Roberta Writes – Book Blog Promotion: Poetic Justice, A Rascall Todd Mystery with Brody Thompson #bookblogtour #fiction #readingcommunity

Uncategorized 5 Minutes
Picture caption: Book Launch banner for Poetic Justice

Hi everyone! Today, I have invited Dan Antion and Willow Willers, co-authors of Poetic Justice, A Rascall Todd Mystery with Brody Thompson, to Roberta Writes to talk about some of the fascinating characters populating this book, including the Poet, Trevor, Brody, Rascal, and Bonkers the cat, he’s very popular, or anyone else you would like.

And on to the interview…

Robbie Question: Tell me guys … Apart from Rascal, Terry, and Bonkers the cat how many of the cast of your previous books are present in this book?

Dan Answer: The regular characters from the newspaper are also in this story, particularly Bernie (the Editor) and Kevin Gowerly (the photographer).

Robbie Question: Dan, who are the new characters and are they likely to still be around if another book comes out?

Dan Answer: The two significant new characters are Trevor Barcroft, the murdered man’s son, and Brody Thompson. Brody is a retired police officer from Rochester, New York. After retiring, he began writing true crime dramas and mysteries. Trevor asks him to help solve his father’s murder. Trevor’s mother is also an interesting character.It’s possible that Brody will appear in a future novel. I like working with him.‌

Robbie Question: Willow, you are new to writing in this series. What do you think of the characters in Dan’s books?

Willow Answer: Robbie, having read all the books including Knuckleheads and the three other books in that series, as well as the previous two books in the Rascal Todd series. I really love the characters and where they live! Writing characters/ people is definitely Dan’s forté. He really brings them all to life and you soon find yourself regarding them as old friends. Did you know there is one character, an FBI agent, Thomas Slocum who has been in the books from the get-go?

Robbie: Question: Willow, do you have a favourite character in Poetic Justice?

Willow Answer: Apart from Bonkers, the cat, I have to say Brody is definitely up there. He’s a dogged and seasoned investigator and he certainly has a great sense of humour. Here is a little snippet that I really like:

“Brody at the hotel in Pittsburgh.

He walked what he considered to be half a mile past an equipment dealer and a trucking terminal before returning to the hotel. It was early enough that he still needed his room key to open the lobby doors. “You’re up early today, Mr. Thompson. ”Brody smiled at the regular morning clerk.  “I wanted to get some exercise. “The gym is open twenty-four-seven. “I don’t want to go overboard.””

Oh! And boy does he like coffee.

Arlene too, she’s a really cool character. …she is a real eye opener.

Robbie Question: Dan, do you have any favourite characters and how do they present to you?

Dan Answer: I like Brody Thompson. I expected him to be a minor character, but I came to like working with him and decided that he should be the lead detective. I also like Bernie Bouchard. He’s been around for three books, now, and he helps me navigate some difficult subjects.‌

Robbie Question: What made you want your informant, for want of a better word, to be a poet? That’s a very novel idea, so why?

Dan Answer: The first poem is a funeral card that Brody discovers at Wilson Barcroft’s grave. Initially, that was going to be an ‘in-your-face’ moment. Wilson’s son, Trevor, didn’t want to go to the grave so finding a clue was important. When Willow sent me the prayer card, I knew that poetry, and the Poet, were going to be important. My plans for the book changed at that point.‌

Robbie Question: Willow, how did you find the Poet’s voice? Was it hard to get clues across in poetry that would sit well in a prose book?

Willow Answer: After I received Dan’s request to write a few poems for him, I read the background and what was written of the story so far. I wrote what I thought Dan needed. As I was reading it back, believe it or not, I heard a voice in my head saying, “that’s not quite what I want to say.” I listened, and thought, and re-wrote the poems. I liked them, they made sense. I think Dan liked them too. After that, either I became the Poet, or he just spoke to me.

