Today I have the pleasure of speaking with J.H. Bográn. Thanks for being here today and welcome to FAR!
To start, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Honduras, Central America. For a day job, I work in the garment manufacturing industry. Married ten years ago, I’m blessed with three smart young men that now take pride on their old man getting published. My favorite pastimes are reading, swimming and camping, I’m also a huge movie-buff, diehard fan of Star Wars, James Bond and Indiana Jones.

What is your favorite part of a book to write?

The research part and the conjuring of the plot are my fav. Publishing is the hardest.

Do you outline your stories or do you just write as you go?

I didn’t make an outline for Treasure Hunt, but I’m very much in favor of outlines. They would have saved me a lot of time and anguish with roadblock have I started using it in the past. Now it’s the first thing I do. Of course, I try not to consider them set in stone, as I’m doing particular chapters, things might go in different directions. Sometimes I even have to change endings or subplots. But it is better by far to set yourself a goal and aim towards it.

Can you tell us a little about your current release Treasure Hunt?

It tells the story of a desperate widower who took a wrong turn hijacking an airliner in 1978. A former pilot himself, Bill Porter took advantage of his license to seize the flight, demanding a five-million-dollar ransom to allow it to land. After a narrow but successful escape, Bill is betrayed by his partner and before getting caught by a corrupted local police in a Central American country, he turns in at the American Embassy. All of that happens in the first chapter that is available as a free read at my website.
Before he is released from prison in 1998, Bill Porter hires the Falcon to retrieve the stolen money from its hiding place in Nueva España. Bill actually draws a map for Falcon on a napkin, complete with an “X” marking the spot.
But things get complicated when former cellmate Jack Davis decides to take the money for himself by kidnapping Bill Porter’s daughter Jamie. Falcon saves her and a cat-&-mouse chase ensues. The climax is inside the cave where Bill hid the money long before.

How has being published changed your life, if at all?

Not much, actually. Not in the sense that people recognize me in the supermarket or I get special discounts at stores. Lol.
I kind of thought my task was done once the book was released, but no. Promotion is a big must-do for author nowadays and I’m fully into it. So the main change is that I spend more time blogging, updating websites, and other promotion tools.

What would you like to accomplish with your writing career?

Being able to tell the stories I have. Just with Falcon, I have about five outlines for sequels; but there are also other tales with different characters.

Can you give us a peek at your work in progress Business As Usual, the sequel to Treasure Hunt?

Business as Usual has a mafia twist. A betrayed man has sworn revenge and hires the Falcon to plant incriminating evidence in the home of a competitor. Falcon gets caught in the middle of the two warring families and in the end he must side with one. I’m considering posting the first chapter in my website soon.

From your website I learned that you wrote Treasure hunt in English instead of Spanish, your native language. Was there any particular reason for the switch?

A misunderstanding of sorts. I like to write action thrillers and was under the impression that the Latin American market was not into them. I’m a big fan of Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, Ken Follet, Robert Ludlum and I guess the idea of writing in the same language as the authors I admire seemed feasible at the time. But I write in Spanish as well, I co-scripted two TV serials and my novel Heredero del Mal(Heir of Evil) is under consideration for publishing with a Latin American publisher.

How long did it take you to write Treasure Hunt and Business As Usual?

Bear in mind that Treasure Hunt was before I learned of outlines, so I did research for about a year then sat down and finished the first draft in less than three months. I’m simultaneously writing Business as Usual and Shattered Plans. When I hit a wall in one story I turn to the other, but as to which one will be released first, it will depend on publishers.

Who would you like to pen a book with, living or dead?

Clive Cussler, I even have an outline for a story matching Dirk Pitt against the Falcon.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?

I love feedback! I encourage everybody to drop me a line with questions or comments either in my website, jhbrogan728@yahoo.com or blog. I also pledge to keep updating my website with free short stories often.

Thank you for taking time to speak with me today J.H.

Interviewed by: Tammy