JP Ratto is a
husband and wife collaborative writing team. EVERYTHING
TO LOSE is the first of a three-book series featuring private investigator
Lucas Holt.
Judy began
writing full time six years ago. She attended Hofstra University’s Writing
Intensive in the summer of 2010, and participated in a Hofstra-sponsored writing
and critique group from 2009 to 2012. She has written an upper middle-grade
fantasy adventure and a children’s mystery chapter book. Judy also
does free-lance editing.
Pete Ratto, a
former member of the U.S. Navy serving half his enlistment with the U.S. Marine
Corp, is a retired corporate accountant and is now writing full time.
Both are avid readers of mysteries, thrillers and suspense. Active in a
critique group made up of local authors, they enjoy discussions on all aspects
of the craft of writing. Pete enjoys photography, writing and going to the
beach. In her spare time, Judy paints watercolors and to her husband’s delight,
cooks an occasional dinner. They have a son and a daughter, both grown and
living in New York. Pete and
Judy live in southern Florida with their
cat, Gillian.
For
More Information
About the Book:
Private investigator Lucas Holt is on a
mission…
Lucas Holt specializes in kidnap recovery.
Ex-Delta Force and a former NYPD detective, he has spent the last fifteen years
burying himself in case files to cope with the unsolved abduction of his
daughter, Marnie.
Janet Maxwell just can’t let go…
After the death of Janet’s husband and son
in a tragic car accident, she hopes Holt’s expertise can locate the daughter
she gave up for adoption seventeen years ago. Janet knows her actions will have
explosive repercussions for the girl’s father—presidential candidate, Todd
Grayson. With no family, hope of finding her only daughter is all she has left.
Or is there a more sinister motive?
There’s no greater incentive for a father
than protecting his daughter…
On a mission to bury the constant reminder
of his failure to recover Marnie, Holt agrees to Janet’s proposal. But at what
cost? When his inquiries lead to news of the death of another woman, Holt can’t
shake the feeling something is off about the whole case. And when new evidence
surfaces about Marnie's disappearance, his drive to recover Janet’s daughter
and his own become one and the same.
Crooked candidates, hired mercenaries,
bitter lovers, and his own life on the line—will Holt find it inside him to
risk it all in the line of duty? There’s no telling how far you’re willing
to go when you have everything to lose.
- Everything To Lose is available at Amazon.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Thanks for this interview, Judy and Pete. Can we begin by having you tell us about
yourself from a writer’s standpoint?
We are a husband and wife collaborative writing team. Everything to Lose is our first novel
together. We love writing fiction and are currently working on the second Lucas
Holt novel.
When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation
and/or fun?
We read and enjoy dining out with friends. We live a few
miles from the ocean so an evening walk on the beach is cathartic.
Do you have a day job? Or a night one?
Writing is our day job. We try to spend time between the
hours of 10am and 3pm plotting, writing, or editing.
Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to
getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing? Can you tell us about your journey?
The publication of Everything
to Lose has been fairly smooth sailing. The manuscript took almost a year
to finish. As it was our first collaborative effort, it took time for us to organize
our process. One of us is an outliner and the other a pantser, which can be a
challenge. Once the manuscript was finished, we sent it to a professional
editor for a critique. Having that unbiased third pair of eyes was invaluable.
We had decided to self-publish when an author friend
suggested we submit our book to his publisher and were thrilled when Limitless
Publishing accepted our manuscript.
What is it about the mystery/thriller/suspense genre that
appeals more than any other genre you would choose to write?
This is the genre we both enjoy reading, which encompasses a
wide variety of subgenres from the Scotland Yard detective to a Government
Issue assassin. In our opinion, this genre is most compatible to collaborative
writing.
If you had to summarize your book in one sentence, what
would that be?
A private investigator’s search for a missing girl leads to
the resolution of a cold case murder and clues to the mystery surrounding the
abduction of his daughter years before.
What makes your book stand out from the rest?
Our writing is a unique blend of two styles and points of
view. Our protagonist Lucas Holt’s
personal story is what drives him to take the kind of cases he does. He’s done
a lot of good for others but still hasn’t come to terms with his failure to
save his own child. And he has a sexy cleft in his chin.
If your book was put in the holiday section of the store,
what holiday would that be and why?
Thanksgiving. The first three Lucas Holt novels take place
between August and November. The ultimate resolution of the overall recurring
plot line will happen around this holiday.
Would you consider turning your book into a series or has
that already been done?
Yes, there will be three novels initially, and then if there
is reader demand, we will continue to write the series.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Having each other to brainstorm ideas is an advantage.
Nuggets of ideas can come from anywhere but usually from something we’ve read
or heard. Then we rehash them to make them our own.
What’s next for you?
We plan to publish two Lucas Holt books in spring and fall
of 2016. Then we will work on another case for Holt or perhaps another series.
We also have other individual writing projects we would like to work on.
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