Randall Allen Dunn's Blog: Packing Action, page 10

DEN Character Interview: Amy Raven

“Let’s go for a little ride!”

– Amy Raven

 

Welcome back for our final character interview, to promote the official book launch for my new thriller, Den. this Tuesday October 25th from 8pm-10pm CST / 6pm-8pm Peter. It’s an online Double Feature Book Launch Bash, which also features the launch of The Dracula Journals Book 1: Dark Decades, by my friend, author Thom Reese. Be sure to register for the Facebook event below, after the interview.

Den is about Amy Raven, a young girl expelled from college after steroids were found in her gym locker. Although she insisted they weren’t hers, she was forced to leave her basketball team and start a new job out of town at Gameland, an abandoned amusement park that’s ready to re-open. But her new job becomes a nightmare when Amy discovers she’s part of a live game, in which ten predators pair off to hunt her down and abduct her. Permanently. It will take everything she’s got to survive, let alone escape.

We’ve already interviewed some of the book’s primary characters, but tonight we’re interviewing the girl that everyone’s been talking about. Please welcome Gameland’s newest employee: Amy Raven!

(Amy enters from behind the curtain. Her head is slightly bowed, but she’s clearly tall and gorgeous, with large brown eyes and shoulder-length black hair. She wears black leggings and a denim jacket, which does little to hide her obvious figure. She could be a supermodel or an Olympic athlete, but seems to have lost all her confidence.)

RAD: Amy, thank you for joining us.

Amy: Thank you.

RAD: You’ve had a rough couple of months.

Amy: (swallows) … Yeah.

RAD: We’ve heard the stories, but we haven’t heard your side. Can you tell us what happened?

Amy: I don’t know what happened. I don’t do drugs. At all. Not steroids. Not anything. But no one believes me.

RAD: But the steroids were found in your locker. Your combination lock wasn’t broken.

Amy: I know how it looks. But someone planted those drugs. I just don’t know who, or how.

RAD: And you insisted on taking a drug test, which you passed.

Amy: Yes.

RAD: Would you mind removing your jacket? (Amy bites her lip, then stands to slide off her denim jacket. Her body is stunning, her biceps lean and strong.) You look like you could arm-wrestle your whole team to the ground.

Amy: This isn’t from steroids. It’s from hard work and training, my whole life.

RAD: For basketball?

Amy: Basketball and anything else

I got into. I rock climb and I’m a certified belayer.

RAD: That’s the person that holds the rope for someone else when they’re climbing, right?

Amy: Yeah. I’m their anchor, in case they slip, to make sure they don’t fall.

RAD: Do you do other sports?

Amy: I run. I swim. I’ve worked a few summers as a lifeguard. I also started doing some kickboxing after I took a couple of self-defense classes.

RAD: That’s a lot.

Amy: I push myself, whatever I’m doing. I’ve always pushed myself.

RAD: It paid off. You led your team in several victories over the last year. Until recently, you were the Illini’s star player. (Amy says nothing.) I’m sure you miss it.

Amy: (looks away) I didn’t do anything wrong. I just want my life back.

RAD: And you hope to get back on your feet, working at Gameland.

Amy: Hope to, yeah. That’s the plan.

RAD: You think you can handle working for Gunther Grater, the park manager? I understand he had a serious crush on you while you both attended the U of I.

Amy: … I don’t want to talk about Gunther.

RAD: So there’s still some tension.

Amy: Look. I just started this job. I can’t get in any trouble.

RAD: Nothing you say here will affect your job, believe me.

Amy: (pause, eyeing me warily) (leans forward) The thing is, Gunther’s been harassing me since I started school last year. He won’t let up.

RAD: And you’re not interested in him.

Amy: Not at all. And I’ve told him that, but he keeps after me. Even when he knew I had a boyfriend. And – look, is this confidential?

RAD: This is our final interview. Nothing will get back to any Gameland staff.

Amy: (looks around to make sure no one can hear) There’s rumors around the campus. They say he raped a few girls when he was in high school. One of them was Jennifer Haslin, the girl who got killed at Gameland. You met Gunther, right? He’s kind of a monster, when he gets riled. I’m staying as far away from him as possible. But I need this job, to start over. Right now, it’s all I’ve got.

