Blogoversary Author Interview & Giveway: Richard Doetsch

Hi Everyone,
Make sure you check out all the other interviews and giveaways by checking out the Blogoversary Tab or Picture at the top of the page.

Today we have an author that I just discovered this past year and I am very excited to read more and more of his books.

Please Welcom RICHARD DOETSCH to Blood Rose Books today!

Real estate, Extreme Sports and Writer, these do not seem to have anything in common to the regular individual, however, they are all passions of yours, what do they have in common for you?

They all in one way, shape, or form involve thrills and puzzles. In real estate you have the good and bad thrills of the transaction and the puzzle of trying to figure out how to create deals in volatile markets with people who only have their own goals in mind.

Whether it is skydiving, bunging jumping, or scuba there is an adrenaline component to what I love to do, a thrill aspect that creates a natural high, and a good type of addiction plus I’m always looking to figure out new ways to top myself with excitement.

And writing, for me is trying to capture all of those moments from life melding them into an exciting story, creating intricate puzzle-like mysteries and thrills that keeps the reader turning pages and up all night trying to get to the end before they have to go to work. It’s great fun to jump out of plane and turn that experience into a scene when I get home. Many times, it doesn’t even have to be the jump, or the scuba dive appearing in the story but rather the emotions of it the thrill, the sweaty palms which can be used for so many different scenes and moments. 

What made you pick up a pen to become an author? Can you remember an experience or a book that inspired you?

About seven years ago, I was looking for a story that was different, that combined certain elements beyond the usual thrills: deeper characters, interesting facts, anti-heroes and a slight tinge of the impossible. When I couldn’t find it I decided to write the book I wanted to read which became The Thieves of Heaven. I was a voracious reader when I was younger of everything from Alistair MacLeane, to Dickens, Ludlum to Twain all of which drove my passion for story. These writers and many like them became my writing school, though I didn’t know it at the time. 

What do you think would be the hardest or most challenging genre to write a novel in and why? 

I already combine elements of historical fiction with romance, mystery, and thrillers…. I suppose it would have to be a decade spanning drama, one with multiple generations. The stories all have these central arcs but you have to illustrate it over decades or centuries creating characters whose lives can only tell a portion of the story. You can end up with dozens of main characters and that is not an easy task to get your mind around. But, to me, it makes it a challenge and something I would want to try. Previously, I had never seen a book written backwards and thought it would be a terrific challenge to attempt, so I wrote The 13th Hour which was not only one of the funnist things I’ve created but a story that has sold worldwide and will soon be a movie from New Line Cinema.

You have a written a good old fashioned but modernized Good vs Evil tale, what was the appeal in writing this type of story line?

It is the most basic stories and thematically is found in one way, shape, or form in most books. In The Thieves of Heaven, even though Michael St. Pierre is a thief he is still good, he is still the hero but he is painted in shades of gray which, to me, always makes the character more interesting and relatable. The same holds true for August Finster, a man whose darkness is painted with varying colors, who cares for Michael and his plight to save his wife , but who ultimately is only out for himself. So while it is a tale of good vs evil each has certain qualities that you wouldn’t expect in your heroes and villains. 

I know you created Michael St. Pierre as a thief on purpose in order to give him a certain type of skill set outside of the more typical ex-military or law enforcement types, Do you think that Michael’s skill set and anti-hero aspect are more conducive to a thriller series?

I love the anti-hero, the Butch Cassidy Robin Hood type, those likeable characters who, though breaking the laws of the land, heart, and God, still do the right thing. To me the white night, the good sheriff, or the all around do-gooder can become boring, can be predictable. I think as a thriller writer it is my responsibility to entertain, to keep the reader guessing and involved and turning the pages as fast as he can. To get there I need someone who will break the law, who challenges the status quo, who will do anything including breaking the laws of man, the heart, and God to achieve his goal. Besides it makes them all the more fun to write. 

