L.J. Sellers, author of provocative mysteries and
thrillers, kicks off the beginning of 2014 for us. Welcome back to the Blood-Red Pencil, L.J.
When I sat down with my contact at the FBI to talk about a
story in progress, I was expecting just a broad overview of how an
eco-terrorist case would be handled. I soon learned that my agent-friend had
been the lead on the investigation into the Eugene cell of the Earth Liberation
Front, an eco-terrorist group that sabotaged and burned businesses across the
northwest, doing millions of dollars in damage.
One of the key components of the investigation was to send
in an undercover agent to infiltrate the group, and a second strategy was to
try and turn those connected to the
core member into informants. After hearing how exciting that work had been for
him, I knew I had to incorporate both tactics into my story, Crimes of Memory (Jackson #8).
And so Agent Jamie Dallas was conceived. I had so much fun
crafting her character and writing her part that I knew right away she needed
her own series. Unlike Detective Jackson, Agent Dallas is free to travel. She’s
also young, unencumbered, and willing to take risks. Oh yes, she needed her own
series—so I could become Dallas for every other story.
The Trigger, launching today, is
the first book in which Agent Dallas has the starring protagonist role. Here’s
the book description:
Agent Jamie Dallas loves undercover assignments that
get her out of the Phoenix Bureau. But when a woman and her baby disappear from
an isolated community of preppers in Northern California, she knows the risk of
infiltrating the armed group is dangerously high.
Once inside the compound, she discovers that the
brothers who founded Destiny are scheming something far more devious than
kidnapping or murder. Meanwhile, her local FBI contact, Agent McCullen, is
pulled from her team and assigned to investigate the murder of a woman with a phony ID, found at the bottom of a motel pool.
Soon Dallas finds herself in deeper trouble than
she's ever encountered—with no way to reach her contacts. Can she break free of
the bunker and stop their bizarre end-of-world plans? Will Agent McCullen
identify the killer in time to help?
The Trigger
is a gripping story that highlights our greatest fear—how a megalomaniac and a
hacker-for-hire can threaten civilization as we know it.
Early readers have given it 5 stars, and reviewers call it
“an exciting mystery with a kick-ass heroine. Great fun!”
The e-book is priced at $.99 for the first couple of days,
but I also have a huge giveaway going on just
today. Stop at my website for details (http://ljsellers.com/thrillers/the-trigger).
Have you had a character demand his or her own series? Do
your readers go along?
Good advice!! It's amazing the lives some of our friends/family lead and the information/ideas they can help us discover for our stories.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. That's why I love making connections. You never know where they'll lead.
DeleteIt is so exciting to see this new series and this new character. Have fun with the launch today.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Dallas is a blast to write. I'm working on book #2 now.
DeleteI had a male character totally take over my writing recently... and change the genre! Wild times.
ReplyDeleteI'm writing a sequel to a book that was originally intended to be a "one only." Will it become a series? I don't know yet. With three protagonists, it has considerable potential to go on and on.
ReplyDeleteStrong characters are great fun, Dani. Yours sounds like a handful. :-)
Welcome back, LJ! Sounds like Jamie Dallas has invigorated your writing, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks. In some ways, she has, because she's so different from my other main character. I have so many personalities, I hope I can keep tapping into them for years to come. :)
DeleteLove the premise. Will definitely go on my to be read list!
ReplyDeleteI had a blast researching and writing it!
DeleteLooks like movie material!
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
I think so, too, Morgan!
DeleteThat would be pretty special. I keep thinking I should try to find a film agent, but it takes so much time. :)
DeleteSeems like there are more opps than ever. http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/selling-your-books-movie-and-tv-rights-what-you-need-to-know
DeleteSounds like a really great story. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes