S.P. Grogan in 2008 gained recognition with his first novel, Vegas Die, a Quest Mystery, in which the writing were clues that led the ‘Questor’ to seek out a dagger hidden somewhere in the Vegas Valley to be redeemed for $25,000 cash. Launching a fan-based treasure hunt Vegas Die became a best-seller, and an award for ‘Best Regional’ fiction. S.P. Grogan calls himself an eclectic storyteller in that he seeks out blending history and romance into various genres to create unusual plotting. In 2019, academic publisher Histria Books negotiated to acquire the author’s existing catalogue of four novels for re-issuing and an option on the next several stories he might create. Lafayette: Courtier to Crown Fugitive tells the coming-of-age story of the young Marquis de La Fayette, ‘France’s richest orphan’ and delves into his quest to revenge the death of his father, and his unbridled ambition to escape the intrigues of the court of Queen Marie Antoinette and go to the American colonies to find glory. In 2022, Captain Cooked, A Hawaiian Mystery of Romance, Revenge and Recipes won “Best Novel” from Gourmand International Cookbook Awards. Here, the author writes from the first-person perspective of a twentyish LA woman who is filming her father’s top cable cooking show when she stumbles into the murder of a famous Hawaiian singing star (think ‘Iz’), and struggles with romantic ‘love on all the wrong beaches’ when she has to choose between a thief, a king, and a murderer. Best-selling author Anne Hillerman said of Captain Cooked: “It reads like Janet Evanovich morphing into Rachel Ray while filming a remake of Perils of Pauline. Coming out in August 2023 is Atomic Dreams at the Red Tiki Lounge, an elaborately crafted Hawaiian fantasy-thriller set in post World War 2 Honolulu with the gods fighting against mutated demons, star-crossed romance, where future famous people pass through the doors of the Red Tiki. There’s even Russians seeking to steal an Atomic Bomb. Artwork illustrations provided by famed surrealist artist, Brad ‘Tiki Shark’ Parker. Finally, is Crimson Scimitar, which has been described as ‘the awakening epic of our times’ to be released September 2023. Multiple story lines including Hollywood Culture takes on Terrorists. The reader will be amazed how the author can take current history and give it resonance to today’s events and still provide a thriller with unusual twists including the warning: ‘9/11 can happen again.’ Author S.P. Grogan lives in Henderson, Nevada, and is working on his next novel.
Website: www.spgrogan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grogan.sp
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4032468.S_P_Grogan
Would you call yourself a born writer?
I have been writing all my life, either in the business world or for pleasure. Writing is a discipline which I have yet to master and am still working towards that goal. I am not a word craftsman and this requires continued practice and editing. What I am is a storyteller, and readers find my plots and characters interesting, and more so, entertaining. Within Crimson Scimitar is a landscape of most recent history with suggested perceived possibilities of alternative outcomes to that history.
What was your inspiration for Crimson Scimitar: Attack on America 2001 – 2027?
I have always enjoyed the legal courtroom drama – thriller. One day of inspiration, back in 2010, I wondered what would a courtroom drama look like if the head of al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, yet uncaught, was captured and put on trial? I was remembering way back to an old novel called, ‘The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer’. However, in my original concept, bin Laden would be found innocent! From 2011 when the news came out that bin Laden was killed by a SEALS Team I shelved my great idea. Also, as a writer I realized I did not have that gift of a legal background (write what you know). Years later in re-imagining the ‘Trial of the Century’ I understood it was not a legal drama I am to write but a statement of American culture that the public via a frenzied media seeking click bait headlines desires most is ‘show trial entertainment’.
Do you believe a 9/11 could happen again?
Yes, definitely. We still have zealots who care nothing for humanity believing any act of terror will legitimize their cause. In 2023, Federal statistics revealed 100 identified and known terrorists were captured at our porous southern border. What validates therefore ‘Crimson Scimitar’, can not the reader wonder truly how many terrorists came into our country undetected, and lie in wait for the opportune moment to strike. I provide a flashback to 9/11 and make the point, yes, America is vulnerable in a false sense of security, and we should be vigilant.
How long did it take you to complete this particular novel?
20 years. The manuscript was set aside when bin Laden was killed, and picked off the shelf years later to complete. At this time, in say, 2021, I had the advantage of having factual accounts written by others on the attack on bin Laden’s compound home. Plus, my writing added more fleshing out of characters, on their motivation, and the direction their lives would go. My re-write took about six months with Covid interruptions, and employment changes, and working on editing my wife’s cookbook, ‘Cookbook Passion’, which was released in 2022 and gained awards and positive reviews.
What did you find most challenging about writing this book?
In writing historical fiction, I had to do a great deal of research, and as I read I found actual events that flowed easily into my story line, expanding the narrative. Historical fiction, as this is, though more current with still living individuals, plotting requires the art of making it all believable to the time and actual events which took place. Another challenging factor is always the editing, and having the courage to chop out the superfluous.
What do you love most about your book?
That individual readers will enjoy this ‘epic’ from various viewpoints, seeing it as adventure, or a thriller, even multiple romantic interludes. I believe the story is compelling as a ‘what if’ alternative history. I felt like my creating a ‘surprise’ on how al Qaeda created their Crimson Scimitar plot will give the readers an ‘ah-ha’ moment.
Do you believe there will be more books in your future?
Have two future novels outlined. But this year my publisher brought several of my novels to market at once, and two books won awards like “Captain Cooked”, Hawaiian culinary mystery. So as all writers find, I am wearing my sales-marketing hat as a priority into 2024. One germinating plot idea I have outlined and sounds promising–A depraved mastermind who hosts a convention of serial killers to improve their skills. Stay tuned but meanwhile scope out my past works. There is something for everyone’s taste in literature.
About Crimson Scimitar: Attack on America 2001-2027
Title: Crimson Scimitar: Attack on America 2001-2027
Author: S.P. Grogan
Publisher: Addison & Highsmith Publishers
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Pages: 680
Genre: Current Historical Fiction/Action/Adventure/Thriller
Crimson Scimitar by S.P. Grogan is an expansive action-adventure terrorist thriller that tells the ‘what if’ story of the al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden. What if, in 2011, instead of being killed bin Laden is captured and put on trial, what would American justice look like, and would the outcome be as expected? What if prior to his capture he and al Qaeda were planning to launch on America worse than 9/11? Who could stop it? In Crimson Scimitar is the chase to capture bin Laden, the ‘Trial of the Century’, the diabolical Crimson Scimitar plot in action, and climactic ‘gun battle at the bridge.’ Author S.P. Grogan’s writing seamlessly blends the political War on Terrorism events of 2011 into a realistic landscape that features strong women characters, an eccentric multi-millionaire, reality television stars, SEAL members on the attack, battling defense and prosecution lawyers, CIA agents, the President of the United States, and an ambitious jihadist who will begin a violent transformative journey. More intriguing is how the terrorist plot was crated that will lead to stock market manipulation, attacks on amusement parks, and nuclear waste poisoning. And amid it all there are romantic challenges that must be faced to create strong bonds to fight against evil. Crimson Scimitar is labeled as the ‘Awakening Epic of Our Times’, reminding readers that a 9/11 could happen again and that we must be vigilant.
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/6v9s8n9k
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-crimson-scimitar-sp-grogan/1142693076
Histria Books: https://histriabooks.com/product/crimson-scimitar
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149851203-crimson-scimitar
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