BLOG TOUR: I Promise You Pain by Bart Baker (Excerpt + Q&A with Author)

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: I Promise You Pain (The Cordon Finn Vengeance Series, Book One)

Author: Bart Baker

Publisher: Big Muddy Books

Release Date: May 11, 2023

Genre: Dark Action

Tropes: Damaged hero, surprising sidekick, duplicitous villain

Themes: Finding One’s True Self, Fighting for Who You Are, Coming Out, Found Family

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 67 345 words/203 pages

It is the first book in a series and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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When the only course of action is revenge, only the most damaged man is capable of maximum destruction.

Blurb

Hired by a Chicago billionaire to pluck his runaway son from the Palm Springs compound of a wealthy pedophile, former military extraction and information specialist, Cordon Finn, believes it will be a simple snatch and go job with a big payday. But after grabbing the kid at a Pride Week party, Cordon discovers that nothing is as it seems. His quarry isn’t underage, and isn’t the billionaire’s son, but rather his trans-daughter who goes by the name of Lucious. And her father wants Lucious dead, putting Cordon, who is dealing with his own sexual identity, in the crosshairs as well. After fighting off a cadre of assassins, Cordon vows to keep Lucious alive. But when the billionaire kidnaps Cordon’s girlfriend and comes after his family and friends, Cordon takes the fight back to the billionaire’s door. With the surprising help of Lucious, as well as his sister, Annie, Cordon battles the billionaire’s small army, until he’s face-to-face with the billionaire. And in this battle, there will be only one man left standing, the one who is capable of maximum destruction.

Excerpt

Arriving at his car, Cordon puts down the top and tosses his bag in before opening the door to climb in, when he hears, “We’re even,” from behind him.

Turning, he finds the young guy, smiling cheekily, standing behind him.

“Even?” Cordon asks, unsure.

“You enjoyed the show I put on for you inside, I enjoyed the show you put on for me as you sashayed across the parking lot,” the kid says.

“I don’t sashay. And I didn’t take off my shirt for you.”

The kid giggles, rolling his eyes dramatically as he says, “Liar. That’s the only reason you took off your shirt. Hoping I’d notice and come running up to you.”

“And here you are.”

The kid’s face squishes up like he’s eaten rotten lemons.

“I’m a sucker for a muscle daddy. And you certainly got size. Hopefully, in the places I can’t see.”

“How old are you?” Cordon asks, ignoring the kid’s comment.

“Twenty-two.”

“Now who’s the liar?”

The kid smirks mischievously, hand on hip. “Nineteen. Five-ten. Twenty-eight-inch waist. My name is Gio. Want to know my cock size?”

Cordon doesn’t answer, which causes Gio to grin mischievously.

“Come on, I saw you looking at it. Though I imagine being a giant, yours is bigger. But for my frame, mine is super-sized,” he laughs.

“This bullshit work?”

“Work how?”

“On other guys. Talking about your dick like it’s a 78-inch flat screen.”

“Just the ones who I think are interested,” Gio laughs, then suddenly gets more direct as he adds, “or have the money to pay.”

Cordon nods, understanding more clearly Gio’s game. “Which one do you think I am?” Cordon asks.

“You’re driving a really nice car, so you got the money. But I don’t think you have to pay men to have sex with you, unless you do it for the control, or you’re married, which I wouldn’t doubt, and you hope money will keep your trick’s mouth shut. Either way, I know you’re interested. I always know.”

“You party up at Lansing’s?” Cordon asks, tiring of the conversation.

Again, Gio’s smile fades, his head turning slightly as if looking at the Cordon from a different angle might jog his memory. “Did we meet up there?” Gio asks more of himself than Cordon. “No. I’d remember. Lansing would never invite a guy like you. All his little boys would flit around you like butterflies to bougainvillea, and he doesn’t allow anyone to steal his thunder. You a cop?”

“No.”

“You know if I ask, you have to tell me,” Gio inserts.

“That’s bullshit. But I’m not.”

Gio takes Cordon in silently for a moment. And even though he knows he shouldn’t say too much to the statuesque man he doesn’t know, Gio is not adept at shutting up, even when it’s in his best interest.

“Sure, I party up at Lansing’s. Never lived there, though. Those guys think Lansing’s the answer to their prayers. Please. He has a revolving bedroom door with guys going in all young, dewy-eyed, and hopeful, and coming out all used up and sad. The man’s an emotional vampire. Sucks the life out of everybody. They all think that he’s going to help make them a star, or they’ll meet some other old queen through Lansing that will. And they all end up going back home, broke, hungry, and completely jaded, or they end up selling it to pay the rent. Hell, even when you’re up there, all that’s there are other fairies just like them or some dried-up, old, coke addict trying to get his Viagra dick up your ass. Don’t know anybody Lansing’s actually helped. Ever.”

