R.E. "Gus" Payne was born in New Orleans but lived
in many states of the United States and has traveled worldwide
with his wife, Royce. 
While
currently involved in education online (www.degreeconsultants.com),
he also remains involved in politics. He currently is appointed
Special Assistant to the Governor, state of Louisiana. His persona
is well known in New Orleans but also in other cities and countries
where he has appeared on radio, TV or at book signings.
As a youth, he earned spending money writing radio commercials
and working in magic acts. In the United States Navy, he was
a cryptographer with a Top Secret Nato/Cosmic security clearance
in charge of classified communications in Florida during the
Cuban missile crisis. At the age of 27, he was a senior executive
of a Fortune 500 company, headquartered in Houston, Texas.
He is best known for his writing of "Caught in the Crossfire:
The R.E. "Gus" Payne Story" and "The Death
of Brandon Lee: The Untold Story."
He is the founding director of the Foundation for Truth and
Justice, Inc., a non-profit corporation (www.foundationfortruthandjustice.org).
Visit R.E. online at http://www.repayne.com
Booksandauthors.net: Where did you grow up and was
reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest
influences and why?
R.E. Payne: Grew up in New Orleans
but lived and travelled in many parts of the world. I was always
interested in writing and did write columns in school papers
but went into business for money reasons. When I had the opportunity,
I became a newspaper reporter for five years and this greatly
sharpened my skills.
Booksandauthors.net:Why do you write?
R.E. Payne: I prefer writing exposes or
disclosure pieces such as "The Death of Brandon Lee: The
Untold Story" --a periodical that sold hundreds of thousands
of copies around the world. I think the writing is a legitimate
way to express oneself and to assist others by giving them information
they did not have from other sources.
Booksandauthors.net: Why did you write GUERILLA
TACTICS FOR JOB SEEKERS HOW TO GET THAT JOB YOU WANT BY OVERCOMING
OBJECTIONS? How is this book different from others like it?
R.E. Payne: Guerrilla Tactics for Job
Seekers is the result of contact with university and other students
of adult age who are so very concerned about finding a job in
today's economy. I was asked so many times for advice on how
to prepare for an interview or how to find a job that is not
advertised, that I decided to write the book. I think it is helpful
to a person wanting to upgrade positions or even find that first
job out of school.
Booksandauthors.net: Tell us about Caught in the
Crossfire:The R.E. "Gus" Payne Story -- which was made
into an NBC-TV movie produced in 1995 starring Dennis Franz.
R.E. Payne: "Caught in the Crossfire"
is a book published in 1994. It is a true story about a federal
case and how a case was fabricated for political reasons against
me, as I was a newspaper reporter at the time. The story was
optioned by OHara Horowitz Pdns and they sold it to NBC-TV. Dennis
Franz portrayed me. The whole process was a great learning experience
and a lot of fun, although I do not think the FBI thought it
was very funny!
One thing great about a TV movie is that it is seen by so many
more people than a theatrical movie. This movie is still being
run on Lifetime and other networks. Having a TV movie made is
also a good way for a writer to tell his story and get paid well
for it!
Booksandauthors.net: Tell us about the online
classes you teach.
R.E. Payne: I am a director at Southern
States University in Huntington Beach, California and also Ashington
University in New Orleans, Louisiana, both graduate universities.
I also teach English on line to students who desire to write
but use English as a second language. I also assist when I can
in helping a writer get published.
Booksandauthors.net: What has been your feedback
from readers?
R.E. Payne: I have had several employment
managers and human resource experts praise the Guerilla for its
straightforward style and ease of using.
Booksandauthors.net: Who are your favorite writers
and why?
R.E. Payne: I do not read fiction. My
favorite writers tend to be political commentors, conspiracy
historians, etc. The most recent books read are: The Trials of
Henry Kissinger, by Christopher Hitchens; The House of Rothschild
by Niall Ferguson; Who's Who of the Elite by Robert Gaylon Ross,
Sr; and Forbidden Truth by Jean Charles Brisard. The fact that
I read them does not mean necessarily that I agree with them;
I am interested in writers who disclose what they believe is
the truth.
Booksandauthors.net: What's next?
R.E. Payne: What is next is the "Big"
one--the book I wanted to write for years and finally did it--"The
End of All Diseases" www.theendofalldiseases.com --this
book was researched for two years and then I finally sat down
to write it a few months ago. It should be on the streets by
the first week of July 2003. It is a book based on facts but
so incredible that I doubt anyone will believe it!
Booksandauthors.net: What was the last book you
read?
R.E. Payne: The last book I read was The
Right Man: The Surprise Presidency of George W Bush by David
Frum.
Booksandauthors.net: Do you have any hobbies?
What are they? How do they enhance your writing?
R.E. Payne: My hobby is traveling. We
live in New Orleans but we are away much of the time. We have
a condo in Aspen that is rented much of the time but we use it
a couple of weeks in the spring. Last year we also spent quite
a few weeks in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Hawaii, deciding
that Singapore is our favorite and a place we will return once
the SARS scare is over. This year we are leaving for Aspen in
August, Montana and Las Vegas. In November we are going to NYC
and in January of 2004 we are taking the Maiden Voyage of the
Queen Mary II from the UK to Fort Lauderdale.
I do not write about our travels but the experience is so broadening,
I know it helps.
Guerrilla Tactics
for Job Seekers is the result of contact with university and
other students of adult age who are so very concerned about finding
a job in today's economy. I was asked so many times for advice
on how to prepare for an interview or how to find a job that
is not advertised, that I decided to write the book. I think
it is helpful to a person wanting to upgrade positions or even
find that first job out of school.
