by C.R. Fausset
We are delighted to welcome novelist C.R. Fausset as our guest.
Clifford's debut thriller, The Golden Triangle (Burning Aces Press, September 2012 trade paperback and ebook formats) introduces Denton, Texas police officer Cliff Hanger.
Today Clifford tells us how he approached writing the book, and how the character and story came about. And don't miss the book's trailer at the end of this post.
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I love to read. I love to write. And I know what I'm looking for. Just needs to be a labor of love. And as for what I like, it doesn't matter as long as it organically fits. Wait, what? What does that mean? It just means that the story must be told with believability and conviction. Not saying it has to be set in the real world. Just saying that is must be a story that I believe in what's happening and can see a clear non-convoluted path. In clearer language, there can't be violence unless there's a need for violence, or swearing unless there's a need for it. But I want a straight forward human study with human emotions and a believability that takes the reader AWAY from their normal day to day lives. I also like the classic literary inventions of foreshadowing and misdirecting red-herrings, so naturally I have always been drawn to crime novels or mystery novels.
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C.R. Fausset
Alright, now that I got through that part that makes me sound smart (I think), let me tell you about my book and why I wrote it. The Golden Triangle is a story about a police officer named Cliff Hanger (the gimmick was intentional) who is early in his career. Why did I choose that time period of a cop's career? Why not start with him as a rookie?
Well, I can go into a huge spill about how that time period hasn't yet been explored in fiction. Or I can say that I wanted to have an 'origin-story' for my character. But, no, the truth is, I wrote about a cop early in his career, 'cause at the time I wrote the novel, I was a cop early in his career. Heck, I still am. Write what you know, right? Maybe that's why I gave my character my name, Cliff, or set the novel in my hometown of Denton? It was just a good way of really into my character's head.
But what about that particular timeframe in a cop's career appealed to me? Well, there are LOTS of 'detective' stories on the market and I would find myself having to compete with all of them. Instead, I decided to show the readers, that this cop doesn't know everything. That, as a new cop who just gets out of training, you don't know everything you're supposed to. Yet, these cops go out and try to tackle the world. They do stupid things to get themselves in trouble. This is what that story is about.
In the beginning, Cliff's friend Patrick is murdered and as anyone would, Cliff begins to speculate what happened. Though, Cliff instead takes it a little too far and begins — against orders — to investigate what happened. That's also when Cliff discovers that the case ISN'T as simple as he thought it would be. And like a 'young' officer would, he does things, without guidance, that may could get him in trouble. Afterall, how many times have you seen a news report about an officer abusing his authority or chasing after the bad guy recklessly? It isn't JUST a bad seed. Happens all the time to those without guidance.
So, that's the learning curve Cliff has to overcome throughout the novel. And soon he finds that he's shaken a hornet's nest he can't unshake. Then story takes a twist and Cliff begins to find out that maybe people aren't what they seem and he begins to challenge even his own views of why Patrick was murdered. All ending in a reveal that … well, there's a reason why the character's name is Cliff Hanger.
I know I haven't really explained much, but I can promise there's lots of action, humor, mystery, and even some romance. Plus, I've even tried to get inside Cliff's head in a scene to show the reader what a cop actually thinks while he's processing a crime scene. Definitely worth reading!
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C.R. Fausset lives in North Texas where he works as a police officer. He also holds a 3rd degree black belt and has trained in the martial arts for over 17 years. In addition to his debut novel, he has had two short stories — "Dawn" and "Doubleback" — published in Pulp Metal Magazine.
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The Golden Triangle
C.R. Fausset
A Cliff Hanger Thriller
It wasn't turning out to be a good week for police officer Clifford Hanger. First, his truck gets repossessed then Patrick, his friend from the police academy, gets murdered.
Everyone is quick to say Patrick was killed by a vindictive drug dealer, everyone except Cliff. But as Cliff digs deeper, he learns things aren't what they seem and Patrick may have gotten in over his head. Soon, Cliff is warned off the case, beaten down by drug dealers and left for dead.
Everything is pointing to police corruption but will Cliff find out the truth in time? Or will he find himself the killer's next victim?
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