Following find an interview with author Phil Persinger .
Tools of the Trade was published in February 2016.
What’s the book’s first line?
It is second breakfast and the maids can scarcely contain themselves.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
This is a heart-warming tale of alpha males facing a precipitous slide—for beta or for worse. Woody Steele is one of the richest men on the planet. Sadly one of his greatest assets has been recently downsized—sorry Casanova. Ivan Greenbriar, his fellow billionaire nemesis and creep extraordinaire, turns every activity into a pissing contest even when he’s alone. Sargent Scanlon, a hero cop solely on the merits of getting shot in the nuts, doesn’t know what fear is until he must match wits with his odious fourteen-year-old stepdaughter—she’s a crime against humanity. Meanwhile, looking down from above is Colonel Pavlenko, the world’s oldest practicing Stalinist (mutually assured destruction anyone?). This is a real time, real world story about manly men—and their women, women who are ready to break through the glass ceiling, even if they have to use their mate as a battering ram.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I was inspired by an event. My back was out at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. I am grimacing in pain as the six-foot blonde German model in the little black dress hangs a medal around my neck. But in the photo my look seems lecherous. A friend emailed: “Are you thinking what it looks like you’re thinking.” I wrote back: “If only my back wasn’t out and I still had my prostate?”
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It’s really funny and funny about the most serious thing in Man World. It’s the Vagina Monologues—make that Penis Monologues—written by the puerile love child of Jackie Collins and Tom Wolfe.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Woody Steele is Zeus, Tony Stark and Richard Branson all rolled into one—with a slightly diminished profile.