GWN: Have No Mercy appears to be a series. Are you writing novels where the main plot has to do with characters who have no mercy? Where they seek to achieve their dark goals no matter what costs?
Kam: Have No Mercy did not start out to be series. However, due to several factors, the decision to turn my novels into a series was not difficult.
Perpetrators who have no mercy for their victims commit most crimes. Also, once the detectives in the first book took on a life of their own, it was obvious [to me] they weren't ready to retire. They still have too many crimes to solve with new ones committed every day. So, yes. The main plots of my novels are based on characters who have no mercy; and will do anything, including murder, to achieve their hidden goals.
I might add, even though "Have No Mercy" is a series, they are all 'stand alone' stories. Detective Captain Joe Warner is the one character that connects the series. Although it would be advisable to read each of the novels, since they were and are written in sequence, one does not have to read more than one novel to get to know and appreciate the characters and the plots of each one.
GWN: Briefly guide us through the first book "Have No Mercy." Tell us about David Epstein's life in your psychological thriller and how the "fires of hatred explode inside David, changing his life forever."
Kam: In my first book, "Have No Mercy," David Epstein was never taught to interlock with other people. As a proverbial bookworm, overprotected by his doting parents, David was book smart. But he had no idea in regards to the trials and tribulations of life - until one day a young boy, close to David's age, entered his life. Since David had no siblings, he opened his heart to this boy; giving him almost as much love as he did his parents. When David's parents deserted him, the embers of hate and distrust started burning inside him. The embers were stoked when he learned of his friend's deceit, turning the brother-like friendship into enemies. Years later, when David learned his wife was unfaithful, finding out about a scheme that might end his life, and discovering the names behind the murderous plot, the information fueled the embers in David into a raging fire of hate and revenge.
GWN: In book two, "Black Rosebud" local police chief, Rusty Simmons becomes involved in a homicide. He tries to learn the identity of a mysterious farm girl. Why?
Kam: "Black Rosebud" did not start out to be book two in the series. Quite different than the other Have No Mercy novels set in Mt. Pride, Colorado, the setting for "Black Rosebud" is in a rural area of Nebraska. This book took me approximately seven years to write. As I was re-writing, what I thought was the last draft, Detective Warner let me know he wanted to be included in the storyline. Since he got his way and made a cameo appearance in the story, it was only fitting this book would become part of the series.
Police Chief Rusty Simmons becomes involved in homicide quite by accident while searching for a suspect in a number of burglaries. While the hunt is on for his suspect, Rusty uncovers theft and murder. When he discovers there is a young farm girl involved, Rusty makes it his prime objective to find out this mysterious girl's name, her whereabouts, and how she is involved with the crimes.
GWN: In your latest last book of this series, "Black Lily," Charley Sutton, a Hollywood stuntman, takes the ride of his life when he becomes involved in "romance, deceit, mayhem and murder." Gosh, and he thought doing stunt work was difficult. Tease us with the plot without giving it all away.
Kam: In "Black Lily," Charley Sutton had one goal in his life: to become a stuntman for the movies. He had been a daredevil of sorts since the day he started walking. Devastated and depressed when his mother deserted the family, Charley's love for danger intensified. When he finally became a Hollywood stuntman, Charley's next goal was becoming the best, most wanted stuntman in the movies. Once again, he achieved his goal. Even though he was fulfilling his life's dreams, he never forgot about his mother. With offers and contracts keeping him busy, money to spend like water flowing from a faucet, and national acclaim, Charley was on top of the world. One miscalculated second, however, and his world came crashing down. Reconnecting with someone he had fallen in love with, meant a new beginning for Charley. Unfortunately, the woman turned out to be more of a nightmare than the girl of his dreams when murder enters the picture.
GWN: You also write children's books. "Princess Annado Tandy's Versery-Rhymes is slated to be published this fall. Tell us about the honey-fairy princess who rules the Land of Candy and what she's trying to teach the Sugarite citizens.
