Straight from the Library: Straight Chatting with the Library: Austin Camacho

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Austin Camacho will award a randomly drawn winner a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE INTERVIEW

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a Black man retired from the American Army and a civilian career as a public affairs specialist for the Defense Department. I have 14 mystery and thriller novels in print with two more written that haven’t been placed with a publisher yet. I read mostly the genres I write in and love a good action movie. I write fiction every day but like my protagonists I revere the truth in all things.

What makes this particular genre you are involved in so special?

Mystery novels are all about human motivations Aside from making your brain work solving the mystery and reinforcing the feeling that the bad guys will always get what’s coming to them, a good mystery is a fun way to learn more about people and address the issues that plague us today.

What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?

I can only write on the computer, although I started out tapping on a manual typewriter (do they still make those?) I need to be able to move things around for pacing and flow.

How often do you write?

I write every day. It’s like brushing my teeth, I’d feel really funny if I didn’t write every day.

Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?

I am a definite plotter. Building my outline is an iterative process. I might have 10 pages of outline before I actually start writing. But that’s only the series of events I expect to happen. As the characters develop those things may change, but I still have that track to run on.

Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?

Over time I think I have learned a lot about building a good plot. My storylines are more complex without losing the reader on the sharp turns. Storylines are more sophisticated I think, because more and more, character motivations drive the action.

If you had the choice to rewrite any of your books, which one would it be and why?

Definitely my first novel, The Troubleshooter. My protagonist, Hannibal Jones, was fully formed, but some of the support characters could have been handled better. And I had Hannibal do a couple of things in that book that he would not do today. AND, the plot is way simpler than what I write now.

Which book would you want adapted for the silver screen?

The book that would make the best movie is The Payback Assignment, first of the Stark & O’Brien series. It’s a straight-out thriller, more in the Indiana Jones mold. Those books are big, exciting stories that would make great films. The Hannibal Jones mystery series would be a much better choice for the small screen. The world needs a private eye television series, and is ready for an African American hero.

Any particular writer in mind whom you would want to complete your unfinished works in the event of your death?

No question: Reed Farrel Coleman. Best crime fiction writer alive.

Have you ever written a character with an actor in mind?

Hannibal Jones is patterned after Shemar Moore and I’d surrender the rights for free if Moore would play him on TV (are you listening, Shemar?)

What are the main themes of your book?

The thematic through-line of the Hannibal Jones series is that the truth matters. There is also a recurring theme that you can’t lose as long as you don’t give up. Things always work out for the best in the end. If things aren’t working out, it isn’t the end!

Do you have any book signings or other live events planned to promote your book?

I’ve already had several since my book release party September 30th. But looking forward:

Saturday November 4 I will present at the Rappahannock Writers Conference on Different Paths to Publishing panel from 9:55-10:45am. Then I will give a Conflict and Suspense class from 2:55-3:45pm at Germanna Community College, 10000 Germanna Point Drive.Fredericksburg, VA
November 10, 11 and 12 I will sign my novels at the Northern Virginia Christmas Market in Chantily, Virginia
November 15 I will sign books at the University Club’s "Meet the Author Night and Book Fair" in Washington DC from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m
December 2 & 3 - I will sign my novels at the Holidays in Leesburg Fine Arts & Crafts Show, 60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg, Virginia from 9am to 4pm.
Saturday April 13 I will sign my books at the Royal Book Bash, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Woodbridge, VA from 10am to 3pm.
And May 4 and 5 - I will attend A Day (or two) of Wine, Romance and More at Brook Hollow Winery, 594 Hwy 94 from noon to 4pm.

Do you have any plans for a sequel?

I’m plotting the next Hannibal Jones mystery now.

If someone were to make a movie based on your book, which actors do you envision playing the leading roles?

As I said, my protagonist, Hannibal Jones, was originally patterned after Shemar Moore. Most people don’t know that Shemar is mixed race, born to a white mother and black father, as was Hannibal Jones. Like Shemar, my character is an only child raised by a single mom, overseas in his younger years. This actor would have no issues relating to the character. He’d almost be playing himself. And he has played a thoughtful action character in Criminal Minds.

His love interest, Cindy Santiago, would be played by Michelle Rodriguez. Cindy is Puerto Rican so we need an actress who fits the mold and can be fiery enough to push back against Hannibal the say Cindy often does.

Cawfee, the bodyguard/chauffeur would be best played by Michael Jordan. We need a muscular guy who can be loud but also play vulnerable when needed.

Then there is the slightly sleezy money manager Gene Young. I’d put Terrance Howard in that role. He is the perfect clean-cut hustler as demonstrated in the TV show Empire.

The next two important characters would be played by actresses from the same TV show. The kidnapped man’s wife, Hannibal’s actual client, should be portrayed by Christine Adams. She was the wife in Black Lightning, and did a good job of portraying a black woman who had ascended to upper class but still had a lot of the street in her.

One of her daughters in that show was played by Nafessa Williams. She was fiery, strong willed but also a bit of a spoiled brat. She’d be a fine fit for the kidnap victim’s daughter in this story.

READ THE BLURB

Is retired basketball star Xander Brown missing, or kidnapped? His crazy family and dangerous friends draw DC detective Hannibal Jones into a deadly chase to find – or rescue – a complex man. In public, Xander is a husband, father, partner, friend, but who is he in private? Which role took him away? The search moves at breakneck speed across the posh suburbs and angry alleys of the nation’s capital, forcing Hannibal to confront tough truths and deadly risks. Will DC’s troubleshooter save a life or lose his own?

READ AN EXCERPT

Hannibal saw the five inches of stainless-steel arcing toward his stomach and managed to swing his right arm down fast enough to stop Cawfee’s arm, wrist against wrist. He gripped Cawfee’s knife hand with both of his own and twisted hard. It didn’t break Cawfee’s grip on the weapon, but he did release Hannibal’s jacket, waving his free arm to keep his balance.

Hannibal let go and jumped back away from Cawfee. Wrestling with a knife in the hand of a bigger man was a losing proposition. He back pedaled, trying to get more distance from that knife, but Cawfee kept charging at him.

“I seen your gun,” Cawfee said, “but I saw how you acted around the women and I figured you wouldn’t go around strapped here at the house. Not so stupid now, huh?”

At that moment, Hannibal felt stupid, thinking Cawfee might make the rational choice. Now he faced a man who looked like he knew what he was doing with a blade, making short feinting slashes at Hannibal. He would have to wait until Cawfee committed before he tried to disarm him.

Cawfee’s eyes lit up and he leaped forward faster than Hannibal thought he could. The blade swished past in front of him, but he lost his footing and fell. His back thudded into the turf and Cawfee dropped on top of him, switching his grip to stab down. Hannibal crossed his forearms, stopping Cawfee’s arm between his fists. Cawfee applied all his weight, forcing the knife down to within an inch of Hannibal’s throat. Both men panted hard with the opposing effort, Hannibal gearing up to push hard to one side.

Then there was a short whoosh and a loud crack sound. The impact sounded to him just like a man driving a ball down the fairway.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Austin S. Camacho is the author of eight novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel, Beyond Blue. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey. He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the directors of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference - now in its 10th year. The 8th Hannibal Jones mystery, Subtle Felonies, is scheduled for a September 27 release.