Pump Up Your Book Chats with V Frank Asaro, author of ‘The Tortoise Shell Code’

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V Frank Asaro ABOUT V FRANK ASARO

V Frank Asaro is a lawyer, musician/composer, inventor and author/philosopher who began developing the theory of co-opetition not long after he was selected out of law school as lawyer-clerk to the California Courts of Appeal. He went on to receive the highest-category law career peer review, Martindale Hubbell rating, and appeared in Who’s Who in American Law, 98-99 and Who’s Who in the World 2000.

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What inspired you to write your first book?

I wrote Universal Co-opetition because I felt I had struck upon an axiom for resolving issues and problems and for reaching the highest level of operation of any system.  I found that those who cooperate when they compete seem to have more success.  In business, those who compete unethically (without some cooperation) would soon lose clients and customers.  I wanted to dramatize how it all works, by writing my novel, The Tortoise Shell Code.  It is a riveting high-seas crime/legal drama of romance, fisticuffs, revolution – all spiced with  thought-provoking concepts.

What books have influenced your life the most?

I’ve been most influence by storytelling that gives a profound message along with exhilarating entertainment. Huxley, Ayn Rand, Eugene Burdick, Orwell, and many others wrote those kinds of books – The Brave New World, Atlas Shrugged, 1984, The Ninth Wave and a hundred others.

What are your current projects?

I have two more novels in various states of completion.  One is set in Alaska/California. The other is set in Italy/California.  Both deal with reliving past lives in present day.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I am happy with how they both turned out.  I am working on a screen play of The Tortoise Shell Code, so there are quite a few characters to deal with.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I had been used to using a vocabulary suitable for legal briefs.  The editors asked me to substitute active common verbs instead – so that an eighth grader could enjoy it. I think I have learned how to do that with the proper color.

What has been the best compliment?

You’re trying to get me to blush… masterful storytelling, so my editor Mark Clements said.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Even though it is not poetry there is a rhythm and pace to writing. I build my story to finish with a crescendo.  Some other books of certain well-known authors seem to fizzle out.  Shouldn’t I be honest here?

What is your favorite quality about yourself?

Although I am comfortable with myself, I would prefer you ask someone who knows me to give an anonymous answer to that.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

My friend, former wife and mother of my children probably could give you an answer on that one.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Writing and composing music is phenomenal fun for me.  So I am finishing off a musical screen play – the music-theme and story I’ve are already written.

The Tortoise Shell Code ABOUT THE TORTOISE SHELL CODE

Off the coast of Southern California, the Sea Diva, a tuna boat, sinks. Members of the crew are missing and what happened remains a mystery. Anthony Darren, a renowned and wealthy lawyer at the top of his game, knows the boat’s owner and soon becomes involved in the case. As the case goes to trial, a missing crew member is believed to be at fault, but new evidence comes to light and the finger of guilt points in a completely unan­ticipated direction.

Now Anthony must pull together all his resources to find the truth in what has happened and free a wrongly accused man—as well as untangle himself. Fighting despair, he finds that the recent events have called much larger issues into question. As he struggles to right this terrible wrong, Anthony makes new and enlightening dis­coveries in his own life-long battle for personal and global justice.


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