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What would a real war on drugs look like?
Camp David Conspiracy follows a reporter who works to uncover the link between politicians, the drug cartel, and unexplained overdoes. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The idea for this novel came to me when reading how mad cow disease (BSE) caused beef demand around the world to plummet. People were afraid to eat beef for fear of “catching” mad cow. Similarly, tainted product scares with spinach, Tylenol, cantaloupe, apple juice, and even the Chipotle restaurant chain caused the public to avoid these products in mass.
I asked myself the question: “Would fear of dying from tainted cocaine cause users to avoid cocaine use?” From there, I structured a conspiracy story where overdose deaths suddenly and mysteriously start occurring across the US; and how users, sellers, the cartels, and the government would react.
This book was first published in November 2018. Today—in the world of “real life imitating fiction”— fentanyl laced opioids, heroin, cocaine, and even “legal” painkillers are causing overdose deaths to skyrocket. Could the Camp David Conspiracy storyline be taking place in real life?
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
I was a journalism major in college. And though I never worked as a reporter, I am impressed with investigative reporting—the ability to put small facts together to uncover a broader story.
Geoffrey Wines, the central character in the Geoffrey Wines Series is based on a specific personality, but his actions are a conglomeration of great journalists like Woodward, Bernstein, and high-profile investigations over the years.
In writing any character, I tend to have one person in mind, who I adopt and embellish.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
At the time I wrote this book, drug use and the drug wars across America continued to rage as the government’s war on drugs showed little progress in deterring people who enjoy the use of drugs. Meanwhile, cartels and sellers earn billions of dollars meeting this demand.
I show how each level of this supply and demand equation works to everyone’s advantage; except the authorities who are hamstrung in tracking and convicting the cartels and sellers.
While the book posits a realistic approach, it also asks: “What would a real war on drugs look like?”
I try to answer this question with historical references to a real war (WWII)—while reporter Geoffrey Wines unearths the most brazen plot he could ever imagine.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
I am writing the third book in the Geoffrey Wines series. (The second book: Disorder – A Novel launched on March 1, 2022). It will include the current journalistic relationship between Geoffrey Wines and President Osbourne. I will keep its storyline quiet until publication, currently anticipated for early in 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Website
He instantly knows things are not right when drug overdoses in DC and other metro areas start to spike. His suspicions heighten when five DC gang-bangers overdose from a new brick of cartel-delivered cocaine, and then confirmed when a prominent DC Attorney suffers the same fate. What could be so lethal? So undetectable? And who could be behind it?
Wines and his inner-city intern begin to connect the dots that lead someplace neither would suspect. Their probe takes them from the depths of inner-city Washington DC tenements to Cartel kingpins to the highest reaches of the US Justice Department. In the middle of their exploration,
Wines discovers human frailties and friendships that are unshakable as everywhere he looks, there are good guys, bad guys and some who straddle the thin line in-between. In this gray-space he unravels the Camp David Conspiracy.
Some Larger Destiny At Play
Heart of the Rose follows a silver elf and a sea captain as they navigate their love for each other as well as the trouble a stolen jewelry box brings. What were some new ideas you wanted to introduce in this book that was different from book one?
Book one focused on the characters finding three very powerful magical artifacts. In this second novel, I aimed to demonstrate what these powerful items are capable of. This novel showed two of the items in action from the first book. I plan to feature the third in book three when it comes out. I also wanted to create an impression that there is some larger destiny at play here. The characters start off as mercenaries driven by self-interest but they are growing and their motivations are evolving. Lorena with her sketchy femme fatale past is getting in touch with her feelings. Thorne is becoming a capable leader who cares about his crew, his girlfriend, and the world.
What were some obstacles you felt were important to testing Lorena and Thorne’s relationship?
Lorena’s biggest obstacle to their relationship is herself. She has worked as a thief and a con artist for so long that seeing Thorne as a real romantic interest instead of a mark was hard for her. She blamed her hesitation on the ghost that haunts her but is just an excuse to avoid dealing with her budding feelings. Being manipulated and facing the fact that she is wanted by the law in her homeland were actually minor factors in comparison to that. Thorne is really perfect for Lorena because he is just as jaded and untrusting as her for different reasons. Being a sea captain and a lifetime soldier has made Thorne into a man devoted to his occupation, but his experiences have shown him the depravity humanity is capable of.