Kam: There are two sides to every coin. One side is the belief children need to be fed knowledge from the day they are born. This is proven in the fact as to how many children are enrolled in pre-schools, today, to learn to read and write. By the time they are in high school, they are taking college courses. What happened to childhood and giving these kids the opportunity to use their imaginations? That's the side of the coin I am on. Giving children the opportunity to learn about real life, yet understand it's all right to occasionally dream in a fantasy world. "Snow White" taught me to never take an apple from a stranger - the same as my mother taught me to never take candy from a stranger - but it didn't make me believe some prince would kiss me awake and give me a happily-ever-after ending to my life. "Cinderella" didn't make me believe in magic. But it did teach me to be all that I could be, under any circumstances. Quite frankly, all the fairytales I read as a child just solidified everything my parents and grandparents taught me. It was just easier [for me] taking advice from a fairytale then it was the grownups. <g>
After reading a lot of children's books where various animals, such as rabbits and bears, wear clothes, talk, and take on a human-like life, I wanted something different for characters. Tinker Bell was always one of my favorite characters. But I didn't want just another fairy. Candy, something most children love, was the next thing that came to mind. From candy, a candy-princess fairy developed. Since my first Annado story was written back in 1962, and I had drawn images of my characters with their hair, hats, shoes, etc., you can imagine my surprise when I first saw a commercial with the California Rasens! Since that time, we have had human-like peanuts, M&M’s, cereals, and various other edible items gracing television commercials as well as newspaper and magazine ads. So candy characters are certainly in tune with today's marketing.
Annado teaches the candy-citizens of the Land of Candy many important things in life, such as: manners; judging people by what's inside, not because they are different than you; believing in yourself; how hurtful name-calling can be, etcetera. A couple of the stories also teach the basic numbers (1 through 10), and the alphabet.
"Princess Annado Tandy's Versery-Rhymes" will also be a series. Presently, there are four books in the works, with four story/rhymes in each book. Book One will have: How the Land of Candy Came to Be; Candy-Accepting One Another; Counting from One to Ten; and, Mister Taffeyman gets a Candy-Cure. The books are written in short, silly rhymes for several reasons. First, using some of the same words over and over is rather like subliminal messaging. Secondly, once the child is old enough to read by himself, he/she will be able to look at certain words and know exactly how to pronounce them. I'm sure there are many out there who remember reading: "See Spot." "See Spot run." "See Jane." "See Jane run after Spot." Repeating words certainly helped me when I began reading. And, third is my own crazy idea. Since Rap seems to be so popular, I can just see a child dancing around, rapping out the words to Annado. <g>
GWN: You've also written a holiday book entitled "The Dawg Who Saved Christmas." You have a really sad beginning there with two brothers, Randy and Jay, who are killed and go to Heaven. God returns them to earth as a collie and parrot and gives them a mission. What is the mission? What inspired you to write about these angelic children?
Kam: What can I say? I'm still pretty much a kid at heart. Add to that the fact I have five grandchildren who have inspired me, I will continue to love writing fantasy. However, there is always an underlying purpose behind each of my stories.
I was inspired to write "The Dawg Who Saved Christmas" based on the overwhelming crime in our country committed by juveniles. Each time I viewed the news on television, or read another heartbreaking article in the newspaper, I wondered what the juvenile would do differently in his/her life if given the chance to do it over. Those amongst the living are often given a second chance - depending on their actions and what the courts decide. Those who die from violence because of the path in life they chose to follow, will never have that second chance. But in my books, they do.
In heaven, God is giving Randy a chance to redeem himself. Not only for his wrong doings on earth, but because he was, more or less, responsible for his brother Jay's death. Their first mission is to trap the gang that killed both him and his brother, and bring them to justice. Since the members of the gang would recognize both brothers, God sends them back to earth in the bodies of a collie and a parrot.
GWN: The sequel to your children's book, "The Dawg who Saved Christmas," is entitled "Dawg Eyes: Still Top Dawg." What are Randall and Jay's objectives this time around?
Kam: Randy and Jay's mission in "Dawg Eyes: Still Top Dawg," is to educate people on the importance of spading and neutering their dogs and cats, reducing the overpopulation of these revered pets. Being a pet lover, I feel this is subject everyone should take into consideration when taking on the responsibility of owning a dog or a cat. If we start teaching the children, they will, hopefully, become responsible pet owners. According to today's news [10-14-07 Associated Press article by Verena Dobnik], "…the United States puts about four million dogs to death each year by gas or injection…". This is a horrific number that needs to be addressed by all pet owners.
GWN: "Dawg Catches Rat," is the next book and begins with someone breaking into an elderly woman's home and stealing her jewelry. Why do I feel Randall and Jay are going to become involved?
