Bio:
Michael J. Webb graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida and obtained his J. D.
from the same university. Over the past
forty years he has travelled the world in search of adventure.
He is a
history buff, both ancient and modern, and is fascinated by the intersection of
the scientific, supernatural, and Biblical world views, and has studied and
taught from the Bible extensively for more than twenty-five years. He is also
intrigued by recent discoveries in quantum physics that are now providing
extraordinary insights into the reality of the spirit realm, especially as it
relates to the study of Light. He incorporates
all of the above into his supernatural thrillers.
Michael and
his wife make their home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Books by Michael: The Master’s Quilt, The Nephilim Parchments
(formerly Balaam’s Error), The Song of the Seraphim (Giants in the Earth
trilogy), The Oldest Enemy, The Gathering Darkness (agented with Donald Maass
at the Maass Agency). He is currently
working on The Devil’s Cauldron, the sequel to The Gathering Darkness. He also authored a non-fiction work entitled
In the Cleft of the Rock: Insights into the Blood of Jesus, Resurrection Power,
and Saving the Soul.
Welcome, Michael. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
A little bit here and there. I often use my life experiences
in my stories. Sometimes I exaggerate the events to create an even more intense
scenario. Sometimes the experiences are so vivid and exciting they don’t need
exaggeration, especially in certain types of spiritual encounters. Overall, I
would say that my life experiences, and the way I respond to them, are a foundation
upon which I build when I’m developing characters. I try to put a little of the
good and the not-so-good in each character, even my antagonists. I rely heavily
upon my wife for help in gaining a deeper understanding of the feminine
perspective.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
When I get angry or frustrated, my wife says I look like ET
when Drew Barrymore first saw him in her house and they both started screaming
and running in opposite directions. (I don’t agree, of course.)
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I’m a story-teller at heart. I started writing poetry in
high school, then tried short stories in college, but found my calling writing
novels when I turned thirty-one. I had a desire to write the “Great American
Novel” in my twenties, but that never got off the ground. I read voraciously
and ecclecticly, so I suppose, truth-be-told, I have always wanted to write.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
In college I read Melville, Hemingway, Shakespeare, Pynchon,
Ayn Rand, Tolkien, Michener, among others. I’ve studied the Bible for nearly
thirty years, taught from it for almost as long, and often read non-fiction
books related to my biblical studies. I read tons of science fiction until I
turned thirty. Now, I primarily read thrillers, but also enjoy certain types of
fantasy, mysteries, and suspense stories. In general, I look for interesting
stories with fascinating characters and unusual plots that prick and hold my
interest. I generally only give a new fiction book 50 pages max to draw me in.
If I’m not fully engaged in the plot, or intrigued by the characters by then, I
go on to the next one. I read a lot of history—ancient, modern, and Middle Eastern--books
about quantum physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, astronomy, forbidden
history, archaeology, paleontology, and biochemistry for my research. Yep, I’m
all over the charts. Don’t read romance, though. Not my cup of tea. However, there
is romance in my thrillers, and my wife tells me I’m a very romantic person. Go
figure.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Lots of prayer. After that, my wife is my compass. She keeps
me from taking myself too seriously, or getting too down when life throws me
major curves, which has happened more than I would like over the past three
decades. She is a Proverbs 31
woman with numerous gifts, not least of which is the gift of “Joy.” Our pet
parrot also keeps us laughing. He’s very smart and very talented, not to
mention we are convinced that he sees angels. He lets us know when they are in
the house by flapping his wings and staring up into the heights of the ceiling.
He loves to dance to island music with steel drums, and Michael Jackson. He
hasn’t quite mastered the moon walk yet, but we’re getting there. We also have
a 112 gallon salt water reef tank in our living room that is very calming.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Sometimes I’ve had a name I’ve wanted to use but needed the
right character to fit it. Other times, I see a name in movie credits, or in a
book or article, or encounter someone with a unique name and I use it, or a
variation of it. In many cases I do quite a bit of research to pick a
particular name because of its origins and meaning. I do that for places and
inanimate objects in my stories as well. My novels are full of “name” nuggets
if anyone cares to dig. Some are obvious, others are more subtle, intended for
those who love to “pierce the veil” and go beyond the pale, daring to step
through the Looking Glass.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud
of?
Tough question. I hope this doesn’t come across as
religious, but I am at the point in my walk with the Lord that I take very
little pride in anything I’ve accomplished. Yes, I work very hard at everything
I do (I am a bit of a hybrid between type A and type B personalities), but I am
truly cognizant of the fact that everything I achieve is only because of my
intimate relationship with Him. Having said that, I get the most pleasure and
personal satisfaction out of writing an engaging and entertaining story with a powerful
message. I endeavor to one day become someone who is considered a great writer
by large numbers of readers, but if that day never comes, I will have given my
very best along the way and will have always purposed to achieve excellence in
my craft.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I’m fascinated by wolves, and would love to be a very big
one. They are extremely loyal to one another, very family oriented, fierce
hunters, and they roam large amounts of territory. They also frequent parts of
the world I love to travel to.
