RoguesAngels: Betrayal at the Border by Mark M. Bello

Please welcome Mark M. Bello author of Betrayal at the Border

Mark M. Bello will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Betrayal at the Border

byMark M. Bello

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GENRE: Legal/Political Thriller

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

Betrayal of Faith, my first novel, was based upon an actual case I handled back in the early 1980’s. A priest had sexually molested two young boys and the Church was covering up the crime. I was a young sole practitioner 7 years out of law school. This was a true David v Goliath experience. I took on an international defendant represented by a silk-stocking law firm and beat them into a significant recovery, after traveling to 7 states, interviewing witnesses, forcing the turnover of thousands of documents, and uncovering the cover-up. I promised myself I would one day write a book about the experience and the result is the award-winning novel, Betrayal of Faith. While it is a highly fictionalized and embellished version of the story, it accurately portrays what it felt like

2. What elements are necessary components for this genre?

A. First and foremost, especially for the first novel, you need a flawed but valiant legal “David.” Zachary Blake was the perfect protagonist, talented, but lost his way, looking for the big case that would bail him out of his current situation. The phone rings . . .

B. A “Goliath” villain. Zachary has taken on an evil church and its clandestine “clean-up crew.”, a grand dragon white supremacist, an evil president of the United States, A racist police department, a greedy black market gun manufacturer, an evil (perhaps the most evil villain I’ve created) judge, a candidate for the United States Supreme Court who will do anythingto secure the nomination, and the United States immigration and foreign policy systems.

C. A time element. There should be a race against time—it does not need to be specific.

D. A compelling legal/justice issue, which faces a potential court challenge.

E. A solid ending with, perhaps, an unexpected “twist.”

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

As I indicated, the fist one came from an actual case. The other seven, including Betrayal at the Border, my newly released novel, about the immigration crisis in America, were inspired by current political/legal headlines and news items.

4. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I write for multiple publications. I have a BA in English Literature and a law degree. I practiced law for 45 years in Detroit where I was also very politically active. Much of my writing comes from my personal experience and observations.

5. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

I have 4 wonderful children, 9 grandchildren, 4 grand-dogs and a grand-lizard.

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

I will keep on writing and encouraging readers to try my work. Reach out to let me know what you think. I have just written, of all things, a Jewish recipe cookbook, featuring Zachary Blake’s fictional Jewish family. I have written (currently being illustrated for release this winter) 4 children’s safety/social justice picture books, and I am currently working on my 8^thZachary Blake legal thriller. I am enjoying my golden years!

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

I would be Zachary Blake, of course. He is a lawyer’s lawyer, a staunch advocate for justice and the rights of his client. He is aggressive, cannot be intimidated, and no corporate defendant can outspend him. He cannot be bought, is charismatic and charitable. He cares about his clients and their causes. He will stop at nothing to see that justice is done. He is married to the love of his life, a good husband, father, and employer. Who could want for more?

8. Can you give us a sneak peek into this book?

Betrayal at the Border tells a tale of two immigrant families with twocases that strike at the heart of our nation's contentious immigration debate. One family, undocumented from Venezuela, lives In Lincoln Park, Michigan. They live and work in peace until ICE raids their plant and separates parents from children. The other family lives West Bloomfield, an affluent Michigan suburb, naturalized citizens of the United States who return ‘home’ to Syria for a visit and are captured and held for ransom by ISIS.

Two unique immigrant families, two uniquely dangerous consequences of America’s dysfunctional immigration system—super-lawyer Zachary Blake to the rescue. He and his professional team must race against time to reunite the Lincoln Park family and rescue the captured West Bloomfield mother and child.

The novel pits our nation's broken immigration system against important human and social justice rights issues, spinning a tale that shines a bright light on the everyday fears of immigrants all over these United States. Can Zachary Blake and team prevent a Betrayal at the Border?

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

I do not belong to a critique group. Let me know if someone is looking for a new member.

10. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

I decided to do this 35 years ago. Only recently did I have the time to write, and the system made publishing more accessible. I had no “encouragement.” Writing my first novel was a pre-established bucket-list item.

11. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (Regarding writing or publishing)

The worst advice was to use a particular self-publishing company to help me publish a book. After spending thousands of dollars in unnecessary publishing fees, I decided to truly self-publish through my own publishing brand. The best advice I received was to go it alone, without company assistance. Writers can do this without 3^rdparty intervention.

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

I’ve done both. I’ve gotten to the point where I can outline a book in my head and implement the novel from memory.

13. How do you maintain your creativity?

I have not found this difficult. There are thousands and thousands of real situations inside the legal and political system that would make great topic for legal thrillers. I have a knack for taking a real-life situation, adding a Zachary Blake slant to it, and writing a compelling legal thriller.

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

Allow me to differentiate. My favorite character to read in Betrayal at the Border, like all my other legal thrillers, is Zachary Blake. I love his fearlessness and zealous representation of his clients. His advocacy skills are in rare form in Betrayal at the Border. The characters I enjoyed writing in Betrayal at the Borderwere Micah Love and the two actors who were cast by Micah to pull off a sting at the southern border. They are funny, charming, and effective in their roles. Micah was too.

15. Are your plotting bunnies, angels or demons?

Angels and Demons.

16. Anything else you might want to add?

Thanks for the opportunity to connect with your audience. I sincerely hope they will try my novels and let me know how they liked them. If anyone would like a free sample of my work, my Holocaust era novella, L’Dor V’Dor—From Generation to Generation is available free at my website at www.markmbello.com. You might also enjoy my “Justice Counts” podcast on the Spreaker network or wherever you may listen to podcasts.

