Author Bio:
Name: E. Michael Helms
Books: The Proud Bastards; Of Blood and Brothers: (Books One & Two), Deadly Catch: A Mac McClellan Mystery, The Private War of Corporal Henson, Deadly Ruse: A Mac McClellan Mystery
Where to find his books: Amazon, Abebooks, Book Depository, kobo, Indigo, Half.com, Alibris, Better World Books, google play, indiebound
Where to find the author: Amazon Author Page, website, facebook, goodreads, twitter, LinkedIn, google+, pinterest, LibraryThing
Books: The Proud Bastards; Of Blood and Brothers: (Books One & Two), Deadly Catch: A Mac McClellan Mystery, The Private War of Corporal Henson, Deadly Ruse: A Mac McClellan Mystery
Where to find his books: Amazon, Abebooks, Book Depository, kobo, Indigo, Half.com, Alibris, Better World Books, google play, indiebound
Where to find the author: Amazon Author Page, website, facebook, goodreads, twitter, LinkedIn, google+, pinterest, LibraryThing
Quick Bio:
E. Michael Helms is a USMC combat veteran. Helms lives with his wife in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Upstate region of South Carolina, where they enjoy canoeing, hiking and bird watching.
E. Michael Helms is a USMC combat veteran. Helms lives with his wife in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Upstate region of South Carolina, where they enjoy canoeing, hiking and bird watching.
Interview:
Hi Michael, thanks for letting me interview you!
Q: You told me that you are a Marine Corps veteran, what was your job while in the Marines?
A: I was a rifleman, meaning a regular infantryman. My job was to close with the enemy and kill him before he killed me. I was 18/19-years-old at the time. Not a very pleasant or glamorous job, but that was it.
Q: Do you believe in Big Foot? Who would win in a fistfight between Big Foot and a yeti?
A: I’m not 100% sold on Big Foot’s existence, but I believe there’s a good chance such creatures could live in remote wilderness areas. Too many reputable people have experienced encounters to flat-out discount the possibility. Hmm BF vs. Yeti . . . I think Big Foot would KO Yeti by round seven.
Q: How difficult was it for you to switch from the bland, uniform writing style required to by the military to writing fiction?
A: If you are referring to THE PROUD BASTARDS (my Vietnam memoir), I’d say there’s nothing bland or uniform about it. About the only difference would be is that the memoir is non-fiction and the others books I’ve written are fiction. If you are referring to some military clerk filling out daily reports, etc., that would be a huge difference. Repetitive daily routine forms vs. creative writing. Writing fiction is never boring, or shouldn’t be.
A: Being a teenage girl, I’m required to ask you at least one girly teenage question. Would your main character, Mac, be team Edward or team Jacob?
Q: Team Edward – I took a quiz!
A: What was the coolest place you were stationed while with the Marines?
A: This might sound strange, but I’d have to say Vietnam. Despite the almost constant danger and living in very crude conditions (“Home is where you dig it!” was a popular saying among our combat unit), the country was diverse and beautiful. I doubt I’ll ever forget the experience, although I returned to the States badly wounded.
Q: Don’t take this the wrong way because it’s an extreme compliment, but you totally look like Santa Claus. Have you ever played or would you ever consider playing him?
A: “Ho-ho-ho!” I hope my belly isn’t rotund enough to qualify, but I would definitely play Santa, preferably for underprivileged or sick kids.
Showcase question:
Q: You walk into your house and it’s completely different–furniture, decor, all changed, and somebody’s home.
A: It’s Twilight time (the old TV series, not the recent movies)! I’ve been abducted by aliens and taken aboard their craft. The gray guys found me so interesting they kept me aboard for quite some time. My wife had me declared dead, re-married, sold the house, and moved to another state with her new husband. Imagine the occupants’ surprise when I walked in that afternoon and said, “Honey, I’m home!”
Q: Do you have any teasers from either one of your other books or from the next book in the Mac MacClellan series that you would like to share?
A: This is a blurb for Deadly Ruse, the next book in the Mac MacClellan series (from Amazon)
Mac’s girlfriend, Kate Bell, thinks she’s seen a ghost. Wes Harrison, Kate’s former boyfriend, supposedly perished twelve years ago in a boating accident. But now she swears a man she spotted in a crowded theater lobby is Wes. Mac has his doubts--it was only a fleeting glimpse. But to calm her shattered nerves, he starts making inquiries.
