Author: Nina Mason
Genre: Political Thriller
Publisher: Crushing Hearts & Black
Butterfly Publishing
Formats: Kindle and paperback
Blurb:
The last thing Alex Buchanan, the
editor-in-chief of a formidable news site, expects as he looks around the
newsroom at the bodies of his editors, is that he’ll soon be teaming up with
The Ball Buster to solve the crime and stay alive. Well, maybe not the last
thing. The last thing he expects is to fall for her or any other woman. Because
he’s The Tin Man–a suit of armor without a heart.
Or so he believes…
The Ball Buster is his private
nickname for Thea Hamilton, a smart, gutsy, and insecure investigative reporter
for The New York News, America’s newspaper of record. They went out once years
ago–an unmitigated disaster during which she jumped all over his case about
smoking.
When events force them together,
they embark on an emotion-charged, high-octane quest for the truth, ending up
in bed, but also in the clutches of a sociopathic corporate raider. “Zeus” is
obsessed with James Bond and owns a hardcore S & M club in an old fallout shelter.
Is he the killer? And, if so, what’s his motive? What he hopes to gain by
torturing the journalists is clearer: the proof they’ve uncovered of a
corporate takeover scheme that threatens the future of democracy. And he’ll
stop at nothing to get it.
Excerpt
Buchanan was smoking out among the
trees when he heard the gunshots. Turning toward the barn, he saw flames
leaping from the roof. Dropping his cigarette, he charged from the underbrush
like a bull, thinking only of Thea. Another shot shattered the darkness. He
drew his Glock as he trundled across the field. The fire was spreading fast. He
reached the barn, choking as he raced inside. The whole place was filled with
white smoke.
“Thea!” he screamed, coughing
violently. “Thea!”
He raced toward the stairs, grabbed
the rail, hoisting himself up two rungs at a time. He frantically searched the
loft, but found only her purse. Taking it with him, he stumbled back down.
“Thea! Thea! Where are you?”
The smoke was so thick he couldn’t
see a thing. He heard another crack. Outside. Shite, the assassins had found
them. But where were they now. And where was she?
He groped his way through the
cloud, gasping, choking, eyes stinging, until he found the car. Feeling his way
around, he located the driver’s door, got in, and started the engine. He hit
the gas. The Toyota lurched forward. He couldn’t see a fucking thing through
the smoke. The car crashed through wood, jolting him. The air began to clear as
he bounced across the field. The black sedan came into view, speeding toward
the road. He eased off the gas, falling back to avoid being seen.
Fucking hell. He’d cocked up
everything. Now, they had Thea, which was killing him. Anything he could do to
save her would endanger her life. Assuming, of course, she was still alive. The
possibility she might not be kicked him in the chest, but he reasoned it away.
She had to be alive. It only made sense. If she was dead, why take her? He felt
better, but not for long. If she was alive, there was a reason. And the only
reason he could think of made his stomach turn.
Trailer: [paste the code in the html tab of your blog editor]
Nina Mason is a
hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the
metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read:
those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. When not writing, Nina
works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home stager. Born and
raised in Southern California, she now lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her
husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie named Robert.
Social-media links:
Author Interview:
Q. Tell us about your book.
A. The Tin Man warns of the dangers posed
by corporate media monopolies, something most people don’t care about but
really should, because they who control the media control how we perceive the
world. It’s a work of fiction, but steeped in reality. The hero is Alex
Buchanan, an embittered journalist who runs a formidable online news site. When
he becomes the target of hired assassins, he hooks up with Thea Hamilton, a
crack investigative reporter, to find out why. They end up on a wild ride that
takes them from New York City to Philadelphia and finally, Washington D.C. It’s loaded with high-octane action,
deeply-etched characters, and hard-hitting truths. I did an unbelievable amount
of research while writing the book.
Q. After this, what's your next project?
A. I’m
currently working on a four-part paranormal fantasy series titled the Knights
of Avalon, which is under contract with Lyrical Kensington.
Q. What inspires you to write what you do?
A. All
of my paranormal stories are inspired by my interest in history, mythology, and
the occult. Even my fantasies are steeped in reality.
Q. When did you start writing?
A. About
as soon as I could write the alphabet. When I was a kid, I won an essay contest
sponsored by the local library (I was an avid reader and always did the summer
reading challenge). Back in the days of typewriters, I wrote a romance novel
about a couple of ballet dancers, but never did anything with it. Didn’t try my
hand at fiction again until five or six years ago, when I started what is now The Queen of Swords.
Q. What inspired you to write the book?
A. My
work, really. The Tin Man comes from
another part of me than my paranormal romances. My degree is in journalism and I’ve worked in media relations and
in “framing”—a way of spinning ideas, basically, which is discussed in the
book.
Q. Are you a careful planner or do you let the story
guide you?
A. I do
a bit of both. I work out the characters and their motivations, setting, and
where I want the story to go. I also tend to do index cards for each scene or
major plot point from start to finish. Once I begin to write, it can go completely
off the rails, depending on where the characters want to take it. As long as
they’re reaching the touchstones, I let them do what they want. If they go too
far off track, I either re-plot the novel or rein them in, depending on which
direction seems better at the time.
Q. Who is your favorite among your characters?
A. I
love them all, of course. Graham, the hero in The Queen of Swords, is both
noble and funny. Callum, the hero in The Knight of Wands, is a good-hearted
romantic. Leith, the hero of my WIP, is a bit on the dark side, but still
well-intentioned. If pressed to pick just one, I’d have to go with Alex
Buchanan, the journalist hero in The Tin
Man. He’s very complex and has lots of demons to overcome, but also is a
really good guy.
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