Tag: Michael A. Black

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Mystery Readers Only

A Chat with Michael A. Black

Michael A. Black is the award winning author of 36 books, most of which are in the mystery and thriller genres. He has also written in sci-fi, western, horror, and sports genres. A retired police officer, he has done everything from patrol to investigating homicides to conducting numerous SWAT operations. Black was awarded the Cook County Medal of Merit in 2010. He is also the author of over 100 short stories and articles, and wrote two novels with television star, Richard Belzer (Law & Order SVU). Black is currently writing the Executioner series under the name Don Pendleton. His Executioner novel, Fatal Prescription, won the Best Original Novel Scribe Award given by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers in 2018. His latest novels are Blood Trails and Legends of the West (under his own name), Dying Art and Cold Fury (under Don Pendleton), and Gunslinger: Killer’s Choice (under the name A.W. Hart).

Interview:

Question: Okay, let’s get started with this interview. You’ve got a pretty impressive body of work. How did you get started writing?

Black: Writing has always been a part of me. I wrote my first short story in the sixth grade.

Question: Wow, you have been at it a while. Do you remember that story?

Black: Vaguely. It was a private detective story and the villain was a crooked cop. I guess it’s kind of ironic considering how things turned out for me. The teacher hated it and gave me a poor grade. She told me never to try it again.

Question: Are most of your books police procedurals?

Black: The majority fall into the field of mystery and thriller, although I’ve been published in several genres. Lately I’ve been writing a lot of westerns, but I’ve done sci-fi, sports, fantasy, you name it. I always wanted to be published in as many different genres as I could.

Question: What can you tell us about the westerns?

Black: I’ve always been a fan of the western genre. My latest book under my own name is called Legends of the West. It takes place in the 1880’s and is based on an actual historical figure named Bass Reeves. Reeves was a former slave who became a United States Deputy Marshal. At that time in our history the American Indian tribes had been forcibly relocated to the Indian Territory. It later became the state of Oklahoma. There was a Native American police force called the Lighthorse who were in charge of enforcing the law, but they had no authority to arrest white men. Consequently, the Territory became a magnet for outlaws and bad men. Reeves was one of the federal deputies courageous enough to venture into the Territory to arrest them and keep order. He remains a great inspiration to me and to all in law enforcement.

Question: Interesting. So are all your westerns about historical characters?

Black: No, just Legends. My other two are part of a series I write under the name A.W. Hart. There are actually several talented writers doing the series which involves a pair of fraternal twins, Abby and Connor Mack, who roam the West under the tutelage of a gunslinger named River Hicks. They’re written with an eye on the young adult market, and I have a lot of fun writing them.

Question: What are the titles?

Black: The titles are Gunslinger: Killer’s Choice, and the forthcoming Gunslinger: Killer’s Brand. I’m working on another one called Gunslinger: Killer’s Ghost, but I have to polish off another book before I can start that one.

Question: Another book? What can you tell us about that?

Black: It’s the leadoff for a new series called Trackdown, and it features modern day bounty hunters. Well, I guess the proper term is Bail Enforcement Officers. The first one is called Trackdown: Devil’s Dance, and I’m under contract to do three more this year.

Question: Three more. That means four books in the space of a year?

Black: Yeah, in that series. I hope to do a couple more as well, maybe rounding things off at six or seven.

Question: When do you sleep?

Black: Whenever I can. Sometimes I fall asleep at the keyboard.

Question: You sound pretty busy. And I didn’t get to ask you about the sci-fi stuff. When’s that

coming out?

Black: Actually, it came out already. It’s an anthology called Space Noir and I have a story, “Hybrid,” in it. It was released as an e-book and edited by one of the best, Paul Bishop.

Question: I’ve heard of him. Anything else in the pipeline?

Black: Well, my latest Executioner novel, Cold Fury, came out last December. I write those under the name Don Pendleton. I’m honored to be part of this long-running series.

Question: Any plans to do another one of those?
Black: I’ll always make time for the Executioner. One of them, Fatal Prescription, won the Scribe Award in 2018 for Best Original Novel given by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.

Question: Unbelievable. How do you get so much accomplished?

Black: Like I said, I love to write.

Question: Anything else you’d like to say?

Black: Just thanks to Thonie for inviting me to her blog. She’s a talented writer and fellow member of the PSWA (Public Safety Writers Association). Don’t forget our annual PSWA Conference is coming up in July in Las Vegas. I hope to see you there.

Legends of the West, featuring real historical figure, Bass Reeves. Reeves was a former slave who became a lawman following the Civil War and worked for the famous hanging judge, Isaac Parker. Reeves was appointed Deputy Marshall and enforced the laws in the Indian Territory, which is now the state of Oklahoma. It came out in October 2019.

Star Noir, The anthology features a sci-fi novella called “Hybrid,” An e-book currently available on Amazon as of November 2019.

Killer’s Choice, (writing under the house name of A.W. Hart) was officially released November 15, 2019 as both an e-book and a trade paperback

Cold Fury, an Executioner novel, written under the name Don Pendleton, came out in December. Pendelton’s Executioner series has been going strong since the 1960’s and I’m honored to be one of the two remaining ghost writers for the series. (The other is the redoubtable Mike Newton.) Harper Collins is released this one as an e-book as well.

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Writer's Notes

How Do You Know It’s “The End” -Mike Black

Mike Black coverBy Michael A. Black

A lot of people ask that question. I remember back in my first creative writing class the instructor answered that query with, “You just write ‘The End.’” Appropriate advice, for sure, but it’s a bit more involved than that. Mickey Spillane said, “Your first line sells your book. Your last line sells your next one.” Spillane, who was one of the most successful writers of the Twentieth Century, had a good point. Making sure you have a satisfying ending is as crucial as grabbing the reader with your first line. I’m an advocate of outlining and adhering to the three-act structure, that is, the beginning, the middle, and the end. Doing a good, solid outline is like writing a first draft of your novel. Once you have the plot worked out, and know where you’re going, the writing flows a lot easier.

