Blog Tour: LINE OF SIGHT

LINE OF SIGHT

Paul G. Wright

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GENRE:  Mystery

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BLURB:

It is 1995, and intelligence operative Lora Chandler, a.k.a. Agent Vogel, is tasked with investigating the claim that Professor Simon Blackmarr has cracked the invisibility problem. A mission that leads her back to the half-forgotten beach town of Lancaster, Florida. Home to estranged love interest, and newspaper reporter Richard Davis. Her feelings for him have never really died, and matters become even more complicated when Vogel learns that Blackmarr’s breakthrough is legitimate. A scientific discovery that —in the wrong hands — could alter the balance of global power. The stakes become even higher when the professor is abducted from the university, forcing Vogel back into the shadowy realm of espionage to find out who and why. It will take all the skill and cunning Lora Chandler possesses to stop a threat that could have devastating consequences for her personal life — and the world at large.

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Excerpt One:

The file lay in easy reach, on the conference table. The letters LMAR printed across the front. In another moment she would have it. She reached out.

“I think not.”

Mason. He was like a cat, with more lives. 

“You think wrong,” said Vogel.

Mason’s hand slammed down on the folder, inches from hers. Their eyes met—his with that same arrogant smirk she’d seen a hundred times before, his dark hair perfectly in place. As always, he was impeccably dressed, his wine-red tie in a flawless knot. Vogel couldn’t deny it—under different circumstances, she might . . . But no, he was an international criminal and a murderer. And he kissed like a college freshman. The lines were drawn.

Mason looked at her through steely eyes. “Vogel,” he said coolly, “why do we always seem to have this same discussion?”

Vogel smirked. “Because, Mason, you’re terrible at losing.”

Mason nodded. “A character flaw, I’m afraid, that is permanent.”

She snatched the file away as Mason lunged for her. Instinctively, her hand went for her gun, and she pointed the sleek black barrel directly at his head. He froze, a smile playing across his face.

“Now let’s be practical,” Mason said. “There’s no way out.”

“You always say that.”

A door opened and men in dark fatigues entered, holding assault rifles. Mason’s henchmen. She should have known. They stood on either side of him, with their weapons trained on her like spiders. Vogel counted six in all.

Mason eyed her. “Really, Vogel. I mean, what are your options? Why don’t you just hand that over and we can all sit down?”

A bead of sweat ran down her back. Her shoes were tight, and she hadn’t showered since Wednesday. She felt gross. This was taking longer than expected. They were on the thirtieth floor, standing in front of a series of plate glass windows. Mason was right. There was no way out. 

It was then she heard the roar of the helicopter.

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Interview:

Tell us about your book. How did it get started?

Line of Sight is a fast-paced espionage thriller with a throwback feel. It’s set in 1995, before the internet made disappearing nearly impossible. The story follows Lora Chandler, aka Agent Vogel, a sharp and relentless intelligence operative tasked with retrieving an invisibility formula before it falls into the wrong hands. But when her mission collides with her past in the form of an old flame, journalist Richard Davis, she’s forced to navigate a web of betrayal, shifting alliances, and her own buried emotions.

The idea started while watching GoldenEye with my dad. It struck me that I’d never seen a spy story with a female lead done in a classic, high-stakes way. That realization turned into a challenge: Could I write a story that delivered the action, the intrigue, and the emotional depth I wanted to see?

Vogel’s character came to life quickly—partly inspired by a close friend from high school who had that rare mix of wit, charm, and absolute fearlessness. The rest of the story built itself around her, and before I knew it, I had a world of spies, scientists, and shadowy villains waiting to take shape.

How do you create your characters?

I don’t think I create characters so much as discover them. It’s like they already exist, waiting for me to take down their stories. The process often starts with a voice, a line of dialogue, or even just a name. When I landed on Shade for one of my supporting characters, she walked onto the page fully formed. As though she’d been waiting for me to notice her.

I also pull from real life—bits and pieces of people I’ve met, overheard conversations, even fleeting expressions. Characters aren’t copies of real people, but they do have roots in the world around me. I always ask: What do they want? What do they need? And what’s standing in their way? If I can answer those questions, I know I’ve found their story.

Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks, etc.)?

I write in the evening, at my desk. I’d love to say I have a pristine writing space, but the reality is controlled chaos. Notes scribbled on anything I could find, books stacked in precarious towers, and at least one pair of headphones lost under a pile of papers.

Music is my secret weapon. Every story I write has a theme song. For Line of Sight, it was Vasoline by Stone Temple Pilots. Something about the raw energy just clicked. I play the chosen song at the start of every writing session to drop myself back into the world of the story.

How do you get your ideas for writing?

Ideas come from the oddest places—conversations, movies, other books, and sometimes just a single question that won’t leave me alone. For Line of Sight, it was: What if an invisibility formula actually existed? And what if it got into the wrong hands?

Some ideas arrive fully formed, while others take years to piece together. I have a story I’ve been trying to write for over a decade, inspired by my high school days as a metalhead. Every time I hear Metallica’s No Remorse, I see flashes of it, but the right approach hasn’t hit me yet. I know it will eventually.

What do you like to read?

I have an eclectic taste in books. Right now, I’m juggling The Station by Saul Herzog, Here It Ends by Dan Lawton, and The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth. Each one offers something different. Gritty thrillers, sharp storytelling, and deep, character-driven narratives.

I also love revisiting classics. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover.

What would your advice be for aspiring authors?

Write. That’s it. Write even when you don’t feel like it, even when you think it’s garbage. The biggest mistake aspiring authors make is waiting for inspiration. Writing is work. Some days, the words flow like magic, and other days, it feels like chiseling marble with a spoon. The key is to keep going.

Also, don’t be afraid to write badly. The first draft is supposed to be rough. That’s what editing is for. And read. Read widely, read critically, and figure out what makes stories work.

Lastly, remember that every writer deals with self-doubt. The difference between a writer and someone who wants to be a writer is persistence. Keep at it.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Just that I appreciate every reader who takes the time to step into my world. Writing is a strange, wonderful, sometimes exasperating process, but knowing that my stories resonate with others makes it all worth it.

Also—if you love spy thrillers with high-stakes action, complex characters, and a touch of nostalgia, Line of Sight is for you. And if you end up picking it up, I’d love to hear what you think.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Paul G. Wright is a native of Atlanta, GA. He has worked as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and screenwriter. He studied acting at the Warehouse Actors Theater and earned his degree in filmmaking from Columbia College Hollywood, in Tarzana, CA. He currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife and their cat Dusty.

Website: https://www.paulgwright.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulwrightauthor/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-G.-Wright/author/B08LYG7V88

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Line-Sight-Paul-G-Wright/dp/0228633524

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Paul G. Wright will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway