Mason Canyon at Thoughts in Progress posted the most awesome review of my audio books – CassaStar and CassaFire!
Today I welcome Sean McLachlan. His book participated in the Kindle Scout campaign and was selected for publication by Kindle Press! The Last Hotel Room comes out on Tuesday, September 20.
Writing in (and about) Morocco by Sean McLachlan
Hello!
Alex asked me to stop by and chat about my career in the Middle East. I’ve been going to that region for 26 years, first as an archaeologist and later as a writer. One of my regular haunts is Tangier, Morocco.
No, I’m not writing what I know. Well, maybe a bit. While I’m not bankrupt, or suicidal (despite my editor’s worries), I have actually spent a fair amount of time interviewing Syrian refugees. One article, Video Games with a Refugee, written on assignment in Iraq, won the Society of American Travel Writers Award and inspired the novel.
My main concern was getting the setting right, communicating the atmosphere of Tangier, a busy port with a mix of Arabs, Berbers, West Africans, and Europeans. People have visions of the Middle East as a danger zone filled with terrorists, and since my “hero” Tom Miller lives with the lowlifes I had to make sure to show the more respectable majority too.
I found myself using my travel writing background a lot while writing this novel. When Tom watches the passersby in the medina or stands with hopeful immigrants staring across the Strait of Gibraltar towards Spain, that’s me looking. Even the scene where Tom gets rid of a pesky junky with the unwilling help of a machinegun-toting cop is taken from life, although perhaps it would have been better if it hadn’t been!
Some other scenes, like the heroin scenes, are made up. That’s just fine by me.
And at least my house in Tangier doesn’t have a squat toilet like Tom’s hotel room!
The Last Hotel Room – available September 20!
He came to Tangier to die, but life isn’t done with him yet.
Tom Miller has lost his job, his wife, and his dreams. Broke and alone, he ends up in a flophouse in Morocco, ready to end it all. But soon he finds himself tangled in a web of danger and duty as he’s pulled into scamming tourists for a crooked cop while trying to help a Syrian refugee boy survive life on the streets. Can a lifelong loser do something good for a change?
A portion of my royalties will go to a charity for Syrian refugees.
To find out more about Sean McLachlan’s work and travels, visit him at his Amazon page or his blog, and feel free to friend him on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. You might also enjoy his newsletter, Sean’s Travels and Tales, which comes out every one or two months. Each issue features a short story, a travel article, a coupon for a free or discounted book, and updates on future projects.
Movie Review
This Norwegian film proves that formula disaster films are universal. However, it’s very well done, so if you like formula disaster films that aren’t cheesy, you’ll really enjoy this entry in the genre.
From the IMDB: Based on the fact that mountain pass Åkneset, located in the Geiranger fjord in Norway, one day will fall out and create a violent tsunami of over 80 meters that will crush everything in its path before it hits land in Greenland.
A geologist and his family are about to leave a small Norway town for a job in the big city when the geologist realizes what’s about to happen.
The film has solid acting from all involved. They bring realism to the film.
The story focuses more on the lead up to the disaster and the aftermath than the actual disaster, but the giant wave and the destruction it leaves behind are impressive and haunting.
It does have subtitles but that is always better than dubbing!
Norway puts out some fine films and this one is no exception. If you like natural disaster films in the style of Dante’s Peak, you’ll enjoy this one. Recommended.
Movie News
Perfect crappy film to riff for Halloween.
If you live in the Nashville area, you can go see it live – if not, check their site for a theater broadcasting it near you.
The best part of Suicide Squad was the over-the-top, batcrap crazy Harley Quinn. And soon, she’ll have her own movie.
Margot Robbie will reprise her role as Quinn, who will be one of many DC heroines and villains in the film. The film is currently in the works.
September 13 – Captain America: Civil War
September 20 – Star Trek: Beyond
September 27 – Central Intelligence
October 4 – X-Men: Apocalypse
November 15 – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Ninja News
Don’t forget the IWSG Anthology Contest is now open – fantasy/hero lost is the genre/theme. See the site for full details.
Love Thyself by Pat Hatt
Pat stars in his own story – and he’s destined to save Earth’s brain.
Find it on Amazon
Ever been to Morocco? Want to help Syrian refugees? Seen The Wave? Going to the next RiffTrax: Live show? Picking up some DVDs? And are you working on your IWSG Anthology Contest story?
