Table of Contents

1. What are you working on now?
2. Bad Policy sounds interesting, when can I read it?
3. What more can you tell me about Seamus McCree?
4. Are you a lot like Seamus?
5. When do we get to meet the rest of Seamus's family?
6. What's this about applesauce on pizza?
7. Are the financial crimes in your books possible?

What are you working on now ... ?

Fiction: I am looking for representation of Bad Policy. I am working on the second draft of Cabin Fever, the second Seamus McCree novel. Cabin Fever is set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where Seamus tangles with home-grown militia extremists. I am also writing the first draft of dystopian novel set in the late 21st century.

Non-Fiction: Master Point Press has scheduled publication of my bridge book for Intermediate/Novice players for Fall 2011. While I await galley proofs and the like, I'm working on an "over the shoulder" book on declarer play, which I am also targeting for Intermediate/Novice players

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Bad Policy sounds interesting ... ?

If you are a qualified literary agent, as soon as you request it!

Unfortunately for everyone else, publishing timetables are Loooooong. I hope the book will be published in 2011-12. Keep checking back for updates.

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What more can you tell me about Seamus ... ?

Seamus was born and brought up in Boston. His father was a police officer, killed in the line of duty. His mother worked at home, trying to keep Seamus out of trouble. He has an older sister. He's divorced and has a son, Paddy (Patrick to everyone else).

Seamus attended parochial grammar school, public high school and private college on a full scholarship. After graduating from college in four years, he played professional soccer. A first year injury forced him to quit the game.

He obtained his MBA with a concentration in finance and became a top stock analyst, specializing in the banking industry. Long before the current shenanigans on Wall Street, he quit a leading Investment Bank when he couldn't stomach the corporate duplicity over one of his reports and began working for the Criminal Investigation Group ("CIG") later that year.

Seamus is 6'2", weighs 185 pounds and if pressed can run 5 miles in 31 minutes. He is a lover a variety of music, but has a special interest in the pre-classical period, oldies rock and Celtic. He sings bass/baritone in a church choir and periodically joins select choirs for special performances.

He generally lives alone in a large Victorian house in the Clifton area of Cincinnati, Ohio or at his camp in the wild woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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Are you a lot like Seamus ... ?

For starters, he has all his hair. Need I say more?

Yes?

Fine, be that way. He's younger, taller, faster, stronger, smarter, better looking and if that weren't enough, he's independently wealthy.

But he needs to be careful. One search and replace on the keyboard and all that can change.

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When do we get to meet ... ?

Seamus's son Paddy has a big role in Bad Policy and Seamus's mother has a small, but crucial role as well. We know Seamus has an estranged sister, but we don't know the reason for the estrangement.

Why not?

Hey folks -- I'm trying for a series here. I need some room for Seamus to change over time, so cut me some slack.

Since these books are mystery/suspense, not science fiction, we have only memories of Seamus's father, but we know from Bad Policy that his presence is felt long after his death.

Uncle Mike, a retired Boston police captain, isn't officially family, but he's Seamus's godfather and surrogate father. He also appears in Bad Policy.

Paddy also has a major role in Cabin Fever.

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What's this about applesauce on pizza ... ?

Okay this one is from a prequel, Ant Farm (also known in the trade as a practice novel -- i.e. I wrote it and couldn't sell it. The story was good, but the writing needed work.

Oh right, applesauce on pizza. Try it; you'll like it. Mikey did. However, there is no truth to the rumors that the McCrees are planning a cookbook.

Since you asked about it, I'll try to remember to add this to Cabin Fever. It really is tasty and you don't have to wait for the pizza to cool down before you can start eating it.

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Are the Financial Crimes in Your Books Possible ... ?

Almost any crime is possible given enough skullduggery and people in the right places. The crimes in my short stories and novel are fictional. I am sure some have happened somewhere in the real world in a fashion similar to what I have depicted. Others have not, most likely because no one has figured out a way to get away with it.

Paddy has a tendency to hack computer systems to get information. This too is a financial crime and while again, most things are possible, I have probably made it easier for Paddy to crack some computer systems than is reality. But then again, maybe not...

The real issue for all of us is how to safeguard our own financial assets. Do not routinely provide your social security number. Make sure all e-mail or phone call solicitations for account information are real. Most financial institutions will not ask for your account number or personal identification number over the phone or in an e-mail, unless you have initiated the inquiry.

Phishing is a major crime today. Criminal gangs are very good at developing websites that have the look and feel of real financial institution sites. An email directing you to "company" websites and asking for account information is called phishing. If you are ever in doubt, do not respond to the email or phone call--contact the company directly.

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All information is intended to be correct or outlandish or somewhere in between.
Revised: 09/18/10