I found Simon to be a very interesting character within the book. He follows God, yet was able to justify killing people as God’s work. Did you want Simon to be a different type of anti-hero, one that came from the church instead of regular society? 

Simon is really an illustration of the type of person who will go to any extreme to defend what he believes in. We all have a strong faith in our beliefs be they religious, political, family; I always love the person who will go to the ends of the earth to put their lives on the line for what they believe in.

Is there something extreme that Michael has attempted that you would like to attempt? 

Actually everything that Michael has done short of breaking into places comes from my life. The opening scene of The Thieves of Darkness where Michael St. Pierre is skydiving onto a 3,000 foot prison mesa comes directly from my life experiences (the prison is creative license), when he is falling from the plane at 13,500 that is not imagination, but reality. If there were no consequences I would love to see if I could break into some spectacular place with high security like The Louvre, The White House, or The Kremlin, it would be such a fun challenge to overcome the various obstacles constructed by the top security firms, to run around some forbidden place in the dark, being chased with no idea if my escape plan would work, to have to think my way out of pending doom.

You give a fantastic description of the Vatican even how many steps it takes to get from one place or another. I know you spend a lot of time researching in the library but have you had the opportunity to visit the Vatican? 

Sadly, I’ve never been there, my kids varying schedules rarely gives us a moment when we can travel as a family to far off places. Though, as a result of my research I could probably tell you about almost every nook, cranny, and artifact as well as any tour guide.

Do you have any information on upcoming works or events that you are able to share? 

My latest Novel, Half-Past Dawn will be released September 27 from Atria/Simon & Schuster. The basic summary is:

Awakening to the mistaken headline that he and his wife, Mia, have been killed, District Attorney, Jack Keeler has only until dawn tomorrow to uncover an ancient mystery hidden in the depths of one of the country's most heavily guarded prisons. A thriller spanning time, an Asian people out of legend, an assassin who will stop at nothing to avenge his death sentence, and a diary who's contents may foretell the future, Half-Past Dawn is a race through the boarders of life and death, insanity and reason, and dreams and reality. 24 hours to find his wife, 24 hours to find his children, 24 hours before fate catches up with Keeler... and the rest of the world. 

I wrote this story in late 2009 as a personal challenge to see if I could keep myself guessing while creating something new and different. As with all of my stories, it's never going where you think it's going though it does travel upon a break-neck rollercoaster and promises as much fun as The 13th Hour.

In addition, the screenplay for my novel, The 13th Hour, is done and will soon be in production at New Line Cinema, and I’m near completion on the screenplay adaptation of my novel The Thieves of Darkness which we will be announcing shortly, though I can say that I’m co-writing the screenplay with a major player in both huge blockbuster films and a big hit TV. And if you weren’t aware, Fox bought The Thieves of Heaven and it was adopted by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver who wrote and produced this year’s Rise of The Planet of The Apes which was fantastic. 

What is one book on your shelf that you cannot wait to read (can either be a new or old favorite)? There are two: Moby Dick, which I haven’t read in 20 years and Ian Fleming’s Moonraker, the only James Bond novel I haven’t finished. For those unaware most of Flemings books have nothing to do with the movies titled after them. 

I want to say Thank You to Richard for being part of my Blogoversary event. Richard has very nicely aggreed to have a giveaway and has some great books offered. The Giveaway is for 1 SIGNED hardcover of  The 13th Hour, 1 SIGNED hardcover of Thieves of Darkness and 1 SIGNED hardcover copy of Half Past Dawn. If you would like to find out more about Richard's book check out my review of Thieves of Heaven and Richards Website. Thank you once again Richard

***GIVEAWAY RULES***

1.  You do not need to be a follower to participate, but it is always nice for you to join
2. Please Fill out the Form BELOW in order to enter

3. This Giveaway is Open Internationally

4. The Giveaway ENDS on October 7, 2011

5. The winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hrs to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen

5. Books have been provided by Richard Doetsch