Researching – the Backbone of any Novel
John R. Beyer
When the
concept of writing my fourth novel teaming up my protagonists, Jonas Peters and
Frank Sanders (their first book together), I knew there would have to be deep
research to ensure the readers would believe the words I put down onto the
paper. There was no chance I was to spend a year or more writing a tale
involving these two fine men without the diligence of powerful exploration and
research.
That is
the hallmark of any good writing. Without painstaking research a writer ends up
with only a tale without merit. Fictional writing may be what wordsmith’s make
out of their creative memories but good fiction must resemble non-fiction to
the audience.
When I
read a novel I want to be taken away from the present reality and thrust into a
new reality. What I did not realize when the idea for ‘Iquitos – the Past Will
Kill’ sprang into my head was that I would be spending a month in the darkness
of the Peruvian rainforest.
The jungle
comes alive at night and hunkered beneath mosquito netting and swinging in the
heavy and moist air in a hammock one thinks it is safer to be inside than
outside. More than once each evening something outside would let loose with a
scream and suddenly nothing but silence invaded the night.
During the
daylight all one did was sweat in the ninety percent humidity
The
rainforest on the Amazon just a short distance from Iquitos, Peru is a
dangerous place to reside – for both human and the other creatures who roam the
dark paths below the sky hiding branches.
On
previous trips to Peru, my spouse (Laureen) and I had made close friends with a
naval commander who set up the Amazon adventure including riding for hours in a
fast boat. This navy small boat was capable of over sixty miles per hour on the
wide and dark river and sported two fifty caliber machine guns. It was a
fitting place for Jonas (who was the only character to venture into the Amazon)
to hitch a ride and find out firsthand the magnitude of one of the largest
rivers in the world.
Islands
would appear out of nowhere – the shores teaming with life. Howler monkeys kept
eyes on us as we swept by the land masses as well as Toucans and Macaws flying
overhead. The skies were often covered with rain fat clouds ready to deluge us
at any minute – often without warning the sky would open up. Suddenly drenched
and smiling we would understand the thrill of research – to be somewhere not
expected and enjoying every minute of it.
A month on
the trail to making sure the research was correct left my spouse and our good
friend Paul Bakas (photographer for our blog – jandlresearchandexploration)
satisfied with that research and an understanding of the difficulty of living
in such a primitive place as the Amazon. It takes a special type of person to
make it day to day – we made it a month but with a guide, prepared food,
constant warnings of the dangers behind every bush, and an overall appreciation
of where we were and why.
As Laureen
stated as we headed back to the states; “That was the best trip I never want to
repeat.”
‘Iquitos –
The Past Will Kill’ was a novel based on a past event involving Jonas Peters
which brings that past rushing to the future. Fatal events occur at the
beginning of the novel.
About the Author
John R.
Beyer spent nearly ten years in law enforcement in Southern California as a street cop, a training officer and a member of the
elite SWAT team. After leaving the force, he continued in public service
entering the field of education. During his tenure, he served as classroom
teacher, school administrator and district administrator, and was an integral
part of the gang and drug force in San Bernardino. While in both worlds he earned a Doctorate in School
Administration and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
During
all those years, he never gave up the passion for writing – both fiction and
nonfiction. He has been published in numerous magazines, newspapers and the
like for decades, writing on a variety of topics. His latest short stories in
the past year can be found in Foliate Oak Literary Magazine (2016) and GNU
Journal (2017). He is also the author of three highly praised internationally
known novels – Hunted (2013), Soft Target (2014) and Operation Scorpion (2017).
He won
the 'Write Well Award' in October of 2018 from the Silver Pen Writer's
Association for a fictional short story.
His
newest novel, ‘Iquitos – the Past Will Kill’, was released in November of 2018
by Black Opal Books bringing two of his protagonists together for their first
investigation. Jonas Peters and Frank Sanders will work hand in hand with an
international incident which left undetected could cause a catastrophic issue
for the United
States.
They are friends and they are good at they do. Catching the bad guys.
Website
Address: http://johnrobertbeyer.weebly.com/
Blog
Address: https://jandlresearchandexploration.blogspot.com/
Twitter
Address: @Drjohnrbeyer
About the Book:
Title: IQUITOS:
THE PAST WILL KILL
Author: John R. Beyer
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Pages: 353
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Author: John R. Beyer
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Pages: 353
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
BOOK BLURB:
Jonas
Peters and Frank Sanders team up to solve a string of murders, starting with the
intentional and fatal bombing of a local coffee shop in downtown Riverside—a
usually calm city in Southern California. Dozens are dead after an explosion
rips apart the Coffee Grind, leaving dozens of others gravely wounded. Frank
soon finds himself up to his elbows assisting the bombing victims, especially
when he discovers that Jonas was walking to the Coffee Grind to meet up with
his fiancée, but he never made it. In an instant, all their lives are thrust
into a trail of death and destruction carried out by an unknown psychopath.
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