Jackson Blaine, the President of the United States and a former defense lawyer, shocks his estranged son Brian and the entire world when he decides to personally go to court to help defend the young man after he’s arrested for murdering his best friend and college dormmate. This is the compellingly unique premise of First Line of Defense, a political/legal thriller and murder mystery coming out October 1 by one of IE's most awarded and prolific authors, Peter Berk. 

​First Line of Defense marks award-winning author Peter Berk’s third novel with IngramElliott, following the recent publication of TimeLock and TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy, the first two entries in an imaginative series of sci-fi and action novels co-authored by Peter’s father, Columbo and Mission: Impossible writer Howard Berk. 

And now, Peter adds legal thriller to his distinguished list. Tinged with action, suspense, romance, humor and more than a few unexpected twists, the new novel takes its 21-year-old lead protagonist, Brian Blaine, on a life-altering adventure that will dramatically change his relationship with his father and alter the course of his entire personal and professional life forever. 

We caught up with the author ahead of the release of First Line of Defense on October 1. 

Please tell us something about your book that is not in the summary. 
It can rightly be called a political legal thriller, but I mainly consider the book to be about a family - in this case, the First Family - and more specifically about a young man reconnecting with his estranged father. And because I had the opposite relationship with my late dad, Howard, Brian's turbulent rapport with the President through at least the first half of the book was the hardest part to write for me.

What do you most hope will be the reaction of readers to your book?
Like any author, I just hope people are compelled to keep reading, care about the characters, come across a surprise twist or two and enjoy the overall reading experience.

Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about?
I hadn't written anything in the legal thriller genre and out of the blue had this wild notion of a President who's a former lawyer actually representing his own son in court. Not likely of course, but that's why it's called fiction!

What is your favorite scene in your book? Why?
Probably the meet cute scene when Brian first meets Emma; a later scene when the President catches a beet-red Brian and Emma after their first romantic encounter; the scene when father and son finally reconcile; and the "big reveal" at the end in the courthouse.

Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude any of your personal experiences or feelings?
Despite writing from a 21 year-old's perspective so long after I was in fact that age myself, I did include a lot of my own personal sensibilities throughout - being an only child like Brian, having a best friend who's like a brother (who is happily still very much in my life), possessing a self-deprecating sense of humor and more.

Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer. What inspired you to write your first book? 
My writing inspiration has been and always will be my father - a far better writer than I'll ever be. "First Line of Defense" was actually my first novel, but not the first one published, since I was fortunate enough to connect with IngramElliott after novelizing the screenplay of "TimeLock" my dad and I wrote several years back.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Only the corniest of advice - never stop writing! Unlike being a dancer or athlete where you have a limited number of years to perform on the stage or on the field, writers can write at any age. My dad was working on a new novel at 92 and look how long it took me to have a book published, so keep at it forever.

Tell me a little about your book’s title and what it represents?
Nothing too subtle here, I'll admit, but "First" as in First Family and "Defense" since that's what the entire story is about.

About The Author                                                                  
Peter Berk has written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several with his father which became the basis for the TimeLock series of novels. The original TimeLock novel was named as a Distinguished Favorite in the TechnoThriller category of the 2024 Independent Press Award and was a Finalist in the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Science Fiction, Mystery, and Global Thrillers. TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy was published in 2023 and the third book in the series, TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox, will be published in Spring 2025 by IngramElliott. Peter and his family live in Southern California.
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Connect with Peter on Facebook and Instagram @peterberk_author.

Congratulations to IE's newest release, WWCC Heroes: Pablo's Adventure. This fun, colorful bilingual kids book is a smash sensation in its opening week. The children's picture book ranked #2 in Juvenile Fiction--Sports and Games across our worldwide distribution network, powered by Ingram Content Group. It teaches kids about friendship and the value of everyone, despite differences. 

The 2024 Austin Film Festival celebrates the best films and screenplays the industry has to offer. The mission of the AFF is to further the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and artists who use written and visual language to tell a story. 

The screenplay for JuJu Justice - a forthcoming novel by award-winning author T.E. Lane - was just named an official Second Rounder in the AFF Script Competition. It's a thrilling win for the author and a notable achievement as only the top 20% of screenplays are awarded the honor. 

This is the second honor for the screenplay as it was named a Finalist in the New York International Screenplay Awards earlier this year. 

