Author: Nina Mason
Genre: Political Thriller
Publisher: Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly Publishing
Formats: Kindle and paperback
Where to buy: Amazon.com (http://smarturl.it/tinman)
BLURB
The last thing Alex Buchanan, the editor-in-chief of a formidable news site, expects as he looks
around the newsroom at the bodies of his editors, is that he’ll soon be teaming up with The Ball
Buster to solve the crime and stay alive. Well, maybe not the last thing. The last thing he expects
is to fall for her or any other woman. Because he’s The Tin Man–a suit of armor without a heart.
Or so he believes...
The Ball Buster is his private nickname for Thea Hamilton, a smart, gutsy, and insecure
investigative reporter for The New York News, America’s newspaper of record. They went
out once years ago–an unmitigated disaster during which she jumped all over his case about
smoking.
When events force them together, they embark on an emotion-charged, high-octane quest for
the truth, ending up in bed, but also in the clutches of a sociopathic corporate raider. “Zeus”
is obsessed with James Bond and owns a hardcore S & M club in an old fallout shelter. Is he
the killer? And, if so, what’s his motive? What he hopes to gain by torturing the journalists is
clearer: the proof they’ve uncovered of a corporate takeover scheme that threatens the future of
democracy. And he’ll stop at nothing to get it.
EXCERPT
Buchanan was smoking out among the trees when he heard the gunshots. Turning toward
the barn, he saw flames leaping from the roof. Dropping his cigarette, he charged from the
underbrush like a bull, thinking only of Thea. Another shot shattered the darkness. He drew his
Glock as he trundled across the field. The fire was spreading fast. He reached the barn, choking
as he raced inside. The whole place was filled with white smoke.
“Thea!” he screamed, coughing violently. “Thea!”
He raced toward the stairs, grabbed the rail, hoisting himself up two rungs at a time. He
frantically searched the loft, but found only her purse. Taking it with him, he stumbled back
down.
“Thea! Thea! Where are you?”
The smoke was so thick he couldn’t see a thing. He heard another crack. Outside. Shite, the
assassins had found them. But where were they now. And where was she?
He groped his way through the cloud, gasping, choking, eyes stinging, until he found the car.
Feeling his way around, he located the driver’s door, got in, and started the engine. He hit the
gas. The Toyota lurched forward. He couldn’t see a fucking thing through the smoke. The car
crashed through wood, jolting him. The air began to clear as he bounced across the field. The
black sedan came into view, speeding toward the road. He eased off the gas, falling back to avoid
being seen.
Fucking hell. He’d cocked up everything. Now, they had Thea, which was killing him. Anything
he could do to save her would endanger her life. Assuming, of course, she was still alive. The
possibility she might not be kicked him in the chest, but he reasoned it away. She had to be alive.
It only made sense. If she was dead, why take her? He felt better, but not for long. If she was
alive, there was a reason. And the only reason he could think of made his stomach turn.
Trailer:
TEASERS
AUTHOR INFO
Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history,
mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of
books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten.
When not writing, Nina works as a communications consultant, doll maker,
and home stager. Born and raised in Southern California, she now lives in
Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats,
and a Westie named Robert.
Social-media links:
Website: http://ninamasonauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ninamasonromance
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ninamasonauthor (@ninamasonauthor)
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ninamasonauthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ninamason165/
Author Interview:
Q. Tell us about your book.A. The Tin Man warns of the dangers posed by corporate media monopolies, something most people
don’t care about but really should, because they who control the media control how we perceive the
world. It’s a work of fiction, but steeped in reality. The hero is Alex Buchanan, an embittered journalist who runs a formidable online news site. When he becomes the target of hired assassins, he hooks up with Thea Hamilton, a crack investigative reporter, to find out why. They end up on a wild ride that takes them from New York City to Philadelphia and finally, Washington D.C. It’s loaded with high-octane action, deeply-etched characters, and hard-hitting truths. I did an unbelievable amount of research while writing the book.
Q. After this, what's your next project?
A. I’m currently working on a four-part paranormal fantasy series titled the Knights of Avalon, which is under contract with Lyrical Kensington.
Q. What inspires you to write what you do?
A. All of my paranormal stories are inspired by my interest in history, mythology, and the occult. Even my fantasies are steeped in reality.
Q. When did you start writing?
A. About as soon as I could write the alphabet. When I was a kid, I won an essay contest sponsored by the local library (I was an avid reader and always did the summer reading challenge). Back in the days of typewriters, I wrote a romance novel about a couple of ballet dancers, but never did anything with it. Didn’t try my hand at fiction again until five or six years ago, when I started what is now The Queen of Swords.
Q. What inspired you to write the book?
A. My work, really. The Tin Man comes from another part of me than my paranormal romances. My
degree is in journalism and I’ve worked in media relations and in “framing”—a way of spinning ideas, basically, which is discussed in the book.
Q. Are you a careful planner or do you let the story guide you?
A. I do a bit of both. I work out the characters and their motivations, setting, and where I want the story to go. I also tend to do index cards for each scene or major plot point from start to finish. Once I begin to write, it can go completely off the rails, depending on where the characters want to take it. As long as they’re reaching the touchstones, I let them do what they want. If they go too far off track, I either re-plot the novel or rein them in, depending on which direction seems better at the time.
Q. Who is your favorite among your characters?
A. I love them all, of course. Graham, the hero in The Queen of Swords, is both noble and funny. Callum, the hero in The Knight of Wands, is a good-hearted romantic. Leith, the hero of my WIP, is a bit on the dark side, but still well-intentioned. If pressed to pick just one, I’d have to go with Alex Buchanan, the journalist hero in The Tin Man. He’s very complex and has lots of demons to overcome, but also is a really good guy.
Thanks for featuring my new book on your blog. I've shared the post everywhere I can think of!!
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