Real-life actors and actresses like Brooke Shields and Sandra Bullock have had terrible experiences with stalkers and crazy fans. I wanted to know what it felt like to be them; to feel their distress.
Khaled Talib – 13 December 2019
The Back Flap
When the Deringer pistol that shot Abraham Lincoln is stolen and ends up in the hands of a Russian military general, covert agent Blake Deco is tasked by the FBI to head to the Balkans to recover the historical weapon. Meanwhile, the United States media is abuzz with news of the mysterious disappearance of Hollywood movie star, Goldie St. Helen.
After Blake’s return from overseas, he receives a tip from a Mexican friend that a drug lord, obsessed with the beautiful actress, is holding her captive in Tijuana. With the help of a reluctant army friend, Blake mounts a daring rescue. What he doesn’t expect is to have feelings for Goldie—or that a killer is hunting them.
About the book
What is the book about?
Gun Kiss tells the story of an ex-Iraq vet named Blake Deco who rescues a Hollywood movie star, Goldie St. Helen, who has been abducted by an obsessed Mexican drug lord who exacts revenge on him, the actress and their friends.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing the first draft of Gun Kiss in late 2016. I had set a goal to write one book a year. The first edition was published by Imajin books in Canada in December 2017. Since then, a second edition has been released after the rights were returned to me.
How long did it take you to write it?
I surprised myself by taking only six months to finish Gun Kiss. I was more obsessed with the story that I would delay doing everything else. When you’re on the roll, you’re on the roll. Lots of chocolates in between to boost my energy.
Where did you get the idea from?
A Hollywood movie star gave me the idea. Well, no, we didn’t have lunch together. I had gone jogging one morning (my first day after a long time), but I couldn’t sleep that night because my legs were hurting. After applying some heat rub, I decided to watch this old movie from the nineties. Such a fun movie that I said to myself, “Why don’t you create your own movie star and put her life in danger?” I set to work the next morning; I breathe life into her… she lives! So, the actress came first before the protagonist. Nevertheless, the idea worked.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I had no problem except for the scene involving wingsuit flying. I had no knowledge about it. All I know is people jump off a cliff and fly with the wind. I contacted a company called Skydive San Diego and spoke to Blake Robinson, one of the professionals who explained the technicalities of wingsuit flying. And what are the odds of speaking to someone who has the same first name as your protagonist?
I also had a tough time finding out where Hollywood people hangout? They keep changing places based on trends. So, I decided to stick to a few popular places to be safe. They may not be there daily, but at least they do make an appearance.
Then I needed to know how movie stars elude the Paparazzi and when they need to hire bodyguards. Real-life actors and actresses like Brooke Shields and Sandra Bullock have had terrible experiences with stalkers and crazy fans. I wanted to know what it felt like to be them; to feel their distress. Did you hear the recorded telephone conversation between Sandra Bullock and the police operator after she discovered a stalker inside her house? You could feel it in her voice.
We all know movie stars get stalked by crazy fans, but I wanted to know how much trouble they can have apart from the usual incidents. The way I planned to write my thriller, it may be deemed as over the top, so I contacted a professional celebrity bodyguard to check if my novel would sound exaggerated. Apparently not. Over the phone, I spoke to Kris Herzog (owner of The Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills) whose agency’s clients have included Jon Voight and Jessica Alba. Yes, snipers on rooftops have tried to take out celebs. Yes, cars laden with explosives have attempted to ram gala events. There have also been cases of attempted kidnappings and finding envelopes containing poison or bombs addressed to movie stars. What a life.
What came easily?
I enjoy writing action scenes and placing characters in locations. I go into details describing characters and locations, along with the atmosphere, before introducing the suspense or action.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
They are fictitious but they were inspired by real characters. As for the Hollywood actress, I won’t say who, but I hope she’ll read it and send me an email with her thoughts. When it comes to the character of the Mexican drug lord, it’s not hard to decipher who. Make a guess.
Do you have a target reader for this book?
This novel has been described as a fun read, and it’s being read by people of all ages. If you’re a fan of the Hollywood scene and Southern California, this book will take you to some of the more familiar places like Sunset Boulevard, The Magic Castle, The Beverly Hills Hotel, Hollywood Hills, and British Columbia.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
I would describe the process of writing this novel like a sailing enthusiast. It was “fun and breezy,” and by the way, it’s also how one reader puts it after reviewing the story on Amazon and Goodreads. The earlier books felt like I was trying to survive a hurricane while also being attacked by sea monsters. Imagine your car broke down in the middle of nowhere and you don’t have a cell phone to call for help. That’s how it felt writing my debut, Smokescreen. For Incognito, my second novel, I had to delve deep into my subconscious to develop a dark world. I lived in that dark place for a year. Imagine not seeing the sun for a year…not even a flower. Then came Gun Kiss⸺ a burst of California sunshine.
End of Interview:
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