King of Paine is a complex story with many subplots and themes, but at heart it's about a flawed man, Frank Paine, seeking redemption by joining an organization striving to recapture its own fabled mojo after a string of historic failures. With the ghosts of Waco, Ruby Ridge, and 9/11 whispering in his ear, Frank's first case forces him to bridge the divide between the FBI's Old School dinosaurs and a new breed of agents personified by the debonair Jeronimo Reyes and his Cyber Squad cohorts.
The Bureau is in fact reinventing itself to combat 21st century challenges like terrorism and cyber security, creating another set of challenges for an author intent on providing an authentic reading experience. While I took a few liberties, several amazing resources helped me paint Frank Paine's FBI with true colors. My research covered several areas: Bureau history and organization, federal laws and jurisdiction, agent mindset and anecdotes, investigative procedure, authentication of details, and settings.
The best introduction to the FBI is a visit to the agency's own website. Volumes of pages detail the Bureau's history and organization and provide a treasure trove of data for the curious reader.
As a lawyer myself, I'm a stickler for getting the law right in my novels (or at least the appearance of right!). One mistake some aspiring crime writers make is inserting the FBI into their stories without first confirming the crimes in question fall within the Bureau's jurisdiction. Generally, the FBI only enforces federal laws, so they wouldn't be called in to investigate a murder or sexual assault. One of the first conflicts in King of Paine is over jurisdiction--Frank attempts to exclude the Atlanta police from a sexual assault case by arguing federal cyberstalking laws apply. His personal connection to that case--a link to his secret past--fuels the main plotline, so his control of the investigation is critical to the story.
An author has leeway in developing characters in any profession, and avoiding stereotypes is something I strive to do. Frank Paine is a former actor, not the typical FBI career path; I describe him as a tennis player in a locker room full of linebackers. That said, I wanted to capture the lingo, unwritten rules, and cliques unique to this locker room. Several memoirs by former special agents and Internet forums populated by them gave me a peek into the Bureau mystique. Through their anecdotes, I picked up procedural tips, jargon and hints at the agent mindset that add spice to King of Paine.
Then I dove inside the belly of the beast. Okay, it was more like an appointment with a couple of linebackers, Special Agents Stephen Emmett and Jerry Reichard of the Atlanta Field Office, but the adventure still made my heart pound. (I don't get out much.)
The meeting was arranged by Chris Allen of the FBI's Investigative Publicity & Public Affairs division based in Washington, whose office provides a liaison between field agents and authors and screenwriters interested in adding realism to their projects. These are the guys who make TV shows like Criminal Minds and Numbers ring true. To prepare for my interview, Allen relayed answers to my detailed questions from agents in the field and at the FBI Academy in Quantico, filling in many gaps in my knowledge--details about the Bureau's new case management system, arrest procedures, funeral arrangements for an agent killed on duty (hint or red herring?), and much more.
Then Agents Emmett and Reichard showed me around the Atlanta Field Office and patiently answered my follow-up questions over the course of an exhausting day. The tone ranged from serious (a dramatic retelling of Emmett's wounding in the course of a shootout with bank robbers) to arcane (Reichard's explanation of the mechanics of tracing instant message communications over the Internet) to tongue-in-cheek (when asked why he was going to Iraq, Emmett deadpanned, "waterboarding"). Besides immersing me in Bureau culture, the visit enabled me to create a mental picture of the setting for much of my story (although Emmett requested I obscure details of the office layout for obvious reasons).
I go through many drafts as part of my writing process and had to cut some fantastic material to get King of Paine's dramatic pacing right. I hope the remaining nuances make for an action-packed Bureau experience grounded in reality.
Please join me on tomorrow's blog tour stop at The Write To Make A Living, where I'll be guest posting about “Writing Thought-Provoking Suspense: Social Themes.” Also, check out the King of Paine Kindle Giveaway Contest early--you can increase your chances of winning a new Kindle Touch 3G before the holidays by posting comments on the blogs hosting tour events!
Giveaway! Leave a comment with your email for a chance to win one autographed book and 2 ebooks! INTERNATIONAL
King of Paine Blog Tour Media Kit
King of Paine Blog Tour: Thriller/suspense author Larry Kahn has announced a three-week blog tour and Kindle Giveaway Contest to celebrate the launch of his second novel, King of Paine. Each day from December 1-21, King of Paine will be featured on one of the world's greatest book blogs, with reviews, book giveaways, interviews and guest posts penned by the author. Prizes will be awarded in the Kindle Giveaway Contest on December 22nd, including a new Kindle Touch 3G. No purchase is necessary to enter, but readers can increase their chances of winning by helping Larry promote King of Paine. Contest details can be found on his website.
