Rogue's Angels Present: Dead Gold by Hawk MacKinney

Please welcome Hawk MacKinney author of Dead Gold

Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Dead Gold

by Hawk MacKinney

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GENRE: Mystery/Suspense

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INTERVIEW:

1.    What or who inspired you to start writing?

Evenings after supper on the porch, Gran’ma or mama spinning tales, counting lightenin’ bugs under a gem-speckled moon-splurged nightfall that had all the setting of science fiction.

2.    What elements are necessary components for this genre?

The elements are common to all tales told…romance, science fiction and mystery, as well as character, setting, plot, twists, double-twists. All of these elements are included in my latest novel, Dead Gold, and the other titles in the MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY SERIES.

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

…with the same approach that makes any standout character. My main protagonist in this mystery series is wealthy bachelor Craige Ingram, former SEAL and now working as a private investigator. Deeply rooted to the land he inherited from his Granny, he is able to solve mysteries because of his connection to nature and his understanding of life that his Granny taught him.

4.    What expertise did you bring to your writing?

Having been fortunate to complete higher education with several undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral degrees has opened opportunities in forensics, languages, medicine, military.

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

Relaxing with well-researched nonfiction histories fits right in with one of my more than four university electives…educated beyond my intelligence!

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

I have rough drafts already written in science fiction and more mysteries for the MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY SERIES. Future plans happen as they should…planning, like outlines, are just rough estimates.

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

The PI SEAL Craige Ingram—all the fun and games with new toys and playing spook. By any cut of the cloth, fiction tales have very little fictions about them.

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

            From the other side of the one-way glass, Spinner listened to Butler's droning monotone. Craige had Butler on a roll.  Time to up the ante.  Spinner opened the door.  For Butler's benefit Spinner stage-played making sure he could be overheard; called to no one, “Sara, we'll need Steno.”

            Butler didn’t even look up; continued his singsong, “Nose candy and mainlining is old hat.  New isn't new for long…college kids always on the prowl for their next thrill.  Think they know so much.”

            Without intending it, from somewhere inside his grannie’s teachin’s  Craige felt sorry for this friendless creature.  Butler had wishy-washy expedient honesty and lies back and forth so much, he’d become a lone chameleon in a crowded world.  Money and status his gods; would make him important; others would respect him.  Ended up a nonentity…the one thing he feared most.  Craige masked his feelings.  “At one time or another all young folks are that way.”

            “Not these ones…too much money…Momma’s and Daddy’s credit cards.  Try anything for a kick.  Get ’em hooked with freebies; bleed ‘em dry to feed their habit.  None of them care about AIDS or hepatitis or anything that might be riding a used needle.  Like they gonna live forever.”

            Craige said, “The young don’t see death being a part of their life.”

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

Not a critique per se, but I do have some very good trusted editors who make some excellent suggestions. Censorship and amateur suggestions that have nothing to do with quality writing and everything to do with $ and/or ego—Ain’t happenin’.

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

My first literary agent was terminal and has since passed on. She wanted me to begin submissions. Best advice I ever took.

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

The worst – “Write it. Edit it. You’re done.”

The best – “Don’t say NO to the person in the mirror.”

A second best – “When words and actions don’t match…someone ain’t tellin’ the truth.” Otherwise known as you don’t sign any contract with anyone like that.

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

Both. Title, character names, repulsive things people do to one another in the police reports. You have to clean it up—readers won’t believe the gruesome holocausts. Outlines are kept simple BUT expanded as the drafts are fleshed out.

13. How do you maintain your creativity?

The same approach as #3 above – I watch/listen/mix and match, plus my own devious twists. Writer’s Block don’t cut it! I’ve no idea what that means...too many tales…only 24 hours a day.

Hawk MacKinney

www.hawkmackinney.net

URL Dead Gold video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s_Gm1ThNJE&t=9s

BLURB:

The dazzling lure of Olympic gold fame is a spotlight glare hotter than any fifteen minutes of fame.

During plans for a cross-country ski vacation, Aspen Police Department Criminal Investigation Division Detective David “Spinner” Krespinak and SEAL-bud Craige Ingram are ensnared by glamour, upmarket glitz and bling, and greed in the deadly champagne powder world of a money-gets-you-anything high-country ski-mecca. Body parts start turning up in the most unlikely places. As the two friends start their investigation, A hornets nest of the local elite do not want the publicity. For good reason it seems, they may be part of the mystery of bodies and body parts piling up at the morgue.

The closer they get to the killer the more confused they become. Who is behind the murders and mutilation? The list of suspects grows as they close the net on the killer.

The tender underbelly of Aspen is not what it seems. It is a raw open sore that oozes blood, drugs, and murder.

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EXCERPT:

Spinner staggered the clutch and gear-shift. Kept his foot off the brakes as his vehicle slewed in the razor-edged chunky refreeze of the deep off-road ruts until coming to a stop. Killed the motor, and set the hand brake. Gusts of wind sliced at a square jaw on his devil-may-care rugged face as he climbed out and turned up the collar on his sheepskin coat. Big thick champagne-powder snowflakes clung for a moment to dust his dark hair, and just as quick blew-gone in the capricious strong up-slope drafts. He ducked under the fluttering yellow plastic ribbon with its black letters: POLICE LINE—DO NOT CROSS.

The charred black remains of the older model sedan slumped in a sooted blotched circle surrounded by undulating pristine white and candlestick-caked trees. It spoke loud and clear to Spinner—the burn had continued for some time after the storm. Wheel rims, frame, heat-crazed windows were still smoldering from hood to trunk.

As he walked toward her, salt-and-pepper-haired Pitkin County Medical Examiner-Coroner Candelaria Lopez didn’t have to look up. She knew the cadence of Spinner’s footsteps. “Looks like we have us a bungled hurried torch job.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Hawk MacKinney served in the US Navy for over 20 years.  While serving as a Navy Commander, he also had a career as a full-time faculty member at several major state medical facilities. He earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history. He has taught postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel. 

In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction—historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers. His titles are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series—murder and mayhem with a touch of romance. Hidden Chamber of Death, the first book in the mystery series, was followed by Book 2, Westobou Gold and his latest, Book 3, Curse of the Ancients. All have received national attention. The Bleikovat Event was Vol I in The Cairns of Sainctuarie Science Fiction Series followed by Vol II, The Missing Planets. Vol III, Inanna Phantom is in final galleys.

www.hawkmackinney.net

www.amazon.com 

www.barnesandnoble.com

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2955