UnBiased Book Reviews: @JWMefford on Doing What Makes You Happy #SummerOfGreed #Thriller #Giveaway

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?

I’ve never been around people in one industry that can be so supportive. At times I see their kindness, other times blunt, straight-forward feedback that will light your skin on fire. But when they’re in my inner circle, I listen and I trust them.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

I can get by on five hours of sleep a night, but I’m much more productive and with eight, although that rarely happens.

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

I’d worked in the corporate sector for twenty-plus years and during that time witnessed some pretty disturbing things. Deep down, I knew what motivated far too many acts in the corporate world: greed. Almost subconsciously, I was driven to write a novel about how people were being treated like inanimate objects, and then I interwove a sizzling suspense, mixed in an emotional connection with the main characters and a slice of romance. And I had to add a dash of sarcasm here and there. That’s just me.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

I honestly don’t have a great deal of time to relax. For instance, I love to work out. It clears my mind, provides me a rational perspective on things in my life, and has very often allowed my mind to go places I’d never dream up staring at a computer screen. When I’m truly relaxing, I enjoy reading a book with my feet burrowed in warm sand, my kids giggling in the background and waves roaring and then sizzling once the water recedes back into the abyss. I guess you can tell I love the beach.

Do you have any tips on how writers can relax?

Move to Colorado? If that’s not possible, or your thing, then do what makes you happy. Sounds simple, I realize, but I think we authors are among the worst of folks who over-analyze even the most simplistic decisions. So, I guess I’m saying that to win the anxiety battle, you need to keep yourself from red-lining within five days of a vacation. So, try to live in the moment. When you feel good about your writing progress, allow your mind to be worry-free during your relaxation task, whether that’s reading, going for a bike ride, taking a jog, lying in the snow and making a snow angel, going to the mall to people watch. Be kind to yourself. If you’re not your biggest fan, no one will volunteer to take that spot.

What’s your most embarrassing moment of your life?

I was the best man at my friend’s wedding a few years ago. It was a monster event, with friends and family flying in from all over the country, and a few from around the world. At the rehearsal dinner, my buddy’s Dad asked if I’d give a toast. I instantly looked around and saw about a hundred fifty people. Let me remind you, that’s one hundred fifty people just at the rehearsal dinner. To further set the scene, amongst the crowd was my buddy’s old girlfriend. I know, it sounds like a romantic comedy in the making. It gets better.

She had on a red dress. And, she wouldn’t sit down. For some odd reason, as my heart started hammering my chest and my palms got sweaty, I stared at this girl, who was socializing with everyone in the room. I then took another look at my friend’s Dad, who gave me the signal.

Despite my mental urging for the ex-girlfriend to take a seat, I stood up and dinged the glass with my fork. I cleared my throat, raised my glass and said, “To David and Renee!” You could have heard a fly buzzing hundred feet away—for about ten seconds. Then, I saw one hundred fifty faces explode with laughter. I had no clue why they were laughing.

Then, I turned to my table and shrugged my shoulders. The response from my closest friends and family ranged from crying (from laughing to hard) to crying (for feeling sorry for me). I don’t remember saying Renee, but apparently I said it. My buddy was marrying Jennie.

The good news is, they’re still married today, and still friends of mine. They’re some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

Maya Angelou touched many people during her life, and I read a quote from her this past week that hit me on so many levels.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

That’s why I write. To make people feel…not just one feeling, but many. That’s the meaning of life.

What is your favorite color?

Green. I used to have greed carpet in my room when I was a teenager. I couldn’t make that up.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?

Writing this book was an odyssey unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. In the beginning, when I had no clue what constituted the end, completing that first draft, declaring victory, was a significant accomplishment for someone who’d never been able to clearly focus on one thing for a very long time. Now I look back and see a bloody trail of re-writes, edits, countless versions on my laptop, feedback from beta readers and a dead period when I set it aside for two years. The evolutionary process of growing as a person, developing as a writer taught me that persistence is essential, but still not enough. I’ve learned to persistently strive to improve in every facet of my writing, while maintaining an open mind and positive attitude. At times I think I’ve even shocked my editor. And that’s tough to do.

Can we expect any more books from you in the future?

Glad you asked. My current plan is to release LETHAL GREED (Greed Series #2) in July, WICKED GREED (Greed Series #3) in August and book 4 of the Greed Series (title TBD) in September / October.

Beyond that, I have a framework for a new series, including an introductory shell for Book 1. The title is nailed down, but I’ll share that at another time. I plan to publish four books in that new series, at least one more next year in the Greed Series and possibly a stand-alone novel. By the end of 2015, I should have ten books published, God willing.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Great question. In five years, I’ll be writing, but maybe I’ll branch out into another genre. Regardless, I plan to have ten books published by the end of 2015, and within five years a minimum of twenty-five books.

Behind the façade of every corporate takeover executives pull levers this way and that, squeezing the last profitable nickel out of the deal. But no one knows the true intent of every so-called merger.

No one knows the secret bonds that exist.

An Indian technology giant swallows up another private company that has deep roots in North Texas. For one unassuming man the thought of layoffs, of losing his own job to a bunch of arrogant assholes feels like a kick to the jewels.

Until the day Michael’s life changes forever.

Perverse alliances. An affair of the heart. A grisly murder. A spiraling string of events thrusts Michael into a life-or-death fight to save a tortured soul and hunt down a brutal killer…one who lurks closer than he ever imagined.

Greed knows no boundaries.