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This Fight Inspired Me
Full Circle follows a counterterrorist organization that becomes the target of someone they thought was dead, who now has to find and eliminate the threat. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I spent 22 years in the CIA, primarily in the field of counterterrorism. I spent considerable time in the Philippines where we had to take on the New People’s Army (NPA) which was the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. This fight inspired me to write this book.
How did you come up with the idea for the antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?
I wanted the antagonist to be an opponent that had not been seen before in novels. Having an NPA Sparrow (assassination) unit gunman as the killer felt to me to be a novel and different idea for a bad guy. It changed as I wrote as I decided to have a back story explaining how he ended up in the NPA when he started off as a good kid. He was still bad and had to be stopped by my protagonist, Jack Trench and his team, but I wanted to make the bad guy more than a one-dimensional character.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
I wanted the action scenes to grab the reader from the first chapter. But having too many action scenes makes a book too cartoonish. So, I made sure the story carried the day while the action sequences provided the necessary support to the story. I also made sure the action sequences were realistic based on my background in the CIA and as a police officer in Oakland, CA.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
I have written two more books in the Jack Trench series and in each one, the characters are drawn back into the world of covert action. But you also see more information revealed about them as the books progress. I want the readers to really feel like they know the characters and what makes them tick.
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Or, so he thought.
A phone call brings Jack back into the spy game. Someone is coming after his old team, critically wounding one and landing him in the ICU. Now Jack is out for revenge. And as the clues start emerging as to who might be behind the brutal assault, the team must reunite one more time to take on a lethal foe. A foe they thought no longer existed.
They were wrong. Once again, it’s kill or be killed.
Jack Trench is about to find out, in life, things can go full circle.
There Is Hope For The Oppressed
Full Circle follows a woman who sets about creating a better life for her family away from her abusive husband with the help of her brother-in-law. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration came from believing that even through adversity and despair there is always hope.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
I tried to keep the characters real, everyday people going through life’s journey. It is in their love, friendship and their faith, their family ties that bind them. All of this comes together for Lucia and helps her through it all.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to show that there is hope for the oppressed, and the abused. The caring and love of family and friends. Hard work and determination has its rewards.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I will write a children’s story based on my childhood adventures and my experiences growing up in a big family. Actually wrote a short story on it, so I am ahead of the game, just have to get to it.
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Full Circle: Lucia’s Story
Vince and Lucia Rossi are married with two kids, Mario and Anna. Life isn’t the easiest for the Rossis’ in 1967 because, while struggling financially, Vince is also an abusive husband and doesn’t treat his family very well. Lucia is a strong women and does all she can with help from close friends and family. They get a lot of help from Sam who is married to Vince’s sister. He helps out by always being there for Lucia and the kids whenever they need him, even if he has to protect them from Vince. He really cares for them and wants them all to be happy, and I loved this part of Sam. Vince eventually pays for the consequences of his actions, which leave Lucia as a single mother with two kids to support.
One of my favorite characters in this thought-provoking book was Sam. He was so caring and generous with Lucia and the kids. He wanted what was best for them, even if it meant threatening Vince on how he treats them. He experiences some heartache in the story too but in the end he is as happy as Lucia. I know this is ‘Lucia’s Story’ but Sam just resonated with me.
I really enjoyed the emotional connection between the characters. It was heartwarming and one of the more compelling elements to this story. Lucia’s determination and passion shows through her love for hers kids. She was in a unhealthy relationship while in her marriage, but she never let the kids be affected by it or let it show. Lucia’s character has so much depth and I enjoyed how we got to explore that depth throughout the story.
This is a character driven story, with Lucia at the center of it, and I heartily enjoyed following her. The characters were all well developed, even Vince, as they all felt authentic. Vince was the main obstacle throughout the story and once he was gone there wasn’t much more to overcome. I would have enjoyed following Lucia through different events because I enjoyed seeing how she handled situations. I did love the addition of some characters, like Luke, who brought more entertainment to the story. The romance between him and Anna was sweet and lovely to read about. The story follows different characters and jumps back and forth between them, which keeps readers on their toes and ensures we’re always engaged with where the story is heading next.
Full Circle by Robert J Saniscalchi takes readers on a heartfelt journey with compelling characters. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for an impassioned novel that exemplifies the importance of family and love and shows how honesty and loyalty play pivotal roles in our lives.
Pages: 120 | ASIN: B0BB845C37
LITERARY TITAN 