JuJu Justice is a mystical action/drama written by award-winning writer T.E. Lane. The author’s debut novel, The Cornbread Letters, was a finalist in the 2023 National Indie Excellence and Chanticleer International Book Awards and the Winner of the 2024 Independent Press Awards for Paranormal Thriller. JuJu Justice will be published in 2025 by IngramElliott Publishing. ​

Author M.M. Cochran is more than a fiction writer--she spent early years in her career as a journalist and is no stranger to the frantic pace of getting a news piece out on time, long hours on the news floor researching a story, and the 'cold, ambiguous' atmosphere that a news room can generate. She's put all this moody experience to great use in her latest novel, a highly anticipated psychological thriller called The Button Collector. 

​Available everywhere books are sold September 17

A bone-chilling story set in snowy Chicago, this psychological thriller revolving around newspaper journalist Jessica Knight and the serial killer known for murdering Knight’s family members combines atmospheric drama with romance and mystery reminiscent of book-to-screen adaptations like Sharp Objects (HBO), The Last Thing He Told Me (Apple+), and Verity by Colleen Hoover (Amazon/MGM).

“This book’s aesthetic is very mysterious, with cigarette smoke, dark apartments, snowy streets, and police cars. It’s exactly what a reader would expect from a journalist on the run from a killer––and falling in love with a detective the whole time,” says author M. M. Cochran. “When a thriller lover picks up The Button Collector, I know they’ll be trying to solve the mystery from page one, and I’m really excited to see who can put the puzzle pieces together before the ending.”

Cochran’s award-winning debut novel--Between the Ocean and the Stars—was published in 2022 by IngramElliott Publishing and hailed by reviewers as “heartbreaking, poignant, and emotional.” The novel was named a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards® and is available anywhere books are sold. Her fans are very excited about her second novel and can get signed copies at her book launch event in October. 

Cochran will be holding a book launch party for The Button Collector on Saturday, October 12, at Third Space Coffee & Bakery in Landrum, SC, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Third Space is located at 803 E. Rutherford St., Suite D, Landrum, SC. The public is invited to attend the party, where light snacks and refreshments will be served. Please bring your copy of The Button Collector for Cochran to sign at the event or purchase a paperback or hardcopy at the event. 

About the book
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Can Jessica button up this case on her own?
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When Chicago journalist Jessica Knight is linked to a string of odd murders happening across the country, her life takes a turn for the worse. She is left wondering why her relatives are the ones dropping like flies under the signature mark of a serial killer . . . why she can’t stop thinking about Michael Bradley, the appealing detective assigned to protect her . . . and most of all, why, despite being the Button Collector’s prime target, she’s still alive at all.

One thing she knows for certain: the killer is always watching.

As the line between truth and deception begins to blur, Jessica crumbles under the dense web of lies she’s trying to keep straight––especially once the police start questioning more than just her sanity. With pressure mounting, Jessica must navigate being under the watchful eye of the police––and the killer––while risking it all in a dangerous game to make up for the mistakes of her past.

Her days are numbered…one way or the other.

We caught up with the author in advance of the release of The Button Collector on Sept. 17. 

​Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude any of your personal experiences or feelings?
The Button Collector is full of personal experience. Obviously, I’ve never been hunted by a serial killer, but I was a journalist for five years (like my main character), and I’m currently in my mid-twenties just like my main character. I drew a lot of inspiration for this book while I was interning at a newspaper in my early twenties. In fact, a lot of The Button Collector was written in the conference room of that newspaper office. I hope my readers can really feel that cold, ambiguous aesthetic as they’re reading. 

Tell me about your book’s title and what it represents?
The Button Collector 100% represents the serial killer in the book, whose nickname was been deemed by media due to his wild calling card. Originally, I was calling this book “Blood Stains,” but after going back and forth with that one and “The Button Collector,” as well as pitching that name to my parents and publisher, everyone agreed that The Button Collector was the way to go. 

Who is your first reader? 
Typically, my first reader is always my mom. With The Button Collector, I knew I wanted my mom to have eyes on the manuscript first because she loves thrillers. I knew she’d give me honest feedback. It turns out that this is her favorite book of mine! 

The Button Collector is available September 17, 2024, in print and e-Book. Order your copy now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Rakuten kobo, Apple iTunes, and anywhere books are sold. 

About the author
​M. M. Cochran is an award-winning journalist and fiction writer. She is the author of young adult mystery romance novel Between the Ocean and the Stars, which was named a finalist in the 2023 National Indie Excellence Awards. She lives in the foothills of South Carolina and can most commonly be found watching sunsets, making homemade lattes, or seeking out the next adventure. Keep up with M. M. Cochran on @m.m.cochran_writer.

Congratulations to Jordan Berk, the author of IE's newest best seller, The Timestream Verdict. This exciting new science fiction time-travel novel ranked #2 in the Science Fiction genre across our worldwide distribution network, powered by the Ingram Content Group, just a day after it's release.