Chris Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "chris-allen"
GLAMOUR, HUMOUR AND CHARM: SKYFALL REVIEW
If, like me, you’re an Ian Fleming fan first and a Bond movie fan second, mark my words: you will love SKYFALL. If however, you prefer the vodka martinis, the cheesy one-liners, or the gadgets and gimmicks of earlier Bond films – the exploding pens, invisible cars and so on– don’t despair. The essential ingredients of the 007 franchise – glamour, humour, charm - are still front and centre in the long-awaited 50th anniversary 23rd film directed by Sam Mendes, but they’re present in a way that is much more a reflection of our times and tastes. The requirement to suspend your disbelief still holds strong and there’s just enough of the old tricks & gadgets to remind you of the rich history behind any Bond film. Besides, I’d be a hypocrite if I decried any story that presents such a perfect balance of gritty realism with a liberal dose of escapism!
I was more engaged by Daniel Craig this time around than I was in his last outing, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, in which I found his Bond surly and arrogant. For the record, he was incredible in CASINO ROYALE - I saw that film half a dozen times at the cinema. Back then, Craig convincingly portrayed the raw material that would become the secret agent – the wet-behind-the-ears new boy under immense pressure to prove himself worthy of Double-0 status. A nice parallel given that Craig’s appointment as the new 007 met with a fierce backlash from diehard fans. Craig had as much to prove as Bond himself. His hunger to prove the detractors wrong was palpable in CASINO ROYALE and in SKYFALL he has very successfully channelled that hunger again.
In his performance, the core elements that drive the man to act so selflessly and under any circumstances on behalf of his country – loyalty, integrity, devotion to duty – are not affected, they’re just there. The relationship between Bond and his boss, M, once again played with such conviction by the inimitable Judi Dench, is an obvious metaphor for everything we have come to expect of the character – the quintessentially tenacious British Bulldog. In his devotion and loyalty to M, the lofty ideal of serving Queen & Country as courageously and unreservedly as 007 does, is presented perfectly in a very intimate and familial way which makes the entire premise utterly believable. This is underpinned by the majestic yet understated performance of Javier Bardem in the guise of agent-gone-bad, Silva. In fact, Bardem’s opening scene involves an extremely challenging sexually charged situation involving Bond. It was unexpected but brilliantly done and the confidence, reality and humour conveyed by both actors is priceless.
Unlike many of his predecessors, Silva is no megalomaniac. His motivations and objectives are significantly more clinical, more personal than the Blofeld-Stromberg-Drax variety of the old days and this is what is so engaging. He has been personally wronged, he has suffered intolerably as a result and he is hell bent on revenge at any cost. We’ve all been there, right? More than anything Silva is flawed (obviously), vulnerable (disturbingly so) and damaged (beyond repair). But what makes this film so great is that these traits are equally true of Bond and M. The history and volatility that connects this unlikely threesome - 007, M & Silva - is the centrepiece of the entire narrative and its strength and plausibility is achieved by the outstanding performances of all three.
If you haven’t guessed already, I absolutely loved this movie. This is not the Bond of Connery, or Lazenby, or Moore, Dalton or Brosnan. Daniel Craig has indisputably captured the Bond who clung protectively to Gala Brand under a shower while the tiles blistered and boiling water rained down upon their bodies, as an atom bomb launched just metres away through a blast wall in MOONRAKER, 1955. His Bond is the guy you can imagine, swimming through Caribbean coral at midnight to rescue Solitaire, with spear gun in hand and a limpet mine strapped to his chest, running the gauntlet of sharks and barracuda in pitch darkness only to be dragged down to the edge of death by a murderous octopus in LIVE AND LET DIE, 1954.
As a fan who first discovered Ian Fleming & James Bond as a teenager back in 1977, I feel as though the franchise has finally gone full circle. The earliest films – DR NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER & THUNDERBALL – all remained reasonably true to the original novels. After that it was pretty much a free-for-all in terms of outlandish plots and spectacular stunts. With Daniel Craig’s entry to the series, CASINO ROYALE began the process of returning us to the raw material, QUANTUM OF SOLACE was a bit try hard, but now SKYFALL has absolutely hit the mark.
