Rogue's Angels Present: Sentinels of the Night by Anita Dickason

Please welcome Anita Dickason author of Sentinels of the Night

Anita Dickason will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN CG to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Sentinels of the Night

by Anita Dickason

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GENRE: Suspense/Thriller/Paranormal

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INTERVIEW:

1)    What or who inspired you to start writing?

After retiring from the Dallas Police Department, I started an accident reconstruction business. I became involved with a project that dealt with the death of a key witness to the Kennedy assassination in an automobile accident in 1966. Many conspiracy theorists over the years has claimed Lee Bowers, Jr. was killed because of what he saw the day Kennedy was shot.

The project led to a reconstruction of the accident and my book, JFK Assassination Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy that detailed the results of my investigation. The book was a springboard to a new career: Author and Publisher. I found that I enjoyed writing more than accident reconstructions, and closed the business. I started Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC.

2)    What elements are necessary components for this genre?

I write what I like to read which is paranormal suspense/thrillers with a light touch of romance. My law enforcement background provides the crime element. The paranormal comes from my infatuation with Native American Indian myths and legends, and Irish and Scottish folklore.

Sentinels of the Night is the debut novel for the Trackers, a paranormal FBI unit. Considered the elite of the elite, each agent has an extra edge that defies reason and logic. FBI Tracker Cat Morgan’s methods in finding the bodies of murdered victims has been concealed from her fellow agents. Mystified by her inexplicable ability, they have dubbed her the Witchy Woman.

Excerpt:

Her first call was to 911, the second to her new supervisor, Scott Fleming. Although she hated to disturb him at home, there wasn’t a choice.

“Fleming.”

“Scott, it’s Cat. I have a bit of a problem. I’m at a hotel in Clinton, Mississippi and found a body.”

“Holy hell, Cat! How’d you do that?”

“Oh … uh, I’d parked my car and thought I heard odd noises as I walked past a dumpster. When I looked inside, I spotted the body.”

“You checked a dumpster just because you thought you heard a sound. Did I get that right?”

“Yep.”

“What caused the sounds?”

“Umm ... an animal, maybe a raccoon rooting through the garbage.”

“A raccoon. Was there one? No, don’t answer. I don’t want to know. Where are you now?”

“At the hotel. I’m waiting for the police to arrive.”

“Call me after you’ve talked to them.” His voice faded, “Raccoons ... my ass!” and the call disconnected.

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

I like the concept of a group of people that can provide continuity from novel to novel. Even though each of my books is a standalone novel, the plot involves the agents assigned to the Tracker Unit. In Sentinels of the Night, Agent Cat Morgan is the lead investigator. In Going Gone!, Ryan Barr, the unit’s profiler takes center stage.

4)    What expertise did you bring to your writing?

Without a doubt, it is my police background that adds credibility to my plots. Several incidents in the book are based on personal experience.

Excerpt:

The black-clad woman melded into the shadows cast by a line of idle railroad cars and diesel engines. Even the barrel of the pistol gripped tight in one hand, failed to reflect the faint illumination from the light poles scattered in the deserted railroad yard.

“Got him. Two rows from the control tower. He’s headed toward the fence,” she whispered into her voice mic.

A voice softly echoed in her ear piece. “I’m on the other side of the row … to your right.”

Focused on the man striding ahead of her, FBI Special Agent Cat Morgan eased her way over the gravel surface as she glided from car to car. Certain this was the man dubbed by the media as the Rail Killer, grim determination pushed back the discomfort of the sweat-soaked shirt under her vest and the rancid odor of oil and diesel that hung in the humid air. The last four months she had chased the killer, who rode the rails in empty boxcars. He’d find a house near the tracks and brutally murder the occupants for money and supplies, then hop another train.

This chase happened, though it wasn’t a killer I was chasing.

5)    As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

I am writing a third Tracker novel, though, it is still doesn’t have a title. A word or phrase will catch my attention, and I’ll know I have my title. So far, inspiration has not struck. The plot deals with a missing ATF agent in Laredo, Texas. Tracker Adrian Dillard is sent to investigate. What he finds sends shockwaves through the law enforcement community and all the way to the White House.

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

This is another excerpt based on experience.

Cat pulled the rifle bag alongside her. Steve crawled to the other side, and with elbows propped, began to watch the store though his binoculars. He’d handle the radio communications, be her eyes until she was in position and alert her to any changing conditions that could affect the accuracy of her shot. After removing a box of ammunition from a side pocket, she unzipped and spread the bag open.

The purchase of a drag bag instead of a standard rifle case had been a smart decision. It provided protection from a variety of ground conditions, in this case, a tar and gravel surface.

Picking up the rifle, she flipped down the legs of the bipod, and set it in place, then rolled onto the mat. Once the elevation and wind settings were verified, she shouldered it to check her view through the scope. Satisfied, she loaded the rifle. Even though the weather was calm, she wanted an object to signal a wind shift. An advertising flag hung limp on a pole down the street.

During her setup, Steve had whispered a running commentary on the actions of the two suspects. She tapped his leg with her boot. He looked over at her. Cat said, “Flag on building to the right, a block down, keep an eye on it. If the wind picks up, tell me. I’m ready.”

Nodding, he keyed his radio. “Four-twenty in position.”