Picture caption: Poetic tribute to the men who died during the Vietnam War

About Poetic Justic

Picture caption: Cover of Poetic Justice featuring a man in a trench coat on a dark street in the rain

Trevor Barcroft is convinced that mystery/true crime author Brody Thompson wrote the scene in which Trevor’s father Wilson Barcroft was murdered. What should be a simple answer to this five-yer-old crime is one that neither the police nor the FBI want to uncover; and one Bernie Bouchard doesn’t want his young investigative reporter, Rascal Todd, digging into. Warned to stay away from the investigation.. Brody and Trevor begin a dangerous quest, led by the musings of a mysterious poet who has been hiding in plain sight for decades. What does the Poet know that keeps him in hiding? What did Wilson Barcroft know that got him killed? Why can’t Brody walk away from a meaningless and dangerous pursuit?

About Dan Antion

Dan is retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology and began writing his first book the next day. He’s married, the father of one child, and although there are no pets around today, he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats over time. Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries. When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera. He also might be having a beer with friends and some of those encounters have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog — Https://noFacilities.com.

Find Dan Antion

Author page: http://relinks.me/DanielAntion

Blog: Https://noFacilities.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ptjdluuxckfau3dnaihh2sn5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/

DAntionYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHXESp0LosdxjU-7elOu3g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danantion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dantion/

About Willow Willers

London born Willow Willers is retired and lives in Berkshire, Southern England. Along with her husband and a steady stream of foster dogs mainly Guide Dogs for the Blind. Willow is mother to three sons all grown and flown and two fast growing grandsons.Writing, poetry and prose have always been her passion in fact she wrote her first pieces before she was eight. After two life changing accidents Willow started writing in earnest and has found it a life saver. You can find willow at willowdot21.wordpress.com

Find Willow Willers

Author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Willow-Willers/author/B0DZD1TNZX

Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/share/16AwsHVCqk/

Blog at wordpress.https://willowdot21.wordpress.com

Picture caption: Promo Banner for Poetic Justic featuring a car driving on the street at night, the book cover, and author photographs for both authors.
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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195 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Book Blog Promotion: Poetic Justice, A Rascall Todd Mystery with Brody Thompson #bookblogtour #fiction #readingcommunity”

  1. How can I do other than get in line, after a review like that, Robbie? Dan is a wonder, and from what I’ve read of Willow’s poetry, she’s really absorbed the poet character. Thanks for sharing xx

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you Jo that is a great post from Robbie it’s good to hear it’s caught your attention. Dan is a great writer and his characters live!

      I have loved my part in the writing of this book the poet has a story to tell. 💜💜

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    3. Thanks so much Jo! We truly appreciate Robbie’s help in telling the story about this book (without those pesky spoilers). Willow and I are excited. It was a genuine pleasure working with Willow, as she became one of the critical characters in this book. I think you will enjoy it.

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  2. Good morning Robbie and Thank you so much for this wonderful interview. Dan and I are so grateful that you allowed us to share our enthusiasm for our book on your blog. Have a great day! 💜💜💜

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    1. Hi VJ. I was surprised when Dan asked me to collaborate with him on this book. I think it’s a very novel idea and we both are delighted with how well we feel it has worked out.

      thank you for reading and thank you again Robbie for the great interview. 💜

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    2. Thank you! The idea grew from adding a couple of poems to a novel to building a story around a poet, based on the poetry Willow contributed. Poetry is an amazing form of storytelling. So much can be said in so few words, and Willow told the Poet’s story very well.

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    3. Hi Viv, I remember reading an Alfred Hitchcock Three Investigators book when I was a girl which featured cockney rhyming slang. That book completely fascinated me and I read it to both my boys when they were small. It was called Dead Man’s Riddle. The concept of leaving clues as rhymes really captured my imagination.

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    2. Ha! Thanks Dave. Robbie is very kind in sharing her space with us, and bringing out some characters readers will be getting to know. Willow and I are so excited as we get closer to that release date.

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    2. The interesting twists and turns began with the first poem, Craig, the one where the Poet convinced Willow to change her mind. From that point forward, she was the character and I was maneuvering around several changes in direction. It was fun, and I like the result.

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  7. Hi, Robbie. I very much enjoyed your character-centered approach to this double interview. So many wonderful characters already in this series. Now I get to look forward to getting to know Brody and some other new ones. Best wishes to Dan and Willow. Hugs.

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    2. Thanks Teagan! I love the characters in my stories, and the new additions to the crew have been added to the growing list of favorites, including the Poet, about whom I knew very little at the outset. Robbie’s hospitality is wonderful, as was yours.

