesbian story knowing that I don’t have to hide it from anyone.

Can you share what inspires and challenges you most in your writing? 

I think for me it’s the challenge of putting out a novel that pulls the reader into my world. I want them to feel the ache that I do, or shiver with fear when they get a glimpse into the killer’s mind. I have to put myself into each character’s head and live the story through their eyes. Sometimes, I might take it a bit too far as it takes me several days after finishing one of the Gray Foxx thrillers to come out of my dark place. Sarah always tells me I scare her during those times.

You have a killer thriller (literally!) series known to fans as the Gray Foxx Thrillers, featuring Detective Rebecca Foxx and FBI Special Agent Jordan Gray. What inspired you to conceive these characters and do either resemble someone you know personally? 

The plot for the first book literally came to me in a dream, so when I went to write the story, I already had an idea that I wanted two female leads. I wanted them to be strong, but still have a vulnerability that made them likeable. For Rebecca Foxx, someone pointed out that I hadn’t had a main character with red hair in any of my stories. I decided that Rebecca would work perfectly as a red head, as she has a fiery temper. Jordan is more laid back, but has a tendency to doubt herself. I can’t say that they remind me specifically of anyone, like a lot of my romance characters do, but I think there are personality quirks in each of them that I’ve pulled from numerous people.

Do you research for your novels? If so, how do you go about your research?

I will generally do my research as I’m writing a particular scene. For instance, in the Gray Foxx series, as I was writing details about the police department or the FBI, I would do internet searches on both and gather as much information about both branches of law enforcement. When I do a murder scene, I will research the body to see if the idea that I have is plausible. A lot of the other research regards places in the city, details regarding certain events that have happened, things like that. I also have several people with expertise in certain areas available to me. They have been kind enough to let me pick their brain in the process. Fortunately, in this day and age, there is a wealth of information out there and it makes research so much easier.         

Which living actor would you cast to portray your lesbian detective, Rebecca Foxx and FBI Special Agent, Jordan Gray and why?

It’s funny you ask that. I sat down after I started Sin No More and looked up hundreds of actresses till I found the ones I thought fit them the best. For Rebecca, I chose Poppy Montgomery from the show Unforgettable. Everything from her red hair to her black leather jacket fit the picture I have of Rebecca. For Jordan, I would love British actress Heather Peace to play her. It helped to have their faces in my head as I was writing because I could picture the scene so much easier.

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

I am finishing up a romance that actually plays off of the story in Someone Like You, and then I am diving into the next book in the Gray Foxx series. The title is Chase the Devil. Some of the back stories in Sin No More will come into play in this book, as well as a brand new string of murders to solve.

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

Thank you, Jon. I really appreciate you including me in a group of such talented writers, and for letting me talk about myself and my writing. It’s been a pleasure!

Find Syd Parker on the web: www.sydparkerbooks.com

JL Merrow, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group. 

Thank you for having me here, Jon!

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

I come from a little town you’ve probably never heard of… Actually, not so much a little town as a largish village in Hertfordshire, which is far enough out of London to feel like the countryside, while nevertheless being close enough for all the good stuff. J

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns…lol, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

Oh, Lord… I’m not just a writer, I’m British as well, so this sort of thing is like pulling my own teeth! I guess what makes me proudest of what I’ve achieved is when I get an email from a reader telling me my book really spoke to them, and really resonated with their own life.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

In a word: cluttered! I’d like to blame the general air of untidiness on my two teenage kids, but to be honest, I’m just as bad.

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

I’m a natural pantser. The trouble with writing mysteries, though, is that a certain amount of plot seems to be unavoidable! I generally compromise by assembling my cast of suspects at the start and making sure I have a handle on their motivations – then just letting the muse carry me where she will.

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your gay novels are released, and if so, what form(s) has it taken?

