Amanda and I discuss this and other aspects of One Thing Leads. After we chat there’s a synopsis to get you oriented to the story, a short bio of yours truly and the requisite excerpt, freebies, and “buy me!” linkage. Click and enjoy.

Amanda C. Stone: Thank you for joining me today Jude! I haven’t had a chance to read the book yet so no spoilers. But from what I’ve read so far it seems like it’s kind of a dark book. Is it as dark as the blurb leads the reader to believe?
Jude Dunn: It is quite dark. Deciding to write about human trafficking wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, but there are some issues in One Thing Leads that I wanted to explore. What triggers the first step down such a terrible path as Dion travels? How do you extricate yourself from such a dangerous situation? How do you recover after the person you love finds out what’s happened to you? I don’t know how well I answered these questions, but I found it worth working through them.

The novel is three levels deep because of this. It’s a thrill ride as we see the power-hungry, oversexed Grayson split up Dion and Kenji, then begin seducing Dion. There’s a love story in the middle layer, with Kenji fighting to find Dion and then deciding how to declare his love for him no matter what’s happened. And there’s the foundation layer, which subtly examines what happens when we take seemingly small steps that add up to a trip down a road we wouldn’t have chosen if we’d seen the destination before we began.
ACS: I have to tell you the more I hear about it, the better the book sounds. Was it hard to write about some of the things that Dion goes through while under Grayson’s control?
JD: You want me to be honest?
ACS: Always.
JD: The truth is that it was both hard and easy. Putting myself inside Dion’s head and heart was heartbreaking at times. I cut short some writing sessions because what it took to reach for the realism I wanted was downright depressing. But there’s another aspect that actually made me look forward to evolving this dimension of the story.

I’m fascinated by what makes a person take another step, be a little more daring, go a little further. This applies to both Dion and Grayson. Watching Grayson pull Dion into his trap—it’s similar to the way we slow down to see a terrible car accident. We feel for the victims, and sometimes we feel bad about our curiosity, but we can’t stop staring. Does that make me sound… I don’t know, warped? I guess there’s a bit of the voyeur in me.
ACS: I think there’s a bit of a voyeur in everyone. We all have that innate need to turn and look at the tragedies around us. Again no spoilers! But is there a happy ending for Dion?
JD: Dion has a lot to work through at the end of One Thing Leads. His self-esteem is shattered, and he’s ashamed to face Kenji, who has to make some major decisions about his life together with Dion. I won’t say exactly what happens, but they face these challenges with courage. Watching them fight their way back to a normal life with each other is inspiring, and I’m not patting myself on the back by saying that. Making this part of the story real was a humbling experience for me.
ACS: From the reviews I’ve read so far you’ve done a great job of writing that fight. Any plans for a sequel to this book?
JD: I really don’t think so, Amanda. I leave Dion and Kenji in a place that seems… well, not settled, exactly, but hopeful. They see a way to put this chapter of their lives behind them, and I’m content to wish them well. Although, I’ve written sequels to stories I thought were finished before, so who knows? You can call me a tease if you want, I don’t mind.
ACS: I haven’t even read the book yet and I know I’ll want a sequel. So YES! You are definitely a tease. Last question and it’s got to be a fun one. Wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have one fun question in here somewhere. You are a super hero! What’s your super hero name and secret talent?
JD: Ah, I know the answer to this one! It’s really two answers though. I’ve joked with friends and family for years that I should wear a tee shirt with a bright yellow circle smack in the middle of the chest that encloses the letters DB in bold black type. DB stands for Disclaimer Boy, because I rarely say anything at all without three run-on sentences full of disclaimers in front of it. At least it seems that way to everyone I know.

The serious answer is that if I could have the superhero fantasy come true for a day—I wouldn’t want this for any longer, trust me—I’d be Il Grande Comico. That’s Italian for The Great Comedian, of course. My super power would be never bombing as a jokester, and I’d get world leaders together for a show that would get them all laughing. When you laugh with someone, things happen. You begin to see eye to eye, and the possibility of working together seems more realistic. Hey, it’s a ridiculous idea, but this is fantasy, right? And that one’s mine.
ACS: A great fantasy to have though. Having people come together to laugh and solve problems at the same time? I’d definitely come to see the one night only showing of Il Grande Comico. Thank you so much for joining me today Jude. I loved having you.
JD: Thanks tons for asking me to chat with you, Amanda. I’ve had a blast. Now tell all your lovely followers they need to buy my marvelous book. ^__^