Please help me welcome today’s guest, Henry James Kaye…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Henry has produced six award-winning mysteries. Twelve Sinners, the first in the Malcolm Gee Mystery series, won Book Of The Year from the Florida Writers Association and Best Unpublished Mystery from Killer Nashville. The second in the series, Victim’s Voice, became available for purchase on May 13th. He’s also written multiple Collections, RPLA, and various anthology winners, including Most Dangerous Games. He speaks at conferences and offers classes. Henry lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with his wife, Nancy, and menagerie of dogs and birds.
Where did you get the idea for Victim’s Voice?
It came to me in a dream.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I have a successful track record writing mysteries. Several award-winning novels
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
I love small Florida towns. I believe they have a tremendous amount of culture and color, which I try to present in my settings and characters
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
Dedicating the time to write and rewrite and rewrite. Having the patience to know that I won’t have a finished product for nice months (coincidence? Like Malcolm Gee says, ‘There’s no such thing as coincidence.’)
Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story? It must have a happy, or semi-, happy ending and give the reader something to think about afterward.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
Retired and I love it.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
When I was young my mother was very sick and after doctor/medicine bills we didn’t have much money. Consequently, we ate things from chickens and cows that you can’t find in today’s grocery stores. I still like to eat those items to remind me of how far I’ve come, plus, I consider them comfort food.
What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?
I really hate being interrupted when I’m talking. To me, it’s rude and disrespectful to assume what you have to say is more important than what I have to say. Oh, and we all know what happens when you ‘ass-u-me’.
What was your first job?
My first job out of college was as a third shift computer operator for a steel company outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
Junk email and SPAM
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Victim’s Voice?
Just because we’re different from someone else, have differing beliefs, that doesn’t mean we can’t love one another. We don’t have to understand the difference, just be willing to accept that there is a difference and be respectful about it.
What is your favorite quote?
When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you need to do is quit digging – – – My dad
What do you want your tombstone to say?
The National Bank of Dad is now closed.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
In my early days of novel writing, I created a five-book series about a man who wins the lottery and decides to put that money to good use by helping those who can’t help themselves. I love the plots and messages, but the writing isn’t very good. I plan to revise those novels and publish them one day.
How did you come up with the title?
Valerie DeNardo, the protagonist’s real estate agent girlfriend keeps telling Malcolm that he has a God-given gift for solving murders and representing those who were once victim’s
How did your interest in writing originate?
I devoured the Doc Savage series as a kid. It allowed me to escape into a world that I wasn’t familiar with and I learned so many cool things. I just kept it up after that.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Jeffrey Deaver includes a lot of detail to support the actions his characters take.
Your favorite…
Movie – Rocky and Star Wars series
Music – 70s, 80s,90s
TV show – Jeopardy
Food – Italian and Seafood
Sports team – Anything from Pittsburgh
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Board and card games…not much on TV
While helping his real estate agent girlfriend with a house showing, FBI Special Agent Malcolm Gee finds a decapitated head in a kitchen cabinet. Now what?
Excerpt:
Malcolm looked at the sky. “Chamber of Commerce weather. I love the Central Florida sunshine, particularly near the beach like this.”
“It’s too warm. My underarms are already damp. I don’t know how you can stand it in long pants and a sports coat.”
“Hazard of the job. You know I need the jacket to cover my firearm.”
“For God’s sake! You didn’t bring your gun, did you?”
He chose to ignore the mention of God and grinned. “Like the commercial says, ‘Never leave home without it.’ Well, I don’t leave home without my Beretta.”
She shook her head. “You’re not selling credit cards, and you’re not chasing a serial killer; you’re tagging along on a house showing. I don’t know why you need a gun. You men.” Valerie rolled her eyes.
The combination lock box on the front door rattled as Valerie spun its keys. “I hate these. It’s too easy for someone to shoulder-surf the combo and return later to clean the place out. I’ve heard horror stories about all the appliances and fixtures being stripped from a home in the middle of the night.”
The lockbox popped open with a click, revealing a single brass key. With practiced fingers, she extracted the key and unlocked the door. A gentle nudge with her foot swung it inward, and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “You turn on every light you can find. I’ll open the blinds and set the AC.”
“Aye aye, Captain.” He threw a mock salute.
Two steps into the foyer, Valerie stopped. Malcolm halted so quickly behind her that he rose on his toes to avoid bumping into her.
She looked around. “God, what’s that smell? Did they not take the trash out?”
Malcolm sniffed and stiffened. He recognized the smell. He’d encountered it too often over his career.
Nothing good had ever come from it.
Instinctively, he grabbed her arm. “Don’t touch anything. Get in the car and drive to the corner. Stay there until I tell you to come back.”
“What’s wrong? Do you know what that smell is?”
He pulled her by the arm toward the door. “I’m going to find out. You need to leave. Don’t touch anything.”
“Ouch, let go, you’re hurting me.”
He didn’t stop pulling until she stepped onto the stoop, then shoved his car’s key fob into her palm.
“Malcolm, what’s wrong?”
He swung the door closed with his foot.
Valerie stood on the stoop and stared at the door that had just been shut in her face. She wasn’t sure what to think. Despite her protests, her boyfriend of a year had grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the house. Then he closed the door in her face.
This isn’t good. He shouldn’t
Find the book here:
Amazon – Book Link – https://www.amazon.com/Victims-Voice-Malcolm-Gee-Mysteries/dp/1509265392/
Goodreads: – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248184527-victim-s-voice?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=HA91vobgpM&rank=3
BookBub: – https://www.bookbub.com/books/victim-s-voice-by-henry-james-kaye
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/victims-voice-henry-james-kaye/1149504091?ean=9781509265398
About the Author:
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Henry has produced six award-winning mysteries. Twelve Sinners, the first in the Malcolm Gee Mystery series, won Book Of The Year from the Florida Writers Association and Best Unpublished Mystery from Killer Nashville. The second in the series, Victim’s Voice, became available for purchase on May 13th. He’s also written multiple Collections, RPLA, and various anthology winners, including Most Dangerous Games. He speaks at conferences and offers classes. Henry lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with his wife, Nancy, and menagerie of dogs and birds.
Author Alicia Dean 