Circus Freak Nation by Patrick J Sacchetti

 

27th January 2024

A chance to catch up with Patrick J Sacchetti, author of Circus Freak Nation.

Interview by

Richard Hinchliffe

Patrick J. Sacchetti, author

The release of Circus Freak Nation has given me the excuse and the opportunity to catch up with author Patrick J Sacchetti. Some of you may be aware that I interviewed Patrick way back in August 2022 for the release of his previous novel, Heaven’s Assassins. If you didn’t catch that interview, or simply want to read it again, you can click HERE

So, when I saw that Patrick had released another title, I couldn’t wait to get hold of a copy, and to get in touch with the author himself and ask him a little about it.

RH: Briefly, and without giving too much away, what is Circus Freak Nation about?

 

PS: Circus Freak Nation starts out as a murder mystery of a college girl murdered in the classic Chicago Holy Name Cathedral Catholic church.  The girl's family hires a private detective agency, Heavens Assassins Detectives, to find out what is going on with the investigation into her murder.  This drags the agency, and its detectives, into a spider's web of various dubious characters with a variety of evil acts simultaneously taking place.  The various characters and related insidious acts they are tangled up in seem unrelated at first.  Little by little, as they dig deeper and deeper, all the characters and all their dubious acts really are connected.  Everyone is manipulated, controlled, bought, and sold, by a handful of narcissistic power players in the United States.  All the book's characters end up being moved around a chess board in a game of toxic chess where there is only a chosen few making the moves, letting a majority of the American citizens take the losses, while the power players gain their riches. Really, everyone is complicit in this, and no one is innocent.  Except for the poor, dead college girl, of course.

 

RH: How does this book relate to, or tie in with your previous work, Heaven’s Assassins?

 

PS: Heavens Assassins was the group led by Luke Augustine, who is now the main detective in Heavens Assassins Detective Agency.  Whereas in the book Heavens Assassins, the core group got out of legal entanglements any way possible, in Circus Freak Nation the group has to depend on the law and support law and order and become certified private investigators in the process. Nicola Esposito is with the agency, as well as Luke's neighbourhood friend since childhood, Anthony Testicolli.  Stephanie Bennavutti is still Luke's main girlfriend and provides the support and guidance that the entire agency needs when things get difficult.

 

The main difference between the two books is that in Circus Freak Nation, this is more of a social and political satire, taking shots at the power players and their followers who obediently take all the orders delivered down from the top.  I take aim at those who manipulate the media, manipulate the political environment to fool people and are simultaneously total hypocrites in the process.  At times the social and political climate in America has taken on more of a Circus Freak show than that of a civilized powerhouse nation.

 

RH: How did you first get into writing books?

 

PS: Growing up as a kid I was fortunate to have a great local library stocked with provoking books.  The idea that there are people in the US that want to ban books because a selected few individuals object to the contents is beyond crazy.  It's the Thought Police and fascism is what it is.  Growing up with books allowed me to expand my mind, laugh and learn, and travel in my mind, leaving my small-minded Chicago blue collar suburb behind without leaving the library reading room.  Who could ask for more than that?  Rock music and local blues was big in my neighbourhood, and I loved writing reviews of rock and blues albums while in high school and then while at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale IL.  I'm not a professionally trained author and will never be compared to Cormac McCarthy or one of the other greats. I've always had a lot going on in my mind and have a touch for taking the stock of situations and satirizing them.  Having people interested in what I write, laughing and being scared at the same time, is the ultimate reward.

  

RH:   What are your favourite books and authors, and why?

 

PS:  The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami is in my opinion, one of the top five modern novels because of its dream-like quality and ability to make the reader think, laugh and be afraid all in the same chapter.  The journey that Murakami sends the book's protagonist on takes the reader along for the ride.  You feel all the thrills, chills and excitement and it feels like you're right there along with the main character.  And few books can do that.  Another modern classic, must read and favourite of mine is The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien that chronicles his adventures in the Vietnam war while in the 23rd Infantry Division.  The short stories are a collection of incidents, some real and some made up, that enlighten the reader on what really went on in the Vietnam war.  And to realize that everything is not what it appears to be. Tim O'Brien has stated his daughter asked him which stories were true and which short stories were made up.  He refused to tell her.  He only said the stories that seem too wild to be true are true stories, while the more normal stories are the made-up affairs. The book came about because of what Tim O'Brien felt was the public's opinions of the Vietnam war that were only based on ignorance instead of reality. I feel the same applies to Circus Freak Nation, that there are too many people in this country who wallow around in ignorance like pigs stuck in mud instead of finding out what is really going on. 