This seemed like a fun story to write. What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
That is kind of a tough call. I really enjoyed the scene when, Lorena, friend-zoned her companion Chetaak and he tries to make her jealous. That scene was inspired by some real-world stuff happening to a young acquaintance that was struggling with dating. I also enjoy writing fight scenes. I have some personal experience with medieval reenactments so I get to draw on my knowledge of melee and hand-to-hand combat as a resource. The scene where Killikuuk fought the giant air elemental was fun for me. The folktale I made about the four winds meeting at a house was inspired by a dream which gave me the idea for the scene.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book will be called The King’s Bloodhound and should be available by Jan. of 2023. I am almost done with the first draft now. It is a story about Rinad, a halfling with PTSD that takes a job working for the sheriff as a tracker to help find a necromancer who is trying to start a war. Rinad must learn to rise above the trauma of his past to find the strength to defeat the necromancer.
Author Links: TikTok | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website
It’s Prime For A Serial Killer
Requiem follows a unique team from the U.S. Marshal department as they hunt a serial killer using some unconventional methods. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
First, the setting is urban, maquiladora, twin manufacturing plants or twin fruit/vegetable plants. I know this area of Reynosa and McAllen, TX very well. I built three industrial plants in three years with twin plants in Reynosa and in Hidalgo County, across the River. I know the worker schedules and hardships. There are multinational plant managers in Reynosa which often do not take into consideration local worker culture. At the same time, the manufacturing plants for automotive parts and scientific instruments must maintain international quality control procedures. It’s prime for a serial killer.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters personalities grow organically as you were writing?
The story flows organically from the land of the border and the characters that live there. Most of the inhabitants of the RGV (Rio Grande Valley) and their families have lived there long before Americans invaded this area a little over a hundred years ago. For a better understanding of the borders, recall the hyper-aggressive American forces that took this area by force without reparations. It’s helpful in understanding the real problem with immigration. Within the last fifty years, recall the United States manipulation of the governments of all of Central America and Mexico, and the internal chaos that ensued. These tactics caused social and political unrest, in Central America and Haiti especially, pushing those citizens to flee. Because of our manipulative foreign policies, we need to better understand the sea of humanity surging to the border and understand that, as Americans, we are morally obligated to help the immigrants who have suffered due to our foreign policies.
Did you do a lot of research to maintain the accuracy of the Native American shaman practices?
No, I know a number of Native Americans.
What can you tell readers about book three in the series and when will it be available?
Hallelujah is available now on Amazon. Requiem will release June 21 and Reservoir will follow on July 26. All can be found on Amazon.com.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
U.S. Federal Marshal Gabriella Zamora, and her team, brought shocking revelations to the surface when they solved the case of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent murdered on a remote highway in Texas. Coming face-to-face with those who wished to destroy them should have earned Gabe and her special ops team a brief rest. Instead, within hours of their success, an even more terrifying challenge is assigned…a mission to stop a serial killer whose brutal attacks on women working in Mexico warehouses are escalating with each new victim.
Gabe, along with Marshal Alex Ranslow—a Native American shaman who ‘sees’ things others cannot; Sam DeSilva—the team’s IT genius; and Cyn Beauvoir—a woman with the power to take down an entire gang, race to the Rio Grande Valley where their hunt begins.
The team soon finds themselves thrust into a war involving drug kingpins, political enemies, and a psychotic mind. Not only will this Borderland Mystery test the strength, wit, and courage of the marshals, it will also be the catalyst that forces Gabe to deal with past relationships that were, most likely, better off left for dead.