RAD: So what are you going to do?

Amy: Keep my distance. And watch my back.

RAD: Let’s talk about your life before this event. You’ve had one other major traumatic event growing up.

Amy: Yeah. My mom. She died of cancer just after Christmas, before I turned 10. (She stares into her lap.) Worst year of my life.

RAD: Until now?

Amy: Yeah. New worst year. My mom made everything right, when Daddy was busy at his law firm and we had to go to church or go to basketball games without him. She made everything okay, always made things feel special and warm. Losing her was like losing an arm. But – well, I still had the rest of me. Not like now.

RAD: How did you cope, after she died?

Amy: A lot of visits to the school counselor. A lot of chores around the house. I didn’t realize what I was trying to do back then, but I guess I thought, if I had done a better job, done more housework, gotten better grades, whatever, then my parents would have had less to worry about, and Mom could’ve taken better care of herself. I know now that it wasn’t my fault, but back then I was in Superwoman mode, taking care of everything at home that Daddy was too distracted to do.

RAD: Your father re-married later.

Amy: He started seeing Alaire about a year after Mom died. I was angry at first, felt like he betrayed Mom. But my school counselor helped me a lot, and we all worked at becoming a new family. Alaire’s great, just different than my first mom. She’s not as warm or casual about things. She’s a lot more driven. She’s been my personal coach, pushing me to do my best, be my best, because other people deserve my best. I don’t think I would have made the U of I team, maybe not even gotten the grades to get into the U of I, if it weren’t for her.

RAD: She’s into basketball, too?

Amy: No, she runs a fashion agency. Daddy was her lawyer when someone accused her company of stealing a design. That’s how they met, and things kind of just happened. She wanted to help fill the void my mom left, to make our new family work, and she’s in good shape from doing a lot of running. So she studied up on basketball, all the rules, training techniques, everything she could do to help me succeed. It was pretty cool.

RAD: So things worked out for your family.

Amy: (brightening a little) Yeah. Although – well, I had other problems. (swallows) I can talk about it now, because it’s behind me. But for a little over a year, I became bulimic. My perfectionist drive and Superwoman mode sort of meshed with becoming a teenager and comparing myself to the fashion models in Alaire’s magazines. I just lost control. But my counselor helped me through that, helped me learn to appreciate myself and the efforts I made, regardless of how I looked. It’s what I do that matters.

RAD: So you continue to push yourself. Some people would say you don’t need to work so hard, with the advantages you have. Your father’s a lawyer, and your stepmother’s the CEO of Holcourt Fashion. Financially speaking, you’ve been pretty comfortable.

Amy: I never used to think so, but yeah, I grew up rich. I thought my family and my home was just like everyone else’s, until I got to high school and especially college. It’s stupid, but I didn’t get that most people’s parents couldn’t afford an indoor swimming pool or an exercise room with weight training and kickboxing equipment. Some girls’ parents give them a car for graduation, but I’m the only girl I know who got a brand new BMW.

RAD: Do you think you’re spoiled?

Amy: No. We had really nice things, but my parents taught me to appreciate them, instead of acting like I was entitled. I had to do chores and study hard, to earn my allowance. And except for the BMW, if I wanted to buy something major, like a stereo or workout machine, I had to make money to pay for half of it. Part of why I took jobs at the gym to lifeguard and belay.

RAD: So you learned to work for everything.

Amy: Yeah. But I also expected everyone else to push themselves the way I did. On my team, in classes, on school projects. If somebody made a mistake, I thought they were being lazy or careless, like they did it on purpose. But nobody’s perfect. I mean, look at me. I didn’t do anything wrong, but I lost everything. So I see how harsh and demanding I’ve been with people, because all this came down on me, like it was my fault. I don’t blame people for doubting me, the way things looked. But I thought someone would take me at my word. Martin, my parents, somebody.

RAD:  Who’s Martin?

Amy: My boyfriend. (swallows) – My ex-boyfriend.

RAD:  You broke up?

Amy: He dumped me. Over this whole drug issue. I told him the steroids weren’t mine. So now he thinks I’m a liar, as well as an addict. (shakes her head) It’s amazing how life can seem so perfect – good school, new boyfriend, a winning season – right before everything falls apart.

RAD: Tell us about that night, after your last game.

