Happy Friday! And thank goodness it’s FRIDAY!!!! It has been a crazy busy week for me, how about you all? I am excited to introduce you to my guest today – author John Theo Jr. He is here to talk about his latest release with Clean Reads.
Welcome, John. First, would you tell us a little about your novel?
White Mountains’ False Flag is a conspiracy novel that takes place in the Great state of New Hampshire.
Ransom Doniphon is a Park Ranger working in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. While on a helicopter search-and-rescue mission he spies a make-shift shelter deep within the woods. When Ransom and his partner investigate there is a shootout leaving three men dead. What at first appears to be a mobile drug lab hidden in the woods turns out to be a home grown terrorist cell with roots that run deep into state and federal government.
What was the inspiration for White Mountains’ False Flag?
I’m a Christian and a Libertarian. This novel was written from a point of view of frustration with both parties of Congress. Many of the storylines in White Mountains’ False Flag are pulled directly from news headlines over the past few years. For example, quantitative easing to infinity, government shutting down monuments and parks to force congress to raise the debt ceiling, spying on citizens using smart technology are just a few of the headlines incorporated into WMFF. I also predict where I think the government over-reach could go in the future such as drone strikes on US soil (against US citizens) by the government. I was also inspired by the great state of NH. It’s literally the last true free state along the northeast seacoast. You drive up there from Massachusetts and it’s vastly different.
I gotta be honest, this is right up my husband’s alley. In fact, I think I’m going to download your book for him right after this interview. But back to you… When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
One day in high school, I started writing down a story and kept writing. After I finished I had another story idea, and another. It’s been a long (slow) path but fun.
I always have to ask this next question because I know there are parts of the writing process we all love (or we wouldn’t do it) and parts that we don’t like as much. Is there any part of the process you dread?
Probably the 3rd to 8th round of editing. By this time I’m burnt out of the story. The honeymoon is over at that point, but as the old saying goes, writing is re-writing.
“Honeymoon is over”…that’s a good way to put it! Editing is a necessary evil indeed. Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer?
I have two pieces of advice. 1. Find a mentor. It can shave years off your learning curve. 2. Stay out of debt. This will give you a lot of latitude with how you spend your time = more time spent writing. It’s also just a good life lesson.
You are sounding more and more like my husband…he’s a numbers guy and a one time padawan of Dave Ramsey. Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
Authors are known to vicariously put themselves into their characters, which I’m sure I’ve done. However, I vicariously purchased some fun toys in this novel for the characters. The protagonist lives in a log cabin on the side of a mountain and has a small farm with a trout stream running through it. He drives an old pickup. The firearms he carries and the RV his buddy have are also some cool toys I geek’d out on.
Too funny! Do you have any current projects your working on? Care to share?
I just finished the first draft of a novel that will be the sequel to my dystopian sci-fi Mission Trip.
Well, John, thanks so much for being on my blog today and sharing your thoughts, advice, and inspiration. And with that, I will segue us to what we’re all eager for: more details about White Mountains’ False Flag.
White Mountains’ False Flag
Ransom Doniphon is a Park Ranger working in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. While on a helicopter search-and-rescue mission he spies a make-shift shelter deep within the woods. When Ransom and his partner investigate there is a shootout leaving three men dead. What at first appears to be a mobile drug lab hidden in the woods turns out to be a home grown terrorist cell with roots that run deep into state and federal government.
Enjoy an Excerpt
The man outside the tent had a bowie knife in his hand and a 1911 handgun (that is considered to be one of the premium tactical firearms here) in a kydex holster on his right hip. There was a high probability the guy in the tent was armed as well. It was clear that he would need backup. Ransom started to sneak away. His stomach dropped when he turned to face another man. A third man. He was in his fifties and held a bolt-action deer rifle which he pointed directly at Ransom.
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More about John
John received an MFA in creative writing from Pine Manor College, in Chestnut Hill MA. He has a long publishing history in non-fiction. White Mountains’ False Flag is his fourth fiction novel. John lives in Massachusetts with his family and teaches screenwriting at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Connect with John and his books
Website: www.johntheo.com
Twitter: @Theolotics5
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_tXTp-mEENYHe2Ex3LJeXg