Interview with 'The Tiger's Cage' Linda J. White



Linda J. White is the author of multiple FBI thrillers including the HOLT Medallion-winning “Seeds of Evidence.” She lives in Fauquier County, Virginia with her husband Larry, who worked at the FBI Academy for over 27 years. When she’s not writing she likes playing with dogs and her grandchildren and going to the beach.

Her latest book is the suspense novel, The Tiger’s Cage.

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About the Book:

FBI Special Agent Tom Donovan is about to nail the drug lord he’s been investigating when Angel Ramos does the unthinkable: He kidnaps Tom’s eighteen-year-old son, Kenny. The FBI responds with a powerful show of force but Ramos manages to elude them. Tom is furious, his wife is terrified, and their son is forced to confront evil face-to-face.
Tom devises a brilliant plan to rescue his son, but on a windy, rainy night in Washington, his past collides with his present in a dramatic turn of events, and Tom discovers his greatest strength isn’t his at all.
The Tiger’s Cage is a story of courage, faith, and endurance in a violent world.

For More Information

  • The Tiger’s Cage is available at Amazon.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads

Thanks for this interview, Linda.  Can we begin by having you tell us about yourself from a writer’s standpoint?

I’ve been writing novels for over twenty years and I have three traditionally published books out and two self-published books. I write FBI thrillers—my husband made video training films for the FBI Academy for over twenty-seven years. Our kids grew up arresting each other in the back yard!

When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?

I love the beach and being out on the water. Until recently, we had a 32-foot sailboat. I loved anchoring in a cove off the Chesapeake Bay and watching the sun go down while herons stalked fish in the shallow waters.

Congratulations on your new book! Can you give us the very first page of your book so that we can get a glimpse inside?

Tuesday, January 12, 1993

“Ride, Kenny?”
“No, thanks. It’s a good night to be outside.”
“See you tomorrow at school, then.”
“You bet.” Kenneth Patrick Donovan turned toward his home, just a mile away. His suburban Northern Virginia neighborhood was quiet, peaceful, softly illuminated by lights from living room windows spilling onto front yards in gentle squares. Four inches of snow from yesterday’s storm lay on the ground, fluffy and clean, like a down comforter shaken and re-laid on the earthy bed.
No one was out, not even the neighborhood dogs, and Kenny drank in the solitude like a tonic. He couldn’t get the meeting out of his mind. Amazing. He was learning so much. Shoving his hand in the pocket of his high school letter jacket, he fingered a little metal cross. He looked up at the starry January sky, and it seemed he could see forever.
He didn’t notice the white Chevy van as it came down the street. He heard a noise. A small alarm went off in his head. He started to turn around, too late.
They grabbed him from behind. Kenny’s head snapped back and fear exploded in his belly. He pulled against their hands, and sucked in a panicked breath as someone shoved a bandanna in his mouth. He couldn’t breathe! The night disappeared under a knit hat.

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?

I first got the idea for “The Tiger’s Cage” in December, 1992. I had no idea how to write a novel—or even if I could. Agents at the FBI Academy graciously helped me learn enough about FBI procedures to make the story authentic. A year later I had a complete manuscript. Then the fun began! I started sending it out to agents and editors, got encouragement and plenty of rejections, and almost got it published. In the meantime, I kept writing and my fourth book (“Bloody Point”) got picked up. Yay! I’ve had three traditionally published books, and one Indie, then last summer, I decided to publish “The Tiger’s Cage” myself. The story would not leave me alone!

If you had to summarize your book in one sentence, what would that be?

Tom Donovan, a strong, self-sufficient FBI agent, finds his life spinning out of control when the drug gang he’s been investigating kidnaps his son.

What makes your book stand out from the rest?

Many mystery/suspense books are plot-driven. “The Tiger’s Cage” is a page-turner but you really care about the characters.

If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?

Father’s Day, because the love of a father for his son is a strong theme in this book.

Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?

I’ve written the sequel to “The Tiger’s Cage.” I’m not sure what I’ll do with it!

What’s next for you?

My agent is shopping a novel based on the 2002 D.C. Sniper incident. And I’m working on a novella about a seventeen year-old girl dating an older guy whose intentions are not at all honorable.


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