Amy: (takes a deep breath and releases it) So in March, after I scored more buckets than ever in a single game, we were told to wait outside before entering the locker room. After ten minutes, they called me in by myself. Coach Raynor and Dean Ridley stood by my open locker with some other school officials, staring at me like I lost the game or something. Dean Ridley showed me the bottle of steroids and asked what I knew about it. I told him I didn’t think anyone on our team would do drugs. Then he said they were found in my locker. I was so stunned I couldn’t speak. I finally stuttered that they weren’t mine, that I never saw them before. They all just kept staring.

RAD: So no one gave you the benefit of the doubt.

Amy: No. My teammates didn’t back me up, either, after I was expelled and Dean Ridley walked me to my dorm to pack. Shaniqua was the only one on the team who said I was innocent, but everyone shut her down, in light of the evidence. Martin never even called me. I called him from my parents’ house and he said he already heard what happened and wouldn’t talk to me.

RAD: What did your parents say?

Amy: Daddy said I should own up and tell the truth instead of making it worse by lying. Alaire didn’t say much to me, but she gave an earful to all the reporters and “concerned citizens” harassing us at home.

RAD: You had a media circus at the house?

Amy: And at Daddy’s law firm. We got constant calls. By the end of the month, Daddy and Alaire sat me down for a “family meeting”. Daddy said they found me a good job opportunity with a place to live, away from all the media attention, where I could start over.

RAD: Gameland.

Amy: Yeah. The park was starting up again, and they knew the owner, Loren Grater. He wanted me to join their staff and run the Hoops stand. It wouldn’t pay much, but it would be out of the public eye until the park opened. By then, he figured, my reputation would help both me and the park to start making a comeback. It made sense, but I also knew my parents were sending me away. I had embarrassed them and disrupted their lives, letting down my school and my team. If I left, they could tell reporters I was gone and let the media frenzy die down while I recovered. So I packed my gym bag and my basketball, my climbing shoes & running shoes, my swimsuit and my sparring gloves, and I drove my shiny new BMW to Grater Gameland to start my new job and my new life, assuming I could still have one.

RAD: I hope you do. Amy, someone wanted me to ask you one final question: If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only have five things with you, what would you need to survive?

Amy: (blinks) What? Who told you to ask that?

RAD: I’m not at liberty to say. It’s supposed to give some insights into how you think.

Amy: Okay. That’s random. Um – so I would want my cell phone to call for help.

RAD: No cell phones.

Amy: Uh – okay, then. I’d want a map of the island to know where I’m going, where to find food, like coconuts or edible plants or something. And some rope, to tie together bamboo to make huts or something. I’d want my sport bottle and – actually, some salt tablets to purify the water, so I could draw water right from the ocean to drink. I think that’s how it works.

RAD: Sounds good. Also, in this scenario, everyone else on the island is trying to kill you.

Amy: (stares blankly) … what?

RAD: It’s been invaded by pirates.

Amy: I’m stranded on an island, but it’s been invaded by pirates.

RAD: (shrugs) I’m just the messenger. It’s someone else’s question.

Amy: Someone like Gunther?

RAD: I can’t say.

Amy: (fuming) Fine. I’m all alone, fighting pirates. Right. I’ll want a gun.

RAD: No guns allowed, either.

Amy: A knife, then. A big knife to cut wood to build things, and to fight them off. Is that allowed?

RAD: Yes. One more item.

Amy: Binoculars, to see them coming. Wait. Is this daytime or nighttime?

RAD: (smiles) Good question. They invade at night.

Amy: Then a flashlight, or – no, wait. Those night vision goggles that soldiers use. So I can see them coming and make my way around them.

RAD: Clever.

Amy: So – what was that about?

RAD: You’ll have to find out more about that later, but thank you for cooperating. And I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to you. I hope Gameland gives you a fresh start. Good luck.

Amy: Thank you.

RAD: That wraps up our character interviews for Den. Click here to register for the Double Feature Book Launch Bash and join us online this Tuesday October 25th from 8-10pm CST / 6-8pm PT. Those who respond in the chat could win a free copy of Den or other books, along with Amazon egift cards! See you there!

#DenThriller

DEN Character Interview: Gunther Grater

“Shouldn’t have done that, Amy.”

