Strong Family Members received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author GHAD.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of the book is Strong Family Members. It was first published on November 10, 2022.
What’s the book’s first line?
The first line of the book is “Somewhere on a forest-surrounded greenbelt road of King City, Buzzo sat in a black Ford Explorer rental, alone on the dirt side of the road.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
A thrill ride through Toronto’s underworld of crime — from a viewpoint not known to many.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I was inspired to write this book because I have a personal understanding of Toronto’s crime life and the depth of it. Seeing that it’s sometimes exaggerated for entertainment, I decided to put forth a realistic story which would be much more compelling for those interested in the genre.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Reading this book gives an unbiased understanding of some crime that is often aired on the media, while giving readers a complete backstory and a look into the psychological mindset of the people involved in such crimes.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
What’s most distinctive about the main character, Jiggy, is that he’s intelligent with a dark mind in his dealings and business, yet he’s quite fair and likeable to even those who do not agree with his lifestyle and choices. I created the main character based on how many would describe me — the author.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I have been writing stories since childhood and in my early twenties I found peace when experiencing hard times by reflecting on my lifestyle and writing fictional stories of it. At that point I told myself becoming an author would be the better route.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
The first book I wrote as a child was a Science Fiction Fantasy which I could only remember bits of. Then Solid Linx was a book I wrote in my twenties when I decided to take my writing more seriously. Strong Family Members is the first book that I have published.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I simply begin writing whenever a great plot comes to mind. I continue to work on it for hours uncounted, because it becomes a hobby and not a task, which takes me months.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part of self publishing is that I have total control with what I choose to do with my book. The hard part is pushing it out there for the world to read.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Leave a notepad by your bed because the best ideas come to you when you’re struggling with sleep.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I could not imagine going under a publisher because I must have complete ownership and freedom of my work. A publisher would have to respect those needs before I even considered looking at any agreement.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I am most motivated to be recognized as a great author for my style of writing and my books. I believe with that comes fame and fortune.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I cannot pick one because both Michael Connelly and Dan Brown are writers that I really admire.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
I wish I could have written Trunk Music. This is one of the books I read when I decided to take my writing more seriously.