Rockapocalypse

1. What type of books do you write?
I’m not really genre specific at this point. My first book, Rockapocalypse, was a paranormal/action/adventure/, and my second book, Cold Currents, was a southern murder/mystery/thriller. All of my books have a few core elements that I believe every story should have: character(s) with internal conflicts that they strive to overcome, relationships that drive the character(s) internally and externally and feel real to the reader, a hero and a villain, and a prevalent state of Good over Evil.

2. What is the latest book you have written?
My last book was Cold Currents. It was picked up for representation by Joyce Holland of the D4EO Literary Agency last July. It’s a murder/mystery/thriller set in the South. Synopsis:

Thirty years after the shocking murder of Jenny Franklin, followed by the arrest and conviction of his brother Terry, Knoxville Detective Bobby Taylor returns to his North Carolina hometown of Clayton at his aging mother’s request. Reluctant to face his estranged father and make amends after blaming him for not doing more to save his brother, Bobby arrives to discover the head of another young girl has washed up on the banks of the wild Neuse River. Disgusted at the brutality and familiarity of the crime, he realizes the murderous, sadistic monster from his past has returned with a vengeance. His brother’s blood is now on the hands of those who failed to catch the real killer the first time around. Fueled by retribution, and eager to heal his past, Bobby’s determined to bring the true murderer to justice.
Armed with equal parts instinct and desperation, Bobby confronts his broken relationships while chasing a mysterious trail of death that spans thirty years and two continents. Obstacles, lies, and deception face him at every turn as he partners with a tough-as-nails female reporter and a reluctant Chief of Detectives to catch a resurrected killer and vindicate his family’s name. In the end, Bobby finds redemption in a way he could never imagine as the whispers of the river reveal the horrible secrets beneath her swift, cold currents.

3. Is it part of a series, if so which one?
No, not officially anyway. Cold Currents was written as a standalone novel, but after it was completed I felt the main character, Detective Bobby Taylor, had more to share with the world. I’m currently working on a follow-up to Cold Currents tentatively titled Bone Whispers. If all the elements are there to bring that to life, then I guess it will be the beginning of a series in the style of Lee Child’s “Reacher” or James Lee Burke’s “Dave Robicheaux”.

4. When did you start writing?
I’m told it was in elementary school. I do have some recollection of devising wild stories at the expense of a few laughs. What’s even more remarkable is the fact that in recent years I’ve actually had old school mates recite some of my own grammar school writing back to me over dinner. Imagine…that was 45 years ago!

5. Why did you start writing?
Good question. And one I’m afraid I have no definitive answer for. I guess I’ve always had an imagination that needed an outlet. Writing gives me that freedom.

6. Who are your influences?
My earliest recollections of literary influence come from the likes of L. Frank Baum, O. Henry, and Mark Twain. Through my adult life I’ve been all over the genre map in terms of preference. Stephen King was very influential, but from a purely fantastical aspect. The more horror I read the more I came to realize that horror, in general, was extremely difficult for a writer to pull off effectively. I’ve been immersed in several authors over the last few years. James Lee Burke, Lee Child, John Hart, Michael Connelly, Joe Lansdale and Pete Dexter. Pete is the rainbow in that stew in case you were wondering.

7. What can we expect from you in the near future?
Well, I have every confidence that you’ll see Cold Currents in mass market publication within two years. Bone Whispers is a work-in-progress and any author worth his salt wouldn’t play the confidence card on a project in such an infantile state. (Ask me about that one in four months.) I’m also polishing a collection of short fiction I’ve written over the last few years. The idea of putting them in book form as a collective work is definitely a possibility.

Besides writing Bone Whispers, I’ve been busy promoting Rockapocalypse since its September 2012 release. I’ve attended five book signings to date with three more lined up for December-January 2013. A fourth one is pending due to schedule conflicts. Rockapocalypse can be purchased through Amazon (Kindle and paperback), Barnes & Noble (Nook and paperback) and my publisher’s website. Below are a list of links where you can follow my projects, see my promotional schedule, read book synopsis’, view photos and book trailers, and buy my book.

