Successful San Francisco attorney Will Muñoz has heard of the brutal former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, of course, but it's not until he receives his mother's suicide letter that he has any inkling Pinochet may have had his father, Chilean writer Ricardo Muñoz, assassinated thirty years earlier.
Her suspicions spur Will on to a quest to discover the truth about his father's death–and about the psychological forces that have driven his mother to her fatal decision. His journey takes him deep into unexpected darkness linking his current step-father, the CIA, drug-experimentation programs, and a conspiracy of domestic terrorism. The Pinochet Plot is not just a story of a man seeking inner peace; it is also a story of sinister history doomed to repeat itself.
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Terra Nova Books (May 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938288203
ISBN-13: 978-1938288203
The Pinochet Plot is available for purchase in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
About the Author:
Find David Online:
Website: www.davidmylesrobinson.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38825244-the-pinochet-plot
Twitter: @DMRobinsonWrite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMylesRobinson/
-----Interview by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
WOW: Thank you so much for choosing WOW to help promote your writing. This is such an honor. So, do tell...lawyer, husband, judge, author - let's talk about distractions. Where do you find the time and how do you focus on the task at hand? What aspects of your life work well together and which do not?
David: When I was practicing law in Honolulu, which I did for 38 years, it was hard to find the time to write a novel. My wife, whom I met in law school in San Francisco, had been appointed to the trial court by the Governor, and I was running my own law firm. Our lives were busy and often stressful. Once we were financially able to do so, we began to travel the world, which was our stress relief.
I did complete a novel about 20 years ago. It was a legal thriller premised on the true story which I ultimately used as the basis for my later novel, Tropical Lies. But the novel I wrote way back then was just awful. The writing was stilted from writing too many legal briefs and memoranda of law. I wrote it mostly in the middle of the night and on weekends. I was proud to have finished it, but then I dumped it and didn’t attempt to write another novel until after I retired, in 2010.
I’ve been pretty prolific since retirement. My first published novel, Unplayable Lie, was a true labor of love. It’s a golf-related suspense novel (I purposely stayed away from writing a legal novel). It was well received by those who read it and that gave me the confidence to keep writing. I now have four published novels and two completed novels which are scheduled to be published later this year.
WOW: Sounds like writing has always played an important part of your life. What sparked this particular political incident?
David: I had written two Pancho McMartin legal thrillers in a row and I wanted to do something different. Obama was President and the political discourse as we moved into the 2016 elections was rapidly deteriorating. I thought about all the countries which don’t allow political dissent and in too many instances dissenters are jailed or even assassinated. Chile under Pinochet came to mind, although there are far too many candidates, including modern day Russia. Then I thought about America’s own attempts over the years to suppress voters and to oppress minority groups.
From those dark thoughts sprung the idea for a novel drawing from our own fully stocked smorgasbord of atrocities. That said, I hope I’ve made the story entertaining and less depressing than it may sound.
WOW: As someone who has read The Pinochet Plot, I can attest that it is very entertaining and not depressing. Now let's talk about passion. One of your passions is travel - where is your favorite destination and why?
David: My wife and I have been to all seven continents, including twelve times to sub-Saharan Africa. My all time favorite was our first trip to Botswana. There were only five of us in the group with a guide, driver, and cook. We slept in two-person tents and carried our own sleeping bags. The animal life was abundant, and we didn’t see any other tourists for the entire ten days or so we were in the bush. Since then, our safaris have been much more civilized and, unfortunately, more structured. We still travel with two of the five people we met on that trip back in 1989.
My wife’s favorite trip was to Antarctica, which comes in second on my list.
WOW: I'm laughing about Antarctica since my mother would threaten to send me there if I didn't do my childhood chores, so it clearly has never crossed my mind as a travel destination. Thank you for making me see it in a new light.
You are clearly very busy personally and professionally. How do you find time for writing? What advice would you give other writers struggling with balance?
David: I’m not busy professionally any more as I am fully retired. Nowadays, I don’t find time for writing – the writing finds time for me. Once I’m hot into a novel I can go almost non-stop, pushing all the other fun distractions aside. When I’m not in the middle of something, I will often toy around with poetry or my website blog, but I don’t stress over whether I’ve written so many words on any given day.
I wouldn’t be so bold as to give advice to other writers. If you love to write, then write. When I was working I’d get up at two in the morning and write for a couple hours. Then I’d go back to bed and get up at 6:30 to go to work. I did that because I had to write. I’m not saying what I wrote at 2am was good, but it was writing, which is what I wanted to do.
WOW: I think it's worth repeating "I don't find time for writing - the writing finds time for me" - that's perfectly stated! Thank you for sharing.
How did you map out The Pinochet Plot? Did you do an outline before hand? What is your writing process and can you explain why it works well for you?
