Author Guest Post with Mark M. Bello, Betrayal at the Border

In Betrayal at the Border, attorney Zachary Blake returns to tackle two cases that strike at the heart of our nation’s contentious immigration debate.

Welcome to one of the December 8th stops on the blog tour for Betrayal at the Border by Mark M. Bello with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, author guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

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Author Guest Post

My Writing Journey

I am often asked if I start with an outline when writing my books. The answer is “only in my mind.” I know some authors create comprehensive outlines, and while I understand the value of an outline, for me, it stifles creativity. Stories often change direction several times throughout the writing process.

I begin with a story idea; perhaps a new event inspired me to write. I consider how Zack Blake and the legal system might handle the issue, who the clients and antagonists might be. I create what I call a ‘plot starter’ and off we go on my trust iMac. Often, the book follows my initial roadmap; sometimes, my characters drive a far different story. Plot points may change depending on my characters’ needs and wants. Sometimes, the character’s actions or comments will trigger ideas about what happens next. In ny latest novel, Betrayal at the Border, for example, the two actors who mascaraed as generals to find two missing children were characters and concepts conceived after I began writing the book. I knew Micah Love, Zack’s private investigator, would hatch a rescue plan, but I did not yet know the plan.

I typically write my chapters in order, beginning to end, although a plot twist like the one in Border, may require me to pen a new scene or edit one I’ve already written. I’ve never written an ending first, but I do have an ending in mind as I write preceding chapters. Once I’ve created a first draft, I read and do an initial edit. What’s missing? What details here or there might further enhance the story?

My principal goal is to tell an engaging story, perhaps educate readers about the law and their rights as American citizens, and create realistic and interesting characters that my readers can relate to, protagonist or antagonist. Some of my best characters were characters that I and my readers despised. Zachary Blake is the ‘King of Justice.’ How boring would a Blake novel be if evil didn’t mount a significant legal challenge? My readers love a difficult “David v. Goliath” challenge.

The Zachary Blake social justice legal thriller series is currently comprised of 7 novels and a prequel novella (free at www.markmbello.com). Each novel features Michigan-based attorney, super-lawyer, Zachary Blake. Zachary is featured in intriguing courtroom drama. He represents his clients in important cases and creates innovative legal strategies to obtain justice for them. Each novel in the series features captivating sequences, intriguing characters (good and evil), and fast-paced plots. The settings occur primarily in the Detroit area, however, Zack is fearless, and he travels to other cities and states, including Washington, DC and Syria, as justice requires.

Here’s a reaction from a loyal reader:

“Betrayal at the Border by Mark M. Bello hits another controversial issue in our country, immigration. I love how the author can separate from the more political stands and look at the individuals that are involved. His books outline his political views to some degree, but the focus is on humanity and the quality of life we take for granted. This novel is fictional, but it is the story many people living in the United States are facing. Bello uses his experience as an attorney and author to create a character, Zachary Black, who rallies for the oppressed.

Overall, Mark M. Bello is an author you don’t forget. His strong and powerful voice as an author shines through Zachary Blake. Betrayal at the Border will touch any heart, no matter your position on immigration. I have read all seven books in his Zachary Blake series and love them all.”

Reviews like this inspire me to keep writing, continue to working on my characters, and help them grow. My goal is to keep my readers reading, and reaching for the next installment as soon as the complete its predecessor. Zachary Blake, the self-proclaimed ‘King of Justice’ is the lawyer all of us would hire if we got into trouble. 

About the Book

Betrayal at the Border
by Mark M. Bello

Published 11 October 2021
8Grand Publications

Genre: Legal/Political Thriller
Page Count: 325
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

In Betrayal at the Border, attorney Zachary Blake returns to tackle two cases that strike at the heart of our nation’s contentious immigration debate.

In Riverview, Michigan, undocumented immigrants Miguel and Mary Carmen Gonzalez are determined to realize the American dream. They find jobs at a local filler plant, have children, and lead an all-American life, that is until ICE raids their plant . . .

Canan and Karim Izady are naturalized citizens of the United States. They have immigrated legally from Kurdistan and have an American born daughter, Hana. Unable to persuade her mother to follow the young family to America, Canan and Hana travel to an ISIS hotbed so the child may meet her grandmother for the first time. With the war over, what could possibly go wrong?

Two unique immigrant families, two uniquely dangerous consequences of America’s dysfunctional immigration system. Enter Zachary Blake, superstar lawyer.

But, for the first time in a long time, Blake is out of his element—immigration law calls for the expertise of his specialist/partner, Marshall Mann. Together, two extraordinary lawyers take on a terrorist network and a broken immigration system. And master investigator Micah Love returns, racing against the clock to prevent tragic circumstances. In our politically charged, anti-immigrant international climate, will a Hail Mary be their only move?