Hidden Truths Needed To Be Uncovered
Inspirations is an inspirational and motivational self-help book that shares your personal struggles and the process you underwent to achieve your success. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was vital for me to write because many hidden truths needed to be uncovered by the world. Unstill today, many individuals live in the dark because they are being blind by manipulators and abusers. Those individuals are unable to make informed decisions by themselves. I believe if they had the opportunity to read my book, they would be able to see clearly and lead their lives in a new direction, which would enable them to avoid being ambushed by conspirators.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
One piece of advice I wish someone had given me when I was younger is developing financial literacy.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
One thing I hope readers take away from my story is belief.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book that I am working on is the Second Edition of the Book Inspirations: My Vivid Imagination Has Been Transformed into Reality. It will be available in 2024.
Author Links: Facebook | Amazon
A collection of quotes that offer valuable lessons Francois has learned from his experiences in America, Inspirations is arranged by topic. From Sticking to Your Principles to Flexibility and Change Are Necessary for Growth, his goal is to see all people around the world live as happy and productive individuals.
Francois has provided a great deal of stirring, useful information designed to enable to everyone to make better lives for themselves and to better position themselves for success in todays society. His ultimate goal is to help people gain knowledge, achieve their goals, resolve their problems, and enable their success in todays fast-paced world.
Inspirations: My Vivid Imagination Has Been Transformed into Reality fulfills Francoiss vision of enabling everyone to make their future success a reality.
Peterson Francois is a thoughtful individual whose many ideas will cause readers to reflect upon their lives in a way that could likely lead to a more fulfilling life.
Dr. Ralph Norcio, Lynn University
Peterson Francois is a highly motivated person who has been confident in his academic and professional abilities and determined toward achievement and further progress. He takes his responsibilities very seriously and tries his best to achieve the perfection. Paterson Francois is a very friendly person with a positive attitude and respect toward others.
Dr. Farideh Farazmand, Lynn University
A Topic I Know Well; Swimming
Soul of a Swimmer is the true story about a high school athlete that dies in a school shooting and the legacy he left behind. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Many believe that America has come to normalize mass shootings; often the seriousness of the crime is measured by a body count, and that’s it. No matter the breadth or depth of one’s life, every person who passes on in a mass shooting is worthy of their story being told- they were in the process of dreaming, and living for the future when they died. Few stop and ponder “Who were these people who died? What talent is our society never going to realize?”
This was my first book, and I chose to write about a topic I know well; swimming.
I am a lifelong competitive swimmer, and I implicitly understand Nick. We are of the same breed (so to speak), his passing deeply affected me and indelibly rocked swimmers worldwide. Even though swimming is an individual sport, swimmers share a kinship like no other, and myself and countless other swimmers deeply mourn Nick; a lost member of our school of fish.
Shortly after the tragedy I became acquainted with Nick’s story through several memorials and fundraisers for his charity http://www.swim4nick.com. Nick was and still is a phenomenon. I hadn’t planned on writing a book, but Nick found me and I had to tell his story. It was a pleasure and honor to forever memorialize Nick in this way.
Lastly, I came to learn about the other 16 souls we lost in Parkland. They each were remarkable people; I wish I had the bandwidth to write their stories too.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
By far the prologue was the hardest 2 pages I’ve ever written and probably ever will write. I’m still emotional and often choke up when I think about the interview with Annika, Nick’s mom, which led to the finalization of this passage.
Each interview as hard in its own way. There was always a balance of grief and joy during the interviews. There were lots of tears; yet openness among all of the interviewees. Resounding respect for Nick resonated throughout the interview process.
What is your favorite memory of Nicholas?
During the writing process, every way I turned, there was a remarkable new” favorite” memory. My favorite is when Mitch, Nick’s dad, described Nick secretly teaching his younger brother to drive. Mitch’s facial expressions during this conversation were priceless. The story of Nick comforting his friend Carlos through a family tragedy was profound and unexpected. This is a story which Nick’s parents never knew before I wrote the book.
I love the memory of Nick visiting Daria’s mom, unannounced. I also love the memory of Nicholas consuming most if not all of the “Fika” snacks.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Nicholas’s story?
Nicholas Dworet was a remarkable human being. His was a “Life Well Lived.”
