Debut thriller author Forest McMullin chats with me about Shooting at Shadows.
During his virtual book tour, Forest will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn participant. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Forest McMullin is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Earlier in his career, he was a photojournalist who specialized in photographing fringe social groups. Today he writes both long and short form fiction, Shooting at Shadows is his first novel.
Welcome, Forest, please tell us a little bit about your book.
Book blurb:
A photograph can tell the truth. It can also get you killed.
Ethan McGuire’s relentless pursuit of explosive stories has cost him his family, his integrity, and now–possibly–his life. While documenting the rise of white supremacist movements in Western New York, Ethan encounters a world of neo-Nazis, heavily armed survivalists, rogue FBI agents, and violent criminals, all with something to hide. But when a crew of ruthless bank robbers starts hunting him for photos he doesn’t even know he has, the stakes turn deadly.
As his enemies close in and his family becomes a target, Ethan must expose the truth–before it buries him. Shooting at Shadows is a relentless thriller and chilling cautionary tale, inspired by the author’s real-life experiences as a photojournalist. It exposes the darkness lurking beneath the surface of American extremism–and the cost of bringing it to light.
“One hopes that McMullin has further adventures planned for his unlikely hero.” –Kirkus Reviews
“…a provocative thriller exploring highly pertinent themes in American culture today…” –Fredrick Soukup, author of Blood up North
Please tell us something about your debut release that is NOT in the blurb.
My blurb mentions that Shooting at Shadows was inspired by my experiences, but what it doesn’t say is that some of the action and conversations are taken directly from things that I witnessed or actually lived.
Excerpt from Shooting at Shadows:
Someone outside began pounding on the truck in time to the chant and within moments it sounded like everyone who could reach the sides was pounding too:
“BOOM BOOM BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM!
“KKK! GO AWAY! KKK! GO AWAY!”
It was deafening, like being inside a giant bass drum. The thin metal walls of the truck amplified the beating and Ethan could
feel the horrible reverberation in his chest. Everyone moved toward the center of the bed as if the walls could come crashing in on them at any second. The two holding the rear gate down were fighting the door as people outside tried to raise it.
Suddenly the pounding stopped and Ethan felt the truck moving. The crowd was so loud he hadn’t heard the engine start. But how could they get through that mob without running anyone over? Maybe if Kevin went slowly enough, they’d let the truck pass. Surely the police would be able to get there and see to their safety. Then he realized it wasn’t forward motion he felt. The truck was swaying side to side. The chanting changed too. “O-VER! O-VER! O-VER!” They were trying to turn the truck on its side. Ethan didn’t think it could be done, but with this many people it was impossible to know for sure.
Everyone inside moved away from the center and put their hands against the sides to steady themselves. It was like trying to stand in a boat on choppy seas. Back and forth, back and forth the truck rocked, gaining momentum every time. Ethan saw the men holding the door down lose their balance and fall. The door rose and blinded them with brilliant sunlight.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for the last twenty-five years, but I didn’t get serious until about ten years ago.
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
I’m not sure I’m the best person to begiving advice about writing, but I’ll try. Take as many writing workshops and classes as you can. I found them enormously helpful. Read a lot, especially books in the genre you want your book to be. Lastly, write a book you want to read.
Do you have any tattoos? Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?
I have two tattoos. One is a slightly abstracted compass face on the inside of my right upper arm. Instead of NSEW at the critical points, it has AZCM, the first letter of the names of my wife and three kids. The intermediate points have the numbers 15, 12, 1, and 25, the date each of them was born.
On the outside of my left upper arm is the image of a Cretan Labyrinth. It’s an image and a process I’ve always been fascinated by.
Is your life anything like it was two years ago?
No. Two years ago, I was living in a travel trailer with my wife as we traveled around the American Southwest.
Links:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Substack | Bluesky | Amazon
We appreciate you featuring Forest McMullin and SHOOTING AT SHADOWS today.
Thanks so much for the feature on Shooting at Shadows!
I did the travel thing too, but my service dog and I traveled from the East Coast to the West many times. Now I want to redo it but take a lot more time. I missed the biggest ball of yarn. (chuckle)