Today I want to welcome Michael J. Webb to my blog. Join Michael as he talks about his new book
The Oldest Enemy.
Hello my favorite bloggers! Today I am featuring author Michael J. Webb and his new book The Oldest Enemy. This is my first read of Michael’s and I assure you, this is a book well worth reading. And if you enjoy Christian fiction thrillers, you will love, love Michael’s new book. It is one of those books that you can’t put down until you’ve read the last page! Now I am excited to let you in on an interview with Michael Webb to find out a little more about this great author and his writing.
Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always loved telling stories and writing was a natural outlet for that passion. I’ve also read voraciously from elementary school on. I just love books, both fiction and non-fiction. I like the feel of them, the smell of them, and the way they look stacked on the shelves. I decided in college that I’d like to become a fiction writer at some point, but didn’t seriously start writing until my early thirties. Now, I’m hooked. I see and hear all of my novels first in my head as movies. Had I not become a novel writer I might have written screenplays. And I might still.
Tell us about your mentors and how they have helped in your writing?
I have two categories of mentors. Authors I read who inspire me, and a very good friend who writes best-selling novels in YA and has multi-millions of her books published.
I read ecclecticly, but mainly prefer thrillers. Whenever I read a novel, I not only read it for the plot and characters, but I’m also looking for ways I can improve my own writing. I get lots of ideas on both content and style from other authors. Some of my favorite authors are Daniel Silva, James Rollins, Dan Brown, Joel Rosenberg, Frank Peretti, and James Byron Huggins. My all time favorite, however, is Lord of the Rings, which I read in Junior High. That’s my ultimate standard and what I aspire to.
I met Lurlene McDaniel at a writer’s conference in FL in the ‘80’s where she was one of the featured speakers. She saw something in my writing that she liked, took me under her wing, and taught me a great deal about the craft of writing. Over the many years we have been friends she, more than anyone, has helped me become a much better writer.
What is the main thing you want readers to take away with them when reading your books?
First and foremost I want them to enjoy the story and become involved and engaged with the characters. When they are finished reading, I hope they feel like they’ve just eaten a ten-course dinner—and can’t wait to see what the next meal has to offer. I also want them to come away with a better understanding of the reality of the spirit realm, how it works, and how it impacts their lives on a daily basis. I hope they also discover just how important it is to develop an intimate relationship with the God who knew us before the foundations of the world, has numbered the hairs on our heads, is not willing that any should perish, and sent His Son to redeem us with His death, burial, and resurrection.
I just have to chip in here and say, when you read The Oldest Enemy, you will for sure be full from that ten-course differ and will be eager to read more! And, your relationship with the Lord will be different, because you will see Him in a more personal way that before.
Tell us five interesting things about yourself that no one would ever guess? {I always love this question. It gives readers a unique insight of the author’s life.
My favorite food is Mexican.
I speak enough Dutch to get the attention of native speakers.
I used to ride barrel horses in high school, and my brother and I owned a Florida State Champion barrel horse named Socks.
I climbed mountains when I was younger and have climbed extensively in the Rockies, and the Alps.
I learned how to fly a Cessna 172 when I was in college.
Tell us a little bit about how this book idea came to you.
I was reading two very different books simultaneously—one about exorcism and the other about art and gold stolen from the Jews by Nazi’s during WWII. One day a dramatic scene popped into my head. I heard–and visualized–what eventually became the Prologue playing out in my head as if it was a movie. Once I began to write, the other characters came to life and began to take over the story. I just took dictation!
Again I have to chip in because this is always the question that I have about authors and their stories. I just find it so interesting to know just how the story came about, and how the author brainstorms their ideas!
Is there another book in the making? If so, can you tell us about it?
My agent, Don Maas, is shopping The Gathering Darkness, a thriller about the Anunnaki from Sumerian legends, also known as nephilim. I’m just finishing up the sequel, The Devil’s Cauldron, and much of the action takes place in Antarctica. I’m also reissuing my first three novels as E-books, Giants in the Earth, a trilogy spanning two millennia of history.
What impact do you think readers have on your books when posting reviews on their blogs, Amazon, Goodreads and other places around the web?
The two most important things for those of us trying to establish a viable platform are great covers and word of mouth, especially strong and favorable reviews. Reviews are critical for unknown authors to get noticed. The more the merrier. After that, it’s up to us. It’s extremely important that we’ve written an entertaining story with memorable characters. We also must make certain we’ve polished our story in every capacity so that readers will be drawn in and immersed in it and not distracted by poor execution, or poor editing.
