Character Spotlight ~ John Aubrey Anderson's Bill Mann from The Cool Woman

Lt William "Bill" Mann

John Aubrey Anderson is back with his unique brand of thriller, this time set during the Vietnam War with a determined young fighter pilot ready to make his mark on the world.

Enjoy this insight into Bill Mann:~

Brief physical description

Lt. William P. Mann is a skosh over six feet when he stands straight, and weighs in at around one-seventy . . . he exhibits the moves and relaxed posture of an athlete. The man’s features are unremarkable . . . and you probably wouldn’t notice him in a crowd. That he’s black doesn’t seem to draw a person’s attention.

Actor/famous person

I stay away from trying to describe some of my characters; Bill Mann is one of those. In demeanor, I come up with men like Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda when I try to liken him to someone in Hollywood; add to that mix the self-assured effectiveness that marks a guy like Coach Tony Dungy and you come close to “seeing” him.

Strengths and weaknesses

First and foremost . . . Mann’s love for flying is exceeded only by his abilities in the cockpit . . . he can, without effort, make an airplane do things that astound his fellow pilots. Those same attributes are at the root of his most glaring weakness: all other elements of his life—even his marriage—are relegated to positions of minor importance behind his determination to excel as a fighter pilot . . . to make his mark.

He instills trust and loyalty in those who are paying attention . . . but he doesn’t make friends readily. He prefers to be at peace with others . . . or be left alone . . . or both. He doesn’t attract adversity and is smart enough to walk around most confrontations.

Quirk (if any)

That he can do physics-defying things with an airplane opens doors for Mann, but he’s a loner . . . and choosey about those to whom he offers his company or friendship.

Your inspiration for the character

Bill Mann is loosely based on a good friend from my Air Force days . . . one of the best men and most amazing pilots I’ve ever been around. Before I got very far into writing THE COOL WOMAN, I told that other Bill he needed to start hitting the gym regularly because I was going to work him pretty hard. And . . .

I said once that all my heroes were going to be patterned after John Wayne. They may not look like him or dress like him, but they’ll hold to his values . . . and they will always be the kind of person—man or woman, boy or girl—a good man would want for a friend.

Background to the story

Before THE COOL WOMAN: When he was eight years old, Bill Mann decided he was going to be an Air Force fighter pilot . . . just like his dad. When Bill was ten, his dad, one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, was taken from him by cancer. Short months later, on a muddy midnight in Mississippi, ten-year-old Bill shoots and kills two white men who are beating mother. When the sun comes up, his mother is dead, and Bill Mann is an orphan on the run.

In the intervening years, young Bill Mann appears to be growing into the kind of man most dads and moms would want for a son. And so begins THE COOL WOMAN . . .

Bill Mann is staid, single, and sober when he reports to his pilot training base . . . there to begin living his dream.

The men and women in THE COOL WOMAN live their lives against the horrendous backdrop of the Viet Nam War. Bill Mann does most of his flying in the Ho Chi Minh Trail area . . . said by experts to be the most hazardous region in the history of aerial warfare.

Six months into his combat tour finds Mann passed out on the floor of his hotel room. The gifted young fighter pilot is fighting wars within a war . . . he's a borderline alcoholic, his wife of ten months is divorcing him, and he’s short days away from discovering . . .

There are worse things than dying.

The photo below is of an A-1E Douglas Skyraider, an aircraft like The Cool Woman. This one is being flown by Lt. Gen. Richard E. “Tex” Brown, USAF, Retired. Tex, who was awarded 3 Silver Stars during his tour, was a first lieutenant when the photo was taken. Photo courtesy of Byron E. “Hook” Hukee. Lt. Col., USAF, Retired.

Thanks for sharing, John. Bill is a fabulous character and hope there's plenty more from where he came from!


On Thursday, the spotlight shines on Laura Frantz's Morrow Little and the men who seek her hand from the brilliant Courting Morrow Little

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of The Cool Woman, Abiding Darkness, Wedgewood Grey & And If I Die

Watch the trailer

Interview with John

Visit John's website and blog

The Cool Woman by John Aubrey Anderson with giveaways

Synopsis:~

In 1970, Bill Mann, a pilot who sought to make aerial combat his guiding star, is already lost whether he knows it or not. Although he's at the top of his Air Force class and marries a beautiful girl, his life is centered on drinking and partying-perhaps a way to escape the haunting memory of having to kill two white men who beat his black mother to death when he was ten years old. Upon leaving to spend a year in Vietnam flying combat missions aboard his aircraft, The Cool Woman, Bill remains confident and considers himself "the envied of the envied." But soon enough his wife is leaving him, and a downward spiral of Mann's heart, soul, and survival odds has begun.

