Blog Archives
Riley’s End
In the gripping novel, Riley’s End, readers delve into the intricacies of friendship and the haunting shadows of the past. Tony Cevilli and Riley Antonelli shared an unbreakable bond on the baseball field, yet strangely absent beyond its confines. This enigma deepens when Riley is tragically murdered, leaving Tony grappling with a myriad of unanswered questions. Was it an elaborate cover-up? Had Riley been unjustly framed?
Fast forward, and a determined Tony seeks answers, enlisting the help of Linda and Tommy, the sharp-witted duo heading a detective agency. Together, they navigate a labyrinth of secrets and deception surrounding the puzzling demise of Riley Antonelli.
Set against the backdrop of the mid-1960s, yet commencing in the present, we witness Tony’s personal battle with cancer. As he confronts his own mortality, his resolve to unearth the truth about Riley’s murder intensifies.
Hansmann’s storytelling prowess shines through with compelling character arcs that captivate from the get-go. The narrative provides a deep exploration of human nature, its intricacies, and nuances. Riley, with his innate desire for righteousness, stood out and resonated deeply, making him a personal favorite.
The book’s got a killer plot that smoothly takes you from one twist to the next. Readers can see Hansmann’s knack for writing a gripping mystery—it’ll keep you hooked from start to finish!
For aficionados of mystery novels, Riley’s End is not just a recommendation—it’s an essential addition to your reading list. Bill Hansmann has truly woven a tale that is both poignant and thrilling, a testament to his skillful storytelling.
Pages: 316 | ASIN : B0CBXWQZSD
Suspense on Every Page
Choice of Evils centers around a former district attorney now working to defend a millionaire accused of killing his best friend on a rock-climbing excursion. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Colorado really does have a “Choice of Evils” statute in its criminal code. It’s the actual name of the statutory defense. The phrase is in the jury instruction, too. It provided the inspiration for my legal thriller.
The “choice of evils” defense applies when the tragedy the defendant prevented by his act would have been worse than the crime he committed. A textbook example is a runaway train heading for a trestle. Five people, unable to escape, are on the trestle. They are going to die. The defendant flips a switch and causes the train to take a different trestle, where only one person is killed. One died, rather than five. It was a choice of evils, and if the facts are proven, it is a defense to the homicide of the one person.
Most states give the defense the boring name “justification. You’ve gotta admire the creativity of the Colorado legislature.
In most jurisdictions, it cannot apply to murder; in Colorado, it can.
The title of the statute gave me the idea for the book. The title came first, then I needed a plot! But how can “choice of evils” apply to murder? What could be worse than murder? I sought out examples in the Model Penal Code. Sure enough, one provided my overall story. Two men are rock climbing. The survivor claims they slipped, and he had to cut the rope to save himself; otherwise, two would have died, rather than one.
Throw in a couple of complications: (1) the man who fell to his death was having an affair with the wife of the man who cut the rope, and (2) they were business partners with a key man life insurance policy that paid two million dollars to the survivor should one die.
The prosecutor filed the charge. Wyatt Blake, former prosecutor, now criminal defense lawyer, defends it as his first murder case from the dark side, pitted against the current district attorney, who had beaten Wyatt in the election.
So, with Choice of Evils, the title came first.
Where do you find the inspiration for your characters’ traits and dialogue?
I was a prosecutor for over 30 years, so Wyatt Blake has a lot of me in him. His voice is pretty easy for me to use, as is the humor. When writing dialogue, I often cut and shorten it during the editing process.
Ryker Brando, the autistic criminal defendant, was fun to create. I have a cousin who is autistic. Several of his mannerisms were fodder for this character. I pored over books on the topic of how autism can apply to criminal defendants and used that material.
I read a couple of books about how a person can make money by setting up an Only Fans account when creating my fictional Intimate Fans account used by Chloe Brando. I, ahem, subscribed to one Only Fans account as part of the research. It was educational and informative! Alas, I no longer need it so I unsubscribed.
The courtroom scenes are informed by the 178 jury trials (111 homicide cases) I have tried in real life as a prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer.
What is the most challenging part of writing a thriller?
The most challenging parts of writing a thriller are the same things a novelist faces when writing any book: you need to put suspense on every page, to keep the reader interested and turning pages. Furthermore, you need to make the reader care about your main character, so he or she is invested in the outcome. Care must be taken not to make your protagonist too perfect, or your villain too purely evil.
Can we get a glimpse inside the next book in this trilogy? Where will it take readers?
