Brett Battles | Stone Barrington Faces a New Threat to a Legacy Dear to Him

1--What is the title of your latest release?

STUART WOODS’ SMOLDER

2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?

Stone Barrington faces a new threat to a legacy dear to him, from an old vindictive enemy.

3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?

To me, it’s important to use locations that feel organic to whatever story I’m writing, and such was the case with Smolder. Given the rich history of the Stone Barrington series, I had many excellent choices that not only seamlessly serve the story, but also are familiar to series fans.

4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?

Who wouldn’t? Stone Barrington is a multi-millionaire, with homes in New York City, Maine, Los Angeles, and Europe. He is friends with interesting people, and if I were ever to get into trouble, he would be an excellent person to have my back.

5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?

Smart, confident, and compassionate.

6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?

How humbled and honored I feel to have been given the task of continuing Stuart Woods’ legacy. It’s hard not to think about that when I’m working with his characters.

7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?

I’m a bit of a hybrid. I usually power through as much of a first draft as possible without much editing. But there often comes a point—maybe between 40% or 60% into the story—when I go back and clean up what I’ve written. Many times, I also stop right before the climax, and do a full rewrite. This helps make writing the climax easier. And, of course, when it’s all done, I’ll do another pass.

8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?

You ask that like I only have one! Ha. I am a sucker for either spicey tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes simmered in spicey sauce) or a good bowl of ramen. I’m getting hungry just writing this.

9--Describe your writing space/office!

I have an office at home, where I do a lot of the business of writing, such as responding to interview questions such as this. It’s filled with art that I love, hundreds of knick-knacky things I’ve collected since I was a kid, and bookcases. I actually do most of my writing at coffeeshops. I go to several, and usually hit two or three coffeeshops a day. I get more done if I take a break and drive from one place to another, than if I stay in one place and write for the entire time.

10—Who is an author you admire?

Stuart, of course. That goes without saying. I remember picking up the early Stone books back in the 90s and really enjoying the world that Stuart created. It’s so much fun! That version of me would be really surprised, not to mention thrilled, to find out what I’m doing now.

11--Is there a book that changed your life?

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North. Though, I don’t know if you’d say this is a book that changed my life or not. I’ve certainly become obsessed with it since reading it two or three years ago. Not only is the story great, but the concept is also brilliant. I can’t say anything without giving it away (and I hate spoilers).

12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.

In the case of working with Stuart Woods, my agent was contacted and asked if I’d be interested in co-writing one of his Teddy Fay books (what eventually became Obsession.) When my agent called me with the opportunity, it took me a second to register what I was being offered, because, from my perspective, it came out of the blue. Of course, I said yes.

13--What’s your favorite genre to read?

I read about one hundred and twenty books a year, these days almost exclusively on audio. I have a few favorite genres that I mix around: Sci-fi (it’s what I grew up reading and still love today), thrillers, and for the past few years, romance.

14--What’s your favorite movie?

How can anyone have one favorite? (I should note that I’m a film history major, so that also makes it hard.) Shawshank Redemption, Casablanca, Parasite… I could go on, but no one wants that.

15--What is your favorite season?

I like fall. I know that sounds weird coming from a Southern Californian, especially since we don’t really have fall here. I like the shorter days and the cooling of temperatures and just that fall feeling.

16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

This year I celebrated by working. Yay, me.

17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?

A few months ago, I watched what has become one of my all-time favorite TV shows. It is called Moving, and I believe it’s on Hulu (or maybe Disney+?). It follows two families and shows the lengths people will go to protect their kids. It is also a superpowers story. The characters and the writing are fantastic. It’s in Korean, but that shouldn’t be a barrier. You can watch it dubbed if you must, but I would urge you to use the subtitles so you can hear the actors. So, so good.

18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?

Tough choice. At the moment, either Thai or Korean, with Japanese coming in as a close second/third. And pizza. I mean, who doesn’t like pizza?

19--What do you do when you have free time?

Travel, listen to an audiobook, watch a show. I tend to surround myself with stories.

20--What can readers expect from you next?

The next Stuart Woods’ Teddy Fay novel, Golden Hour, will be out in the fall. I also anticipate one of my Jonathan Quinn novels to be out either by the end of the year or early next.

STUART WOODS' SMOLDER by Brett Battles

A Stone Barrington Novel #65

In this latest adrenaline-fueled adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Stone Barrington faces his most vindictive threat yet.

Finally enjoying some downtime in Santa Fe, Stone Barrington agrees to attend an art exhibit with a dear friend. There, he encounters an intriguing woman who is on the trail of a ring of art thieves. Always one to please, Stone offers his help.

From Santa Fe to Los Angeles, it quickly becomes clear that her investigation has links to Stone—particularly to rare Matilda Stone art, his mother’s paintings. And when old grudges come to light, Stone is forced to reckon with a familiar enemy. Stone must act fast before whoever is out to get him finally closes in on him . . . for good.

Thriller [G.P. Putnam's Sons, On Sale: June 4, 2024, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593540091 / eISBN: 9780593540107]