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  8. Thank you so much, Robbie for having Willow and me at your place to fill in a few more details about this novel. We are excited, and your gracious to help us promote the book. I hope you’re having a great week!

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    1. Thanks Darlene. It was fun to talk about the players, old and new, with Robbie. It’s funny how characters become important. So many people tell me Bonkers is their favorite. It seems very cat-like of him to steal the spotlight, so he has to make an appearance in this story, even as Rascal has to step back for her own safety.

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  11. I had a taste of those storms last week as we were forced to circle outside of Denver’s airspace for 30 minutes and ended up having a 7 hour layover due to them. I’m glad you made it home safely, Dan.

    The book and characters sounds great, and I think it’s going to be another great story to read. Willow’s poem is good. I’m looking forward to finding out what that clue means and who did it!

    Robbie, you asked some great questions and gave us an interesting sneak peak at the book that left me wanting to read the book now. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

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    2. Hi I am so pleased that the interview with Robbie has piqued your interest. The poem is just there to explain the story…it’s not actually in the book….a teaser to get your interest!

      I hope you get to read the book.

      I am sorry to hear your journey was so prolonged by the storm.

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  12. Good questions, Robbie, and interesting answers! It’s always fun, though perhaps sometimes a bit bewildering, to look inside a writer’s mind. (It can be a dangerous place!)

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  13. These are great questions to explore, Maureen. Sometimes it isn’t only the writer, though. I swear, these characters have a mind of their own, and they aren’t shy about forcing their will on us. Maybe you should carry a flashlight 😉

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  14. I loved these questions! It was interesting to hear authors talk about their characters like they’re alive to them. I feel like people who write are the ones who really get this perspective. 😊

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    1. Robbie did a great interview and asked about the characters…Dan knows them all perfectly! … having read all the books I really feel that they are real…. So it was easy to get into this book ….💜

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    3. I’ve been working with some of these characters through five books, Laura, and I can tell you, they are real to me. They have all changed the books they’ve appeared in. In this book, the Poet wasn’t going to be a significant character until he found his voice through Willow. It’s an amazing process.

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  18. Great interview, Dan and Willow! I can’t think of a better combination than a mystery mixed with poetry 🙂 I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for hosting, Robbie.

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    1. Thank you , Robbie was a great host! Dan and I are really excited about the book we also like the combination of murder mystery and a poet giving clues. We hope you will enjoy the book 💜💜

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    3. Thanks Denise. Robbie is a gem to host us, and I enjoyed this interview. The poetry worked so well in this story. As I look back, I can’t think of a better way of doing this. The alternatives I come up with are all boring. Poet’s pack so much storytelling in so few words. Willow did a great job, and we’re excited to see this come to fruition.

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  21. This is fabulous, three of my favorite people in the world in cahoots – one famous interviewer/author, and two famous authors! As Dan already knows, I love his series, and I can’t wait to read Willow’s contribution to the new story. This is so exciting!

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    3. Thanks Kerfe. Robbie was very kind to share her space with us. This was a very interesting process because I felt like I was working with the human version of one of the characters. It wasn’t anything like normal writing where I would imagine what the poet would say. The other characters were reacting to Willow’s poetry in real time.

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  29. Congratulations Dan & Willow!

    It’s so cool that you have collaborated on a book. It seems Dan’s characters are ones you hate to leave. I love that.

    Robbie, you did a wonderful interview. Thank you, it’s fantastic to get to know WP blog authors!

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    1. Hi Resa it was a great learning curve and I think I can say we both enjoyed working together. Dan’s Characters are really interesting and you really get to like them.

      We are grateful to Robbie for having us visit and for the interview. 💜💜😊

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    3. Thanks Resa. It was wonderful of Robbie to invite us here to talk about the characters. This was an interesting project, since one of the characters came to life. Willow did a great job of channeling the poet character.

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  40. Great interview and a lovely post, Robbie! Congratulations to Dan and Willow. I can hardly wait for you to come over to my blog. Hi, Robbie, mu husband and I are taking a trip to Italy, leaving on Saturday. I’ll see you in two weeks.

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    1. it was a great interview wasn’t it Miriam, Robbie was a great host. I hope you and your hubby have a great Italian holiday and we look forward to seeing you non your return 💜💜

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