So that’s how I do it. Once I have an outline of the story or novel completed, it gives me an idea of the pacing as well. I can see any slow points, and allows the proper ending to grow out of the story. Many times, I’ve thrown a book across the room because of an unsatisfying ending. I’ve also vowed never to read that author’s work again.

This is not to say that an outline, or an ending cannot be changed. You may get to a certain point in the story while following your outline, and suddenly realize you took a wrong turn somewhere. It’s simply a manner of making a few adjustments. With an outline, it’s easy to see where you might need to go back and add or alter some places to accommodate the new ending. It helps avoid writing yourself into a corner, and not knowing how to finish it. Another bit of advice from good old Mickey. When asked once in an interview to describe his talent for writing, he replied that he had no talent. “Talent’s something you can lose,” he purportedly said. “What I have is mechanical aptitude.” He went on to describe his writing process: he would write the ending first, and then go back to the beginning. He knew where he wanted to end up, and followed the trail.

Sometimes an editor or an agent may ask you to change an ending. I always listen and evaluate this critical advice. Any wise writer should. Keep in mind that you’re essentially trying to communicate a certain message or theme, as well as to entertain the reader. If you get suggestions that your ending does not convey this message in an effective matter, you would do well to evaluate them. My friend and mentor, writer Wayne Dundee, once told me to consider editorial advice carefully, but to never let that advice sway you from what your gut is telling you. Evaluate it, consider it, perhaps even write an alternate ending… Then see if it fits with your original vision.

How did the Bard put it? To thine own self, be true.

~~~

Michael Black is the author of 28 books and over 100 short stories and articles. He has a BA in English from Northern Illinois University and a MFA in fiction writing from Columbia College Chicago. A decorated police officer in the south suburbs of Chicago, he worked for over thirty years in various capacities including patrol supervisor, SWAT team leader, investigations and tactical operations. In 2010 he was awarded the Cook County Medal of Merit by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. His Ron Shade series featuring the Chicago-based kickboxing private eye, has won several awards, as has his police procedural series featuring Frank Leal and Olivia Hart. He has written two novels with television star Richard Belzer and is writing The Executioner series under the name Don Pendleton. His current books are Fatal Prescription and Blood Trails. His novel Missile Intercept is a finalist for the Best Original Novel Scribe award this year. His hobbies include martial arts, running and weight lifting. E-mail: DocAtlas108@aol.com. Website: www.MichaelABlack.com.

~~~

Read Thonie Hevron’s books: By Force or Fear, Intent to Hold, and With Malice Aforethought are all available through Amazon.Cop loc auth close up

Malice cover

 

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Writer's Notes

A victory…from Las Vegas

By Thonie Hevron

I’m baaaack!

This was my first trip to Sin City. It won’t be my last. Although the glaring grandeur had little appeal for me, I will say I thought it fun to cruise down the Strip. However, because I was tired, I was more than ready to be at the hotel. Silly me, I’d gone cheap and hired a shuttle instead of a cab. Live and learn.

The truth is that I only booked this trip for a Public Safety Writer’s Association Conference.  Vegas has zero appeal to me. Give me a redwood grove or a sandy Southern California beach any day. I’d submitted my unpublished manuscript, Intent to Hold to their annual writing contest. In 2012, I’d submitted and won third place for By Force or Fear. I was hoping history would repeat itself for Intent to Hold.

At the conference, I met many with whom I’ve corresponded through the years. Meeting people in person after developing an online relationship can cause some shifts in perspective. Thankfully, they were all very positive shifts. I met some terrific people.

During the months before the conference, the call for help went out from conference chair Michael A. Black. Like a dummy, I volunteered. While I used to hate getting in front of people, I’ve made strides in getting over the fear. Knowing that

Dialog and setting panel PSWA Conference, Orleans Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas July 2014 photo by Marilyn Meredith
Dialog and setting panel PSWA Conference at the Orleans Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas – July 2014   Photo by Marilyn Meredith

 

 

I’d have to speak in front of people to sell my books nudged me onward. Two years ago, I volunteered to co-chair the Redwood Writers Conference in April of 2014, to help de-sensitize myself. Month after month, I got up in front of the general membership and announced conference news. When that day came, I was a little nervous but my co-chair Sandy Baker was super-supportive and all went well. Here’s how PSWA shook out: I was a “contestant” on CSI-Jeopardy, a game played twice every day except the last (only once). I clowned my way to a pithy third but had a lot of fun. I sat on a panel of five discussing setting and dialog. Then, I was the moderator of a panel on wounds and forensics. Since I know nothing about the topic, I contacted the panelists in advance and culled questions from them. A well-rounded and very knowledgeable group that included an EMS/fire training consultant, and ER doc, a forensic scientist, a psychologist, a biology professor…and me!

Pic is a little fuzzy but you get the idea.
Pic is a little fuzzy but you get the idea.

Thank God, I only had to ask the questions.

The crowd was so responsive and attentive that we all had fun. In fact, when our time was up, many said they wanted more time with the panel. I’d say that was a success. Success for the panelists, audience, and me. I didn’t faint! In fact, I got one glowing compliment on my presentation voice.

And, I won third place for unpublished novel award for Intent to Hold. History did repeat.

I’ll be back in Vegas next year, only I’m bringing my hubby next time.