Make My Day picks up the week after Choice of Evils ends. Wyatt Blake gets his second murder case, this time featuring another Colorado defense–the “make my day law.” Under this statute, you can shoot a person who breaks into your home without waiting for them to attack you. Wyatt’s client is a former state senator, who has shot a man he claims he mistook for a burglar. The man happened to be a movie star who date-raped his daughter. Meanwhile, Wyatt’s love life has become complicated. Harper Easton’s former fiance is back in the picture, and another potential love interest is throwing herself at Wyatt. As always, ethical issues abound!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook | Amazon
Living With the Characters
The Adventurers and the Enigma of the Lagoon follows four friends as they head to Óbidos Lagoon in Portugal for a camping trip, who end up on a suspenseful journey to unravel a series of suspicious incidents surrounding a historical legend. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The plot for this book was already in my mind. The ADVENTURERS would camp in three lagoons in central Portugal and then one of them would be kidnapped during the night and taken to Leiria Castle. However, when I arrived at Óbidos Lagoon, as I always go to the places where the stories will take place, I was surprised by those noises in the lagoon, I heard the story of the underwater people and the plot changed completely. I had to forget all about the previous one and leave it for the next volume, the 5th (The Adventurers in the Lost Labyrinth), and create a different one. So, this adventure took place entirely in the charming little town of Óbidos and its lagoon, the largest freshwater and saltwater lagoon in Europe.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I always have a lot of fun during the entire process of writing these books, living with the characters, but I laughed a lot writing the scene in which Tony hits the bandit Margarido on the head with a bucket and puts a fish in his mouth so he won’t scream for help.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
During the research for this book, I was really surprised by the legend of the underwater people from the Óbidos Lagoon. As soon as I heard it, I had to include it in the plot.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The ADVENTURERS have many adventures ahead of them, travelling from north to south across the country, always with exciting adventures, thrilling plots, and a touch of history, as Portugal has a very rich history, in events and characters. It is the oldest nation in Europe to have defined borders. There are currently 16 volumes in the series. The next one is set on Berlengas Island, and its plot is linked to the legend of the treasure of a pirate, Captain Kidd.
Author Links: GoodReads | Isabel Ricardo | Facebook | SerieOsAventureiros | Website | Amazon
Then something happens in the dead of night: footsteps wandering nearby, strange sounds in the lagoon whose origin no one can trace, and a mysterious sight. Do these events have to do with “shrews”, underwater men, a local legend? Determined not to be intimidated, THE ADVENTURERS devise an audacious plan to unravel the suspicious incidents they witness. What strange mystery does Óbidos Lagoon hide?
Volume one and two in the ADVENTURERS series, The Adventurers and the Treasure Cave and The Adventurers and the Underground River, are Literary Titan Book Award winners – Four Stars/ Silver Award.
Finding Your People
Racing Towards Destiny follows a neurodivergent marketing professional who has her whole life implode in a single day, she quits her soul-sucking job, catches her boyfriend cheating, and impulsively buys a one-way ticket to Spain. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Half of the inspiration was having a bad boss for eight years. I wrote Racing Towards Destiny after six of those years when I’d had enough. A couple of friends and I would leave work on Fridays for lunch and fantasize about not coming back. Of course, we always returned after lunch, but sometimes we’d joke and say, “Is this the day we just keep going?” That’s where Anna’s move came from.
The second half of the inspiration was from following MotoGP. There were five sets of brothers racing in the various levels (Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP), and I wondered how it would be to be the one always in the shadow. That’s where Isaac’s character arc and his story came from.
The other background for the setup was based on a favorite children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. Anna has the adult equivalent and moves to Spain.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel, especially for Anna. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
It was important to me that the characters felt real, or three-dimensional, which was why I spent so much time and energy working on them. Anna’s character traits have a lot in common with mine, especially her neurodivergence. While she is not entirely based on me (and our childhoods were very different), many aspects of her ASD are mine. The way she sees the world and how she interacts with it is much like how I do. It was important to me to portray someone on the spectrum who wasn’t emotionally flat but full of emotion and capable. Just sometimes overwhelmed.
While the racers were inspired by some of the real MotoGP racers, they are all fictional characters, so I invented things about them that could be true or seemed to fit with what I know of racing and the racing lifestyle.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Themes of finding your people and advocating for yourself were important. If we don’t put ourselves first sometimes, who else will? Anna was also learning to accept her own value. As the story progresses, she is more difficult to take advantage of and starts to believe she deserves to be treated well.
Acceptance was also an important theme. I also explored the idea of best friends and family.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The second book is already written, and I’m just waiting to pitch it to my publisher (Black Rose Writing) this summer when they’re figuring out titles for 2027. Vince (Isaac’s older brother) and Catarina’s story takes place during the following racing season. Love on Track #2 is currently called Racing Hearts: A Sports Romance (Love On Track #2).
