The Apology received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Eric Haggman.
The Apology, Published May 2016
What’s the book’s first line?
“My name is Christian Lindstrom. I was sitting in the Charlie Chaplin Suite of the incomparable Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, surrounded by movie stills and pictures of the ‘Little Tramp’ cover the walls.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Filmmaker Christian Lindstrom returns to Vietnam to shoot tourism commercials, only to confront the agony of his past and the power there of the Asian underworld to control political events—including the creation and the whitewashing of Japan’s history itself. For producer Nachi Tanaka, it is the story of the shameful sins of the fathers coming back to hurt and haunt her family generations later. For the Japanese government, it is a coup d’état engineered by powerful business interests with the Japanese mafia, the Yakuza, doing their murderous bidding.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I have always had a love for history and travel. As an advertising director myself, I found many parallels to Christian’s life with my own. I knew I needed to visit Japan and Vietnam to see these places for myself to capture them accurately through my writing. My wife and muse Emily, spent two months with me traveling the countries to research my book. The sites we saw truly inspired me to capture the settings and have them lead the story of The Apology.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, historically charged political thriller with cinematic settings, this is the book for you.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Christian Lindstrom is a Vietnam veteran returning to the country for the first time since serving. His hard shell is slowly cracked as he opens up to Nachi and finds happiness, even in such a chaotic situation. Christian is a blend of all my favorite thriller characters and actors, as well as carrying traits from my own experiences as an advertising executive.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I think Christian could be played by many different actors from Liam Neeson to Jamie Foxx. They have the action experience and can handle a complex character like Christian with ease.
Is this the first you’ve written?
Yes, The Apology is my first book. I have written commercials for television for decades, but I wanted to try my hand at novel writing. After taking James Patterson’s MasterClass, I felt armed with the tools to give it a try and write The Apology.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am the creative director of a creative agency I founded with my wife and muse, Emily, called Haggman. We’re based up on the beautiful North Shore of Massachusetts near Boston.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
When work and time allows, I typically will spend 2 hours a day on my writing.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part of being an independent author is the moment you get published. It’s exhilarating to see your work published as hard copy book. The hardest part of being an indie author is building a large audience and loyal following. I have received overwhelming support from my friends and family, as well as new fans that love Christian and Nachi’s story but it is a constant challenge to attract new readers.
Is there something in particular that motivates you?
I think the motivation to make a great story has driven me to where I am. I would love to see The Apology as a feature film one day and to do that I knew I needed a strong storyline. To me, the book offers a natural progression from page to screen and its plot is extremely captivating with its rich history and strong visual inspiration.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I think James Lee Burke is one of the greatest writers of our generation. He is able to capture the reader immediately through his stories. Also, I cannot recommend James Patterson’s MasterClass enough and think it is a great starting point for authors that are looking to jumpstart their careers.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway