With Mardi Gras on the mind, it’s no small leap to see why this striking book cover gets attention. Curious about Mardi Gras, and all things New Orleans, an interview was next in line. Meb Bryant graciously agreed!
Your novel, a mystery thriller, is titled Harbinger of Evil. How would you sum it up in one breath? Give us a tagline.
New York crime meets New Orleans voodoo.
Tell us about your cover.
When I saw the mask, I fell in love; it reminded me of Mardi Gras. I’ve been told it’s famous in Venice, Italy. Since the story involves an encounter with a snake, I asked the cover designer to incorporate the snake eyes. Kinda creepy, huh?
Where did this idea come from?
I’m a native Houstonian born to a Texas mother and a Cajun father. I grew up following the construction of oil pipelines across Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alaska. My favorite location was around New Orleans. One morning, as we drove through New Orleans during Mardi Gras, some very colorful ladies threw beads to me, and I’ve been hooked every since. My family and I love to attend Mardi Gras in Galveston.
Although a child, I can still remember the assassination of President Kennedy. Like most people, his death impacted my life, and I’ve always wondered what the truth is behind the assassination...the ultimate whodunit.
Writers are told to “write what you know” or “write what you like to read.” I chose the later.
I’m sure everyone will be curious about Harbinger of Evil. Can you give us a brief overview?
In 1963 Louisiana, the French Quarter is rocked by the gruesome murder of a wealthy businessman. Detective Richard Mobey (nicknamed Mobey Dick) finds himself intertwined in the lives of a family about to unravel from generational secrets. The widowed detective faces the choice of following his instincts or his heart as he investigates Hattie Lee, the primary suspect, found lying next to the corpse.
The protection of Alaskan oil, shady politics and CIA operatives converge to muddy the investigation, leading him down a treacherous path during the ten days surrounding the Kennedy assassination. As Mobey struggles to rebuild his personal life, he unwittingly becomes an integral part of the infamous assassination. In the final erotic twist, the killer strives to explain not only the necessity, but the ultimate justice for committing murder.
Here’s a little bit more from this exciting book with the captivating cover!
Although November, the sidewalks were crowded with revelers, vacationing tourist and local residents. Coming or going, the majority were looking for simple pleasures on a Saturday night. At least, it’s not Mardi Gras, he thought.
Licentious amounts of overindulgence are crowded into the short period in February called Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. The day before Ash Wednesday. When Mobey had
arrived two years earlier during Mardi Gras, he found the human traffic on Bourbon Street overwhelming, and became claustrophobic in the standstill crowds.
The streets suffocated with the stench of hedonism until Lent, the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, not counting Sundays. Lent required fasting and penance. Two things Mobey knew absolutely nothing about.
Without prying too much, can you tell us about your next project or plans you may have?
Thank you, for asking about my next project. Currently, I’m working on a suspense novel about a Marine sniper, home on leave, who walks into a drugstore robbery. Can you imagine angering somebody who legally hunts humans?
And I’m really excited about attending ThrillerFest in NYC in July. I’ve never been to the Big Apple.
What encouraging advice can you offer new writers or someone thinking about writing a novel?
With the upheaval in publishing, it’s an exciting and scary time to be a writer. Write it and your heart will flourish. Write it well and they will come.
Thank you for hosting me at Examiner.com. It’s been fun.
Where can you find Meb Bryant?
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meb.bryant?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/account
Website: http://www.mebbryant.com/
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