David: Part of the fun of writing, for me, is to not work with an outline. I love to write the scenes I have mapped out in my head, usually while lying in bed the night before, and then, as I come to the end of those scenes, I’d ask myself “what if this happened?” I’d let my imagination run wild with alternative scenarios. On many occasions I’ve written myself into corners from which there was no escape other than to go back and start over. I think I spent too many years while I was practicing law being precise and fastidious in terms of presenting a case. When I’d write a brief, I’d have all my case law lined up and I’d know exactly how the brief would start and finish. Boooring. Now I’m free to let my creativity fly.
WOW: Speaking of conversations that we have with ourselves, what advice would you give to your younger self or what advice would the younger you be giving to your current self?
David: I think I’ve lived my life as well as I could ever have imagined it. I did make a vow to myself many years back when I was working long hours and was quite stressed: do at least one thing that is fun every single day.
WOW: Great advice - who doesn't love to have fun?
Who has been most supportive in your writing and publishing journey and how so?
David: My wife, Marcia Waldorf, has been my best friend since we met in law school and won’t throw any punches if she reads something of mine that doesn’t work. But when she likes something of mine, she’s my biggest cheerleader. Also, as a retired criminal judge, Marcia is my resource for criminal procedure in my legal thrillers.
WOW: What's next for you - personally and/or professionally?
David: Keep writing and keep having fun.
WOW: Speaking of fun, you know how much we love reading here at WOW, so I must ask, what is your favorite book and why? Or if you prefer - favorite author and why?
David: My favorite book of all time is Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. I’m a huge Kurt Vonnegut fan, and The Pinochet Plot is, in my own way, a tribute to Vonnegut. It’s unabashedly political and I’ve borrowed a technique I remember him using wherein he would interrupt the story to talk directly to the reader. I think Dostoyevsky knew more about the human psyche than most authors, and I keep meaning to go back and read The Brothers Karamozov again. Barbara Kingsolver’s Poisonwood Bible is one of my all-time favorites as well. And, of course, I grew up reading everything Hemingway ever published.
WOW: Thank you ever so much for your fun and thoughtful interview responses. This is going to be a delightful tour; it's a pleasure working with you David!
----------Blog Tour Dates
Monday, May 7th @ The Muffin
Author Interview and Giveaway
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
Tuesday, May 8th @ Word Nerd Media
Today, Elizabeth at Word Nerd Media reviews The Pinochet Plot by David Myles Robinson and interviews Robinson about his latest novel.
https://www.wordnerdmedia.com/
Wednesday, May 9th @ The Page Turner
Kayla at The Page Turner reviews the latest novel by David Myles Robinson. Don't miss her thoughts on the fast paced mystery The Pinochet Plot.
https://www.thepageturner.org/
Thursday, May 10th @ The Nerdy Bookcase
Molly delights readers at The Nerdy Bookcase as she reviews The Pinochet Plot - the latest novel by David Myles Robinson.
http://thenerdybookcase.blogspot.com/
Monday, May 14th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
Crystal from WOW! shares her thoughts about the thrilling new novel by David Myles Robinson. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about The Pinochet Plot.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 15th @ Bella Donnas Books with Dawn Thomas
Dawn Thomas reviews The Pinochet Plot for readers at Bella Donnas Books.
http://belladonnasbooks.com/
Friday, May 18th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reviews The Pinochet Plot by David Myles Robinson
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 18th @ To Write or Not to Write
Sreevarsha Sreejith reviews The Pinochet Plot. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Sreevarsha and visit To Write or Not to Write.
http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/
Tuesday, May 22nd @ Lisa Haselton
Lisa Haselton interviews David Myles Robinson about his latest mystery The Pinochet Plot.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/
Monday, May 28th @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reviews the latest thriller by David Myles Robinson - readers will be at the edge of their seat with The Pinochet Plot.
http://www.coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, May 29th @ Writings By Renee
Fellow author Renee Sanchez reviews the latest novel by David Myles Robinson. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about The Pinochet Plot.
https://www.writingsbyrenee.com/blog
Wednesday, May 30th @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Contino
Bring on Lemons welcomes guest blogger Cathy Contino as she reviews The Pinochet Plot - the latest best selling novel by David Myles Robinson.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 31st @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Fellow author Madeline Sharples reviews David Myles Robinson's latest novel The Pinochet Plot.
http://madelinesharples.com/
Keep up with the latest stops by following us on twitter @WOWBlogTour.
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Great interview!
ReplyDeleteDavid, I loved learning about how you came up with the idea for your novel. It sounds like a riveting read! "Pantsing" without an outline seems to be working for you. I like the technique of interrupting the story to talk directly to the reader. Good luck on your tour!
Crystal, My high school chemistry teacher always threatened to send me to Siberia for disrupting the class. Siberia was behind the chem lab away from the rest of the class with one single desk, and that's where I sat for most of the year. Thanks for the interview. :)