Five on Friday - T. Jefferson Parker

Happy Friday, my book-loving friends. I hope you've had a great week. What are you reading or listening to that's great? I just started Tammy Kaehler's new Kate Reilly mystery, Avoidable Contact. I also finished a new book coming from Quirk called Horrorstör. If you like a good ghost story, this one is for you. More on that one later.

We have a great guest for Five on Friday! So let me do the contest rundown so we can get to Jeff Parker as quick as possible.

First, Kirkus has a sweepstakes going on that could win you a bookish trip to New York City. Definitely check that one out if you haven't already. But you need to get your entry in by Sunday, so don't delay.

Criminal Element still has a chance for you to win the "Histories and Mysteries" sweepstakes.

And Friday Reads has copies of Ridley Pearson's The Red Room and Kieran Shea's Koko Takes a Holiday.

And of course, don't forget to stop at Lesa's and see what fun she has going on!

Now on to the main event!

T. Jefferson Parker has a backstory like numerous writers: got his start in newspapers, writing his first book over nights and weekends. But few can claim his talent or success.  He's a three-time Edgar winner and a L.A. Times Book Prize winner. His novels and stories have published to great success and in October a new twist in Jeff's career will be published. Full Measure is a literary novel  that explores "the bonds of loyalty between brothers, the contest between responsibility and personal freedom, and the wars, both at home and abroad, that inform 21st century America." Wow! Sounds pretty ambitious, but if anyone can tackle it, T. Jefferson Parker can.

And since I've given this superstar more introduction than he really needs, let me turn this show over to him for today's super special Five on Friday!

Going after that rainbow trout?

1. If I could tell my 16-year-old self one piece of advice, knowing what I know now, it would be: Don't doubt yourself. Doubt kills. Find what you love and love it forever.

2. One thing I have no tolerance for is: People whose entire world is limited to themselves and themselves only. This is especially true when they're driving a car. Terror to me is a driver who believes he's alone in the world. Of course this danger applies to any situation in life where the self-obsessed roam freely!

3. A skill I’ve always wanted to have, but don’t is: I wish I could sell things. You know, really get in there and make a person think they have to have what I'm selling. I know people like this and they amaze me. Think of the success!

4. The most daring thing I ever tried (to date) was: I jumped in a high fast river once, fully clothed, to save my bird dog from being swept away. When I finally got to him a thousand yards downstream and dragged him to a mud bank, he still had the bird in his mouth. I'm not sure which of our separate dedications was stronger!

5. The #1 item on my bucket list right now is: There's this gigantic, kype-jawed rainbow trout living in the Long Years section of the Upper Owens River near Mammoth. I hooked him once and after quite a battle, the fly came out and the fish got away. Gotta catch that guy, take his picture, then let him go on purpose! 

Did this make you chuckle? Nod your head in agreement? Smile? I know it did for me! And you all know I have to admire a man who would go to such lengths for his dog. I just loved everything about this Five on Friday. I hope you did, too. My sincerest thanks to Jeff Parker for his wonderful responses. People like this make this series so incredibly special. You can learn a lot more about Jeff at his website.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and happy reading!