– Gunther Grater

 

Hello and welcome to our third character interview with the primary players of my new thriller, Den. The book officially launches this Tuesday October 25th with the Double Feature Book Launch Bash that also features The Dracula Journals Book 1: Dark Decades, by Thom Reese.

Den is about Amy Raven, a beautiful girl who gets expelled from college for using steroids. She ends up taking a job at Gameland, an amusement park that’s re-opening after being abandoned for years. Amy soon discovers she’s been set up as she’s forced to play a deadly game in which ten sexual predators hunt her down, to capture her for themselves. Tonight we’re getting to know the young Park Manager of Grater Gameland, Gunther Grater.

(Gunther enters from behind the thick curtain and stands, letting the curtain fall into place behind him. He’s college-age and wears a broad grin, almost smug, standing about six foot tall with an oversized belly pushing out an untucked shirt. His eyes are owlish slits behind octagonal spectacles. Satisfied with his entrance, he moves closer and takes his seat across from me.)

 

RAD: Mr. Grater, thank you for taking time to meet with me today.

Gunther: Call me Gunther.

RAD: Let me get two things out of the way quickly, because I know this is on everyone’s mind. First, people have concerns about the safety and viability of Gameland, after being out of commission for so long. Second, there are questions about your own personal history, so people may wonder if you’re the best person to be handling things at the park. How would you respond?

Gunther: (grins) What personal history are you referencing?

RAD: Specifically, when you were in high school, a few girls accused you of rape.

Gunther: People often misconstrue a person’s intentions and concoct a story, which gets more and more outlandish as it spreads. I’m sure you’re aware, Randall, that girls love to gossip.

RAD: So there’s no truth to those rumors?

Gunther: Of course not. How could I be in charge of the rides at Gameland if I was a convicted rapist?

RAD: Your father, Loren Grater, is the founder and CEO of Grater Gameland, but you’ve taken on a lot of management responsibility at the park, for someone who’s still in college.

Gunther: What the public doesn’t realize, Randall, is that I’m the one behind most of Grater Gameland. Sure, the park’s been around since before I was born – .

RAD: Except for the last seven years that it was shut down.

Gunther: (pause, narrowing his eyes) … Right. The fact is, I’ve been designing some of Gameland’s rides since I was a kid.

RAD: I never knew that.

Gunther: No one does. That’s my point. I’m responsible for several of the concepts, and for all of the upgrades that have been added. I was nine years old when I designed the Whirlwind, one of Gameland’s mainstays.

RAD: That’s the ride with the circular room that spins.

Gunther: Exactly. It rotates at such a high velocity that the centrifugal force pins people to the wall where they’re standing. They’re stuck like flies. Then the bottom floor opens up, showing they’re suspended over a pit, but they don’t drop.

RAD: A pit?

Gunther: (laughs) It’s a short drop, Randall, nothing dangerous. And it’s impossible for anyone to fall.

RAD: Unless you slowed the ride enough to lower the centrifugal force.

Gunther: True. (He smiles.) But why would we do something like that?

RAD:  So how much of Gameland is under your control?

Gunther: Virtually all of it.

RAD: What about your father?

Gunther: My father founded the park and he funds it. He ran it for several years but it ultimately failed. This is a new park, Randall. My park. I’ve redesigned every ride to increase its speed and intensity.

RAD: That sounds like a dangerous direction to take, after what happened on

the Sky Hammer drop years ago. Which was the whole reason that Gameland shut down. And it doesn’t help that the girl who died was one of the girls who accused you of raping her.

Gunther: (stares quietly at me for a few seconds) … Jennifer Haslin’s death was a tragedy. Her unfounded accusation against me was an ironic coincidence. All of that is in the past. I’ve added safety measures to every ride, so that no such accidents can ever happen again. As I said, Randall, the old Gameland is gone. The new Gameland is mine.

RAD: What kind of safety measures?

Gunther: (holds up a small device that looks like a slim cell phone) This handheld remote allows me to control any ride throughout the park. I can shut them down or speed them up at will. If anything nasty happens, Randall, I’ll be right on top of it.

RAD: How many of those remotes are there? Just the one?

Gunther: We have a few.

