Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com once again has the pleasure of interviewing Jacqueline G. Randolph author of her most recent novel Deception’s Legacy.

Good day Jacqueline and thanks once again for participating in our interview.

Norm:

With Deception’s Legacy what did you set out to do with this book? Do you believe you achieved that goal?

Jacqueline:

I set out to write a fictional novel based on real history—filling in those blanks of which we aren’t privy while simultaneously showing the ugliness of hatred in some of its most virulent forms.  Finally, my goal was to show how love and truth always triumphs.  I believe I achieved just a small portion of those goals in this book.  Enough to give readers optimism and hope in similar circumstances.

Norm:

What kind of research did you do for this book? I am particularly interested in your references to the Spanish Inquisition as my wife can trace her ancestry back to this ugly era of Spanish history.

Jacqueline: 

Purely Internet searches and my visit to Seville, Granada, and Malaga Spain (Andalucia).  I wish I had known about your wife during my research as I would have used her ancestry as a source.  

Norm:

What was the most difficult part about writing Deception’s Legacy?

Jacqueline:

Having to relive the 1960’s civil rights atrocities and the Spanish Inquisition.  To write vividly and emotionally I had to emotionally step into that time and hurt with the victims—to rage and fight back.  The hurt that the main characters feel when confronted with their connection to the ugliness had to be felt before written down.

Norm:

How did you go about creating the characters of Tristan, Skye and Rhys?

Jacqueline: 

This is a four book series so that the pivotal character Skye, as a DEA undercover agent, was my vehicle for telling about my many wonderful, harrowing, and exciting adventures as an Air Force officer and aircrew member.  CEO Rhys Wielde was an assignment whom she had to protect—undercover and anonymously.  My goal in crafting Rhys’s character was to make him the antithesis of every negative male stereotype that Skye harbored.  When her cover was blown, she and Rhys were forced to confront their feelings for one another which they had from the start—despite the myriad of disguises and misunderstandings. 

The second book in the series deals with Skye using their son, 3 year old Tristan to catch a drug lord.  Of course, this doesn’t sit well with her husband Rhys and so ensues that particular plot.  The third book, Deception’s Legacy, naturally picked up with the adult Tristan who has been interested in DEA adventures since he was a boy. My goal for his character was to blend the diverse characters of his mother and father—unfortunately I think he is more his father than his mother.  Tristan’s DEA interest was alluded to in the epilogue of the second book, Deception’s Fury. 

Norm:

In fiction as well as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with their material to tell a good story or make a point. But how much is too much?

Jacqueline: 

Too much would be changing history—written/known/accepted history.  In the case of the nuclear crash historical event I used—there were only four documented survivors of the plane crash between the B-52 and KC-135.  By created an undocumented fifth survivor I’ve retained the purity of written history.

Norm:

As you have been quite active in churning out novels over the past few years, what do you think has driven you as a writer?

Jacqueline: 

I suppose my efforts to think through broad question marks in history or situations.  In the first book, Deception’s Guard, the question I tried to answer was whether Skye should have succumbed to her uncharacteristic desire for Rhys or been a better person by maintaining her desire never to experience romantic or eros love. 

The second novel, Deception’s Fury, gave us a glimpse into the question of when is one justified in ending a commitment?  I hope the readers at some point in the novel were of the opinion that Rhys should just leave Skye, divorce her, as she has really crossed the line.  My hope was that the reader felt a little ashamed of their misjudgement at the novel’s conclusion.  The current novel, Deception’s Legacy, forays into the question of hate.  Is it ever justified? Does love and truth always triumph given enough time? How much of our lives, character, and thinking are based on the results of hate?

Norm:

Is your work improvisational or do you have a set plan?

