Website: www.spgrogan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grogan.sp
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4032468.S_P_Grogan
Can you tell us how you got your feet wet writing fiction?
Believe it or not I started in grade school writing small booklet reviews of stories, and coloring pictures. I got multiple As. Here's my list in order: Editor of highschool Creative Writing Magazine, won a writing prize in highschool, editor of two college newspapers, took a Creative Writing Course at Harvard (A-), winner of the Shubert Fellowship in Playwriting, worked in the Denver Post Library (Morgue) where I met future author John Dunning, on the side at the Post I wrote police blotter news items, and was called upon to write early rock 'n roll concert reviews, that included interviewing Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar. This led me into being the editor of the first underground newspaper in Denver. The problem I had in writing is that as I worked at writing my leadership talent took me into editorial management, and then into the business world where I wrote business plans and got sidetracked. In the beginning of 2000 I found myself as editor and publisher of a trade industry magazine, sold advertising and wrote news stories. Now living in Las Vegas, I attended the Henderson Writer's Group and renewed my creative writing interest. Here, I was told, write what you know, write about what surrounds you. Las Vegas is a fertile garden of craziness and many writers use Sin City as a background. "Vegas Die" in 2008 was my first novel. Read it, you will see I put in every type of oddity from the strippers, Elvis impersonators, to the novel's theme: 'Someone is killing the retired mobsters of Las Vegas, and the Mayor is the #1 suspect." I believe sometimes instead of just writing words you need the 'gimmick' or the 'gotcha' that will retain the reader's interest. In my case I wrote into 'Vegas Die, a Quest Mystery', a treasure hunt that would lead 'Questors' to seek out a dagger hidden somewhere in the Vegas Valley worth $25,000 redeemed, the clues hidden within the writing. 'Vegas Die' became a best-seller. My new publisher thought so highly of it, "Vegas Die" was reissued in 2020 as a "15th Year Special Anniversary Edition".
Describe your writing process. Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants? When and where do you write?
Let me be honest: The greatest downside to my writing is 'procrastination'. It is so easy to postpone the seriousness of creating your story. Many times, almost always, when I am at a book signing event someone will invariably say, 'I have this great idea that would make a tremendous book.' I want to shake them and say, 'Just write your first sentence.' You will never hear from them again. It would be hard to define my writing process, except to believe I gain a thread of an idea and like the writer James Joyce, go free association, meaning merely let my fingers flow from whatever recesses of my brain stumble out. This means a lot of re-writing and editing. Sometimes I will outline the plot just to interlock story threads. I have legal yellow pads for this, and notes and research, and many times I misplace my organization and have to root among the hoarded fragments. Organization is key. I had a teacher once who put all ideas on notecards then organized it into the story line. Another piece of advice, and another flaw, I write what I like so that I only have to please myself. But if you are going to go commercial, seek to make the business profitable, then sadly, you have to bow to the gods of formalization. Read successful authors of the genre you are going to pursue, outline how they write, how they set out the twists and turns, and mimic them until you find your own voice. This is an industry of hit and miss, especially in finding literary agents. A publisher will demand a formula book a year. Don't be discouraged; keep hustling to get noticed out of the slush piles. As for my sit down environment towards writing, I have the computer before me, but again finding quality hours, concentrating time, becomes rare. You have to have a cat or a partner who will respect your need for time to yourself. The cat though does not believe in 'me time' except for themselves.
Can you tell us about your most recent release?
Crimson Scimitar by S.P. Grogan is an expansive action-political terrorist thriller that tells the ‘what if’ story--What if, in 2011, instead of being killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is captured and put on trial, what would American justice look like, and would the outcome be as expected? What if prior to his capture he and al Qaeda were planning to launch an attack on America worse than 9/11? Who could stop it? In Crimson Scimitar is the chase to capture bin Laden, the Trial of the Century’, the diabolical Crimson Scimitar plot in action, and climactic ‘gun battle at the bridge’. Author S.P. Grogan’s writing seamlessly blends the political War on Terrorism events of 2011 into a realistic landscape that features strong women characters, an eccentric centi-billionaire, reality television stars, SEAL members on the attack, battling defense and prosecution lawyers, CIA agents, the President of the United States, and an ambitious jihadist who will begin a violent transformative journey. More intriguing is how the terrorist plot was created that will lead to stock market manipulation, attacks on amusement parks, and nuclear waste poisoning. And amid it all there are romantic challenges that must be faced to create strong bonds to fight against evil. Crimson Scimitar is labeled as the ‘Awakening Epic of Our Times’, reminding readers that a 9/11 could happen again and that we must be vigilant.
Let's dissect this from the marketing aspect of capturing a book buyer's attention. Look at the full title of my novel, "Crimson Scimitar" Attack on America 2001-2027, Including the Official Proceedings of the Capture and Trial of Osama bin Laden -- . Hopefully the browser at the book store seeing the book cover ought to wonder: what's that mean? The smart person might finally interpret it --'Oh, Crimson Scimitar that means a bloody sword'. Therefore there is going to be action...and surely violence. Attack on America says just that, so now you can surmise perhaps this is a thriller. The years stated are 2001-2007 might be a 'MacGuffin' incidental numbers that might seem important up front but then later might have no value. 2001 is 9/11 reality, but why 2027 which has not occurred; is there importance to that date? And that is curious to wonder. Finally, is the tagline 'Official Proceedings, etc.' This should capture someone's attention, thinking, 'but bin Laden is dead'. The 'Capture and Trial' defines that more action is going to take place. Put it all together and perhaps the browsing public might be drawn in, but then, I might just be too clever.
