Only 3 days away from the official launch of THE LEGEND OF JACKSON MURPHY,  which will happen on July 20th. I’ve been piling up some prizes, which include a couple of glow-in-the dark “bee” bottle openers, a Jack style flask, Amazon gift cards, a couple of paperback copies of THE LEGEND OF JACKSON MURPHY and IN THE BONES, and an ass-load of e-books.

So far I’ve shared interviews with the star of the show, Jack Murphy, his wife Jenny, his mistress, Whitney, the business partner, Ray, and the tenacious homicide cop, Detective Newman. When you stop by the official Facebook launch party on the 20^th, these little introductions will be quite handy, because some freebies and fun will include the information I’ve provided in the interviews and excerpts. Katrina Monroe will also be live-tweeting with Jack trivia, offering prizes and fun for Twitter folks too. Follow me (@ReneeMJ) or Kat (@AuthorKatM) or use the hashtag “#WWJMD” to get in on that fun. And yes, we are now aware that John Mayer fans use that hashtag quite regularly. He’ll have to share.

Twitter folks will get the opportunity to win digital copies of the first 4 books in Darke Conteur’s Watchtower series, and you’ll all have the chance to win books by other authors too, including one of my personal favorites, Maria Zannini.

I’ve made some changes to the times of the virtual launch. Originally I planned to run the party for 3 hours on Facebook and Twitter, but after a few requests, I’ve decide that I’ll be available all day, beginning at 10 a.m. Give me time to get caffeinated, all right? In the morning, we’ll chat, goof around and if you have questions for any characters, or if you have a burning need to ask me something, this will be your chance. I’ll be giving away digital copies of Jack and IN THE BONES as well, lots of copies, so if you can’t stop by in the afternoon, say hello in the morning.

Now, let’s continue meeting the characters and get to know Tony, Jack’s Mafia connection. By the way, Tony was only supposed to appear near the end. During my first rewrite I decided he needed a bigger part.

 Age: 35

Occupation: Wouldn’t you like to know.

Background:

I grew up in a rough neighborhood, by my dad was a runner for the family in control of shit at the time. He worked his way up to hit man, but stupid ass got himself shot on the job when I was ten. Milo, my current boss, took me in. He wasn’t as powerful back then, but Milo don’t take no for an answer and he don’t take no shit. Anyway, Milo don’t have no sons, so I’m his right hand. Mind you, it don’t matter how close you are or even if you’re blood, Milo will fuck you up if you mess up his shit.

Mental Characteristics:

People think I’m crazy, but I’m an intelligent and very sane man. You have to be to do what I do. Crazy gets you killed. Jack, he’s a cool cat. If he didn’t obsess like he does, he’d be farther ahead. Milo wants to bring him into the flock. Jack’s not a team player, though, and that’ll be his downfall.

Spiritual Qualities:

If you don’t believe in something, you’re not right.

Emotional Characteristics:

I’m a confident guy. I know what I’ve got going for me and what I don’t, but I like to focus on the positive. I’m not really into examining my feelings. Who has time for that shit? You feel what you feel. Let it be.

I’ve got a good life. I’m thankful for what I’ve got. I deal with stress. It don’t bother me.

Motivating Desire:

That’s a good question. I’d say the Family is my motivation for most of what I do. It’s all about what’s best for the Family. Other than that, I want power. Milo won’t be around forever and I aim to be the one that steps into his shoes when all is said and done.

External Characteristics:

The ladies like me. What can I say? I’m not the tallest guy, or the best looking, but it’s all in the attitude. Chicks don’t put as much importance in looks. They look at me and see a decent-looking guy, no major deformities, maybe a little wide in the middle, but still agile and limber. That’s all that matters when the lights are out if you know what I mean.

What do you fear?

I can’t afford fear.

Do you have secrets?

Stupid question. If I answer, I’ll have to kill you. Your choice.

Excerpt:

The sound of sirens jolted Jack awake. He blinked at the brightness of the sun shining through the patio doors on the left side of his room.

Should’ve closed the blinds.

Were the sirens for him? Maybe they screamed for someone else. Taking his phone from the nightstand, Jack turned it on. It rang at once.

Tony.

It wasn’t like Tony could trace the call and Jack planned to leave right away. He’d talk while he drove. “Yeah.”

“Jack, what are you running for?” Tony sounded irritated.

Of course he was. Milo would be up his ass over this.

“Wouldn’t you run?” Looking over the parking lot, and finding nothing in sight, Jack risked a dash to the car.

Tony breathed heavily. “Must be running right now. You don’t sound so good… Yep, you are running.”

Jack wrenched the door of the old Taurus open and jumped inside.

Fuck the seatbelt.

The tires squealed as he tore out of the lot and onto the highway.

Tony laughed, but it sounded raspy, tired. “That car your grandpa’s? The cops are tailing you too. Makes my job a little difficult since, thanks to you, they’re after me. Have you ever tried to follow someone the cops are after without letting the cops know you’re doing it?”

“So leave me alone. Fuck Tony, you guys did her without even asking me. If you let me take care of her myself, you wouldn’t be in this situation. I didn’t ask you to kill her.”

“You didn’t ask me not to. I said I’d do it and you didn’t tell me not to,” his voice rose with every word.

“You won’t find me alive.”

“You don’t have the balls, Jack. Don’t give me that bullshit.”

“I have been running for months now. I’m tired of everyone fucking me over. If you don’t catch me, I face prison. I won’t go to prison. I’ll die in there.” Jack knew he was beat.

The rearview confirmed his thoughts. The car behind him gained ground with every second that passed. Jack accelerated.

“Is that you behind me?”

“No, that’s the cops. I’m in the car behind them. Wave, that’s me in the black sedan.”

Looking in the rearview again, Jack spotted a black car.

“Game over, Jack.” Tony said.

“You can’t do me in front of the cops. What if I just pull over and turn myself in?”

The road narrowed as they drove along the mountains. One side of Jack was solid rock face, the other a guardrail. Just a few pieces of wood and wire kept his car from the rock and the water below.

“I’ll do the cops. Milo will take care of me. He wants you gone. You fucked him.”

“They haven’t arrested him yet.” Milo couldn’t be in jail or the cops would have left Jack alone. Bigger fish. They wanted Milo more than Jack.

“They can’t find him. That’s the genius of Milo. He can disappear like a ghost. So will I… once I’m done with you.”

“I’ll drive into the city, go to the cops directly. You going to take out the entire station?”

Fuck you Tony, I’m not that stupid.

“Like you said, you won’t go to prison. Even if you think maybe you’d survive, you ran, so the cops know you’re guilty. This is going to end with a bullet in your head. Makes no difference to me whose bullet it is.”