He lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in
Colorado.
His latest book is the
thriller/international/action novel, Dark
Spiral Down.
Website: www.mikehoutz.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelhoutz
BOOK BLURB:
COLE HAUFNER is a reluctant superstar in the
professional mixed martial arts world. After his latest fight, his wife and
child perish in a car crash. His grief deepens when his brother, BUTCH, a Delta
Force operator, is absent from the funeral and reported missing by two furtive
strangers who show up unannounced at the burial. Despairing, and acting on a
tip, Cole travels to his childhood home in southeast China, looking for his
brother.
Cole meets with the uncle who raised him,
MASTER LI, and is warned to stop his search for Butch. Barrett discovers Cole’s
identity (with the help of a genius computer hacker, LILLY), which opens a
twenty-year-old wound when Barrett was blamed for the disappearance of Cole’s
father, along with the man’s invention. Barrett enlists the 14K organized crime
syndicate to help capture Cole. Hammer, separated from Butch during the fight
for the device, thwarts the gang’s attempt to kidnap Cole, and the two then set
off to find Butch and the device. All parties converge on the city library
where Butch, now disguised as a monk, is attempting to communicate with the
Pentagon. Barrett and Park capture Butch, while the 14K gang nabs Cole.
Danger mounts as Chinese authorities begin
investigating foul play within their borders. Cole fights his way free of the
gang and reunites with Hammer. Both men
find Barrett’s apartment and discover Lilly (the man’s stepdaughter), who
divulges Barrett’s identity and plan. Cole clashes with Hammer, who is willing
to sacrifice Butch in order to recover the fusion device. Lilly offers her help
in exchange for her and Barrett’s rescue from Park’s grip. Meanwhile, Barrett
discovers the true nature of the case the North Koreans are pursuing and,
sensing he and Lilly are to be assassinated by Park once he has the device,
frees Butch. Butch, trusting Barrett was sent to rescue him, leads the turncoat
to the site where he hid the device. Barrett, hoping to make a quick fortune
selling it, shoots Butch before escaping with the case.
Cole, along with Hammer and Lilly, arrives
at the location of Butch and finds him gravely wounded. Butch fingers Barrett
for shooting him and for stealing the case. Cole wants only to save his brother
but Butch makes him promise to kill Barrett and recover their dad’s invention.
The revelation that the device is his father’s scientific discovery propels
Cole forward to fulfill his brother’s mission. Cole is forced to abandon Butch
at a hospital. Cole pursues Barrett to a remote dock where the ex-CIA man is
planning to escape China by boat. With the Chinese military now actively
looking for Cole, Cole confronts Barrett and Park sparking a gunfight. Barrett
kills Park. As Barrett turns the gun on Cole, Hammer kills Barrett. Cole,
Hammer and Lilly escape via the boat, and the fusion device is safely returned.
Readers Love Michael Houtz!
“If
you’re in the market for a fast paced, action filled, page-turning thriller,
Mike Houtz delivers a must-read novel. I highly recommend this emotional
rollercoaster of a book for every die-hard thriller reader…Get it ASAP!”
~Lima
Charlie Review
~*~
“…this
work proves that author Houtz is undoubtedly a rising star in the publishing
world.”
~Andrea Brunais, Author
~*~
“Mike
Houtz takes us on fast-pace adventure in Dark
Spiral Down, a thrilling ride along
the border between China and North Korea, where Cole Haufner is in
pursuit of his Delta Force brother and a device that has the potential to
change the world forever or destroy it.”
~Dan Grant, Author
~*~
“Dark Spiral Down is a phenomenal debut
novel by Mike Houtz. This book has everything readers of the genre love: a
great plot, memorable characters, and a powerful voice. It’s a must-read!”
~Ammar Habib, Bestselling & Award-Winning Author, Editor-in-Chief of Thriller Magazine
ORDER YOUR COPY:
Amazon
Thank you for your time in
answering our questions about getting published. Let’s begin by having
you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
Mike:
Is this your first book?
Mike: This is my first
full-length novel. I’d worked on a medical thriller but felt compelled to write
and complete this title. I slid the WIP into a drawer and cranked this one out
in about 6 months.
With this particular book,
how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you
choose this method?
Mike: I went with a smaller,
traditional press out of New York.
The truth is, no matter the path you choose, much of the promotional work rests
on the author. My publisher aggressively engaged me with wonderful
communication, and I felt they genuinely believed my book was well written and
had the markings of a successful debut.
Can you tell us a little
about your publishing journey? The pros
and cons?
Mike: I entered a writing
contest at a large conference looking for judge’s feedback on what was
essentially a rough draft. Surprisingly, I won an award in the
thriller/suspense category. I was completely shocked. A few months later, I
attended the Colorado Gold conference and went to my first pitch session
looking to see what that 10-minute session looked like. My luck had continued,
and I was asked for a full submission. Within a few days, I was contacted by a
senior editor saying she loved the work and would present to the acquiring
committee for a possible offer. A promised three-week reply to me turned into a
36-hour contract offer. I couldn’t believe how quickly everything occurred.
I don’t really have any cons. I’d say I had a few
somewhat negative responses here and there but, by-and-large, my experience was
incredibly positive—more so that I ever expected.
What lessons do you feel you
learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing
industry as a whole?
Mike: I came into the business
as a true neophyte. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. It’s hard to pinpoint
where to begin when you’ve never done something before and don’t have a point
of reference. I think for those folks in the same position I found myself, the
important message is to plant your flag somewhere, anywhere, and strike out on
a path regardless if it’s in the right direction. Listen to your inner voice,
learn what works and doesn’t work for you, and adjust course accordingly. My
personal lesson is believe in what you’re doing, regardless of the noise coming
from others. If you truly want something bad enough, you’ll get there if you
don’t quit.
What I’ve learned about the industry is that it moves
like a glacier. Despite my quick, early success, not something most people
experience, expect a long, slow slug. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Something
that amazed me was the welcoming from other authors into the fold. Publishing
isn’t necessarily a zero-sum business. There’s always room for another great
novel.
Would you recommend this
method of publishing to other authors?
Mike: I would. Especially for
debut authors. You get to see the aspects of traditional publishing—working
with your editor, discovering the entire process from a contract all the way to
your finished Galley, and finally the approaching publishing date. I found the
whole process incredibly exciting and I learned so much I never knew existed.
You’ll also become heavily involved in the marketing and promotion side of the
business. That’s been a real eye opener, but I’m grateful for the opportunity.
What’s the best advice you
can give to aspiring authors?
Mike: Probably the same thing
repeated by so many others—the difference between published authors and most
others is the published author didn’t quit. This goes back to my own personal
mantra—if you want something bad enough, you’ll make it happen. Wrapped up in
all that is the will to succeed, however you define your own success. The act
of winning is generated by all the work you do when no one else is looking.
No comments:
Post a Comment