BLURB:
Wisecracking private investigator
Plato Jones is used to cleaning up the gods' messes. But this might be his most
dangerous case yet, placing him deep behind enemy lines, in Tartarus Maximum
Security Penitentiary. After infiltrating the enemy's organization, Plato
inches closer to the truth. But he learns a hard lesson along the way: to defeat
a villain, he might have to become one himself.
Olympus Confidential skillfully
weaves humor and Greek mythology into this fast-paced fantasy. Whether new or
returning to the Plato Jones series, fans of thrillers, contemporary fantasy,
and Greek mythology will have a tough time putting this one down.
INTERVIEW:
Where did you get the idea for the novel?
During my late teens, I began reading paranormal mystery novels.
It was my first taste of the genre and I couldn’t get enough. The stories were
immensely creative and unlike anything I had ever read. I soon decided to try
my hand at writing one—and being a fan of Greek mythology, I felt compelled to
give my own take on those classics stories and characters.
Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?
I came up with the title shortly after the release of the first
novel. Olympus Confidential was a play on James Ellroy’s L.A. Confidential. I
had considered calling the book Olympus Undercover. But in the end, I felt that
Olympus Confidential had a better ring to it.
Why did you pick this genre? What do you like about it?
When I was a kid, my dad and I used to watch a lot of action
movies. Our favorites were the ones that contained elements of fantasy and
sci-fi. The Terminator, Predator, Alien, Willow—these movies hooked me at an
early age and never let go. When it comes down to it, I’m just a big a kid
writing stories about the things I love most.
Since becoming a writer, what’s the most
exciting thing to ever happen to you?
For me, the most exciting aspect of being a writer is simply
knowing that someone enjoyed my work. That makes it all worthwhile.
What book are you currently reading or what
was the last book you read?
I
just finished rereading Black, White and Jewish by Rebecca Walker. Before that,
I read Fatal Rhythm by R.B. O’Gorman.
What is your writing process?
6. My
writing process always involves sound, whether I’m listening to music or the TV
is playing in the background. I also tend to mess around with different fonts
as well. I’ve been asked why I do this, and I wish I had an answer. I guess
it’s just one of my many strange quirks.
At a book signing, do you just sign your name
or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say?
I always write a message thanking the reader.
Unfortunately, my handwriting is one comma away from being chicken scratch. For
that reason, a handwritten thank you is often accompanied by a verbal apology.
What is something people would be surprised to
know about you?
I do a pretty good
Nicolas Cage impression.
How do you react to a bad review?
Getting a bad review always stings, but it’s
the nature of the beast. No matter how great a book is, not everyone is going
to love it. Focusing on the people who have supported your career is always the
best reaction.
How did you celebrate the sale of your first
book?
My parents treated me
to a nice dinner. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate. Next to writing,
stuffing my face with delicious food is one of my favorite pastimes.
EXCERPT:
Herc
and I were meeting up for drinks. Our pal Geno had planned to join us, but got
sidelined by a sudden case of worms—a common health problem among satyrs. I
decided to make up for his absence by drinking twice as much.
The
sacrifices I make in the name of friendship.
No
less than a dozen paparazzi loitered near the bar’s entrance, a sign that Herc
had already arrived.
As
always, Napoleon, the minotaur bouncer, kept the parasites at bay. He had been
allowed to keep his job after the change in ownership. I was glad. The place
wouldn’t have been the same without him.
As
I neared the entrance, a paparazzo began snapping pictures of me.
“Plato,
over here!” one of them exclaimed. “Think you and Aphrodite will ever get back
together?”
At
the mention of the Love Goddess’s name, the other photographers turned their
cameras on me. They bombarded me with questions about her and me.
“Are
you still in love with her?”
“Is
she as kinky as they say?”
“Is
it true you two have a secret love child?”
I
ignored them and stepped up to the door. Napoleon nodded.
“Evening,
Plato,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Ask
me in an hour.”
Napoleon
returned the minotaur equivalent of a grin. It looked more like a grimace. He
opened the door for me. None of the so-called journalists attempted to follow
me inside. They were a lot of things—pushy, obnoxious, disrespectful—but stupid
was not one of them.
The
bar was filled to capacity—a fifty-fifty mix of humans and nonhumans. “I’ll See
You in My Dreams” by Giant poured from unseen speakers, barely rising above the
rich hum of many conversations going on at once.
All
the usual suspects were present. Most greeted me with waves or hellos. One of
the longtime regulars, a steelworker named Mitch, gave me a hearty slap on the
back and called me an asshole.
Yep.
We were one big, happy bar family.
Hercules,
the half-human son of Zeus, was having a beer at the bar. One of the most
powerful beings in existence, he had performed countless acts of heroism over a
life that spanned several millennia. His ferocity, honor, and cunning were the
stuff of legend. Most people regarded him as the world’s first superhero.
To
me, he was just Herc, my best friend and a cheapskate extraordinaire.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A fan of thrillers, fantasy,
and science fiction, Robert B. Warren has been writing stories ever since he
could hold a pencil. In 2009, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English
and creative writing from the University of Alabama. He currently lives in the
south.GIVEAWAY:
Commenter Prize: $50 Amazon GC plus print or digital copy of book 1 or book 2 in the series
Runner Up Prizes 15 ebooks of winners' choice of book 1 or book 2
the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview.
ReplyDeleteLove the interview (and I kinda wish I could see the impression now)...
ReplyDeleteTrix, vitajex(at)Aol(dot)com
Thanks for sharing this title with me. I don't know the Plato Jones stories
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the interview.
ReplyDeleteLove the interview!
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me! The idea that so many people enjoy my writing is an unbelievable feeling!
ReplyDelete