fiction

Q&A with Don Easton, author of the Jack Taggart series

Tell us about your book.
The premise of Samurai Code depicts the extreme methods used by some organized crime families to protect themselves from informants or undercover police officers and reveals how innocent people can be targeted for murder.

How did you come up with the idea for this work?
I came up with the idea for this novel from personal experience. Like the protagonist, Jack Taggart, in my novel, I worked as an undercover RCMP operative over a span of twenty years, including seven years with an RCMP Intelligence Unit specializing on organized crime. I do not wish to disclose pertinent details to my fans who have not yet read Samurai Code, but I will say that the premise of the novel is based on personal experience when I was being tested by an organized crime family to ensure my loyalty to their organization.

Tell us a little about the overarching theme of your work, and why you felt compelled to explore it.
The driving force compelling me to write this novel, like my previous three novels in the series (Loose Ends, Above Ground and Angel in the Full Moon) is a combination of self-vindication, catharsis and a desire to educate the general public. Like the protagonist in my novels, I have often had to wrestle with my conscience over the actions I took and live with the sometimes-unexpected consequence of my actions. As an undercover operative I discovered, as I hope my readers do, that we do not live in a world of black and white. It is my intention to make people better informed of the world around them, cause them to question their own moral conscience and promote a better understanding of people who are often less fortunate.

Describe the most memorable response you’ve received from a reader.
The most memorable response I have ever received from a reader was when I was at a bookstore signing copies of my third novel, Angel in the Full Moon. For those unfamiliar with this novel, it included a story line about how pedophiles shame children into keeping the abuse secret, thereby allowing the pedophile to continue molesting other children, often throughout the entire life of the pedophile. Emotionally, I found it a difficult story to write. In my epilogue to this novel I wrote a plea to the victims and said, “… It is time to identify the monsters and put them away. Our children need protection. Please find the courage to do what is right.”

At this particular author signing, I was sought out by a reader who said that as a result of reading Angel in the Full Moon, she had now found the courage to return to another city from where she was originally from and disclose the identity of the perpetrator who still lived in that city. A week later, I had a similar encounter from another reader. The whole experience left me with a feeling that the work and emotional toll I went through to write the novel was justified and entirely worth while.

What is your next project?
My next project is to be the publication of my fifth novel in the series entitled Dead Ends. This novel is about criminal gangs and in particular, youth gangs. In part, the novel reflects actual criminal cases and demonstrates that something has gone terribly, terribly wrong when it comes to our judiciary, as well as our dismal response as a society in addressing the problem of young offenders.

Don Easton worked as an undercover Mountie for twenty years. He lived a life of false identities and with contracts on his life. He’s witnessed horrific crimes – and made decisions as to who should live or die. The Jack Taggart series depicts a realism that could be achieved only through real-life experiences.

© 2010 Defining Canada.