 

RH:  Which part of the writing/publishing process do you enjoy most?

 

PS:  The part of the writing/publishing process I really enjoy is brainstorming and letting the words fly, hitting the page as hard and harmful as they want to.  One of my friends told me to just let it loose when writing Circus Freak Nation.  Meaning to let whatever I felt or was thinking at the time to get it down and not be afraid of the appearance of perceptions it may cause.  Let my honest opinions and thoughts just decimate the pages.  Then fortunately for myself, I found a great local Chicago editor by the name of David Aretha, to help me compile everything into an interesting, messy but fun ride of a novel.  That plus I get to correspond with interesting, book loving nerds like me across the pond in the UK, like yourself, Richard. 

 

RH: Who is most likely to read and enjoy your book?

 

PS: The people most likely to read my book are the more intelligent, liberal, open-minded people.  People who love books and love idea's and want to read something that enlightens them, frightens them and makes them laugh, all within the front and back covers. Also, those who have been wondering what the hell is going on in America will like this book tremendously.  

 

RH:    What do you like to do when you’re not writing, and does it inspire you, or is it an escape from writing?

 

PS: While not writing I really enjoy music and used to play guitar.  Played a lot of classic rock and roll and Chicago style blues.  My collection and knowledge of music is pretty large, and I still have an appetite for what new music is being created out there.  You know, what are the kids listening to?  I like to consider my writing to be street savvy, rock and roll-based type, storytelling.  So, music has had an influence not only on my life but also on my writing.  

 

RH:  Do you have any promotional events planned, or are you considering any marketing ideas for your book?

 

PS: As far as promotional events or marketing events, I'm going to reach out to Good Reads and put a description of Circus Freak Nation out there.  I'm going to ask some Marketing minded college graduates for some of their marketing ideas. Google will be a resource used for a while until I get a better feel for this part of the process.

 

RH: What are your plans, especially in terms of other books or projects?

PS: I've already been thinking of the next book and have been kicking around an idea where people who are shot and killed in the Chicago area are brought back to life through a DNA database.  Their DNA is taken from this database, and they are brought back to life in a factory that specializes in bringing the shot and killed back.  An expensive cost that only the Country Club set can afford.   However, I'm not sure if that is going to be the main topic or a secondary topic in the book.  All I know is that my good friends from the Heavens Assassins Detective Agency will be involved somehow in some way.  

Circus Freak Nation

Circus Freak Nation is available now.

You can purchase it from Amazon in the United States by clicking HERE

 

Or from Amazon UK by clicking HERE 

BRINDLE BOOKS AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH SOPHIA MOSELEY

 

Sophia Moseley is an established feature writer for magazines, writes a regular column for the local press, and a children’s author; My Time Again Sophia’s first short story for adults, is now available and published by Brindle Books Ltd.

 

Living near the Pearl of Dorset, having spent most of her working life in the City, then joining the Arts & Culture industry, Sophia has written for both local and national magazines, including Liverpool’s Lifestyle Monthly, Nursery Education Plus, Woman’s Weekly, Archant Press, and Dorset Life Magazine. From chatting to Duncan Bannatyne to researching into historic houses, Sophia has interviewed celebrities and had exclusive access to both public and private collections.

 

Sophia has also written biographies for private clients and run creative writing workshops in both primary and secondary schools. She is a Member of the Society of Authors and Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society.

Click here to buy My Time Again from Amazon

BRINDLE: In about three sentences, what is your book about?

SOPHIA: It’s about fate and destiny, about the decisions you’ve made, and if you could wind back the clock and change them, would you? But it’s not just about being able to change your mind; what happens to the people you know, do they cease to exist, or does fate ensure their existence no matter what?

BRINDLE: When did you first get involved in writing/ When did you first become involved in this subject?

SOPHIA: Since I could first put pen to paper, I have always wanted to write. I started with poetry and as a child, had several poems published, and got paid for them, which was terrifically exciting! My imagination and curiosity have never diminished.

This is the first short story for adults I have written, so it’s a new genre for me, but a short story packs a punch, and I like that.

BRINDLE: What got you interested in this subject in the first place?

SOPHIA: I have always been curious about destiny and fate, and believe strongly that what will be, will be. But it’s how you get there that can be altered. But then that raises the question, how do you know if where you are now is where you are meant to be?

BRINDLE: What’s been your highlight/biggest achievement in this field?

SOPHIA: Because it’s a cliff-hanger, when people told me they couldn’t put it down until they had read it from cover to cover, I knew I’d achieved my aim. The theme also resonated with many people, and that’s what I wanted, to tap into the reader’s psyche. 

BRINDLE: What is it that drives you to write?

