Gun Kiss by
Please welcome Khaled Talib author of Gun Kiss
Khaled Talib will be awarding a Amazon Fire 7 8GB tablet to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. The prize is limited to U.S. and Canada only.
Gun Kiss
by Khaled Talib
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GENRE: Thriller
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INTERVIEW:
- How did you come up with ideas for your books?
I was a magazine reporter for a long time, and while journalism and novel writing are completely two different things, they have some commonalities, and I think it played a role in helping me discover story ideas. In journalism, the reporter goes out and look for stories. You could hear something or see something and find ways to develop the story. You could even be sitting down at your desk, reading a newspaper, and suddenly something interesting hits you. You could even get an idea from meeting someone at a party.
The experience of finding stories as a magazine reporter helped me in writing fiction. What you do next is to follow up and see where it goes. You might have a story.
The question is, do you know how to extract it? Everything and anything can be materials for storytelling.
- What expertise did you bring to your writing?
I’d say my expertise lies in twists and turns, so expect the unexpected when you’re reading my novels. I also write in two-tones. It was my first editor and her husband who spotted it because I didn’t realize what I was doing. My magazine days allowed room for creative prose, so one moment, I could be writing a descriptive passage and the next moment, the words are straight cut. Somehow or rather, it works for me. Think of it as a two-tone wall.
How I developed this style was accidental. Although I read many thrillers, for some strange reason, when I picked Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray, I felt an overwhelming need to describe my scenes the way he wrote his passages; it is descriptive. And when I was reading some of Robert Ludlum’s novels, particularly the Bourne series, I noticed he was somewhat descriptive too. Subconsciously, I began to adopt this style of writing. I just could not let a scene go without describing the weather, the sky or the interior in detail. I would feel naked if I did not do it.
- What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
When it comes to chocolates and desserts, I find it difficult to persuade myself to be civilized.
- As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
You are not a writer if you stop writing. So, I cannot stop. I must keep writing. It is an adventure within an adventure. On the business side, I noticed more people self-publishing, even famous authors. I was advised to self-publish because certain doors will open to you that won’t if you take the traditional road. There’s more profit in self-publishing, and with profit you have independence to write more without baggage. We’ll see what happens.
- If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?
For Gun Kiss, I’d say James Marsden would play the perfect role as my lead male protagonist, “Blake Deco”, and Jennifer Lawrence suits the role of the co-protagonist movie star, “Goldie St. Helen.” I think they match perfectly, and it would be a riot if they made the novel into a movie. In fact, USA Today bestselling author, Dave Edlund, read the novel and reviewed it on Goodreads and Amazon. In his review, he said he could see the novel as a movie.
- Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I just start writing with some idea in mind. I can’t seem to outline anything. I tried and tried and tried but it’s not me. I do have some characters in mind and I do plan the locations, but I’m not able to draw a storyboard. Strange. I guess it’s not my style. Who knows? I might change.
- Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
I have completed a thriller set in South Australia, but I need to rewrite it a few more times. Meanwhile, I am taking a break before coming back to the manuscript with a pair of fresh eyes. The novel is called Spiral and it is primarily set in a winery. The protagonist gets embroiled in a series of mishaps starting with a dead body. The novel begins as a murder mystery but slowly develops into an espionage thriller.
- Who is your favorite actor and actress?
I watch all kinds of movies, so it is difficult to list every name. Where do I even begin? Present people: George Clooney, Keanu Reeves, Mark Wahlberg, Danzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio. As for actresses, all of them, both young and old. Everyone has their own style. I might hate them in certain movies and enjoy them in others. I guess it also has to do with the script and the direction. I like George Clooney in Ocean’s Elevenand From Dusk till Dawn, but I found The American, which takes place in an Italian countryside to be just an okay movie. And then he made some others that I didn’t even care to watch. So, it all depends.
- Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?
The actress gets kidnapped and after she is rescued, she gets kidnapped again. But this time, she has no help and is literally on her own. For her, it is a situation where she can choose to give up or fight for her life. But without the strength that she needs, can she, and will she?
- Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.
I have not experienced it, but I planned to. People have been asking me to write sequels, and I want to… I like my characters. I enjoy their presence. I even enjoy writing about the tuxedo cat in Gun Kiss.
BLURB:
The United States media is abuzz with news of the mysterious disappearance of Hollywood movie star, Goldie St. Helen.
Ex-Delta Force Blake Deco receives a tip from a Mexican friend that a drug lord, obsessed with the beautiful actress, is holding her captive in Tijuana.
With the help of a reluctant army friend, Blake mounts a daring rescue.
What he doesn’t expect is to have feelings for Goldie—or that a killer is hunting them.
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EXCERPT:
Clad in tactical black, Blake rested on his chest in the dark chaparral. He watched his curly-haired friend beside him maneuver the tiny dragonfly drone with his phone. The luminous screen showed its flight path toward Dai Lo’s hacienda in the northeastern outskirts of Tijuana, nothing around it for miles.
The drone sent back images of the 375,000 square feet compound, including some of Dai Lo’s men patrolling. It hovered in front of the three-floor mansion built with stacked balconies and double-hung windows. It then swooped down to a porch with three tall columns under a pediment. Finding no entry point, Jack raised it up again.
“I’m going to circle behind,” Jack said.
“Do that,” Blake responded.
“You going to kill Dai Lo?” Jack asked.
“Not unless I have to. I’m not an assassin,” Blake said.
“So why did you give Chavez the impression you will?”
“If Chavez knew what I was thinking, he wouldn’t give me the weapons. Then how are we going to save the actress?”
“You better know what you’re doing, Blake.”
“If you still want to go on that European tour, start thinking positive.”
The tiny drone went around the mansion and flew past a lit pool, buffeting over a garden and an annex connected by a sheltered catwalk. It moved sideways until it came to a lit corner window on the third level. The visual zoomed closer to the windowsill and sent back an image that left both men recoiling with gasps.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Khaled Talib is a former journalist with local and international exposure. He has authored three thrillers since 2014.
The author’s works have been praised by NY Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, NY Times bestselling author Ruth Harris, USA Today bestselling author Jon Land, NY Times bestselling author Keith Thomson, K.J. Howe, and Jon McGoran.
His debut thriller, Smokescreen, was listed as one of the six “boundary-breaking indies” in 2016 by the IndieReader. His second novel, Incognito, won the Silver Award for the AuthorsDB Book Cover Contest 2017. Gun Kiss is his third novel.
Khaled, who is also a member of the International Thriller Writers, resides in Singapore.
Authors website : http://www.khaledtalibthriller.com
Twitter account: https://twitter.com/KhaledTalib
Author Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/khaled.talib/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khaledtalibbooks/
Author Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00DYPSB72?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6940359.Khaled_Talib
Gun Kiss (YouTube) Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6uhYvbY7KQ
GUN KISS Buy links:
The book will be on sale for only $0.99.
Author website direct: http://khaledtalibthriller.com/books/
Amazon Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Kiss-Khaled-Talib-ebook/dp/B07CVGKQY6
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823918
Kobo
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Kiss-Khaled-Talib-ebook/dp/B07CVGKQY6
B&N
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gun-kiss-khaled-talib/1127553149?ean=2940155243199
Ibooks/Apple
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/gun-kiss/id1380716623?mt=11
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Khaled Talib will be awarding a Amazon Fire 7 8GB tablet to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. The prize is limited to U.S. and Canada only.
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