Monday, December 2, 2013

Author Interview – Michael J. Webb @mjwebbbooks

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/21/2e/adb64d1043d00ad8986c1a.L._V157003795_SX200_.jpg

What books did you love growing up?

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew when I was young, then anything Science Fiction from Junior High through College, especially Robert Heinlein, Phillip K. Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep was a favorite), Isaac Asimov, Phillip Jose Farmer, Arthur C. Clarke (all the oldies, but goodies).  I read everything James Michener wrote, but my favorite was The Source. I also read a lot of books on biology, chemistry, astronomy, physics, metaphysics, and philosophy. Guess you can tell I was, and still am, an eclectic reader.

Who is your favorite author?

For some time now I have been following Daniel Silva and his protagonist, Gabriel Allon of the Israeli Mossad.  I love Silva’s writing style, his Middle Eastern theme, the way he weaves historical information into his stories, his powerful message about the Jews and Israel, the depth of his characters, and the incredible tension he generates in his plots.  I’m first in line at the library when one of his books comes out.  I do have to say, however, I read a lot of fiction and in a variety of genres, so it is very hard for me to pick a favorite author. I chose Silva because I’ve read all of his novels and he puts one out every year, so it’s a numbers thing.  Before him, it would probably have been Michael Crichton (before he died).

What book genre of books do you adore?

Thrillers–the same genre I love to write.

What book should everybody read at least once?

I’m going to cheat on this question, because I have three:  The Bible, Les Miserable’s, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

How did you develop your writing?

The hard way!  J  I’ve been a voracious and eclectic reader ever since I can remember.  When other guys were focusing on athletics, memorizing sports trivia, or talking about cars, I carried on a not-so-secret love affair with reading. For me, the smell of an old book is like a pheromone.  I love libraries, I love books, and I love reading.  I’ve had the same mistress since I was ten.

Books.

With that kind of foundation, I guess it was only a matter of time before I decided to give writing a try.  I started out writing poetry, then tried short stories, and finally realized that full-length novels were my niche.  In 1984 I had what I thought was a pretty cool idea for a really big story spanning two millennia, a couple characters having a conversation in my head,  and an opening line:  April is a month to be reckoned with.

I sat down and started writing—longhand–on a legal tablet every chance I got.

Several years later I had a manuscript that was longer than Moby Dick, Atlas Shrugged, and War and Peace.  I sent the behemoth off to a NY Agent and received an eight page, single-spaced rejection letter (which I paid for!).

I was depressed for a while, then shook the dust of my feet and carved my baby up into three books.  A couple of years later I sold the story to Crossway Books, and officially became a published author.

That’s when the real challenges began.

But that’s another story, best told on a cold evening over a hot cup of Honduran coffee or Black Tea from the Ukraine–and some soft chocolate chip cookies.

Infernal Gates

Ethan Freeman, ex-Special Forces Ranger, wakes up to discover he is the sole survivor of a fiery commercial airline crash that killed his entire family. His nightmare is only beginning when he becomes the FBI’s prime suspect. Only Ethan knows he’s not a cold-hearted murderer, but he has no idea what happened to him–and why he alone survived.

He finds an unlikely ally in Sam Weaver, the NTSB Chief Investigator. An ex-military pilot, Sam senses Ethan is innocent. She tries to remain dispassionate in her investigation of the crash even as she finds herself attracted to the man who may be America=s worst homegrown mass-murderer.

Neither Ethan nor Sam realize that shadowy spiritual forces are at work which will alter their lives forever.

A monstrous evil, imprisoned since the time of the Pharaohs, has been released by The Nine, a sinister group of powerful men and women who believe they are the direct descendants of the Anunnaki, ancient Sumerian gods. The demon they have unleashed intends to free The Destroyer from The Abyss, the angelic prison referred to in the Book of Revelation, and unleash a worldwide reign of terror and annihilation.

Facing impossible odds, time is running out for Ethan and all of humanity as he is drawn into an ever-deeper conspiracy–millennia in the making–and learns that he is the key to stopping The Nine. Will he overcome his deepest fears and find reserves of strength he never knew he had as he confronts pure evil in order to save himself and an unsuspecting world?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Christian Thriller, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author and the book

Connect with Michael J. Webb on Facebook & G+ & Twitter

Website http://www.michaeljwebbfiction.com/

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away the following prizes -- mailed directly to the winner’s email address from Amazon.com.

PRIZES:

5 Kindle copies of Infernal Gates http://amzn.to/18HrDjY

5 Kindle copies of The Oldest Enemy http://amzn.to/RWyv4c

5 Kindle copies of The Master’s Quilt http://amzn.to/Z2SJQS

No comments:

Post a Comment