-- Quote of the Day --
"Words
are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
~ (Joseph) Rudyard
Kipling
-- World of Writing Interview --
Author Robert Mazur joins us for a World of Writing Interview to
talk about his book – The Infiltrator
– and his life as a writer. The Infiltrator tells the story of Robert’s
experience as an undercover agent in a deadly drug cartel. Pablo Escobar
ran one of the deadliest and most feared drug cartels in the world.
Mazur was assigned as an undercover agent to infiltrate
the hierarchy of that cartel and their money launderers. What transpired
from
his work was hailed as one of the most celebrated stings in world
history.
Along with cartel leadership, the evidence Mazur gathered brought down
the
world's 7th largest privately held bank and its senior management.
For more information visit http://the-infiltrator.com
Q: Who inspired you to
pursue a career in writing?
A: I was a federal agent for
27 years and worked primarily on international drug trafficking cases.
Part of that experience involved my working 5 years in deep undercover within a
Colombian drug cartel. I ultimately became an expert in the field of
money laundering. Because of my expert qualifications, Universal Studios,
while researching to find an expert in the field of money laundering to work
with director Michael Mann on the Miami Vice movie, found me. They hired
me to be a technical consultant to Michael Mann and to work closely with the
actors in the movie, including Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gung Li, and
others. As Mr. Mann learned of my life story, he told me that he would
love to make a movie about my life, but that I first needed to write a book
about my experience undercover. That was the watershed moment that
inspired me to write my book.
Q: How does writing help you
make a difference in the world?
A: I was a cop because I
wanted to be a part of making a difference. After I retired and I
realized my experience was never shared with the world, I realized that writing
my book would again contribute to making a difference. The general public
has no idea what is like within the underworld, or what it is like living a
double life while you try to stay alive by simply using your instincts.
Writing this book gave me a platform to convey that and many other messages.
Q: Can you tell us what
editors typically look for in a query letter or project proposal?
A: I sold my book before it
was written by finding the right agent, Sterling Lord Literistic. Finding
that agent is a story in itself, but my agent guided me in the process of
preparing a book proposal (an overview of the book, a summary of each
chapter, one detailed chapter, a bio, and a marketing plan). Following
that formula is critical, and having the right agent get that proposal in the
hands of quality publishers is a must.
Q: What do you do when you
are not writing?
A: I operate an investigative
agency that employs 10 former federal agents that were formerly employed by
various agencies (the FBI, DEA, IRS – Criminal Investigation Division,
Department of Homeland Security). We service clients throughout the U.S.
and in several foreign countries (primarily law firms and public
companies). I am a court certified expert in the field of money
laundering, so I speak on that topic throughout the world. In the recent
past and in the upcoming months my speaking engagements include appearances in
Chile, France, Italy, England, Luxembourg, Antigua, the Isle of Jersey, etc.)
Q: What were some of the
challenges you faced in writing your non-fiction books?
A: Since I sold the book
based on the book proposal, I was asked to deliver the finished product in 6
months. That meant that I only had summaries for the chapters, other than
the one chapter I had completed. I accepted the deal and then had to put
in work days that started at 7am and went until 2am the next day. I did
that every single day (weekends and holidays included) for six months.
During that time, I not only wrote my book, but I continued to run my
investigative agency. To say the least, I was exhausted at the end of
that six-month process but it was worth it. My book is now published in 4
languages and the movie rights are in development.
Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts from their books, information about their radio program, newsletter, blog, and more at: www.brummet.ca
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