Ask the Author: Stephen Templin
Answered Questions (14)
Stephen Templin
We wrote in BUD/S, Ordo but not memoirs. I think the first big special ops book was Robin Moore's 1965 THE GREEN BERETS--then made into John Wayne movie. (In 1966, "The Ballad of the Green Berets" became #1 in the US.) 1976, Benjamin Schemmer wrote THE RAID, a Green Berets attempt to rescue 61 US POWs north of Hanoi. In 1983, the first Tier 1 biography came from Delta Force's founder Charlie Beckwith, entitled DELTA FORCE. (In 1986, Chuck Norris starred in action movie with the same name.) And the first hit Tier 1 TV series was THE UNIT. All this PR certainly helped the Army's special ops recruiting. If one looks at history, Navy SEALs don't have a monopoly on writing. Thanks for the question.
Stephen Templin
Thanks, Janet. Exciting about your daughter. And you, too! My writing advice is on my webpage here: http://www.stephentemplin.com/on-writ...
Stephen Templin
Sayu, much of my inspiration comes from actual experiences. But I'm also inspired by writers (Alexander Dumas, Edgar Allan Poe), movie makers (Sergio Leone, Don Siegel), and other artists. As a writer, I try to take the inspirations and transform them into something wonderful that people love to read.
Stephen Templin
Thank you for the support, Tony
Stephen Templin
Daniel, that's a broad topic, but I'll try to narrow it down a bit: I think this digital age provides us many opportunities both bad and good. It's discouraging to see how many people often seek out only others who think like them, avoiding diversity of thoughts and ideas. At the same time, it's amazing to see how much knowledge about the world we can access at our fingertips.
Stephen Templin
Sorry, I missed your question, Daniel. Would you mind repeating?
Stephen Templin
Alycia, for me, it starts with the protagonist. I usually draw on my childhood favorite, The Three Musketeers, for this--which means supporting characters, too. And I add parts of myself. Then I imagine the antagonist, pulling from real life, Hollywood, and other characters--again, adding parts of myself, whether conscious or subconscious. Then I add a plot relating to current events--research it. Appropriate and exciting locations follow. Once the characters inhabit this world, they often develop on their own, surprising me, and I try not to get in their way. So, yes, it starts with character.
Stephen Templin
Red. I know no other. I must be missing out on the white.
Stephen Templin
Thank you, Aidan. When shooting, there are no bad hair days.
Stephen Templin
I bang my head against the wall. But it isn't very effective.
Stephen Templin
Living my childhood dream
Stephen Templin
A Special Operations Group Thriller (series), the first book is Trident's First Gleaming.
Stephen Templin
The Three Musketeers has inspired me since I read the full-length version in elementary school. I'm also inspired by my experiences in Navy SEAL training and as a missionary. So I combine all of these elements with real events happening in the world today.
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