The
Phoenix Blade
by
Andrew Hess
Welcome
to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today in Lindenhurst, NY.
BK:
Looking out the nearest window, describe the scene you see.
AH:
I would see green grass, the bright blue sky, and tall pine trees.
BK:
Tell us about your office. Is it a mess like mine, or is everything
in its place?
AH:
My office is a complete mess, but that’s because everything I own
is crammed into one room. Once I find someplace that gives me more
room, I can setup my office the way I want and everything will be
easier to locate.
BK:
What is a must-have, such as coffee or a favorite pen that you need
to write?
AH:
I don’t really have a must have. As long as I have my computer, or
a notepad and pen, I’m set and ready to go.
BK:
Do you like to write in silence, or do you need music or background
noise?
AH:
I need some sort of sound in the room. I go stir crazy without
either the TV or music being on. Unfortunately, that also works
against me; as it becomes a distraction sometimes.
BK:
Tell us a bit about your hero/heroine, and their development.
AH:
Andrew Lancaster starts out as a nearly out of college boy who is
still harboring feelings of hurt and paranoia; believing his mother
was murdered six years earlier when everyone else ruled it an
accident. He lets these feelings dictate his decision to take the
Benefactor up on his offer in order to find out who killed his mother
and get revenge for it. Once he goes after the killers, he and his
friends are stuck in a web of lies, deceit, and murders that he can’t
seem to get out of. Along the way Lancaster finds himself taking
charge of his group and trying to find a way out to protect his
friends and the woman he loves.
BK:
As a writer myself, I'm always curious how other writers get through
stumble blocks. When you find a story not flowing, or a character
trying to fight you, how do you correct it?
AH:
I’ve learned to push through it and write something. You can
always go back and fix what you wrote. If you stay on one thought,
it will take longer to get passed. However, there are times when you
need to take a step back and relax, Usually that is when I sit in a
dark room, listen to music and rest my mind.
BK:
Using the letters of your first name as an acronym, describe your
book...
AH:
Adventurous
New
Dangerous
Remarkable
Eccentric
Witty
BK:
How did your writing journey begin?
AH:
Originally it started in 5th
grade when I was in the creative writing club and then in 6th
grade when I wrote my own newspaper. However, the real story began
when I was in college and I decided the government could be doing
anything behind closed doors without everyone knowing about it and
wanted to write something based on that. Ever since then, I kept
getting new ideas of what I wanted to write and find new ways to take
readers by surprise.
BK:
Using the letters from the word, Summer, how would friends and family
describe you?
AH:
Sensible
Understanding
Memorable
Mathematical
Eclectic
Remarkable
BK:
What is the craziest thing you've ever written about, whether it got
published or not?
AH:
The craziest thing I wrote had to be when I was a kid, but those
stories are long gone and forgotten. Since then, the craziest thing
would be a horror script called Graveyard Nightmares.
BK:
Tell us one thing you've done in life that readers would be most
surprised to know.
AH:
I completed the Fight for Air Climb earlier this year which was
climbing the 55 stories of One Penn Plaza for charity.
BK:
What can we expect from you in the future?
AH:
I am currently working on editing the sequel to The Phoenix Blade and
also working a detective series.
This
or That...
Coke
or Pepsi?
AH:
I don’t really like drinking soda anymore, but when I did I
preferred Coke.
Night
Owl or Early Bird?
AH:
I’m an insomniac so I would have to say Night Owl.
Fantasy
or Mystery?
AH:
Mystery
Pen/Paper
or Computer?
AH:
Computer, it’s easier to make a mistake and fix.
Pizza
or Burger?
AH:
That’s a hard one. I love them both, but usually crave a good
burger just a little more lately.
Rock
or Country?
AH:
Definitely Rock
Chocolate
or Vanilla?
AH:
Chocolate
Beach
or Mountains?
AH:
Beach, it’s more relaxing to me.
Thank
you so much for having us as one of your stops today. It has been
great getting to know more about you and your book, and wish you the
best of success!
BK Walker
About
The Author:
Genre:
Action/Drama
Publisher:
CreateSpace
Release
Date: April 24, 2013
Book
Description:
Follow
the journey of Andrew Lancaster and his friends as they are thrown in
the middle of the biggest government conspiracy to hit the United
States. Andrew is contacted by a man known only as the Benefactor.;
claiming to be a government official that has been monitoring
Lancaster and his friends. He is told they have enough evidence to
arrest them for treason, but would like to hire them instead for a
top secret government project. As a bonus
the Benefactor says he will reveal something Lancaster has
wanted to know for the last six years. Who killed his mother.
Excerpt:
“I keep thinking how so much has changed in the last ten years.”
“Here we go again.”
“I mean it. When we were kids everything was different. The world was more peaceful. Everyone got along and helped each other. But now everyone’s fueled by greed, corruption, and they get some sick pleasure from hurting others.”
“I know what you mean, but there’s not much we can do about it. Too many people think they have to do whatever’s necessary to get ahead in life.”
“I still wish we could change it.”
“Yeah, it’d be great to get rid of all those people.” Mike reached for the remote to turn the movie back on. “Too bad it’ll never happen.”
I knew he was right. Our idea was ludicrous. But at that moment, my cell started ringing.
“Talk to me,” I answered.
“Yes hi, I’m looking for Mr. Andrew Lancaster,” a stern confident voice said.
“Who’s calling?”
“Someone who has the power to change your future.”
“If this is some telemarketer, you can hang up now. I’m not interested.
“I assure you this isn’t a sales pitch and I’m not a telemarketer.”
“Then what do you want?”
“It’s come to my attention that you and a few friends have been talking about eliminating certain types of people.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb Mr. Lancaster. You and your friends have been monitored for some time now. We know everything.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m someone from the government that would like to give you an ultimatum. We have e-mails and recorded conversations between you and your friends talking about killing people that are as you said evil.”
“Look, Mr. we were only joking around.”
Mike heard the panic in my voice. My face turned pale white.
“What’s going on,” he whispered.
I placed the call on speaker and placed a finger to my lips.
“Be that as it may. You’ve been under our watchful eye for several months. Now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way.”
“And that would be?”
“The hard way is we send our agents to your house and arrest you for conspiracy and possible treason.”
“Are you fucking serious,” Mike shouted. I quickly covered his mouth with my hand.
“Who is that? Who’s with you?” I didn’t reply. I could hear him rifling through papers. “Ah yes, that is most likely Mr. Santangelo.”
“How does he know my…”
“What’s the easy way,” I asked.
The man cleared his throat. “Simple, we hire you to go through with it.”
I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah right, and next you’re going to tell me that I’m the next in line to be King of England.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’m very serious. We have a list of targets and evidence that proves their illegal activities. We would like to give you the chance to make the world a better place.”
“If you have evidence against them, why not put them in jail where they belong?”
“Because they have ways of getting around our judicial system. We all know it’s fallible.”
“But why me?”
“Who better to lead a team than someone who has never received justice for his own mother’s death?”
“But it was ruled an accident.”
“That’s what you were led to believe. I have proof she was murdered and know who’s responsible.”
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