The Mirror Man received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author J.B. Manas.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Mirror Man was published just recently, in August, 2022.
What’s the book’s first line?
“They would have twenty minutes to steal 130 bags of diamonds worth fifty million USD from one of the busiest airports in Europe.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
The Mirror Man is a Hitchcockian thriller in which a reclusive writer with the power to read memories is forced by a mysterious stranger to steal government secrets. I’d say the book is equal parts spy thriller, crime fiction, psychological suspense, and even a touch of sci-fi in terms of a protagonist who can read memories and an antagonist who can erase them.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I had started out wanting to write a story on the order of North by Northwest about an innocent man in over his head in espionage. Around the same time, I had read about another Hitchcock story – one that was never filmed – called The Blind Man, about a blind pianist given an eye transplant from a murder victim, who then begins seeing visions of the murderer.
So, I thought, what if a man could experience people’s memories with a single touch? And what if those visions are so painful that he avoids people altogether? For example, he lives with his mother, works on a novel, plays online video games and watches old movies, wishing he were like Cary Grant. From there, I explored other questions. What would drive this man out of his comfort zone, and to perhaps to use his skills to solve a crime? From there, how would he get caught up in a far greater problem – one that could threaten the world? Who would be the antagonist trying to exploit him and how could this antagonist be as interesting as the hero? From these basic elements, the story evolved, including making the antagonist the antithesis of the hero in every way.
One thing worth mentioning is that the character of Lela Mars, the Philly detective that initially recruits Julian and becomes his ally, initially began as a side character. For weeks, I bounced the character profile around with a female friend to make sure I was getting a true female perspective. We explored her background, her likes and dislikes. This exercise not only helped flesh out the character, but it elevated her to a main character. Ultimately, this story is as much Lela’s as it is Julian’s or Sebastian’s.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I think pure escapist entertainment. I would say a fan of the classic Hitchcock films, such as North by Northwest or To Catch and Thief, or the James Bond novels and films, would especially appreciate the motifs and nods to both genres. In that regard, certain aspects of the book have an “old school” feel, but it’s very much a contemporary thriller. It is my hope that fans of Ian Fleming’s flair for describing locales, meals, and scenes without detracting from a fast-paced plot will appreciate the visual and sensual cues. And aficionados of Michael Crichton might appreciate the elements of the story that borrow from real events and science. Above all, I focused on the characters, their issues, their growth, their relationships, and their unique personalities, so the plot had to support who they were and what they needed and wanted.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Julian Black, the main protagonist, struggles with agoraphobia due to what he sees as his “affliction” –painfully experiencing others’ memories, wishing he were as suave as Cary Grant. Meanwhile, Sebastian Blaine, the antagonist, is a master thief with a devil-may-care attitude who IS like Cary Grant, living a life Julian only can experience in his video games. Sebastian is as suave as Julian is awkward. The two, of course, clash in surprising ways.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
If they made the film in the fifties or sixties, Sebastian Blaine would have been easy, since he was based on Cary Grant. Jimmy Stewart would’ve made a great Julian. In modern times, I could envision Owen Wilson as Julian (though Julian is 35), or perhaps Dylan O’Brien or Evan Peters. Mathew Goode (from Downton Abbey and The Crown) would be the ideal Sebastian Blaine or perhaps Benedict Cumberbatch. As for the tenacious Philly detective, Lela Mars, I could see Christian Serratos (Rosita from The Walking Dead), Natalie Martinez, or even Anya Taylor Joy, who, in my mind, can play anything. As you can see, I’ve given this a lot of thought! I always cast my characters when I write.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I started writing sci-fi short stories in my early teens. I remember one story I wrote where aliens came to earth to communicate with intelligent life, which as it turned out, were plants. So a botanist was called in to help figure out what they wanted. I wrote a few more, mostly silly, none published.
It wasn’t until decades later that I began writing articles in the corporate world on leadership lessons from history. That led to me writing nonfiction books (as Jerry Manas), one on lessons from Napoleon’s rise and fall (published by Nelson Business, now Harper Collins), one on lessons from the Roman Empire, and several more. But even then, my passion was as a storyteller, and so my first novel was a time-travel thriller called the Kronos Interference that I wrote with a friend, which was published by a small press and got quite a bit of recognition in 2012 including a Kirkus starred review. Since then, I’ve been hooked on writing thrillers.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
To date I’ve written or co-authored five nonfiction books, one graphic novel, and three novels, including this one. Plus, I’ve worked on a few screenplays that are still under review.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
The short answer is that it varies. I try to write at least a thousand words a day, though some days I write more and some days less. Even if I just get a couple paragraphs in, or revise a prior chapter, I’m satisfied. Some days I don’t write at all, but do research, which to me is like writing because it moves things forward. And some days I just experience life, which again contributes to the journey in sometimes surprising ways.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
To me, the best part of writing indie books is the freedom to tell the tale the way I see fit, and to have freedom over the title and cover. Many of my stories cross genres, which today’s publishers tend to shy away from. They tend to resist anything that doesn’t neatly fit into either a specific genre (psychological thriller, crime noir, etc.) or literary fiction. As they say, writing is an art, but publishing is a business.
By far, the hardest part of being an indie is the time and effort spent on advertising and marketing. Even with traditionally published books, much of the marketing falls on the author, but it’s on steroids with an indie book. The whole advertising engine and the relationship with the national bookstores is lacking as an indie author. Unless you’re Dean Koontz and you already have millions of readers waiting for your next book.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Give your indie book the same attention you would if you were pitching it to an agent, because ultimately, the reader shouldn’t be able to tell the difference. A strong network of test readers really helps. Prepare to spend time researching, writing, editing, rewriting, getting feedback, letting the book sit a few weeks, re-reading it, rewriting more, formatting, publishing, marketing, advertising, and then marketing more. And, oh yes, get busy planning your next book and enjoy the ride.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
If I had a story I loved that fit within a genre, and a publisher was willing to publish it, I would certainly explore the opportunity depending on the deal.
I’ve had nonfiction books traditionally published and there’s something nice about having them do the advertising and seeing your book in the chain bookstores. But ultimately, if I’m going to write a book, I have to fall in love with the characters and the story. Then I can decide which publishing channel to pursue for it. I know a number of authors who’ve build a huge audience with traditional publishing and then went indie for the increased freedom. On the flip side, I’ve also seen indie authors make a real breakthrough after signing with a publisher. The key is getting enough books out there in a certain style or genre family to build a following. Stephen King can change genres the way most people change their underwear. But he didn’t start out that way. Not many of us can.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
What motivates me is to practice the art of storytelling, perfect the craft, create stories that I would love to read, and share it with an appreciative audience. In a way, it’s all about connection – connecting with the characters and connecting with the readers. If I can lead readers on a journey and make them feel the joy that I feel when I get hooked into a great book or film, then that makes me want to keep writing. Of course, I wouldn’t turn down a fortune either! Fame I could do without, but to hear from readers who “get” the story and love the characters – that’s absolute gold.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
From a writing perspective, I would have to narrow it down to two. I admire Ian Fleming for his perfect blend of economic writing style while still offering enough detail to give a great sense of place. And I admire Michael Crichton for his uncanny knack for writing books that read like movies and blending science and science fiction so that one doesn’t know where one ends and the other begins.
From a pure storytelling perspective, my two heroes are Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen Spielberg. Both are a huge inspiration when I’m structuring and building scenes.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Out of all the books I’ve read, I wish I could have written Jurassic Park. Not only because I’d be a gazillionaire, but because it’s such a perfect cocktail of adventure, colorful offsetting characters, and a fantastic premise almost anyone on the planet could get excited about: What if we could bring back dinosaurs? Such a simple concept that can be described in an instant. And he made it so believable, it felt like it could happen. Of course, now we’re approaching an era where that very well could happen, if we don’t become extinct ourselves.