US: Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy
UK: Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy
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| Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy |
What happens when the deck is stacked against you…
From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted fugitive, Calvin Watters is a sadistic African-American Las Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police, finds him to be the perfect fall-guy.
…and the cards don't fall your way?
When the brutal slaying of a prominent casino owner is followed by the murder of a well-known bookie, Detective Dale Dayton is thrown into the middle of a highly political case and leads the largest homicide investigation in Vegas in the last twelve years.
What if you're dealt a Dead Man's Hand?
Against his superiors and better judgment, Dayton is willing to give Calvin one last chance. To redeem himself, Calvin must prove his innocence by finding the real killer, while avoiding the LVMPD, as well as protect the woman he loves from a professional assassin hired to silence them.
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Author Quiz interviews Luke Murphy...
Is there anything about you or your writing that makes you unique from other authors?
I`m a former professional hockey player turned published author. I`ve been very fortunate in my life to not only chase my dreams, but fulfill them. Playing hockey and writing a book has been like a dream come true.
Why do you enjoy writing in your usual genre?
My love for the suspense/thriller/mystery genres dates back to my days as a child, and the Hardy Boys. I`ve always been an avid reader of the genres, so it only made perfect sense that I write what I have a passion for.
If your book, DEAD MAN`S HAND, was made into a movie and you were asked for input into the soundtrack, are there any songs that would work especially well for any particular scenes?
In my opening scene, when Calvin Watters is trying to collect on a gambling debt, he cranks the volume on the stereo to drowned out his prey`s screams. I always pictured something hard booming from the box. Since I`m 37 years old, I pictured a Metallica heavy metal tune.
Are any of your characters based on yourself and if so to what degree, and do you find it easier or more difficult to write characters based on yourself?
My main character, Calvin Watters, is nothing like me except for the fact is that he was a former athlete who suffered a serious injury that led to his downfall, and had to build himself back up. I believe it helped writing from my experiences, going through the things that Calvin had to go through on his way back up to the top.
When deciding on your book title what influences you most; potential sales or artistic integrity?
My title actually changed three times. I had an original title, then when I signed with an agent we worked together and created a new title, and then when I signed my publishing contract, my publisher and I worked together to come up with DEAD MAN`S HAND.
How do you see the publishing industry changing over the next few years?
I think that ebooks will continue to grow and be the major source of sales for publishers, slowly drowning out paperbacks and bookstores.
What are some of your favourite quotes from reviews that you've received?
Easy one. My favourite review blurb is from one of my all-time favourite authors:
"Dead Man's Hand is a pleasure, a debut
novel that doesn't read like one, but still presents original characters and a
fresh new voice."—Thomas Perry, New
York Times bestselling author of Poison
Flower
Which ebook seller has been your most successful outlet?
My ebook is only available on Amazon for Kindle.
What other book would you regard is the biggest compliment to have your own work compared to and why?
Many readers on Amazon have compared DEAD MAN`S HAND to James Patterson`s books. It`s an honour, seeing as how successful Mr. Patterson has been in his writing career.
What target audience would you recommend your book, DEAD MAN`S HAND, to?
My goal in writing DEAD MAN`S HAND was to please anyone who loves thrillers, sports, or a walk on the wilder side of Las Vegas.
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Thanks for your comments, Luke, and good luck with your writing.
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A short excerpt...
In a pool of sweat, he shot up in bed. "Jesus!"
Pain bolted through his swollen right knee, but the
emotional pain from a shattered ego hurt even worse. It was the same pain and
nightmare that had visited him many nights over the last four years. He was the
only one to blame for USC's humiliating loss and his own humiliating personal downfall.
Removing the sweat-soaked sheets, he hobbled across
the room, dodged the strewn clothes on the floor, stepped into the bathroom and
quietly closed the door behind him. He flicked on the light and squinted as the
sudden brightness blinded him. Then he reached for the bottle of Percocet, his
loyal companion in these isolated, agonizing nights.
He shook three of the blue painkillers into his hand,
his steady diet of Percs. When he couldn't get enough from his doctor, he
bought extras from a dealer. He downed the pills, chasing them with a mouthful of
water. They would take some time to kick in, but relief was on its way. The
drugs, along with his secret hopes and plans, were all that kept him from
slipping over the edge.
He used his hands on the vanity to hold his weight and
stared into the mirror. At twenty-six, he already had the hair and face of a
stranger.
"You should let your dreadlocks grow long,"
his boss suggested. "More intimidating."
The patchy facial hair was Calvin's decision. The
overall effect was menacing—just right for his line of work.
His sharp brown eyes, which at one time had won him
glances from beautiful women in college, were usually hidden behind dark
sunglasses. Unseen eyes were intimidating too and when he took them off to
stare at a victim, he could use his eyes to look like a madman
He closed them now and shook his head in disgust. "You
look like sh*t. Hell, you are sh*t."
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| Luke Murphy, author of Dead Man's Hand |
www.authorlukemurphy.com
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Follow Luke Murphy on facebook and twitter:
Facebook: Author Luke Murphy
Twitter: @AuthorLMurphy
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Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy is available for Kindle from Amazon:
US: Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy
UK: Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy
And from Createspace:
Dead Man's Hand by Luke Murphy on Createspace
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