The Tiger's Cage: Interview with Suspense Author Linda J. White
Linda
J. White is the author of multiple FBI thrillers including the HOLT
Medallion-winning “Seeds of Evidence.” She lives in Fauquier
County, Virginia with her
husband Larry, who worked at the FBI Academy
for over 27 years. When she’s not writing she likes playing with dogs and her
grandchildren and going to the beach.
Her
latest book is the suspense novel, The
Tiger’s Cage.
For More Information
- Visit Linda J. White’s website.
- Connect with Linda on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Linda at Goodreads.
About the Book:
FBI
Special Agent Tom Donovan is about to nail the drug lord he’s been
investigating when Angel Ramos does the unthinkable: He kidnaps Tom’s
eighteen-year-old son, Kenny. The FBI responds with a powerful show of force
but Ramos manages to elude them. Tom is furious, his wife is terrified, and
their son is forced to confront evil face-to-face.
Tom
devises a brilliant plan to rescue his son, but on a windy, rainy night in Washington,
his past collides with his present in a dramatic turn of events, and Tom
discovers his greatest strength isn’t his at all.
The
Tiger’s Cage is a story of courage, faith, and endurance in a violent
world.
For More Information
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?
Believe it or not, “The Tiger’s
Cage” has been 23 years in the making! I got the idea for it after knee surgery
in December, 1992, and wrote it in 1993. My husband worked at the FBI
Academy for 27 years, making
training films. Something about his work triggered the story idea, and off I
went. Tiger came very close to being picked up by a major publisher in 1996,
but that deal fizzled. So it sat in a drawer until last summer, when I decided
to revise it and self-publish it.
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?
Tiger was my first attempt at
novel writing. It was hard learning both FBI procedures (I wanted to be
accurate) and novel techniques at the same time. All I can say to other writers
is 1) ask for help; and 2) be persistent. It took me a year to write Tiger, and
that’s typical for me still.
Q: Who is your publisher and how
did you find them or did you self-publish?
“The Tiger’s Cage” is
self-published but I also have three traditionally published books. The
publishing industry isn’t an easy one to break into. The best way to do it is
network by going to conferences, build an online platform through Twitter,
Instagram, Facebook, etc., consider blogging, and pray!
The downside of self-publishing
is this: It’s hard for a writer to judge his or her own work. Many books are
hitting the market that just aren’t ready. Don’t establish a mediocre
reputation for yourself by self-publishing a book that’s really not ready for
prime time.
Q: Is there anything that
surprised you about getting your first book published?
“Bloody Point” was my first
published book, but it was the fourth one I’d written. I was surprised at how
well it was received in the most interesting places: a boat show, an oyster
festival, a marine museum. What a kick it was to walk into the museum store and
see my book on the shelf!
Q: What other books (if any) are
you working on and when will they be published?
I’m working on a book about the
2002 D.C. Sniper. It’ll be fictionalized and set in a different location. I
lived through that incident, and wrote about it for the newspaper at which I
was working. My agent is shopping that concept now.
I’m also working on a novella
which I probably will self-publish this year. It’s about a high school senior
who is courted by an older man (he’s 25) whose intentions will have devastating
consequences.
Q: What’s your favorite place to
hang out online?
Facebook. @LindaJWhiteBooks
Lately I’ve started getting into
Twitter. We’ll see. I’m just having fun with it right now. @rytn4hm
Q: What’s your nightly ritual
before retiring for the night?
Oh, goodness. After the usual
(bathroom, teeth brushing), I unwind by reading, usually on my Kindle.
Sometimes I play Classic Words on it, too. I’m a little obsessive about that.
Q: Finally, what message (if any)
are you trying to get across with your book?
Like most people, I’ve gone
through times when I’ve wondered about God. Where is He? Why is He allowing
this? Does prayer work? I like exploring those questions through my characters.
Q: Thank you again for this
interview! Do you have any final words?
There are lots of ways to spend
your time, and lots of (much easier) ways to make money than by writing. So,
write if you’re the kind of person who can’t not write. If that’s who you are and if that’s how you process
life, then keep writing and don’t quit. As for readers? We love you!
Leave a Comment