Davis Bunn's Blog, page 38

Writers' Conferences Provide Face Time with Authors, Editors, and Agents

This email is from a new author and web-friend, regarding her first-ever experience at a writers' conference. If you are are seeking to break in to the world of published writers, please give her thoughts a read:

Lausanne writes:

Clearly the Lord was involved in your insistence that we get ourselves to a writer's conference ASAP. It was an excellent experience. I now plan to attend the Florida Christian Writers conference regularly since it is only 2.5 hours from Jacksonville. I will eventually branch out to others.

It will be some time yet before I or my mother have finished work to pitch but I can see the value of gaining face recognition long beforehand. By next year I hope to have my own outline and research ready so I can make use of the Novel Mentoring Track with Ken Kuhlken.

Again, thank you for your personal investment in so many aspiring writers. I suspect you'll only know the full fruit of your efforts when we've all crossed the Jordan and get to compare stories. Your consistent graciousness to my mother will be a significant beat in our plotline.

Along similar lines, Kathy writes:

Thank you for sharing your process and giving a glimpse of your creative world. The fact that you "sit" on a story and allow it to percolate before writing it is what sets your work apart from other Christian writers. And with "Lion of Babylon" you may have just created a new sub-genre…Christian Thrillers!

Michelle Vasquez Calls 'Lion of Babylon' an 'Action-packed Thrill Ride'

By Michelle Vasquez

Guest Reviewer

This review was published on Michelle's blog, Life in Review, on July 25, 2011. Reprinted with permission from the author.

Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn is a spectacular thriller that is full of action, mystery, political intrigue and suspense. It rings eerily similar to some of today's news headlines and is very realistic!

Marc Royce used to work as an intelligence agent until his wife became terminally ill. He stayed by his wife's side, and after she passed away, he worked as a forensic accountant and tried to just keep going through the motions.

Then his good friend, Alex Baird, disappeared in Baghdad and the government came asking for Marc's help to find him. Three other adults disappeared at the same time as well as several children who have been kidnapped. Could these all be related, or all they separate issues?

Marc goes into Babylon to try to follow the clues and unravel the mysteries to find  his friend and attempt to find the others as well. I really liked Marc's character and was rooting for him all the way!  He's intelligent and tough, but kind and compassionate as well. He has to get through the politics and the culture of this foreign place with the help of only a couple of people that he can trust.

I VERY highly recommend this book! Davis Bunn has been a favorite Christian fiction author of mine for quite some time and he has given us yet another masterful work of intrigue and suspense. This is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride.

It's a complex plot full of mystery and intrigue, politics and different cultures. The author will transport you to the Middle East where you will swear you can feel it, hear it and smell it. You will be hooked from the very start and won't be able to put this one down. Davis Bunn is a wonderfully talented writer who writes a wide range of Christian fiction.

Readers Ask: Do You Write Supernatural or Science Fiction Novels?

I have not written such a book that has to do with the supernatural in quite some time. The only two other stories were my first published novel, The Presence, and then eight years later, The Warning.  Both were big hits.

But there is a certain responsibility that goes with fashioning a story where the supernatural holds a positive edge, that is, it forms a component of the positive outcome, rather than being part of the negative – as with most of the current works currently  both in the inspirational field and the mainstream.

I have been working on this for quite some time now, and feel I have come up with a solid concept. Thankfully, my publishers at Simon and Schuster agree.

The story is entitled, The Book Of Dreams and will be released in late October 2011.

To Outline or Not to Outline?

A while back I posted my thoughts about outlining in a blog post titled, "Does outlining your fiction story stifle your writing?"

Here's a response I received from Tina:

Love this. It's so true that preparation does not dilute the art. Different authors just approach it in a different way, don't we?

I just dive into writing the story, myself, while a friend of mine outlines in detail. He sticks pretty close to his outline, but has freedom in writing the ending and if the story changes, the outline changes.

I don't think it changes all that much. I am more loose in my method and take a lot of notes and have a lot of different files that I play with as I write. My outline ends up being more of a chapter by chapter summary once I get to it.

I think my friend is blessed that he is so good at outlining, but in the end, we all must make an outline anyway since marketing usually wants to see a good map. I'm glad you posted this on Twitter. Great advice.

Nigel writes re-outlining: A great example. I like outlining. In the space of minutes to hours it allows me to really see if a plot is going to have all the right attributes for me to start writing. Lots of them don't, so I outline again.

That way I see far more plots that I ever would if I sat down and typed 100k to find out the flaws. We do it in our group with both plots and characters, and that helps too, because I (we) are forced to look at genres we wouldn't normally read or write.