“You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Just so I know who just insulted me, what’s your name?”

“Cordon.”

“Cordon from where?”

“Chicago.”

“You’re a long way from home, aren’t you, Dorothy? Are you here for Pride Week? I mean, I don’t get that vibe from you, that you’re down here to party with the boys. But you could be one of those sad, married men who told your wife back in Chicago that you’re going on a golfing trip or a hunting trip or something equally lame. And you’re here because you really like dick but you’re Catholic or worse, Evangelical, like my parents, and your guilt is off the charts because you married some pretty blonde, church-going girl, you have two kids, but all you think about when you’re fucking her is guys like me.”

“You hungry?” Cordon asks, ignoring Gio’s smart-ass comment.

“If you’re paying and I get to pick the restaurant,” Gio quickly tacks on.

Cordon lets a half-smile slip on his lip at Gio’s young, alpha nonsense.

“Get in,” Cordon says.

Q&A with Bart Baker

Hi, I’m Bart Baker, I’ve made my living as a writer for most of my adult life. I began my writing career in the theater, where I have had eight plays produced. The film rights to my play Relay were bought by Warner Brothers, which lead me into screenwriting. I’ve had 18 projects produced, two feature films, 12 movies for television, and 4 episodes for series. I love writing for the movies and for television but I wanted a bigger canvas, so I started writing novels. I PROMISE YOU PAIN, is my eighth novel and my first series. The movie rights to my novel, HONEYMOON WITH HARRY, were bought for by New Line Cinema. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the most blessed person in the world being able to write for a living.

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

When I was a kid. People tell me that I was always writing. But I decided to chase it as a career when I hit college.

How many books have you written?

I PROMISE YOU PAIN is #8

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

Depends. But for argument’s sake, let’s put it at around six months.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I always start with character. Cordon Finn was someone that sort of exploded in my head. I knew who he was, what he had been dealing with his whole life, the demons he has. The secrets he has. The life he’s lead. It all solidified for me as the writer, and I knew I wanted to spend time with him, to explore his journey as a character within the action genre. And for I PROMISE YOU PAIN, I wanted to marry the issues Cordon deals with, with the story. The story grew from that.

Who are your favorite authors? Have they inspired your writing?

Pat Conroy and Hunter Thompson. Pat Conroy can make me laugh and cry within the same sentence. His work is hilarious and heartfelt. I love that. And Hunter Thompson is the most daring writing – and human being – that’s ever put words on a page. He is hilariously funny and more than willing to try just about anything. And I admire that sort of reckless daring. I want that in my writing.

When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go?

I develop them as I go. I’m more of a “pantser”, so I discover more and more about the characters as I write. I then go back and like an artist who creates impasto paintings, adding thickness and texture by going back and rewriting and rewriting the more I learn about the characters and the story.

Do you aim for a set number of words/pages per day?

No.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Time.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

Creativity.

Do you use images to develop your characters’ looks?

No.

Are your characters based on people you know?

Often.

Do you use your own experiences in your books?

Sometimes. My characters have better lives than me.

Do you ever get writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

No. If I don’t want to write or isn’t flowing, I just give it a rest. I allow my subconscious to work it out.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Energize.

What do you think makes a good story?

Fascinating characters and an exciting, emotional plot.

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?

Being able to raise my family doing it.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I hang out with my family. I am a gym rat/swimmer, so I am at the gym.

Do you outline or do you just write?

Pantser (Just write).

Do you prefer pen and paper or computer?

Computer.

Do you write as part of a routine or do you write when you feel like it?

Routine. I treat it like a job.

What do you love best about your current book?

The characters. And that I get to kick ass in it!

What is your next project?

I’m working on the second in the CORDON FINN VENGEANCE series now. Still untitled.

About the Author

Mr. Baker has written seven novels, including WHAT REMAINS, THE VIRGIN DAIQUIRI, and THE WEDDING GIFT. The film rights to his beloved novel, HONEYMOON WITH HARRY, were purchased by New Line Cinema. The book also spawned two sequels, A SECOND HONEYMOON WITH HARRY and THE LAST HONEYMOON WITH HARRY. Bart has also written for the theater, having eight plays produced around the world. The film rights to his play, RELAY, were purchased by Warner Bros., which led him into screenwriting. Bart has had 18 produced film and TV credits, including the feature film, LIVE WIRE, starring Pierce Brosnan, the BRIDE trilogy of films for CBS, as well as projects for CBS, ABC, FX, The Family Channel, Lifetime, The USA Network, and Hallmark among others.

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