I read books. Always have. Always will. And by books, I mean those old-timey things with pages between two stiff covers, not on an iPad or an electronic reader. I like the feel of paper and the sense of accomplishment gleaned from hitting page 400 and actually turning the pages, one at a time. I like the way a book smells. Sometimes they smell like yesterday, but they always carry me, hurtling toward tomorrow.
As a writer, I craft comic-fantasy fiction but as a reader, I'm nuts about science fiction, mysteries and thrillers. My favorite 14 novels of all time are the original James Bond adventures by Ian Fleming. In my quest to find anything even remotely in the same genre, I've devoured The Saint series by Leslie Charteris, the Matt Helm spy novels by Donald Hamilton and the twenty-one books written by the late, great John D. MacDonald featuring that soldier-of-fortune beach bum Travis McGee.
In these wonderful mysteries, McGee is not just a very capable action-hero and wooer of wanton women, but he—via the insightful prose of MacDonald—was a social commentator on human nature like had never been seen before (or since!) in fiction. Each of the book titles always had a color in it, like "The Deep Blue Good-by" or "A Purple Place For Dying." I'm currently re-reading this wonderful series for the second time and thoroughly enjoying my reunion with an old friend, Travis McGee.
"That's cool, Ricko," you are no doubt thinking, "but what Flip-Furry Freakin' Heck does this have to do with promotional products and how will your twisted reading habits help me Be Bold, Different or Memorable?" Stay with me, peeps, it's coming ...
I'm currently in the middle of the second McGee adventure, "Nightmare In Pink." Travis is poking his unwanted nose into the accidental death of a financial whiz that might not be so accidental. It might be murder! (Dunt Dunt DAAAHHH!!!) In his investigation, he is attempting to delve into the work habits of the victim, interviewing different people on the fringes of the case. Here is what Travis McGee has to say about getting information from people:






