 |
| PRESS ROOM |
PRESS RELEASE P.O. Box 910, Deerfield Beach, FL 33443 [email protected] http://www.LighthouseEditions.com FAX: 954.360.9994 FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE Drawing on a Lengthy Career in Law Enforcement, Former Special Agent Mel Savoie Pens a Thriller. DEERFIELD BEACH, FLORIDA.--Critics are calling Lighthouse Press' newest suspense thriller, THE PRACKTL AFFAIR, "a fast-paced, unrelenting test of wits and wile." Asked what makes this particular book so special, Lighthouse Publisher Ron Richard stated, "Expertise, pure and simple. I see many manuscripts that purport to be thrillers, but Mel Savoie's stood out because the detail was absolutely fascinating. Only someone who's had an extensive background in law enforcement could write something so convincing.� THE PRACKTL AFFAIR follows the story of Deputy Sheriff Jerry Ballester who finds himself mired in a routine investigation of a succession of burglaries in the quaint North Georgia mountain village of Helen. But everything changes on the day an old flame comes into town begging for his help and telling of a frightening change in her husband--the Atlanta DA--and other strange happenings at their ranch. Ballester's discovery of secret activity hidden beneath the ranch land leads him to a sinister group of high powered Atlanta citizens calling themselves the Central Core who will stop at nothing to achieve their ends--including murder and the threatened destruction of Atlanta. Readers should be prepared to hold on to their seats for the furious final four days of this story with a riveting life and death duel from the underground fortress to the Atlanta City Hall. A retired resident of Port Orange, Florida, Savoie began as a USAF OSI criminal investigator and later went on to become a counterintelligence agent. "My professional career has moved through the full spectrum of law enforcement, intelligence, and security," he said, "both in operations and in writing, where I authored and edited hundreds of investigative reports, biographical sketches, and articles for various publications." THE PRACKTL AFFAIR is available at your favorite bookstore and, if it is not in stock, your bookstore can order it through Ingram Book Company or Baker & Taylor using the following number information: ISBN: 0-9711915-7-3, or, for signed copies, contact the author directly at http://www.melsavoie.com It is also available at Amazon.com and various on-line bookstores. An electronic version, CD or download, can be ordered from AtlanticBridge.net. |
|
| Interview with Mel Savoie Author of The Pracktl Affair Would you tell us about yourself? A: Well, I've been around a long time. 71 years in fact. I joined the USAF at 19 and retired in 1970. After that I had several positions in the security area, including the Chief of Security at the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC Have you always wanted to be a writer? A: For as long as I can remember, Every job I had has involved writing in some manner. But in the back of mind was the novel thing, an urge to spin stories based loosely on knowledge I have gained from my experiences. How would you describe The Pracktl Affair? A: Briefly, it's a story about a deputy sheriff who finds himself mired in a routine investigation of a succession of burglaries in the quaint North Georgia mountain village of Helena. But everything changes on the day an old flame comes into town and begs for his help, telling of a frightening change in her husband . . . the Atlanta DA . . . and other strange happenings at their ranch. His discovery of secret activity hidden beneath the ranch land leads him to a sinister group of high powered Atlanta citizens calling themselves the Central Core who will stop at nothing to gain their ends, including murder and the threatened destruction of the great city of Atlanta. It ranges in locations from Helen, to Savannah, to Atlanta, and ends in a riveting life and death duel between the deputy assisted by some friends in the Atlanta Police Department and the miscreants that ranges from their underground fortresses to the Atlanta City Hall. What inspired you to write this book? A: Initially, I was taken by the beauty of the quaint North Georgia town of Helen and the charm of the countryside around Savannah. Everything followed from that. I noticed you were in the military, did this help in writing the book? A: Definitely. While in the USAF I spent sixteen years working as a Special Agent in the Office of Special Investigation. My experiences ranged from all manner of security and criminal Investigations to counterintelligence work. What would you like to tell first time authors? A: Don't let the industry discourage you. You've heard horror stories of perfectly good stories being turned down over and over again. Just know that fiction is a very small part--only about twenty percent--of what gets published in America. The competition is fierce and it would easy to just quit and find some other sort of release for your energy. But if you love writing, keep it up, don�t quit. I began The Pracktl Affair over ten years ago. It only took a year to write, but several years to get it "right." And, then more years to get a publisher to pick it up. What is your view on ebooks and traditional books? A: Both are fine, but I am afraid it will be some time before any sizable number of readers will discover ebooks, much less be willing to read them on a computer. What my e-publisher did for me was to recognize my talent for writing a good story and give me the medium to show it. Her advice and assistance has been wonderful and along with my wife, she has led me to believe in myself and what I write about. Which is easier to break into in your opinion? A: Ebooks if course. There are a large number of e-publishers out there in this relatively new business and they seem to have an entirely different approach to publishing. They begin with the author, not the bottom line, and build from there. And from what I have seen, they have uncovered hundreds of wonderful writers who otherwise would never have seen their stories in print. I think it is a wonderful opportunity for writers who have had no luck with traditional publishers, for strengthening their confidence if nothing else. What would you like to say to your readers? A: If you mean the people who have already read the electronic version of The Pracktl Affair, I would like for them to go to my web site and check for a new book coming out soon. For those who are unfamiliar with my work, they can go to the web site, www.melsavoie.com, where my books are featured with excerpts. Also, I'd like them to know that Pieces of Sand will be coming out in print the later part of the year. It'll be published by the Lighthouse Press. A dream come true. What is your favorite genre? A: Crime and mystery with a twist. What are you currently reading? A: John Grisham's The Partner and Patricia Cornwall's Point of Origin. I'm also a fan of John Sanford and W.E.B Griffin. Where can readers or fans purchase your books? A: Currently, the book can be purchased at any bookstore, including Amazon.com, but if it is not in stock, the bookstore can order it from Ingram Book Company. ISBN: 0-9714837-0-3, published by The Lighthouse Press. The electronic version is available through www.Atlanticbridge.net, ISBN: 1-931761-38-8 and through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Or, I can mail out an autographed copy from my website: www.melsavoie.com. What (if anything) are you currently working on? A: I'm finishing up a book about a CIA contract agent recently put out to pasture. He lands a great job in an old line Baltimore financial house and runs smack dab into a conspiracy and the murder of the company president. Do you have any other books out? (if so, what are they, and a brief description) A: No, but as I�ve said, Pieces of Sand will be out in print the later part of 2002. It's a story about a deputy sheriff from Florida who assists the Philadelphia Police in catching a serial killer. What would you like to say at this time? A: Just that I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to talk about something I love. If my experience gives just one other aspiring writer the incentive to keep at it then I feel I've been successful. Thank you. |
 |