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

When I first started writing, I joined a local group. Being able to use them as a sounding board has been invaluable. Not only have the members provided assistance on grammar and punctuation, their input has helped in the structure of the plot. If something is off, they don’t hesitate to call it to my attention.

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

I tried doing an outline, and it was a disaster. So now, I start writing. Even though I have a general idea of the plot, how it develops depends on how I set up the characters. It has not been unusual to change midstream, and add another section or go in another direction based on a character’s actions. I have found it’s similar to an investigation. Until you get into it, you don’t know what you might find.

9)    Who is your favorite character in the book? Can you tell us why?

Scott Fleming, the head of the Tracker unit. He is the mystery and the power behind the unit. He even has his agents mystified.

10) What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

The whole business about doing an outline was the worst. While, this might work for some authors, for me it didn’t. I became so engrossed in trying to stay on track with the outline that I lost track of the storyline. Probably the best dealt with my dialogue. My writing style is very structured, a necessity when dealing with legal documents. I needed to relax my dialogue, use more contractions. This is still a work in progress.

Thank you for hosting my book.

Anita Dickason

BLURB:

FBI Tracker Cat Morgan has an unusual talent, one she has successfully concealed, even from her fellow agents. That is—until she finds a body with a strange symbol carved on the forehead during a stop in Clinton, Mississippi and crosses paths with the town’s rugged police chief, Kevin Hunter. Despite his instant attraction to the sexy agent, Kevin is suspicious of her presence at the crime scene and isn’t buying her dubious explanations. He wants her out of the investigation and out of his town.

The discovery of another mutilated body with the same symbol sends Cat back to Clinton, and this time she isn’t leaving. To stop the killer, Cat must find a way to overcome Kevin’s distrust and will face an impossible impasse—truth or lies. But will either one matter, when the killer fixates on her for his next sacrifice?

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EXCERPT:

Overhead, a deep hoot echoed, followed by the flap of wings. Two owls settled on top of the railroad car. Perched side by side, the formidable talons that could crush the spine of their quarry in an instant clung to the edge. Tufts of hair that protruded like horns and the glow of huge golden eyes gave the birds a fearsome appearance.

Motionless, she eyed the large raptors while she pondered their intervention. A bewildering deviation from their normal behavior.

“Hmm … that was a rather … dramatic entrance, even for you.”

They blinked, and their bills clacked, as if in protest.

“Not that I am complaining, of course.”

Heads swiveled in unison as their intense gaze shifted to the body on the ground. A few seconds later, they refocused on Cat. The magnetic tug twitched in her mind, and an odd sense of approval mixed with fear flowed into her thoughts. Jeez, this is getting even more weird.

“I’m wondering, though, how do I explain this one to Ben? He couldn’t miss seeing you, and he’s already suspicious.”

Another blink, then their wings spread as they lifted off. No help there, not that she expected any.

Her gaze returned to the body. Without their warning—well, she didn’t want to think about what might have happened. As for Ben, she’d come up with some excuse to fob off his questions. She always did.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Anita Dickason is a retired police officer with twenty-seven years of experience, twenty-two with the Dallas Police Department. She served in patrol, undercover narcotics, accident investigation and was on a sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.

Anita is the recipient of the prestigious Law Enforcement Professional Achievement Award from the State of Texas House of Representatives. Other awards include Officer of the Year—Texas Women in Law Enforcement, Officer of the Year—International Association of Women in Police, Runner-up Officer of the Year—Dallas Police Department, Officer of the Month—Dallas Police Department and multiple Police Commendations, Certificates of Merit and Citizen/Business commendations from the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas community.

Anita was a certified instructor with Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Her instructor certifications include Defensive Tactics, Batons, Spontaneous Knife Defense, Field Sobriety Procedures, Drug Recognition Expert program, and Accident Investigation.

She is a Past President of Texas Women in Law Enforcement, and Past Treasurer for the International Association of Women in Police.

Her first book, JFK Assassination Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, is non-fiction and details the reconstruction of a 1966 vehicle accident near Midlothian, Texas that killed a key witness to the Kennedy assassination. The project opened the door to a new career, Author and Publisher. She owns Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC and provides manuscript and design services, helping other authors turn their manuscripts into a published book.

Her fictional works are suspense/thrillers and her plots are drawn from her extensive law enforcement knowledge and experience. Characters with unexpected skills, that extra edge for overcoming danger and adversity, have always intrigued her. Her infatuation with ancient myths and legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and Irish folklore adds a touch of paranormal for the backdrop of her characters.

The experience of writing led to developing a knowledge of self-publishing and graphic design and a new business endeavor: Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC. It is a tossup of what Anita enjoys more, working on her books or helping another author publish their works. She has found an unexpected enjoyment in designing book covers, bookmarks, bookplates, etc. Email her for an autographed custom bookplate -- anita@anitadickason.com  

Book Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m00v2W4K4o

Website: www.anitadickason.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anita_dickason

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/AnitaDauthor

NOTE: The book will be on sale for $0.99.

https://www.amazon.com/Sentinels-Night-Trackers-Anita-Dickason-ebook/dp/B06XK9PS3B/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sentinels-of-the-night-anita-dickason/1126807924

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Anita Dickason will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN CG to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2472