| Mark P. Sadler |
Self-published author Mark Sadler first came to our
attention when he politely requested a review of his novel
and with a title like “Blood on his Hands”, how could we
refuse? This mid-70’s transplant to the states has the ability
to paint such vivid—and on occasion terrifying—pictures in
your mind that an instant friendship was born, which
quickly blossomed into his role as a reviewer for Suspense
Magazine.
We took the time to harass him—because as you all know,
all authors hate free, self-promotion (especially Mark)—and
were able to get him to answer a few simple questions:
Suspense Magazine (S. MAG.): What book changed your
life?
Mark Sadler (MS): This is probably the most difficult question I
have been asked. I don't have a 'pat' answer for it, nothing trips off
the tongue glibly because you see there have been so many at different
times in my life and so this will not be a one book answer.
Perhaps I should say it was “Aladdin”, while in kindergarten. I
garnered rewards as best reader. Thanks to my mother, a pre-school
teacher, I had been reading since I was three. I was moved directly
from kindergarten to 2nd grade and so endowed upon myself the
honor of being the youngest, geekiest, immature person in class from
then on. Life was hell in school. I escaped into books.
I traveled with Swift in “Gulliver’s Travels”, winced in pain with
Tom—Thomas Hughes, “Tom Browns Schooldays”, rode tall in the
saddle with the “Sackett Clan” (Louis L’Amour) and idled on the
river with the Water Rat, Mole and Toad in Kenneth Grahame’s
“Wind in the Willows”.
As an adolescent I explored “King Solomon’s Mines” (H Rider
Haggard) fought alongside with Davey in Stevenson’s “Kidnapped”,
travelled “Around the World in Eighty Days” with Jules Verne and
learned to love like Paul did in “Sons and Lovers” (D.H.
Lawrence).
As an adult “The Winds of War” (Herman Wouk), “H.M.S
Ulysses” (Alistair MacLean) or “A Small Town in Germany”
(John le Carre) all opened ideas and suggestions. I love books about
relationships and all of the above I mentioned are wrought with
strife, joy, sorrow and life. They bring a tear and a laugh, a fright or
moment of understanding.
Two others get honorable mention for the sake of the writing of my
novel, “Blood on His Hands”. If it were not for Bill Bryson’s “A
Walk in the Woods”, I may never have set foot on the Appalachian
Trail. That experience really changed my life because without that
influence, my novel would never have been born and the Jim Crace’s
“Being Dead”, inspired a scene in my book that I felt was a turning
point in the novel writing process and for many months was the
prologue in my book until the pages swallowed it eventually. To him
also I am eternally grateful and must say I have yet to read anything
he was written that is not outstanding.
There, I am sure I am missing so many more, but when you are a
reader for life there so many experiences that are influenced by the
musings in a good book.
S. MAG.: What are you working on now?
MS: I have developed a Tucson police detective, Nate Duarte and
am forming book number one in a series of five that will see him
solve a variety of sex crimes in the Old Pueblo. The character
development has been interesting because as a child he was born to an
illegal alien and a border guard, both who met unsavory ends at the
hands of the same Mexican drug dealer, but eight years apart.
Duarte became a police officer to bring his parent’s murderer to justice
and this background story will be the thread that brings the series
together.
S. MAG.: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
MS: As a redheaded, freckled child, I was always blushing over
something. There so many to choose from.
Let me give you my most embarrassing writing moment. After reading
through my finished manuscript for probably the five thousandth time
and using self-help editing books, I knew I was prepared to let a
publisher take a look. I realized there were a few errors that would
float to the surface—primarily its or it’s—and so I sent off the
finished product to my chosen POD publisher. They gave you the first
forty free of charge and I figured that was all there would be at most.
When I got my ARC to look at I was so excited to finally see it in
print and I sat down ready to highlight the one or two errors, make
up the prescribed list and send it back ready for printing. By the time
I finished marking the book up—and with the generous help from a
friendly co-worker who was an ardent reader and who wrote our
company’s website, we found at least two hundred! I tried to save
costs and not go with a professional editor. The publisher said there
were so many errors they would just send me the book back in a word
document and I could correct my own mistakes, and of course pay
them handsomely for my effort! That’s a mistake I will not repeat.
Check out his website at www.markpsadler.com to find out
more.
attention when he politely requested a review of his novel
and with a title like “Blood on his Hands”, how could we
refuse? This mid-70’s transplant to the states has the ability
to paint such vivid—and on occasion terrifying—pictures in
your mind that an instant friendship was born, which
quickly blossomed into his role as a reviewer for Suspense
Magazine.
We took the time to harass him—because as you all know,
all authors hate free, self-promotion (especially Mark)—and
were able to get him to answer a few simple questions:
Suspense Magazine (S. MAG.): What book changed your
life?
Mark Sadler (MS): This is probably the most difficult question I
have been asked. I don't have a 'pat' answer for it, nothing trips off
the tongue glibly because you see there have been so many at different
times in my life and so this will not be a one book answer.
Perhaps I should say it was “Aladdin”, while in kindergarten. I
garnered rewards as best reader. Thanks to my mother, a pre-school
teacher, I had been reading since I was three. I was moved directly
from kindergarten to 2nd grade and so endowed upon myself the
honor of being the youngest, geekiest, immature person in class from
then on. Life was hell in school. I escaped into books.
