Interview with R.C. Blackburne, Author of A Conspiracy of One

What can you tell us about your new release, A Conspiracy of One?

In A Conspiracy of One, a lawyer, Mike Renford, attempts to leave behind the demands of his law practice by going to Green River, a small, secluded town in Southern Utah. It works, until the hijackings begin. When Renford’s client is arrested for drug trafficking, Renford discovers the drugs were stolen from cartel mules. Then the cartel sends strong men to recover its cargo and Renford is thrown into the middle of a war.

Comfortable in the crossfire of a courtroom, Renford is out of his element when the cartel arrives to retrieve the stolen product and exact retribution. As the hostilities escalate, Renford realizes that there is a lot more going on than just an interruption to the cartel’s traffic. And he becomes aware that he may be the only one that can return the peaceful town to its tranquil setting, but to do so, he must survive the war.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I like to read books by Harlan Coben, C J Box, Craig Johnson, Lee Child, and John Grisham. I enjoy those authors because they weave stories with a well-developed cast of characters. When I complete one of those books, I miss having those created characters around. I hope with A Conspiracy of One that I too am able to create an enjoyable escape with memorable characters.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, Beth Hoffman
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
Papillon, Henri Charrière,

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

My first guest would be the author of the Walt Longmire series, Craig Johnson. I would want to ask him about living in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-five. “Did you live in Ucross before you started writing or did writing make it possible for you to live in Ucross, because I would like to know what it takes to be able to live in a small town like Ucross.”

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

For me, writing, like reading, is a break from the demands of everyday life. I enjoy my day job and have no plans to quit working. Writing, however, provides a way for me to step into an alternate life where I meet new people of my own creation and work through resolving their issues. Over time, those characters become a part of my life. I also take satisfaction in learning that A Conspiracy of One has brought enjoyment to my extended family and friends. Although the book has only been out for a short time, many have written or called to let me know how much they enjoyed the book and have asked when my next book will be released. I’m working on it.

What is a typical day like for you?

I usually wake around 6 am and read for about an hour. Typically, I read while peddling on a stationary exercise bike; one of those recumbent types, not a cool Tour de France racer type. I then make breakfast and write/edit for about an hour. At some point I feed the horses (yay) and clean up after them (boo). At nine, I open the law office and work to around five. In the evening my wife and I watch a show or two or go on a horseback ride. A few nights a week, don’t judge me, I play Call of Duty online for a half an hour or so.

What scene in A Conspiracy of One was your favorite to write?

It’s the calm before the storm. Mike Renford and his friend, Jimmy Gates, take a horseback ride that begins at the arroyos near Robbers’ Roost Canyon and ends at a remote Anasazi ruin. Although the Anasazi site is a creation of my mind’s eye, I like to imagine that there are still undiscovered or rarely visited Anasazi sites that I may stumble on someday, where I could spend the night and absorb the still, quiet setting.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Sometimes it is best to remain silent and seem a fool than to open my mouth and remove all doubt.

R.C. Blackburne is the author of the new book A Conspiracy of One.

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