RAD: So the new Gameland rides are the same ones people know and love from years past, but with a few upgrades. You also have a brand new ride, the Sky Drive, that’s supposed to rival any ride at any amusement park in the world. Tell us about that.

Gunther: Not “rival” any other ride, Randall. “Outlclass”. The Sky Drive will put people through paces they’ve never been put through before. It’s a unique, highly intense experience that people will never forget. I’ve spent the last few years funding its design.

RAD: Sounds expensive.

Gunther: My father set aside funds for the refurbishment of Gameland, and provided me access to it for the last several years. (smiles wryly) But it’s left up to me how to use it.

RAD: So what does the Sky Drive do?

Gunther: You’ll find out after we open, Randall, like everyone else.

RAD: You have a new employee, Amy Raven, that you attended classes with at the University of Illinois, where she played basketball for the Illini. I understand things have not been entirely comfortable between you two. Any concerns about working with her?

Gunther: Of course not. Why should there be? Amy’s a smart, talented girl. We expect her to do very well.

RAD: What’s her job?

Gunther: She manages the Hoops stand, where people shoot basketballs to win a prize.

RAD: Is that her only job? If she’s that smart and talented, it seems like she could be doing a lot more.

Gunther: Oh, we’ll find something more exciting for her to do, Randall, soon enough.

RAD: I’ve heard the tension between you two springs from the way you’ve approached Amy in the past. That you were romantically interested in her and she didn’t share your interest, but you persisted. Is that true?

Gunther: Amy and I will work everything out. Yes, Randall, I was interested in her. No, she didn’t feel the same. But that’s all between us. Amy Raven is brilliant, beautiful, and athletic. She’s got a lot of stamina, and should be able to handle anything we throw at her. If she does a good job, we’ll be satisfied.

RAD: So are you over your infatuation with her?

Gunther: I wouldn’t call it an infatuation, Randall. I was interested. I still am. If she responds at some point, we can proceed. If not, we’ll make other arrangements.

RAD: Other arrangements. What do you mean by that, exactly?

Gunther: (smiles) Nothing, Randall. I’m simply explaining that we’ll work things out, between us, out of the public eye. Everything will be fine between me and Amy in the end, Randall, one way or another.

RAD: That’s good to hear. Gunther, thank you so much for being with us and I hope everything goes well with the launch of the new Grater Gameland.

Gunther: Trust me, Randall, it will.

RAD:  We have one final character interview coming up, so join us here again for more information about the surprises in store at Grater Gameland Meanwhile, you can register for the Double Feature Book Launch Bash here to join me, Thom Reese, and several guest authors on Tuesday Oct. 25th! See you there!

#DenThriller

 

DEN Character Interview: Enrique Suarez

 

“Gotta love a girl who loves thrill rides.”

– Enrique Suarez

 

Welcome back. We’re starting our second character interview to promote the official book launch for my new thriller, Den, which will be this Tuesday October 25th. It’s a Double Feature Book Launch Bash which also features The Dracula Journals Book 1: Dark Decades, by my friend, author Thom Reese.

Den is about Amy Raven, a disgraced college basketball star who tries to start her life over with a job at Gameland, an amusement park that’s making a comeback. But the park is really a live game in which Amy is hunted by various predators who compete to win her as their prize. I’m interviewing a few of the book’s primary characters, and tonight we’re speaking with another of Gameland’s staff, Enrique Suarez.

(Enrique, a handsome young Hispanic man with an infectious smile, strides into the room, meeting my gaze as he seats himself.)

RAD: Welcome, Enrique.

Enrique: Mr. Dunn. What’s up?

RAD: What’s your role at Gameland?

Enrique: My title is Assistant Park Manager. That really means I’m Gunther’s gopher.

RAD: You mean – ?

Enrique: Errand boy. I “go for” this and “go for” that. Whatever he tells me.

RAD: You okay with that?

Enrique: (shrugs) It’s a job, man.

RAD: So you take what you can get.

Enrique: No, but I don’t sweat it. Gunther’s the Park Manager, and his dad’s the CEO. So I do what he says. But they hired me to help get the park going again because I know what I’m doing. Been working parks for six years now. So I’m handling all the administration, making sure we’ve got the right staff and they’re fully trained. Yeah, I’m a gopher and they’re working me like a dog, but they need me, man. And they know it. so I don’t sweat the small stuff.

