Rogue's Angels Present: Courage Resurrected by R. Scott Mackey

Please welcome R. Scott Mackey author of Courage Resurrected.

R. Scott Mackey will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Courage Resurrected

by R. Scott Mackey

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

A couple of my college professors pulled me aside and told me that the papers I turned in were extremely well written.  Before that I hadn’t thought much about writing.  Their encouragement led me into a career as a writer.  I started writing for the college newspaper and producing shows for the radio station. Eventually, that led to a career in corporate communications, where I wrote everything from news releases and brochures to speeches and video scripts.   My first book was published in 1995, and I had a couple of YA novels published in the early 2000s.  I took a break before launching the Ray Courage Mystery series in 2014.

2. What elements are necessary components for this genre?

A good mystery needs to be good literature, period.  Mysteries do have to have certain plot components, and structure is key to a good mystery.  For example, you have play fair with the reader so that they have a fighting chance to figure out the riddle or puzzle along with the protagonist.  Beyond plot, a good mystery needs compelling characters first and foremost.  The writing has to rise above the pedestrian, with a strong narrative voice, crisp dialogue, and a clear sense of place.  I hope Courage Resurrected delivers in all these areas.

3. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?

I wanted to create a character who is something of an “everyman,” a normal person who is thrust into some extreme situation, and see how he reacts.  I didn’t want him to be a superhero type, overly macho, or someone that the average reader couldn’t relate to.  I also wanted a character with layers of complexity that could unfold over a series of books.  So, it all started with creating a character, Ray Courage, and then thinking of ways to challenge him in unaccustomed ways.  In Courage Resurrected, Ray is thrown into a surreal situation in which his dead wife may still be alive, and to find her he must overcome immense challenges.

4. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

I have at least six more book ideas in the Ray Courage Mystery series. That will be my focus for the next couple of years at least.  I did take a brief sidestep from the series to produce the Ray Courage No-Nonsense Cookbook, which is inspired by Ray’s meals in the first four books in the series.  I’m also working on a longer-term non-fiction book about college football that I hope get back to at some point.

5. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?

I suppose the obvious answer would be Ray Courage, the title character and protagonist.  We do share some common traits.  We both live in Sacramento.  He’s a retired college professor; I was an adjunct college professor for a few years.  That said, Ray has some demons that I wouldn’t want.  And I wouldn’t want to face what he has to in my books!

6. Can you give us a sneak peak into this book?

The events in Courage Resurrected occur a few months after those in Courage Matters, the first book in the series.  In the first book we learn that Ray’s wife Pam died thirteen years before.  In Resurrected we find out that this may not be true when Ray receives an e-mail from his “dead” wife accusing him of trying to kill her thirteen years before.  This leads Ray into encounters with a crazed young woman and a billionaire who will stop at nothing to thwart Ray’s efforts to find his wife.

7. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

I don’t.  I do believe critique groups are useful for some people, but not for me.  For Courage Resurrected I did use a handful of beta readers to provide feedback.  Sometimes you get so deep into your own work that you can lose perspective.  Whether it is your editor, beta readers, or a critique group, I do believe all writers need the perspective of a third party before they consider publishing.

8. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I outline.  I don’t always stick to the outline, in fact I seldom do, but having an outline gives me the confidence that I can get from A to Z.  In Courage Resurrected there are a lot of plates spinning at the same time, so an outline helped me keep track of everything, including time frames and logistics. Years ago I would start a novel having a great concept in mind or a dynamic opening scene, but I would end up writing myself into a corner.  Outlining helps me avoid that trap.

9. How do you maintain your creativity?

I like to sit back and observe people.  That’s probably my biggest source of creativity.  The things people do and say never stops making me happy, sad, amused, angered, or baffled.  These observations help my writing to create a texture that I hope feels real to readers.  In terms of the bigger picture as to how do I develop ideas for my books, I never stop asking myself “What if?”.  For example, for Courage Resurrected, I asked myself “What if Ray’s wife really hadn’t died and was still alive?” That led to questions about how that could happen, who would have been involved if she had lived, and so on.  The first question establishes the premise and raises the next questions that create the storyline.

10. Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?

Rubia.  Who can’t help but love a hundred pound ex-gangbanger who eats like a horse, swears like a longshoreman, and has the heart of a nun?  She’s the kickass side to Ray’s more intellectual approach to things.  She first appeared in Courage Matters and reaction to her from readers was so strong that she earned herself a permanent role in the series.

16. Anything else you might want to add?
You guys are awesome!  Thank you!

Thanks the Angels

BLURB:

Ray Courage’s wife Pam died thirteen years before in a car accident. Or did she? Ray’s world is turned upside down when he receives a series of e-mails from someone claiming to be his dead wife, accusing him of attempting to kill her and vowing revenge. Ray sets out to find the identity of the e-mailer only to discover the circumstances of his wife’s apparent death appear to be all but accidental.

Soon Police Detective Carla Thurber comes to suspect Ray of killing his wife, and of a subsequent murder of Pam’s confidant. Meanwhile, a murderous predator who does not want the facts of Pam’s death to surface aims to stop Ray. In the greatest challenge of his life, Ray must outrun the police and elude those who are out to kill him as he seeks the truth about his wife’s death.

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EXCERPT:

Walter Heffner told police that night that he thought an airliner had crashed on the road in front of his house, the sound so deafening, the eruption of flames so huge that only an object that large moving that fast could explain it. By the time he put on his shoes and coat he saw what was left of a car straddling the center stripe of the two-lane country road, the heat from the fire so great that he could not get within a hundred feet.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Scott Mackey lives in Northern California, where he writes both fiction and non-fiction. His first book, Barbary Baseball, achieved critical acclaim from baseball historians for its quality research and writing. He followed that with two young adult novels. His popular Ray Courage Mystery Series includes Courage Begins, Courage Matters, and Courage Resurrected. The fourth book in the series, Courage Lies Beneath, is scheduled for release later in 2015.

Scott's career arc has included stints as a corporate communications manager, college professor, copywriter, bartender, and youth sports coach. In addition to obsessing over punctuation and grammar, he cares about his family (including his dog and cat), the San Francisco Giants, and his rather sad golf game.


Follow him:


Twitter: @smackey17

Facebook: Facebook.com/rscottmackey




Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1tMtfF8
Web: rscottmackey.com

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

R. Scott Mackey will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1016