Good Cop Bad Cop by Sallie Moppert - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Sallie Moppert and her new book, “Good Cop Bad Cop”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card or ONE of THREE fantastic prize packs that include exciting items like a pen, key chain, and magnet!!  That’s right – there will be FOUR lucky winners!!!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Sallie and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Please note that the prize pack giveaway items are only available to US and CA residents.  However, ALL residents are eligible for the gift card prize.  Sorry INTL – please check out other giveaways on this blog.

Good Cop Bad Cop

by Sallie Moppert

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GENRE: Mystery

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BLURB:

When his mother is beaten to death by his alcoholic stepfather, fourteen-year-old Samuel Marlowe is rescued from seeking revenge against him by a chance meeting with Officer Edwin Hill. The veteran policeman takes Sam under his wing and even becomes the boy’s foster father.

Sam becomes a cop and works alongside his beloved mentor until Edwin is killed in a shooting. Hailed as a hero for his actions in the case, Sam feels like anything but. He begins a dark descent away from the stand-up policeman he once was, turning to drugs and alcohol to numb his pain and his PTSD.

The police captain assigns Sam a partner hoping to salvage what is left of him by forcing him to become a good role model for the young recruit. Needless to say, Sam is not pleased with the arrangement, protesting it up until the moment Junior Detective Dahlia Bennett enters his life.

Will he try to shake her loose? Does her by-the-book ideals and strong moral code rub off on him? Will his relaxed attitude and views on true justice start to influence her?  What will ultimately lead to the two becoming a solid team? When Dahlia declares she wants to reopen some cases believing that the wrong person was sent to prison, Sam tells her straight out that in doing so, she would be putting her life at risk. As Dahlia persists, Sam is faced with the ultimate decision: let Dahlia reopen the cases and discover his crimes, or kill her to keep her from learning the truth.

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EXCERPT TWO:

From Big Fish:

“Detectives, this is Agent Shawn Martell and Agent Florence Calvert from the FBI,” the captain introduced the man and woman seated in the visitor's chairs in front of his desk respectively. “And, agents, this is Samuel Marlowe and Dahlia Bennett, my finest detectives, as you requested.”

Sam and Dahlia exchanged handshakes with Shawn and Florence. Shawn Martell was a similar height to Sam, falling a tad under the six-foot mark. Auburn colored hair, caramel brown eyes, and an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance, Shawn looked as though he could easily portray the ‘hunky agent’ role on an FBI television drama, Dahlia considered. Christ, I’m even starting to think like Sam.

Florence could hold her own against her partner, with a long and slender frame, sleek black hair that hung down to the middle of her back and celeste blue eyes. She was taller than the average woman, nearly measuring up to Shawn, save for an inch or two. If her partner fit the hunk role, Florence appeared to be apt for the “woman in charge” role in the drama.

We're obviously not here to sightsee,” Shawn began to say.

“We're investigating a human trafficking ring,” Florence said. “And would like the assistance of the local authorities.”

“You know, Flor and I,” Shawn thumbed toward his partner. “Would stand out like a sore thumb in a small town like this.”

“Seeing some FBI agents could cause the potential perps to run like hell,” Sam said, understanding what the agents were getting at. “But two local cops poking around would be far more discreet.”

“Exactly,” Shawn said. “Could we get your assistance?”

“Absolutely,” Sam and Dahlia replied in unison.

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GUEST POST:

Falling in Love with the Main Characters:

Greetings from a fellow fabulous brunette! I am honored to be here and am looking forward to sharing some fun tips with everyone that I hope can help out some of my fellow writers regarding characters and character development.

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       “…Edwin lay in a pool of blood resulting from several bullet wounds to the chest.  Sam grabbed Edwin’s jacket from the back of the chair and used it to help apply pressure to his wounds.  He checked the gray-haired man’s pulse and was relived to feel he still had one.

       ‘Edwin, hey,’ Sam said.  ‘It’s Sam, hey, come on, Ed, wake up.’