SOPHIA: It’s an unstoppable desire and need that I have always had. Writing is the same as breathing for me, it’s quite simply what I do. When I write, I enter a different world where anything is possible, it’s my escape route from life. I have dozens of notebooks and pads full of ideas.

BRINDLE: Can you tell us about your research methods?

SOPHIA: I’m very inquisitive, and a great one for listening to people, always asking questions, trying to find out about them, their lives and who they are; and I like to dig deeper, discover the unknown, uncover secrets.

BRINDLE: What are the best and worst things about being a writer in this field?

SOPHIA: I think the best thing is turning the ordinary into the extraordinary; seeing something in the everyday, and make it thought provoking.

The worst thing? Time. I never have enough time, and with short stories, you need to write the next one quite quickly; and I suppose criticism. There’s a little piece of me in every page I write, but it’s something every creator has to accept.

BRINDLE: Which authors etc. are your biggest influences?

SOPHIA: More recently, Santa Montefiore, Philippa Gregory, and Paula Hawkins. But when I worked in the City during the 90s, I read all of Jeffrey Archer’s books, though not sure I should admit that! But I also love poetry, especially the romantics; Keats, Wordsworth, Byron, and Brian Bilston makes me laugh.

BRINDLE: What do you think is the most important quality/skill for a writer in your field?

SOPHIA: Looking at things from a deeper and different perspective, not taking things at face value. Asking questions but also drawing on personal experience; empathy is very important too.

BRINDLE: What are your future plans?

SOPHIA: To complete my novel for younger readers, and an adult story based on a well-known environmental disaster that happened a few years ago. They are my current WIPs. 

BRINDLE: Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? (location/time/words per day/schedule etc.)

SOPHIA: It all depends on whether it’s fact of fiction. For the biographies I have written, it’s asking the right questions and deciphering their family history. But with my fiction, I draw on human nature and behaviour, adding contemporary issues to tie it together.

I do my writing at home, but I have a full-time job, so my word count and writing schedule varies from week to week. Evenings, weekends, and holidays are my writing times. I always aim for at least 500 words when I am short of time, then around 1500 at other times. But to be honest, I don’t always count, I just write.

BRINDLE: What advice would you give to new writers in your field?

SOPHIA: Always ask questions; look around you and be curious, never stop wondering about things, and never give up.

 

If you are a published, (or self-published), author, and would like to be the subject of one of our author interviews, please email us at: contact@brindlebooks.co.uk

Put the words ‘Interview request’ in the subject header, and tell us a little about yourself in the message. If your book is available online, please paste a link to it in the message. We’ll get back to you with further details and some interview questions.

Brindle Books Author interview with David J Blackmore

 First published 20^th November 2022

Doctor David J Blackmore is a noted military historian and author. He has published

four non-fiction books:

       Arms and Armour of the English Civil Wars;

       British Cavalry in the Mid-18th Century.

·         Destructive and Formidable, British Infantry Firepower, 1642 – 1765, (the published version of his PhD thesis from Nottingham Trent University);

   So Bloody a Day, the 16th Light Dragoons in the Waterloo Campaign.

He has also written more articles and given more lectures than he can remember, and has appeared in Sean Bean’s ‘Waterloo’, teaching him how to use a sabre.

A re-enactor for forty five years, including being Lord General of the Roundhead Association, and commanding the British Light Dragoons at Waterloo 200. He commanded B Troop, 16th Light Dragons from 2014 to 2019.

David says that he is now definitely retired from re-enacting.

However, he still gets out on a horse two or three times a week, including on Johnny, the model for Michael Roberts’ horse in the ‘Wellington’s Dragoon’ series.

in 2022, he penned the first novel in his ‘Wellington’s Dragoon’ series; ‘To The Douro’ which tells of the exploits of Michael Roberts, an officer in the 16th Light Dragoons during the Peninsular War, against Napoleon’s army. The second instalment in the series, ‘Secret Lines’ is now also available.

To The Douro (Wellington's Dragoon Book 1) eBook : Blackmore, David J: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

I caught up with David to ask him about his approach to the writing process:

BRINDLE: In about three sentences, what is your book about?

DAVID: It’s the first in a projected series of eight, telling the story of a young, British cavalry officer, Michael Roberts, through the Peninsular War to Waterloo. The first details how Michael comes to join the army, gets involved in the secret intelligence war, and plays a vital part in the campaign that culminated in Wellington’s famous crossing of the river Douro to capture Oporto from the French.

BRINDLE: When did you first get involved in writing/ When did you first become involved in this subject?

