AN INTERVIEW WITH JIM O'SHEA ~ WIN A COPY OF THE RELUCTANT DISCIPLE

Mary Ellis here and today I had the honor of interviewing Jim O'Shea who recently released The Reluctant Disciple. First the interview...

If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?

Man of faith with heavy emphasis on family and friends.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

I enjoy traveling and play ice hockey several times per week.

What was your favorite book as a teen or child?

My elementary school did not encourage books, so most of my reading was comic books and Mad Magazine!

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.

I’m fascinated by the religion/science debate. I sold computer software to major corporations for twenty five years. I didn’t start creative writing until eight years ago.

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?

I started out writing mystery/thrillers and have stayed the path. I believe it’s simply because that is what I like to read.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I had a reader bail after only a few chapters because she wasn’t comfortable with a relationship between the two co-protagonists. I’ve had a number of reviews that have compared me to Dan Brown and James Patterson, which is a wonderful compliment.

Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?

I have a few ideas outside my current genre, but they are on the back burner due to lack of interest on my part. I’m really interested in building suspense and mystery in my stories and giving the reader a satisfying ending.

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?

I’m not sure I would do anything different. I started out with a story, and used the resulting novel to fine tune my skills via dozens of edits and rewrites. I’ve always been one to dive in to something if it’s right, and figure things out later. So far, it’s worked very well.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?

You will get a lot of advice on writing queries, finding an agent, attending seminars, picking the right genre and audience, etc, but it will ALWAYS boil down to the quality of the writing. Find a critique group and hone your writing skills before all else.

Now a little bit about the The Reluctant Disciple:  Ryan Kates is a paranormal expert, TV host, and skeptic. He hosts News4th, a nationally popular cable show focused on UFOs, ghosts, and everything that goes bump in the night. Ryan is used to dealing with the weird and unexplainable, but when bizarre paranormal phenomena rock the planet he finds himself questioning his long-held views. As these phenomena escalate, mass hysteria and political tensions begin to mount on a global scale. The world begins to spin out of control, and a former flame reenters Ryan’s life, bringing her family along for the ride. The pawns are moved into place, and Ryan must confront the ultimate evil on the world stage, culminating in a supernatural encounter far beyond his wildest dreams. The Reluctant Disciple establishes a credible connection between End Times biblical prophecy and our society’s fascination with the paranormal, taking readers on a thrill ride they won’t soon forget.


Bio: Jim is a long-time resident of fly-over country and a graduate of the University of Missouri in Columbia. He now spends his time crafting novels that examine the complex relationship between faith and science, stories designed to take believers and even doubters to places they may not have previously considered. The Reluctant Disciple is Jim's second novel. Jim's next novels Witness and Blood Sisters should be available in late 2018. Correspondence to the author should be directed to: jimoshea-author@hotmail.com.
To purchase this book: http://ambassador-international.com/books/the-reluctant-disciple/

To win a copy of The Reluctant Disciple please leave Jim O'Shea a comment:  Contest open to everyone (NOT US only...)

And thanks, Jim, for taking the time to drop by Suspense Sisters!!  ~ Mary Ellis