Ask the Author: Jon D. Kurtz
Answered Questions (27)
Jon D. Kurtz
Eternal darkness enveloped the cosmos, except here in this place called "Hell." In Hell, the strange light continues, and you see and feel everything in high definition.
Jon D. Kurtz
Sherlock Holmes' London. Observe the stories as they unfold.
Jon D. Kurtz
I would like to complete the stories of Sherlock Holmes written by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Jon D. Kurtz
The shared mystery of life: Why am I here?
Jon D. Kurtz
I tried to think of authors that I currently read, but most of their characters seem to have short relationships, i.e last a book or two in a series. So, I have to go with Thomas Payne and Breanne O'Malley from my own Major Crimes Task Force Series. Reason: Two people who found each other as they struggled to find themselves.
Jon D. Kurtz
Alan,
I wish you the best and hope that you're successful in establishing a new, better normal for yourself. Keep exercising, eating well, and heed the advise of the professionals. Take care and have a great new year!
Regards,
Jon
I wish you the best and hope that you're successful in establishing a new, better normal for yourself. Keep exercising, eating well, and heed the advise of the professionals. Take care and have a great new year!
Regards,
Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Martha - I hope to publish in the early spring, April time frame. I wanted to publish by Christmas 2014, but obviously missed that deadline. Much of the delay results from a desire to show growth with each new book, particularly in form and finish. As to specifics, today I should finish my edit, then it needs to go back to the actual editor for her comments. Then back to me for a final and formatting for each vendor site. The major vendors all require different formatting, which always takes a few days. Hope this answers your question and thank you for your interest.
Jon D. Kurtz
Paige,
I appreciate you accepting my friend request and posing this question. Similar to my first novel, A Choice of Darkness, Right to Bear Arms will be available in both digital and print format at all the major on-line retailers. I hope to publish before Christmas.
If interested and you you have not read A Choice of Darkness, it is currently available in digital format for $0.99. The price for paperback is around $8.00. Amazon/Createspace will not allow me to price it lower.
Thank you again, and have a happy holiday season.
Jon
I appreciate you accepting my friend request and posing this question. Similar to my first novel, A Choice of Darkness, Right to Bear Arms will be available in both digital and print format at all the major on-line retailers. I hope to publish before Christmas.
If interested and you you have not read A Choice of Darkness, it is currently available in digital format for $0.99. The price for paperback is around $8.00. Amazon/Createspace will not allow me to price it lower.
Thank you again, and have a happy holiday season.
Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Linda,
I appreciate you accepting my request.
If you have to have one vice, reading too much is probably a good one. Just don't become a hoarder and get lost amongst the piles. ;)
Regarding the books, they are available on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, I-store, and other on-line retailers. A Choice of Darkness is currently reduced to $0.99 (electronic version) for Cyber Monday/Tuesday. Book two in the series, Right to Bear Arms, is due out this month.
Take care and have a happy holiday season.
Jon
I appreciate you accepting my request.
If you have to have one vice, reading too much is probably a good one. Just don't become a hoarder and get lost amongst the piles. ;)
Regarding the books, they are available on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, I-store, and other on-line retailers. A Choice of Darkness is currently reduced to $0.99 (electronic version) for Cyber Monday/Tuesday. Book two in the series, Right to Bear Arms, is due out this month.
Take care and have a happy holiday season.
Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Marie Claude - I've only added my most recent reads to ratings and reviews. I try to provide a review for each, and my memory precludes a fair evaluation of long-past reads. As for my request, I saw your name and avatar on the Mysteries and Crime Thrillers group. Further investigation disclosed your interest in some of the more obscure authors. I'm drawn to people with interests and perspectives different than my own.
Jon D. Kurtz
Duplicate:
I came upon your profile in the Mysteries & Crime Thrillers Group. I like to include a variety of individuals (mix of age, gender, background, country) in my list of friends, so as not to limit my perspective. Great insight comes from examining our differences. I'm particularly drawn to those engaged in the process, such as yourself. I noticed your ratings and comments on Goodreads and your entries on Wattpad. I hope this answers your question. Good luck with your writing.
Regards,
Jon
P.s. Having viewed your reading list, I highly recommend the Order of the Sanguine series by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
I came upon your profile in the Mysteries & Crime Thrillers Group. I like to include a variety of individuals (mix of age, gender, background, country) in my list of friends, so as not to limit my perspective. Great insight comes from examining our differences. I'm particularly drawn to those engaged in the process, such as yourself. I noticed your ratings and comments on Goodreads and your entries on Wattpad. I hope this answers your question. Good luck with your writing.
Regards,
Jon
P.s. Having viewed your reading list, I highly recommend the Order of the Sanguine series by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Jon D. Kurtz
Azhelle,
I came upon your profile in the Mysteries & Crime Thrillers Group. I like to include a variety of individuals (mix of age, gender, background, country) in my list of friends, so as not to limit my perspective. Great insight comes from examining our differences. I'm particularly drawn to those engaged in the process, such as yourself. I noticed your ratings and comments on Goodreads and your entries on Wattpad. I hope this answers your question. Good luck with your writing.
