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Interview with Robert Gregory Browne plus a fabulous Give-away
Please join me in welcoming, award winning, novelist Robert Gregory Browne.
Robert is also generously giving away an autographed paperback copy of his critically acclaimed THE PARADISE PROPHECY. (Contest details below)
Selena: We know you love books, music, coffee and blackberries (the kind you eat), tell us three things that about you that would surprise people?
Robert: I’m so open about my life on Facebook that I’m not sure anything I said would surprise people. Maybe that I used to be an international spy but had to retire due to bursitis of the shoulder. But, of course, now that I’ve told you that, I have to kill you.
Hell, I don’t know. My books are a lot more interesting than my life. 
Selena: LOL That’s the kind of wit I enjoy on your Facebook threads. Who is more of a challenge to write and get deep inside their point of view, the villain or the hero?
Robert: I actually have no trouble getting into the mind of either. My characters—hero and villain alike—are usually so emotionally crippled in some way that the inside of their head is an interesting place to be. At least for me.
Selena: What was the most interesting tidbit you could share with us, while researching TRIAL JUNKIES.
Robert: A large portion of my life was research for Trial Junkies. I spent many years working in legal offices, including the Hawaii State Public Defenders Office, the Federal Public Defenders Office, and several criminal and civil defense firms before getting my “big break” inHollywood. So writing Trial Junkies was kind of like going home again—although from an entirely different point of view. The Trial Junkies series concept grew out of a job I had working “criminal intake” for the state PDO, which required me to screen defendants who were about to be arraigned in criminal court. Every Monday I’d go to court, meet all the potential clients and explain to them how the process works. When I was done with a session I would often sit in on trials while waiting for another work session to begin. So when I was hunting around for a book idea, I thought, why not write a legal mystery from the point of view of the people who WATCH the trials rather than directly participate in them. And, of course those watchers find themselves participating in ways they never expected, and almost wind up dead.
Selena: What draws you to the suspense/thriller/mystery genre?
Robert: I’m not sure I really know. I was introduced to suspense early on when I started reading Donald Westlake. Especially his Parker novels written under the name Richard Stark. These were lean mean novels about a sociopathic thief who wouldn’t let anyone get in the way of collecting his money. Parker was the kind of guy who didn’t give a damn about anyone, except maybe his girlfriend/wife Claire, and could handle himself in pretty much any situation. I’m attracted to characters like that because, of course, I often wish I could be that way. Ruthless. Confident. Unstoppable.
Of course, I don’t REALLY want to be like that, but thrillers play into a certain empowerment fantasy that I think we all share. And in the end, the good guy (or in Parker’s case, the bad guy) usually wins.
Selena: When you delve inside a criminal’s mind when writing, how do you research this aspect of these characters to differentiate their personality and behavior as opposed to people that are not criminals?
Robert: I don’t necessarily think of my criminal characters as being all that much different from my heroes. Most criminals, I believe, are able to rationalize what they’re doing and, as a result, don’t really think of themselves as criminals. I think even sociopaths rationalize their actions. So, because I’m writing deep point of view, I find that it’s easier for me to assume that the bad guy feels that what he’s doing is just and necessary. Every bad guy thinks of himself as the GOOD guy, and feels as if everyone else is to blame for his problems.
Selena: What kind of reader would love to read your books?
Robert: Hopefully readers like me who like a story that seems to be going in one direction then doubles back on you and kicks you in the ass. Readers who like twists and turns and characters with flaws who are caught up in something over their heads. Readers who like books that compel you to turn the page. I work very, very hard at creating page-turners. I may not always succeed, but that isn’t for lack of trying.
Selena: If you were only allowed to bring three things to take with you, for a stay on an island by yourself for forty-eight hours, what would they be?
Robert: My Kindle, my wife (not that she’s a “thing”), and a lot of water. I drink more water in a day than most people drink in a week.
ITW Thriller Award nominated novelist, Robert Gregory Browne believes his mission as a writer is to grab hold of you and keep you captive on the page until he’s ready to let you go. His debut thriller, KISS HER GOODBYE, was recently produced by CBS Television as a series pilot starring Dylan Walsh and Terry Kinney.