Author’s Website: http://www.byronsuggs.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/byronsuggsauthor
Amazon Author’s Profile: http://www.amazon.com/Byron-Suggs/e/B009CB88O8
Weebly: http://byronsuggs.weebly.com/

Direct Links to Purchase “Rockapocalypse”

Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Rockapocalypse-ebook/dp/B00960UCZS/ref=tmm_kin_title_0 B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rockapocalypse-byron-suggs/1112799802?ean=2940015511659 Publisher’s Website: http://www.written-world.com/WWC/book_rock.html

If Only They Knew

1. What type of books do you write?
I write fiction thrillers. It's a genre that i think is just so exciting and full of possibilities that in fact it normally strays into other domains. I love being able to provide the reader with twists and turns, I strive to leave the reader thinking 'I didn't see that coming'.

2. What is the latest book you have written?
'If Only They Knew' is my first and latest book! It's a fiction thriller (surprise) with almost apocalyptic elements. In essence, it's a story of betrayal and greed. When the world is brought to its knees by a series of environmental disasters, simple commodities become valuable currency. Amidst the chaos, Alfie and Porter are forced to reevaluate their lifelong relationship as they are made to choose between their friendship and the natural resources which are left.

3. Is it a series?
This is the first book of two. The sequel 'Now They Know' is currently being written and I expect to you to be able to feast your eager eyes on it but summer 13'.

4. When did you start writing?
This was my first attempt actually at writing in story form. I graduated from University with a degree in Sports Journalism so 1,000 word articles were more my forte. Writing an entire manuscript was completely alien to me and caused me to doubt myself through the initial process as I just felt a complete novice. I arguably of course still am, however to be represented by a literary agent and published on my first attempt gave me great belief to continue pursuiing this passion of mine.

5. What prompted you to start writing?
My love of the English language probably first and foremost. My grandfather always did and still does possess the most impressive vocabulary I've ever encountered. Just listening to sentences he would craft fascinated me beyond belief, and soon I was so keen to learn all these elaborate words and notions he concocted I became very meticulous in my study. As I've got older and read many novels myself I realised my interested in reading and writing exceeded the realms of reporting, and in fact my creative senses really craved to tell a story - and write it my way.

6. Who are your main influences?
My grandfather of course is my main influence. Though he is unpublished, without him I severely doubt I would have found my way to writing period. James Patterson is my favourite author, I'm a huge fan of the Alex Cross series. His stories are always fast-paced and gripping, he brings the entertainment factor that authors of this genre should aspire too. Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, Dan Brown and Dick Francis are other authors I greatly respect and enjoy. You could say I'm very mainstream with my reading material.

7. What is in the future for you with reference to your writing?
I'm currently working on 'Now They Know' and building up the reputation and audience of it's predecessor 'If Only They Know'. My home town of Hemel Hempstead has reacted very well to the books release, so a book signing of sorts when the paper back version comes out is certainly in the pipeline. Other than that, you'll catch me around Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6192135.Alex_McCarthy), Twitter (@Al_Mac8), Book Blogs (http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/AlexMcCarthy) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AlexMcCarthyAuthor) promoting my work and taking a keen interest in any and all things fiction! Should you wanna ask me anything or just have a chat, I regularly interact on all of those networks.

The Cult of Me

1. What type of books do you write?
So far I have released two books. The first (The Cult of Me) was a supernatural thriller, the second (An Odd Quartet) is a collection of horror stories with unusual twists in the tale.

2. What is the latest book you have written?
An Odd Quartet is my latest release. It is a collection of four dark stories. Including a ghost story, Death's recollections from the heat death of the universe. A special forces team conduct a hostage rescue mission and a reluctant demon takes his possession exam.
On Sale, at Amazon

3. Is it part of a series, if so which one?
My first book (The Cult of Me) is the first book in the series.
On Sale, at Amazon

4. When did you start writing?
In my teenage years I started writing short stories, only in the last year or so have I progressed to novels.

5. Why did you start writing?
I'm full of stories and I need to get them out somehow!

6. Who are your influences?
Clive Barker and Ian M Banks are probably the most direct influences. Although I read many authors and genres, I think there's something to be learned from all of them.

7. What can we expect from you in the near future? Book signing events, other details
I'm currently working on a number of projects, the most significant being Conversations in the Abyss, this is the sequel to The Cult of Me.