Welcome, H L. Tell us
how much of yourself you write into your characters.
When I first started writing novels, I drew heavily from
myself, because I feared my characters wouldn’t sound real. To root them in
reality, the hero of my first few novels got a shortened version of my resumé.
In addition, most of my childhood experiences went into his backstory. But I’ve
long since exhausted myself as a source. Now my characters tend to be
composites of people I know personally, or people I know a lot about.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
My first 18 years were filled with quirkiness, so much so
that, at my kids insistence, I wrote down my childhood “adventure” stories and
self-published them for family and friends in a book I called Colby and Me: Growing up in the ‘50s. To give
you an idea of my quirky childhood—did you ever systematically blow up a car
using a case of old, wet, unstable dynamite, so unstable that it lay in a
soggy, smoking pile when you found it? My guess is your answer is no or, odds
are, you wouldn’t be alive to read this blog post.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
From the third or fourth grade on I knew writing came easy
for me. I was blessed with some great English teachers in high school and
excelled at writing through college. For many years I worked as a research
scientist, so writing was a big part of my professional life. But only after
drafting my first novel, a little over five years ago, did writing become a
true delight.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I was raised on action and adventure stories, so they are
still my favorites to read and write, e.g. Love Inspired Suspense stories,
thrillers by authors like Steven James, and high-action military stories by
Ronie Kendig. But you’ll also find me reading non-fiction books on
international relations, world religions, philosophy, and Christian
apologetics.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
For me, it’s more a question of how do I get my sanity back
each time I lose it. Over the years, I’ve established a bad track record of
frequently overcommitting, then overworking to the point of burnout. I’ve done
that even with good things like church responsibilities. My wife and I try to
walk a few miles several times a week, daily if possible. Doing anything
physical helps a lot. But real burnout, requires a few days of relaxation, like
spending time on the Olympic National Park beaches, reading for pleasure, and
long hikes. Living in the Pacific Northwest ,
one of the most beautiful spots in all creation, gives us a lot of options for
such activities.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
When I need a name with of a certain ethnic origin, there
are long ethnic name lists on the Internet to browse. Sometimes I browse the
white pages for a city where the character lives. But my MC’s names also need
to have a good ring to them, like KC Banning and Brock Daniels, the heroine and
hero of the featured book, Voice in the Wilderness. In my first
novel, Hide and Seek, I didn’t
realize how important that ring thing was to a character’s name. My heroine was
named Jennifer Akihara. I quickly learned and married her off in the second
book of the series, making her Jennifer Brandt.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
After reading your question, my first thought was making it
through USAF Officer
Training School as a
Distinguished Graduate. But that would never have been possible without
convincing a certain young lady to marry me. After 49 years, she still makes me
proud.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
Several years ago, we raised a guide dog puppy, a big, beautiful,
black Lab. He was the most intelligent animal I’ve ever known and loyal, too. A
big dog would be my choice. Maybe something like my alma mater’s mascot,
Reveille.
What is your favorite
food?
If I had to eat one type of food every day, Mexican would
win, hands down—the spicier the better … up to a reasonable point. But I really
love a big slab of grilled Mahi Mahi from Maui ,
too. Or, is it that I love Maui ? It’s probably
both.
What is the problem with
writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
In my first few books I wasn’t sure I could write from my
heroine’s POV. So, I gave her an IQ of 200 and hoped she would be weird enough
to compensate for my inability to write from a woman’s POV. Well, that approach
wore out after book number three. Desperate, I had Christina Tarabochia—now
owner of Asberry Lane Publishing—do a substantive edit of book number four,
focusing on my heroine. She told me my heroine sounded like she belonged in a
mental institution—emotionally unstable and schizophrenic. As it turned out,
that substantive edit was the best thing I could have done, i.e. have a
talented woman writer and editor show me how to adjust my description of my
heroine so she sounded like someone my women readers might actually want to
identify with.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Set in the immediate future, Against
All Enemies, #1: Voice in the Wilderness is an inspirational, political thriller,
with romance, about a neo-Marxist president, in centrist’s clothing, who plans
to take the nation into tyranny, and the young man and woman who start a
resistance movement to stop him. It’s a thriller that seems pulled from the
newspapers and a love story about two people born for a time such as this. It’s
not a retelling of the Esther story, but there are some similarities. Susan May
Warren helped me splice in the romantic thread to make it integral to the plot,
not an add-on. Though book one of this 3-book series won’t be officially
released until March 2016, it is available now as an ARC on Amazon, both in
printed and eBook formats. Reviews are just starting to come in. All 5-star …
so far.
