I am thrilled to bring you my first author interview and what better way to kick it off than with the intelligent and hilarious Jake Devlin, author of the Devlin Series. First up, I bring you the interview then scroll down for links to buy Devlin’s deliciously hilarious books and to find out more about him. His new release, Devlin Sub Rosa, is available now on Amazon, links provided further down the page. Also, please stop by Jake’s page here, where you can purchase all of his books and if you’re from Florida, you can find out more about the launch Party and charity auction for Jake’s next book! There are REALLY cool things to bid on!
Interview with author Jake Devlin:
What inspired you to write your first book?
I just got fed up with the corruption, stupidity and partisan wrangling of the US Congress, and with the ignorance and stupidity of voter conversations I heard and overheard around the 2008 and 2010 elections. Then I wondered how that all might be fixed, but the best I could come up with was a nonpartisan dictator who would run the country using common sense and solid business practices. That started as a letter to the editor and then evolved (or devolved) into a long and incredibly boring essay.
But then I thought back to my playwrighting days, mixed in some assassination plots and related subplots, a second layer of fiction, some offbeat, complex characters with secrets to hide, some comic relief (actually, a LOT of that), some obligatory gratuitous erotica, and the novel developed … as the first of what will be four books in the series, the third of which just came out (November 2014).
How did you come up with book titles?
Let’s see. I changed the cover color and title of the first book after either 48 or 49 of them were sold. The original title was The Donne Deal, a play on the dictator’s name (Gordon Donne), but that didn’t sound too pizzazzy, so it became The Devlin Deception. Now, before you start thinking “What an ego trip, using his own name in the titles,” I must tell you that “Jake Devlin” is not only a pseudonym (my real first name is Bob; boring), but with the second layer of fiction, he is both the author and a main character.
I almost changed the name of the second novel as a result of a typo, from Devlin’s Defiance to Devlin’s Deviance, but after a month or so of semi-serious consideration, I stuck with Defiance. (Of course, some of my readers felt that Deviance would have been more appropriate, particularly if they read the online erotic portion. Lots of prudes and pseudo-prudes out there.)
Then, since the third book reveals most of the characters’ secrets, past and present, Devlin Sub Rosa just fit. I’m still sorting out the title for #4, but leaning toward either Devlin’s Dilemma or Devlin’s Demise? with the question mark in the title. Something alliterative again, f’sure.
Your books contain a huge knowledge of both politics and espionage – how long did it take to research everything?
As for the politics, that was just a lifetime of paying attention and digging a little deeper than most people do. On the espionage side, I can neither confirm nor deny how, where, when or with whom I did my research. (But I do need to constantly reassure the American CIA and British MI6 that my work is really, really, REALLY fiction. Okay, guys?)
Some of your characters have an interesting and hilarious way of talking. Was coming up with their dialogue a painstaking process?
Sometimes it was. Since I do much of my writing in a notebook on a public beach, and I would speak the dialogue out loud before putting pen to paper, I would get funny looks from strangers, while those who know me would just chuckle and paraphrase Reagan: “There he goes again.” I have to admit I had a huge amount of fun (and occasional frustration) with the Amish alternate epilogue in the first book und viz ze Cherman ecksent is ze sird vun.
Having read your books, I spent a lot of the time laughing. Do you find adding humor difficult? (I do!)
Actually, I have to restrain myself and leave a lot of humor out. If you can consciously bend the way you look at the world, as I do, you can always — ALWAYS — find something absurd, funny or downright hilarious in any situation (or insert it). But I often ask myself, “Do I really dare to put THAT in?” And most of the time (perhaps too much of the time, those selfsame prudes would say) my answer is “Oh, what the hell. Put it in.”
You use a lot of places in Bonita Springs, Florida, plus many other exotic locations around the world in your books. Have you traveled to all of those?