My take:~

War is brutal, devastating and soul shattering yet it can also be a baptism of fire that refines an ordinary man into a courageous warrior willing to sacrifice his life for another. From personal experience, John Aubrey Anderson exposes the harsh realities of the Vietnam war through the heroic journey of Lieutenant Bill Mann, a young fighter pilot with all the swagger and confidence that comes with a man who believes he was born to fly.

John's writing is riveting and authentic, with brilliant pacing and intensive characterisation. The combat scenes are so visceral you will feel every bullet, explosion and heartbeat and will be left breathless. The deep, emotional scars of violent conflict and methods of escapism are honestly explored both amongst the pilots and their families back home. Heart wrenching, evocative and powerful, covering the barbaric to the sacrificial and the catastrophic to the miraculous, The Cool Woman is a unique and challenging story, with an unashamedly direct message of faith. With this epic military adventure, unlike anything else you will find in Christian Fiction, John Aubrey Anderson continues to impress me with his compelling and ingenious storytelling. If you are looking for an authentic, gritty and evocative read, The Cool Woman is a sure fire hit!

With thanks to Fidelis for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Abiding Darkness, Wedgewood Grey & And If I Die

Watch the trailer

Interview with John

Visit John's website and blog

Book Trailer for John Aubrey Anderson's The Cool Woman

John Aubrey Anderson awed me with his Black & White Chronicles and I'm thrilled that he has a new release hitting stores this year! The Cool Woman releases in July, 2010 from Fidelis Books (a B&H imprint) and this is a book to take notice of, especially but not exclusively, for the men in your life!

Check out the trailer:~

Coming soon from John Aubrey Anderson and Fidelis Books

I am so thrilled that John Aubrey Anderson has a book releasing next year from Fidelis Books, an imprint of B&H Publishing and I think it looks fantastic.

Be sure to check it out and his three gripping previous novels at Amazon, and add it to you wish list!


The Cool Woman by John Aubrey Anderson

At some point, most boys think they want to grow up to be pilots. With this kid, it was different . . . he knew.

The orphaned son of a Tuskegee Airman, Bill Mann was a staid, single, and sober lieutenant when he reported to Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; he was there to begin living the life he had been planning since he was six years old. After fifty-four weeks of pilot training, he would earn his wings. Three months after that, he’d be fully qualified in the fighter aircraft of his choice and on his way to the war in Viet Nam. Lt. Mann was planning to amass a combat record that would propel him toward the general officer ranks. That was June of 1970.

May of 1972 finds Mann in Bangkok, passed out on the floor of his hotel bathroom. The gifted young fighter pilot is fighting wars within a war . . . he's a borderline alcoholic, his wife of ten months is divorcing him, and he’s short days away from learning . . .There are worse things than dying.

Releasing July, 2010

Interview with John Aubrey Anderson

John Aubrey Anderson has fast become one of my favourite (or favorite!) people. One, because of his wonderful writing and two, his kindness, an adroit sense of humour (or humor!) and dedication to his faith. His answer to my vegemite question has only added to the esteem in which I hold him ~ see below!!

John generously gave up some of his valuable time to share some of those things with us! Here are John's thoughts:~

ON WRITING...

Please share some of your writing/publishing journey with us.

First, let me give your visitors three words to remember as they read through these answers . . . God Did This.

Second . . . if you’re a writer, do not make the mistake of comparing your journey to mine. Remember . . . “the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

The condensed version of the journey . . .

In the late eighties, I wrote a short story for our girls—a thing about choosing well. In 1997, I pulled that little story out and tried wrapping around the gospel . . . planning to give it to a childhood friend. After five years of “wrapping,” I found myself surrounded by 200,000 words and an absence of ideas regarding their disposition. Buoyed on five months of prayer, I went to a writers’ conference—my first and only—in the spring of 2003.

As it turns out, the editor I wanted to meet with at the conference wasn’t looking for a fiction work. However, on the second night of the conference, while the editor was working in another room, his wife (who has fifteen years in the industry) was going through his slush pile. He said he could hear her laughing, then, a few minutes later, she stepped into the doorway of the room where he was. She was holding the chapters I had submitted from Abiding Darkness, and she was crying.

“This is it,” she said.

And it was.

That was a little over four years ago . . . and the third (and last) book of The Black or White Chronicles was published this month.

