BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Dead Tree Tales

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Rush Leaming to talk about Dead Tree Tales (22 April 2021, Bridgewood, 339 pages), a Crime Thriller.

“Dead Tree Tales by Rush Leaming is about a lot more than a dead tree. It’s a mystery. It’s a crime story. It’s a thriller. It’s a powerful comment on today’s society and politics… fast-paced, full of action and intrigue… It’s a real page-turner and just a fantastic read.” – Lorraine Cobcroft, Reader’s Favorite

"A highly entertaining crime novel as well as an incisive and astute piece of modern literature. [...] a very important cultural book as well as a potential blockbuster that reflects our current history." – Amazon reviewer

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Rush Leaming; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Dead Tree Tales , or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"I haven’t put one together for this book yet, but here are some pieces that I posted on my website for other stories."

Thank you; to start with, I have also added a couple of songs and artists (I hope I choose songs you approve of!) which appear in Dead Tree Tales. Enjoy!

What was the inspiration for Dead Tree Tales?

"The idea first came to me in the mid 1990s, the idea that the impending destruction of a famous tree would stir up a whirlwind of trouble in a community. I envisioned it as a multi-character, complicated interlocking of storylines.

The crime element came later, and actually Part-Two: One-Hit Wonder, the sniper targeting right-wing figures came from a screenplay idea I had but never wrote."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"When I finally sit down to write something—either short story, novel, or blog/journal entry—it is something inside of me that is screaming to get out. So I write about ideas, characters, and themes that are affecting me and need to be expressed.

The political and cultural themes in this book are a response to what we’ve seen play out in the news these past 5-6 years."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Dead Tree Tales - why you chose that concept.

"Well, here is how I describe The Tree on page one:
“…like some sort of once-screaming kraken turned to wood by an ancient curse.”
Like all my books, I chose the images and worked with a designer to lay them out. It’s simply a gut reaction that I have to the images: if I think it captures the mood of the book well."

Why should we read Dead Tree Tales?

"Because it’s about a Tree, but so much more!"

Can you tell us something quirky about Dead Tree Tales, its story and characters?

"One of the main suspects is named Jimmy Dean, which causes all sorts of confusion and some (hopeful) comedic relief."

Who would you recommend Dead Tree Tales to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Certainly to lovers of crime stories and thrillers. If you’re a “Law and Order” junkie (like I am) you’ll enjoy the police procedural aspect of it. But there are many different layers to it all.

It’s pretty dark and violent, and there are scenes of racism and deplorable behavior. I decided the only way to tell this story was not to pull punches with language, etc."

If you could / wished to turn Dead Tree Tales into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Oh this should be a TV series for certain. This book would be a good season one storyline to complete, then if it goes well, the sky’s the limit for subsequent seasons.

It should definitely be shot in Charleston as much as possible, at least the exteriors."

What do you like to write about?

"Crime stories have tension built into them. What I tried to do with this book as well as my first novel, Don’t Go, Ramanya, was to use the structure of a thriller and page-turner as the framework of the story, then see how far I could push it and how deep I could dive beneath the surface—how many layers could I add?"

What is your writing process?

"I’m a binge writer, not an everyday writer. I sometimes go years or more in between projects. But as in this book, when I’m in the throes of it, I write my first drafts very fast, using my iPhone! I’ll write everyday about 3-4 hours in the morning, then in the evening spend a couple of hours reviewing, revising and often expanding on what I wrote in the morning."

What is in store next?

"I’m mulling over my next project, but in the end the story chooses the writer, not the other way around.

One option is a sequel to this one. I’ve got a few ideas rolling in my head, but nothing cohesive yet. Another idea is a sci-fi/coming of age/romantic adventure/travel tale. So we’ll see!"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I do have a dog, but she refuses to sign a photo release. So here is one of my personal favorite photos of myself, Christmas Day 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand (and it ties in with my first novel Don’t Go, Ramanya)"

Great picture! Thank you for sharing :-)

Police are called to investigate the poisoning of a much-loved 1000-year-old tree, only to find evidence of a more brutal crime.

A fast-paced, multi-character thriller unlike any you've ever read.

Not for the faint of heart...