For me, the most insidious has been the automatic assumption that gay characters mean gay porn. There was a member of my writers’ circle (now departed, although not dearly!) who used to delight in telling everyone I wrote “filth”, while not batting an eyelash at other members including (straight) sex scenes in their books. Generally, though, reactions have been more restrained (we are, after all, British *g*) but for some people, it’s clear that a chaste kiss and cuddle between a same-sex couple equates in their mind to top-shelf het stuff.

You are a very prolific writer! Can you share what inspires and challenges you most in your writing? 

What inspires me? Ooh, everything. Which I guess explains the “prolific” bit! In Wight Mischief I have a character with albinism, and he came about from reading one too many books with the Evil Albino trope. A lot of the side characters in Pressure Head and Relief Valve are based on “types” I see every day in my home village—the mystery Pressure Head centres on the PCC, or Parochial Church Council, which governs the affairs of the local parish church, and I was a member of our local PCC for ten years, as treasurer. But I guess mainly it’s people and places.

What challenges me? Plot, definitely. And keeping it all straight (pun not intended!) in my head.

You have written a very popular gay romance/mystery series (Plumber’s Mate) featuring a blue collar plumber, Tom Paretski, who has a rather unique ability of finding hidden things.  Would you care to elaborate for our readers or would that be giving too much away?

Tom’s power of finding hidden things has been a mixed blessing for him. As a child, he uncovered a lot of things that people would have preferred remained hidden! It’s contributed to a certain amount of estrangement from his family, and misunderstandings from other people. Phil, to start with, is very skeptical of Tom’s talent—but when he does believe, he’s quick to see the advantages to a private investigator of having Tom’s abilities on tap.

As well as finding hidden things, Tom is a good old-fashioned dowser—able to locate water. Which is basically why he became a plumber! Apart from taking advantage of his abilities that way, though, Tom hasn’t really explored his talent; his experiences with family taught him it’s not exactly something to be proud of. But now he’s met Phil, that’s likely to change…

Besides your Plumber’s Mate mystery series, you have written a couple gay suspense/thrillers, Fall Hard and Wight Mischief. Each feature protagonists who “fall hard” for mysterious men. What influenced you to pen these romantic characters caught up in suspenseful circumstances?      

The setting of Wight Mischief—the lonely house on top of a windswept cliff, based in a mid-nineteenth-century fort and connected via a tunnel through the chalk cliffs to the sea below—is a real place, and one I visited back in my teens. I can still remember creeping through the rough tunnel and emerging at the rusty staircase beyond. I defy any writer NOT to be inspired by such a setting! And as a long-time lover of fairy tales, the idea of someone more-or-less imprisoned in a tower (until, of course, the arrival of their handsome rescuer) was irresistible.

Fall Hard, too, was shaped by its setting—in fact, several reviewers have noted how central its harsh, brooding landscape is to the plot. Icelandic literature tends towards a very dark sort of humour, and it wasn’t until I started writing Fall Hard that I really understood why. The story is also, of course, greatly influenced by the great Icelandic sagas, and in particular Egil’s Saga, whose eponymous (anti)hero is even darker and more brooding than the land itself.

Which living actor would you cast to play protagonist, plumber Tom Paretski,, from your mystery series and why? How about Viggo, the Icelandic tattooed, modern day Viking that Tom falls for?

I am notoriously bad at casting actors for my characters! I think my cover artist, Kanaxa, has done a marvelous job of finding guys who fit the bill for Tom (Pressure Head), Phil (Relief Valve) and Viggo (Fall Hard), and I’d hesitate to try and improve on that.

I can tell you who’d play Al and Larry in my romantic comedy novella Muscling Through, however, as Alex Beecroft kindly cast Toms Hardy and Hiddleston in those roles for me!

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

The new release is Relief Valve, and without giving too much away, there’s a bombshell dropped at the end which I’m exploring in the current WIP, Heat Trap, which will be book #3 in the Plumber’s Mate series.

A great thing about writing a series is that you can take your time exploring your characters’ lives. In Pressure Head, Tom’s family was only briefly touched on, but in Relief Valve, we meet his sister and her fiancé, and Tom’s older brother. Themes of family will be carried on in Heat Trap.