I signed with an agent a few months ago, and he’ll have my fourth book in his hands before you read this.

Why Christian fiction?

For a couple of real good reasons.

There are some suspenseful secular books out there, but when I read them, I have to skip over steamy sex scenes. Too, if I read profanity, it will fix itself in my mind. I wanted to write the kind of suspense fiction that would crack the enamel on its reader’s teeth without painting pornography and profanity in his heart and mind.

My other reason has to do with my target audience. In addition to our childhood friend, I added the men I had worked with for 35 years . . . self-confident, hard-headed pilots, most of whom have combat experience. When Abiding Darkness published, the audience went into business for itself and became readers from all walks of life—both Christian and non-Christian—who want a story that will wrap its tentacles around their heart and refuse to turn loose.

What kept you busy before the writing bug bit?

If what I am dealing with is a bug bite, I would not want to meet the monkey-on-my-back malady.

In the lull between my career in the cockpit and my starting to get ready for that writers’ conference, I wasted a lot of time. I could’ve been learning to play the banjo.

What project or book are you working on now?

I mentioned earlier that book four is getting ready to go to my agent. It’ll be out of the house in the next week or so, and I’ll concentrate on our getting ready to move us a few miles south. Any down time during the house planning, building, moving stage will be devoted to book five.

What does a regular writing day look like for you?

Before I found out I was going to take my words to a writers’ conference, I arranged a set time to write . . . like a regular job. I’d dedicate the mornings—no phone calls, etc.—to getting words on paper, usually requiring 300 words of myself. That doesn’t sound like much, but I’m an unbelievably slow writer.

For years I went to bed at midnight, getting up between seven and nine . . . in November of 2002, God changed how I did things. For four years, from the fall of 2002 until late summer of 2006, I wrote eight to twenty hours a day, seven days a week. I slept when I got sleepy and ate when I got hungry. And it was exhilarating.

ON AND IF I DIE...

Your stories are character driven ~ how do you create and name your characters?

I haven’t figured out the difference between plot-driven and character-driven, and my editor has quit trying to explain it . . . and I never thought of myself as “creating” a character. Maybe if I explain how I get words on paper . . .

I begin by telling myself a story, picturing it in my mind . . . like a film or video. After I have an idea of where I want to go with the story, I start transcribing what I’m seeing in my mind. As I’m writing, I play the scene over and over in my head, making sure I haven’t left out any important details. If what I have on the paper isn’t satisfying, I change the scene in my mind or I change the written version. I rewrite incessantly. (Picture “incessantly” as underlined and highlighted.)

What was your favourite scene to write?

I confess that some of the more “inconsequential” scenes—some that may not stand out to the reader—can be the most fun to write. I’m a slow writer, and I’m hard to please when it comes to word choice . . . and those two attributes don’t mesh well. I get satisfaction in the extreme from getting the exact words I want arranged in a way that conveys precisely what I’m picturing in my mind.

Mose is amazingly humble and a spiritual giant ~ is he inspired by anyone you have known in your past/present?

Yes. There were any number of old gray, black, gentle men (and ladies) where I was raised. I could’ve learned a lot about how to live my life well if I had paid closer attention to how they lived theirs.

Your books clearly focus on the battle between good and evil, both in this world and in the spiritual realm. Unlike many novels, the good guys don't always win ~ why?

Because that’s reality, isn’t it? And . . .

It isn’t suspense if I train my readers to put their feet up and pop bon bons, fully assured that Johnny Boy is going to bail out the good guys before the story is over. Remember, your really worthwhile characters are always willing to sacrifice themselves to make the story great.

If the series was made into a movie, who would you cast?

Most people tell me they see Mr. Morgan Freeman as Mose. I’m not sure anyone can be Mose. I get frequent—and conflicting—opinions from people regarding what this or that character looks like. I’ve considered this question for a while, and I think it wise to keep my mouth shut about how I see these people . . . that way I don’t mess up someone else’s mental image.

You have a number of other books planned for this series ~ any sneak peeks?

I’ve decided to make And If I Die the last of the series. More books will follow, God willing, but they’ll be stand-alone novels featuring some of the same folks.

Sneak peeks? I must be the world’s stingiest author when it comes to giving out details, but I’ll tell you . . . my fourth book takes its readers to the war in Southeast Asia.

What impact do you hope this book has upon the reader?

