Today Bookpleasures is pleased to have as a guest, Recy Dunn, author of The Cinquefoil Connection.

Good day Recy and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed by Bookpleasures.com

Norm: Could you tell our readers something about your writing experience and what motivated you to write The Cinquefoil Connection?

 Recy:

For many years I have been a past freelance writer and columnist for the African American News & Issues, the largest black owned newspaper in Texas, the International Guardian,  BlackTexas.com,  Black & Single Magazine, and The Galveston Daily News.

I host a website called www.askrecy.com which allows readers to ask specific questions involving minority business situations. My community focus articles are also read weekly by thousands of people on the Internet.

What motivated me to write The Cinquefoil Connection was when I became Chairman of the Board for a Port Authority.  I became amazed and intrigued when approached about political paybacks from several people of influence for backing my nomination seeking paybacks.

 Norm: I noticed where you indicate that the French term “foil” is the translation for leaves. Is this old French?  I am fairly conversant in French and my wife’s mother tongue is French and we were both not familiar with the term “foil.”

 Recy:

In French, "foil" means "leaf." The number of foils involved is indicated by a prefix, e.g. trefoil, quatrefoil, cinquefoil, sexfoil, multifoil

Found in Gothic Revival, Tudor Revival styles

Examples from Buffalo as an Architectural Museum
Buffalo, New York:

• Illustration above: St. Louis RC Church

• Thomas Crane Monument

• Hotel Touraine
  

• St. Mary of Sorrows / King Urban Life Center

• 295 Depew Ave.

• St. Teresa RC Church

• Buffalo Seminary 

 Norm: How long did it take you to write The Cinquefoil Connection and how much time did you devote to research?

 Recy:

Off and on two years of research and four years to complete.

 Norm: Why did you decide on self-publishing the book?

 Recy:

I submitted my manuscript to at least ten traditional publishing houses and actually had one Editor to read the sample chapters and issued a critique.  I made the appropriate changes and resubmitted and after the normal waiting period, I tried to contact her by phone and was informed that she no longer work there. When I located her, the publishing house was seeking youth related books.  So I decided to try self-publishing to develop a lead for my second book in hopes of a traditional publishing picking it up.

 Norm: Did anyone edit and proofread your book?

 Recy:

Yes, two people. One was an English teacher. The novel was written to include slang words and dialects. It was also written to show that common people played a part in the political process.

Norm: How do you intend to market the book?

 Recy:

I done book signings, advertised in local newspapers, contacted radio shows, press releases on the internet, sent copies to libraries, join book clubs and donated copies to strangers interested in reading books, even gave copies to our soldiers in Iraq to read. 

Norm: Do you agree that a good book is about the struggles of vividly drawn individuals, not issues? Through their travail, we deeply comprehend the issues.

If so, please show how this was the case with your principal protagonist, Jonathan McClendon.

Recy:

 In Chapter Three when Jonathan McClendon began his political career, he was an unusual politician. Virtuous, ethical, and moral, he wanted to be the epitome of quality the American public seeks in their governmental representatives. But after meeting Samuel Lewis, these distinguishing characteristics and qualities so many people admire, went astray when he allowed the men behind The Cinquefoil Connection to exploit them. His first mistake was firing Christopher Alvin, his campaign manager. Jonathan in spite of all his attempts to do the right thing finds himself lured and drawn deeper and deeper into the treacherous and murderous Cinquefoil Connection. In the final chapter Jonathan comes to grips with himself and decides to do the right thing, even if it means his life.

 Norm: Do you believe that the story you have narrated could in fact have been true?

 Recy:

No, it’s a figment of my imagination. I’m not aware of any politician that the events as told in The Cinquefoil Connection actually happened.

 Norm: How do you want your readers to remember Recy Dunn, although I know you are not going anywhere just yet?

 Recy:

Just an author trying to write good compelling mystery suspense from a different angle.

 Norm: What is next for Recy Dunn insofar as future books are concerned?

 Recy:

I have completed a second novel titled Circle of Time. It’s about a South African Detective pursing the lead of a set of murders that occurred in Johannesburg involving a conspiracy that takes him to London, Canada, United States and back to South African for the conclusion.

 Thanks Recy and good luck with your book and your future endeavours.