In addition to writing several thrillers, including TRIAL JUNKIES, KISS HER GOODBYE, DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN and THE PARADISE PROPHECY, Rob composes music, plays guitar and keyboards and has even been known to sing now and then.
And you thought his books were scary.
“A MYSTERY I DARE YOU SOLVE”
Ethan “Hutch”Hutchinsonhasn’t seen his old college pals in nearly ten years. Now fate has brought them together again as one of the gang is put on trial for a brutal, senseless murder.
The Chicago police and prosecutor think they have their perp, but Hutch isn’t about to sit silently in a courtroom as someone he cares about—someone he loves—is wrongfully convicted.
“CATCH-YOUR-BREATH PLOT TWISTS”
When Hutch and his friends join forces to search for the real killer, what they find shatters every notion they have about friendship, loss and redemption…
Reviews:
“Browne delivers again with Trial Junkies. Great characters, sharp, smart dialogue and a mystery I dare you to solve. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
~Cindy Gerard, New York Times Bestselling Author ofLast Man Standing
“With the emotion-tugging nostalgia of The Big Chill and the catch-your-breath plot twists of Runaway Jury, Trial Junkies is not only a must-read, it’s destined to be a classic.”
~Debra Webb, nationally bestselling author of theFaces of Evil series
“Robert Gregory Browne is so freakin talented he makes me want to put my computer away. Maybe I should start drinking *his* coffee!”
~Terri Molina, author of Forget Me Not
Learn more about Robert by visiting his website.
Connect with Roberton Facebook.
Visit Robert’s Amazon Author Page.
Thank you, Robert for the interview, I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a suspense/thriller fan myself (reader and writer), it’s always intriguing to discover why other writers love the genre as much as I do.
I took the dare and started reading TRIAL JUNKIES to see if I can solve the mystery. All I can say right now is, EVERYONE get your copy NOW. I’ll post a review once I’m done reading it, once I can crawl inside my reader’s cave for a day.
**Contest Details**
To win an autographed copy of THE PARADISE PROPHECY
Comment on the blog, or feel free to ask Robert any question you like, and your name will be entered into a draw.
Double your chances of winning by signing up and following my blog:http://selenarobinsmusings.com/
Triple your chances of winning by linking this blog post to your blog or putting the link up on your facebook page or Twitter.
Diamonds Are Truly Forever
As part of the editorial team for The Big Thrill magazine and member of Thriller Writers International, in this seventh installment I had the honor of interviewing, Gina Robinson, author of sizzling-hot spy novels, lurings readers into a world of sexy secret agents—and the women who risk their lives to love them.
Gina Robinson’s DIAMONDS ARE TRULY FOREVER, has been garnering rave reviews as have her other romantic suspense novels.
I was excited to be able to interview Gina because I’m a huge fan of witty plots with suspense, comedy, mayhem and romance.
Under The Covers With Jason Baca
We’ve seen Jason Baca on numerous romance novel covers and I am now pleased to invite you to spend some time under the covers with Jason as he shares tidbits about his life and career and is generously offering TWO autographed copies of his Zed Card (contest details below).
Ahhh, Spring—When a Bachelor’s fancy turns to…Cheesy Pick-up Lines
I don’t believe guys really use pick up lines any longer, but I thought it would be fun to list 10 cheesy lines that some bachelor in an alternate universe may be using. However, I do think us gals have been the recipient of a cheesy line at one time or another in our lives, some of them were funny, hey, some may even have worked for a few of you perhaps? Gals, please feel free to share any lines you may have heard.
Guys, if you delivered a line, please feel free to share as well. We promise, we won’t judge….much. 
Top 10 Pick-up Lines:
1. Do you want to have breakfast? Should I call you or nudge you?
2. Are those space pants? Because your ass is out of this world.
3. Love the color of your dress, it would look great on my floor.
4. There’s something wrong with my cell phone. It doesn’t have your phone number in it.
5. You’re so damn hot, I’d marry your brother just to get in your family.
6. If this bar is a meat market, then I’d have to say you must be the prime rib.
7. Stop, drop, and roll, baby, because you are on fire.
8. Is there an airport nearby or is that just my heart taking off?
9. Your daddy must have been a baker, because you’ve got a nice set of buns.
10. I’m new in town. Could you give me directions to your place?
Irish Eye Candy & Recipes
Happy St. Patrick’s Week
“I just love bikes. It’s not the safest passion to have, but I guess it’s better than Russian roulette.”~Ryan Reynolds
I am sharing a few of my favorite Irish things—Irish candy…for the eyes that is and a recipe.