Congratulations!! Please
give us the first page of the book.
The text message sent a shiver through KC Banning despite
the warm, late June evening. Secret Service Agent Belino had probably risked
his career to warn her, but what kind of set up was the young marine in the
West Wing implying? Set up to be fired or—no one would kill her for what she
had done … would they?
PL, pretty lady. Despite her angst, his flirtatious acronym
almost made her smile.
KC closed her cell, dropped it into her shorts pocket, and
glanced behind to see if anyone was following her. No one.
She hurried down the path between two rows of dim walkway
lights, lining the wall of the Vietnam War Memorial.
Soon, the lights ended and the overhanging trees turned her
surroundings nearly black.
The crunch of footsteps came through the trees on her right.
KC whirled toward the sound.
Two shadowy figures popped out from behind a large bush and
walked away toward the east end of the mall.
She released her breath in a sharp blast.
Only a young couple, with arms intertwined. She had
interrupted their romantic interlude. KC continued down the walkway but stopped
when she reached the paved circle drive. To her left, the Lincoln Memorial
glowed like a lantern as its light reached out into the surrounding darkness.
The senator said to meet him inside the Lincoln Memorial at
10:00 p.m. in the Second Inaugural Address chamber. And he’d emphasized that
they shouldn’t be seen together. For his sake or hers? After reading the text
message, maybe for both.
Interesting setup. How
can readers find you on the Internet?
My web site and blog: www.hlwegley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MPsmXV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4460203.H_L_WegleyThank you, H L, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers as eager to read it as I am.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Voice in the Wilderness (Against All Enemies Book 1)
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the Ebook. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
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.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
21 comments:
Nothing better to read than a suspense with some romance. Sounds very relevant to our times now.
It's been a while since I read a good suspense novel, and this sounds like a good one!
-Melissa M. in TN
Sounds like a very interesting romantic political thriller! sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for your interest in this story, Dana, Melissa, and SM! Susan May Warren spent some time with me making sure the romance thread was integral to the thriller plot, not just at add on. That really made the intensity of the story ramp up (in my humble opinion). And, yes, it is very relevant to our times. This is book 1 of a 3-book series, Against All Enemies, to be released across the election year, 2016. It will be a lot of fun, and very interesting.
This sounds GREAT! I'd love to read it!
J.C. -Indiana-
This sounds like it's going to be a fantastic series to read.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
This sounds super good. Since I don't read ebooks, don't include me in the contest. However, this sounds like a really good read.
Wow! My heart rate is up just from reading the first page of your book. I would love to win and read the whole story! I live in British Columbia, Canada.
Sounds like a great book. I live in Brighton, Michigan
Vera, I do have an advance review (printed) copy that I'd be glad to send you. So, if Lena doesn't mind, I vote to include you in the contest. In fact, I'd be glad to send a printed copy to the winner anywhere in North America.
Mary, I love Australia, but would prefer to email an eBook Down Under.
I'm putting the finishing touches on the book trailer today. My son-in-law is excellent at voiceover. If our recording session goes well, I'll try to provide a link to the trailer later today.
Kathleen, I'm currently writing the sequel and a few scenes are set in British Columbia near a place my wife and I love to go every summer, Whistler.
Another great one! Love your picture I'd Reville! Gig'm Aggies!
Melanie, The Aggies did gig'em last Saturday -- Arizona State, that is. Reveille IX had a lot to bark about for her first Aggie game.
This sounds like a very, very interesting book that I would love to read. I am not familiar with this author but will certainly be looking for his books.
Edward A in VA
This sounds like a great suspense novel. Enjoyed the interview.
Brenda in VA.
Thanks for stopping by and for your interest in my writing, Edward and Brenda!
I'm not surprised you aren't familiar with my writing. If you google H L Wegley, most of the publications you'll see are research reports, journal articles, and books on wind energy research and emissions from nuclear power plants. I was, among other things, a research scientist for a number of years.
H L (Harry) Wegley
Dee from NE, I do like a good suspense with romance & modern too!
I'm a suspense fanatic. This one sounds great and it's by a new-to-me author. Double win! Would love to read.
Pam in Ohio
Suspense is always great to read. I would enjoy this! Nice interview.
Beth from IA
The excerpt leaves me wanting to read more. Thanks for the chance!
Connie from KY
cps1950 at gmail dot com the
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