I want two things for my books. For the non-Christians, I want them to hear the claims of Christ clearly and concisely, but in a way where they don’t feel as if they’ve had to endure a sermon. For the Christian, I want him or her to close the book desiring to know God better. For both the believers and the non-Christians, I want them panting for the next book.

ON MATTERS PERSONAL...

Do you read Christian fiction yourself? If so, some favourite authors or books both Christian and/or secular?

I don’t read anything I haven’t read before because I don’t want to be accused of “stealing” someone else’s ideas—especially Christian fiction. I reread the parts I like in books that I almost know by rote.

What are you reading at the moment?

Watchers by Dean Koontz . . . for the umpteenth time. When I put it down, I’ll pick up To Kill A Mockingbird, a Grisham novel, or The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Favourite movie and favourite line from a movie?

Did you know your version of MS Word makes a fuss if try to spell “favourite” without the “u”? Has my answering an Aussie’s questions totally corrupted my Texas iMac?

My favorite movie is probably Driving Miss Daisy, but I like The Cowboys with John Wayne almost as much. I like Driving Miss Daisy because of what we see happen between a black man and a set-in-her-ways white woman—a genuine reconciliation of the races. In The Cowboys, John Wayne’s character isn’t trying to show the boys how to handle cattle . . . he’s teaching them how to teach their sons to be heroes.

Who inspires you?

God. Totally and unalterably.

And my wife is unswerving in her devotion to me and to what she sees as a crucial ministry.

Please share some of your faith journey...

I came to faith from a rough background. I was in my late twenties, getting ready to leave the Air Force . . . a borderline alcoholic who was pretty much the dregs of the earth.

After I became a Christian, we moved to the Dallas area and joined a church that majored in verse-by-verse expository Bible-teaching. My Christian growth gained additional momentum when we went through a small group study that focused on the biggies in Christian discipleship. It was like taking a course on how to feed yourself.

Some essential Aussie questions...

When/if you make the trip Down Under what do you want to see first? A platypus or a koala?

I’d want to see the koala. Actually, if I wouldn’t get scratched, I’d like to hold one.

Barrier Reef or Uluru (Ayers Rock)?

Before I retired from flying, I wrote down twenty things I wanted to do before I died . . . scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef was high on the list. Since getting started on writing, the things on my list attract me less.

I’ve seen pictures of Uluru, and it is stunning, but I’d have to put the Barrier Reef first.

You are visiting Australia ~ do you say yes or no to some vegemite on toast?!

A definite “Yes.” Breakfast is my favourite meal, and from what I read, I could make do with vegemite on toast for the rest of my life.

Any last words.................................

Sure. Thanks a million for your enduring encouragement and for letting me visit your site. And . . . for your readers . . .

Never forget what I said at the beginning of this session.

God Did This.

Were it not for His orchestration of a long series of inter-linked miracles, no one would be asking me these questions.

But for Him . . . strangers wouldn’t be emailing me to say, “Oh, my gosh! I was up all night with your book! I couldn’t put it down.”

But for God . . . no one would care what I thought about koalas or coral reefs or what foods I liked for breakfast . . . and I wouldn’t be working on my fourth book.

It you, the reader, are so inclined, please pray that God would grant that I would never forget . . . He did this.

John ~ it has been an absolute pleasure!

Thank you so much and keep those books coming ~ I'll hold you to some more glimpses of your Black & White Chronicles characters in your future releases ;-)

To read my reviews of John's books, click on the titles below:~

Abiding Darkness

Wedgewood Grey

And If I Die

And If I Die by John Aubrey Anderson

Mose Washington and his young charge, Bill Mann finds themselves at odds over many things despite the bond forged through fire years before at the scene of his mother's murder. Bill is determined to pursue his love of bull riding while Mose puts his energies into prayer and love for the boy he calls his grandson.

Missy and Patrick Patterson's devotion to each other is unwavering. Pat is Head of the Philosophy Department at North Texas State University and Missy soaks up Mose's wisdom and chafes at Bill's choices.

Estelle Bainbridge continues her search for Mose and Bill, exerting her significant influence as a Congresswoman towards one goal - the location of Mose and Bill to exact her chilling revenge. The evil that lurked beneath the waters of Cat Lake back in 1945 is poised to strike again without mercy.

John Aubrey Anderson's extraordinary gift of writing does not waver in the third book of The Black or White Chronicles, And If I Die. The layers of his characters continue to be revealed with the focus on Mose Washington, his childhood and his growth into a man of integrity, compassion and spiritual strength. This book does not have the roller coaster intensity of the previous instalments instead its pacing is slower with a steady buildup to the climactic ending. This is far from a criticism - I was enthralled by Mose's story, to see his strength develop through his response to adversity and impact of the faithful nurturing and encouragement of a man after God's own heart, his Great Grand Pap.