Award-winning legal thriller author, Mark M. Bello, pits our nation’s broken immigration system against important human and social justice rights issues, spinning a tale that shines a bright light on the everyday fears of immigrants all over these United States. Can Blake, Mann, and Love prevent a Betrayal at the Border?

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Excerpt

As Emma got older, she noticed things that provided a better understanding of her parents’ fear. After dinner, her parents often watched the evening news. Emma witnessed people protesting at the southern border to Mexico and heard phrases like ‘send them back’ and ‘build the wall.’ Video footage of arrests, family separations, and kids in cages was heartbreaking. Emma was a free American like her friends and neighbors, but she would never be free of worry that her parents might be captured. Mainstream media considered families like hers ‘undocumented.’ Over time, Emma understood the reason why her parents broke the rules and kept the family secret. Because Miguel and Mary Carmen were undocumented, they couldn’t travel, not even across the northern border into Canada from Detroit, so they never took vacations. Emma and her family never went anywhere.

While Emma understood, she was still slightly conflicted. She learned about crime in school. People who did bad things went to jail. It was ‘illegal’ to steal, to hurt someone, and to drink and drive. Mama and Papa didn’t do any of those things. They obeyed every American rule. They were decent people, good neighbors, and solid citizens. How could they be criminals?

Mama and Papa’s citizenship status was not a subject of conversation in the community. Few people knew they were undocumented because while some people embraced immigrants, others tried to make their lives difficult. Landlords were encouraged not to rent to ‘foreigners,’ and employers were encouraged not to hire them. Some communities attempted to block immigrant access to jobs, housing, education, and healthcare, a coordinated strategy to prevent large numbers from moving into those communities or neighborhoods. Citizens didn’t want ‘brown people’ swooping in and taking their jobs. Other communities embraced immigration and thrived because hard-working immigrants started businesses, worked for other citizens or independently, provided childcare service, housekeeping, or odd repair jobs.

One evening, after dinner, the newsman said President Golding was considering a series of raids on immigrants in targeted areas around the country. One of the areas mentioned was Detroit. Golding said it was time to ‘deport the undocumented in fairness to those who enter our country legally and obey our laws.’ Did those people complain or something? Emma pondered.

“Mama, what does ‘deport’ mean?” Emma asked inquisitively after the newscast ended.

“It means people who are here without proper papers might get sent back to the country they came from, hija,” Mary Carmen advised.

“What does ice have to do with it?” Emma glanced at the refrigerator.

“Pardon me?”

“They talked about ice on television.”

Mary Carmen looked at the refrigerator and smiled. “They weren’t talking about ice from the fridge, hija; they were talking about immigration policemen. ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, I—C—E. Get it?”

“What does this ICE do?”

“They find people who are here without proper papers. If people can’t prove they are citizens or have a right to be citizens, they get sent back to the country they came from.”

“Can that happen to you and Papa? Do you have these proper papers? Are you and Papa criminals, Mama?”

“That’s a difficult question to answer. Papa and I came to this country a long time ago. We arrived legally and followed all of the rules, but our papers expired before we could become citizens. We were supposed to go back to Venezuela, but you were just a baby, and it was dangerous back home. Here in America, Papa had a good job; we had a nice home, and lots of friends and relatives in the area. We couldn’t possibly go back to the old country.

“We decided to stay and try to work out our paper problem later. As the years went by, the government made it more difficult for us to become citizens. We were caught in a trap. We weren’t supposed to stay, but we couldn’t go back, either.”

“What are you going to do? The newsman on television says ICE is coming to Detroit.”

“I don’t know, sweetheart. Papa says everything will be okay. Maybe they won’t come to Lincoln Park. Maybe they will only come to Detroit. All we can do is hope and pray.”

“From now on, I’ll say a special prayer at bedtime, Mama.”

“Oh, Emma, thank you! That makes me feel so much better. I’m positive God will listen to you. You are my special little girl!”

Emma almost burst with pride. She would pray extra hard tonight. Mama and Papa were counting on her.

About the Author

As an attorney and civil justice advocate, author Mark M. Bello draws upon over 40 years of courtroom experience in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series.

A Michigan native, Mark received his B.A. in English Literature from Oakland University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After working extremely high-profile legal cases, Mark wanted to give the public a front-row glimpse of what victims face when standing up for justice.

Combining his legal experience and passion for justice with a creative writing style, Mark not only brings high-quality legal services to his clients but captivating novels to his readers.

When Mark’s not writing legal and political novels, he writes and posts about fairness and justice in the civil justice system on his website, Legal Examiner and NotFakeNews. In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Mark and his wife, Tobye, have four children and 8 grandchildren.

For more information about Mark, please click here.

Mark loves hearing from his readers! Drop him a line on the Contact page or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, or Bookbub.

Giveaway Alert!

Mark M. Bello will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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