The Circle-A Killings by Sean Heary - Book Tour
The Circle-A Killings by Sean Heary by @Sean_Heary @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours
Returning from Moscow, Lorenzo Rossi finds himself forced to quit his job as head of the Vatican police. And to make matters worse, his fiancée, CIA Agent Cathy Doherty, calls off their wedding. Just as Rossi is settling into his new life as a visiting academic at Cambridge University, the CIA persuades him to rejoin Cathy in catching the killer of three American billionaires. Barely on speaking terms, the two devise a plan to befriend the CIA's main suspect.
As they get closer to the suspect and his coterie of friends, Rossi and Cathy realise that they're being played for fools. But why? Everything points to an international conspiracy. As friends and foes drop dead around them, they arrive at the truth. But to prove it they need to set a trap. A trap that turns them from hunter to prey. Will they survive to tell their tale?
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Author Interview
If you could tell your younger writing self anything,
what would it be?
Start writing as early as possible and build a like-minded
network of writers to help you when you finally produce a manuscript worth
publishing. Their feedback will be invaluable.
My experience is that successful indie writers are part talent
and part self-promotion. Your profile and industry network are equally
important. Even exceptional books don’t sell themselves.
Also, be active in your local writing community and book
clubs.
Favorite childhood memory involving books?
As a child, I never read books. I wasn’t interested in
fantasy or space adventures. No comic book superheroes for me. I found what I
liked in newspapers. Actual stories of conspiracy and espionage.
To me there was nothing more real than the threat of nuclear
war. East verses West and communism seems closer to home than kryptonite and
indestructible villains.
It wasn’t until my early twenties, after reading ‘Jude the
Obscure’, that I became hooked on novels. I read mostly Thomas Hardy, James
Joyce and Evelyn Waugh before I discovered the spy thriller genre.
If you could dine with any literary character, who would
it be and why?
Without a doubt: George Smiley. I’m a big fan of John le
Carré and Graham Greene. Between them they have created many fascination
protagonists. But for me, none come close to the polite, almost invisible
protagonist of so many classic le Carré novel.
Did you want to be an author when you grew up?
No. Didn’t enter my mind. After graduating from the
University of Western Australia, I joined a global mining house and travelled
the world. A thirty-year adventure that included a decade in Moscow and several
years in Tashkent. I was having so much fun I never considered doing anything
else.
It wasn’t until my assignment in Russia ended that I thought
about writing a book. And having lived for so long only a stone’s throw away
from the Kremlin, the natural choice of genre was Political Thriller.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what
would they be?
Dogged.
Devoted.
Tenacious.
What’s one movie you like recommending to others?
Smiley's People (TV Mini-Series 1982)
How long, on average, does it take you to write a
book?
My first book ‘The Concordat’ was written over several
years as I learnt the art.
I wrote the first draft of ‘The Circle-A
Killings’ in under twelve months. The editing and production added another twelve
months. So about two years from idea to publication.
With the experience gained, I’m guessing my third
novel, ‘From a Position of Strength’ (working title), will be published by end
of 2021.
One positive about self-publishing is that you
set your own publishing timetable. No sitting around in a queue to accommodate the
publisher’s schedule.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Once I’ve decided on the ethnicity or nationality
of the character it’s easy. I draw on a combination of names I’ve come across
in thirty years of travelling the world. When I stumble over a quirky name I
try to remember for later use. For Instance, Mrs. Tarbottom, the aging
cook/housekeeper at Fisher House or Harper Rattle, the heroin chic CIA agent.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Get your story right in your head then on paper.
When you read it back, you’ll be surprised how well you’ve done. Once you’ve tidied
it up a little, send it for an editorial review. If you’re on a budget, send it
to a suitably qualified friend or someone from your writing community network.
Listen to the feedback and learn.
Tell us 10 fun facts about yourself! :)
I was born in Perth,
Western Australia, one of the most isolated major cities on the planet.
I grew up during the Cold
War on a diet of the Avengers and The Man from Uncle. My favorite Uncle
character was Illya Kuryakin.
I spent several years living
in Tashkent where I picked up a taste for Uzbek food and met my wife.
I then lived for a decade
in Moscow.
I was a big fan of JFK
(young fan). In later years it drew me towards the enigma of the Soviet Union
and Khrushchev.
The Cuba missile crisis
and the botch CIA funded invasion of Cuba still looms large in my mind. So, you
can imagine my delight when I actually stood on the rocky shores of the Bay of
Pigs, Cuba visualizing the invasion.
I now live in John le
Carré’s ‘Small Town in Germany’: Bonn.
My favorite dishes, all
prepared by my wife, are Plov, Samsa, Laghman, Borsch – basically anything
Russian or Uzbek.
Like Lorenzo Rossi, I
drink Laphroaig from a crystal glass.
I keep fit, although it
comes in fits and spirts. Swimming and running.
Author Bio
Sean travelled the world for thirty years as a mining company executive, living for many years only a stone’s throw from the Kremlin. No wonder he likes to write political thrillers. He also worked for several years in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he picked up a taste for Central Asian cuisine and met his wife. Born and raised in Australia, Sean now makes Germany his home.
2 Comments
Thanks so much for taking part in the blog tour!
ReplyDeleteMeggy from Love Books Tours x
You're welcome!
DeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.