#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Breakfield & Burkey

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I’d like to welcome Charles Breakfield of Breakfield and Burkey back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of: Wine for Breakfield and champagne for Burkey.

Things you wish you’d never bought: The silver handled turnip twaddler for Burkey’s birthday.

Things you need for your writing sessions: We both need quiet and coffee to write in the mornings.

Things that hamper your writing: In two words: Distractions and interruptions.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Breakfield and Burkey scripting out their next thriller/mystery.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Breakfield and Burkey scripting out their next thriller/mystery if the wine has run out.

Things you always put in your books: We always have our AI enhanced supercomputer ICABOD in all our books.

Things you never put in your books: Weak, wimpy, whiny females. We like strong willed, determined females, both good and bad.

Things to say to an author: “I’ve always enjoyed your work.”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “Are you kidding with that crap you sort of write?”

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Winston Churchill and J.R.R. Tolkien.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Any billionaire.

Favorite things to do: For Burkey, it’s having a cook-a-thon with her children and grandchildren. For Breakfield, it’s catering the heavy weapons for a clandestine operation to destabilize 3rd world dictators and cruel military juntas.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: For Breakfield, it’s changing diapers. For Burkey, being on time.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Burkey loves to zipline anytime she gets a chance. Her big passion is the longest zipline in Dubai.

Something you chickened out from doing: Bungy jumping from the ISS space station.

The funniest thing to happen to you: Breakfield and Burkey were in Brazil at Iguazu falls and lost track of our hired driver who was supposed to get us to our plane with the bags. We were in a panic but finally found him drinking coffee and daydreaming. With only minutes to spare we got to the airport but couldn’t find our passports that Charles had in his hand.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: Breakfield had to watch his highly agitated software developer in a heated discussion with the customer, fall backwards out of his chair after he bounced too hard in it.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “I didn’t want to feel sorry for the antagonist, but I couldn’t help myself.” (The Enigma Source.)

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “You guys made that up! That technology can’t be real.” As technologists for over 25 years, we eviscerated them at the book signing, politely of course.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Rox and Charles have been known to save discarded furniture in the neighborhood and restore it. Tables and chairs are our specialty.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: One of the rebuilt chairs did not come out as desired and was christened “Franken-chair” due to its large size and list to one side.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Breakfield once got tangled up with a bank robber while trying to sell mutual funds. Robert made into book #2 The Enigma Rising.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Many people believe that Gretchen, the evil femme fatal in The Enigma Stolen, is patterned after Rox Burkey, but that is untrue.

About Breakfield and Burkey:

Breakfield and Burkey have created award-winning stories that resonate with men and women, with a fresh perspective on technology possibilities within a fictional framework. They have two technothriller series, The Enigma Series and Enigma Heirs. They ventured into writing cozy mysteries with the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Their newest short story collection complements their novella and individual short stories. Their love of children’s imagination prompted them to create the delightful story and activity book The Dream. Reach out directly to Authors@EnigmaSeries.com or visit their website at: https://www.EnigmaSeries.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/_56u3VjXIko?si=nYDBTryira1vNP31

Website: https://www.EnigmaSeries.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEnigmaSeries

Blog: https://enigmabookseries.com/enigma-series-blog/ and https://roxburkey.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbreakfield/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanneburkey/

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/EnigmaSeries

https://twitter.com/1rburkey

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.burkey.50

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/enigmseries/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enigmabookseries/

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Breakfield & Burkey

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I’d like to welcome Breakfield and Burkey back to the blog!

Things you never want to run out of: Breakfield and Burkey agree that Pace Picante sauce should always be available. It’s delicious on everything.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Burkey would prefer to forget she ever bought into the slick words of the sales guy who promised their book would be on film. I’m sure you can imagine the other great lie that came into her mind.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The most difficult is learning to create an innovative idea in a different genre and delivering an excellent final story.

Easiest thing about being a writer: For us, it is having a co-author to bounce ideas back and forth. We never sugar coat anything, and if all else fails, Rock-Paper-Scissors solves the issue.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet, undisturbed time to focus on new story content seems to gain the most ground for both Breakfield and Burkey.

Things that hamper your writing: Interruptions in the form of phone calls, email, and

A few of your favorite things: Cast iron cookware used to make personal pan pizzas on the grill, each one a creative delight.

Things you need to throw out: Breakfield agreed to discard the T-shirts he’d been holding onto from before 1999.

Words that describe you: hardworking, creative, helpful, tenacious, open-minded, altruistic, and philanthropic

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: stubborn

Favorite foods: Grilled chicken, homemade pan pizza on a grill, Paella, scallops, grilled Brussels sprouts, and escargot

Things that make you want to gag: Lima beans

Something you’re really good at: Breakfield and Burkey are fantastic at framing thrillers with a technology threat element.

Something you’re really bad at: Breakfield and Burkey take it to heart when we disappoint readers.

Favorite music or song: Burkey’s favorite song is ‘Til You Can’t Breakfield’s song is Comfortably Numb

Music that drives you crazy: Breakfield and Burkey are not fans of Hip Hop music.

Favorite smell: Barbeque, anything is wonderful

Something that makes you hold your nose: Skunks win the prize for the stinkiest award.

Last best thing you ate: Escargot (especially on a cruise ship)

Last thing you regret eating: Fruit cake opened on Christmas but ignored until Valentine's Day

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Zipline

Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I didn’t want to feel sorry for Mathias, but your writing compelled me.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: That the technology in our thrillers isn’t real.

About Breakfield and Burkey:

Breakfield, as the CTO of Enigma Series, LLC leverages his decades of technology expertise, including security, networking, voice, and anything digital, to bring innovative technothriller elements into storytelling. He has deep knowledge of World War II history, has traveled extensively, and seeks cultural exchanges to learn what makes different people tick. Charles enjoys wine tasting, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking new recipes, and woodworking.

Burkey, as the COO of Enigma Series, LLC uses her extensive professional knowledge of optimizing technology and business investments to drive stellar customer experiences into the ongoing stories of Enigma Series. The characteristics of people she has met throughout her career are woven into their stories. Rox enjoys her family, friends, puppies, reading, reviewing books, and traveling whenever possible. Meeting readers at various events is one of her favorite pastimes.

Together, they have created award-winning stories that resonate with men and women, with a fresh perspective on technology possibilities within a fictional framework. They have two technothriller series, The Enigma Series and Enigma Heirs. They ventured into writing cozy mysteries with the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Their newest short story collection complements their novella and individual short stories. For more information, we invite you to visit https://www.EnigmaSeries.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://enigmabookseries.com/

Twitter - X - https://x.com/1rburkey and https://x.com/EnigmaSeries

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.burkey.50 and https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanneburkey/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbreakfield/ 

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey

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I would like to welcome Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey to the blog this week for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of:

Breakfield - Chardonnay wine and stories

Burkey - time and family

Things you wish you’d never bought:

Breakfield – That trampoline in the backyard next to the cliff.

Burkey – A new car with the first book published and those 4” heels

A few of your favorite things:

Breakfield – Harley Road King motorcycle, my dogs, WWII book collection

Burkey – Families with crazy schedules, puppies, and travel

Things you need to throw out:

Breakfield – Nothing, I might need everything.

Burkey – Those 4” heels, everything else I donate

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Breakfield – Coffee.

Burkey – quiet and morning are best

Things that hamper your writing:

Breakfield – bathroom breaks.

Burkey – phone calls, text, and puppies wanting outside

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Breakfield – finding just the right word.

Burkey – Finding the problems before the editor and not enough time

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Breakfield – Lots of words to use.

Burkey – Lot of ideas

Words that describe you:

Breakfield – Handsome and svelte.

Burkey – Tenacious, determined, and sometimes too nice

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

Breakfield – Too generous with praise.

Burkey – Stubborn

Favorite foods:

Breakfield – Pizza

Burkey – broccoli, mushrooms, and chicken.

Things that make you want to gag:

Breakfield – Eggplant pizza.

Burkey – Lima beans

Favorite music or song:

Breakfield – Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd.

Burkey Til You Can’t by Cody Johnson

Music that drives you crazy:

Breakfield – Country.

Burkey – Opera (I simply can’t hit those notes)

Favorite smell:

Breakfield – Smell of a pretty lady all dolled up for a night out.

Burkey – Baking bread

Something that makes you hold your nose:

Breakfield – That same lady after a really hard workout.

Burkey – Sour milk

Something you’re really good at:

Breakfield – Lying.

Burkey – Working hard when I believe in the goal

Something you’re really bad at:

Breakfield – Telling the truth.

Burkey – Putting up with nonsense and liars

Last best thing you ate:

Breakfield – Elk bratwurst sausage.

Burkey – Scrambled eggs with onions and mushrooms

Last thing you regret eating:

Breakfield – Jimmy’s Chinese #31 with shrimp.

Burkey – Peppermint bark ice cream – but I couldn’t find the plain.

About Breakfield and Burkey:

Breakfield, is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Burkey, a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments for customers worldwide with a focus on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documents with a marked preference for fiction.

Together they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, young and experienced adults, and bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today https://www.EnigmaSeries.com.