RAD: That’s a lot of responsibility for someone your age. You’re, what, 22?

Enrique: 24, man. I worked for my uncle down in Mexico, did a lot of business management down there, so I know the ropes.

RAD: Do you hire staff?

Enrique: (frowns) Nah. Gunther does the hiring. (Silence.)

RAD: You have concerns about some of the people he’s hired?

Enrique: Like I said, it’s their park. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have brought in the Dugans.

RAD: The archer twins.

Enrique: Yeah. Something’s off about those dudes.

RAD: What about the rest of the people working at Gameland?

Enrique: They’re fine. No problems to report.

RAD: Amy Raven’s your newest Gameland employee. What do you think of her?

Enrique: What do you think I think of her, man? She’s hot! I mean, smokin’!

RAD: (smiles) That seems a little unprofessional.

Enrique: Hey, if she says the word, I’ll back off. But I don’t think she will. She’s into me, and I’d be crazy not to be into her. Anyway, no rules against dating other staff.

RAD: What about rules against trainers dating staff?

Enrique: No rules, man. Trust me, I checked. Soon as I saw her picture. Even if there were rules against it, I got ways around that.

RAD: You have some kind of special influence?

Enrique: Something like that. They need me and they know it. So if I want to date the most gorgeous girl on staff, they’re not gonna hassle me over it

RAD: I got the impression from the Dugans that there’s more going on at the park than what the public’s been told. We all know the park was shut down seven years ago when Jennifer Haslin died in a fall from the Sky Hammer, Gameland’s giant drop. Have measures been taken to ensure that the park is safe now?

Enrique: Yeah. They hired me.

RAD: What does that mean?

Enrique: Means it’s safe while I’m there, man. (sours slightly) Gunther’s also put in some security measures on the rides. Nothing like that tragedy’s gonna happen again, don’t worry.

RAD: That’s reassuring, but the Dugans indicated something else about the coming weekend that sounded a little suspicious. Any reasons to worry about your staff, especially newer employees like Amy?

Enrique: Everything the Dugans say or do sounds suspicious. That’s why I’m watching them. I’m also keeping a close eye on Amy, don’t worry.

RAD: I thought you said the park is safe.

Enrique: (smiles) Doesn’t mean I can’t keep a close eye on her. Anything happens, I’ll be right there to keep her safe.

RAD: Don’t you have security to protect people at the park?

Enrique: As long as they handle it, sure. If not, I’ll step in.

RAD: So you have some kind of special training in security or law enforcement?

Enrique: I’m there to make sure things run smoothly at the park. And that’s what I’ll do.

RAD: You seem really invested in Gameland. Most people your age would consider this nothing more than a summer job.

Enrique: It’s a stepping stone, leading to bigger and better things.

RAD: Like what?

Enrique: I’m helping out here as a favor to my uncle. If I do a good job, he’ll take me on as a permanent partner.

RAD: What does your uncle do?

Enrique: Trades commodities.

RAD: Again, that’s surprising for someone your age. That’s what you want to do?

Enrique: If you saw the way he lives, the cars he drives, the size of his video screen, the girls hanging at his mansion – you’d want to become a stockbroker, too, man.

RAD: So you’re looking for the rewards, more than the job itself.

Enrique: Of course. You want something, you go for it, whatever it takes.

RAD: You feel that same way about Amy?

Enrique: Absolutely. Look, I’ve known a lot of women.

RAD: I got that impression

Enrique: Amy’s different. She’s – there’s just something about her I can’t stop thinking about, you know? It’s like – I know she can handle herself, but I want to be there to take care of her. Like, long-term.

RAD: That sounds pretty serious.

Enrique: About Amy Raven? – yeah, man. I’m real serious.

RAD: Well, thanks for joining me today. I hope everything works out for you.

Enrique: (winks as he shakes my hand) I’ll make sure of it, bro.

RAD:  We’re working to learn more about the comeback of Grater Gameland and see if it succeeds. Meanwhile, watch for our next character interview, to meet the most integral part of Gameland. See you soon! Meanwhile, you can register for the Double Feature Book Launch Bash here!

#DenThriller

 

 

DEN Character Interview: Todd and Troy Dugan

“Dude! Ever hear of stealth?”

