Shattered Triangle received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author William P. Messenger.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Shattered Triangle: A Consequential Murder, June 19, 2014.
What’s the book’s first line?
The day of the funeral, I arrived thirty minutes early.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Politics, religion and life-long friendships stream beneath a tale of murder. Amidst the restrained wealth of Hancock Park, an exclusive neighborhood in L.A., a family is mysteriously murdered. But this is no ordinary killing. Since the sole survivor is a candidate for the U.S. Senate, there are political implications for the entire State of California. But there are also more personal concerns. Can relationships forged over decades survive the investigation?
Three friends, inseparable as children, take very different paths toward adulthood. In spite of the distances that emerge among them, they are thrust together by the tragedy of death. Each affected in different ways.
Giuseppe Lozano, candidate for U.S. Senate, returns home one night to find his wife and three children mysteriously murdered. There seems to be no motive, and little evidence is left at the scene. How will this affect him and his run for office?
Giovanni Lozano, a Catholic priest, is forced to look beyond the violence to find the presence of God. As a brother and uncle, he feels anger and a desire for revenge. As a pries he is torn by the call of a God who loves all people—good and bad. Can he forgive?
Tom Moran, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, is charged with finding the murderer and building a case for justice. He feels no call to forgive. Nor is he driven by ambition. This case is personal. But can he deliver?
Three lives. Three friends. Will the bonds of friendship survive?
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
A friend had suggested that I write a mystery story.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It is more than a murder mystery. It raises moral, religious and political questions, directly challenging modern American life.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
There are three main characters. The politician: His self-centered conceit and the subtlety of his manipulation. The priest: His commitment to truth cloaked in unrestrained liberalism and arrogance. The cop: His loyalty to his friends and willingness to risk his career.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Twin brothers could be played by Steven Amell or Scott Eastwood. The lieutenant could be played by Gerard Butler. Jackson, who comes back prominently in the second and third books could be played by Chris Evans or Joseph Gordon Levitt.
When did you first decide to become an author?
When I retired from active parish ministry and people kept asking me to write a book.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
As a retired priest I officiate at many funerals.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
It depends on where I am in the writing process. I do not like to force my writing and I am not structured in my time. When I am inspired I can write for hours at a time. Between periods of inspiration I do other kinds of writing.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
It’s not easy to compare since indie writing is my only experience. I suppose the best part is the freedom of writing at my own pace. The hardest part is marketing.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Aside from the clichéd advice of writing what you know, I would add write what you really like and trust your inspiration.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
At this time, no. I would be attracted by the marketing budget of a traditional, at least large, publishing house. But my publisher has been loyal to me. And I like the idea of being part of something small and personal.
Is there something in particular that motivates you?
I like communicating and challenging people to think outside their own comfort zones. I just want to tell stories that people might enjoy reading.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
It depends entirely upon genre. For mystery and detective stories I have long been a fan of Agatha Christie and Erle Stanley Gardner. I like the characters they wrote. I also liked Paul Wellman.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Paul Wellman’s The Walls of Jericho.