Interview with Karl Puttlitz, author of 'Red, White and Boom'

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Karl Puttlitz
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Book Title: Red, White and Boom
Publisher: Adventure Street Press

When was the book released?:
September, 2011

Give us an overview of your book.
Special Agent Jeb Foster and the Rapid Intervention Team he leads are recruited to help the Russians retrieve quantities of stolen weapons-grade nuclear material. He was informed that an estimated 500 tons of highly-enriched uranium not covered by treaty was scattered at various sites around Russia - enough to produce 20,000 to 60,000 nuclear weapons. The problem was that although the U.S. and other countries were assisting the Russians to secure these stockpiles, many were known to be vulnerable. In fact, there was an additional quantity used for non-weapons purposes at facilities only lightly guarded or not guarded at all, making it easy for nuclear thieves to take what they wanted. This situation posed an inviting condition for the uranium to fall into nefarious hands. Almost from the beginning Jeb had a really bad feeling about the assignment when learning that not one, but multiple thefts had taken place from supposedly secure locations. His initial fears erupted into a nightmare with the mission constantly being thwarted by old-school, hard-line Russian politicians and military officers, and so too by unknown adversaries who anticipated his every move. Jeb and the A-Team’s quest took them to secret cities where few outsiders had ever set foot. Sabotage left him stranded in the Arctic wilderness having to deal with the unforgiving conditions of the Siberian winter, from which survival is near impossible. Additionally, as time was running short Jeb feared the thieves would escape Russia with the stolen nuclear material. The body count of those who could have provided valuable information had steadily mounted, making his task all the more difficult. He knew if the stolen material passed into the hands of terrorists, who likely contracted for its theft, it would be for the sole purpose of delivering an unthinkably devastating blow to several major American cities.

What inspired you to write this book?
In addition to providing readers with a suspenseful novel, I also wanted them to be mindful that we live in dangerous times—in just a few moments everything can change. It occurred to me how often I’d been in the Twin Towers with family and friends before they were toppled and reduced to ruble without warning on a beautiful, clear, sunny September day. As horrific as that was, the truth is it could have been much worse—it could have been an explosion involving nuclear, that is, radioactive materials. This book makes it clear that scenario is an all-to-real possibility. We need to be vigilant as never before.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Given my rather unusual background as an author, PhD in metallurgical engineering—with some formal studies in atomical nuclear physics, my more than 4 decades as a research and development engineer, having been retained in more than 150 litigation matters as a forensic metallurgist, and having lectured all over the world, I bring to the table vast, diverse, and unique experiences to draw upon and apply to my writing that are not found in other works.

Where can people buy your book?
The book can be purchased at www.adstpress.com, www.atlasbooks.com, or at your favorite online bookstore.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, I am working on another book and expect it will be published sometime in the first quarter of 2013.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
The various self-publishing guide books all have one thing in common—giving you the impression it’s a done deal following a few easy steps—it’s not! First of all, there are many steps and it all takes longer than you might have anticipated. As authors, we all feel a great sense of accomplishment with the final-draft manuscript in our hands and are certainly entitled to that. But the reality is the real work is yet to be done—successfully marketing that work. My advice, therefore, is to actively pursue every marketing opportunity. You personally must get involved. If you wait for others to make your book a success it probably will not happen.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
One of the best opportunities we’ve run across is to have the work displayed at a regional book show—not just any show, but one specifically designated for librarians. Realizing they can’t review all the books at the show, those interested in follow-up from authors and publishers leave a complete set of contact information as part of a database from which mailings can easily be made. We have typically received between 50 to over 400 contacts from each such show. These are people empowered and ready to purchase.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Allbooks Reviews was among a list of review organizations that came to our attention through a lot of research on our part. Our relationship interest is two-fold: obtain a fair appraisal of the novel “Red, White and Boom”—which was done and we are very grateful; and gain publicity for the book via internet postings of the review and this interview, as well as other methods you utilize to gain publicity.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I very much appreciate Allbook Review’s desire to assist talented and hardworking writers gain a vehicle for recognition in a very cluttered and difficult-to-navigate field. Accordingly, what would benefit me, Adventure Street Press, and I presume all of your clients are a compilation of various marketing methods that others have found to be successful. Not just things cited in self-publishing handbooks to fill pages, but tried-and-true methods that others have found to be worthy of investing time and money.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.