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Blood On His Hands - Mark Sadler
Blood On His Hands
Mark Sadler
ISBN: 9780741452610
Infinity Publishing
Reviewed By Renee Washburn
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
A hardworking Oklahoma oil rigger, Mike has a tough enough time just getting through each day; so, when he comes home one night and finds his wife enthralled in the throes of rapture with her lover - he loses any remaining composure he has left and shoots them both. Fully aware of the severity of his actions, Mike soon skips town, embarking on an extended fugitive run from justice that takes him all the way to the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia. Little does he know, though, his wife's lover somehow managed to survive the shotgun blast, and he soon pursues Mike cross-country - determined not to let his assailant get away scot-free. What follows for both men is an introspective journey of pain, struggle, and the opportunity for ultimate atonement.
Blood On His Hands is an engrossing, well-crafted read. The solid debut from author Mark Sadler, Blood doubles as a suspenseful murder mystery and compelling morality tale. Through the heartfelt earnestness of his protagonist, Sadler provides the reader with a vicarious look into the mind and soul of a flawed, yet sympathetic figure who struggles with the same problems that plague each of us every day. As a result, readers from all backgrounds will readily identify with Mark's spiritual and emotional plight, which will only draw them even further into the unfolding action of the story - as well as its surprisingly shocking ending.
With a well-paced storyline and powerful characters, Blood On His Hands is a welcome first effort from a promising new literary talent.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Mark P. Sadler (Blood On His Hands)
Apex Reviews: Mark, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to learning more about your book.
What inspired you to craft this quite moving, insightful tale?
Mark Sadler: I always knew that I would write a book sometime in my life, but it wasn't until I took off on head-clearing trip, after a divorce, and eventually ended up on the Appalachian Trail that the idea for this particular tale took root. In the beginning I just wanted to write about my time on the AT, give my perspective on what I learned while alone in the forest primeval away from any vestige of man. When I realized that just about everyone who had walked the trail had either kept a journal, written a blog or published a book about their experiences I decided to take another tack. Rather than compete with the likes of Bill Bryson and David Miller I wrote my story as a novel, an original way of expressing all the same things I wanted to share.
AR: What's the significance of the book's title?
MS: Well it is two-fold. The story of Mike taking the life of his wife and physically having her death on his conscious but also with the redemption and repentance aspects it does show, without giving the end away totally, that forgiveness is available as a Christian for all sins through the blood on Christ's hands at the crucifixion.
AR: Are any parts of the book autobiographical in nature?
MS: I think that all writers, especially on the first book, put a little of themselves into their work. As I mentioned earlier this story was written after my last divorce. Mike's journey after he kills his wife is reminiscent of the journey I undertook. The suicide attempt and time on the bus, all the crazy things that sound so improbable in the book are my journey, with lots of extraneous fiction to fluff it up.
Then the characters themselves have a little of me, both male leads. Kind of my alter-ego. For instance Ian is a student from New Zealand that goes to school in Oklahoma and plays goalkeeper on the university soccer team and becomes an investigator while I came over as a student from England to school in Texas, played goalkeeper on the college soccer team and became a bill collector...hmm sound familiar?
AR: The theme of redemption runs strong throughout the story. What led you to make that the central motif of the tale?
MS: We all need forgiveness. I grew up in a religious household, my father was a preacher and the time I spent in college was at a church-run college in East Texas. I grew up listening to lessons on how God forgives us from our sins. When Mike commits such a grievous act as killing another human being he was in serious need of forgiveness.
AR: What's the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the book?
MS: I read to be entertained. I did not have a hidden agenda, any deep philosophical reason to write the book. I just wanted to put together a fast-paced story that the reader would have a hard time putting down. I wanted each chapter to be a cliff-hanger, so you couldn't put the book down, and from the feed back I am getting in general I appear to have accomplished that. So please just read it without putting a lot of thought into inner-meanings.. just enjoy.
AR: How has your publishing experience been thus far with Infinity Publishing?
MS: I spent 2-3 years researching how to find an agent, how to find a publishing company and when it became apparent that it was going to be harder to find an agent than to write the book I researched which publisher would help me self-publish.
There are hundreds of choices. I looked for a website that was extremely professional. A company that offered the most bang for the least buck but offered the opportunity to expand and build and do more if I needed it. I liked the idea of one price for Print-On-demand (POD) books, meaning I would not have to worry about return copies. I liked the idea that they would offer so many different Internet options for the novel to be published. They supply more advanced review copies (ARC's) for the standard price than any other self-publisher I could find. This was huge to me as I had 25 reviewers clamouring (okay so I was clamouring to send it out) lined up to read my book.
I loved their commission structure, that I could buy my own books to resell and still get a commission on my own purchases (and they pay the shipping costs, not me). I love that I own all rights to my book and if a publishing house wants to take my novel and publish it there are no hidden strings, and I love the fact that all I have to do is ask and they will forward a review copy for free where ever I ask.
The staff are friendly and kind. They want to know how I am doing in my promotions and seem genuinely excited when I tell them all the wonderful things I am doing to try to sell my book.
AR: What are your future writing/publishing aspirations?
MS: I am in the process of putting together a series based on the story of a Tucson sex-crimes detective, Nate Duarte. I have about 5 story lines in mind so far. Each book will be a separate crime-solving novel with the inter-woven story throughout all the books of a drug lord in Sonora, Mexico who was involved in the murder of Duarte's parents when he was child. Duarte became a cop to bring his parent's murderer to justice. It will be a current story so the news headlines in Arizona that we are reading about today will feature to bring to light the problems the US and Mexico are experiencing with border control and drug importing in this police thriller series.
I see what local Arizona authors Elizabeth Gunn and J A Jance have accomplished, the loyal readers they have following their police-procedurals and it gives me great hope.
AR: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors looking to get their work in print?
MS: Read, read and read more. Read everything you can get get your hands on. Take classes, workshops, improve your craft., then write and re-write. Have readers look at your materials and get feed back from those you trust and then find a way to get your story in print. The publishing world is changing. Three self-published books got on the NY best-seller list this past year so never give up on your dream.
AR: How can our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
MS: I have a website, www.markpsadler.com, and a fan page in Facebook. In fact I have an ongoing competition that no one has yet taken me up on. The first 200 readers that go to my Facebook fan page and file a review of Blood on His Hands in the Review section will receive a free copy of the first Nate Duarte novel.
My website will keep readers abreast of where my next signing or reading will be. I have been invited to attend a library bookclub so I am trying to schedule a visit to Alamorgordo NM in the spring to make that happen and then I will be attending and signing copies of Blood on His Hands at the Tucson Book Festival in March.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
MS: There is a link on my website that will allow readers to e-mail me directly. I will reply to any one that write to me., and by joining my Facebook fan page they have the ability to receive updates directly from me and reply.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
MS: Sure. The most important one for authors. Buy the book! You can still get a copy by Xmas if you go through my publishers website, www.bbotw.com or go to amazon.com, borders.com or barnesandnoble.com. Help launch a new novelist on the American public.
AR: Thanks again, Mark, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!