DAB: Was there a point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author?
CP: The desire was always there to be an author. I've always written poems or short stories throughout my life. But it was when I found myself daydreaming about stories that I was creating in my head more so than the actual work that I was doing, that's when I knew I should pursue my dreams of being an author and storyteller.
DAB: What was the catalyst for this novel’s premise?
CP: The Avenged is actually a combination of a couple of
stories that I had been working on. I wanted to write a story about a sniper
who was out for revenge, and I also wanted to write a story about a corrupt
judge. When I started playing with the plots a little bit I said to myself, why
not mesh the stories together. The first two Jacob Hayden novels were
originally going to be the two separate stories noted above, but as I began
combining them together, I saw that the story was more complex and creative and
there was more wiggle room to create plot twists and suspense. So by merging
the two stories together I created, The Avenged.
DAB: Do you ever
have difficulty writing from the point-of-view of a member of the opposite sex?
CP: When I first started writing I found it hard to write
a female character. The problem I had was keeping the female character
feminine. In the first draft of my very first book I remember I had one of the
female characters walking in rain and getting wet. One of my readers told me
that a woman wouldn’t let her hair get wet in that situation. I thought about
it and said, “oh yeah, guess you’re right.” Something as blatant as a woman not
wanting her hair to get wet was a different way of thinking for me because I
routinely walk in the rain, unless is a torrential downpour.
CP: I’d have to say, Jacob. He’s the main character and
is featured mostly in the books. I like his work ethic and tenacity. He’s the
type of person that if he believes strongly in something he’ll go to hell and
back to defend his point. I like that he loves his wife and treats his in-laws
like his own parents. He’s dedicated to fighting crime and making Washington, D.C.
the best city it can be.
DAB: How long did
it take for you to craft this novel?
CP: The Avenged took a little longer than expected to
write mainly because while writing the first draft my wife and I found out that
our oldest daughter had a tumor. She was only three at the time and upon
hearing that I pretty much stopped what I was doing for over a year while she
went through her chemo treatments, hospital visits, surgery and radiation. Once
she was better and cancer free I went back to writing. But normally I try to
get the first draft done within four to five months.
DAB: Have you
ever experienced writer's block?
CP: All the time. It’s frustrating when I’m ready to
write and nothing wants to come through my head. In those times I do what any
writing teacher would tell you to do: I just write whatever comes to mind.
Anything and everything. And surprisingly after a few paragraphs or even a
page, things start to flow and eventually I’ll start putting cohesive words and
sentences together. The funny part is going back later and seeing what I wrote
to get out of writer’s block.
DAB: There's the
eternal debate whether to outline or not. What is your preference?
CP: I choose not to outline. I usually write a two page
summary of what the entire story will be about. Then from there I go through
the natural progression of building the story: conflicts, dialogue, suspense,
etc. Stephen King wrote that he likes to see where the characters take him. I
totally agree with that. Even though I kind of have a big picture idea, I like
it when the characters lead and develop the story themselves.
DAB: How do you
handle negative feedback about your novel(s)?
CP: I think I’m a pretty good sport about it. It’s human
nature to get a little upset when someone doesn’t like you’re work, but for the
most part I’m an opened minded person and I realize that not everyone will like
my writing. However, I think as long as the negative feedback is constructive
and not just ignorant rambling, then I’d take the negative feedback into
consideration and try to understand what it was about my writing that person
didn’t like. If it’s something that I think I can improve upon I definitely will
try.
DAB: Usually
authors are also avid readers - what are you currently reading?
CP: At the moment I’m not reading anything just because
I’m trying to finish the next book in my detective series. Having said that,
the last book I read was one of Harlan Coben’s, Myron Bolitar, books.
DAB: Care to tell
us what is next on your writing horizon?
CP: I’ll soon be finishing up the third book in my
Detective Jacob Hayden series entitled, The Game of Life or Death, which will
be released sometime in late April. In this book Jacob has to solve the murders
of a close family that he’s known his whole life. He’ll also come face to face
with the man who’s been sending him threatening letters.
DAB: Now’s your
chance – give us the final plug for your novel.
CP: The Avenged has everything you want in a crime
thriller: love, suspense, betrayal, sex, violence, intriguing characters and
plot twists. If you haven’t had a chance to meet Jacob yet, download a copy and
see what he’s all about.
Thanks for visiting the blog, Charles! For more information about him and his writing, visit Charles on his website or contact him through the social media links below. And check out the blurb for The Avenged!
Thanks for visiting the blog, Charles! For more information about him and his writing, visit Charles on his website or contact him through the social media links below. And check out the blurb for The Avenged!
Book Blurb:
Alex
Cross isn’t the only detective in D.C. In this thrill ride of a debut
novel, D.C. Homicide Detective Jacob Hayden investigates an underground
operation that ultimately changes his life forever.
When
a seventeen year-old kid is shot point blank in the chest, the
investigation leads Jacob to a storage facility where he finds three
crates full of something that he never expected seeing.
The next day, a Sniper
sits on top of a building with a Parker-Hale M85 rifle aimed at Dupont
Circle’s park in Washington, D.C. The Sniper scans the perimeter from
right to left until he sees his target. When he sees him, he steadies
his aim and takes the shot. But what happens next, even the Sniper
wasn’t prepared for. Prominent Superior Court Judge Frank Peters’
business operations take a hit when one of his partners is murdered in
Dupont Circle.
The
murder investigation, led by Detective Hayden, threatens the very core
of the Judge’s business. Follow Detective Hayden’s investigation and see
how the Sniper and the Judge are linked to this underground operation.
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