One of my main reasons for my book review blog, and for reviewing books is to help Christian authors get the word out about their books. It is a ministry I really have a passion for.
Anything else you would like to share?
Writers write. We can’t help ourselves. We have to write or we’ll explode. If you have a story burning in you, put it down on paper. If you decide it’s something others would enjoy, make certain you’ve done your very best to make it excellent. Do’t be afraid to fail, and don’t wonder if you’ll ever become famous. Just write–and repeat the process. The rest is up to God.
And I for one thank you for writing. Where would we be without authors like you?
9. And, where can readers find out more about you, and get in touch with you?
My author website is www.michaeljwebbfiction.com , my FB Fan Page is www.michaeljwebbbooks.com , and my e-mail is michaeljwebbbooks@gmail.com.
I love hearing from readers and answer every email.
Wow, thank you Michael for answering all of these wonderful questions. I always enjoy getting to know authors better and I hope my bloggers will leave you some comments and encouragements.
So…how about it bloggers? Let Michael know that you have read his interview and leave him a little encouragement!
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THE OLDEST ENEMY
- Paperback:314 pages
- Publisher:Risen Books (November 15, 2012)
- Language:English
- ISBN-10:1936835126
- ISBN-13: 978-1936835126
Book Blurb
David Lighthouse was once a hard-hitting investigative reporter for the Denver Post—back before he was accused of the brutal murder of his fiancée and his life unraveled. Now, six years later, he is the assistant pastor of a small church in Florida. Armed with faith, sobriety, and a resurrected sense of purpose, he’s putting together a new life. But when one of his young parishioners is murdered, David’s old instincts reemerge. Once again the prime suspect, he fights to clear his name even as disturbing clues at the crime scene reveal a haunting connection not only to his fiancée’s unsolved murder but to his estranged father’s secret past.
David suddenly finds himself the target of sinister, supernatural forces as he tracks down a conspiracy to release an ancient evil upon an unsuspecting world. Along with his father, the murdered girl’s sister, and a fierce Auschwitz survivor, David faces hell itself to prove his innocence and stop a reclusive German billionaire from unleashing a worldwide holocaust.
My Thoughts On This Book
The Oldest Enemy is a perfect title for this book because it is just that, about the oldest and absolute worst enemy we all face every day, and that enemy is satan and his demons. And in his new book, author Michael Webb pens a story that will grip your heart and mind in unique way and not let go until long after you finish reading.
I usually don’t read books that deal with supernatural events, but this one was really awesome, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cast of characters are well created and developed, and really make you feel as though you are living the story with them. As I read the story, and the different characters and situations were introduced, I kept wondering how all of the event would work out in the end, but the author weaves everything together beautifully and awesome and creates and ending that is sure thrilling and will stick with you.
It is clear the knowledge Michael Webb has for WW II, Hitler and the Nazis, and the Bible because it is all woven together throughout this story in vivid details. I appreciate the way Michael weaves the characters together with living the Christian life in everyday situations, just as it should be.
I highly recommend The Oldest Enemy for another to read. If you are a Christian thriller buff, then you MUST read this book! And if the reviews of this book has peaked your interest, pick up a copy and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
A copy of this book was provided by the author, Michael J. Webb for me to read and review. I was not required or expected to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.
Author Bio
Michael J. Webb graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida and obtained his J. D. from the same university. Over the past forty years he has travelled the world in search of adventure.
He is a history buff, both ancient and modern, and is fascinated by the intersection of the scientific, supernatural, and Biblical world views, and has studied and taught from the Bible extensively for more than twenty-five years. He is also intrigued by recent discoveries in quantum physics that are now providing extraordinary insights into the reality of the spirit realm, especially as it relates to the study of Light. He incorporates all of the above into his supernatural thrillers.
Michael and his wife make their home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Books by Michael: The Master’s Quilt, The Nephilim Parchments (formerly Balaam’s Error), The Song of the Seraphim (Giants in the Earth trilogy), The Oldest Enemy, The Gathering Darkness (agented with Donald Maass at the Maass Agency). He is currently working on The Devil’s Cauldron, the sequel to The Gathering Darkness. He also authored a non-fiction work entitled In the Cleft of the Rock: Insights into the Blood of Jesus, Resurrection Power, and Saving the Soul.
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