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Open To The Anguish Of Mortals
Origins: The Blue Dragon Society follows a shape-shifting boy who has to decide if he will fulfill his destiny or let his hate exile him. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I studied international human rights throughout my collegiate career and had several opportunities to see children and teens from countries and ethnic groups that did not get along. And from a very young age they were taught to hate each other, but there was one moment I saw, which will stay with me for the rest of my days. I was working and living in the single building Manhattan Campus of St. John’s University; it was late night and I was working on reports and I kept hearing children laughing and screaming on the floors below me. There were summer programs happening where students from various countries, countries that did not get along, were learning English. Initially, I thought the students were bullying each other, so I looked over the railing of the terrace where I was working and I was just about to get after at them, when I realized what they were doing – they were playing hide and seek. Hardly any of them could openly communicate with each other because they didn’t share languages, but they were laughing and playing together. They ranged in ages from eight to fourteen and they were just having the time of their lives. It’s been ten years since that happened and I’m getting emotional typing about it now because of how powerful that was to see. With Owen, I wanted to write something that showed if you just take a moment to get to know someone from another culture or ethnic group, you’ll see that we have far more in common than not. Those children bonded over playtime and as Owen grows, he will see that there are far more reasons for us to work together than against one another. This theme will continue into the sequel as well.
Owen faces many moral challenges and experiences of growth in this novel. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
When I initially wrote this story, I knew I wanted a troubled teen as the main character as I wanted to introduce my readers to this world, which will very much continue to grow, through the lenses of someone narrow minded. That way, as his perspective grew through his experiences, my readers would be able to grow into the world with him. I knew I wanted him to be in mourning, but when I initially wrote the first draft, it was his father who had passed, not his mother. Then I had a conversation with fantasy author David Green who mentioned how in fantasy stories, so many characters have a daddy complex in our genre. So I flipped the table; I wanted a young man who was closer with his mother and who lost her. I lost my grandmother who raised me when I was sixteen, and while I genuinely don’t remember much of the year that followed, what I do remember was anguish – feeling lost and feeling angry. The feeling of having my world ripped away from me, so I wanted to put those emotions in Owen and then put him in situations where he’d have to create his own conclusions and make his own choices based on his loss at an early age. While the Blue Dragons are noble in their missions, they are blinded by their intent to pursue the greater good which Owen realizes may lead to more trouble than good. Even though he initially hated humans, through his recent loss Owen’s eyes are far more open to the anguish of mortals than his fellow dragons.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I didn’t want a “simple” good vs evil story. I’ve studied enough international conflicts to know it’s not usually that simple, which is why the story starts with the antagonist. There is no doubt that Anton is the “bad guy,” and while his parents are neglectful and abusive, he is given a choice and his choice has many affects, some of which we haven’t even seen yet.
At its simplest, Origins is a coming of age story where young individuals are finding their place in a world that is bigger than them and deciding if they want to serve others or themselves. This theme of choice will continue into the next installments of the Blue Dragon Society as well.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a couple of books in the pipeline right now; my business partner and I have a guide for authors entitled, How to Become A Successful Author and Not Loose Your Mind, which is launching mid to late July of 2022. The sequel to Origins, The Road to Dova, will be launching in October of 2022. And I’m currently publishing two episodes a week of an urban fantasy entitled Blood Lords via Kindle’s Vella, which is about a young woman who is being hunted by a corrupted vampire lord.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | TikTok | Website | Instagram
The shape-shifting members of the Blue Dragon Kingdom have long intervened when chaos befalls mortals. While he knows this tradition is an integral part of his community, Owen hates humans for killing his mother. But the only way to take his place in his dragon society is to help mortals against a new threat; vampires. If Owen refuses the mission, he will be exiled.
In this dark fantasy tale, will Owen overcome his hatred to help the humans fight vampires, or will he choose exile and the destruction of all humankind?
The Journey That This Poem Took
Scatter Seeds of Kindness is more than just poetry, it is your personal thoughts and experiences that went into the writing of each poem. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I didn’t start out with the goal of writing a book about kindness. I wanted to get my poems out into the world and started to include my thoughts, inspiration, or motivation behind each poem in the form of prose included either before or after the poem. As I wrote either the poem or the prose, I started to notice a recurring theme of kindness throughout the book. It almost became a thread that held the book together. As I started to notice this theme, I realized how important it is in this day and age. So many people are struggling with some kind of pain, either mental or physical. Also we are hit with so much negativity and stress throughout the day and with everything going on in the world, so now more than ever I feel it is important to pull out that kindness when we can. Giving each other some leeway and practicing patience can go a long way in making these stressful times a little easier to manage.
