Today I am hosting author Sidney Frost in this last installment of a very successful 'Adult Fiction Blog Tour', sponsored by the 'John 3:16 Marketing Network'. We've come full circle in the past seven weeks and it's been a blast. Sidney was the first person in the group to host me and now it is finally my turn to return the favor! Welcome Sidney! Here's a short bio:
Author Bio
Sidney W. Frost is a Stephen Leader, a Stephen Minister, and a member of his church choir at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas. While singing with the Austin Lyric Opera Chorus, he was in 42 productions. He and his wife, Celeste, sing with the San Gabriel Chorale and have been in several Berkshire Festivals. Last year they sang in China and this year they will sing in Austria.
He has a Master of Science degree from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Long Beach. He recently retired from teaching computer courses at Austin Community College to concentrate on writing. He is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Writers League of Texas, and the San Gabriel Writers' League.
Awards for his first novel, Where Love Once Lived, include First Place -- 2007 SouthWest Writers Contest in the Inspirational/Spiritual Category, First Place -- 2007 Writers' League of Texas Novel Manuscript Contest, Romance Category, Third Place -- Fourteenth Annual Lone Star Writing Competition, Northwest Houston Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, Inspirational Romance Category and Finalist -- 2006 Yosemite Writers Contest Novel Category.
The Vengeance Squad Synopsis
When Chris McCowan's fiancée, 24-year-old Sarah Eason, is killed during a bizarre robbery near Austin, Texas, an unlikely trio teams up to track down those responsible for her death. Chris, a 31-year-old PhD computer science professor, Paul "Tex" Thompson, a 40-year-old wheelchair bound ex-con student at the community college where Chris teaches, and Liz Siedo, the 65-year-old head librarian at the city library where Tex works, pool their talents to find the criminals after local law enforcement agencies give up the chase.
Chris wants an eye for an eye even if that means giving up God and the church where he and Sarah were to be married. He sets out to learn the tricks of the trade from his ex-con student, all while continuing to teach and coming to terms with his grief. Angela, who claims to be an FBI agent, spots the guys at the pistol range and in cities across the country where the FBI is just steps behind Chris and Tex. She soon joins the team to help the three find the killers.
Liz finds influential friends of hers to finance the venture, covering travel costs, including a van with a wheelchair lift and Internet connection. Tex, a former Marine, calls this his 9/11, the war he missed because of his injury. Tex keeps Chris going even when Chris wants to give in to his mother, pastor and Sarah's parents who have all urged him to go on with his life.
Clues take them first to a burned out cabin near Albuquerque where Chris discovers an intact hard disk from a smashed computer. Back home, he reads the disk and finds a clue that takes them to a small town in Massachusetts. From there, with trips back home in between to review the clues with Liz and Angela, they go to El Paso, Galveston, and then Houston. Chris and Tex are arrested and spend Christmas in the Galveston jail. While locked up, Chris realizes that vengeance is not the answer. He prays and receives the comfort he has searched for since Sarah's death.
Chris uses his computer skills plus clues found at the scenes to follow the gang from one city to another until he and Tex come face to face with them at an underground walkway of a building in Houston where the President of the United States is visiting. Chris finds Angela a hostage. He rescues her and together they catch the terrorists and save the president.
My Interview with Sid:
Q: Tell us more about the inspiration/story behind your first novel WHERE LOVE ONCE LIVED
My Interview with Sid:
Q: Tell us more about the inspiration/story behind your first novel WHERE LOVE ONCE LIVED
A:I got the idea for Where Love Once Lived back in the 1960s when I drove a bookmobile part time while attending the University of Texas. The librarian I rode with was a unique character and that inspired me to write a story about her. By the time I actually wrote the book, however, I saw that it needed more than some humorous episodes to be a novel. I made up the story of Karen and Brian getting back together after 30 years and was pleased as the characters grew and expanded in time.
Q: I used to love going to the bookmobile! What kind of research did you need to do for your second book?
In The Vengeance Squad, I wrote about things and places I know. The main character, Chris, is a computer science professor. So was I until recently. Tex is an ex-marine. So am I. I put Tex in a wheelchair based on a student I had a few years back. The two travel around the country to investigate a killing. I've been to all the places they go to. I used the Internet for details when needed. I found Google photos of several of the places and used that in the book.
See: http://christianbookmobile.
Q:I recently saw that THE VENGEANCE SQUAD hit best seller status on Amazon kindle. How did that make you feel?
A: It is a thrill to make the bestseller list, even though my book is in a small subcategory.
Q:what's next in terms of your writing career?
A: I'm working on a sequel to Where Love Once Lived that I'm calling Do Unto Others. So far, all I have is a good outline.
A: I have sung in church choirs and community choruses since I was a child. When the Austin Lyric Opera started, they went to the largest chorus in town to sing in their operas. I happened to be there at the right time. I had always had a fear of being on stage, but it turned out to be much easier than I thought it would. For one thing we drilled for so long before the performance it came without thinking. Also, with stage lights so bright you could hardly see the audience. So, I kept at it for more than 15 years and was in 42 performances. I also was in three smaller musicals in town, but always in the chorus (or ensemble) and not as a soloist.
I just recently threw away my makeup kit, but I'll never forget being on stage.
Hm... maybe I can convince Sid to make a trip north for one of my next productions! Thanks for stopping by today, Sid and best of luck with your future endeavors.
Contact and Purchase Links:
The Vengeance Squad: http://www.amazon.com/The-
Where Love Once Lived: http://www.amazon.com/Where-
Email: sidfrost@suddenlink.net
5 comments:
Thanks for hosting me, Tracy. Nice layout. I'll check in from time to time to see if anyone has questions.
Thanks Sidney!
I've received two emails about this with comments about the opera photos. So, people are seeing it. Also, I forgot to say that even though I'm retired from the opera chorus, I still sing in choral groups. Last summer we sang in China for the Expo. This summer we go to Austria and next summer London.
Things have been quiet here, but I did get some private messages enjoying the interview!
Summer holidays have got me far behind in my readings, but I'm slowly catching up. Great interview! It's so interesting to learn about Sid's background and where the inspiration to write the books came from.
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