I also have some fun in Relief Valve with a subject dear to my heart: writers’ circles. The one I’m a member of is excellent, but my goodness, I’ve heard some horror stories about other groups!

Another theme that’s present in all the Plumber’s Mate books is that of the Anglican Church. Tom is a confirmed agnostic, but the parish church has a way of weaving itself into village life whether you’re a believer or not.

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

It’s been wonderful to talk to you! Thanks so much for having me.

Find JL Merrow on the web:

My website is at: www.jlmerrow.com, and I’m on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow

R.E. Bradshaw, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group. 

Thank you for inviting me, Jon. It is a pleasure to be here. I’m a bit of a lurker on the site, but I love seeing all the titles and blurbs. There are some great books being written in our community.

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

I currently reside in Oklahoma City, but I grew up in North Carolina and my heart will always be on the Outer Banks of my home state. My parents still live on Hatteras Island and that is where I call home, but my wife was born in Texas and grew up in Oklahoma. We’re a bi-state family.

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns…lol, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

Being in a twenty-six year relationship and raising a fine young man are my greatest accomplishments, I believe. But if we’re talking writing achievements—that happened recently when I became a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Mystery for the third straight year. Two out of the three books in the Rainey Bell Thriller series, Rainey Nights and The Rainey Season, are now sporting “Finalist” gold seals, along with Molly: House on Fire, last year’s award finalist. I also received the news in December that my novel, Out on the Panhandle, was declared First Runner-up for Best Lesbian Novel in the 2013 Rainbow Awards. It was a good end to 2013 and a fantastic beginning to 2014.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

I live with my wife, our two cats, and two dogs. We will celebrate our twenty-sixth anniversary on June sixth. We have a grown son and his lovely wife also in our family. Laughter is the key to our happiness and survival. It resonates through our lives. We are renovating our home this spring, so I hope the laughter continues. Really, I’m a happy camper and am so fortunate to do what I love for a living, and to have such a wonderfully supportive spouse and extended family encouraging me to follow this dream.

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

With the Rainey Bell Thrillers it’s a must that I know where I am going. I have to weave psychological elements as well as crime clues in the telling. It’s important to me that the reader can look back in the end and say, “Oh, I see it now,” but did not see it on first blush. So, I have a fairly clear idea of the meat of the story when I start. Some elements and details may morph as I write the story, but the bones of the psychological and criminal behavioral profiles I began with will remain as planned. A lot of research goes into the development of the criminal mind in these books, so accuracy demands I stay true to the behavioral science. With my other novels, I am a panster all the way.

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your lesbian novels are released, and if so, what form(s) has it taken?

The only real homophobic reactions I’ve dealt with came from my mother, who is forever asking, “Can’t you write a book about people that aren’t lesbians?” She means well. She believes I could become rich and famous, if I just wrote about “normal” people. (My mother is my best source of material. Don’t tell her. It will ruin the natural flow of mouth dropping—Paula Deen foot-in-mouth worthy—lines I use in my comedies.)

“No, Mom, I won’t sell out, at least not for less than six figures.”

Seriously, I’ve had quite a bit of positive feedback from the non-lesbian community about my novels. A group of straight male psychologist read Molly: House on Fire for their book group and then discussed it with me. That was a load of fun. My main characters are lesbians. They love women and have healthy sex lives, but the stories a reader finds on the pages of my novels will focus on the facets of life universally experienced regardless of one’s sexuality. I believe that is why many LGBT readers feel comfortable sharing one of my novels with a family member or non-gay friend. I hear from readers who tell me they hand my books to their mothers and say, “See, we are just people.” I totally get that. Oh boy, do I totally get that.

Can you share what inspires and challenges you most in your writing? 

My inspiration comes from being a voracious researcher. Most writers say they read a lot. I do too, but almost always for research. I would go to school for the rest of my life if someone would pay me. I love to learn. When I come across something that sets my imagination to running, I will devour the subject. It will fill my dreams and thoughts for months, all the while a story will brew until it manifests and must be told. That’s how it works for most of my story ideas.

