28029a84fd490ad8976ff7.L._V135258382_SX200_I graduated from Norwich University in Vermont in 1980 and spent 12 years in military service in the Army, leaving at the rank of Major. During this time, I served as a company commander during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, earning the Bronze Star, Kuwait Liberation Medal and Combat Air Medal. My series of books, starting with Code Name Sonny are spy novels starting from WWII, continuing the characters through the cold war.   Book Synopsis: In book 2 of the Code Name Series, Mountains of Fire, its D-Day. Men fight. Some live. Some die. This is the story of one who made a difference. In Pas de Calais, Henri, having saved Sonny, is now cornered by Waffen SS soldiers as they close in to end his life. Enter Lieutenant Robbie Robertson, and his team of paratroopers, sent in to fool the Germans as part of Operation Bodyguard. Will their paths cross, and will the paratroopers arrive in time to save Henri? Back in 2002, in New Hampshire, Jack and Emily face the demons of their past, and they are forced to confront them. Pitted against a cruel and vicious enemy, they learn the craft of Jack’s father to survive, and to avenge his death. K.E. Pottie, the award winning author of Code Name Sonny, continues the thrilling story of Henri, Madeline, Charlene and the French partisans as Jack and Emily uncover a plot to attack New York City with a dirty bomb. Here’s your chance to market your book.  Describe it.  And why readers should pick it up? Author K.E. Pottie continues his fabulous World War II story about the bravery of those in the French Resistance with this episode that sees Henri, Madeline and Charlene escaping Nazi-occupied France even though World War II is drawing to its ending days. Years later, in 2002, Jack meets Charlene, now an old woman, who has used her inherited Virginia estate as headquarters to hunt down these present day Nazis. This is a series that readers everywhere will love to follow. How did your book come to life? From a true story that my dad told me, New Year’s eve 1999-2000.  Who is you favorite character in your book and why? Two actually, Jack and Emily Turner. They are modeled after my wife and I.  Their banter, and actions in the book, model our life to a tee. Are your characters’ experiences taken from someone you know, or events in your own life? My father was behind enemy lines in France during WWII, delivering radio’s to French partisans for Patton’s fake invasion of Pas de Calais (Operation Bodyguard). He told us what he did on New Years Eve, 1999.  That was the basis for the chapters set in the past.  When I asked him why he never told us, he said, “If I am still here, so are the bad guys, and I never wanted to place my family in danger.” (by exposing his work). So the “What if they found us” is the basis of the present day chapters in all my books.  How long did it take you to write your book? I started writing Code Name Sonny in 2000, but life got in the way. After being unemployed for 3 years, I decided to just sit down and get it done.  Once I started, that writing spark kicked back in. At that point I wrote Code Name Sonny and then followed up with Mountains of Fire within 6 months. How do you start writing a new book? What comes first? The characters? The story? The story comes first. But since this is a series, I add new characters to existing ones to enhance the storyline. Do you like to write series? Or single titles only? Series. I have always liked to read a series. The style builds a world in your mind. Can you describe your main character in 3 words? Determined, loyal, and dutiful. Can you describe your heroine in one sentence? Ditto, they make a great couple. Without giving away details, Can you describe one interesting scene in your book in less than two sentences? “Jack, no!” Emily yelled above the howling of the locomotive reaching top speed. The round ricocheted past Emily, who took out her pistol and shot out the window to the control room. Reaching inside, she unlatched the lock and opened the door. In two sentences or less can you tell readers something unique about your book? The book is written in a past/present style. At the end of each chapter, you will be left with a mini cliff hanger, which you will want to finish in the next past or present chapter. The book will be hard to put down, because you want to find out what happened next. Who inspires you? 17080894 My father Laren Pottie, 7/2/1927-11/2/2012. He served in WWII, was a boy scout leader for 30 years, 4th degree Knight of Columbus, married to my mom for 62 years. He was a wonderful giving man, who never asked anything in return. Where do you find your ideas? Does something trigger them? Do you carry around a notebook in case inspiration strikes? Watching people and/or tv. I usually keep my ideas in my head, but recently I had a dream about a plot I was working on, but forgot most of what I dreamt. Now I leave a pad by my nightstand, just in case. How do you research your books? Wikipedia, talking to people who actually did what I am writing about. I also purchase factual books on the subject to get another perspective.  Since I write mostly in the war/spy genre, I also watch the Military channel and the History channel, when a topic comes up I am writing about. Have you written your entire life? Have you always considered yourself a writer? No. I was a computer geek and project manager for years, but the stories were always in my head, waiting for a chance to escape 😉 Why do you write?  Is it something you’ve always done, or always wanted to do? I enjoy writing. I like it when someone tells me, “That was a cool story.” What is your work in progress? Tell us about it. The 13th Cohort, which will tie the previous two books, Code Name Sonny and Mountains of Fire into a grand finale. What are your thoughts on self-publishing verses traditional publishing? Self Publishing gives me full control of my book at all times. I feel that traditional publishing does not. If you were told your stories were unbelievable and no written very well, would you continue to write? What would your response be? “no written very well” 🙂 Absolutely, even when eye kant spel, I have a great editor! Would you ever consider converting one of you stories/published books into a screenplay? And if you could corroborate with someone, who would it be? I would love to have my books become movies. Gary Sinese(LT Dan, CSI New York) supports veterans efforts and would love to collaborate with him. Who or what inspired you to become a writer? I have always wanted to write. The spark was ignited when I picked up Robert Ruark’s, “The old man and the boy” Do you like to travel? If so where is your favorite city? I have traveled the world, as part of the military. My favorite city in the US is San Francisco, so much going on there. Outside of the US, I loved living in Germany. What is your favorite food? Do you have a favorite restaurant you’d recommend if we ever visit your city? Steak…it’s what’s for dinner! One of my all time favorite restaurants in Alfred’s Steakhouse in San Francisco. Does your family support you in your writing career? How? Yes. They leave me alone when I am writing 🙂 If there were one wish you could ask the genie in the bottle to grant, what would it be? To spend one more day with my father, who passed away 11-02-12 Have you ever sat and just watched the people go by?   Yes.  When I get writer’s block, I go out into the world and observe people doing everyday things. It helps develop my characters by watching their every day actions. 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