Another dimension to the story is Pat's philosophical discussions with his students. These interactions paint a clear picture of the case for Christ without being overbearing and the resulting sacrifice made by one of the characters, moved my soul. This book will challenge, encourage and engage you and leave you wanting more of John's storytelling abilities and the destiny of the folks from Cat Lake.

Check back soon for details of a giveaway of this great book releasing this month from Faithwords:)

Book Giveaway ~ Abiding Darkness

I have another fantastic book to give away - a hardcover copy of John Aubrey Anderson's Abiding Darkness.

Check out my review here and if you would like to be entered in the draw, post a comment on this post by Friday 16th March, 2007.

Australian addresses only please :) Apologies to everyone else!

Wedgewood Grey by John Aubrey Anderson

5 Stars

"If you forget everything else that happened here tonight, you need to remember this...this isn't a crossroads, it's a threshold."

Missy Parker is married and has moved away from Cat Lake but despite the passing of fifteen years, the evil that lurked in the murky waters still exists biding its time for her return...

Mose Washington shares his days with his former employer and now close friend, Mr Bobby Parker, ignoring speculation about their unusual relationship from folk who don't know any better. His evenings are spent wandering around the woods watching the deer and thanking the good Lord for the time he had with his late wife, Pip.

When an old foe disturbs Mose's prayers, he once again steps in to protect the innocent from evil incarnate, saving the life of a young boy, Bill and becoming a fugitive from justice.

Rookie FBI Agent Jeff Wagner is assigned the case to locate an old black man, a young boy and one good looking Redbone hound after the discovery of a scene reminiscent of a battleground with bodies found in such a state as to disturb the most seasoned police officer. When the locals calmly describe demons and evil spirits to justify the gruesome events, Wagner, a West Texan, deep in Mississipi territory, tries to find a better explanation...and fails.

John Aubrey Anderson not only equals his first book, he improves on it! Wedgewood Grey is another intellectual thrill ride, with the same evocative language and wonderful character depth as Abiding Darkness. Mose is again a pivotal character with Missy and Pat making a late appearance in the book but the focus on new character, Jeff Wagner, is brilliantly done. He is genuine and appealing and his journey of discovery is not to be missed.

John Aubrey Anderson imparts wisdom through his elegant prose placing the reader at the heart of every scene, easily connecting their emotions to those of the characters. Jeff Wagner's character brings delightful humour to the story which eases the emotional turmoil at just the right moments. I was totally absorbed by this story and can't wait for the next instalment in the Black or White Chronicles, And If I Die, releasing Summer (USA), 2007. I am delighted to have it on good authority that it won't be the last either! (Thanks JAA!)

Abiding Darkness by John Aubrey Anderson

5 Stars

Abiding Darkness is one of the best debut novels I have read and John Aubrey Anderson should take a bow then please, quickly write some more!

Life seems idyllic in the township surrounding Cat Lake. World War II is concluding, summer has arrived and three young children are doing what kids do~playing baseball until they drop. Missy Parker, a precocious seven year old, her older brother Bobby are spending the day with their best mate, Junior, the great-great-grandson of an African slave. They are unaware their world is about to be shattered by a pact made in the spiritual realm, their lives will hang in the balance and they will make promises which impact eternity.

Thus beings an evocative tale set in the deep south of America which will remain with you long after you have read the final page. John Aubrey Anderson writes with a gifted pen, his words bring to the life this southern town and describes the lives of the white and black folk living and working at the Parker Cotton Gin with such clarity that I felt I was walking alongside Missy, kicking stones in the dirt. I could feel the sweat trickling down Mose Washington's face as he managed the Gin for Bobby Parker and my heart beat loudly as evil took on the face of French Bainbridge.

I was hooked the moment I read the line on the first page, "The summer of '45 lied." and Anderson does not disappoint in the remaining pages. He balances a wonderful story with glimpses of the spiritual powers at work, without making the characters pawns without purpose. He stays true to the realities of free will and the consequences resulting from the choices his characters make. The underlying message is clear without being overpowering. I certainly find myself pondering my response to this amazing book.

Despite this being one of the first books I have read in 2007, I feel confidant saying Abiding Darkness will be on my top ten list for the year.............although there is the sequel, Wedgewood Grey, releasing this month!!