       There was another pop of gunfire overhead.

       ‘S-S-Sam?’  Edwin’s voice was weak and hoarse.

       Sam repeatedly blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay.

       ‘I’m here, Edwin,’ he said, one hand applying pressure to Edwin’s wounds, the other grabbing hold of the ex-cop’s hand.  ‘I’m here.  We’re going to get you out of here-‘

       Edwin shook his head in a skow, robotic movement.

       ‘Get the shooter,’ he said.  ‘Leave me here.’

       ‘I can’t leave you, Edwin.’

       Edwin gripped Sam’s arm.

       ‘Leave me, Sam,’ he repeated.  ‘Do your job!’

       ‘Edwin-‘

       ‘Fucking go, Sam!  Don’t let any kids die for me!  Do your job!  That’s an order!

*******

What is it about books and stories that keep us so enraptured? One thing that I find that will almost always snag my interest is my emotional connection to the characters. As writers, it is our job to create characters that readers have an emotional response to-whether they love the character or hate the character. If a character evokes a response from the reader, then that character is a pretty darn good one.

I started writing fan-fiction because there were some characters in a television show that I watched religiously that I got really attached to; certain episodes would inspire me to write a story in response to the ending, a scene that I would have enjoyed if it took place in the episode, or some piece of dialogue that I wanted the characters to expand on. I’ve also done it for a few video games, too.

While different authors may have different opinions on fan-fiction (some authors prefer not to have other writers use their characters and/or stories, at least not for online fan-fiction communities), I view fan-fiction as a huge compliment to the writer/creator. There was something-or someone-in my book that inspired you, the reader, to pick up a pen or plop in front of the keyboard and compose your own story.

How do you make a character so memorable? How do you get your readers to connect with your characters? Here are some things to consider when crafting characters:

~ Make your characters more believable by giving them flaws.

Perfect characters can sometimes be boring. There are definitely situations in which a perfect character might fit (think ‘conflict’ with another person) but, for the most part, they are unbelievable. No one is perfect, so why should a character be? I can relate to someone better if I can see similarities between us.

Flat or perfect characters can certainly be included in stories, but perhaps as a minor character or as a way to highlight the changes in your round or flawed character. Peter Marsden, one of Sam’s partners in my book, is an example of a flat character. He’s a nice guy with a good work ethic and is a dedicated policeman. Peter’s straight-shooter personality is used to show a change in Sam’s attitude and character after the events of the previous story, Into the Fire, which I’ll discuss more in a few paragraphs. 

Instead, I want to root for the underdog or the flawed hero/heroine. I want to hate a villain so much, yet still be intrigued by his or her back story. If you’re a Star Wars fan, then a good example of this would be Kylo Ren, specifically from The Force Awakens. One of the key antagonists from The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren is reckless, hot-headed, angsty and emotionally complex. There is a reason the son of two beloved characters from the original trilogy turned to the Dark Side, but what is it? You want to hate him for all of the death and trouble he’s caused throughout the galaxy and the pinnacle of his evil actions comes in a critical scene with Han Solo (if you haven’t seen the movie, I won’t spoil it), where old and new fans alike all collectively held their breaths and/or cried. As much as the fans have disdain for Kylo Ren’s actions in this particular scene, as a writer, I find this part a goldmine. I want to hate Kylo for what he did, yet I still find myself intrigued for what the future holds for him. How will this decision impact his relationship with the other characters? Will he come to regret this decision? What enabled him to be able to do something so horrible?

I want to know more. If I was reading the book as opposed to watching the movie, I would be flipping page after page to find out what happens next with insatiable interest.

~ Make me squirm alongside the character.

Stick your character into a situation that really tests them or pushes them to the limit. If I’m connected to that character, I’ll be right in the foxhole next to them, wondering with bated breath how she or he will deal with the conflict. After the story, I may still even be thinking about what I just read, pondering how I would have dealt with the situation if I was in that character’s shoes. Choice-based video games, such as the Far Cry series, Telltale Games (the company behind games like The Wolf Among Us, The Walking Dead, etc.), the Dragon Age Series and Heavy Rain, are an excellent example of this; the player’s actions and choices throughout the game will have an impact on how the game progresses.