I traveled with Swift in “Gulliver’s Travels”, winced in pain with
Tom—Thomas Hughes, “Tom Browns Schooldays”, rode tall in the
saddle with the “Sackett Clan” (Louis L’Amour) and idled on the
river with the Water Rat, Mole and Toad in Kenneth Grahame’s
“Wind in the Willows”.
As an adolescent I explored “King Solomon’s Mines” (H Rider
Haggard) fought alongside with Davey in Stevenson’s “Kidnapped”,
travelled “Around the World in Eighty Days” with Jules Verne and
learned to love like Paul did in “Sons and Lovers” (D.H.
Lawrence).
As an adult “The Winds of War” (Herman Wouk), “H.M.S
Ulysses” (Alistair MacLean) or “A Small Town in Germany”
(John le Carre) all opened ideas and suggestions. I love books about
relationships and all of the above I mentioned are wrought with
strife, joy, sorrow and life. They bring a tear and a laugh, a fright or
moment of understanding.
Two others get honorable mention for the sake of the writing of my
novel, “Blood on His Hands”. If it were not for Bill Bryson’s “A
Walk in the Woods”, I may never have set foot on the Appalachian
Trail. That experience really changed my life because without that
influence, my novel would never have been born and the Jim Crace’s
“Being Dead”, inspired a scene in my book that I felt was a turning
point in the novel writing process and for many months was the
prologue in my book until the pages swallowed it eventually. To him
also I am eternally grateful and must say I have yet to read anything
he was written that is not outstanding.
There, I am sure I am missing so many more, but when you are a
reader for life there so many experiences that are influenced by the
musings in a good book.
S. MAG.: What are you working on now?
MS: I have developed a Tucson police detective, Nate Duarte and
am forming book number one in a series of five that will see him
solve a variety of sex crimes in the Old Pueblo. The character
development has been interesting because as a child he was born to an
illegal alien and a border guard, both who met unsavory ends at the
hands of the same Mexican drug dealer, but eight years apart.
Duarte became a police officer to bring his parent’s murderer to justice
and this background story will be the thread that brings the series
together.
S. MAG.: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
MS: As a redheaded, freckled child, I was always blushing over
something. There so many to choose from.
Let me give you my most embarrassing writing moment. After reading
through my finished manuscript for probably the five thousandth time
and using self-help editing books, I knew I was prepared to let a
publisher take a look. I realized there were a few errors that would
float to the surface—primarily its or it’s—and so I sent off the
finished product to my chosen POD publisher. They gave you the first
forty free of charge and I figured that was all there would be at most.
When I got my ARC to look at I was so excited to finally see it in
print and I sat down ready to highlight the one or two errors, make
up the prescribed list and send it back ready for printing. By the time
I finished marking the book up—and with the generous help from a
friendly co-worker who was an ardent reader and who wrote our
company’s website, we found at least two hundred! I tried to save
costs and not go with a professional editor. The publisher said there
were so many errors they would just send me the book back in a word
document and I could correct my own mistakes, and of course pay
them handsomely for my effort! That’s a mistake I will not repeat.
Check out his website at www.markpsadler.com to find out
more.
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| Praise for "Blood on his Hands" "Fast-paced and exciting, Mark takes you on a thrilling ride. northern Georgia, the author's smooth writing style and attention to detail will keep you captivated until the last page is turned. A fantastic book by a debut author!" John William Quinn, Author of "Someone Like Me" "Blood On His Hands" is a contemplative tale of murder by unintended consequences in Oklahoma. And yet, do the stars really align without some ordination? A pre-birthday fight, a birthday slight, and a birthday night lead to adultery and death, a killer on the run and a PI literally on his trail, the Appalachian Trail. Hunter and hunted... two of God's wounded souls, man against man, Man against Nature; what will prevail? I recommend you read "Blood On His Hands" to find out! You will be missing a very good story, if you don't." Robert J. Sadler, Author of "Jamaica Moon" "What are a husband's choices when he comes face to face with his wife's infidelity? The answer lies in Mark P Sadler's debut novel, BLOOD ON HIS HANDS, and it's far more complicated and satisfying than the reader would imagine. Both a tale of bitter choices and sweet surrender, Blood on His Hands is a fine examination of the human spirit and soul... Though there is no mystery as to who's the killer, the answer we ultimately seek is who will actually pay for the crime... I found the ending to be extremely satisfying and fresh. Remorse and reconciliation comes in many forms and Sadler has done a first-rate job at portraying this to his readers. BLOOD ON HIS HANDS is a very good read from a talented new author." Robin Cain, Author of "When Dreams Bleed" "...Mark Sadler's debut novel, Blood on His Hands, is a solid and earnestly written thriller, not so much a murder mystery (since we learn early on whodunit) as a study of the psychosexual dynamics of a homicidal but oddly sympathetic loner on the lam. The book's unexpected ending provides a new twist on the concept of the bad guy getting his just desserts, and its closing chapter provides a haunting allegory of dubious religious redemption..." T.S. Minton, Interfusion Publishing "With a well-paced storyline and powerful characters, Blood On His Hands is a welcome first effort from a promising new literary talent." Renee Washburn, Apex Reviews |