What is your favorite
food?
Mexican, and soft, warm chocolate chip cookies.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
When I hit the wall, I pray. Always have, always will.
Prayer never fails to jump-start my writing engine when it stalls.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Oldest Enemy was written in ’98-’99. When it was finished, I
tried to interest agents and publishers, to no avail, so it sat in my computer
until last August. On a whim, I entered a contest sponsored by Risen Books.
Much to my surprise, The Oldest Enemy was selected from
among 40 contestants as the winner. I got the idea for the story while I was
reading two very diverse books—one on exorcism, the other on art and gold
stolen from Jews by the Nazi’s during WWII. I wanted to explore several themes,
including the nature of true spiritual authority, possession and Biblical
deliverance, generational curses, and anti-Semitism. There is also a strong
redemption message for both Jew and Gentile. One day, I saw and heard what
eventually became the Prologue unfold in my mind, much like a movie (that’s how
all my thrillers come to life). I started writing what I saw and heard, and the
characters soon took on a life of their own. I just took dictation after that. Interestingly,
many of the exciting events portrayed in the plot are now unfolding on the
world stage, especially in the Middle East .
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Prologue
February, 1945
“Your name! Tell me your name!”
Father Michael
Lighthouse’s hoarse voice betrayed his exhaustion and his pent-up frustration,
a potentially disastrous mistake. He swallowed several times, but his mouth was
as dry as the Sahara and lent nothing to
soothe his raw throat. The bound man lying before him writhed in agony as thin
streams of grey-white mucous leeched from his flared nostrils, and bubbles of
pink saliva dribbled from his contorted mouth.
A thick layer
of fear wrapped itself around the young priest as the room grew colder and
darker. His breath puffed white before his face. The administrator had cut off
the heat in this room two days ago, but this cold wasn’t natural. Father
Michael drew his heavy cassock tighter over his lean frame and shivered. Over
the cassock, he wore a waist-length white surplice. A narrow purple stole hung
loosely from his neck.
He was on the second floor of the
city’s largest hospital, located across from Wettiner Station, in the Friedrichstadt. Behind the hospital, in
the direction of the river, were the stadiums where he had played soccer in his
younger, happier days. Beyond the stadiums, at the edge of the Grosses Ostragehege, a large area of
wild, undeveloped land, was the Public Slaughterhouse where the prisoners of
war were housed. The SS barracks were located further north and west, in the
direction of Heller, on the outskirts of Neustadt.
To the immediate west of Wettiner Station was the Hofkirche, where his small office was located, and beyond that was
his beloved Opera.
He wished he were there now,
listening to Wagner.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
My Author Website is www.michaeljwebbfiction.com,
my FB Fan Page is http://www.facebook.com/MichaelJWebbBooks,
and my Amazon.com Author Page is http://amzn.to/P2CLn1. The Oldest Enemy is
available as a Kindle at http://amzn.to/RWyv4c or paperback at http://amzn.to/Rolsf1. There is also a
pulse-pounding Video Trailer at http://bit.ly/WkK5dL.Thank you, Michael, for this interesting interview.
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
9 comments:
Looks interesting! I am always up for a good ww2 book:)
Alicia from NYC
Thank you for giving me a chance to win your book.Michael, you and Lena had a good interview. Michael, so you say that you use your life experience in your books is that right? Your book sounds interesting! I am so glad to hear that you pray a lot that is so important. God bless you and Lena.
Norma Stanforth from Ohio
Looks really interesting! Great interview :)
Jasmine A. in getting-warmer-Montana
An intriguing first page thank you. Wonderful to meet you today.
Cheers!!
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Morning Lena and Michael.
I'm so glad to be introduced to your book.
I like how you know we need to depend on God. I hate to think what a mess I'd be without him in my life.
I'd love to enter your contest.
I love in Wilmore, KY, and I'm heading to Holden Beach, NC in March. If it wasn't for family, I'd love to live in NC.
Thanks for sharing.
Jackie
joyfuljelatgmaildotcom
I love books about Jewish history! I'd love to win! I'm in MN.
Norma, this thriller is about so much more than WWII. Hope you'll check it out even if you don't win. You can read the entire prologue on Amazon.com. Norma, prayer is the foundation of everything I do. Jasmine, I love Montana and the West in general. Lived for over a decade in Coloradao. Mary, my first comment from Australia! Very much hope to visit there one day. Would love to have an Aussie's perspective on the novel. Jackie, my wife and I live in Charlotte, NC. Hope you enjoy your trip to the beach. Veronica, my 5th thriller, which is agented and being shopped with NY publishing houses, has a significant Hmong character character who lives outside of Minneapolis. Would love to visit the land of a 1000 lakes in the near future--in the spring summer or fall, of course!
thank you for the opportunity to win this book!
Jean Kropid
West Palm Beach, FL
This book sounds intriguing. I would love to read it. S. California vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com
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