Only a very few. Google Earth is a wonderful tool. As for Bonita Springs, I’ve lived there for the last 20+ of my 68 years, so I was able to put some local color into the books, but changing the names (e.g., Sneaky Pete’s became Slinky Joe’s), but I got permission to use Fishbuster Charters and Master Bait & Tackle, so I did. (The latter was opening around the time I moved here from up north, and the letters to the editor about that name were hysterical … in both senses of the word.)
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Just one thing. I had a pretty cool assassination technique that I was saving to use in the fourth book (attaching a guy to a helium weather balloon and letting it fly), but just after Sub Rosa came out, a TV show (which shall remain nameless) used it. So I wish I’d put it in Sub Rosa first. Other than that, I’m okay with it as it is. (But I must say that the complexity/confusion in Chapter 108 is deliberate.)
Can we look forward to more Jake Devlin books?
Just the fourth one with him as a main character. But I’m toying with the idea of a spinoff series featuring the Mimosa Twins, and those will have to be written using the Jake Devlin pseudonym (since that’s the brand that’s getting built).
Finally, if you could give any piece of advice to a new writer – what would it be?
Just one piece? I guess before you put a single word down, develop a marketing plan, and start building a team to help you promote your work and build your brand. Oh, also get as comfortable as you can with public speaking. And social media. You’re most likely (99.99% probability) going to be self-published, so everything is on your shoulders. And keep your day job.
One more bit: I found one of Ernest Hemingway’s quotes helpful: “Write drunk, edit sober.” Since I don’t drink, I had to modify that some, but the basic idea works … at least for me.
A great interview there from Jake, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Now, onward we go to a look at the series!
Book 1: The Devlin Deception
When Jake Devlin, a mellow, laid-back beach bum, begins writing a controversial novel about Gordon Donne, a reclusive, iconoclastic billionaire who buys the United States and sets out to fix all of its problems on behalf of “We, The People,” he knows that Donne’s autocratic but well-thought-out and common-sense policies will rub corrupt politicians, lobbyists, businessmen, televangelists, speculators, union and mob bosses and hundreds of other greedy power players the wrong way … dangerously so.
But when Jake is confronted on the beach in Bonita Springs, Florida, about his background and motives for writing the book, little does he know that his relaxed lifestyle will inexorably be driven into confusion,chaos, paranoia (for good reasons) and a few unbelievably exotic interludes.
A black helicopter, assassination plots, death threats, betrayals, extortion, bribery, ditzy beach bunnies and scrumptious brownies complicate his life and embroil him in a complex web of intrigue with a beautiful woman who may or may not be haunted by a deep, dark and painful secret.
But is Jake carrying his own deep and possibly dark secret? Begin your journey through this absurdist blend of fiction and reality (and some obligatory gratuitous eroticism) and see for yourself.
To buy The Devlin Deception on Amazon US, click here. Or, for UK click here.
Book 2: Devlin’s Defiance
This sequel begins about a week after “The Devlin Deception” ends, with many of the familiar characters (and several new ones) from that novel in multiple new adventures.More action, more erotica, less politics, and more fun than in “The Devlin Deception.”
Like that novel, much of the story in this one is set in and around Bonita Springs, Florida, but also in many, many MANY other exotic locales around the world.
The author continues to play with the boundaries between fiction, reality and more fiction (like that’s a surprise!).
We don’t want to say more here, since this book IS a spoiler for that one, and we strongly suggest that you read it before you start in on this one.
To buy Devlin’s Defiance on Amazon US click here. Or, for UK, click here.
And Now for Devlin Sub Rosa, sequel and prequel to The Devlin Deception and Devlin’s Defiance
A sequel AND prequel to the first two novels in the series,with most of the characters who remain after the carnage of “Devlin’s Defiance.” (Oops. Was that a spoiler? Hmm. Not really — well, mostly not really.)
Like those novels, parts of the story in this one are set in and around Bonita Springs, and the author continues to play with the boundaries between fiction, reality and more fiction (again, not much of a surprise). But in this one, not only does he “push the envelope,” as the old saying goes, he gleefully leaps far beyond it.