And I'm only slightly jealous about not seeing the sketches!

Dear Tina and Nigel,

It's great to hear from you both. Nigel, it's especially good to have the response of another male author. Thanks for writing.

And for the female authors who question this in regards to women's fiction:

I have just returned from lunch with Debbie Macomber, whose work has sold over one hundred million copies. Debbie not only outlines, she timelines – setting up her plots according to the date and the week and the season.

Just something to keep in mind.

'Riveting Suspense,' Says Reviewer of 'Lion of Babylon'

By Pamela Morrisson

Guest Reviewer

*This review was originally published on Pamela's blog, Daysong Reflections. Reprinted with permission from the author.

I have always enjoyed books by Davis Bunn but once I saw the setting for Lion of Babylon, I wasn't sure I was really interested in a story about Iraq. But being the mostly dedicated reviewer that I am, I decided to give it a try.

I am so glad that I did. As in his previous books, I was quickly drawn into the story and found it difficult to put down. I finally turned the last page at 1:00 a.m. and then could not sleep because I kept thinking about what I had read.

Lion of Babylon is a riveting suspense featuring a covert search for four missing people, both American and Iraqi. Neither government seems to be interested in finding them. In fact they seem to be doing everything they can to hinder the mission. But Marc Royce, Iraqi lawyer Sameh, several select American military, and a team of former Iraqi police do not intend for anything to stand in their way.

Not only is Lion of Babylon a page turner but I felt that my understanding of the Iraqi people and their situation was greatly enhanced by reading it.

If certain facts illustrated in this story are more than just good fiction, then we have been sold a bill of goods by our government.

I am aware that Lion of Babylon is a novel but most good novels have an element of truth and my intuition tells me that this one was well researched and is filled with truth.

There was nothing I didn't like about this book. I really liked the way Marc and Sameh were portrayed and loved the way the people of Iraq responded to their integrity. Details about the underground church and about references to Jesus in the Koran were of particular interest.

My only complaint is that the book ended much too soon. I hope that Mr. Bunn is planning a sequel and that it will be available soon.

*Pamela's review also contains a video trailer for Lion of Babylon, plus a Q & A interview with me. The review copy was provided by Bethany House Publishers.

Mark Young Interviews Davis Bunn

Yesterday I shared a review Mark Young wrote about my new novel, Lion of Babylon. Today, I'll pass along a Q & A Mark did with me:

By Mark Young

Guest Columnist

Davis Bunn is a superb writer, whose many novels continue to intrigue, entertain and inspire readers. This author is a Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University in England, while managing to migrate back to Florida for part of each year where he undertakes another one of his passions—surfing.

MARK: Thanks again for joining us to discuss your latest novel, Lion of Babylon. As I read this novel, I became fascinated with the amount of detail you folded into the story. I came away feeling like I had received a deeper understanding about this troubled country and some of the issues it faces. Which sources did you draw your information from to write this novel?

DAVIS: I worked for a number of years with a Swiss-Arab consortium, first as Assistant to the Chairman and then as Marketing Manager for one main division. I was the only non-Muslim in the management structure. I was twenty-five years old when I started there.  To say the least, this was a real eye-opener. I lived about six months of each year at our headquarters in Switzerland, and the rest of the time in Africa and the Middle East.

I left that job to become a consultant based in Germany, and it was here I came to faith, and then began writing two weeks later. Since then I have been back a number of times to the Middle East and Africa, and have long wanted to base a story there. This was my first real foray, however, and I am thrilled with how the story has turned out.

MARK: As I mentioned above, the level of kidnappings seems to have escalated in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was removed from power. As you point out in this novel, one of the last acts Hussein did before the occupation was the release of over 100,000 criminals. Can you share with our readers about the scope of this problem based upon your research and contacts? Does this account for a significant number of kidnappings, or are there other considerations at play?

DAVIS: The crime situation in Iraq is often masked by the overall violence and bombings. This is only natural, since the terrorist bombings are what most affect the American service personnel still based in the region. But for the average Iraqi, the problems of crime and lawlessness are equally vital. I used the kidnapping issue, which is a very grave threat to all families with children, as a means of showing what life was like there for the average citizen.

MARK: In your novel, one of the main characters is Sameh el-Jacobi, a lawyer and a member of the Syrian Christian Church, which you mention is the majority church for Iraqi Christians. Can you tell us a little about the history of this church and whether it has any influence on the current situation in Iraq?

