Interview with Tall Chamber by Earl Staggs
Tall Chambers is the main character
in my new Mystery/Thriller novel titled TALL CHAMBERS: JUSTIFIED ACTION. At the age of 38, Tall left the Army after
twenty years, primarily in Special Services in the Middle East. In addition to leading covert operations, he
taught small arms, hand to hand combat, and explosives.
* * * * *
EARL
– Thanks for sitting down with me for this interview, Tall. (smiles) First off, if you don’t mind me
asking, how did you get that unusual first name?
TALL
– (smiles) I don’t mind a bit. A lot of people ask me about that. My real name is Tallmadge, an old family name
my mother picked out. As soon as I was old enough to talk, I asked people to
shorten it to Tall. Everyone did (grins) . . .except Mom, of course.
EARL
–So it’s not just because you actually are tall.
TALL
– No. I’ve been six foot three since I turned fifteen, but I was thin as
a stick. In fact, my nickname was “Splinter.”
In the Army, I learned how to exercise and work out to build myself
up. I still work out an hour a day when
I can.
EARL
– Do you miss the Army?
TALL
– Yes, I do. I didn’t agree with everything they did, but I felt part of
something important and thought in some small way, I could make a difference.
EARL
– I understand after you left the Army, you joined a special agency that
does something pretty important.
TALL
– The agency I’ve been with for the last five years is not one of those
everyone knows about like the CIA or FBI. This agency keeps a low profile and
very few people even know it exists. I hope you understand I can’t say much
about it.
EARL
– So, if you told me, you’d have to kill me? (laughs)
TALL
– (shrugs – doesn’t laugh)
EARL
– (gulps) Okay, moving right along. Can you tell us what this agency does ?
TALL
– We track subversive and terrorist groups both here and overseas. If we determine they’re a threat to innocent
lives, we put them down.
EARL
– Uh. . .when you say “put them
down,” do you mean. . .?
TALL
– Unfortunately, most of them
choose to die for their cause rather than go to prison, so we accommodate them.
If they want to meet Allah and collect their virgins, we put them in the
express lane.
EARL
– (gulps) I see. How do you feel about that?
TALL
- I don’t enjoy it, but it’s necessary. We have a motto: kill one terrorist, save a hundred
lives. After a while, you learn to think
about the lives saved, not those taken.
EARL
– How do you go about doing. . .uh. . .what you do?
TALL
– The usual. Guns, explosives, whatever it takes.
EARL
– The book is called TALL CHAMBERS: JUSTIFIED ACTION. Is it all about
taking out terrorists?
TALL
– No. (hesitates, looks away)
Someone very dear to me is killed. After that, my only focus is finding who’s
responsible and making things right. I use the resources of the agency, but
it’s completely my own personal operation.
EARL
– When you say “making things right,” do you mean. . . ?
TALL
– (shrugs – doesn’t reply)
EARL
– So are you able to find the person responsible and make them pay?
TALL
– (looks away again) Not
exactly. It gets complicated. A lot of people are involved, some in high
places.
EARL
– How high?
TALL
– As high as you can go in this country.
I can’t say any more than that. I hope you understand. (looks
at watch, stands up) I’m sorry, but I have to go now. I have a job to do across
the street. (smiles, extends hand)
EARL
– (stands, shakes hands) Uh. . .okay.
Across the street? When you say “a job to do,” do you mean. . . ?
TALL
– (turns and leaves) You’ll probably hear a lot of noise. I
wouldn’t go outside for a while.
EARL
– (gulps)
* * * * *
TALL CHAMBERS: JUSTIFIED ACTION will be available soon in ebook and print form. Watch for
announcements on my website: http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com
You’re invited to visit my site now
where you can read Chapter One of my Mystery novel, MEMORY OF A MURDER.
You can also read a short story
called “The Day I Almost Became a Great Writer.” Some say it’s the funniest
story I’ve ever written.
There’s another story there called
“White Hats and Happy Trails,” about the day I spent with my boyhood idol, Roy
Rogers. There’s even a picture of me
with Roy to prove it’s all true.
Thanks for stopping by here today. Please leave a comment and you may win a free
book. At the end of the tour, I’ll draw two names from those who left
comments. The first name drawn will
receive a signed print copy of MEMORY OF A MURDER, a mystery novel with a long
list of Five Star Reviews. The second
name drawn will receive their choice of a signed print copy or an ebook of
SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS, a collection of 16 tales of mystery from hardboiled
to humorous.
Mystery
author Earl Staggs recently received his second
Derringer Award for Best Short Story of the Year. His novel MEMORY OF A
MURDER earned a long list of Five Star reviews. SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS, a
collection of 16 Mystery tales, is available in print and ebook. He served as
Managing Editor of Futures Mystery Magazine and as President of the Short
Mystery Fiction Society. He’s a contributing blog member of Murderous Musings
and Make Mine Mystery and a frequent speaker at
conferences, seminars, writers and readers groups. Email: earlstaggs@sbcglobal.net Website: http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com
Hi,
Earl, I loved this interview! Thank you so much!
Marilyn
Comments
But, in between all the gulps, couldn't have Earl asked if Tall knew Reacher?
(gulp)
If not, well - never mind.
(stands, smles tentatively and walks away).
GREAT interview! GREAT book!
(grins real big)
Kevin, Tall taught Reacher everything he knows.
Susan, Lee Child keeps calling me. That's probably what he wants to talk about.
Kaye, I'm so glad you read it. Your feedback was very encouraging. And I love it when you grin.
Larissa, it was fun, but he made me a little nervous.
Patricia, I like "Don't mess with Tall." I may put that on the cover. Thanks.
Kevin, Tall taught Reacher everything he knows.
Susan, Lee Child keeps calling me. That's probably what he wants to talk about.
Kaye, I'm so glad you read it. Your feedback was very encouraging. And I love it when you grin.
Larissa, it was fun, but he made me a little nervous.
Patricia, I like "Don't mess with Tall." I may put that on the cover. Thanks.
Look forward to meeting Tall Chambers. Any target date yet for publication?
Wishing you happy trails and humongous sales!
Pat Browning
Marja McGraw
How clever to interview your main character! Tall does sound like Reacher, one of my husband's favorites. We both loved Memory of a Murder. Congrats on the new novel!
See you soon.
Rionna
Madeline
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing