The main inspiration for the story was the unsolved savage murder of Dwayne Jones in July 2013. Dwayne was gay and attended a dance party outside Montego Bay disguised as a woman. He fooled everyone but made the fatal mistake of confiding who he was to a girl he knew from church—who then outed him to her male friends.
Russell Brooks – 11 April 2023
The Back Flap
What if crying out for help made you a target?
Within hours of arriving in Montego Bay, Eddie Barrow and his friend Corey Stephenson witness a gruesome murder outside a bar. When the victim’s sister reaches out for help, they learn of machinations to conceal foreign corporate corruption and a series of horrific sex crimes. However, Barrow and Stephenson’s commitment to solving the case is put to the test once they find themselves in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal network—one that extends beyond the shores of Jamaica.
About the book
What is the book about?
Jam Run is a crime thriller about homophobia and sexual assault, and how these problems affect everyone. The story is set in Jamaica because it’s inspired by events that took place in the country. Eddie Barrow returns in this sequel where he and his best friend, Corey Stephenson, witness a savage murder on their first night. When Eddie realizes that the police don’t appear to be taking the investigation seriously, he’s compelled to investigate on his own.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing Jam Run in late 2016.
How long did it take you to write it?
I finished writing the first draft in October 2020.
Where did you get the idea from?
Jam Run is a crime thriller that was inspired by events that took place in Jamaica. The main inspiration for the story was the unsolved savage murder of Dwayne Jones in July 2013. Dwayne was gay and attended a dance party outside Montego Bay disguised as a woman. He fooled everyone but made the fatal mistake of confiding who he was to a girl he knew from church—who then outed him to her male friends. Dwayne was later confronted in the parking lot by those men and then chased. His body was found the next day. He had been stabbed, shot, and run over by a vehicle.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The climax scene was the most challenging part to write. It took me roughly four months before I got it right.
What came easily?
The easiest parts were the dialogue between Eddie and Corey. Jam Run is the sequel to Chill Run, which featured the same protagonists. Eddie’s born in Montreal, and his parents are from Barbados, like me. Corey immigrated from Trinidad at a young age and befriended Eddie after rescuing him from skinheads. Since I knew them very well, their scenes wrote themselves.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Eddie and Corey are entirely fictitious.
Dwayne Pottinger, the murder victim, is a hybrid character inspired by Dwayne Jones and Dexter Pottinger. Pottinger was a gay Jamaican and a rising fashion design star. He was murdered by an acquaintance in his own home.
Chevelle Stewart is a high-functioning autistic person inspired by Pauline—a pseudonym given to an intellectually disabled woman. Pauline was raped by her caretaker’s sons. Her caretaker tried to cover up the incident by gaslighting Pauline to discourage her from reporting the crime.
Brutus, Jamaica’s most powerful don, was inspired by Christopher “Duddus” Coke—who is currently in prison.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
One author who influenced my writing style was the late great Eric Jerome Dickey. He has a poetic art form in his writing. His metaphors are unique and give his books the African-American flavor that sets him apart from others I’ve read. Jam Run is probably the closest I’ve come to put my own spin as an author of Barbadian descent.
Do you have a target reader?
My target audience loves suspense thrillers. Those who loved The Millennium series by Stieg Larsson or read books by Joseph Finder or Barry Eisler will enjoy Jam Run. But in general, if you love suspense thrillers with conspiracies, martial arts, sex, betrayal, and revenge, you don’t need to look any further.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Once I have a plot in mind, I write the outline on an index card. I’ll then research the idea by searching for related news and magazine articles. This helps me to create the story, which I add to index cards. Once I have a beginning, a middle, and an end. I’ll take a break, then begin writing the story on my laptop, using the index cards. Whenever I stumble on content that I’m not an expert, I’ll reach out to the article’s author where I got the idea. I’ve had success in the past doing this. In my previous thriller, The Demeter Code, I consulted with a science professor, Dr. Neil Crickmore, from the University of Sussex in the UK. He helped me create a fictitious biological weapon that theoretically could potentially kill millions if it existed. I got a lot of positive feedback from readers. However, the story scared others, and they hesitated to read my other books.
I’m also acquainted with gun and martial arts experts, who collaborated with me on my previous books. I was happy to work with them on Jam Run.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Although I know I shouldn’t, I edit as I go. For me, it’s a bad habit because doing so adds several months to the time it would typically take to write the first draft. It’s difficult to stop because I’m a logical and analytical writer. My fear is if I don’t edit or revise what I wrote, I’ll get too far in the manuscript before I realize that I made a massive blunder in the plot or the content. This would result in me having to delete a sizeable portion of the manuscript and start over.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Always. It’s impossible for me to spot my own mistakes, no matter how often I re-read my manuscript. Hiring an editor is worth the investment for any serious independent fiction author.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I can’t listen to music while writing because I usually have a music score specific to the story I’m writing playing in my head.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I used to. I queried dozens of agents for my first novel, Pandora’s Succession. Many were interested and asked for the entire manuscript. In the end, they couldn’t find a publisher who was interested. So, I decided to be an independent author.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I decided to become an independent author when I realized that the only people who have a chance of landing a book deal are celebrities. I also learned that publishers don’t care about art or about talent. They only care if the person they’re signing on is marketable without them having to invest significantly in the author.
For instance, I had problems landing a book deal for my first novel. Imagine if I was friends with Kim Kardashian? If we made an arrangement where I wrote the books and she put her name on the cover, agents and publishers would be knocking at her front door. I wouldn’t be surprised that they’d decide to publish the book before reading it.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Jeroen ten Berge designs my book covers. He’s a professional cover designer who has designed covers for bestselling authors.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I’m collaborating with a San Diego-based book marketing company called Author Marketing Experts for Jam Run. They have over twenty years in the business. I have been acquainted with the CEO, Penny Sansieveri, since around 2010, and I read one of her books about book marketing. I was sold because she wrote about mistakes I made in the past and how many beginning authors fall for the same traps. I learned many things that I implemented in my marketing strategy. Eventually, I hired her company to help me promote Jam Run.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Never assume that you can do everything alone. Do not collaborate with anyone you find online who presents themselves as an expert in everything. It’s essential to only work with people with at least five to ten years of experience in the book industry. Do not fall for any quick fixes or shortcuts. When you take shortcuts, you’ll eventually be cut short. Also, be mindful that several predators present themselves as professionals in the book industry. They mostly target first-time authors. Those people are especially dangerous because they don’t care about your success and will fleece you for every penny you have. Don’t be afraid to contact an experienced author who writes in the same genre and ask for advice. You may be surprised at what you may learn. However, be mindful that authors are busy and don’t necessarily have time to answer everyone’s questions.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Montreal, Quebec.
Where do you live now?
I still live in Montreal.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I represented Canada at the World University Games in Palma di Mallorca, Spain, in 1999 in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. I went to Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, on a track and field scholarship. In high school, I once played the violin, piano, viola, bassoon, and electric bass guitar. I now stick to the violin in my spare time.
What are you working on now?
I’m not working on anything new right now. However, my next project will continue the Ridley Fox/Nita Parris series. I plan to begin around March 2024.
End of Interview:
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