The main challenge I face is also because I love research. The trouble with becoming lost in the research is knowing when to stop digging and start writing. I also have a mean case of Attention Deficit Disorder, so focus is fleeting at times.

You have a very popular FBI thriller series featuring lesbian protagonist, Rainey Bell. What influenced you to create such a tough yet smart protagonist who just happens to be deeply committed to the safety of her family?

When I was in high school in the late seventies, I read about a new type of FBI agent, the “profiler.” Before that, I would sneak into my mother’s collection of true crime novels. I was probably the only fourth grader that had read In Cold Blood. This study of the science and the men and women who “profiled” serial killers became a life long obsession. I have a fairly extensive research library on the subject. I began my writing career with romances, but by book three, I was already dreaming about Special Agent Rainey Bell. The first book, Rainey Days, was a bit too much of a romance and very much an experiment for me in the mystery/thriller genre, but by the time I was finished writing it, I knew Rainey was around to stay.

I absolutely love getting inside the mind of a fictional, retired FBI Behavioral Analyst and creating a killer for her to catch is thrilling. If anyone ever looks at my search engine history, I’m afraid the real FBI may come calling. I’m completely dumbfounded at what can be accessed on the Internet, like the actual crime scene photos from BTK murders, and yes, I have them saved on my computer. Like an actor preparing for a role, I am committed to seeing things through a criminal behavioral analyst’s eyes, or committable, as some might think. This makes for interesting dreams, to be sure.

Introducing a family into this very independent and at one time very broken woman’s story parallels her life’s journey. Too many years studying man’s inhumanity to man had taken its toll on the wounded agent. Rainey has since learned to love, to trust, to forgive, and all of these things prove she is like us. We, the readers, can identify with the struggle to give the world a chance, when the staggering blows it hands us are too much. Rainey’s family and her love for Katie have allowed her to soften, as well as keeping her vulnerable. Without that family to protect, Rainey might just go rogue. Katie and the kids keep Rainey grounded in the good life, because she’s seen plenty of the evil man has to offer. (The fact that Rainey and Katie have triplets, well, that was one of those panster moments sneaking into my thriller.)

Besides your thriller series, you have written a mystery of murder and mayhem titled Molly: House on Fire. Your protagonist, Molly Kincaid, has appeared in your other novels, but Molly: House on Fire focuses on the successful, wealthy defense attorney as she faces her past head-on…or suffer the consequences. Can you share why you felt the need to write her story?    

Good golly, Miss Molly. I love Molly Kincaid. She’s what I dreamed of being, when I first left high school, before I fell in with the theatre crowd and changed course dramatically, no pun intended. In my first novel, the characters needed a lawyer. I thought it would be funny to have a lawyer look so much like Jodie Foster that someone in that backwater courtroom would say, “I didn’t know Jodie was a lawyer, too.” That’s how Molly came into being. She grew a life of her own, but always in the background, popping in as legal advisor or friend, and then fading out of the story. She is the hub around which all of my characters revolve.

The demand for her very own story came from the readers. They wanted to know her backstory and they most desperately wanted her to have a romance. I wasn’t up for another lesfic romance novel at the time, so Molly needed a mystery. I was given, and writers know what I mean by given, the prologue one afternoon. It came fast and furiously. When I finished typing, I read it aloud to my wife, or attempted to. I could not finish it. With tears flowing down my cheeks, I said, “Whoa. I did not mean to write that.” But it was Molly’s story and it needed telling, so I did. Mystery, thriller, romance, comedy, it’s all in there. Molly is a great character and I look forward to working with “the female Matlock” for many years to come. Besides, she drives such cool cars and Rainey Bell needed a buddy.

Which living actor would you cast to play your protagonist, Rainey Bell, from your thriller series and why?