    –  Todd Dugan

 

Hello. The official book launch for my new thriller, Den, will be Tuesday October 25th, a week before Halloween. It involves a college girl named Amy Raven who takes a job at Gameland, a refurbished amusement park, only to discover she’s trapped in a twisted game in which she’s being hunted by various predators who are competing to win her as their prize. To prepare for it, I’m hosting a series of interviews with some of the book’s primary characters. Tonight we’re interviewing two of the staff at Gameland, twin brothers Todd and Troy Dugan.

(The Dugan twins enter from behind the curtain and take their seats across from me. They’re both lean and athletic, with shaved heads and leather hide vests. Todd has a Chinese dragon tattoo on his right bicep. Each one sports a longbow and a quiver that contains about a dozen arrows. Todd, the one in front, keeps a wary eye on me as he sits, while Troy smiles broadly beneath his blond moustache.)

Welcome, gentlemen.

(Todd gives a curt nod.)

Troy:    What up, dude?

RAD:  So you’re both working at Gameland, which used to be the most famous theme park in West Dennison, Illinois, until it was shut down seven years ago. Now that it’s about to re-open its doors, I’m sure a lot of people will have high expectations.

(The boys shrug.)

Troy:    Yeah, I guess so.

RAD:  You think people will get their money’s worth at the new park?

Todd:  Sure.

RAD:  I understand Gameland is mostly the same as it was before, but some rides have been updated. There’s also a new towering ride called the Sky Drive, that’s supposed to rival not only Gameland’s rides, but any ride at any national theme park. But nothing’s been revealed about what it does. What kind of surprises do you have in store?

Troy:    (laughs) Surprises? You don’t know the half of it, man!

Todd:  (edging forward in his seat) He means, yeah. Gameland’s got some dope rides. People will love it.

RAD:  Do you perform some kind of archery show?

Todd:  No. We run a couple of game stands, float between them.

RAD:  So what are the bows for?

Todd:  Hunting. When we’re not working the park. That’s all.

RAD:  What do you hunt?

Troy:    (smiles at Todd) Wouldn’t you like to know, man.

Todd:  Dude. Shut up.

RAD:  How good are the two of you at shooting?

Todd:  Good enough. We get the job done.

RAD:  Where’d you learn to hunt?

Troy:    Our dad taught us, back in Wisconsin. Before he got drunker than usual and rammed his truck straight into the brick wall of the bar he liked to visit. That ironic or what, man? (Troy continues to smile, showing no bitterness or grief.)

RAD:  I’m sorry to hear that.

Troy:    (waving it off) Bound to happen sooner or later. Mom locked him out so many nights for being wasted. She kind of shut down after the funeral, drew into herself. We kept up the hunting on our own. Plenty of rabbits and squirrels to shoot for practice. Had Mom cook ‘em up for dinner. Long as we brought something home to eat, she never worried much what we were doing, you know? Which worked out fine for us.

Todd:  Just answer the question, dude. Nothing else. All he asked is where we learned to hunt.

RAD:  What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever hunted?

Troy:    (grins at Todd) Ask us after next weekend, man.

Todd:  (leans into Troy, gritting his teeth) Listen, idiot! You know those times where you need to stop talking? This is one of them. Shut. Up.

Troy:    (lowering his voice, annoyed) – What’s your problem, man? We’re just talking.

Todd:  (whispering in a harsh tone) Wake up, brainless! Don’t you know what this is? He’s probably got this whole office wired. Anything you say can and will be held against you. Got it?

Troy:    (turns to me and shrugs) I bagged a wolf once. That’s probably the biggest.

RAD:  That’s impressive. Were wolves a big problem back home?

Troy:    Nah, they don’t hassle us much. Wolves scare off easy. Easier to deal with animals than people sometimes, know what I mean?

RAD:  How so?

Troy:    Animals are simple. They just want the basics, food, shelter, mating. But people – especially chicks, man – they get into your head and try to mess with you.

RAD:  Okay.

Troy:    Some high school girls tried to mess with us a few years back. Real stuck up. Walking by our house, calling us country bumpkins, all that crap. Marcia Jean and Cindy.

Todd:  He doesn’t need to know anybody’s names.