DAVID: My first book was published in 1990, and is a work of non-fiction, ‘Arms and Armour of the English Civil Wars’. My interest in the Napoleonic Wars goes back to my school days, when I was a war-gamer.

BRINDLE: What got you interested in this subject in the first place?

DAVID: I’m afraid that I can’t remember, it’s a long time ago.

BRINDLE: What’s been your highlight/biggest achievement in this field?

DAVID: In non-fiction it has to be ‘Destructive and Formidable, which is my PhD thesis. In fiction it’s the next book.

Secret Lines (Wellington's Dragoon Book 2) eBook : Blackmore, David: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

BRINDLE: What is it that drives you to write?

DAVID: It’s the act of creating something. For non-fiction that is an addition to knowledge and understanding. For fiction it is creating something that readers will enjoy.

BRINDLE: Can you tell us about your research methods?

DAVID: In general terms, I have pretty much every contemporary account written by someone in the cavalry, and I have read them all, which has provided a lot of useful factual information about the lives of the cavalrymen. I also think it is important not just to read the words, but to listen to the voices as well. It’s the difference between reading a play, and seeing it performed. That has given me a feel for the period, and the character of the cavalry and the men in it. Then I make extensive use of modern studies of the various campaigns and battles. I have also done some of what I write about; riding, using a sabre, and taking part in the 200th anniversary recreation of Waterloo.

BRINDLE: What are the best and worst things about being a writer in this field?

DAVID: I suppose the best thing is simply that I enjoy it. The second-best thing is that I don’t have to worry about footnotes, the bane of the historian. The worst thing is the awareness that there are people out there who know an awful lot about what I am writing about, I have to be very thorough and check everything for accuracy.

BRINDLE: Which authors etc. are your biggest influences?

DAVID: I can’t point to any particular authors, although I have always thought highly of George Macdonald Fraser’s Flashman books, which are very well researched. However, his autobiographical account of his part in the war against Japan is one of the best things I have ever read.

One major influence has been Dave Allen the comedian. He was a consummate story teller.

BRINDLE: What do you think is the most important quality/skill for a writer in your field?

DAVID: Determination.

BRINDLE: What are your future plans?

DAVID: To get to the end of book eight.

BRINDLE: Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? ( location/time/words per day/schedule etc.)

DAVID: I work in my study, with all my reference books to hand. I don’t particularly keep any schedule. I might go for a week or two and not write a word, which doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it, and sometimes I’ll hammer out ten thousand words in a week. I also use pen and paper a lot, I find it makes it easier to concentrate when I am working things out.

BRINDLE: What advice would you give to new writers in your field?

DAVID: Read everything you can, never assume you are right, and make sure that you are enjoying it, otherwise you will fail.

You can follow David’s blog using the link below:

https://djblackmore.wordpress.com/

 

Totally Free Ways To Promote Your Self-Published Work:

 

First published 12^th Sept2022

 So, you’ve written your book and uploaded the eBook to Amazon KDP. You’ve sat back and waited, and nobody’s bought a single copy yet. Okay, what went wrong, and what can you do to fix it?

If you decide to continue as a self-published author, here are a few tips to help get you started without spending a single penny.

Develop an Online Presence:

Do you have a website? When starting out, I wouldn't go throwing money at a flashy multi-page site with a dotcom domain name. All you need is a landing page to begin with, telling people a little bit about yourself and your work. You can use a free Wordpress site for this, as long as you have a page where people can find you. You can also create a blog, if you have the time and the inclination. With luck and good content, you may well build up a following; some of whom may decide to buy your book.

Offer Multiple Formats:

Firstly, if you have only uploaded an eBook version of your book, go into your KPD account and make a paperback version available. It doesn't cost you anything to format a paperback or a hardback, and for a lot of people, being able to get a hard copy of a book appears more professional than just having an eBook on there (even if they end up buying the eBook version when they finally click the ‘buy’ button), and of course, if you have a hard copy of your book, you can show it to potential customers without having to keep playing around with a phone or laptop. Also, there are still people out there who prefer to read an actual book.

When Putting Out Your Hard-copy Versions:

At Brindle, we usually use 5x8 inch for paperbacks and 6x9 inch for hardback versions of the same book. Have a look at the various options on Amazon to decide which template you want to use. Just copy and paste the text of your original manuscript into one of those but remember to check what pages your chapters start on and then check again once you've saved the document as a PDF. After it's been saved as a PDF, there shouldn't be any movement of text even when you've uploaded to Amazon (but check the entire document on Amazon's previewer, just to be on the safe side).

Formatting Your Book Covers:

For book covers, I use a program called Scribus (it's a free desktop publishing program), if you type into Google (or whichever search engine you use) 'Scribus Free Download', you should find it without too much trouble. It can take a little getting used to, but it produces pretty good results, especially for a free program.

