with Charles Brokaw
We are delighted to welcome novelist Charles Brokaw to Omnimystery News today.
Charles's fourth thriller in his "Thomas Lourds" series is The Oracle Code (Charles Brokaw, ebook format).
We recently had a chance to talk to the author about his new book.
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Omnimystery News: How much overlap would you say there is between the character of Thomas Lourds and yourself?
Charles Brokaw: As an author and college educator, my fascinations come from history and archeology. I would say that my books are generally geared toward my interests, hobbies and the undiscovered mysteries that have yet to be found or answered which pique my interest.
I have spent many years researching history's greatest mysteries such as the lost city of Atlantis and the lost tomb of Alexander the Great. Writing about these events allowed me to take my research and my findings from over the years and write around them as if I were Thomas Lourdes on one of his latest archeological digs.
OMN: Researching "history's greatest mysteries" sounds like a lot of fun … and a lot of work!
CB: There is a ton of research that goes into making a novel historically accurate which I have done successfully with the help of a close friend and a crew of dedicated researchers.
Of course, much of my research is done for academic purposes. But when I have a clear picture of the story I want to tell, I try to travel to as many relevant destinations as possible and do primary research. For The Oracle Code, I spent quite a bit of time in Afghanistan working with archaeologists and researching the ancient trade routes that used to make their way through the Herat region.
I have also spent quite a bit of time in Greece, specifically for this book. In particular I focused on the island of Delos where Aristotle purportedly took Alexander the Great when he was a child in order to engender him to the Greek way of life. This island was seen as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before the Greeks proclaimed it the birthplace of some of their most revered gods. During the Greek empire, no one was allowed to live there. It was an island specifically for temples and offerings to the gods. So as you can imagine, there is quite a bit of history there as well and the perfect background for an archaeological adventure.
OMN: Characters like Thomas Lourdes have typically transitioned well into film. Any thoughts on what actor could — or should — play the part?
CB: Thomas Lourdes is very much like me — or at least how I'd like to image myself to be (with a few improvements). It makes it so interesting to follow him through his journey starting with The Atlantis Code. I'm excited to see where he travels next if the series does continue … that I cannot reveal.
For those who are not familiar with my character Lourdes, he is an author, archeologist and educator. He is a ladies man and accredited for having written The Bedroom Pursuits which was a scandalous, sexy novel that women loved and men loathed. He was an internationally known figure for having found the lost city of Atlantis.
If my book were to be made into a movie, since Harrison Ford already played Indiana Jones, Thomas Lourdes would be played by Leonardo DiCaprio. He can play the incredibly intelligent academic who knows how to handle himself in a sticky situation, particularly one involving assassins.
OMN: As the world's foremost scholar of ancient languages, Thomas Lourdes adventures are set in places that have changed quite a bit over time. How do you go about recreating the original setting for the books?
CB: Researching the ancient cities in which the settings of the book took place was an important factor when gaining insight into the accuracy of the story including the scenes, the characters and the events that occurred. Being true to the geography and local environment are two important factors when keeping within the story line. This research helped to shape everything from character personalities to their hobbies, interests and even their favorite food.
OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us.
CB: When you read The Oracle Code, which was set in various locations, you will begin to pick up on my love for Middle-Eastern cuisine. In fact, one of the best parts of diving into the research that went into making the novel not only historically accurate but accurate in a sense of understanding the culture was taste testing and appreciating food in a way that those residing in the Middle East do every day. Of the foods that I have the most appreciation for, four of the five listed below made it into the story:
• Qorma is a stew that has a recognizable spicy scent and typically consists of fried onions and meat along with vegetables and spices. A sticky rice, known as Bata, is served with the qorma. In the afghan culture, there are hundreds of qormas which often include fruit, fresh spices and yogurt. While in Afghanistan, I enjoyed many different varieties of this dish and have tried to replicate it in the states with little success.
• Mantu is a dumpling filled with ground beef and onion. They are steamed and topped with a tomato sauce. Quroot and yogurt sauce can also be used. In the book, I mention Khameerbob which is the word for pasta in Afghanistan. It is typically prepared at home and is a time consuming meal although it is a very popular dish in the afghan culture.
• Bougatsa — though not from the Middle East is a Greek breakfast pastry consisting of minced meat and/or custard filling. Phyllo dough makes the pastry light and flakey which quenches your sweet tooth without making you feel overly-full.
• Kofta is a Middle Eastern, South Asian meatball which can be made of either beef or lamb though lamb is the more common ingredient in Greece.
• Baklava: Saving the best for last, Baklava is similar in consistency to a pound cake and is usually filled with real fruit. It is sweet and a bit less dense than your typical cake. The filo pastry is sweetened with syrup or honey and is a very popular dessert in Central Asia as well.
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Charles Brokaw is a pseudonym for an author, academic, and college educator living in the Midwest. He's had a rich and varied life, and is fascinated by history, human accomplishment, and archeology. He began this first Thomas Lourds thriller after seeing an article in a scholarly journal. The piece featured a satellite photo, and pointed out ruins visible in Spain which matched closely the description of Atlantis relayed in the writings of Plato. Because the ruins were located in a famous national park, he was certain they would never be explored. That got him thinking about just what treasures are buried beneath the earth. The result was The Atlantis Code.
You can learn more about the author and his books by visiting his website at CharlesBrokaw.com.
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The Oracle Code
Charles Brokaw
A Thomas Lourdes Thriller (4th in series)
It was the most renowned and respected shrine in the Roman Empire, the object of veneration by Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Octavian, and a host of other luminaries. It stood for centuries within a sacred precinct the size of a large town at the heart of the greatest Greek city in the world. Yet it disappeared without a trace, creating the greatest archaeological enigma of the ancient world. What became of the tomb of Alexander the Great? Does any part of it still survive?
When word of the tomb's secret location and the treasured wisdom of the Oracle of Delphi it may hold materialize in the code of an ancient scroll in Afghanistan, Harvard linguist and archeologist professor Thomas Lourds must quickly find out. That is if the evil forces that wish to obtain the treasure that the tomb holds doesn't stop him first. Russian President Nevsky and his secret police will stop at nothing to harness the power of what the tomb may hold — power to control the world as Alexander the Great did. When the Taliban catches wind of the discovery they're also dangerously hot on the trail.
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