Jacqueline:

DEFINITELY IMPROVISATIONAL!  I wrote my first novel in four days, the second in two months and the third in two months.  As soon as I put pen to paper my writing hand has a life of its own.  I don’t even know how the story will end as I’m writing it.  At the end of Deception’s Fury I was so relieved there was a happy ending that I actually blinked back tears.   The plot, setting, characters are all there ready to take their cue and reveal what they have been up to!  I’m writing the fourth and last novel in the Deception’s series, Deception’s Bind.  It is a series prequel and Skye and Rhys, in their early thirties, save and help and strengthen one another without ever meeting.  It’s challenging and exciting to write them in scenes in which they aren’t aware that their soul mate is there with them.

Norm:

You touch upon racism and anti-Semitism in Deceptions Legacy. Have you personally experience racism during the course of your professional career and/or writing career and if so, how did you react?

Jacqueline:

I confess that I haven’t had much experience with racism.  I am a military brat and currently serving in the military so that racism and other forms of hatred and injustice are swiftly and mercilessly dealt with so I’ve lived a rather sheltered life.  I did work in the Mississippi Delta for three years—teaching at two colleges for the Air Force-- and I observed it there.  However, it never touched me! 

I had friends of both races and went and did whatever I desired.  This included flying with all the older white southern crop dusters to attending the steeped in tradition events at the historical black college where I taught.  I seemed to be able cross the color line at will with no impunity.  I do plan to write a non-fiction book one day about my experiences in the Deep South.

Norm:

Do you worry about the human race?

Jacqueline: 

Nope!  God’s got it all under control and His eye misses nothing!  We are His and not one of us has slipped his from his attention—sooner or later we all have a personal and intimate appointment with HIM.

Norm:

What's the most difficult thing for you about being a writer?

Jacqueline:

When I’m in the throes of a novel my entire brain is filled with the story.  Scenes, dialogues, faces, emotions of the characters form a constant noisy collage in my soul.  Sitting at church, work, in the car the screen never turns off.  It is consuming.  During those times I ALWAYS have paper and pen with me lest the epileptic-like fit catch me without an outlet!

Norm:

What has been your overall experience as a published author? Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

Jacqueline:

Well, I just love to read.  That coupled with the incredible adventures I’ve enjoyed in life it seemed so natural to pen it.  Actually, in my early twenties all I ever did was read romance and adventure novels.  Literally, I’d work for 8 hours a day and come home to read TWO paperback fiction novels by bed time.  I did that for about a year until God impressed upon me to get off my butt and LIVE THE ADVENTURES INSTEAD OF READING ABOUT IT!

Norm:

Do you recommend other writers find a niche or specialty? What have been the rewards for you?

Jacqueline:

I definitely recommend that other writers write their passion.  My passion is thrillers, adventures, travel, righting wrongs.  The passion I have for these subjects not only fuel my writing but give me GREAT pleasure in doing so!!

Norm:

How much real-life do you put into your fiction? Is there much “you” in there?

Jacqueline: 

Oh I hate that question (smile).  Those who know me have repeatedly told me that Skye is me.  I protest because I’m not as vicious as she can be.  But family and friends insist that she is me without a Rhys and children.  All my novels are based on people I know, places I’ve been, something I witnessed or dreamed or thought.  So, in that regard, there is all my life in the novels.  Recently, I teased my coworkers by telling them that one day I’m going to be on a talk show entitled, “The Character’s of Jacqueline Randolph’s Novels” and all my coworkers, neighbors, and family will be there.  Most all of the character names are people I know—Col Gordon, Col Corkeran, Jut, etc.

Norm:

What is next for Jacqueline G. Randolph and is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Jacqueline:

Next is completing my last novel in the series, Deception’s Bind, AND moving from beautiful Colorado to my next military assignment in Washington D.C.  After my retirement in five years, my plans are to start a second career in a third world country as a missionary pilot.  Who knows, one day you may read about an Indian, Asian, or African peasant as the crime solving heroine or hero (smile).

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

To read Norm’s Review of Deception’s Legacy CLICK HERE

To find out more about Jacqueline G. Randolph CLICK HERE