Title: The Florida Caper
Author: David Celley
Publisher: URLink Print & Media
ISBN: 978-1643675411
Pages: 368
Genre: Fiction / Thriller / Crime
Interviewed by: Jake Bishop

Read Book Review

 PBR:  How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I’ve written and published four books as of this point in time.  I have another one I’m actively writing and another one after that on the drawing board.  I don’t have a clear favorite, although the more recent ones are better written.

PBR:  What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
The hardest part of writing in any of my novels has always been the first page, or the first 100 words.  I usually don’t get that sorted out until I’ve finished the first draft, and sometimes it’s the last thing to go in.

PBR:  What part of the book was the most fun to write?
For the most part, I enjoy writing the conclusion.  I get deeply connected to some of the more intense action scenes, but putting them together to reach the climax and conclusion is the payoff for me.

PBR:  Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?
I relate to almost all of the “good” characters as they are drawn from characteristics I’ve observed in the people I’ve known and/or worked with over the years.  The “bad” characters are usually developed completely from imagination.

PBR:  If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I have no plans for a sequel at this point, although I’ve bantered about the idea of using some of the characters from The Florida Caper in another story set in a similar environment.

PBR:  What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?
I’ve learned how valuable professional editing can be, and that has helped me comb the story over and polish it into a better piece to read.

PBR:  What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with this work?
The story features stolen jewelry with origins that began with the Hope Diamond that bears a curse.  Some of the characters deal with the curse, while others ignore it in the face of unusual and severe consequences.  Those who covet the jewelry and touch it wind up being the losers, perhaps victims of the curse.  However, those who simply do their job of finding the forbidden jewels and do not touch them, wind up on top.

PBR:  What inspired the idea for your book?
I lived in South Florida for a time a number of years ago.  The environment still resonates with me, and provided the background for the story.