Sunday 30 July 2017

Interview With Author Thomas Keech

Today I have an interview for you, with talented author Thomas Keech, who stops by to chat writing and his latest crime thriller, Doc Doc Zeus: A Novel of White Coat Crime. Enjoy!


Interview With Thomas Keech





Why dont you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

Im one of those people who always wanted to write – and do everything else too. I started a novel when I was ten in which “an eerie something came out of the night fog and ran down a high school football player. I gave up because I couldnt think of any suspects except the football coach (who was the only other character). I would have loved to have stopped writing and lived a normal life, but even as I worked as a juvenile counselor, Legal Aid lawyer and lobbyist, state administrative appeals judge and Assistant Attorney General representing my states medical board, I kept trying to write at night, on weekends and on vacations. Im happy to report that Im now retired and have been speeding up the writing process a lot in recent years.


Could you tell us a bit about your latest book? 

Doc Doc Zeus: A Novel of White Coat Crime is the story of a narcissistic physician who sexually preys on his women patients, including sixteen-year-old Diane, even while being pursued by the medical boards investigator.


How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?

My first success was with The Crawlspace Conspiracy, a novel about an old, poor, sick laborer whose dream house gets caught up in a struggle between two warring state politicians. Prey for Love was about two suburban teenagers from broken homes who get caught up in a web of suburban corruption. Hot Box in the Pizza District was about three twenty-year-old guys finding their way in life.


Why did you write this book? What was your inspiration?

I wrote this for two reasons. I wanted to dramatize the critical work of medical boards and the many obstacles they work against to bring miscreants to justice. Then I wanted to do something with the character of Diane. She was a minor character in Prey for Love, but I liked her so much I felt she deserved a novel of her own. And I couldnt just leave her hanging out there, fourteen and pregnant, without finishing her story.


What did you hope to accomplish by publishing your book?

I hope people will read it and enjoy it. I hope theyll understand a little more about how sexual predation by authority figures works and also appreciate that the medical boards are there to help, although sometimes in a slow and clunky way. I hope they like the character of Diane half as much as I do.


When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I read my first adult book, Our Virgin Island, when I was seven and bedridden for a week with poison oak. It was about a couple who bought a tiny island and tried to build a house on it. It wasnt very exciting for a seven-year-old, but I knew I was into reading then. The writing bug came soon after that.


Can you tell us about your writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you have a certain writing routine?

When Im in the middle of a novel I write for five to eight hours a day. My plots are always complex, and if something isnt working out in the last chapter Ill go back and change the whole thing, plot, characters, tone, whatever. And Ill do it again and again. At the end of the process, I go back once more and try to take out every word that is not absolutely necessary. Im not a great literary stylist, so I try to make believable characters and a plot that moves along.


What advice would you give beginning writers?

Read.


Whats your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?

No secrets will be revealed here. I try really hard not to write the same novel over and over again. I want everyone, including myself, to be surprised.




Thomas Keech is a retired Assistant Attorney General for the state of Maryland having represented the State Board of Physicians for sixteen years in its attempt to discipline doctors who were sexual predators, perpetrators of insurance fraud, violators of self-referral laws, and many other types of misbehavior. Currently, Keech is a contractual consultant to the Maryland State Board of Physicians, where he helps write regulations, coordinate with other boards and agencies, as well as participate in investigations. 




Learn more about Thomas Keech  on www.realnicebooks.com or by connecting with him on Facebook or Goodreads.



Tuesday 18 July 2017

Interview With Author Thomas McRae

Today I have another interview, this time with poet and author Thomas McRae. Enjoy!


Interview With Thomas McRae






Why don't you begin by sharing a little about yourself?

I started writing when I was in Elementary School and from that point on I couldn't stop moving a pen or pencil on my paper.




Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?

Yes. Pimp in the Pulpit is inspired by my family and the craziness that comes with them all.


How long have you been writing and how many books have you published to date?

I've been writing since I was a child but I didn't start pursuing publishing as a real career until I got into my twenties. As of now I have 12 books published to date. But if you want my honest opinion Pimp in the Pulpit really feels like my first book, because it's the first time I'm taking full responsibility and control in regards of marketing, promoting and generating sales virtually all by myself.


Why did you decide to write in the short fiction genre?

Because I have so much to say but I don't want to say it all at once. Short fiction is a great way to tell a significant piece of your story without giving out all the necessary information at once.


What is the hardest part of writing short fiction?

Truth be told I don't find anything hard about it. I just take different story lines from my personal experiences and write it down as much as possible, then I remember to orchestrate other people's events into the storyline as well. And if for some reason I do develop some writer's block or if I'm not sure I should put something down in the story line  then I would read that section to my mom and get her perspective. Because she's kind of like my ghost writer and personal editor.


What do you enjoy most about writing in the short fiction genre?

I enjoy the whole process, because thinking about new storylines from personal experiences is amazing and therapeutic. I find it refreshing when I can take frustrating personal experiences whether it's mine or someone else's and find some humor and entertainment which could be used in my story line and plot.


Who is your intended readership?

That's the beauty about this book Pimp in the Pulpit. Everyone and anyone can relate to it because it's full of family issues, drama and suspense. It doesn't matter if you're black or white, Muslim or Jewish we all have family issues and we all need to express those issues in a constructive and positive way. If not for our selves then for the younger generation that is observing much of the bad and misguided behavior that is surrounding our family's.


Why did you write this book? What was your inspiration?

What inspired me to write this book was numerous things. First thing that comes to mind is how my parents would struggle to raise my brother and I and none of my relatives would make any real attempt to help out only on occasion and that is when they needed or wanted something in return. My reason for writing  this book is simple Redemption. Redemption for my loved ones, myself and for anyone who can relate to these troublesome times in their own lives.


What did you hope to accomplish by publishing your book?

All I ever wanted was to be heard. For years I felt invisible and now I have a voice and it feels good being heard. It doesn't matter who likes it or not I'm damn proud to have a voice and as long as God keeps air in my lungs I will continue to use my voice.


What advice would you give beginning writers?

I will tell them the truth, that it's a long road ahead of them. But it's also very fulfilling especially when you start taking things and doing it yourself and not look for anyone to help you. Because in the end of the day life is a one-time deal so live it to the fullest and make sure you make it count.


What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies? 

Personally I like to watch movies every now and then I read a good book. Or I will listen to some music depending on my mood but for the most part I watch movies and hang out with my immediate family members. Such as my mom, brother and my father and some very close friends that I consider family as well.


Are you working on another book? 

Yes actually I've been working on the sequel of Pimp in the Pulpit. And I'm happy to inform you that the book is done and being processed by my publisher Eber & Wein  Publishing. It's slightly longer than the first book and I have some surprises inside of the book as well. Such as newspaper clippings, a personal review from Mrs. Shirley Gerald Ware owner of Fresh  Literary Magazine and some magazine clippings about my article along with some poetry certificates. The book is Well written and it goes a little back during my child years and early 20's.






You can find Pimp in the Pulpit on:



Other books by Thomas McRae:

Poetry for the soul 
The soul of a poet 
The lost poems 
Poetic Salvation my acknowledgement to our Lord 1 & 2 
Expression 
Blue Print 
Supernova 
Street Trash 
The Best of Thomas McRae


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