If I could hand pick and money was no object, no question it would be Angelina Jolie. Jolie is a fantastic actor, able to play complex, layered characters. Rainey is a bit less physically imposing than Lara Croft, but they share survival skills and a puzzle solvers mind. Angelina was magnificent in The Bone Collector and Mrs. Smith certainly shares traits with Rainey. Besides, my God, look at her. Sorry, lesbian moment. In all honesty, I think Angelina gets far less credit than she deserves for the complexity of the characters she plays. She makes it appear so effortless that it doesn’t look like acting. Funny that, how those who make it look easy never get the credit they are due. Rainey is complicated, cerebral, yet will shoot you dead in a heartbeat. I think Angelina Jolie could rock that role, and who wouldn’t want to watch her walk around strapped with fire power, in a black leather jacket, driving a badass car, and married to a cute little blonde, and I don’t mean Brad. <Big Grin>

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

I’m finishing up the next Rainey Bell Thriller, Colde & Rainey, due out in April 2014. (The extra “e” in the title will make sense when it’s read.) This time Rainey revisits a cold case, spending some of the narrative in memories from the past with her father, Billy Bell. He was deceased when the series began, so not much is known about him. We get to see some of Rainey’s traits in Billy, and learn just how short a distance from the tree she really fell. Meeting a fully fleshed out Billy Bell character was interesting for me as a writer. I was not expecting it, but it has been a real treat. The reader will see, more than hear of, the relationship Rainey has talked about in the previous books. Rainey Bell is a daddy’s girl.

This story contains very little of the previous characters. Rainey is away from home and on her own for the majority of the book. Of course, we will catch up with Katie and the now two-year-old triplets, but for the thriller part of the story Rainey is alone with her memories in a strange little town. Attending the funeral of an old friend of her father’s, Rainey gets caught up in a rare North Carolina blizzard and a cold case from her past. Can she spot the killer before another murder, or is she now the intended next victim?

(Strange note: I wrote the blizzard in before one actually hit NC this year. Weird, huh?)

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

I want to thank you for the time and effort you put into promoting our work, Jon. It is very much appreciated. I enjoyed the questions—particularly fantasizing about Angelina in a leather jacket for a bit there. Thanks for having me on the page.

Find R. E. Bradshaw on the web: www.rebradshawbooks.com

Gerri, thank you so much for taking time to answer some questions for members of the Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Facebook group. 

Let’s start off with, where do you live?

I live in East Texas in a very conservative part of the state! Some of my books take place in the area, including the very early Behind the Pine Curtain and one of my most recent ones, Keepers of the Cave.

As you probably know, writers rarely like to toot their own horns…lol, but what would you say is your greatest accomplishment? 

Just being published for the first time stands out as a significant point in my life. Now, twenty-four books later, it’s almost surreal. Having some of those books be nominated (and win) for writing awards is something I’m most proud of.

Without getting too personal, would you share a little about your home life?

My partner and I live on five acres in the “woods”! I have recently retired from higher education so I no longer have an hour commute to work each day. That has certainly changed my “home life”. I can now write when I want to instead of cramming in writing sessions before work, after work, and any other time I could grab a spare minute! I enjoy being outside and I have a vegetable garden that takes up way too much time but it’s very therapeutic. We have what we call a “garden cabin” and I spend a lot of time on that deck with my laptop! I couldn’t imagine having a better office in which to write….I can watch the birds at the feeders, listen to the sound of their calls, the smell of the pines, the sensory overload from the greenness of the woods…it’s all very relaxing and it’s my favorite place to work. And not to sound too much like a hermit, but we normally close and lock the gate on Friday evening and don’t open it up again until Monday morning. Our home life is definitely staying “home”!

Do you fly by the seat of your pants when writing or plot out your storylines in detail?

It depends. For the most part, I don’t use outlines. Or if I do, it’s very crude. I find them a waste for me because I rarely follow them! There are certain details of a story that I want to make sure I hit, so those will be written down. Mostly….fly by the seat of my pants!

Have had you ever had to deal with homophobia after your lesbian novels are released, and if so, what forms has it taken?

No, not at all. I’ve always had very positive responses.

