Black Rifle received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Alex Davidson.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Black Rifle. It was published in mid-February, 2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
“It took 5.4 seconds for Arianna to die.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
“Black Rifle” follows the aftermath of another mass shooting in America. Thirteen people are dead and the killer is still at large. Their identity and motive remain a mystery. The only lead is the murder weapon: an AR-15, a.k.a. the “black rifle.”
The novel takes the reader through a series of interlocking power struggles: the gun trade, the US border, prison cell blocks, city streets ruled by drug gangs, the business of religion, Washington, D.C., and more.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
It started with a news article I read in 2017 reporting that over one hundred people were shot in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend. That just blew my mind. I became interested in how guns move around our country, why they are so linked to our cultural identity as Americans, and, finally, the psychologies of the people who are drawn to them.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It may not before you. It’s violent, it’s gritty, it uses ugly language. There is bigotry, extremism, and intolerance. But ultimately, this book is about hope, and if you can weather the tougher stuff, I believe you will come out the other side feeling exhilarated and glad that you took this journey.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I have three main characters. One is the gun—the AR-15. This is the basic idea of the novel: telling a story from the point-of-view of a gun.
My second is Cal. He is a sociopath. He is aware that he is a sociopath. I say that in a non-judgmental way. He has a personality disorder where he does not feel guilt or remorse or his conscience as much as a normal person would. He is intended to be a study on how many in our society hero-worship characters that are basically sociopaths. John Wick shoots a hundred people in 90 minutes and we cheer. Jack Reacher kills without sympathy and Lee Child makes a killing (pun intended). I find that interesting.
My third main character is Miranda. She is based on a woman I know who works in Federal Law Enforcement.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I went to a very strict, all-boys Catholic high school. I disagreed with a lot of the policies there. I found that journalism was a legitimate way to “speak truth to power,” and also just kind of be a wiseass and get away with it. I went to Boston University and got into playwrighting. From there, I studied Dramatic Writing at NYU, then moved to Los Angeles to write screen and television plays.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Everyday.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
It’s all so f*cking great and it’s all so f*cking hard. Do people wonder why there is a stereotype that writers drink?
But I’d say the hardest part is getting people to take your work seriously and give it a chance. The best is having a voice— creating something that is wholly yours.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Write because you have to.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Probably. It depends. I like having complete creative control, but it’s really tough to reach larger audiences as an indie.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I write because I have to.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Tough. Shakespeare, obvious as that it is. I really like playwright Martin McDonagh.