The following author interview(s) is a special for BlackFive readers provided by Elise Cooper. You can read all of our book reviews and author interviews by clicking on the Books category link on the right sidebar. July 4th or Independence Day should have a special place in every Americans heart. It is a national holiday that is marked by patriotic displays. These best-selling authors write about American values and customs and/or have characters that attempt to keep US citizens safe. Ted Bell has written spy novels, and thrillers about World War II time travel. His latest book, Warriors, delves into the dangers of an emerging China. Alafair Burke, a former prosecutor, uses her experiences to write realistic plots and to show the interaction between DAs and the police force. Her latest book,All Day And A Night informs readers that many times the police and prosecutorial teams have tunnel vision in the way they look at a case. Jim DeFelice is the author of the Dreamland books, the longest running air combat series. His latest book, Drone Strike, combines military issues and technology while the plot delves into the US President ordering the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program. He is also the co-author of American Sniper with the late Chris Kyle. J. A. Jance writes a number of different series. Her latest book, Moving Target discusses the threat of computer hackers. Last September in a different series her novel, Second Watch, was a shout out to Viet Nam veterans. Her next novel, due out this July, Remains Of Innocence, brings to life Arizona's Cochise County and the desert Southwest. Oliver North, a retired US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, writes both non-fiction books and novels involving a military theme. His latest book, Couterfeit Lies, has a very important plot, a warning on the criminal activities of the North Korean regime. It delves into how counterfeit bills are used to pay for their nuclear and missile research including their ability to build nuclear warheads so the Iranians can avoid compliance. James Rollins writes three series of books each year. His latest book, The Kill Switch, is a shout out to military dogs and their handlers with a bioterrorism plot. His next book to be published this August, The 6th Extinction, mixes history, science, and adventure with the latest techno-weaponry. Dave Wellington’s main character, Jim Chapel is a retired army ranger who now works for a secret intelligence agency. Jim is an emblem to show the troops how much respect and admiration people have for them. His latest book, The Hydra Protocol, is a warning of how a rogue group can get ahold of a Russian nuclear weapon. Beatriz Williams brilliantly combines history with a commentary on US society. Her latest novel, The Secret Life Of Violet Grant, allows the reader to compare the historical significance and the norms of the day between the years just before World War I and the early 1960s. Thomas Young is a flight engineer for the Air National Guard. He has flown missions into Iraq, Afghanistan, and during the Serbia-Bosnia conflict. Coming out this July, Sand And Fire, explores the dangers of chemical weapons falling into terrorist hands with the focus on the Marine Corp culture. Each of these authors has shown their patriotic spirit through their story lines and characters. Blackfive.net asked them to discuss what July 4th means to them. Elise Cooper: What meaning does July 4th have to you? Ted Bell: The sad thing: if you did one of those man in the street interviews and asked random passersby that question they’d probably say “Fireworks”! Very few people are taught history anymore. They have little clue about the epic struggle that lies behind that holiday, nor of the brilliance and bravery of that little band of brand new Americans who made it possible: creating the greatest system of government the world had ever seen. We need to restore George Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and the Founders to the classrooms before it’s too late, if it’s not already. Alafair Burke: Clearly there's an appreciation of country, but I also associate July 4th with both community and personal independence: good people standing up for what they believe in. Jim DeFelice: Growing up, the Fourth of July meant three “B”s to me: Baseball, Barbecues, and Booms. We usually spent the day playing baseball in a nearby high school field, went home for a barbecue dinner, then returned for town fireworks at the same field. J. A. Jance: It's the birthday of our country, the land of opportunity. It's the place my forebears came to as immigrants, looking for a better life, and they found it. Oliver North: I look at Independence Day as the culmination of what transpired in that long difficult year to dissolve the union between us and a tyrannical foreign leader, as well as how fifty-six remarkable men sat down and created something the world has never seen before. I hope these values will not be given away today. James Rollins: For me, it’s a celebration of family and country. It’s a time to remember how blessed we are to live in this beautiful land: free and able to pursue our dreams. Dave Wellington: On some level it’s just a day like any other, meaning it’s not like I’m more American that one day out of the year. It’s useful as a chance to think about what being an American means, and how that’s changed over the years. We could all do with a little more quiet reflection these days, I think. Beatriz Williams: Now that I’m an adult, the holiday reminds me of our extraordinary nation, that such a brave and brilliant collection of men and women gave us our start. When I hear the words “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor,” I just get chills. That oath had heartfelt meaning in the 18th century, and we should try to live every day in appreciation of the sacrifices these people willingly made for...
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Jul 02 2014, 10:03 PM
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