And the reasons behind the author’s use of a pseudonym may be revealed, in spite of his objections. (Hint: The CIA and/or NSA may be interested in this … or perhaps not. After all, these novels ARE total fiction — well, mostly.)
To buy Devlin Sub Rosa on Amazon US, click here. Or, for Amazon UK, click here.
About the Author
“Jake Devlin” is the pseudonym of a passively gregarious (and very wise) twenty-plus-year resident of the city of Bonita Springs, Florida, nestled between Naples and Ft. Myers on the beautiful blue-green Gulf of Mexico.
His 45-year background as an actor, playwright, director, television writer and producer, investor, trader, court reporter and in defense intelligence and security (he can’t discuss that any further) gives him a unique perspective on the world (no more nor less unique than anybody else’s, of course, but most assuredly different), and he brings that (along with his ongoing sense of amusement at it all) to his writing and to his life.
He enjoys challenging readers’ brains and tickling their funnybones, and he gleefully rides roughshod over literary clichés and conventions while gently seducing his readers into emotional roller-coaster rides, with mind-bending twists and turns, in all of his work (well, in most of it, to be accurate).
Happily retired and gloatingly distant from his earlier domiciles in northern climes, he sets his novels in and around the placid beaches of Bonita Springs, with hopes (on a MUCH smaller scale, of course; he doesn’t take himself too seriously) to do for Bonita what Randy Wayne White has done for Sanibel with his Doc Ford books: put it on the literary map.
As for influences, he points to White, Dorsey, Fitzhugh, Buffett, Clancy, Laffer, Pirandello, Rollins, Grisham, Eisler, Hicks, Cussler, Machiavelli, McElhatton, Brown, Baldacci, Borge and hundreds of other economists, authors, philosophers, traders and comedians, most of whose names he’s QH’d (Quarterheimered; forgotten). Oh, Ludlum, too. And whatsisname …ah, right. Shakespeare. And Pinter and the other … oh, Beckett. Seinfeld, too. And Friedman, Monty Python and the Smothers Brothers.
He ages mostly comfortably (other than that Quarterheimer’s thing) in Bonita Springs (at least when he’s on his meds; when he’s not, he writes).
(By the way, that parenthetical about his meds is just a joke; he only takes a multivitamin and an aspirin each day. But he does use self-defecating humor often; he just can’t resist it. And please don’t inquire further into his work in the intelligence/security fields. He knows seventeen ways to kill using just his earlobes.)
(Oops; that was a typo; it’s actually only seven ways.)
You can follow Jake Devlin on Twitter by clicking the icon below.
Captain Johnny Higgins has directed Daphne Bleau and her team members to go to England to search for the second part of the Tesoro treasures. They discover a journal which contains entries written by the captain himself, who reveals bits and pieces of his strange past and leaves Daphne with a lot of questions about where he came from. But after leaving the journal unattended in their van, the precious book gets stolen by their devious competitors who have made a sudden comeback, and Daphne discovers that the journal itself contains the vital information that was supposed to decode their current clue. They cannot move on without it, and their competitors now have the information they need to get ahead. Mikey no longer wants to search for Tesoro and Daphne is trying to convince him to rejoin their team. Jack seems to be troubled by something, and every time Daphne gets the chance to talk to him about it, they are interrupted. Bailey is now in a relationship with Trent, who decides to surprise her and join in on the search. And to make matters more complicated, an irritable and unpredictable teenager has recently joined their team, and they are obligated to keep him safe amongst the dangers that lie ahead.
Andrea Hintz has loved writing her whole life. She began college at the age of thirteen and graduated at seventeen with a Bachelor’s in Public Management and Administration. Having endless stacks of books, she has a particular interest in fiction genres that contain lots of adventure and take her to other places of the world. She has written many books, including the books in The Tesoro Series. Andrea also plays the guitar, sings, and has written notebooks and notebooks full of songs and book ideas. Her favorite books were very special to her growing up, and she believes that if at least one reader feels that way about her work, she will have successfully done her job as an author. 