Of course, you don’t have to design your own book covers. Even without spending any money. If you’re trying to put out your book without spending any money at all on it, using Amazon KDP’s own cover creation tools can produce results, but you’ll still have to provide the artwork if you want a standout cover.

ISBN Numbers:

As a small Publishing House, Brindle Books buy ISBN numbers in bulk so that they can be assigned to new releases as we put them out. If you buy individual ISBN numbers, however, the cost can really mount up. If you are going to self-publish without going to all the trouble of setting up your own publishing company, I'd even be tempted to let Amazon assign the ISBN number.

Free Press Releases:

Do a bit of publicity for the book, starting with some press releases. We've used paid press releases and so far, have found that they haven't been cost effective - the sales of the book we pushed haven't increased enough to cover the fees for the paid press release. There are some free press release companies out there though.

We mainly use PRLog.org to put out free press releases, (although, I do believe that you need to have a business email address to set up an account with them). Don't stop at PR Log though. There are many free press release sites out there.

Here’s a link to our own page on PRLog.org:

Brindle Books Ltd - Latest News - BrindleBooksLtd | PRLog

If you type the words ‘Free Press Release Sites’ into your search engine of choice, you will find countless articles listing them.

It’s also worth sending out a press release (with the offer of a free review copy) directly to a few local news outlets, such as your local Newspapers, Radio and TV Stations. Try to find out the name of someone at the publication who deals with things like book releases (usually a quick polite phone call will get you this information).

Free Book Promotion Sites:

Next, get your book listed on some book promotion sites. Again, use the free sites rather than paid ones, as with a lot of these sites, paying them is just like throwing money down the drain. Try Selfpublist, awesome gang, and Best Book Monkey, all of which are free.

Links for free book promotion sites:

Selfpublist: Selfpublist

Awesome Gang:Awesome Gang – Where Awesome Book Readers Meet Awesome Writers

Best Book Monkey: Best Book Monkey - Book Deals & Promos: Email • Website • Social Media (sur.ly)

Many people recommend signing up to Goodreads as a Goodreads author (it's free), and interacting there with readers, so that people review your book. You might also find it worth gifting a few copies to friends and colleagues and letting them know how important Amazon reviews are to a writer, in the hope that they will put one on there.

Goodreads: Goodreads | Meet your next favorite book

Choose The Right Keywords on Amazon:

There are countless articles for writers on the subject of choosing the right Keywords and Categories for your books, and countless tools out there to help you in this endeavour. Some of these tools are free and some or not.

Until you have seen an increase in sales from your keyword research, I would recommend starting off using only free resources. Some great advice on keywords, and indeed, most aspects of self-publishing can be obtained from kindlepreneur. They do offer paid resources, but also some which are free and very useful. For instance, their Kindle Sales Rank Calculator can be accessed for free, and can give you a very useful insight into roughly how many copies certain books on Amazon are selling, based on their sales rank.

Kindlepreneur: Kindlepreneur - Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors

Kindlepreneur Kindle Sales Rank Calculator: Kindle Best Seller Calculator: Converts Amazon Sales Rank (kindlepreneur.com)

Telling People Where to Find Your Book:

Don’t forget to put direct links to the book’s Amazon sales page in any correspondence and share it to social media. If you use a platform that doesn’t allow clickable links, a picture of the QR code for the book’s sales page can at least make it easier to find for potential customers.

QR Codes Straight to Your Book’s Sales Page:

Remember that it’s human nature to be lazy. When you’re telling people about how great your book is, do you tell them the name of it and hope that they’ll remember it and go looking on Amazon when they get a minute? They won’t! Most people will have forgotten the conversation by the time they get home.

It would cost you practically nothing to have the books details ready on a pre-printed piece of paper (you can do that at home if you have even the most rudimentary computer and printer).

What would be even better, in terms of getting engagement, would be a slip of paper containing the book title, author name and the QR Code that will take a potential buyer straight to the book’s Amazon Sales page. The idea here is to remove as many steps as possible in between your potential buyer being told about your book and being able to buy your book.

Here are a couple of example QR Codes:

Keep Writing:

Lastly, the best advert for your book is your next book, so, hopefully you're working on your next project already. Don't just sit there worrying about whether your nest book will be as good as your last; just get on with it. Always remember: “Don’t get it right – get it written!”

In Summary:

Although none of these methods will automatically ensure that your book becomes a best-seller, they will all help your book reach a wider audience and, therefore, increase the potential for sales.

There is, of course, no substitute for producing the best quality work that you can and providing a product that your potential audience will value.