Troy:    They really thought they were something. Some girls just know they’re hot and think they can talk to you any way they want, you know?

Todd: That don’t matter. The point is, some people mess with you. That’s it.

Troy:    But they ain’t gonna mess with us no more, are they, dude?

Todd:  Seriously. Shut. Up.

RAD:  So do you guys have girlfriends back home?

Troy:    (grins at Todd) Depends on how you look at it, man.

Todd:  (ignoring him) No. We don’t.

RAD:  Are you looking?

Troy:    Yeah, sure, man. Might do some serious looking next weekend.

Todd:  (standing) All right, we’re done here. We need to get back to the park.

Troy:    For what, man?

Todd:  To keep you from talking too much.

RAD:  Before you go, I have one more quest –.

Todd:  We’re done.

(Todd secures his longbow over his shoulder and marches out. Troy smiles, shrugs, then rises to follow his brother out.)

RAD:  I’m sorry we couldn’t talk longer, but I want to thank the Dugans for visiting with us today. Sounds like there’s a lot going on at Gameland and hopefully more secrets will be revealed after the big event they hinted at for next weekend. Watch for our next character interview soon, to find out more. Meanwhile, you can register for the Double Feature Book Launch Bash here!

#DenThriller

 

 

Thriller Double Feature Book Launch Bash!

TWO NEW THRILLERS!
TWICE THE THRILLS!
Join me and
author Thom Reese
to celebrate the launch
of 2 gripping thrillers:
DEN
and
THE DRACULA JOURNALS!
Tuesday, October 25th from 8-10pm CST / 6-8pm PT!
Meet Randall and Thom online,
along with other mystery, science fiction & thriller authors!
Discuss your favorite vampire stories or scariest roller coaster ride & more!
Participants in the online chats could win
FREE BOOKS
&
Amazon eGift Cards!

 Link here to register!

#DenThriller

DEN cover reveal!

Hello, readers!

Welcome to the Packing Action blog! To kick things off, I just wanted to make a couple of announcements.

First, as you can see, I have a new website. Yay!

Second, I just published my new thriller, DEN, at amazon.com, in paperback and Kindle! Here’s the final cover:

 

 

Finally, for anyone in the Chicagoland area, I will be celebrating Indie Author Day this Saturday, Oct. 8th, from 12-3:30pm at the Schaumburg Public Library. Please stop by to order a signed book of DEN or MAKING FICTION FUNNY: HOW TO CREATE STORY HUMOR, or to special order signed copies of my other books.

Hope to see you there!

-RAD

 

 

 

FREE Downloads and Kindle Countdown Discount Deals for your Spring Break reading!

FREE DOWNLOAD! Tuesday March 4th through Saturday March 8th! Spring Break Discount on High Adventure: The Solomon Ring of Kilimanjaro “an ‘Indiana Jones’ style adventure with a little romance, a little more God, and a lot more adventure and action.” “I have not read a book like this in a long time, but it was [...]

Greatest JLA Stories Ever Told

JLA: The Greatest Stories Ever Told by Gardner F. Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Just skimmed through this. A couple stories I remember reading, when JLA was still great in the '70's-'80's, before it was overhauled and all the "world's greatest heroes" were replaced with less interesting heroes with annoying personalities [first making Aquaman the leader of a boring league that introduced forgettable characters like Hispanic teen hero Vibe - remember him? Of course not. Then reintroducing a few of the old league like Batman and Black Canary, but adding obnoxious characters like Guy Gardner and Booster Gold, while turning other familiar leaguers into sex-crazed irresponsible teenagers instead of the adults they used to be.)
These stories (in the first large portion, when the JLA was still a bunch of cool adults) show the league working as a compatible team, as Black Canary first learns to control her powers and Snapper Carr turns traitor. One story I had read before, in which the JLA's bodies are switched with those of their enemies, is not one of the greatest JLA stories ever told, but it definitely shows what the JLA once was: a team dedicated to working together, uniting their individual personalities and powers to form a unified front. It's because they know one another so well that the rest of the JLA finally see through the disguises, led by Green Arrow, who instantly recognizes that his fellow leaguers are not acting like themselves.
A nice quick read, with some nostalgic looks of JLA through the decades. Borrow it from the library like I did and skip past the stories that are less appealing.





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