Kam: "Dawg Catches Rat" stems from the fact yours truly is getting older. Although, little-by-little, many young adults are taking better care of their elderly parents, we still have a long way to go. Due to new drugs on the market, and special diets and exercise, life expectancy increases year by year. Many elderly are still capable of living on their own and thinking for themselves. A lot of the young people do not realize the vast knowledge and experiences an elderly person has to offer. Instead, when a person is considered a senior citizen, many feel these older people should be put in a home to live out the rest of their days. Randy and Jay's mission in this story is to prove not all seniors are senile, or incapable of taking care of themselves.
GWN: What has motivated you to write these children's books with Christian messages?
Kam: I'm a firm believer in God. When I grew up, I didn't know one soul who was an agnostic or an atheist. Houses of faith always seemed to be filled to capacity. Sunday schools were as over-crowded as the public schools' classrooms. Every one in school was proud to stand, salute the American flag, and say the Pledge of Allegiance and include: "One Nation, under God." Sorry. I didn't mean to stand on a soapbox. But my love of God and my religion is what brought about the Christian theme of these books.
GWN: What has been the feedback from kids and schools?
Kam: What little feedback I have received from the children who have read the Dawg e-books, say they've enjoyed them; and have asked me to write more of them. Even the adults enjoy these books. The few teachers I have spoken with advised me to get these e-books published into a hardcover or paperback form. As not all schools have computers or e-book readers in their classrooms. I may consider doing so somewhere in the future.
GWN: What do you adore and hate about writing?
Kam: I am and always have been an introvert. Those who have known me for years were quite surprised when I started acting in stage productions, and had a brief career in singing. But both gave me confidence and a way to express myself - especially singing. Writing gives me the same confidence and belief in myself that I can do something, and be good at it. Writing also gives me an outlet. Whether I'm happy and content, or highly depressed, I can lose myself in my characters' world. There have been many times in my life when I would like to tell a person where to go - if you get my meaning? Instead of making a fool out of myself, it's much easier having a character telling off another character in my books. That way I get it out of my system, and get away with it without hurting anyone's feelings. <g> Most of all, I love writing in hopes my stories entertain the readers.
What I detest about writing is trying to edit my own work, promoting my work, and having to go out in public to do book signings. Oh, and I don't like writing about someone else's ideas. If I don't feel what I write, or feel the characters I write about are real, I could sit and look at a blank computer screen for hours on end and never come up with a good storyline.
GWN: How do you promote your books?
Shamefully, I've been rather lax in book promoting. When "Have No Mercy" was released under my husband's name, I went gun-ho. I sent out hundreds of queries and books to reviewers. For every fifty queries that responded, saying they would review the book, only two reviewers kept their word. I didn't mind, since I know most reviewers don't get paid for what they do. But that meant forty-eight books out of every fifty I sent out either hit 'File Thirteen' or were posted on Amazon for re-sale. That's a lot of money when it comes out of your pocket.
I joined every on-line Web group that I could to get my husband's name and the book recognized. I had an excellent website and exchanged links with other great sites. I had a wonderful ezine which had over a hundred subscribers. I was constantly setting up book signings. Each time I received a review, even if it was a bad review, or had a book signing, I never failed to send a thank you card. I also entered chats, was interviewed by several book-oriented websites, and was interviewed on a website radio show.
I thought I had done everything right. But the financial setback from the money I spent on the first book's PR was a rude-awakening. Even though I had set up an excellent marketing plan and budget, I went way overboard in the expenses. Also, at that time, my husband was capable of traveling and doing a lot of PR and book signings. Unfortunately, he no longer travels due to ill health. As for me, I'm a bit of a chicken to travel by myself. Due to personal circumstances beyond my control, I also lost my website. So, when "Black Rosebud," "Black Lily," and all my other books were published, promotions headed on a downward swing. And, that's where they have remained.
On-line web groups are not the same as when I first started writing. I was eager to learn from others mistakes, gain knowledge to help me grow, and share ideas with other authors and readers. Today, I find most of us in the same category. Most of us have written more than one book, are more knowledgeable in what we're doing, and we have shared about as many ideas and writing tips as there are to come up with. The groups, basically, are just a matter of old acquaintances getting together sharing their good news about a new book release. I enjoy the one group I still belong to, NUW, but that's because I have grown fond of most of its members - especially those who have been there since I joined.
With the two new releases, "Black Tulip: Have No Mercy IV," and "Princess Annado Tandy's Versery-Rhymes," I am hoping to do a lot better job promoting both books. In fact, I have already started by 1) hiring a professional (Denise Fleischer) to write my media releases; and, 2) having postage stamps made up with the cover of my books on them. Denise has also got me involved on a website called, IMVU, designed to get everyone together in a fun sort of way.
