Mike Bove released in April his last book Stinger Maguire. The Crime novel received very good response from the readers with currently averaging 4.3 stars from 9 Amazon reviews. Our next featured author wrote a total of two books, all of them with the same main character Bruce DelReno. The third part is on process of production.

– What is your book Stinger Maguire about?
– Taryn Maguire is a golf pro who is murdered when he returns to his hometown in Arizona. He is called “Stinger” because he is proficient at a low, line drive golf shot called a stinger. Bruce DelReno, a retired postman and golf enthusiast, discovers the body. Bruce develops a unique relationship with the police since, it seems, people connected with the investigation and Maguire would rather speak with him. Secrets uncovered about Maguire’s past in the small town and his life on the PGA tour lead the police, and Bruce and his cohorts, in many directions. In the end, it is Stinger Maguire’s own secret that answers all of the questions. Bruce’s best friend Ben, an Apache Indian, provides some humor and wisdom, as does Genny, his wife.

– How did you decide to write the story?
– It started with a desire to include a golf professional in the second book in the series taking place in a small fictitious town in northern Arizona. From there, thoughts about making Taryn Maguire a unique individual as both a person and a player produced his name, background, and some subplots for the story. I thought it would be interesting to begin with him dead before the story begins.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Perhaps the biggest challenge was how to treat the social attitudes concerning one aspect of Stinger’s life. I won’t mention it here since it would be a spoiler. I did not want the whole book to be about it, or preach about it, but simply include it as a cultural element that many deal with in real life. It is, of course, an important part of the story.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– I’ll call Bruce DelReno the main character since he finds Stinger dead on page one. A retired mailman, who moved to Arizona from the east coast. That could be me. I also like cooking, all sports, and at this age stick mainly to golf. But, that’s it. I certainly would never become a sleuth or interfere with police business. I do have a golden retriever, a wife who is a nurse, and an Indian friend who is funny and beats me at golf. Those characters are ninety percent made-up. Bruce, maybe ninety-one percent.
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I worked on this book for about a year and a half. I do not write every day as some writers, but not many days go by when I do not write notes, research, or edit.
– Who are you?
– I consider myself a Vermonter living in Arizona. I was a teacher in Vermont and coached track and field and soccer. I participated in college and community theater, and served as a high school drama director. I adapted a Russian folktale for the stage, produced and directed it. Leaving teaching and Vermont, with my wife and two sons, I moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There I joined the postal service, and when both sons were out of college, transferred to Arizona. After retiring in 2010 I played a lot more golf and read a lot more books. I had always had a book or two in progress, but not the time to finish them very quickly. Now I was reading two a week, mostly mysteries. One day I began writing notes for my own.
– What are your writing habits?
– I do not consider myself to be a full-time writer, since some (or many) days I do not write. I do work on my newest book, or marketing for the other books, almost daily. It may consist of simply jotting down notes, even just a possible name for a character, research, posting to social media, or writing for my blog. I will write scenes or dialogue about certain aspects of the story to consider. Though the main plot and sub-plots, characters, and themes are somewhat thought out, I do not follow an outline. As many writers can attest, we often do not know where the story will lead until a character takes us there. That’s how it is for me sometimes. I open the manuscript, review some of it, and some ideas and words happen.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book?
– Yes and no. I do not expect to sell books like well known authors, and I am pleased at the attention and feedback I get for my work. The positive feedback I get makes me hope more readers could be made aware of and enjoy my book.
– What are you doing to promote your book by the best possible way?
– Aside from occasionally purchasing ads on internet book sites, I participate on sites like Twitter and Facebook. I use Amazon’s programs to offer the ebook for free, or at a discount. I write a blog on my website. I support other authors by reading and reviewing their books, and by mentions on my site or other web activity. I thank you, Ognian, for this opportunity to present this interview to your followers. I also participate locally by donating copies of my books to bookstores and libraries. I take part in book signings, book fairs, and other presentations.
– Do you comment with your relatives and friends on the plot of your books and do you follow their advice?
– I accept all advice with a smile. Have I ever used one of their suggestions? No.
– What was your work before retiring in 2010?
– I was a rural carrier in the US Postal Service for twenty years. I enjoyed the interaction with many of my customers. There is more than one tidbit from them in my books.
– When we will see your next novel?
– Bruce DelReno Mysteries, book three, is in the beginning stage, and I hope to publish it by the end of 2015. No title yet. But I know who is dead.
– You’ve been a soccer coach. When the game became so popular in USA and why more and more kids are starting to train?
– I think the game has increased in popularity in the USA a great deal in my lifetime. I saw it being played as an organized sport in mostly small schools that did not have enough students or money to support an American football program. Eventually, as popularity grew, larger schools had soccer and football teams. Out of necessity to improve the teams and skills of the players soccer was introduced to younger children. Today many community and school programs include children that are five years old, even younger. That has helped to bring the sport to the point where we have professional leagues, and both male and female teams at most colleges and high schools in the country. The skill level and quality of play is at a high level. Americans as a whole, though, lack the enthusiasm and passion for the game, or the understanding of it, enjoyed by the rest of the world.
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be? (Don’t forget to answer)
– Who are you favorite authors? Did they influence your writing? Number One favorite-Kurt Vonnegut. I think I have read all of his books. Some are better than others, but he makes me think, laugh out loud, underline, dog-ear, re-read, and wish I’d thought of that. I love Barbara Kingsolver and Chris Bohjalian. I have read and continue to read a great many mysteries. I prefer those without extremes, like mass murders, overkill thrills, and obscene sex, violence, and language. I prefer a thoughtful twist to a shocking deed. Good dialogue is one aspect I really enjoy. George V. Higgins, Joseph Wambaugh, and Elmore Leonard come to mind.
I do not propose that I write like any of my favorite authors, or that any of them was a major influence in my writing. I think all writers have their own style, though some may be similar. I think all writers that I have enjoyed reading have contributed a tiny piece to how I write.

Learn more about Mike Bove at his Web page
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Take a look at his books:
Willowtree (Bruce DelReno Mysteries Book 1)
Stinger Maguire (Bruce DelReno Mysteries Book 2)