It’s November. NOVEMBER?? The month where half the world goes crazy. No, I’m not talking politics. I’m talking about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and NoShave November. I’m talking about way too many twenty-somethings out on the roads during fall college breaks. I’m talking folks falling into turkey-induced food comas,  and of course, the appearance of the dreaded Black Friday shoppers. Yes, this is a month to seek escape. Snuggle up in your coziest throw, pour a glass of wine and reach for a book.

The year might have gotten away from you, left you feeling a bit underwhelmed, but it’s okay. We’re going to get through this together. I fell behind on a helluva lot of crap this year. My to-do list looks like Santa’s DC-based naughty list. One thing I didn’t fall behind in was meeting cool authors and adding them to the friend circle.

Like this dude. He’s great. In New Orleans he showed me there are two Johns.  John Pre-cocktails and John Apres-cocktails. I like them both.!Granted the Apres- cocktail John made me laugh a wee bit more, and that is never a bad thing. So, here he is, this week’s author, Joh Shepphird. Let’s see if he follows the rules.

John Shepphird is a Shamus Award-winning author and writer/director of TV movies. His novellas THE SHILL, KILL THE SHILL, and BEWARE THE SHILL complete a trilogy published by Down & Out Books. Find all the books here.

Are you ready?

Okay. Here we go.

Take the Author Challenge: Answer 10 Questions in 10 Words

1. You’ve been contracted to write a book with the proviso that an event from your own life is the opening paragraph. Set the scene.
   B-movie producer’s office rooftop. Sun rising over Hollywood Hills.

2. What are you reading this week?
   A Cold and Broken Hallelujah by Tyler Dilts.

3. It’s fight or flight time and you’re at your favorite writing spot. What will you do?
   Fling my Monticello souvenir coffee coaster at the bad guy.

4. Your book needs a soundtrack. What’s the vibe? List a song or two. Go!
   Peggy Lee’s Fever.  Banana Split for my Baby by Luis Prima.

5. An author in your genre is too sick to write anymore. Their publisher calls upon you to fill in. Who’s the author and what’s the title of the book you’ll write?
   Wallace Stroby’s incredibly awesome Crissa Stone series.  Rimfire.  (But impossible because Wallace will outlive me for sure)

6. A famous NYC deli is naming a sandwich after you, what is it called and what’s in it?
   Embrace the Cheese. Grilled cheese sandwich with onions & hot peppers on Shepherd’s bread.

7. You get to own an exotic pet. What is it and where do you keep it?
   An actual buffalo on the ranch I’ll retire on someday.

8. I’m a Genie and I’m granting you three wishes. None of them can be about writing. What do you ask for?
   A European style vacation schedule.  More time in the day.  No LA traffic.

9. It’s time for Breakfast with Dead Authors. Who’s coming? ( Poets, screen and songwriters included)
   Donald Westlake, Jim Thompson, Waldo Salt, James M. Cain, Daphne du Maurier.

10. Go to your current WIP. Turn to page 10. Write the ten words that appear on line 10.
    I put a GPS tracking device under the Prius.

    ***

Still laughing at your sandwich. EMBRACE THE CHEESE! AKA “movies on that channel.” 🙂

Thanks for playing. You were fun! Are you drinking?

Follow John on FACEBOOK and be sure to pick up one of his books in the SHILL series for holiday gift giving.

 Here’s the first one.

THE SHILL (first in trilogy) is available for FREE on AMAZON

Check out the trailer for The Shill 

Here’s the whole trilogy.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic week!

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Every month new authors  are featured on Linda’s blog. If you’re a writer, or have a suggestion for an author to interview, please reply in the comments or drop us a line  on the Keep in Touch page.

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“Clever, sexy, witty, and shot glasses full of fun, 3 Women Walk Into a Bar is no joke — and with one of the freshest and most exciting new voices in crime fiction, Linda Sands is an author to watch.”