The Puppet Master is finally here! What an amazing year it’s been; writing, editing, rewriting, jumping through fire, all to bring this story to life. I wouldn’t change a thing.
As many of you know, my writing career grew out of a dare from one of my good friends, at lunch following a round of golf. After a minor critique of a mystery novel I had just finished reading by one of my favorite authors, during which I expressed my disappointment that the story ended with an unresolved cliffhanger forcing me to purchase the next book by the author if I wanted to learn the ending.
My good friend made an off the cuff response–in front of a dozen witnesses or so–that I should write my own novel if I didn’t like how this author had (not) finished his.
Being an experienced lawyer, I pretended not to hear and quickly changed the subject. But I went home and told The Wife that I thought I had to try and write a novel! And so it all began, this writing career I never knew I wanted. Until I discovered that . . . I love it! Writing novels. What has come to be known so far as the Brooks/Lotello thriller series. A series of political and legal suspense thrillers. Oh yes, and each one of which offers the reader complete closure. And hopefully satisfaction as well.
The first in the Brooks/Lotello series was the first draft of what is today called The Puppet Master. Back then it was called A Season For Redemption. To answer the bell (i.e., the dare), I self-published A Season For Redemption. Hey, it was a good story. It just wasn’t written all that well. I was just a rookie. And one who was a Physics major in college and never had a literature course, much less a creative writing class! I didn’t know the difference between point of view, voice, pace, or whatever.
But then a funny thing happened on the way to the bookstore. Thanks to a very generous book blogger with a very large subscriber base, A Season For Redemption became the number one bestselling hard boiled mystery on Amazon for two (not long enough) weeks! But I was in heaven. Something I loved and something at least some people thought I could do.
So, I went to school and read lots of great “How To” books about writing and I went to a variety of writing conferences. Slowly, I started to learn. At least a little.
My next effort was The Amendment Killer, published in November 2017. By now, I could not only come up with a story; I actually had a sense of how to write it!
But I had unfinished business, A Season For Redemption. I went back to work, rewrote it three times, and changed it’s title to . . . The Puppet Master. Same story, more whodunnit, more suspense, more clues, and much better written. Hey, someone has to say that, but at least I’m not the only one. Please see the gracious testimonials at https://ronaldsbarak.com. And now with a more attractive title too. One that gives the reader a better inkling of what the story’s really about. You know: Who’s pulling the strings and manipulating all those corrupt politicians who thought they were the ones manipulating everyone. And now presented as the prequel to The Amendment Killer.
Helped along by all of the positive reviews The Amendment Killer has received, it has become a major success story (pun intended) since its November 2017 release. As a small press indie author, we have to do all the heavy lifting ourselves. We don’t have one of the big publishing houses behind us to push the Brooks/Lotello thriller series. If I want my books in your hands, I have to push them–market them–make it happen.
So, reviews of my Brooks/Lotello novels from the likes of you, my readers, are more important than I can possibly express. Simply put, the more positive reviews my novels receive, the more attention they receive and the more people hear about them and talk about them. And read them! Which is why I write. And respond to and interact with my readers.
We’ve just launched the latest in the Brooks/Lotello thriller series, The Puppet Master, prequel to The Amendment Killer. It’s available in hardcover, trade paperback, ebook and audiobook. I’m particularly partial to the audiobook; it’s incredibly well produced. Hearing my books is one step closer to seeing them in film!
If you’re interested in becoming part of the success of The Puppet Master, please write to me and let me know at ron@ronaldsbarak.com. I have a limited number of complimentary copies of The Puppet Master that I’d be pleased to provide while they last in exchange for an honest, independent review of The Puppet Master. And please ask your local library to stock The Puppet Master.
With your help, The Puppet Master will soon be on the bestsellers list! Thanks!
Happy reading and happy listening!
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