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I
have known the author of The Dummy Line, Bobby Cole, for almost
20 years. I have to admit that even though I believe he is a very
articulate, intelligent person I never knew he was capable of a written
work this compelling and powerful. As a favor to a good friend, I told
him I would read this book he had written and tell him what I thought. I
kept putting off what I thought would be the tedious task of reading
"my buddy’s novel" until I knew I had the copy so long he
would soon start to get mad if I didn’t. Little did I know what a
great storyteller he was and how well he could convey the thrills and
emotions of the characters involved. I read it in one sitting…I couldn’t
put it down.
You
think you know a person and then they surprise you with something like
this. I had to ask Bobby Cole a few questions. I wanted to know,
"Where did this come from?"
What
made you want to write a book?
My
story, The Dummy Line, came to me in a dream. It was a very vivid
dream that was clear, intense and, quite frankly, frightening. It’s a
worst-case scenario that could conceivably play out at any hunting or
fishing camp across the country. When I woke up and realized it was only
a dream and everyone in camp was okay, I basically thought about the
story until daylight. The next day I started formulating the rest of the
story in my mind. It sounds crazy to say, but the story just wrote
itself. It took a year to write, but it just flowed out. I had a lot of
fun developing the characters and the storyline.
What
is the plot and how long is the book?
Jake
Crosby, a troubled stockbroker, has planned a weekend escape at his
hunting camp with his nine year old daughter, Katy. In the middle of the
night, a gang of redneck drug dealers attempts to break into the remote
camp. The gang’s display of heinous intentions toward Jake and Katy
causes Jake to make gut-wrenching decisions.
Running
for their lives, Jake and Katy take the only escape route available,
which leads them deep into Alabama’s Noxubee River swamp. Crazed with
bloodlust and demanding immediate vengeance for their own, the frenzied
gang anticipates Jake’s desperate moves as they stalk them throughout
the night.
Jake’s
choices put into motion a sequence of events that threatens everyone
associated with him, and an unwitting young couple who happen to be in
the wrong place at the worst possible time.
It’s
an intense story, 311 pages in length — the size of most other works
in this genre — that will certainly keep readers on the end of their
seat.
Did
your career at Mossy Oak BioLogic help add to the storyline?
It
actually did. I have been fortunate to have traveled the country
enabling me to see many different hunting and fishing camps and meeting
a lot of colorful people that all fed my imagination for this story.
That’s why I said I think the storyline could happen anywhere.
It
is not really a hunting book though is it?
No,
not at all. It’s set in a hunting camp and any hunter will certainly
recognize some of the character’s thinking and rational. But it is not
a hunting story. I have had a number of non-hunters, men and women, read
it and love it. It’s a suspense thriller that can appeal to anyone who
likes a good story.
Was
finding a publisher difficult?
Yes,
to say the least. I have spent two years chasing publishers. Some of the
New York houses seemed scared of it because of the "hunting
aspect" of the story, which drove me crazy. I wasn’t about to
change my story though. Finally, Context Publishing understood the story’s
appeal and the fact there are hunters out there who aren’t a bunch of
illiterates. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Without giving away the
ending, I will say it felt good to have the hero of the story a hunter.
I am not telling who he is though because you’ll have to read it.
So
are you planning another book?
Absolutely.
But it’s taking some time because we have been so busy with editing
the first story. That’s been an adventure in itself. But I do have a
second story and, much like The Dummy Line, it is also related to
hunting. It’s easy for me to write about stories related to hunting
because it’s what I know.
Testimonials
Since
I’m the author’s friend you may not believe my praise of the book so
I included several quotes from people you may recognize:
"Good
novels grow out of a writer’s rich imagination and love for his
subject, and Bobby Cole shows both in The Dummy Line. A
walk through the woods will never be the same again." —
Randall Wallace, New York Times® Bestseller and award-winning |
