We are delighted to welcome author J. Frank James to Omnimystery News today.
Jim has written six books in his Lou Malloy series — there's also a prequel novel — which all began in 2013 with Dead Money Run (trade paperback and ebook formats). We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Jim to talk more about his work.
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Omnimystery News: Tell us a little more about your series character, Lou Malloy.
Photo provided courtesy of
J. Frank James
J. Frank James: When I initiated my decision to begin writing, I wanted to use a character that would engage the reader in the action taking place in the story. Lou Malloy came about quite by accident. I wanted to use a name that would reverberate in the reader's mind with the idea of masculinity. Malloy is a man of action. He is not someone who will engage in psychoanalytical discussions. As the reader reads each book, they will see changes in Malloy's character brought on by his relationship with Hilary Kelly. What Hilary does is bring a woman's touch into Malloy's life to round out the edges. Over time, the reader will learn about changes in Malloy's approach to life. After all, he is a ex-con who got a college degree while he was in prison. He also approached his time in prison as a learning experience as opposed to a form of punishment. He took full responsibility for his actions. He also had $15 million dollars waiting for him when he got out.
OMN: How would you categorize the books in this series?
JFJ: Categorizing my books into one group is not easy since my books tend to be a little eclectic. On the one hand they are criminal in nature, but also action and adventure. I am coming out with a new character named Indigo Marsh and Indigo will be more criminal/detective in terms of its format. Malloy, however, will always be crime novel set to an action adventure theme.
OMN: Tell us something about Dead Money Run that isn't mentioned in the synopsis.
JFJ: Dead Money Run is geared to introducing the reader to my protagonist, Lou Malloy and his partner, Hilary Kelly. It takes the reader through the process whereby Malloy becomes an operative in the Department of Homeland Security and hooks up with Max Reynolds, the head man of the crimes division dealing with criminal activities that impact the security of the United States. The book also sets the tone as to who Lou Malloy is as a person and his relationship with Hilary, Crusher and Bunny. While Malloy comes off as a stone killer in the book, the reader sees how Hilary's influence on him helps set a certain softness that wasn't there at the beginning of the book. Finally, Dead Money Run sets the tone of the next 10 books dealing with Malloy's world. I plan to write 20 Malloy novels.
OMN: Where do you most often find yourself writing?
JFJ: I work in an office in my home. I generally write when I feel like it. Some writers treat their life as a writer like a job. To date I have written 8 books and I have two in process. In addition to my life as a writer, I have a consulting practice that takes a good bit of my time and I travel about two weeks out of the month to another home that I have on the coast of Georgia. During that period I almost always work on my new book projects.
OMN: How do you go about researching the plot points of your stories? And have there been any particularly interesting topics you've come across?
JFJ: I do my own research, relying on the Internet a lot. However, I have an editor and a proof reader who also likes to assist in this area.
In my next novel that is soon to come out, I researched the development of Electro Magnetic Pulse technology and their use as weapons. Generally speaking a lot of what I write about is technology driven. In my consulting practice often I have to interact with a client on new product technology and I find that it is challenging What was your most exciting topic to research?
OMN: How important is the setting to the story?
JFJ: Very. After Malloy and his two cohorts stole the money from the Indian Casino, he hides the money at a place called Turtle Point. At the end of Dead Money Run, he ends up buying the site from the Government. At one time it was an old airbase used during WWII, It is on the coast of Georgia not far from the ocean.
OMN: If we could send you anywhere in the world to research the setting for a story, where would it be?
JFJ: Africa and Australia. The reason being they are the only two places I haven't been and I think the environment would be a good backdrop for a story.
OMN: What are some of your outside interests?
JFJ: Fishing. At one time in my life I fished competitively.
OMN: Complete this sentence for us: "I am a crime novelist and thus I am also …"
JFJ: I am a crime novelist and thus I am also a dreamer. Often I dream about being in my books as a character. I am not my protagonist. I am more of a third party participant in the process. I want to see how things come out. Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me.
OMN: Is J. Frank James a pen name?
JFJ: Yes. My father was killed in WWII flying a B-24. He was killed on October 14, 1944 and I was born on December 2, 1944. He liked to be called Frank. Using his name as a pen name is the least I could do.
OMN: Tell us more about the book's title and cover.
JFJ: I am a sold artist and the covers are my designs. The titles to the books are the result of my imagination.
OMN: What kind of feedback have you received from readers?
JFJ: A lot of people ask me why I became a writer. Generally I tell them I didn't plan on it. It just happened.
OMN: Suppose the Lou Malloy mysteries were to be adapted for television or screen. Who do you see playing the lead role?
JFJ: Jeffrey Donovan or Matthew McConaughey.
OMN: Have any specific authors influenced how and what you write today?
JFJ: Robert B. Parker, Louis L'amour, Ernest Hemmingway.
OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us on any topic.
JFJ: Top 5 places to visit:
1. Mount Rushmore;
2. Mississippi River;
3. Ground Zero in New York;
4. Outer Banks, North Carolina; and
5. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
OMN: What's next for you?
JFJ: Write more books and take my boat to fish the gulfstream.
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J. Frank James has a passion for writing, and he certainly has the knowledge and experience to write realistic crime thrillers, thanks to his extensive background in law. Jim attended law school, where he was a member of the law review. He even went on to pass the state bar and started his own law practice that specialized in complex litigation. Jim's experience in law helps lend credibility to his crime fiction books. He has also traveled extensively and gains inspiration for his crime thrillers from his travels. From observing other cultures and gaining new experiences, Jim is able to infuse new life into his books and develop believable characters that readers can identify with.
For more information about the author, please visit his website at JFrankJamesBooks.com and his author page on Goodreads, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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Dead Money Run by J. Frank James
A Lou Malloy Crime Novel
Publisher: J. Frank James LLC
Lou Malloy learns of his sister's death right before he is released from prison, having served 15 years for the theft of $15 million from an Indian casino. He wants two things: to keep the $15 million, which no one has been able to find, and to track down and punish whoever killed his sister.
Lou Malloy teams up with Hilary Kelly, a private investigator. In no time, Lou has found the hidden $15 million, recovered guns and ammunition hidden with the money, and murdered two low-level mobsters and fed them to the crocodiles.
As the body count rises, the story grows more complex and his sister's death becomes more mysterious.
— Dead Money Run by J. Frank James
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