Interview with Bradley W. Wright, author of Old Gold Mountain with Giveaway

Hello! Welcome to the book tour for Old Gold Mountain by Bradley W. Wright. In this exclusive interview, he tells a bit of background about writing the book, as well as providing a little bit of insight into himself. You can also enjoy an excerpt and then enter the giveaway at the end after you download your own copy of the book. Follow the tour for even more conversations, excerpts, and chances to win. Be sure to leave him a comment or a question of your own!

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What was the inspiration behind this book?

I really like the old Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald. When I sat down to write a book and decided it would be about a guy who lives outside the normal laws and customs of his society, I knew Travis McGee would have to be a major influence. San Francisco was another inspiration. I love that city. I’m sad that it has become so expensive and unaffordable for many artists.

What kind of research did you have to do for it?

I did a lot of research on art theft, the tools and techniques used by cat burglars, computer hacking, and the international black market for antiquities and stolen art. I read a few books but most of the information I needed was readily available online.

What was one of your favorite scenes?

My favorite scene in the book is probably when Justin meets Ashna at a made up bar in the part of San Francisco known as the Tenderloin. The bar is frequented by Silicon Valley software developers, body hackers, electronic music snobs, etc. It was a nice chance to make fun of them (a little, with respect).

Will we see these characters again?

Absolutely. I have a sequel in the works.

What do you hope people will get out of your book?

I think it’s a fun and engaging read. So, entertainment mainly. I think it is also an interesting book for people who are into art and the international art market. I hope that people who have technical expertise in computer hacking will enjoy the hacking scenes. I worked hard to make those scenes realistic.

On what are you currently working?

I’m working on a young adult book currently. It’s a near future science fiction novel. As soon as I finish that book, I will begin working on the sequel to Old Gold Mountain.

When not writing, what can we find you doing?

I work as a technology director at a non-profit organization. If I’m not at work and not writing I’m probably at the park with my kid or at home playing legos with him.

Let’s say I’m coming for a visit to your area. What are some must-see places?

I live in Los Angeles. Most people come here for the obvious tourist stuff. Aside from the obvious, I would encourage people to go for a walk on main street in Venice and have lunch at the Rose Cafe, visit the Huntington Gardens, and check out the graffiti and murals around the downtown L.A. arts district.

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Old Gold Mountain

Justin Vincent is a San Francisco based artist who leads a secret double life as a cat burglar. He likes the freedom, money, and self-determination his unusual career provides but also increasingly feels that it is a life he fell into by accident. When a valuable painting is stolen from his lover Valerie, Justin agrees to use his underworld contacts and knowledge of the black market to help. The search leads him to an antiquities dealer who has fallen on hard times and a mysterious European middle man. With the help of his friend Ashna, a skilled hacker, and Gabrielle, owner of an art gallery in Nice, Justin gathers clues that lead him to a mysterious chateau in the South of France and a dangerous web of secrets and lies. To escape with his life and complete his objective, Justin’s skill, luck, and perseverance will be tested to their utmost limit.

 

 

Buy Old Gold Mountain on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

“What happened to that painting you used to have above the bed?” I asked.

“Above the bed? I didn’t—” Val turned, stopped speaking, breath caught.

A moment later, she whirled, flipped on the light switch, jumped onto the bed, and placed her hands on the wall above the headboard. In the light, I noticed there was a picture hanger still nailed into the wall and a square of slightly brighter paint where the painting had hung. She ran her hands over the bare wall then turned to look at me. Her eyes were manic, her body tense. “Tell me this is some kind of joke, Justin.”

“No joke,” I replied. “Was it there when you left for the gallery?”

“Yes, I think so.” She stepped down off the bed and started frantically pacing the room, looking everywhere. “I’m sure it was.”

“Did you have cleaners scheduled today?”

“No. They come on Wednesdays.”

“Did you leave your balcony door open?”

She looked at me, suddenly focusing. “No. I never leave it open.”

“It was open when we came in. Was it locked?”

“Maybe not. I don’t know. I was in a hurry.”

“Let’s see if anything else is missing,” I said, turning toward the door.

Valerie grabbed my arm, pulling me around to face her. “I don’t care if anything else is missing.” She was on the brink of tears, a tight, almost hysterical, edge to her voice. She raised her hands, placed them over her ears, shaking her head back and forth. “I don’t care. That painting is the only thing I own that I care about, Justin.”

About Bradley W. Wright

I am a writer and educational technology professional. I lived in San Francisco for the past fifteen years but recently moved to Los Angeles with my wife and five year old son. My first book Old Gold Mountain is out now. Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Also available through Apple iBooks, Google Play, and Indigo.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rabbit_fighter

Website: http://www.bradleywwright.com

 

 Bradley W. Wright will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway