Traces of Greed

Traces of Greed

Greed- You read and hear about it everyday!
Banking Executive pens timely financial thriller
Greed: An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth.

They can be the most enticing criminal acts. They're relatively easy to carry out, and a click of a computer key can bring you millions of dollars. People don't get physically hurt, so what's the harm?

These acts are routinely in the news, almost daily: money laundering, embezzlement, securities fraud, and a myriad of other financial crimes, all falling under the umbrella sin of greed.

T D Bessler spent 48 years working in the banking industry, serving as president and CEO of banks for over 30 years. Although his record is spotless, he knows about what he writes in his new financial thriller, Traces of Greed.

Bessler knows banking and finance as well as anyone. He knows the enticing traps others have fallen into, and he knows what it's like to have supervision over millions and millions of dollars. When he hears of the latest finance executive to be indicted or federal official involved in corruption, he knows exactly how it can happen.

"Greed is inside all of us, just beneath our 'moral skin,' waiting for the opportunity to get out," says Bessler. "I think everyone of us, at one time, has felt the twinge of greed, even if only for a fleeting second. Traces of Greed revolves around this core issue; greed, its power, allure, and its ability to blind judgment."

In Traces of Greed, a bank executive gets more than he bargained for, much more. Halsey "Stu" Stuart leaves his job at his father's bank, opting to work with his brother-in-law, Des Cain, at the famous Fortune Beach Bank, Florida where the wealthy, powerful and famous keep accounts. In five years he is in the middle of a massive investigation regarding massive financial fraud at the bank. Although ignorant of Des's activities, Stu could be taken down, hard, by the potentially fatal regulatory investigation. The scandal reaches to the halls of Congress and the Chairman of the House Banking Committee.

"I started writing the book 18 years ago, when my own bank was under a Cease & Desist Order from the FDIC, banks we're having loan problems, and capital was difficult to raise in a soft economy," notes Bessler. "While my bank was barely surviving, to keep my sanity I started writing, and Traces of Greed was born.

Timely elements of Traces of Greed include:
How greed can break down the ethically weak
Inside the world of banking and finance; complex terminology made understandable
How business can take over a person's life, to the detriment of family relationships
When enough is never enough

Kirkus Reviews commented, "Traces of Greed is an enjoyable read and moves quickly and provides a great ride."

T D Bessler's career in banking spans 48 years, and over 30 years as president of CEO of banks. He has held leadership positions in many organizations including Chairman of the New Jersey Bankers Association, President of the Community Bankers Association of New Jersey, and Vice-Chairman of the New Jersey Healthcare Facilities Finance Authority.

Mr. Bessler resides in Toms River, New Jersey with his wife Jeanne.

For more information, please visit www.tdbessler.com

Interview with T D Bessler

Question: What originally motivated you to write Traces of Greed?

T D Bessler: I wrote Traces of Greed approximately 18 years ago. It was a diversion from my day job as a banker. Actually, writing kept my sanity from issues I had to deal with in the real world. As President and Chief Executive Officer of a local bank we were issued a Cease and Desist Order from the FDIC our federal regulator. The economy in the late 80's and early 90's were in some ways similar to today with bank failures, high unemployment, and commercial and residential foreclosures.

Getting my bank out of this mess was very stressful. Knowing I could not keep up this intense pressure for too long I decided a diversion was needed from my day job I decided to write a book. The early chapters of my book were written in my car during my lunch break about a mile in distance from the bank in a strip shopping center. Writing this novel was a wonderful experience and the bank, I am happy to add, became successful, again.


Question: What research went into Traces of Greed?

T D Bessler: I did very little research for my book. As you know the genre is about greed and in the story, I wrote about how this could apply to banking.. I wanted to write this book so everyone could enjoy this fictional story. The world of banking can get very technical and I did my best not to lose the reader, so I developed a style that would make the reader want to turn the page with anticipation to read further. I believed this was accomplished by the many fine reviews I received over the past few months.


Question: How do you think your previous career helped you write Traces of Greed?

T D Bessler: There is no doubt that my banking experience helped me develop a great story. When I wrote "Traces of Greed" I never was at a loss for words. Prior to being published this novel was 601 pages. I was advised to cut the size of the book because it would be difficult for a first time writer to have a book published of that size. The book was cut to 285 pages. If I had to do it all over again I would not have cut so many pages in the book.


Question: Do you believe everyone is greedy and capable of acting on greed?

T D Bessler: No I do not think everyone is greedy. I do believe the ethically weak are capable of greed. When an event happens that can change your lifestyle, such as a loss of a job, heavy in debt, or gambling, it opens the door for those ethically weak to filter into the decision making process that convinces the brain that there is an easier way to solve the problem.

We read about this greedy activity every day in the newspapers or see it on television. Greed never leaves us, but that's why stories are written. Greed, Lust, and Murder make good stories, so writers like me follow the path and weave our stories into action/thriller novels.

The sequel to my novel will be written in beautiful Australia near Lightning Ridge once I complete my next two books. Only those who have read "Traces of Greed" will understand why I need to do this.

Interview by Brooke Hunter

Traces of Greed
Smith Publishing
Author: T D Bessler