Can you share what inspires and challenges you most in your writing? 

That’s hard to answer. A lot of my preliminary work is done while I’m out walking in the woods or sitting on a fallen tree. I find inspiration there. I always have. And after twenty-four books, the biggest challenge is keeping them fresh and new. Characters need to stand on their own and not be too similar to another that readers confuse them. That’s a challenge when writing about strong, independent women . . . finding traits in each that separate them from the others.

You have three lesbian mystery series going; Ross and Sullivan, Johnston and Riley and the Hunter series. How do you prepare when starting a new book in the series? How do you keep the series fresh and exciting, especially where romance is involved? 

I will usually go back and read the previous book (or at least skim it) to get a feel for the voices again. That’s especially true if it’s been a while between books. In Keepers of the Cave and Weeping Walls (CJ Johnston and Paige Riley), they were written only one book apart so that wasn’t difficult to maintain each character’s personality. I’m currently working on a cross-over with Tori and Sam from Hunter’s Way and Cameron and Andrea (Ross and Sullivan from Devil’s Rock/Hell’s Highway). There are three books in the Hunter Series and two with Ross and Sullivan. It has been several years since I’ve visited Tori and Sam so I had to go back and read those to get a feel for the characters again. So far it’s been a challenge to juggle all four characters!!

Keeping the series fresh is as simple as keeping the story fresh! It’s more difficult when romance is involved because usually the initial romance takes place in the first book and it takes up more of their time. Subsequent books deal more with the mystery than the romance, although having their relationship grow into something deeper is also a part of it.

Which living actor would you cast to portray lesbian FBI agents CJ Johnston and Paige Riley, and why?

I get asked this question a lot! Not just about CJ and Paige but other characters as well. Honestly, I can’t give you an answer. The vision I have of them in my head is just that…a vision of them and not of some actress I’ve seen on TV or in the movies. And my vision of them might be completely different than what my readers may see!

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Of course! I’m not sure how many of them I’d like to share however. Okay…I’ll give you one: I love old Steven Seagal movies!

Last question; can you share with us a little about your current release and/or WIP?

Weeping Walls was just released this past December (Jon-which has been #1 Best Seller in Gay & Lesbian Mystery on Amazon since release; congratulations!), the sequel to Keepers of the Cave. I have a romance coming out in July, The Midnight Moon. I call it a “fun, summer romance” and I hope my readers think so as well! As I said earlier, I’m currently working on Angel Fire, a mystery that involves Tori Hunter and Sam Kennedy and Cameron Ross and Andrea Sullivan. It’s due to be released in late December.

On behalf of the Facebook Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction Group, thank you for giving us a little of your time today, answering questions fans of the genre want to know.

It was my pleasure! Thank you!

Find Gerri Hill on the web:   www.gerrihill.com

The 26th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists were announced on March 6th 2014. My novel, “Pretty Boy Dead” was shortlisted as a finalist in the Gay Mystery category.  To see the finalists for all categories, click on the link below:

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/features/news/03/06/26th-annual-lambda-literary-award-finalists-announced/

PRETTY BOY DEAD –

Blurb:

A murdered male stripper. A missing go-go dancer. A city councilman on the hook. Can Atlanta homicide detective Sergeant Kendall Parker solve the vicious crime while remaining safely hidden behind the closet door?

When the body of a young man is found in a popular midtown park, police and local media quickly pin the brutal killing on a homeless gay kid with AIDS. But Homicide Detective Sgt. Kendall Parker isn’t convinced, even when the suspect is accused of assaulting a police detective with a deadly weapon.

City leaders want the heinous murder solved yesterday and they jump at the chance to pin the crime on the drug-craving teen. Besides, it’s an election year and remaining in office is their top priority, even at the sacrifice of the young man. Sgt. Parker isn’t easily persuaded and is determined to prove Hopper’s innocence, despite protest from his colleagues and the great citizens of Atlanta. And all threatens to expose the deep secret Parker has carefully hidden from his comrades for years.

