Interview with Piers Platt, author of 'Rath's Deception'

Piers Platt is the New York Times bestselling author of "Combat and Other Shenanigans," a memoir of his year-long deployment to Iraq as a tank and scout platoon leader. Piers grew up in Boston, but spent most of his childhood in various boarding schools, including getting trained as a classical singer at a choir school for boys. He joined the Army in 2002, and spent four years on active duty.

When he's not writing or spending time with his lovely wife and daughter, Piers works as a strategy consultant in New York city.

His latest book is the sci fi/thriller, Rath’s Deception.

For More Information

• Visit Piers Platt’s website.
• Connect with Piers on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Piers at Goodreads.

About the Book:

Title: Rath’s Deception
Author: Piers Platt
Publisher: Piers Platt
Pages: 350
Genre: Sci Fi/Thriller

On the cut-throat streets of Tarkis, orphaned teens like Rath end up jailed … or dead. So when the shadowy Janus Group offers Rath a chance to earn riches beyond his wildest dreams, he seizes it. But the Janus Group is as ruthless as the elite assassins it controls. Rath will have to survive their grueling, off-world training, and fulfill all fifty kills in his contract before a single cent comes his way. And ending so many lives comes with a price Rath can’t anticipate. It’ll certainly cost him what’s left of his innocence. It may well cost him his life.

For More Information

• Rath’s Deception is available at Amazon.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life!  Now that your book has been published, we’d love to find out more about the process.  Can we begin by having you take us at the beginning?  Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

I wrote a short story called Last Pursuit, in which a weary assassin attempts to finish his final assignment for an organized crime syndicate. And two things happened: (1) readers kept telling me they liked it, but it was too short, and (2) I kept making up new threads to his story. I realized a full book was in order…and that soon blossomed into a trilogy, because I had a huge ending to the story arc in mind, and I needed some room to set that up. Plus, it was huge fun living in the story world.

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

I think thrillers can be tough because you’re always laying groundwork for later reveals or twists, and you don’t want to be too heavy-handed or too subtle, you need to strike a good balance. I would highly recommend outlining the major plot sequences at least, so that you can ensure your pacing is good, and the right things happen in the right order for you to deliver on the grand finale you have envisioned.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

I am proudly self-published. I didn’t consider the traditional route for this series – I’d rather invest my own money in a professional editor and cover designer, retain full control over my work, and know that my success or failure rests solely on my own abilities as a writer and an entrepreneur.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

The first book I uploaded to Amazon’s KDP platform was nearly two years ago, and I put it up as a test run, to learn the ropes before doing it “for real” with some of my more likely-to-succeed titles. But it sold! It’s a short history of firearms from the 17^th Century onwards, so not the most compelling of topics…but people still buy it from time to time, and I have never really promoted it. It’s awesome, and validating.

Q: What other books (if any) are you working on and when will they be published?

Books 2 and 3 in the Janus Group series! They will be published over the next two months – largely complete at this stage, just putting on the finishing touches. I wanted to make sure I completed the whole story arc before I published the first book – I didn’t want readers to have to wait around to find out what happens next.

Q: What’s your favorite place to hang out online?

KBoards! I’m not a big poster over there, but it’s by far the most vibrant, helpful community of indie authors I’ve found. I owe a lot to the pioneers on that board that shared (and continue to share) their insights.

Q: What’s your nightly ritual before retiring for the night?

After we put my daughter to bed (I love reading her her bedtime books), my wife and I usually catch up about our days, and sometimes watch a show (looking for a new favorite after Parks and Rec closed out – any recos??). I like to read in bed before lights out, although while I’m writing, I generally don’t read in the same genre. I finished The Martian a couple weeks back, though, highly recommended.

Q: Finally, what message (if any) are you trying to get across with your book?

It’s not really a preachy book, more of a thrill-ride that keeps you guessing! But if you put a gun to my head (which literally happens to several characters in the book…), I’d say the message is “Be careful what you wish for.” And also: “Don’t underestimate Rath!”

Q: Thank you again for this interview!  Do you have any final words?

Thank you for having me!  Final words: the highlight of my day is hearing from readers, so please, if you pick up any of my books, reach out and tell me what you think. I respond to every email I get.  You can find all my info at www.piersplatt.com