My favorite poem in the collection is ‘Life Lessons outside the Classroom.’ Do you have a favorite from this collection, if so why?
I am glad you liked that poem. My favorite is probably the first poem in the book (after the title poem) called The Weight of Memories. This poem was a challenge for me. The opening verse talks about a box of old memories that sits up on a shelf. I wrote the first two verses and then did not know where I wanted this poem to go, so I literally put the verses on a shelf and let my thoughts marinate for awhile. When I finally came back to the poem, the words started flowing about how our memories are fluid and can change over time, and how memories shape us and build on each other as we go through life, ultimately helping to form our character. The poem also mentions how memories are heavy and can weigh us down. In the final verses, the person in the poem realizes that they can open that box of memories because they are strong enough to handle anything, and they can even find the strength to let go of some of those things that were weighing them down. So I was happy with the journey that this poem took after getting off to a slow start.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope people remember, as I touched on earlier, that everyone is struggling with something. Sometimes it is a physical pain and you can see the pain all over their face. But other times it is a burden that they may be carrying, or the weight of their memories as I just discussed above. They may be dealing with an illness; their own or a loved one’s illness but they could have a big smile on their face even though they are suffering on the inside. That being said, as humans we also tend to be very hard on ourselves, so throughout the book are reminders to also be kind to ourselves and not beat ourselves up so much as we are just trying to do the best that we can. So I hope people can take away these reminders to not only be patient and kind to each other, but also to themselves.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am working on a book in a similar fashion to this book, with the poem and the included prose which is my motivation or back story behind each poem. I am taking my time a little more with this book, but I am hoping to have it out by the end of 2022
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
This poetry collection presents personal life experiences and thoughts set in verses and provides the inspiration or motivation behind each poem.
Scatter seeds of kindness
Wherever you may go.
Reach deep inside your heart
And scatter them to and fro.
Scatter seeds of kindness
And bring a few to share.
You never know when you’ll find the chance
To show someone you care.
Into A Possible Future
Silvano’s Redemption follows an Earth woman and a cyborg as they fight for the freedom of cyborgs while finding romance between them. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I’ve always been fascinated by the thought of cyborgs. Would they still be considered human or not? How much of their bodies would have to be replaced before they aren’t considered human? For this story, I wanted to send women from our time into a possible future where cyborgs exist. I wanted them to see how far the human race had fallen. I also wanted to touch on who should be blamed when we are dealing with evil people in charge of society. Silvano and the other cyborgs hate all humans when this story begins. They have been severely abused, but they slowly come to realize through Tessa and the other women that not all humans are evil. Is there a point where Silvano can learn to let go of past abuse? If he can’t, then he might be missing out on a brighter future with Tessa. Life can be difficult, but I wanted to bring across that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
Did you create an outline for the characters in the story before you started writing or did the characters personalities grow organically as you were writing?
I’m not very good at outlining. I know where I want my story to start, and I know where I want it to end. I basically follow where my characters want to take me in the middle. They rarely let me down.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
….Listening with an open mind rather than be judgmental. Forgiveness, redemption, courage, love, perseverance.
What can you tell readers about the next book in the series and when will it be available?
“Saving Mathis” is available for pre-order now. It will be released on May 10th. Questions concerning Tessa’s sister Tara will be answered in this book. We will also be given a hint as to where these cyborgs, the women, and their children are headed for. The full story will be slowly revealed throughout the series.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Tessa and her twin sister Tara are abducted from Earth by aliens that resemble man-sized lizards to be used for breeding. They are rescued from the lizards by these strange, emotionless beings who claim to be Cyborgs. Tessa isn’t sure what to think about the stern commander but can’t deny she finds him as attractive as she does terrifying.
Things heat up between Tessa and Silvano when he is forced to use her to lead a traitor Cyborg away from his ship.
**Standalone Story. No Cliffhangers.**
LITERARY TITAN 