DAVIS: This was one of the great delights of this book, learning about the Christian churches of Iraq and the surrounding countries. The Syrian Christian Church has its roots in some of the very earliest missionary journeys. Some say it was one of Christ's own disciples who founded the church. Whatever the actual beginning, there are churches still intact today that are built upon foundations laid in the third century—around 225AD.

MARK: From your research and contact, can you tell us a little more about any positive alliances or progress being made in that country today? In your novel, there is a hint of optimism, of a hope that divergent groups might be able to come together in that country working toward peace. Is this possible, or are the cultural and religious differences so vast that there is little hope?

DAVIS: The optimism is real, just as the hope that Jesus brings. These peace initiatives are a strong and vibrant part of our heritage of believers. They are often referred to as faith-based peace initiatives, and are usually headed by a former member of Congress or a senior White House official. Chuck Colson, head of Prison Fellowship and former aide to President Nixon, is heavily involved in a number of these issues, mostly related to the treatment of prisoners and their families.

MARK: Your novel is titled Lion Of Babylon. This symbol of the lion is repeatedly used in Babylonian history and carried forward into today's Iraqi culture. Even an Iraqi-built version of a Soviet battle tank was dubbed the Lion of Babylon. How did you settle on this name? What significance does it play in your novel or is this something the readers should find out for themselves?

DAVIS: Because of the crucial role this plays in how Marc is perceived, and really who he grows into as a man applying his faith to his world, I would rather leave this for the readers to discover in the book.

MARK: Your main protagonist, Marc Royce, came from an intelligence background with the U.S. State Department. Last year on this blog, we interviewed former anti-terrorism agent Fred Burton, (author of  Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent and his forthcoming book. Chasing Shadows), who served for sixteen years with the Counterterrorism Division of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service. Is this the branch of service your main character emerged from or was he from another division within State? Did you have your own contact inside DSS or gain your information from other sources?

DAVIS: Yes. The State Department Intelligence operation is the smallest of the American intelligence groups. Their primary remit, or main task, is to protect all non-military American operations – like embassies and safe houses – outside the US borders.  I had actually started this story planning to use the CIA, but this had already been used so successfully by other authors whose work I admire, and State intel was relatively unknown. Then I was introduced to a wonderful woman who has served both as a senior operative and then as assistant to the director – the role Marc Royce plays – within the organization. This was a genuine prize. She is a fan of my work, and was happy to take me into their HQ and walk me through their operation. Such opportunities are one of the greatest joys of researching a new story.

MARK: I highly recommend to those who enjoy a real page-turner to pick up a copy of the Lion of Babylon. They are in for a real treat. What does the future hold for you now that this novel is about to be released? Can we be look forward to any more stories like this in the near future?

DAVIS: I am currently busy with the sequel to Lion. The title is Rare Earth, and it is due for release in May of next year.

MARK: Again, thanks for joining us. We wish you well upon the release of this novel.

About Mark Young: Writer, husband and father. Write mystery, suspense, thriller novels. Life experiences include three decades in law enforcement, six years working on newspapers. A Vietnam survivor serving with Fox 2/5, 1st. Marine Div. USMC. Visit Mark at the Hook 'em and Book 'em blog. http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/

Losing Sleep Over 'Lion of Babylon'

By Mark Young

Guest Reviewer

Author Davis Bunn has written another edge-of-your-seat thriller guaranteed to make readers lose sleep. In this unique page-turner, Bunn's well-written and fast-paced Lion Of Babylon novel takes readers by the scruff of the neck, never letting go until the last chapter.

Ex-intelligence officer Marc Royce's life—once filled with excitement and adrenaline—drifted into sadness, lethargy and boredom since his wife passed away at the age of twenty-nine. Grieving over her death, he prays life might change. Royce soon finds out that one must be careful about what one prays for.

His former boss, an ambassador living in the shadows of powerful government, emerges to report that Marc's best friend—an assistant chief of security in Baghdad's Green Zone—has disappeared along with two young women. The ambassador wants Marc to ferret out the truth. Were these disappearances just part of a romantic tryst at a Red Sea resort for a few days, or did this CIA operative and two women get caught up in political espionage, kidnapping, or are they lying in a sandy grave?

Thrust into a war-torn country, Marc joins forces with Sameh el-Jacobi, a lawyer and member of an Iraqi Christian Church, who specializes in returning kidnapped children to their families. Cultural and religious conflict makes the job harder to find Marc's friend and to learn of the real reasons behind the disappearance of these three Americans.

