Disclaimer: By posting this interview I am in no way endorsing any of the authors work but rather simply giving a forum so that we as readers can get to know them and the authors can promote their stories.
DLC: Welcome Joe to my blog and thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. For my readers why don't we start off with you introducing yourself.
Joe: My name is Joe Rinaldo; I am married and the father of a wonderful daughter with Down syndrome. Though I am originally from Kentucky, I have lived just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, for about 7 years now. My family and I enjoy boating, fishing, the beach (when we can get there), and just hanging out together.
DLC: Cool! I'm a country music fan so I envy you right now. =) Now your spy novel A SPY AT HOME sounds like a good read. Tell us about the story.
Joe: A retired CIA operative comes to believe he wasted his professional life not only promoting questionable American policies, but missing life with his family. To ease the pain he diverts millions that the CIA expected him to use funding a coup attempt that would establish a pro-American government in an African country. Seeing the coup would fail, Garrison decides to save the money for himself. You, the reader, can decide if he's a villain with evil intent, a hero with altruistic motives, or a regular guy sick of working for peanuts in a dangerous environment.
Back at home he and his wife look forward to their golden years being luxuriously comfortable and opulently relaxed. Unfortunately, after his wife dies in a tragic accident, he must learn all that she knew about caring for Noah, their mentally retarded son. After a life of planning for contingencies, the former spy must deal with the possibility that he may die before his son. Who will care for the son when the dad spent a life out of the country and now has no one to lean on?
DLC: Sounds tense! In a good way of course. =) I couldn't help but notice a resemblance to your personal life in that synopsis. Which character would you most identify with?
Joe: The protagonist, Garrison, and his wife, Louisa, adopted a baby with Down syndrome, Noah. To help them navigate the complex adoption laws and find all the social services available for Noah, they received a great deal of help from a social worker named Clarita Johnson, whom they called Ms. Johnson because of her advanced years and the respect they had for her. At one point in A SPY AT HOME, Garrison compared Ms. Johnson to a kind and loving picture of what he hopes God is. I am obviously closely related to Ms. Johnson. My generosity, kindness, and self-deprecating personality know no bounds. Actually, I hope to write fiction for a living, so my best answers are made-up. In truth, I’m with Garrison. If I found a way to acquire ten million dollars with impunity, I’d be on a beach somewhere enjoying the money.
DLC: I'd be right there with you. hehehe When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Joe: The actual impetus for me to begin writing came while I was reading Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks. When I got to the part where he received a million-dollar advance, I thought, “Holy cow! He’s a good writer, but I know I can do this, too.” I’ve been writing since that day in 2004.
DLC: I'm still waiting on my million-dollar payday also. lol If you could give advice to other authors or aspiring authors what would say?
Joe: I was at a writer’s conference, and a woman was telling me about her historical novel. She found the menu for the heads of states dinner that actually happened and she was using it in her novel. While she said this, I kept thinking, "That has got to be the most boring book ever if you’re telling the reader what they had to eat.” Research can be good and bad. Research can make the book come alive and seem real. It can also come across as if the writer is bragging about all he/she knows. If your reader wanted to read a textbook, she/he would’ve bought one. For writing novels the most important thing is being believable, not scientifically accurate.
DLC: We are of the same mind. =) I like to do research for the sole purpose of accuracy in my writing. I don't like to relay every detail that I've learned. I often listen to a music score from a movie and will see stories unfold depending on the type of musical mood. What source or sources do you draw from when creating a new story?
Joe: Stories simply come to me. I don’t know where they originate. Much of the time, while I’m typing a book, it feels like taking dictation. The characters are in my head, playing out their lives, and I simply write down what they say and do. For the most part, I don’t think about what I’m writing. During the editing process, I see tiny pieces of my life in some of the scenes or characteristics of people I’ve known, but I very rarely intentionally inject any of myself into my books. This mindset might not make me a well-adjusted member of society, but I hope it makes for great novels.
DLC: Well-adjusted is a subjective term and I suspect many writers fall into this category. lol What was your greatest challenge personally when writing your current story?
Joe: My biggest challenge writing A SPY AT HOME was trying not to project Garrison’s problem on myself. Garrison worries about dying before his disabled son Noah. I have a daughter with Down syndrome, and as my wife and I get older, we worry what would happen to her if she outlives us. As my wife’s grandmother used to say, “Don’t borrow trouble.” Writing A SPY AT HOME, I had to remember that Garrison’s problem was not mine. We have wills to plan for our daughter, and family that cares about her. You’ll have to read the book to find out about Garrison’s solution. Since he stole money from the government, his problem is a little trickier.
DLC: That is a challenge especially since many writers get into the head of their characters. Are you working on a book now and if so tell us a little bit about it?
Joe: I am getting ready to release another book entitled HAZARDOUS CHOICES. This is about a kid who wants to get away from gang life on the south side of Chicago; his best way out is a football scholarship to a small school in rural Kentucky. He finds the adjustment process more difficult than he expected, but learns to fit in with the other students from completely different backgrounds. His biggest problem becomes keeping his life in Chicago and his life in Kentucky separate.
DLC: Quite a change from spy novels. Nice. This next question always gives me a little insight into my victim's...I mean guest's personalities. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could pick only 2 books to have with you, what would they be and why?
Joe: The Count of Monte Cristo would be my first choice because it is long and fascinating. This would keep my mind occupied for long stretches at a time. It’s also about a man escaping confinement, and that story fits perfectly on a deserted island.
Second would be Sharp Objects; that story kept me interested in every word. By the time it ended, I had no idea where the author was taking me, but I couldn’t wait to get there.
DLC: Great answers. I find it funny that I watched the movie of The Count of Monte Cristo today before even doing this interview. Great story! Where can people go to get more information about you and your book?
Joe: My website is www.josephmrinaldo.com,
and my blogsite is http://wwwjosephmrinaldocom.blogspot.com.
The Amazon site for my book is http://www.amazon.com/A-SPY-AT-HOME-ebook/dp/B0033WSVVC.
DLC: I want to thank you again for taking the time to share today with us. I pray you have great success with your books.
Blessings,
Daniel L Carter
Author of The Unwanted Trilogy
"Daniel L. Carter is a literary force to be
reckoned with—a modern-day C. S. Lewis..."
by Betty Dravisco-author of
DREAM REACHERS