The Dark Ark received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author John Leifer.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Dark Ark, December 2020
What’s the book’s first line?
It took only seconds for NORAD Headquarters to be transformed into a scene of utter chaos as early warning signals flooded in from a network of missile detection sensors located across the globe.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Never before has the United States faced such an onslaught of terroristic activity, with attacks fomenting on multiple fronts. The most insidious of these threats comes from deep within our own government.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I have a deep interest in the field of genomic research, which we know has the potential for both great good and great harm.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The book sweeps up the reader like a massive wave that doesn’t crest until the final page.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Commander John Hart is not only brilliant, but astonishingly deadly. He is modeled on a composite of figures working within both the analytic and operational sides of intelligence, to include governmental organizations such as DARPA and USAMRID.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Commander John Hart would be played by Daniel Craig. Javier Bardem, or Liam Neeson.
When did you first decide to become an author?
When I was quite young, but my parents convinced me that I would starve as a writer, so I went a different direction.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
It’s actually my sixth book: two, traditionally published, non-fiction books on health care, followed by four novels.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am a consultant to health care organizations.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
3-4 hours per day, six days a week.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is having control over elements of production, such as the cover design. The most difficult part is the lack of editing and marketing support.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Self-doubt is your greatest enemy: you must persevere even in the absence of external validation!
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes, if I believed the publisher would improve the quality of my book, as well as its distribution.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
If I was motivated by fame or money, I’d say that I had picked the wrong career! I am motivated by the desire to constantly improve as a writer. If other rewards follow, then all the better.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I truly couldn’t narrow my answer to one, or even a dozen writers.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
The Bible, of course! Who wouldn’t want to have authored a book that sold more than 5 billion copies?
On a more serious note, I wish I could have written The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. It is so full of wisdom!