A second, related duology is in the works; this series will be called Love Off Track and will focus on secondary characters from Racing Hearts. Expect at least one of these in 2028.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Though her autism means Anna struggles to connect, she takes a job as an umbrella girl on the MotoGP motorcycle racing circuit to make ends meet. Traveling across Europe with the team, she is soon caught up in the exhilarating world of racing.
Isaac is a motorcycle racer who lives forever in his brother’s shadow. His older brother is the most famous motorcycle racer of all time-a twelve-time champion. When Anna joins Isaac’s team, he dares to imagine a life beyond racing-one filled with love and family. His newfound happiness improves his performance on the track, but his success causes friction. For the first time, Isaac becomes a contender for the championship and his brother’s rival.
Anna and Isaac must advocate for themselves, or their newfound happiness will skid off track.
Start your engines and grab your copy of Racing Towards Destiny-filled with heart-pounding race action and steamy romance.
It Started With a Drawing
D.O.L: Light Running, Part 1, which has recently been renamed Light Running in Parris Island, follows a fiery, sharp-tongued woman who becomes entangled in government secrets and paramilitary organizations while battling her own haunted past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The entire saga started from a drawing I did in art school in 2005 and a horrible experience I had during a short story class I took in 2009. When I turned in my final assignment for that class I will admit I was full of myself. I thought my final draft was God’s gift to man. My classmates were less than enthused and humbled me with their criticism:
‘I didn’t like it.’
‘Writing isn’t your thing.’
‘I thought the plot was too generic.’
This devastated me, and I didn’t touch the story for another three years. Between 2012 and 2020 I tried to rework the narrative but never got very far into the storyline. Then Covid struck and, like many, I found myself with an abundance of free time. In seven months I completed the first book. After a two-year editing process I submitted my book for review. I’m proud to say that, so far, I have not received less than a five star review.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
The short answer is ‘realism’. My characters are alive and real in my head. I can see them move about in the real world. Furthermore, I am able to hear the inflections in their voices and even accompany certain scenes with background music. It is my job – my purpose – to make sure that my characters live just as vibrantly in your mind.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The primary theme of the book was Lilly’s first mission as an ARMOR agent. An unknown adversary has infiltrated Parris Island, forcing Lilly to rely on someone with less experience than herself. In the previous books most of the heavy lifting had been done by side characters like Joe or Andrew. This was Lilly’s maiden voyage and I wanted to keep the reader guessing as to whether she would sink or swim.
Supporting themes include: Sisterhood in the military; reunion and loss and unexpected betrayal.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The next book is already out on Amazon, and it is called D.O.L: Light Running In Afghanistan. I’ll give you three guesses where Lilly is going, but you’ll only need one.
In this installment, Lilly must embark on her second mission with little-to-no recovery time from the first. Things escalate when her transport plane is shot down behind enemy lines. Light Running In Afghanistan gives an intriguing alternative story to the book/movie ‘Lone Survivor’. However, in this version, Lilly ends up being the lone survivor and she encounters a village that houses a centuries-old secret. The story will keep you guessing and your questions will be answered but, of course, more questions will arise.
I see this entire series seamlessly spanning a multitude of literary genres. The major themes for the entire saga are already completed in my head; it’s the fine points that need further development. With that in mind, I won’t reveal too much about where things are going. After all, the entire series is one gigantic mystery. And the title: D.O.L is classified. The name of the game is escalation and fun and I intend to deliver on both.
Choice of Evils
Choice of Evils, by Morley Swingle, is a sharp, twist-filled legal thriller that follows Wyatt Blake, a former district attorney turned defense lawyer, defending a millionaire accused of murdering his best friend during a rock-climbing trip. Set in the snow-draped peaks of Colorado, the story weaves courtroom drama, moral gray areas, and emotional backstories into a compelling tale of justice, loss, and the fine line between right and wrong.
What really pulled me in wasn’t just the whodunit mystery; it was Wyatt himself. He’s a flawed, smart, funny, sad guy who’s trying to stitch his life back together after losing his wife in a freak skiing accident. His inner thoughts are dry and biting, like when he watches a potential client chew his nails and thinks he hasn’t “encountered scissors in months.” That kind of dark humor is sprinkled throughout the book and made me both laugh and wince. I felt his grief when he hides the photo of his daughter before meeting the accused murderer, Ryker Brando. Swingle writes pain without melodrama.
Ryker Brando is a chilling character; detached, calculating, and unnervingly composed. He openly admits to cutting the rope that led to his best friend’s death, yet displays no visible remorse or emotional turmoil. Instead, he presents his actions with stark, matter-of-fact reasoning. This emotional flatness makes him difficult to read, let alone sympathize with, yet it’s precisely this ambiguity that gives his character such power. Swingle resists the urge to paint Ryker as a clear-cut villain; instead, he challenges the reader to grapple with the unsettling logic behind Ryker’s choice. “Two people die, or just one,” Ryker says, and you’re left genuinely unsure of what you might have done in his place. The novel’s treatment of the “choice of evils” defense is not only compelling but also intellectually provocative, presenting legal nuance in a way that’s accessible without ever oversimplifying.