As the plot deepens, nothing can be accepted at face value. Everything has consequences. Religion. Politics. Even the release of nearly 100,000 criminals by Saddam Hussein prior to liberation may play into the problems Marc and Sameh face regarding the ugly trade in human bodies.

This novel explores some of the contemporary issues inside Iraq today, including the persecution and kidnapping of Christians and others in that country.

In a recent article posted in American, the national catholic weekly, figures show that of all the persecuted Christian communities in the Middle East, those in Iraq have suffered the worst. At beginning of the occupation there were more than 800,000 Christians in Iraq, now there are about 450,000.

It is within this political and cultural backdrop that the Lion Of Babylon is born.

Tomorrow, join me on my blog for an interview Mark Young did with me.

About Mark Young: Writer, husband and father. Write mystery, suspense, thriller novels. Life experiences include three decades in law enforcement, six years working on newspapers. A Vietnam survivor serving with Fox 2/5, 1st. Marine Div. USMC. Visit Mark at the Hook 'em and Book 'em blog. http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/

Do You Know the Story of the Acadians?

Sabrina writes:

I just read that you wrote The Meeting Place, a book I proofread years ago for Bethany House.

I am very fond of Nova Scotia and I remember being able to picture some of the places in your book. I also remember wondering why more people don't know the story of the Acadians.

For me, Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever spent time. I wonder if when I first get to Scotland, it will feel like Nova Scotia to me!

My ancestry is English and Irish but I often feel there must be Scottish too because of how drawn I am to Scotland. But about The Meeting Place, you and Janette Oke crafted a wonderful book. Exciting that it is being re-released!

Dear Sabrina:

Janette and I had actually arranged to meet in Calgary, where she lived at the time, in order to begin work on the sequel to Another Homecoming.

The week before I arrived, however, we received a letter from a fan whose forebears had actually been victims of the Acadian expulsion and the resettling process in LA. It was such a compelling story, we both had chills.

The day before I arrived, Janette came up with the idea of switching babies. The concept of finishing a story with such an upheaval was daunting. How could we do this and still wind up with what felt like a positive and hope-filled climax?

But it fit the story so incredibly well, because the expulsion did create such a cataclysm for so many families. To my mind, this idea is typical of Janette's power as a story-teller. When she told me what she'd come up with, I was in awe.

Warmest and best,

Davis

'Lion of Babylon' Blog Tour Stop at Novel Rocket

Ane Mulligan, author of the Novel Rocket blog, featured a Q&A with me Wednesday, June 13. We discussed the craft of writing, as well as my new novel, Lion of Babylon. Here are several of the questions Ane asked me (click here to read my responses):

You've written books solo, with your wife and with Janette Oke. What are the pros and cons of co-authorship?
Where do you write – an attic, a nook, or an office?
Why is your official name now "Davis Bunn" rather than the former "T. Davis Bunn"?
For you, what has been the most difficult aspect of the craft? How did you or do you overcome it?
Your journey to publishing was long. Did you ever think of giving up?
There has been much talk on our ACFW writers loop about writing guidelines and "rules." What's your advice on this for the new writer? What about the advanced writer?

About Novel Rocket: Formerly known as Novel Journey, the site was named as one of Writers Digest's best websites for writers in 2008, 2010 & 2011. The team has added a new "Rocket Pages" tab (think of it as a Craig's List for writers).

Be sure to leave a comment on the Novel Rocket blog, telling Ane what you learned from the interview. Thanks much, friends.

Ane Mulligan Novel Journey Blog Tour

Ane Mulligan, author of the Novel Rocket blog, featured a Q&A with me Wednesday, June 13. We discussed the craft of writing, as well as my new novel, Lion of Babylon. Here are several of the questions Ane asked me (click here to read my responses):

You've written books solo, with your wife and with Janette Oke. What are the pros and cons of co-authorship?
Where do you write – an attic, a nook, or an office?
Why is your official name now "Davis Bunn" rather than the former "T. Davis Bunn"?
For you, what has been the most difficult aspect of the craft? How did you or do you overcome it?
Your journey to publishing was long. Did you ever think of giving up?
There has been much talk on our ACFW writers loop about writing guidelines and "rules." What's your advice on this for the new writer? What about the advanced writer?

About Novel Rocket: Formerly known as Novel Journey, the site was named as one of Writers Digest's best websites for writers in 2008, 2010 & 2011. The team has added a new "Rocket Pages" tab (think of it as a Craig's List for writers).

Be sure to leave a comment on the Novel Rocket blog, telling Ane what you learned from the interview. Thanks much, friends.