Blog Archives
Running Toward Danger
Cram Down follows a Kansas City attorney who takes on a case involving a couple who had their business funding cut off, only to get mixed up with the mob and a missing bank president. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Many times, the story just seems to be inside of me waiting to come out. For Cram Down, there were several components in play: (a) the inspiration for a community bank came first, (b) followed by the notion that 3J would have to force a plan of reorganization on the bank over its objection, and (c) I’ve always been fascinated with Kansas City history, and I’d been reading books about the Kansas City mob in particular. In each book in the series, there’s always Jazz, and BBQ, and history as well.
3J is an amazing character that readers can be invested in. Was the character’s backstory something you always had, or did it develop as you were writing?
When I started working on the series, I wanted to create a strong, admirable protagonist who would give me a chance to comment on social issues in each book. 3J is a Black, female bankruptcy lawyer in a large Kansas City law firm, which, until recently, was dominated by white men. I am neither black nor female. So, while her character gives me the chance to address social issues (haters, mental illness, when does the ends justify the means, redlining), and have my characters reflect the diversity in our country, I also need to respect that I can never actually know what it’s like to be Black, and a woman, and their struggles to make it up the law firm ladder.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
In Cram Down, I wanted to kick the action scenes up a notch. In the prior book – Unfair Discrimination – 3J must battle a White nationalist who becomes unhappy that he won’t get paid back all that the debtors owe him, and he takes his rage out on 3J and a Jewish attorney. My readers liked the action in UD, so I wanted to create an action-packed story in Cram Down as well.
3J also has a habit of running toward danger, at great personal risk, which continues in Cram Down, and through flashback chapters, we begin to learn more of her bad habit, and where it may come from as she grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward and Tréme neighborhoods in New Orleans.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes. I have begun to research my next 3J thriller – tentatively named For Cause. It will involve a Deep Fake video that 3J must contend with and save her client from its impact, while trying to prove in court that the video is not her client’s message to the world. She will also continue her habit of running toward danger.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Linkedin | Amazon | YouTube
Cram Down
Cram Down, follows the compelling narrative of the astute lawyer Josephina Jillian Jones – affectionately termed 3J by her friends – and the intricately woven lives of brothers Amadi and Jordan Browne.
Embarking on a journey from a shadowed past, 3J plunges herself into the legal maelstrom encompassing a non-profit organization, Abode. The atmosphere tenses as her involvement quickly spirals into a vortex of unpredictability and peril. The reader is left poised on a razor’s edge, contemplating: will 3J’s legal prowess and emotional resilience be enough to navigate this treacherous case?
Contrastingly, Amadi Browne, rooted in his banking pedigree and a connoisseur of charitable endeavors, grapples with the bittersweet legacy of a bank inherited from his parents. His appreciation for the institution’s history teeters on the brink of melancholy as he yearns for his brother to peer into the depth of its legacy with equivalent reverence. The complexities of family ties and inherited responsibility are palpable, keeping the reader bound to Amadi’s internal and external struggles.
Jordan Browne, embroiled in his ambitious visions, stealthily assumes control of the bank through the strategic acquisition of his brother’s shares. His clandestine maneuvers and stark contrast in visions for the bank’s trajectory pose a poignant question: Will the brothers’ divergent paths weave a future of success or sow seeds of familial discord?
Cram Down boasts an impeccably crafted ensemble of characters. From 3J – whose intelligence and occasional recklessness converge to form a profoundly relatable protagonist – to the dichotomy of the cultured Amadi and the precarious Jordan, Shaiken masterfully molds characters that resonate with vibrancy and depth. The secondary characters, such as the enigmatic Robert McFadden, the eccentric investigator Moses Aaronson, and sagacious William Pascale, are not merely supporting cast but vital cogs in this intricate narrative wheel, each contributing their distinct flavor to the unfolding drama.
The narrative navigates through light and shadow with a suspenseful undertow, encapsulating the reader in a setting richly steeped in engaging history and meticulously tailored to envelop the story. The pacing is unyieldingly brisk, propelling the reader through its pages with a magnetizing allure. Amidst the dynamic world-building and a potently character-driven narrative, Shaiken crafts a tale imbued with non-stop action, gripping suspense, and an emotional complexity that beckons readers into its depths.
Cram Down emanates flawless narrative charisma, effortlessly earning its commendation to aficionados of the legal thriller genre. This book gracefully interweaves tension, drama, and emotional depth, ensuring that readers will want more.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B0CJ1QJDQV
LITERARY TITAN 