Also going to celebrate this week with a contest (details below).
I’m Italian, but I think there’s a little bit of Irish in all of us. I haven’t done this consciously, but for some reason all the hero’s in my books so far are of Irish descent or half Irish. In my current release, What A Girl Wants, the hero, Alex is half Irish, half Italian. Maybe I was a leprochaun in a previous life?
I’d love to hear from you and have you share your favorite Irish recipes, sayings or “candy.”
P.S. Just like me, you do not have to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day or anything Irish.
Book Launch Party – A FEW DEAD MEN by Nancy Lauzon
A Few Dead Men - A Chick Dick Mystery
Drop by Nancy Lauzon’s blog anytime during the first week of March to join in the fun!
Play games, nosh on virtual goodies (a.k.a. recipes) and win prizes!
Leave a comment on Nancy’s blog and receive a FREE copy of A Few Dead Men.
If you like what you read, post a review on Goodreads, Amazon or the website of your choice and win another FREE copy of any Chick Dick Mystery!
BLURB
Life has dealt part-time mystery novelist Darcy MacDonald a lousy hand. The men she knows are either missing, dead, drunk or demented.
Lying next to the corpse of her boyfriend, the head of Bloodhound Investigations, definitely qualifies as lousy since he’s the man who also issues her paychecks.
The doctor says her boss had a massive heart attack during an orgasm, and it wasn’t Darcy’s fault. But she can’t help feeling guilty, since his orgasms were her responsibility. Or so she believed, until his grieving widow shows up, along with a mysterious, punk rocker chick who weeps inconsolably at the funeral and claims he was murdered.
Excerpt:
Chapter One
Darcy MacDonald stared at the ceiling and thought about murder. There were lots of ways to kill someone. Poison, a bullet, the well-placed blow of any heavy object.
Her right hip ached, and she had a crick in her neck. She couldn’t shift onto her back or she’d fall off the couch, since Fergus took up most of it. It might be comfortable enough to have sex on, but there wasn’t enough room for two people to lie side by side. She ruffled Fergus’s silky, dark brown hair.
“Hey, wake up.”
When he didn’t make a move, she eased off the sofa, smoothing down her skirt as she glanced around for her panties.
“You can sleep later, Fergus. Right now you have an appointment. Something about a missing person.” Darcy tucked her breasts back in her bra and hooked the front clasp together. “You don’t want a client to catch you with your pants down. Bad for business.”
She scooped her white, cotton blouse off the floor. It was a wrinkled mess. Next time she’d buy polyester, something more suitable for a quickie at the office.
Fergus lay on his stomach, facing away from her; arms bent at the elbows and tucked in at his sides. A dragonfly tattoo adorned the lower half of his back. She could see the tail peeking out from underneath his unbuttoned shirt. There was something missing, but her mind couldn’t quite register what.
Then it hit her. The dragonfly wasn’t moving the way it usually did whenever Fergus slept.
In fact, it wasn’t moving at all. It was perfectly still, with no rise and fall.
Somewhere outside the high-pitched cry of a seagull split the air, twice. A cool gust of air rattled the dusty Venetian blinds and carried the smell of rain through the open window.
Darcy shivered. “Fergus?”
Tugging gently on his left shoulder, she leaned over to look at him. A string of drool hung from his sagging mouth, and his eyes were open, staring at nothing.
She jumped back.
Two sharp knocks hit the door, and a muffled voice, thick with boredom and a Russian accent, said, “Mr. Fergus? Yourthree o’clockis here.”
She bounded across the room and wrenched the door open.
Vaughn, the receptionist, eyed her up and down with open disapproval. “You want our clients to see you half dressed? You can’t put some clothes on?”
Hauling Vaughn into the room by the arm, Darcy shut the door. Her mouth worked, but her throat was too dry for words to come.
Vaughn’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
She pointed to Fergus. “He’s … there’s something wrong. He’s—”
“Half naked. Is not good, in a place of business—”
“He’s not breathing.” Panic bubbled up, and Darcy lurched for the phone on Fergus’s desk, knocking the handset out of its cradle in one frantic swipe.