Tour Schedule:
12/1 What Book Is That?: Review & Snowed in with Indie Authors December Giveaway Festival
12/2 From the TBR File: Book Giveaway & Review
12/3 Live To Read: Guest Post "Researching An FBI Story"
12/4 The Write To Make A Living: Review, Book Giveaway & Guest Post "Writing Thought-Provoking Suspense: Social Themes"
12/5 Thoughts In Progress: Guest Post "Who Are You Chatting With? The Dangers of Anonymous Internet Communications"
12/6 Boekie's Book Reviews: Review & Author Interview
Owl Tell You About It: Review
12/7 Owl Tell You About It: Guest Post "Researching the Psychology of BDSM"
12/8 All the days of: Book Giveaway & Guest Post "Crafting Intricate Plots: My Writing Process"
12/9 The Top Shelf: Review & Author Interview
12/10 Darlene's Book Nook: Book Giveaway & Guest Post "Rooting for a Flawed Protagonist"
12/11 Larry Kahn: Interview with Frank Paine, "Getting Inside The Mind Of A Madman"
12/12 Full Moon Bites: Book Giveaway & Author of the Week Interview
12/13 The Book Diva's Reads: Review & Guest Post "Buried Treasures: Treats for the Watchful Reader"
12/14 Alive On The Shelves: Guest Post "When Eye Candy Fights Back: Adding Depth To a Love Interest"
12/15 The Enchanted Book: Review & Guest Post "What Can You Expect From A 99-Cent E-Book? "
12/16 Opinions of a Wolf: Book Giveaway & Review
12/17 Black Diamond's Book Reviews: Book Giveaway & Review
12/18 Thoughts In Progress: Review
12/19 CMash Loves to Read: Book Giveaway & Guest Post "My Inspiration For King of Paine"
12/20 Goodreads: Live Q&A With Larry Kahn
12/21 Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews: Review, Author Interview & Book Giveaway
King of Paine Kindle Giveaway Contest: Thriller/suspense author Larry Kahn recently announced the King of Paine Kindle Giveaway Contest to celebrate the launch of his second novel. The contest will run through the end of the author's blog tour on December 21st. No purchase is required, but you can improve your chances of winning a new Kindle Touch 3G and other prizes by helping Larry promote King of Paine as explained in the contest details on his website.
Eligibility: The drawing for the grand prize will be limited to residents of the US and Canada, but there are no restrictions on eligibility for other prizes. No Purchase Necessary.
Dates: All entries must be submitted on the official entry form by 11:59pm Eastern Time on December 21, 2011.
Selection of Winners: On December 22, 2011, the author will use an online random number generator to select prize winners from among all valid entries. Prior to selection, each participant will be assigned one chance simply for entering the contest plus additional chances for helping to promote King of Paine as follows:
BUY a copy of King of Paine--25 chances for each copy.
REVIEW King of Paine and post it on any popular book website, your blog, or social media—10 chances for each site (up to 10 sites).
BLOG about King of Paine (including hosting a guest post or interview) and/or this contest and link to Larry's website—25 chances.
SHARE the contest announcement (or Larry's King of Paine post) on Facebook and Twitter--10 chances each.
COMMENT about King of Paine on Larry's website or a blog on the King of Paine Blog Tour—5 chances for each blog (one comment per blog).
JOIN Larry's website using Google Friend Connect--5 chances.
SUBSCRIBE to Larry's newsletter--5 chances.
LIKE/FOLLOW Larry on social media—5 chances each.
King of Paine Synopsis: King of Paine is a sexy, fast-paced suspense novel filled with characters who grapple with a range of intriguing end-of-life issues while everything they care about is at stake. The story follows two investigations, Special Agent Frank Paine's pursuit of a stalker committing a series of kinky Internet crimes and a reporter tracking the disappearance of wealthy senior citizens across the nation. Both paths lead to a hidden enclave where a brilliant biochemist harbors a deadly secret. Somebody is going to die there, and it may be Frank Paine's soulmate. Or him.
Tagline: A desperate patient. A rumored cure. How far would you go to find the fountain of youth?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/King-of-Paine-ebook/dp/B005E1K0QO
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king-of-paine-larry-kahn/1032042906
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72217
Author Bio: Larry Kahn, the author of The Jinx and King of Paine, successfully negotiated the fast-paced world of domestic and international mergers and acquisitions for twenty years, first at a major New York law firm and then at an Atlanta Fortune 500 company. He penned The Jinx while on sabbatical in 1999 and is now devoted to writing fiction full time. Many of his more cynical legal clients and associates have accused him of writing fiction full time for many years. He resides in Atlanta with his family.
Larry developed a keen interest in social issues while attending Yale Law School, an idealistic spirit that continues to spice his novels. The vision of a colorblind America in his political thriller The Jinx led to endorsements by leaders of the ACLU, National Urban League and Artists Against Racism. And as the Baby Boomer generation scatters about the country, King of Paine envisions a renewed emphasis on family and tradition in which Americans create for their venerable elders, and ultimately themselves, a peaceful place to die.
Website and blog: http://www.larrykahn.com
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Larry-Kahn/135241939892196
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/743265.Larry_Kahn
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LarryKahnWriter
Images:
Release: Larry Kahn owns all rights in the content and images in this media kit and hereby grants to anybody with an interest in promoting King of Paine a royalty-free license to use such content and images, in whole or in part, to promote King of Paine, the King of Paine blog tour, or the King of Paine Kindle Giveaway Contest in any media.
Posts
Thank you Larry for that wonderful interview information on how KING OF PAINE came to be! I thank Krystal for her review and to help promote such an intriguing novel as so many people WILL love it at the most and like it at the least.
I can't say enough about this phenomenal novel of many facets. I was marveled by each and every character, the storyline sucked me in immediately and continued to have me turning pages quickly and seductively. It is even on my "read again" list.
Lori in Arizona