The Narrow Man received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Kip Cassino.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Narrow Man, first published in February, 2019
What’s the book’s first line?
They were three. The unit was larger, but the three were its core, its heart.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
The Narrow Man follows the murderous run of a psychopath as he tries to reclaim his shattered life. Karl Thibault was once a soldier, who fought for his country in the deadly confusion of Vietnam. He came home a decorated hero, but faced dark impulses that eventually drove him to murder. Now escaped from the asylum-prison he where he was confined, he has two goals. First, he must punish the men who have touched his ex-wife, Marianne. Then, he must gather up the son he loves and escape with him to South America. A savvy Tucson cop works to end his violence, with the aid of a seasoned FBI agent. Meanwhile, their quarry commits murders around the nation to finance his planned run for safety. Will they catch him in time?
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’ve wanted to write a book that had Vietnam in it ever since my two tours there. I’ve also wanted to write about the ugliness and crippling mental anguish of PTSD since it nearly wrecked my life. The Narrow Man has elements of both. There’s a lot of me in it. Karl’s dream sequence describes nightmares I’ve had myself.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The book is a dark journey through the mind of a profoundly disturbed man. Even though he can seem very normal, Karl’s view of the world is drastically warped. He is no hero, by any means. In the end, people who want to enjoy a fast-paced thriller that looks at the world through the eyes of a psychopath will enjoy The Narrow Man.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character?
Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of? Karl is utterly directed to accomplish the goals he has set for himself. He works to erase or avoid any obstacles that might stand in his way. He is only thwarted by his own mental illness, which will not allow him to leave any of Marianne’s lovers unpunished. This is his Achilles’s heel. The Uni-Bomber, Ted Kaczynski, might be a psychological cousin, or John Brown.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Karl: Ryan Gosling, Marianne: Rosmund Pike, Agent Waters: Sam Elliot, Chris Carpenter: Stephen Amell, Judy Carnover: Maggie Gyllenhaal.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have wanted to write books since I was a little boy – ever since I learned the magic of reading.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is the first long fiction I have ever written. In the past, I’ve written non-fiction and short stories. At one time, I worked as a newspaper reporter.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am a retired market researcher and analyst. My old company still throws some work my way.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
On a good day, I will write for five or six hours straight.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
There are so many people in this business trying to take whatever money you have. Authors with agents don’t have these problems.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Don’t do business with anyone until you have thoroughly researched them. Ask any publishing house you want to do business with to give you a list of the titles they have published during the past year. Get in touch with some of those writers and ask them about their experience. Do not do business with anyone who sounds like they are from the Philippines.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes, I would – mostly because I’m no good at promotion.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I have books in my mind. Some of them have been there for a long time. I am driven to write them down.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Jack Vance. His use of language was unmatched.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Gravity’s Rainbow.