Reviews:

Pretty Boy Dead

A murdered male stripper. A missing go-go dancer. A city councilman on the hook. Can Atlanta homicide detective Sergeant Kendall Parker solve the vicious crime while remaining safely hidden behind the closet door?

Named one of Jessewave’s Top Picks 2013!

“Pretty Boy Dead is a well-written police procedural with an engaging plot and well-developed characters.” – Jessewave

“…the writing is solid, the book is well executed from cover to edits…” – author Ryan Field

“The author has written a gritty crime drama that is exciting…” – Rainbow Book Reviews

“Highly recommended for those who like swift, compelling stories.” – Chris Beakey, author of Double Abduction, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award

“The characters are well drawn and I really believe that they propel the story and of course, it helps that the book is so well written.” – Amos Lassen

“…offers an intriguing look into the thought process, personal demons, peer pressure and bureaucratic nightmares that can plague a homicide detective working on such cases.” – Bob Lind, Echo Magazine   

“If you are looking for a great mystery, you can’t go wrong with Pretty Boy Dead. – The Novel Approach

“Jon Michaelsen has written a tense, entertaining, and believable crime novel.” – David Sullivan, author and retired 29 year veteran of the San Jose Police Department.

“Overall, a good read…a murder mystery with a lot of flawed characters.” – On Top Down Under Reviews

WHERE TO PURCHASE “PRETTY BOY DEAD” –  

Wilde City Press: http://tinyurl.com/PrettyBoyDead

Amazon –

eBook: http://tinyurl.com/PBD-ebook

Print: http://tinyurl.com/PBDprint

Print UK – http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Pretty-Boy-Dead-Kendall-Parker/Jon-Michaelsen/9781925031607

Amazon India: http://www.amazon.in/Pretty-Dead-Kendall-Parker-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00H9VAM5Q

(Europe) Junglee.com: http://www.junglee.com/Pretty-Boy-Dead-Kendall-Mystery/dp/1925031608

Barnes & Noble –

eBook:

Print: http://tinyurl.com/PBDBarnesandNoble

OmniLit –  https://www.omnilit.com/product-prettyboydeadakendallparkermystery-1364535-243.html

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/pretty-boy-dead

Tower Books – http://www.tower.com/pretty-boy-dead-kendall-parker-mystery-jon-michaelsen-paperback/wapi/124483703#product_details

Pretty Boy Dead - by Jon Michaelsen

A murdered male stripper. A missing go-go dancer. A city councilman on the hook. Can Atlanta homicide detective Sergeant Kendall Parker solve the vicious crime while remaining safely hidden behind the closet door?

What they are saying about Pretty Boy Dead  

Named one of Jessewave’s Top Picks 2013!

“Pretty Boy Dead is a well-written police procedural with an engaging plot and well-developed characters.” – Jessewave

“…the writing is solid, the book is well executed from cover to edits…” – author Ryan Field

“The author has written a gritty crime drama that is exciting…” – Rainbow Book Reviews

“Highly recommended for those who like swift, compelling stories.” – Chris Beakey, author of Double Abduction, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award

“The characters are well drawn and I really believe that they propel the story and of course, it helps that the book is so well written.” – Amos Lassen

“…offers an intriguing look into the thought process, personal demons, peer pressure and bureaucratic nightmares that can plague a homicide detective working on such cases.” – Bob Lind, Echo Magazine   

“If you are looking for a great mystery, you can’t go wrong with Pretty Boy Dead. – The Novel Approach

“Jon Michaelsen has written a tense, entertaining, and believable crime novel.” – David Sullivan, author and retired 29 year veteran of the San Jose Police Department.

“Overall, a good read…a murder mystery with a lot of flawed characters.” – On Top Down Under Reviews

Where to purchase:

Wilde City Press: http://tinyurl.com/PrettyBoyDead

Wilde City Press Ebook; Pretty Boy Dead

Amazon –

eBook: http://tinyurl.com/PBD-ebook

Print: http://tinyurl.com/PBDprint