My character, Sam, is faced with a tremendous decision in the story, Into the Fire. During an active shooting, he is forced to decide between saving the life of someone important to him or stopping the shooter before the shooter can claim more victims - there’s an excerpt from the scene above. Either path results in death and Sam, a cop, has only moments to choose what to do. My goal was to make you feel sympathetic toward Sam-how is he supposed to decide between the two? Your heart breaks for him because this monumental decision is made even harder because of Sam’s (and your) connection to Edwin, the man who played a huge role in Sam’s life. Does he let his job get in the way of saving the man who was like his father or does he save Edwin and risk the shooter killing more people? It can make you wonder, how would I react if I was in Sam’s position? It’s a non-win situation regardless of what he chooses, which makes the decision that much more impactful throughout the rest of the story.

The moment I knew that I nailed it was when I was at work and one of my coworkers who was reading my book at the time came up to my desk and looked at me with a frown and said “you killed Edwin!” (To be fair, Edwin’s fate was always destined to be what it was in Into the Fire - he was originally a character in a side project and evolved into the Edwin from GCBC when I was working on creating Sam’s mentor and borrowed him from the other story, but I digress ^_^)

Who are some characters that you love or just love to hate?

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AUTHOR BIO:

My Mug Shot Self-Portrait

A New York native, Sallie has a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, with a Specialization in Forensic Science. A lifelong mystery fan, she has combined her love and passion for writing with her interests in criminal justice, law, and forensic science.

Sallie currently resides in New York with her family and her “zoo,” which includes two dogs, two guinea pigs, a betta fish and a leopard gecko. She works as a freelance writer/editor and a legal assistant.

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CONNECT WITH SALLIE:

Quincy is my baby! She is possibly a German Shepherd/Hound mix but 100% princess and just the sweetest little puppy girl!

Dimples, my Jack-Chi (Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua), who still acts like a little puppy and never fails to put a smile on my face!

Website:

https://salliemoppert.wixsite.com/mysite

Email:

sallie.moppert@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/GoodCopBadCopNovel

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/good-cop-bad-cop-by-sallie-moppert

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14549931.Sallie_Moppert

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36636379-good-cop-bad-cop

My handsome and very photogenic leopard gecko boy, Stevie!

My sister has two guinea pigs, Noire (left) and Garnet (right). They are such good little piggies!

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2SBr6yu

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/2JRzF5B

Amazon Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/30THMUD

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-cop-bad-cop-sallie-moppert/1127567149?ean=2940156338832

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-cop-bad-cop-sallie-moppert/1127567149?ean=9781947210011

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-cop-bad-cop-sallie-moppert/1127567149?ean=9781947210790

Kobo eBook #1:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/good-cop-bad-cop-18

Kobo eBook #2:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/good-cop-bad-cop-20

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Good-Cop-Bad-Cop-Sallie-Moppert/9781947210011

The Book Depository Hardcover:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Good-Cop-Bad-Cop-Sallie-Moppert/9781947210790

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Good-Cop-Bad/Sallie-Moppert/9781947210011

BAM! Books-A-Million Hardcover:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Good-Cop-Bad/Sallie-Moppert/9781947210790

Zimbell House Publishing eBook:

https://zimbellhousepublishing.com/product/good-cop-bad-cop-ebook

Zimbell House Publishing Paperback:

https://zimbellhousepublishing.com/product/good-cop-bad-cop

Zimbell House Publishing Hardcover:

https://zimbellhousepublishing.com/product/good-cop-bad-cop-hardcover

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Sallie will be awarding one commenter with a $15 Amazon/BN GC+ 3 commenters will receive a prize pack consisting of pen, key chain, and magnet (US/Canada only) to randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.