The Message in the Painted Rock received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Tom Blanton.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Message in the Painted Rock, published October 3, 2019 by Black Rose Writing.
What’s the book’s first line?
Prologue: “What’s going on?” Arthur wondered, standing alone atop Skeleton Rock.
Chapter One: “Yikes!” Arthur jumped as a deafening crack of thunder followed a brilliant flash of lightning.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch.”
On its face, the book is the story of the hero journey of a couple of resourceful teenagers who are drawn by a weird old man into his quest for an ancient artifact. Although they initially receive help from some very odd and unlikely sources, in the end, trapped underground with time running out, they must rely only on their own courage and their new-found trust in each other if they are to survive and vanquish an unspeakably evil creature.
At a different level, the book is also about seeing and appreciating the wonders, and, yes, the magic that surrounds all of us every day. I think that Arthur and Marya learned that these wonders, and magic do exist in their world, and it is my hope that the young reader will do so as well.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Originally I wrote the book as a birthday gift for my grandson, with the sole intent of having a few printed for him. Seeking publication was not part of the original plan at all. But when I asked a friend to review the manuscript before I had had it printed, he insisted that it is publishable. After that it was like the old saying in politics: One person can a talk someone into running for office while a thousand can’t talk him out of it.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
That’s a kind of difficult question to answer. I guess my answer would be that for its intended age group the book is a lot of fun, with a couple of smart and courageous young protagonists, a weird old man with a white beard, some strange creatures, helpful and otherwise, and a plot that interweaves Arthurian legend and the Spanish conquest of the New World into a spine-tingling present day mystery. As an author should, I suppose, I really like these characters and the fast-moving story.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I think that the main thing that stands out about Arthur and Marya is their courage and their resourcefulness. They meet fantastic creatures and face inhuman evil, and do so, for the most part, fearlessly. Also of note, I think, is their intelligence and their trust in each other.
When did you decide to become an author?
Writing has always been important to me, and I’ve always done it. I don’t recall ever “deciding to become an author;” at one level or another I’ve always considered myself as an author, published or not.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is my first published work.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m retired, so I do pretty much what I want to do.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I devoted a couple of hours a day in the early days of writing this book. As the publication process moved forward, that time was increased. During the final editing I was probably up to five hours a day. Now, though I am working on a sequel, I spend no more than a couple of hours a day writing.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
The truth is that I don’t think I could presume to give advice to anyone. I may be a little bit farther along in the journey than some, but if I am, it’s not due to any magic bullet, or secret to success. If I can do this, anyone can do it.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Well, like everyone else, in any endeavor, I would always be willing to listen to anything that might result in a better fit for me. But the notion of “traditional publisher” would be totally irrelevant to me in that process.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
This is another toughie. Probably William Faulkner, historically, though Carlos Ruiz Zafon has soared up my list in the recent past.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Easy one. Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. It had an enormous influence on me even after only one reading.