The courtroom scenes are particularly well-executed. Unlike many legal thrillers that get bogged down in tedious procedural detail, Swingle’s narrative moves with precision and energy. His legal expertise is evident, but what stands out even more is his ability to translate that knowledge into sharp, engaging drama. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue crisp, and the legal sparring, especially between Wyatt Blake and his successor, Chad Coburn, is both intense and layered. Coburn, a former NFL linebacker turned district attorney, brings an aggressive, politically charged edge to the proceedings, making their confrontations not just legal battles, but deeply personal and ideological clashes.
The supporting characters are also given room to shine. Nikki, Wyatt’s resourceful and sharp-tongued secretary, adds both levity and depth, underscoring Swingle’s talent for creating memorable, multidimensional personalities. By the final chapters, I found myself fully invested, not just in the outcome of the case, but in the broader questions the book raises. The narrative explores themes of guilt, justice, and moral ambiguity with both intelligence and emotional resonance. Whether or not Ryker is truly guilty almost becomes secondary to the exploration of what guilt really means. Swingle delivers this with wit, emotional insight, and a firm grasp of human complexity.
Choice of Evils will appeal to readers who appreciate legal thrillers that delve into moral ambiguity and psychological depth. With its layered characters, ethically charged dilemmas, and compelling courtroom drama, the novel offers both intellectual engagement and emotional impact. For those who enjoy thoughtful, well-paced narratives grounded in legal realism, this is a standout choice.
Pages: 731 | ASIN : B0F6M1YJHL
Emerge Stronger
The Rise follows a gladiator trapped in a collapsing society ruled by tyrants who has to battle enemies, inner demons, and a regime built on resurrection and control. What was the initial idea behind this story, and how did that transform as you wrote the novel?
The initial idea was I wanted to explore what would happen if man was able to wield a small portion of God’s power and what they would do that. How would they respond? Would they use for good or for selfish reasons? It became obvious to me as I finished book one (The Wall)… That I would need two more books to complete the story to satisfaction.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I think that the human condition seems to gravitate towards either love and goodness or power and evil. And that we need to actively hold our thoughts and actions captive.
The Rise begins in a traditional way but then takes a turn that defies traditional sci-fi storytelling, turning into a dark, emotional exploration of trauma, resistance, and sacrifice. What was your approach to writing the story?
The Rise is book 3 in The Wall Trilogy. It is an accumulation of all the trials, sacrifice, heartaches, and battles of good against evil from the first two books. I wanted to put the characters through trial after trial so they could finally emerge stronger at the end and learn what really matters.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
I see our main characters Asher and Sarai finally be able to live in peace with their son. For the first time, they don’t have the threat of war or outside forces trying to separate them. And although they still have the struggles from their past, they can finally move forward with love.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
A True Redemption
Affliction is a harrowing dark fantasy that follows a captive prince grappling with trauma, identity, and survival under the rule of a ruthless Alpha in a world where magic is a weapon of oppression. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story was inspired by the desire to write something different, where people of all walks of life could feel represented. I felt like there wasn’t much for options as far as a queer romantasy, and as cliche as it sounds, the story sort of wrote itself. I wanted a story that wasn’t a coming-out story, I wanted to write something where the characters just happened to have different preferences beyond the mainstream.
What inspired you to create such an emotionally raw and psychologically intense character in Nicolas?
Nicolas represents a lot of friends I had growing up who struggled with not only their sexuality but also their worth. Women and men can both struggle with feeling as though their worth ends with what they have to offer; some of them like the power their bodies hold, while some of them become slaves to it, and I wanted to shed light on that. I wanted Nicolas to have a true redemption, and I wanted to touch on the trauma that someone in a situation like this might have actually gone through. It’s not always pretty, and I hope people can enjoy him for what he is. A human.
How did you approach balancing the brutality of the world with moments of introspection and humanity?
I really wanted to try and add dark humor to break up the intensity. My own sense of humor can be dark, and I think when a topic like this comes up, it suited the story to keep up with the theme of, ‘these guys are having a really hard time, but they’re doing it together, even if they don’t want to.’ The villain isn’t always the villain in everyone’s story, and sometimes the good guy is the villain.
Affliction is book one of the Alpha Series. What can readers expect in book two?
The series has 9 books, with 8 finished and the 9th in the works. Book Two is sort of the ‘coming of age’ part of the story. It’s a bit more serious, a lot more magic, and a whole lot more drama.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
LITERARY TITAN 