Today we are very excited to share an interview with Authors Breakfield and Burkey (Enigma Forced)!
Meet the Author: Breakfield and Burkey
As the Enigma Series’ CTO, Breakfield leverages his decades of technology expertise, including security, networking, voice, and anything digital, to bring innovative technothriller elements into storytelling. He has deep knowledge of World War II history, has traveled extensively, and seeks cultural exchanges to learn what makes different people tick. Charles enjoys wine tasting, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking new recipes and extravaganzas, and woodworking.
Burkey, as the COO of the Enigma Series, uses her extensive professional knowledge of optimizing technology and business investments to drive stellar customer experiences into the ongoing stories of the Enigma Series. Characteristics of people she has met over her career are woven into their stories. Rox enjoys her family, friends, puppies, reading, reviewing books, and traveling whenever possible. Meeting readers at various events is one of her favorite pastimes.
Together, they have created award-winning stories that resonate with men and women, with a fresh perspective on technology possibilities within a fictional framework. They have two technothriller series, The Enigma Series and Enigma Heirs. They ventured into writing cozy mysteries with the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Their newest short story collection complements their novella and individual short stories.
Website * Instagram * Twitter * Facebook * Twitter (Burkey) * Facebook (Burkey)
About the Book: Enigma Forced
Enigma Forced is yet the most challenging and complex case for Enigma Heirs.
Profiteers are preying on displaced souls who seek freedom, sacrificing everything. Wanting to give their children hope and a future, but they wrongly trust on a roll of loaded dice. Teens are picked off and sold into slavery. Cartels offer the choice to strong, young men to move illegal drugs over the border or die.
The R-Group and CATS team leaders want to end Mateo’s inhuman business model. The heroes must derail the human exploitation and opioid epidemic, killing people in increasingly dramatic numbers. They win if they can save even a few from the jaws of death.
The present-day battle is in full swing, yet it can end badly for humanity unless the Enigma Heirs triumph. Who will survive the onslaught, and how fast can they make Mateo pay?
*Trigger warning for potential adult content*
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
Breakfield & Burkey continually scan the horizon researching illegal and unscrupulous technology applications by opportunistic thugs. We saw cryptocurrency acting like a magnet for increased crime and profits outside the law. The mashup of social issues and Darknet technology drove our creative juices to create this thriller. We consistently leverage the synergies between bad actors and their relentless hunt for illegal and immoral profiteering. This story appeared in our nightmares with the insidious pursuit of human trafficking, holding hands with opioid importing, and the underground sex trade. It was challenging to throttle the heartbreaking information flow from this issue while trying to breathe life and hope into the story. If telling the story can save even a single person, then there is hope.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Wow, this is almost an unfair question. All the story’s characters, good or evil, present a challenge to add value to the overall tale. Marian and her husband, Brayson, played a critical role in the story. Marian has an interesting background and hidden talents in her life, which we like to use during her journey in this thriller. Judith and Xiamara, our cyber freebooters, are an interesting pair who like to walk on the high beam as they work hard yet always keep an eye out for their next side hustle. One never knows the trouble this pair can fall into.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
We’ve been known to work it both ways. Sometimes it appears while sketching the outline. In this case, it was first, and we remained razor-focused on the issue with each page written. A small secret we would like to share. Previously we finished our novel and sent it to our graphic designer for a cover. We couldn’t understand why she sent us the wrong kind of cover, more than one actually. During a subsequent conference call, we discovered it was the title of the book. The title was wrong because it only generated the wrong kind of images. We changed together and life was good.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Oh no, spoiler alert! We can only share a subtle clue that one of the rescue scenarios was perfect. Your readers are welcome to send us the scene they liked best to Au*****@**********es.com and we will confirm if they are correct.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
We continue to hone storytelling subtleties like show-do-not-tell, managing tenses, and POV (point of view) inside a chapter. We also provide enough scene and character information so the reader can identify with the character but not super-saturate the narrative so that it puts the reader asleep. Better writing is a journey, not a destination and improving is a part of the ride.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
Our graphic designer, Rebecca Finkel, captured the primary emotion we wanted: despair. The composition and the different but related elements draw attention to the cover. The cloaked emotions, with just her posture, state drama and emotion. By the way, we also spent time making the back cover appealing to our audience.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?
We write multiple genres. We are a part of the Underground Authors who create the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Our book for the third season of this series, The Ransom Enigma, releases on August 20, 2024. As a side note, the third book in the Enigma Heirs trilogy, Enigma Jewels, is planned for release during the first quarter of 2025.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
Rox reads and reviews many books. Her most recent favorite is The Triple Pink Butterfly Effect by Carol Kurtz. It is the heartwarming story of Carol’s battle with cancer and a book where others can find hope. Thus far, she has had the book recognized, and Novant Health is placing the book into their Hope library carts in all of their infusion centers, as well as; it will be available in the Kemp Bessant Cancer Center in uptown Charlotte. SPECIAL – if a book is purchased on Amazon, Carol Kurtz will send a free book to the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina to the cancer infusion centers. Your interested readers can check out the review on Rox’s site https://roxburkey.com/the-triple-pink-butterfly-effect/
YABC: What’s up next for you?
We are working with Derek Shoales, our friend and talented voice of our novels, to bring Enigma Forced out in audiobook format. We release the eBook and paperback editions before the audiobook to put it into its spotlight. Truth be told, the audiobook is the most fun for us because we get to hear the story acted out. We are like kids having popcorn night when Derek sends over a bank of chapters to verify as we listen.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
The tragic things captives are forced to endure were difficult without being too graphic. For these we worked on not having this element of the story be too pervasive.
YABC: Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?
The thoroughly heartless character Mateo was very challenging. Human trafficking, opioid distribution, and sourcing teenagers for his sex trade are business models for this type of person. He has to have more to his character. We wanted to portray him multi-dimensionally, but he definitely lacks warm and fuzzy attributes. Most readers will understand him, but not like him from any side.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
New writers need to find their rhythm in writing. It also helps to find a good critique partner or group to work with to improve their skills and provide for networking. Write it, read it, edit it, and do it again.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
We are honored to have a chance to speak to your readers. Your questions are interesting and thoughtful. Thank you for providing us with a forum.
Title: Enigma Forced
Author: Breakfield and Burkey
Illustrator: Cover design/interior – Rebecca Finkel, F + P Graphic Design, FPGD.com
Release Date: 03/31/2024
Publisher: ICABOD Press
Genre: Techno-thriller – Suspense
Age Range: 18+
Content Warning: Potential Adult Content
