Today we welcome to the site Miles Joyner, a new crime author based in Washington, DC, who is about to release his first techno thriller. Bazaar is set in Miles’s hometown and opens with the assassination of a diplomat’s son while he waits for the night bus. The crime has been carried out by a young killer who is as audacious as he is remorseless. In response, the diplomat Chiedu Attah hires Raptor, a security agency run by Yemi and Karen Uzunma, Nigerian American siblings who find themselves up against the Bazaar – a Dark Web market for murder.
The book will open a proposed series by Miles, which is outlined on his website. With a background in video production, Miles has moved from filmmaking to writing novels, which is now his top creative priority. We decided to find out more about Bazaar and the author who wrote it…
What will crime fiction lovers love about Bazaar?
Readers have expressed a love for the unique plot, action scenes and social themes that offer a new perspective without beating you over the head with the author’s biased views.
Tell us a little more about Yemi and Karen. Where did the idea for these siblings come from and how have you developed their characters?
Karen is the CEO/CFO of Raptor while Yemi is the squad leader for their Executive Protection Team. Karen is obviously more focused on the bottom line when it comes to profitability and enjoys partaking in the DC social scene where she can rub shoulders with potential clients over mimosas at a day party. Although he has a couple close friends, Yemi is largely a loner who has very few hobbies outside of studying how to adapt security strategy to the rising popularity of the Bazaar.
The idea of Raptor being run by siblings was in the early stages of conception, but it wasn’t until later in the process that I gave them opposite genders. I realised that just like they balance each other in day-to-day operations, their personalities offer different layers I can add to the story.
Who or what are they up against in Bazaar?
They’re up against anybody willing to risk their freedom for a potential big pay day. Their primary nemesis, though, is the young assassin, Aaron Williams. Aaron is ruthless, intelligent and driven.
Who are some of the other characters we need to look out for?
The Salvadoran Civil War veteran Merlin Erazo is another adversary the Raptor EPT find themselves going up against. He’s significantly older than Aaron, but he’s more of a vigilante who stumbles across the Bazaar almost by accident rather than just a money-motivated hitman.
Why did you choose to set the book in Washington, DC and how important is the setting in your novel?
In addition to growing up in the area, I realised given DC’s significance to global politics, it would be the perfect setting for the plot of Bazaar. It was a way I could explore both the diversity in and around the beltway as well as the area’s culture of power.
The effect of technology is a key theme for you – how have you explored it in Bazaar?
A lot of the exploration in Bazaar surrounds technology’s effect on the sociopolitical climate and even economics. A 3D printed gun was tied to the assassination of the United Healthcare CEO and assassination markets do exist in the real world, they just haven’t been connected to any real world homicides.
Which other authors and books have influenced you, and what are you reading right now?
Bazaar has a wide range of influences from thriller classics ranging from Sam Greenlee’s The Spook Who Sat By the Door to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. I also tip my hat off to the old school conspiracy thrillers like The Day of the Jackal, The Parallax View and Six Days of the Condor. Although he’s primarily a comic book writer, the early work of Jonathan Hickman was a huge inspiration in the type of stories I wish to tell.
Right now I’m currently reading the bibliography of Donald Goines. My cousin introduced me to his work when he found out I wrote a book and I’m addicted to his style.
You’re quite involved in the writing community. What’s the crime fiction scene like in DC at the moment?
It’s very healthy. My writers group, Novels in Progress DC, is full of talented scribes. Living legends like George Pelecanos, who’s from my hometown of Silver Spring, and David Baldacci call the DMV home. There’s also some great newer crime writers coming out of here such as Nick Brooks and EA Aymar. In addition, DC is a major area for the genre of spy thrillers such as David Ignatius and Clancy himself was a Baltimore native, which is right next door.
What’s next for Yemi and Karen, and what’s next for Miles Joyner?
Yemi and Karen will be appearing again in Shifta, the sequel, where they go up against an enemy who is even more savvy to the potential for the Bazaar and looks to get the general public more involved in the process. I’m currently finishing the first entry and film version of my other technothriller story, Compound, while I continue to work on more entries in the Bazaar series.
Bazaar goes on sale on 27 March. Order your copy with the buttons below.
