Background Note: For the past nine months I've been collaborating with my dog Tango on his website, Tango's Tales (tangos-tales.com). He wanted to return the favor, and recently we sat down for an interview about my debut novel FLOAT THE BOAT, a Mystery-Thriller I'll launch in November 2023 – Mark
TANGO: Hi Dad. Thanks for taking the time to sit down with me.
MARK: Thank you, Tango, for helping me with my new book launch.
TANGO: My pleasure, Dad. Okay. Let's begin. I prepared a short list of questions. The kinds of things most people want to know when a new book comes out. First, tell me the details about the book launch.
MARK: From today, October 31, the eBook version of Float the Boat will be available for pre-ordering. The orders will be filled on November 17, the release date. I also published a paperback and, with Amazon only, a hardcover. Print books can't be pre-ordered. They'll show up on my Book Page (on Amazon, for example) as purchase options on November 17.
TANGO: Thanks, Dad. Now tell me about the book.
MARK: Float The Boat tells the story of Nick Harmon, a sixty-something consultant and CrossFit guru whose life is disrupted when he discovers an ex-girlfriend murdered. Nick discovers her body in her hotel room in Washington, DC, the night before they were to attend a reunion at the Indonesian Embassy. Police suspect he may be the murderer, and Nick suspects somebody else killed her. The mystery of who killed Nick's friend then grows more complicated when police discover an international serial killer may be involved in her murder and many others. As both a Mystery and a Thriller, Float The Boat filled with twists and turns and a breathtaking climax that ends with a bang and, well, something even wilder than a bang.
TANGO: Wow, Dad, you got me really excited. You posted a "Back Cover Blurb" on the Home Page of your website which goes into more detail. What about the title? It's really catchy. Is there a special meaning behind it?
MARK: The title comes from my last trip to Thailand, back in 1986. I'd finished my job in Indonesia and visited some old work friends there. Eight years later, one of those friends passed away, and memories of his last few years inspired me to write the book. There's a special meaning behind the title which I think you'll understand.
TANGO: Really? What?
MARK: When we go for walks and it's hot outside, you always give it your all. You keep moving, slow your pace or stop for a short break, then start walking again and never give up. And when the mailman comes on his noisy motorcycle, you never rest. You bark and bark your warning to us, even if it hurts your neck and paws. I don't want to ruin a reader's experience and state explicitly what the title means, but I think you get it, right?
TANGO: Got it, Dad. Next question: tell me why you decided to write a book?
MARK: In my last job, remember all those nights when I came home late, and those weekends when I worked at home? It was tough to be away from you and Mom, but I got a lot of enjoyment out of the creative process I was involved in. People told me I was good at it, and it got me thinking about the past, long ago before I met Mom.
TANGO: You mean last century?
MARK: That's right. Last century. Things that happened then, in places far, far away. Interesting things. Bizarre things. When I retired, I wanted to do something creative, something that keeps the cobwebs from growing in my brain but doesn't take me away from you and Mom. Writing is a daily challenge, and I like challenges, but I can do it at home with you sitting right by my side in the sun room.
TANGO: Thanks, Dad. Next question: what about why you decided to write a Mystery-Thriller?
MARK: When I was young, I really enjoyed reading mysteries. Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and Earle Stanley Gardener were some of my favorite authors. Later on, I enjoyed reading mysteries by P. D. James and thrillers by Tom Clancy, Nelson DeMille and others. Combining the two genres keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, which is where I like to read! I'm a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock's movies, too. Many of his films feature ordinary people suddenly facing a life-or-death situation and struggling to overcome their difficulties. So all of those things influenced me.
TANGO: Will you write another one?
MARK: Yes. I already started working on another Mystery-Thriller, a sequel to FLOAT THE BOAT. I hope to complete it by 2025. I posted the basics on my website along with a placeholder book cover. The setting will be Ohio and Japan. In a few months, I'll post an update about it on the website.
TANGO: One last question.
MARK: Shoot.
TANGO: If FLOAT THE BOAT is a success, does that mean I'll be able to eat more gogi (Korean for meat)?
MARK: Don't worry. Whether it's a hit or a flop, you'll get all you want—as long as you maintain your diet, like me. Deal?
TANGO: Deal. Thanks Dad. I'm looking forward to you reading the book to me and Mom.
MARK: Same here, old friend.
Love the cover and Tango is even better than Chris Wallace as in interviewer.