A clue leads him from his home in St. George, Florida, to a Texas orphanage. There he uncovers startling information that turns both his and Kate’s world upside-down. Diamond smuggling, sex, deceit, and murder are just part of the twisted tale that emerges from Kate’s earlier life. Using wit, grit, and the ingrained military training of a former Marine, Mac starts to fit the pieces of this scrambled puzzle together.
Further clues point to the Palmetto Royale Casino and Resort near St. George. He and Kate discover that the casino is a front for big drug deals. When they barely escape a murder attempt, Mac knows he’s on the right track.
But he better play his cards right–because losing this high-stakes game could cost him his life.
Thanks again for allowing me to interview you, have an awesome day!
My pleasure. You are most welcome!
Q: You told me that you are a Marine Corps veteran, what was your job while in the Marines?
A: I was a rifleman, meaning a regular infantryman. My job was to close with the enemy and kill him before he killed me. I was 18/19-years-old at the time. Not a very pleasant or glamorous job, but that was it.
Q: Do you believe in Big Foot? Who would win in a fistfight between Big Foot and a yeti?
A: I’m not 100% sold on Big Foot’s existence, but I believe there’s a good chance such creatures could live in remote wilderness areas. Too many reputable people have experienced encounters to flat-out discount the possibility. Hmm BF vs. Yeti . . . I think Big Foot would KO Yeti by round seven.
Q: How difficult was it for you to switch from the bland, uniform writing style required to by the military to writing fiction?
A: If you are referring to THE PROUD BASTARDS (my Vietnam memoir), I’d say there’s nothing bland or uniform about it. About the only difference would be is that the memoir is non-fiction and the others books I’ve written are fiction. If you are referring to some military clerk filling out daily reports, etc., that would be a huge difference. Repetitive daily routine forms vs. creative writing. Writing fiction is never boring, or shouldn’t be.
A: Being a teenage girl, I’m required to ask you at least one girly teenage question. Would your main character, Mac, be team Edward or team Jacob?
Q: Team Edward – I took a quiz!
A: What was the coolest place you were stationed while with the Marines?
A: This might sound strange, but I’d have to say Vietnam. Despite the almost constant danger and living in very crude conditions (“Home is where you dig it!” was a popular saying among our combat unit), the country was diverse and beautiful. I doubt I’ll ever forget the experience, although I returned to the States badly wounded.
Q: Don’t take this the wrong way because it’s an extreme compliment, but you totally look like Santa Claus. Have you ever played or would you ever consider playing him?
A: “Ho-ho-ho!” I hope my belly isn’t rotund enough to qualify, but I would definitely play Santa, preferably for underprivileged or sick kids.
Showcase question:
Q: You walk into your house and it’s completely different–furniture, decor, all changed, and somebody’s home.
A: It’s Twilight time (the old TV series, not the recent movies)! I’ve been abducted by aliens and taken aboard their craft. The gray guys found me so interesting they kept me aboard for quite some time. My wife had me declared dead, re-married, sold the house, and moved to another state with her new husband. Imagine the occupants’ surprise when I walked in that afternoon and said, “Honey, I’m home!”
Q: Do you have any teasers from either one of your other books or from the next book in the Mac MacClellan series that you would like to share?
A: This is a blurb for Deadly Ruse, the next book in the Mac MacClellan series (from Amazon)
Mac’s girlfriend, Kate Bell, thinks she’s seen a ghost. Wes Harrison, Kate’s former boyfriend, supposedly perished twelve years ago in a boating accident. But now she swears a man she spotted in a crowded theater lobby is Wes. Mac has his doubts--it was only a fleeting glimpse. But to calm her shattered nerves, he starts making inquiries.
A clue leads him from his home in St. George, Florida, to a Texas orphanage. There he uncovers startling information that turns both his and Kate’s world upside-down. Diamond smuggling, sex, deceit, and murder are just part of the twisted tale that emerges from Kate’s earlier life. Using wit, grit, and the ingrained military training of a former Marine, Mac starts to fit the pieces of this scrambled puzzle together.
Further clues point to the Palmetto Royale Casino and Resort near St. George. He and Kate discover that the casino is a front for big drug deals. When they barely escape a murder attempt, Mac knows he’s on the right track.
But he better play his cards right–because losing this high-stakes game could cost him his life.
Thanks again for allowing me to interview you, have an awesome day!
My pleasure. You are most welcome!