RM: Tell out readers why they should pick up your book. What makes it great?

O.A. Drakeford: This novel is written by someone the public is has not yet heard of and a writer they are unfamiliar before now.

This redefines concepts of writing. ESCAPE ZONES is a novel whereby the reader experiences the reality of the characters in any given circumstances, events and situations. Each characters thrift throughout any given situation they are currently dealing with and try to propel themselves past the problems hopefully better able to emerge smarter. Than before they were consumed by whatever circumstances they were dealing with from initial onset.

Some issues are resolved while other or not. Why is this so very important? Consider this, from the moment any given character sees, feels the circumstances’ they directly involved with. There is something each of them must do regardless of whatever they all are doing at that moment. There is place unique only to them, and they all retreat to and re-evaluate the next course of actions. To refocus they energy, gather more information, think of other alterative, and reassess their options. Understand this you, and will have a better understanding of each   the characters structure. 

Once you completed your reading of this novel. In your afterthoughts contemplate this in the scheme of things. How are much more different are we compared to the fictional character you just read about in this book?

RM: What inspired you to tell this story?

O.A.: We are a people that no matter who we are, where we come from, there is commonness about ourselves. We all have circumstances and situation in our daily lives. In some cases we solved problems just like an airliner flys on autopilot and think nothing of it, but secretly believe and hope it doesn’t come to haunt us in the eleventh hour.

Sometimes we may have a need to find a place to just get away from where the problems. Searching to find a private space where no one will ever know where we are so we can reassess our options, plan a better strategy hoping to emerged victorious now as oppose when we first faced the problems.

The exception to this situation is when someone else violates your personal sanctuary. Than you feel as a fish out of water. We all have situations to overcome. No two people react the same in similar circumstances. Nevertheless, environment, social status, growing up and income levels. Play major part in our problem solving skills. What dose these have to do with our problems? More importantly not to the problem, but where you go the refocus your collective energy on solving it.

RM: Your story is set during war time, how dose this book differ from other novels in the same canon?

O.A.: The difference is how they go about it. I have written about personal conflict that the decision maker understands they have the power to subject people in their charge over life and death. And with this a controlling power requires total obedience without questions. Regardless of the of adversity and the situation. But each character is has commonness of being human and with that comes a self-awareness on the part of the doer. Why I’m doing this? Who stands to benefit from all of efforts?  I seek to establish the personal conflict between duty, honor, integrity and unselfishness. The decision makers have to live with past decisions for the rest of their lives good, bad and indifferent. This essence of Escape Zones.

RM: Did you do any research while writing your book?

O.A.: Yes, I did. The public libraries are great way to begin the research. It has the available and there is a variety of information. This aid the writer in building solid foundation. As vase as the internet has become. Purchasing information is al carte. Just understand the copyright issues that are involved are paramount to the writer’s success.

I was asked by someone after I began writing. “Why do you write?” I was taken aback by the question. As I pondered the question and searched for something that would sound profound.

All at once I knew who I wrote for, but not the why, until the answer came to me during my research. I write to educate and entertain my readers. And with that come self-awareness to the seeker of information. It is the desire to know the truth given the sources. But the seeker looks for something other than the obvious. If seeker has no idea what they are looking for sometime can be plain as the nose your character’s face.

RM: Which character do you identify with most and why?

O.A.: This would be first lieutenant Ando Yashi. He is man who is torn between loyalty to his superior officer and looking out the welfare of his men. Yes, he has subordinate noncommissioned officers to insure that the men trained and their equipment is the high state of readiness to be used at a moment noticed. Each service member is accounted for twenty-four seven.

Each team member is crossed trained into other specialties to fill a void if the need arises. They work as a team and lookout for each other in and out of the field environment. Each individual has an opportunity to excel into a leadership position.

But there is a commitment to do the right thing according to his beliefs and human nature. But in support of his commanding officer he has violated to most sacrilege of trusted. And with this aspect of being commission officer and this was compromising his integrity by lying to a general officer. This is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military justice (UCMJ) in any language. This will haunt him to his grave.

He has job to do and in a position to make difficult chooses, like it or not it the nature in the job. He doesn’t have been well like to get the job done. It just has to be done like it or not.

Lt. Ando Yashi wishes his company commander would listen to his thoughts and ideas concerning the order of battle. But Captain Igotsu Yokota his head strong and wishes be glorious in battle at any cost. A fatal mistake that will cost him dearly.

RM: What advise do you have for aspiring writers?

O.A.: Believe in yourself and what you are doing. Learn from other writers who gone before you. Chose a subject you truly believe in and go forth and do great things. Understand why you write and who you writing for. This is educational process you’ll research a great deal by thoroughly knowing your subject material you are seeking after. and this enables you as a writer to better developing your characters. I truly hope you enjoying reading this novel as much as I enjoyed writing it. I truly thank you.