Regards,
Jon
P.s. Having viewed your reading list, I highly recommend the Order of the Sanguine series by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
I came upon your profile in the Mysteries & Crime Thrillers Group. I like to include a variety of individuals (mix of age, gender, background, country) in my list of friends, so as not to limit my perspective. Great insight comes from examining our differences. I'm particularly drawn to those engaged in the process, such as yourself. I noticed your ratings and comments on Goodreads and your entries on Wattpad. I hope this answers your question. Good luck with your writing.
Regards,
Jon
P.s. Having viewed your reading list, I highly recommend the Order of the Sanguine series by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Jon D. Kurtz
Kait - Thank you for accepting my friend request. Brain picking is acceptable and, in fact, an important part of the Goodreads' experience, so be my guest. Just don't pick too hard, you never know what you might unearth. ;) Re: A Choice of Darkness, the published date is 12/2013. The second book in the series, Right to Bear Arms, is due out 12/2014. Thanks for the discussion. Take care and be safe. - Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Hi Sheetal:
Short answer - Tolkien, Rawling, Snicket, C.S Lewis, Albom, Halpern, Child, and Patterson. Also, I stole your John Wayne quote.
Best regards,
Jon
Short answer - Tolkien, Rawling, Snicket, C.S Lewis, Albom, Halpern, Child, and Patterson. Also, I stole your John Wayne quote.
Best regards,
Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Kathryn - I appreciate you accepting my friend request. I happened to be looking through the Mystery, Crime, Thriller Group when I came upon your Author Page. Your book covers caught my eye, so I delved deeper and noticed you're a prolific writer with 30 distinct works. As a beginner, I like to keep up with the thoughts of successful authors. Also, while I gravitate toward writing crime fiction, due to a past career, I enjoy reading horror/fantasy as well. One of my favorite commercial authors is Dean Koontz, another PA boy. Spooky, but safe, Halloween wishes to you as well. Regards, Jon. P.S. Please pass along my best to Jon.
Jon D. Kurtz
Jeanne - I came upon your name and profile on the World Mystery and Thriller Group. I decided to send a friend request when I noticed our common interest in the Hunger Games books, but mostly because of your favorite quote from Sherman Alexie: “If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing.” With social networking, and Goodreads in particular, I like to interact with as diverse a group as possible in order to gain varied perspectives. To connect with those with the exact same interests is comfortable, but tends to stifle growth. Take care and be safe. Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Koen,
I viewed your Goodreads page after noticing your name amongst the members of the Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group. I observed some common themes.
We share one favorite quote: “He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
I like another of your favorite quotes: “The man who is always waving the flag usually waives what it stands for.” ― Laurence J. Peter
But most of all, because you seem to appreciate the work of Bill Watterson. Many truths have been spoken by the great Calvin and Hobbes.
Regards,
Jon
I viewed your Goodreads page after noticing your name amongst the members of the Crime Detective Mystery Thriller Group. I observed some common themes.
We share one favorite quote: “He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche
I like another of your favorite quotes: “The man who is always waving the flag usually waives what it stands for.” ― Laurence J. Peter
But most of all, because you seem to appreciate the work of Bill Watterson. Many truths have been spoken by the great Calvin and Hobbes.
Regards,
Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Nancy,
Funny story: A Dr. John Kurtz contacted me with the same thought. Long story short, he and I are not related, but it caused me to look into my ancestry.
Even though we're not related, I still refer to Dr. John as Cousin John. So, nice to meet you Cousin Nancy!
Regards,
Cousin Jon
Funny story: A Dr. John Kurtz contacted me with the same thought. Long story short, he and I are not related, but it caused me to look into my ancestry.
Even though we're not related, I still refer to Dr. John as Cousin John. So, nice to meet you Cousin Nancy!
Regards,
Cousin Jon
Jon D. Kurtz
Chris - It's been a few years since I've read a novel by Jonathan Kellerman featuring Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. To your question, I'm not sure what you're asking when you request my "take" on the characters' relationship. Not to be enigmatic, but complex human relationships are created and affected by factors too numerous to mention. With this said, an author wields an extremely large pallet of colors from which to paint characters and their interactions. To provide Dr. Kellerman his due, he has earned a PHD in clinical psychology.
Jon D. Kurtz
Hi Susan,
I'm pleased you accepted my friend request. To be honest, I have never read any of John Lescroalt's work. Therefore, I can't speak to the realism of his characters.
In general terms, I can say the portrayal of the police in most successful commercial novels is less than accurate. With this said, it is fiction. Readers are looking to be entertained with loads of action, suspense, and witty repartee.
A driving force behind my writing is to portray the police in a realistic fashion, while also making the story entertaining and exciting.
Hope this answers your question.
Regards,
Jon
I'm pleased you accepted my friend request. To be honest, I have never read any of John Lescroalt's work. Therefore, I can't speak to the realism of his characters.
In general terms, I can say the portrayal of the police in most successful commercial novels is less than accurate. With this said, it is fiction. Readers are looking to be entertained with loads of action, suspense, and witty repartee.
A driving force behind my writing is to portray the police in a realistic fashion, while also making the story entertaining and exciting.
Hope this answers your question.
Regards,
Jon
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