“Not breathing? Why not?”
Vaughn’s ridiculous question seemed to come from the other end of a long, dark tunnel, and Darcy couldn’t answer. It took all her concentration to dial 9-1-1.
Everything shifted into slow motion, including the phone ringing in Darcy’s ear. One ring. A long pause. A longer ring, an even longer pause. Oh, shit, hurry up.
Vaughn moved to the couch to examine Fergus more closely. Finally Darcy heard a female voice at the other end of the line.
“Nine one one emergency—”
“My boss, he’s not breathing. I need an ambulance, now. Bloodhound Investigations.” She repeated the address twice.
“I’ll dispatch an ambulance right away, ma’am. Stay on the line, please.”
“He is dead,” Vaughn pronounced sadly. “Poor Mr. Fergus.”
Nancy Lauzon’s Blog Tour Stop #1: What is a Dead Man?
My latest mystery novel was inspired by my youngest daughter’s disastrous dating history. The ‘dead men’ in the novel are composites of every boyfriend and/or bad date my daughter ever had. Believe me, I had lots of material to choose from. In fact, I didn’t have room for all the ‘dead men’, since I didn’t want to go over my word count.
This book raises several questions: Who exactly are dead men, metaphorically speaking? How did they become dead? Are there more dead men than live men? And where do you find live men?
But the book is also about a young woman compelled to solve the mysteries around her, like her favourite amateur sleuth, Nancy Drew. She doesn’t go about it in exactly the same way.
Sure, a dead man is a male corpse, but let’s think outside the box for a moment. A dead man could also be a dead beat, or a wooden, callous, dull, boring dud. A dead man could be cold, frigid, sterile, unemployed, unresponsive or useless.
The dead men in my novel A Few Dead Men might be dead, or they might be any of the above things. I can’t tell you which, you’ll have to read the book to find out for yourself. All I can tell you is, all of the men in this book are either really dead and/or metaphorically dead.
VISIT THE NEXT STOPS ON THE BLOG TOUR TO FIND OUT MORE:
Nancy is interviewed by Annie Acorn, the prolific and internationally known author, whose readership recognizes her mainly for her cozy mysteries and richly woven stories with a warm southern flair.
Nancy is a guest blogger at Limebird Writers, a wonderful team from the UKand USAwhose motto is ‘Let Your Creativity Fly’. She’ll be blogging my theories regarding the next question: How did the Dead Men become dead?
A Few Dead Men is now available on SMASHWORDS
Coming soon to: Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chapters/Indigo/Kobo
About Nancy Lauzon
Nancy Lauzon worked nine years on a hospital ward as a cardiac nurse before the night shifts turned her into a zombie. She got a day job in health promotion and began to write health-related articles for magazines and newsletters.
Life threw out a few curve balls, and to relieve the stress, she began to write fiction part-time. Five years later she sold two different manuscripts to two separate small-press publishers, using a pseudonym. She retired from nursing in 2003 and began to write full-time.
She is now the author of four Chick Dick Mystery novels, inspired by her early love of Nancy Drew Mysteries.
Roller Skating + Mayhem = Fun, Cozy Mystery
Continuing with posting interviews I conducted as part of the editorial team for The Big Thrill magazine and member of Thriller Writers International, in this third installment I am introducing you to mystery author, Joelle Charbonneau.
Joelle Charbonneau introduces readers to the roller derby team, EstroGenocide in her second cozy mystery, Skating Over the Line.
“A visit to Indian Falls is time superbly spent. Filled with delightful citizens, including grandfather Pop, an Elvis impersonator and hugely warm character, this loving close-knit community embraces you from the first page. Joelle Charbonneau has a fresh and lively and insightful voice and she has created characters we’d love as friends. This is a wonderfully fun read.” –Louise Penny
THE NINTH DAY by Jamie Freveletti
Continuing with posting interviews I conducted as an editor for The Big Thrill magazine and member of Thriller Writers International, in this second installment I am introducing you to suspense author, Jamie Freveletti and her highly anticipated new thriller THE NINTH DAY.
New York Times Best Selling author, Steve Berry says, “Jamie Freveletti is one of the Top Thriller Writers working today.”
