Gerard de Marigny is here today with his main character Cris for a character interview courtesy of the blog tour for his new release, The Watchman of Ephraim. Thank you for being here today, Gerard!
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How would you describe your wife to those who have never met her?
Cris De Niro: Lisa … was the most vivacious, beautiful, frivolous, funny, intelligent and involved person I’ve ever known. She was also my soulmate … and my best friend.
What one song describes the world as you see it?
Cris De Niro: I could name a bunch of modern songs, but I think I’ll say, “Amazing Grace.” I’m the wretch.
You've had a heartbreaking experience. One that many, unfortunately, share with you. How did you find the strength to carry on?
Cris De Niro: My strength flows from my faith first, my family second … my sons Richard and Louis, and my dear friends. It’s said that the grand essentials of happiness for a person are – something to do; something to love; and something to hope for. I have all three. Protecting my fellow American brothers and sisters with my The Watchman Agency is my something to do. My God, my sons and my friends are my something to love … and His return and the end of Satan’s rule is my something to hope for.
Tell us a bit about your company, The Watchman. Why did you set it up, and what goals are you hoping to achieve?
Cris De Niro: The Watchman Agency is a counter-terrorism firm that has one core mandate – protecting American citizens from enemies domestic and foreign. We’re an intelligence provider to the United States government but we also work in a private capacity. The Watchman is composed of a team of the most talented, brave, committed patriots, all with different skill sets yet not with identical ideologies but all with the same goals – to do whatever it takes to keep our neighbors safe.
I created The Watchman because I thought there was a need … a void in the homeland security structure of the United States. September 11, 2001 should not have happened. The terrorists were known to our various agencies. The terrorists lived and trained on American soil … and while we frisk grandmothers and toddlers, in the name of political correctness, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists boarded four commercial passenger jet airliners and were able to murder almost 3,000 people … my wife and unborn son were among them. The Watchman was created to fill that void. Just like the Watchman of old, we stand at the gates, 24/7/365. With vigilance we remain prepared, informed, and motivated to do whatever it takes to keep Americans safe.
If you could go back in time, would you? Why, or why not?
Cris De Niro: I’ve thought about that … if I could go back in time … perhaps to that beautiful Fall morning … and prevent my wife from visiting her friends at the Tower – or something bolder … thwart the terrorists plans. Every human part of me would do anything to save my wife, Lisa, including, if given the chance, going back in time and saving her … or dying with her, but God has allowed me to see that there’s a bigger purpose to life. He has a plan for us. No, I’m not saying 9/11 was part of God’s plan. Actually, it was man’s plan 100%. As for the victims and the rest of us … loved ones, friends, etc. For some, I believe it was merely time and chance. For others, it’s a trial we must pass and from which, we must utterly learn.
If we had the power to go back in time and change the past, we’d have no trials. Without trials, there’s no point to human existence … so my answer is … no, I would not go back in time. A person of faith doesn’t need to go back in time to be reunited with a loved one, because we know we’ll be with them again, in the future.
Thank you for being here today, Cris!
Cris De Niro: Thank you for inviting me, Corrine!
Thank you for being here today, Gerard and Cris!
Buy links for The Watchman of Ephraim: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.
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Gerard de Marigny is author of the geopolitical thriller, The Watchman of Ephraim. he lives in the beautiful foothills surrounding Las Vegas, NV with his lovely wife Lisa and their four sons. when he's not writing he can be found spending time with his family or bending an arm with friends at the local pub.
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Cris De Niro worked his way up to the top of the hedge fund world. Yet, all of his money couldn't protect him from losing his wife on 9/11. 10 years passed since the tragedy. De Niro and his sons relocated to a sprawling ranch near Las Vegas. Turning to his faith to overcome his anguish, De Niro now lives for a higher purpose. From a biblical passage, he reads about the "Watchman of Ephraim," a defender who kept watch over the land. De Niro decides to acquire a lackluster counter-terrorism agency in order to transform it into a modern-day version of The Watchman for the United States but there's not a moment to lose.
Aref Sami Zamani is planning a terrorist attack on American soil - codenamed "Antioch," a plot to detonate a nuke over the city of Las Vegas. The Watchman uncovers a connection between Zamani and a Mexican drug cartel but their agent goes missing before they can learn more. That's because Zamani has a spy working for The Watchman. Strange events start to unfold near the Nogales border crossing. References are discovered to something the Mexicans are calling "Noche Del Espantada" ...Fright Night," but can it mean something else?
September 11, 2011 and the sun hasn't risen yet in Las Vegas or Nogales. Antioch is in motion! At the border, Noche Del Espantada has begun and there are intruders at De Niro's ranch. De Niro has to protect his sons and someone new in his life, Dr. Moriah Stevens. She too, lost her spouse on 9/11. Moriah finds herself in love with De Niro but his devotion to his wife is proving too powerful for him, even after 10 years. It's the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil and unless De Niro and his new team are successful, the day will be known as "The 2nd 9/11."
Synopsis taken from goodreads.
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