INTERVIEWWelcome!! Thanks for agreeing to this short Q &A. Who is your favorite author?
Without a doubt, it is Sir Conan Doyle. I have read every Sherlock Holmes mystery he ever wrote. “Watson, the game is afoot.” As soon as you read those words, you knew. The story was headed into the depths of an improbable investigation with twists and turns designed to boggle the mind. Doyle was a master at the understated, subliminal hints and clues that Holmes always understood and left Watson in a muddle.
What books have most influenced your life?
Along with the Holmes mysteries, I have to add Perry Mason and all of Agatha Christie’s works. The heroes were super sleuths, connecting the dots and solving the crime. It is not surprising that from an early age, I wanted to be a police officer. Unfortunately, when I reached my adult years, women were still denied access to many jobs. Of course, I am really dating myself here. It wasn’t until my mid-forties, that I was able to realize that childhood dream. I took a leap of faith, along with a huge financial and physical risk when I applied and was hired by the Dallas Police Department. I have the dubious honor of being the oldest woman to graduate the academy. I had an amazing career with experiences I never dreamed would be possible. Something I learned along the way is that investigation are all about connecting the dots, much like my super sleuths did.
When in day/night do you write? How long per day?
Retirement has been an enlightening process. My day is my own. I have no alarm clock to push me to get up and get ready for another day at work. My days run together as a weekday is much the same as a day in the weekend. The result has been that I work harder than I ever did when I worked outside my home. I can start on the computer as early as I want and stay as late as I want. The advantage is that when my creativity kicks in, I can spend hours at any time of the day or night.
What is the hardest part of writing your books.
Sentinels of the Night is the debut novel for the Trackers, a team of elite FBI agents. Each has a secret, an extra edge that defies logic and reason. While the Tracker novels are standalone, not a series, the entire team is involved. I use multiple POVs (point of view) in my plots as I shift between characters and locations. It gets complicated at times as the team is headquartered in Washington D.C. and the agents are in the field. This requires keeping track of a lot of details, specifically who knew what and when did they know. I keep a notepad by my keyboard and write down the details. If I miss one, I know there will a sharp reader out there that will catch the mistake.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books.
OMG— the fun. When I embarked on a writing a book, I had no idea that I would find anything that I loved more than being a cop. That was the ultimate and if I could do my career over, I would in a heartbeat. But, much to my surprise I did find something. I enjoy every aspect of writing and publishing.
The process has pushed into me into a new career. I started a new business, Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC. In addition to publishing my own novels, I help other authors publish their manuscripts. I found an unknown talent as a graphic designer. I design book covers, and promotional materials for books. I had to buy a new computer this year as my old one didn’t have the power to drive the graphic design software that I use. The latest project was book trailers for Sentinels of the Night and Going Gone! What a hoot that was. I am looking forward to finishing the third book, so I can do another trailer.
Sentinels of the Night
Going Gone!
In the last couple of months, I added columnist to my projects as I write a column for Indie Authors Monthly magazine titled, On the Hunt and is also a feature on my website. My articles are about issues with writing and publishing.
What is new on the horizon?
I am working on a third Tracker novel. An ATF agent in Laredo, Texas goes missing. Tracker Adrian Dillard is sent to investigate. What he finds sends shockwaves throughout the law enforcement community even to the White House. So far, I don’t have a title. I have found that my titles come from a word or phrase I use in writing the book. Inspiration hasn’t hit, and the file remains ‘no name.’
GENRE: Suspense/Thriller/Paranormal
BLURB:
FBI Tracker Cat Morgan has an unusual talent, one she has successfully concealed, even from her fellow agents. That is—until she finds a body with a strange symbol carved on the forehead during a stop in Clinton, Mississippi and crosses paths with the town’s rugged police chief, Kevin Hunter. Despite his instant attraction to the sexy agent, Kevin is suspicious of her presence at the crime scene and isn’t buying her dubious explanations. He wants her out of the investigation and out of his town.
The discovery of another mutilated body with the same symbol sends Cat back to Clinton, and this time she isn’t leaving. To stop the killer, Cat must find a way to overcome Kevin’s distrust and will face an impossible impasse—truth or lies. But will either one matter, when the killer fixates on her for his next sacrifice?
EXCERPT
Suddenly, it dawned on Cat. He thinks I deliberately excluded him from critical details of the investigation, that I’m screwing him over like the other agents did. He doesn’t understand it’s not the information I’m hiding, it’s how I got it. This was worse than she expected, but damn, she should have anticipated it.
It was doubtful any attempts to pacify him or deny she knew would be believed. Even if he accepted her denial, his distrust would only deepen and would ultimately impact the investigation.
She’d always been able to fend off uncomfortable questions, but she’d never been in this position before. The relationship with Kevin had become complicated. Her unexpected connection to him was a sensation Cat had never experienced with a man. I don’t want to lie to him. Once the lies start, they don’t stop. How could she balance the disparity? Can I take a chance and trust him? Deep inside, she already knew the answer.
“What! Cat … got your tongue?” He snorted, then said, “You know, that line would really be funny if this didn’t involve someone killing women.”
Maybe pacifying would work. She twisted in the seat so she could watch his face. “Kevin, I didn’t deliberately conceal evidence from you. It’s … hmm … sometimes … oh, it’s difficult to explain. I ... uh ... I get hunches, and this time it worked.” You stammered and stuttered your way on that one. That ought to really convince him.
“You identified a crucial piece of evidence and—call it a hunch! From the minute I met you, you’ve done nothing but lie.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Anita Dickason is a retired police officer with twenty-seven years of experience, twenty-two with the Dallas Police Department. She served in patrol, undercover narcotics, accident investigation and was on a sniper on the Dallas SWAT team. Anita is the recipient of the prestigious Law Enforcement Professional Achievement Award from the State of Texas House of Representatives. Other awards include Officer of the Year—Texas Women in Law Enforcement, Officer of the Year—International Association of Women in Police, Runner-up Officer of the Year—Dallas Police Department, Officer of the Month—Dallas Police Department and multiple Police Commendations, Certificates of Merit and Citizen/Business commendations from the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas community.
Anita was a certified instructor with Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Her instructor certifications include Defensive Tactics, Batons, Spontaneous Knife Defense, Field Sobriety Procedures, Drug Recognition Expert program, and Accident Investigation.
She is a Past President of Texas Women in Law Enforcement, and Past Treasurer for the International Association of Women in Police.
Her first book, JFK Assassination Eyewitness: Rush to Conspiracy, is non-fiction and details the reconstruction of a 1966 vehicle accident near Midlothian, Texas that killed a key witness to the Kennedy assassination. The project opened the door to a new career, Author and Publisher. She owns Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC and provides manuscript and design services, helping other authors turn their manuscripts into a published book.
Her fictional works are suspense/thrillers and her plots are drawn from her extensive law enforcement knowledge and experience. Characters with unexpected skills, that extra edge for overcoming danger and adversity, have always intrigued her. Her infatuation with ancient myths and legends of Native American Indians, and Scottish and Irish folklore adds a touch of paranormal for the backdrop of her characters.
The experience of writing led to developing a knowledge of self-publishing and graphic design and a new business endeavor: Mystic Circle Books & Designs, LLC. It is a tossup of what Anita enjoys more, working on her books or helping another author publish their works. She has found an unexpected enjoyment in designing book covers, bookmarks, bookplates, etc. Email her for an autographed custom bookplate -- [email protected]
Book Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m00v2W4K4oWebsite: www.anitadickason.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/anita_dickasonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnitaDauthor
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y9bxr3zbB&N: http://tinyurl.com/ybmodd4o
GIVEAWAY
Anita Dickason will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN CG to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