MANscapes Journey into the light By Manuela Cardiga’s
Blog Tour
” All women – from the most exquisite beauty tothe plainest drab – want to believe in the Cinderella myth. Even the
harsh-faced and sour-hearted, somewhere deep in their night-time struggles with their bitterest reality, dare to dream some Prince could still see past the dense veil of unkind nature and time, to the delicate, frail-hearted beauty within.” But Clara wasn’t Cinderella, waiting for her
Prince, she was Sleeping Beauty poisoned by a deadly kiss. After 24 years Clara
awakens from a living nightmare of abuse and discovers her life unfolding
miraculously; but the true miracle is her own blossoming: the maturing of a
frightened abused girl into a strong woman capable of love, laughter and joy.
In Tahiti’s exotic landscape Clara finds her way from darkness to incandescent
light, embracing in herself the strength of choice, and the power of decision.
hope and renewal, a story of one woman’s discovery of herself and her journey
into love.
Africa where she studied fashion design. She moved to Europe where she worked
as a fashion designer, then moved to the crazy world of advertising as a
graphic designer and copywriter. Manuela is a designer by profession, a cook by
vocation, and a writer by compulsion. She currently resides in Lisbon, Portugal
where she writes contemporary and historical fiction, designs book covers,
illustrates children’s books, and mothers a gorgeous daughter while juggling a
day job. She also dabbles enthusiastically in exotic, experimental cuisine,
much to the discomfort of family and friends.
comes to Lisbon to study Art. She has just begun her adventure of
self-discovery in the extravagant bohemian world of the late 70’s, when her
journey is abruptly cut short by a brutal rape by an acquaintance.
and her family pressures her into marrying the man who assaulted her, and who
claims “she was willing”. Clara is plunged into a nightmare of abuse that is to
last two decades.
a word spoken in passing by a stranger, and Clara awakens. Wakes and takes
charge of her life. She frees herself of the nightmare and of her oppressor,
but can she heal herself of the scars years of abuse have left on her spirit?
Clara goes to Tahiti to fulfill her childhood dream and “paint like Gauguin”.
world of endless possibilities where she starts to blossom as a woman, and an
artist. There, Clara meets the right man, and falls in love with the wrong one…
vindication, closure, and triumph over her abuser, and yet her trials have just
begun. She is about to discover the path of life rarely runs smoothly, and before
she can reach for happiness, Clara must grow.
capable of making the hardest of decisions, taking responsibility for herself
and a new life. Setting out on the
difficult road that leads to maturity, Clara must complete her journey from
darkness into light.
subscription. Sign up today for a free 30 day trial and start reading MANscapes
NOW!
One of the things I love about blogging, is being able to help other writers. As part of this I take part in Blog tours (which I do not get paid for) as a way to help authors to get their work out there. With this in mind, I am thrilled to bring you the Cover Reveal for The Ghost Of You by Amanda Burckhard – an exciting Young Adult Romance.
Swoon Romance
Emmy has everything
she’s ever wanted: a hot boyfriend she adores, great friends, a promising
future, and even a well-connected family. But one night rips it all away.
A car accident
shatters her world, claiming the lives of her twin brother and her best friend.
In the wake of the accident, her friends drift away, her family falls apart,
and her boyfriend cheats.
The grief is more than
she can handle, so she finds escape at the bottom of a bottle of painkillers.
Taking the pills makes her brother alive again, if only in her head. Seeing and
talking to her brother as if he were still alive is the only thing that keeps
her going. Until Logan King moves to town.
Logan sees past the
mask of pristine popularity she wears in public and he’s the only one who can
tell she hasn’t moved on. His uncanny ability to read her forces her to open up
and she starts to fall for him, no matter how unwilling she is to admit it. But
Emmy isn’t the only one keeping secrets and when a close brush with death
sparks events that bring everything to light, Emmy will have to decide what’s
more important: learning how to forgive and move on, or holding onto the pills
and the ghost of her past.