BLURB:

In Betrayal at the Border, attorney Zachary Blake returns to tackle two cases that strike at the heart of our nation's contentious immigration debate.

In Riverview, Michigan, undocumented immigrants Miguel and Mary Carmen Gonzalez are determined to realize the American dream. They find jobs at a local filler plant, have children, and lead an all-American life, that is until ICE raids their plant . . .

Canan and Karim Izady are naturalized citizens of the United States. They have immigrated legally from Kurdistan and have an American born daughter, Hana. Unable to persuade her mother to follow the young family to America, Canan and Hana travel to an ISIS hotbed so the child may meet her grandmother for the first time. With the war over, what could possibly go wrong?

Two unique immigrant families, two uniquely dangerous consequences of America’s dysfunctional immigration system. Enter Zachary Blake, superstar lawyer.

But, for the first time in a long time, Blake is out of his element—immigration law calls for the expertise of his specialist/partner, Marshall Mann. Together, two extraordinary lawyers take on a terrorist network and a broken immigration system. And master investigator Micah Love returns, racing against the clock to prevent tragic circumstances. In our politically charged, anti-immigrant international climate, will a Hail Mary be their only move?

Award-winning legal thriller author, Mark M. Bello, pits our nation's broken immigration system against important human and social justice rights issues, spinning a tale that shines a bright light on the everyday fears of immigrants all over these United States. Can Blake, Mann, and Love prevent a Betrayal at the Border?

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EXCERPT:

The Gonzalez children were both born in Lincoln Park. The city was a part of the Downriver Community, southwest of Detroit. Their little three-bedroom bungalow was the only home they had ever known. In a city of approximately 37,000, only 20% were of Latino descent, nearly a 50% increase since 2010.

Emma and Emilio’s parents, Mary Carmen and Miguel Gonzalez, immigrated to Lincoln Park in 2011 when Mary Carmen was pregnant with Emma. Papa found a job, mixing compounds at an adhesive and filler plant in nearby Riverview. Emma was born soon after her parents moved into the house. Two years later, her little brother was born.

When they were old enough to be placed in daycare, Mama secured a job at the same filler plant as her father. The two siblings depended on each other. They were attached at the hip until Emma was old enough to go to Kindergarten. It was a very traumatic time for Emilio. He started behaving as if his sister died.

Emma promised to play with him after school, but Emilio carried on to the point where Emma pushed back and refused to go to school. Promises of candy and ice cream after Mama got home from work finally persuaded both children to go separate ways. As time went on, they adapted to the new routine.

Two years later, Emilio started Kindergarten, and all was forgotten—the siblings were reunited at Raupp Elementary School. Both children spoke fluent Spanish and English and did well in school. The children were now entering fourth and second grade, respectively, and thriving.

The Gonzalez children made friends easily and were well-liked in the school. Emma and Emilio were Americans. Although Mama taught them Venezuelan games and customs and tried to convey a sense of their Latino heritage, the kids had experienced life in no other country but America. They spoke fluent English, celebrated the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, and proudly recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Emma collected dolls while Emilio collected baseball cards—he worshipped Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers and treasured his 2012 Cabrera Triple Crown card. Emma and Emilio did everything other American children did.

Their parents were determined to raise them in America, with American values and an American education. They dreamt of a better life, with higher education and, perhaps, affluence for their children. But these dreams were clouded by a secret reality—the Gonzalez family, as ‘American’ as they appeared, protected an important family secret, far more important than the Frozen game. This one could derail all of their dreams.

Emma and Emilio were taught to be careful and quiet, even though they didn’t understand why this was a big deal. But they knew Mama and Papa feared their secret would one day be discovered. Their parents’ fear was so intense; Emma and Emilio were frightened too.

Emma was conflicted. Mama once taught her that telling and keeping secrets was bad. She shouldn’t tease her little brother by telling him she knew something he didn’t know. She shouldn’t keep things from her friends, and, most of all, she shouldn’t keep any secrets from Mama and Papa. So, why was this secret okay?

Mama carefully explained the delicate situation to her children: She and Miguel came into the country legally but stayed longer than they were welcome. As a result, Mama and Papa were not citizens and did not have the protection some of their friends’ parents had. They could be picked up by the police at any time, put in jail, and even sent back to Venezuela, where conditions were terrible, especially for people who ran away and were later returned by government mandate. It didn’t matter if their minor children were citizens. If the family secret were discovered, her mother decried, it could mean hasta la vista, forever.

The threat of permanent separation from her parents terrified Emma. A secret preventing her from losing them, perhaps forever, was one worth keeping. Emilio was too young to understand, but Emma made him pinky swear to silence.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

As an attorney and civil justice advocate, author Mark M. Bello draws upon over 40 years of courtroom experience in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series.

A Michigan native, Mark received his B.A. in English Literature from Oakland University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After working extremely high-profile legal cases, Mark wanted to give the public a front-row glimpse of what victims face when standing up for justice.

Combining his legal experience and passion for justice with a creative writing style, Mark not only brings high-quality legal services to his clients but captivating novels to his readers.

When Mark’s not writing legal and political novels, he writes and posts about fairness and justice in the civil justice system on his website, Legal Examiner and NotFakeNews. In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Mark and his wife, Tobye, have four children and 8 grandchildren.

For more information about Mark, please click here(https://medium.com/authority-magazine/lawyer-and-author-mark-m-8e59acf7b054)

Mark loves hearing from his readers! Drop him a line on the Contact page or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, or Bookbub.