Crimson Scimitar is to be released the first week in September, seriously, in time for the 9/11 anniversary. Available as an ebook, at all independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and perhaps discounted slightly at publisher HistriaBooks.com The novel also displays the cover tagline, "The Awakening Epic of Our Times." Meaning the story is heroic, good battling evil, and it is long.
How did you get the idea for the book?
I started out collecting first edition signed thrillers, beginning with courtroom dramas, like authors John Grishim and Scott Turow. One day, back in 2000 I was wondering, the 'What if' alternative reality thesis, 'What if bin Laden was not killed, but captured, what would his trial look like'? I was thinking about an old novel entitled 'The Court Martial of General Custer'. In my original concept the bin Laden trial would be held and he would be acquitted! The writer's fallacy in this --know your subject--I was not an expert in law and the construct would definitely be savaged by critics. But I do know, as we all do, television like Law and Order, heck even Perry Mason, but more so I knew entertainment, and one of the central characters creates a televised show trial, and I think readers can actually envision this sort of mega event.
Of all your characters, which one is your favorite? Why?
Islamic fundamentalist Khalaf, an al-Qaeda senior courier to bin Laden and his relationship with the child-bride, Sabz. I want the reader to have mixed emotions, can a blind jihadist rise to the heroic? How does the central focus of political violence be challenged? And with his relationship with Sabz, he is not only smitten, his eyes begin to see the real world we take for granted, as being not what he was raised to see destroyed to raise the caliphate banner. In Sabz, you find a teen-ager with a mind of her own where survival, not al Qaeda, is her central focus. Two different philosophies at odds yet drawn together.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing your book?
This novel was half written when in 2011 the world heard that bin Laden was slain by U.S. SEALs. A writer's worst shock, a best-seller stopped cold. The manuscript sat on the shelf for 20 years before being totally rewritten, perhaps on my concern of open borders where in 2023 100 identified terrorists were caught at the border. How many escaped and are now in the U.S. plotting? With my flashback look at the 9/11 terrorist attack the reader can foresee future possibilities. Can you tell me if I am wrong?
What projects are you currently working on?
2023 into 2024 I am concentrating on four books that suddenly came on the market in 2023 from the publisher, HistriaBooks.com --"Crimson Scimitar", "Captain Cooked", "Atomic Dreams", and "Cookbook Passion" (edited by me). I am overwhelmed. For 2024 my current writing -- Plot: A depraved mastermind is going to hold a convention for serial killers to improve their skills. A lady homicide detective (from Vegas Die) is drawn into solving multiple murders of her fellow homicide detectives.
What advice would you offer to new or aspiring fiction authors?
Multiple steps, most importantly, keep writing, have patience, stay positive, and curse all those who don't know the genius that lurks within you.
One of my late writing friends, who I consider a better seer, the late Elmore Leonard ('Get Shorty') said it best in his 'Ten Rules on Writing', tongue-in-cheek, “My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.”
I have this personal note that he once sent to me: "Steve, One of my favorite lines, it's in 'La Brava' & I stole from someone else. Maurice Zola saying, "I spent most of my dough on booze, broads, and boats-- and the rest I wasted."
Title: Crimson Scimitar: Attack on America 2001-2027
Author: S.P. Grogan
Publisher: Addison & Highsmith Publishers
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Pages: 680
Genre: Current Historical Fiction/Action/Adventure/Thriller
Crimson Scimitar by S.P. Grogan is an expansive action-adventure terrorist thriller that tells the ‘what if’ story of the al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden. What if, in 2011, instead of being killed bin Laden is captured and put on trial, what would American justice look like, and would the outcome be as expected? What if prior to his capture he and al Qaeda were planning to launch on America worse than 9/11? Who could stop it? In Crimson Scimitar is the chase to capture bin Laden, the ‘Trial of the Century’, the diabolical Crimson Scimitar plot in action, and climactic ‘gun battle at the bridge.’ Author S.P. Grogan’s writing seamlessly blends the political War on Terrorism events of 2011 into a realistic landscape that features strong women characters, an eccentric multi-millionaire, reality television stars, SEAL members on the attack, battling defense and prosecution lawyers, CIA agents, the President of the United States, and an ambitious jihadist who will begin a violent transformative journey. More intriguing is how the terrorist plot was crated that will lead to stock market manipulation, attacks on amusement parks, and nuclear waste poisoning. And amid it all there are romantic challenges that must be faced to create strong bonds to fight against evil. Crimson Scimitar is labeled as the ‘Awakening Epic of Our Times’, reminding readers that a 9/11 could happen again and that we must be vigilant.
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/6v9s8n9k
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crimson-scimitar-sp-grogan/1142693076
Histria Books: https://histriabooks.com/product/crimson-scimitar
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149851203-crimson-scimitar
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