Please help me welcome today’s guest, J.D. Webb…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
My hometown is Decatur, IL and except for 4 years in the Air Force I’ve lived here all my life. I’m a widower. Lost my soulmate three years ago. She was my first editor and first reader for my first four books. She kept me on track and centered. I lost my writing companion, Ginger an eight-pound toy poodle, five years ago. She was fifteen and a half when she passed on. I was positive I couldn’t find a better dog, so I didn’t search.
Where did you get the idea for Bayou Chase?
Every November the NaNoWriMo website hosts authors. On the first of November, the task is to come up with a new idea and write a 50,000-word novel by the end of the month. It’s been the impetus for three of my novels. This one someone had mentioned visiting Louisiana and going on a chase to get to New Orleans in a specific time. I let my twisted brain play with that and the book resulted. I didn’t make the word goal but did finish the book.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I’ve always written mysteries, suspense, action novels because that’s what I love to read. In my blood, I guess.
What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?
Finishing the book. In every novel there are points where you’re stuck. Not writer’s block. I don’t believe there is such a thing. It’s a place where I’ve put my protagonist in a seemingly inescapable situation, and I have to figure out a plausible escape plan. It may be in the middle of the book or maybe multiple situations throughout the book.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
Nope, no other occupation. I’m eighty-three years old and been a full-time author since 2002. I previously worked in retail, Security Service in the Air Force as a Chinese linguist and analyst, a manager in a Fortune 500 company for twenty-five years and owned a shoe repair and sales company for eleven years prior to authoring.
Do you collect anything?
Books. I read around one hundred books each year. All the well-known mystery and suspense authors grace my bookcases and fill my Kindle library. I use them also for help in making me a better author. I try to analyze how they do it and learn their techniques.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
I’ve dabbled in paranormal, westerns but not extensively. I really have no desire to switch genres. I’m really happy where I am.
How did you come up with the title?
Titles are hard, but this one kind of named itself. It takes place in a Bayou in Louisiana; the main character’s name is Chase Anderson and he’s being chased. More like hunted. Pretty easy really.
Thank you for being my guest today. I am so very sorry for your losses. Please tell us about your book…
Bayou Chase Excerpt:
Chase leaned back. “Course I know the name. The bastard killed my wife.”
“Mr. Washburn died two days ago.”
“Good. Can’t say as I’m sorry for the piece of crap. Good riddance. What’s that got to do with me?”
“Well, his death is somewhat suspicious.”
“You accusing me of doing it?”
She shook her head. “No, just conducting an investigation. We got your service records. Very impressive. Delta Force, two tours in Iraq, sniper school, wounded and discharged.”
“Honorable discharge.”
“Yes, honorable. You also excelled in house-to-house penetration.”
“Look, Detective, I didn’t shoot him. I would love to have had the chance to put him in my sights, but I didn’t.”
“He wasn’t shot.”
“How’d he die?” He opened his hands palms up.
“He drowned in his bathtub.”
“All due respect, Detective Menendes, I think we’re done here, unless you think I swam up the drainpipe and took him out.”
“You understand our concern? You have the skills to pull this off.”
“That doesn’t equate to guilt, does it?” Chase stood up. “Am I free to go?”
Menendes stood as well. “Yes, as I said we are investigating all possibilities.”
“As far as I’m concerned you should have done a better job of investigating my wife’s murder. Then we wouldn’t be here, would we?”
“Mr. Anderson, I was not involved in that case, and I assure you, if I was, you’re right, we would not be here now. Have a good day. An officer will be outside to take you back home.”
Buy links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Chase-J-D-Webb-ebook/dp/B0CBQK2N44
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bayou-chase-j-d-webb/1143774751?ean=9781509249367
Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.wildrosepress.com/authorpage.php?PseudoID=1861
Wings ePress: https://wingsepress.com/pages/webb-j-d
About the Author:
J. D. Webb – Author of Mysteries
J. D. Webb, served in the Air Force in Viet Nam and the Philippines as a Chinese linguist, as a corporate transportation manager, then shoe repair and sales shop owner, before becoming an author.
An award-wining author of five novels, an anthology and two short stories. Incredible Witness the anthology was a finalist in the 2023 Silver Falchion Awards. His latest novel is Bayou Chase, a thriller, published September 2023 from Wild Rose Press. It is a finalist in the 2024 Silver Falchion Awards
In 2023 Webb was honored to be elected to the Midwest Writer’s Workshop Board of Directors.
Website: https://jdwebb.com
Website: https://jdwebbauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064010135073
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdavewebb/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/jdavewebb
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/bayou-chase-by-j-d-webb
Author Alicia Dean 
the book sounds good. I was born in Urbana IL and lived in the Midwest many years before moving to Alabama. Best of luck with the new book. So sorry for your loss. My husband is my first reader too.
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Your books sound great!
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