Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: However Long the Night by David Pereda

Today we're welcoming author David Pereda to the blog on his tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for However Long the Night, "a contemporary mainstream novel with a romantic flair, a love triangle, suspense, a pinch of corporate shenanigans and a historical background". We loved the book, and posted a review here.

David is giving away a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter. So comment today (he especially loves questions -- so ask him one!) AND follow his tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

David was gracious enough to answer my questions.

Why did you choose to write suspense?

I like the genre. It’s fast, requires skillful plotting, interesting characters, and usually, definitely in my case, exotic locales. But I actually don’t really write suspense. I write thrillers.

What kind of research went into your story to make sure the details were correct?

Two types of research:

(1) I’ve either lived in, or traveled to, more than twenty-five countries. Meaning: I’ve been to all the countries I describe in my books – and However Long the Night is no exception; and (2) if some details escape me or I’m trying to describe a place I’ve never been to, like the Roncalli Lighthouse, I resort to rigorous research via Internet and libraries.

How does it feel being a male author in a genre dominated by women? Do you think it gives you and advantage or disadvantage?

Who says thrillers are a genre dominated by women? Harlan Coben, Dan Brown, John Grisham, David Baldacci, Jeffrey Archer, Joseph Finder, W.E.B. Griffin – to name a few – are all men. While more than 75% of readers are women and there are a number of outstanding suspense women writers, the thriller genre is dominated by men. It is an incredibly tough genre, by the way, since all those men are outstanding thriller writers, but I like competition. My objective is to be mentioned in the same sentence with them within the next 2-3 years, if not sooner.

There are no writing advantages or disadvantages in terms of sex. It all boils down to how good you are as a writer and how well you are able to reach your reader and make her a part of your story. If you succeed, you are a knockout artist; if you fail, you are the one being knocked out of the marketplace and ignored.

Do you have any writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

No. I’m plain vanilla when it comes to writing. In that sense I am like Dostoyevsky who, according to history, pounded away at his novels undeterred while the creditors were pounding on his front door.

Plotter or Pantser?

I’m a plotter – but once I have my plot in place and have my characters defined and know where I want to go I’m liable to change directions. My favorite motto is: do always the unexpected. I do.

Anything new coming from you? If so, please share!

I’m halfway through the third installment of my Havana Series of thrillers. This one is a departure from the previous two books in the series in that the plot takes the main characters to the Middle East – where I lived for a while too, by the way. Also, because the main focus switches from assassination and politics to the kidnapping of one of the twin girls born to Raymond and Sonia in the second book of the series. One of the twins gets kidnapped and that sets off and incredible sequence of events. The book is titled Twin Powers, and I expect to have it published in 2013.

Anything you'd like to ask our readers?

Other than have you read my books and, if not, why not?

Yes, I do. I’d like to ask your readers which are their top three favorite books and why?

To the first three who answer, I promise a signed copy of However Long the Night in return. But there’s a caveat. As you know, nothing in life is free. The three winners must agree to write a review of However Long the Night to be published in your blog at your discretion once they finish reading it.

Thank you David!

What if you found out your success was built on lies told by your father that caused great misfortune to people dear to you? What if you had the opportunity to do something about it…twenty-five years later and at the risk of your own life? Would you or wouldn’t you?

This is the dilemma award-winning Miami Architect Cid Milan suddenly faces in this 90,000-word, mainstream novel. A Cuban immigrant forced to abandon his country as a teenager during the tumultuous Mariel boatlift of 1980, Cid is a self-made man who arrived in the United States with nothing. He’s an example of what can be accomplished in America through hard work and determination. He hobnobs with the Mayor, has a sexy model for his girlfriend, and is building the most luxurious condominium on Biscayne Bay. But when his dying father, Colonel Jose Milan, a well-known political dissident, confesses to him a shocking family secret from Cuba, Cid’s life implodes.

Colonel Milan reveals that in order to ensure Cid could leave Cuba unharmed, he collaborated with Castro’s police -- willfully betraying both Cid's best friend, Joaquin, and forsaking his pregnant girlfriend Sandra. Overnight, Cid’s world is turned upside down. Trying to unravel the mystery of his own past, Cid realizes there’s only one thing he can do: return to the land he abandoned. In his quest to learn the truth, Cid rediscovers himself and his roots as he reunites with Joaquin and searches frantically throughout Cuba for Sandra and the secret she has kept from him all these years: his son. In the process, Cid learns an invaluable lesson about love, forgiveness and redemption that changes his life forever.

Author Biography:

David Pereda is an award-winning author who enjoys crafting political thrillers and mainstream novels. His books have won the Lighthouse Book Awards twice, the Royal Palm Awards, the National Indie Excellence Awards, and the Readers Favorite Awards. He has traveled extensively around the world and speaks several languages. Before devoting his time solely to writing and teaching college-level courses, Pereda had a rich and successful international consulting career with global giant Booz Allen Hamilton, where he worked with the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifPhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifferu, and Qatar, among others.

A member of MENSA, Pereda is the regional director of the Florida Writers Association and the co-founder of AWE (Asheville Writing Enthusiasts). He loves sports and has won many prizes competing in track and show-jumping equestrian events.
Pereda lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina.

Please visit him at…
www.davidpereda.com
www.twitter.com/DavidPeredaAVL
www.facebook.com