About the Author
Amanda Burckhard grew up exploring bat caves and hunting for dinosaur bones in the Black Hills of South Dakota. When she wasn’t crossing paths with mountain lions, she was making up stories and devouring books at the library. Although, she still does that.
Amanda loves to travel and cross out things on her adrenaline packed bucket list. Some of the things she’s been able to cross out include see an active volcano erupt, ride a gondola in Venice, and pet a tiger.
She currently lives in North Sioux City, South Dakota and works as a microbiologist by day. Some of her obsessions include comic book movies, hot chocolate, sushi, sunshine, and Doctor Who.
The Space Beyond, Book of Phoenix 2
As members of the Phoenix, Jeric and Leni are thrust into their new lives, expected to lead Earth’s Guardians. But Leni struggles with trusting her own soul, and Jeric is more concerned about keeping Leni safe than meeting others’ demands. When Darkness swarms Lake Haven, they embark on their first mission with little preparation and no idea which soul the Dark hunts.
Born and raised in Lake Haven, Bex hopes to escape her small-town life, ideally in the arms of her soul mate. She knows he exists, and her heart aches with the need to find him. When her long-lost mama calls to announce she’s knockin’ on death’s door, Bex reluctantly makes the trip to see the uncaring bitch (bless her heart), only to be knocked off her feet by the sexy and charming Dr. Mason Hayes. Is he really The One?
Leni’s soul felt an instant connection to Bex, but if Bex found her soul mate, she isn’t their mission. So who is, and why does Leni instinctively feel drawn to her? Can Leni even trust her intuition? And will Jeric step up and lead when the time comes or continue to hold them back?
If they don’t learn to trust themselves and each other quickly, Darkness will claim them all…along with the rest of Earth’s souls.
A Quick Note
It is no secret that I was a fan of Kristie Cook long before The Book of Phoenix series began. I have read every book in the Soul Savers series also. With this in mind, I began to read with some clear direction already firmly established – I was not going to allow my fangirling to distort my judgment – my review would be open and honest, regardless. At the same time, I made sure that I did not think that the book was rated A for Awesome before I turned the first page. So what follows is an honest review.
Review
The Space Beyond picks up from where The Space Between left off. I feel it pertinent to point out that if you have not read The Space Between, you really should prior to reading The Space Beyond.
The Space Beyond thrusts us back into the lives and love of Leni and Jeric as they set off to reunite two lost souls in danger of growing dark. If they are to be successful in their mission not only does Leni have to learn to trust her instincts, Jeric needs to trust that Leni can guide them wherever they need to go.
We are also reintroduced to Bex (aka Bethanny) and the book largely follows her exploration of the trials she ‘s faced in her life and how they have shaped her.
Point of view switches between Jeric, Leni and Bex provide first hand insight into the thoughts and feelings of these characters.
Bex’s POV was my favorite – I love her character. She’s ballsy, sassy, and full of interesting and sometimes hilarious one liners. I felt everything she did, laughed when she laughed, cried when she cried – which for Bex, was not very often, but you see where I am going with this. The fact she pulled at my emotions is a testament to the writing. There is so much more I could say about her character but I don’t want to write anything that could (and would) be deemed a spoiler.
Kristie Cook also explores a sensitive subject and she does so beautifully. Some if it horrified me, as it should, the nature of the subject is nothing less than horrific to begin with so why write it any differently?
The Space Beyond is written so well that at times I found myself unsure of just who I should be backing. The twists blew me away, the surprises – unexpected. There were times when my jaw rested firmly on the floor and others where I wanted to scream ‘NO’!!!
If you are a lover of the genre, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It has a great plot that will have you firmly immersed in the story and invested in the outcome. Now, if you’ll excuse me…. I’m off to buy The Space Within. Before I go, drumroll please….. The Space Beyond gets…..
Yup! 5 Stars
Links to buy The Space Between (Book 1)
Links to buy The Space Beyond (Book 2)
Links to but The Space Within (Book 3)
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