In SKYFALL Daniel Craig returns 007 to the world imagined by his creator, his family seat, his history and his heritage.
It is unequivocally the Bond of Ian Fleming.
This post first appeared on Momentum blog: www.momentumbooks.com.au.
If you’re a fan of the Bond films or Fleming books, you’ll love the INTREPID series. Visit www.intrepidallen.com for more.
I was more engaged by Daniel Craig this time around than I was in his last outing, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, in which I found his Bond surly and arrogant. For the record, he was incredible in CASINO ROYALE - I saw that film half a dozen times at the cinema. Back then, Craig convincingly portrayed the raw material that would become the secret agent – the wet-behind-the-ears new boy under immense pressure to prove himself worthy of Double-0 status. A nice parallel given that Craig’s appointment as the new 007 met with a fierce backlash from diehard fans. Craig had as much to prove as Bond himself. His hunger to prove the detractors wrong was palpable in CASINO ROYALE and in SKYFALL he has very successfully channelled that hunger again.
In his performance, the core elements that drive the man to act so selflessly and under any circumstances on behalf of his country – loyalty, integrity, devotion to duty – are not affected, they’re just there. The relationship between Bond and his boss, M, once again played with such conviction by the inimitable Judi Dench, is an obvious metaphor for everything we have come to expect of the character – the quintessentially tenacious British Bulldog. In his devotion and loyalty to M, the lofty ideal of serving Queen & Country as courageously and unreservedly as 007 does, is presented perfectly in a very intimate and familial way which makes the entire premise utterly believable. This is underpinned by the majestic yet understated performance of Javier Bardem in the guise of agent-gone-bad, Silva. In fact, Bardem’s opening scene involves an extremely challenging sexually charged situation involving Bond. It was unexpected but brilliantly done and the confidence, reality and humour conveyed by both actors is priceless.
Unlike many of his predecessors, Silva is no megalomaniac. His motivations and objectives are significantly more clinical, more personal than the Blofeld-Stromberg-Drax variety of the old days and this is what is so engaging. He has been personally wronged, he has suffered intolerably as a result and he is hell bent on revenge at any cost. We’ve all been there, right? More than anything Silva is flawed (obviously), vulnerable (disturbingly so) and damaged (beyond repair). But what makes this film so great is that these traits are equally true of Bond and M. The history and volatility that connects this unlikely threesome - 007, M & Silva - is the centrepiece of the entire narrative and its strength and plausibility is achieved by the outstanding performances of all three.
If you haven’t guessed already, I absolutely loved this movie. This is not the Bond of Connery, or Lazenby, or Moore, Dalton or Brosnan. Daniel Craig has indisputably captured the Bond who clung protectively to Gala Brand under a shower while the tiles blistered and boiling water rained down upon their bodies, as an atom bomb launched just metres away through a blast wall in MOONRAKER, 1955. His Bond is the guy you can imagine, swimming through Caribbean coral at midnight to rescue Solitaire, with spear gun in hand and a limpet mine strapped to his chest, running the gauntlet of sharks and barracuda in pitch darkness only to be dragged down to the edge of death by a murderous octopus in LIVE AND LET DIE, 1954.
As a fan who first discovered Ian Fleming & James Bond as a teenager back in 1977, I feel as though the franchise has finally gone full circle. The earliest films – DR NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER & THUNDERBALL – all remained reasonably true to the original novels. After that it was pretty much a free-for-all in terms of outlandish plots and spectacular stunts. With Daniel Craig’s entry to the series, CASINO ROYALE began the process of returning us to the raw material, QUANTUM OF SOLACE was a bit try hard, but now SKYFALL has absolutely hit the mark.
In SKYFALL Daniel Craig returns 007 to the world imagined by his creator, his family seat, his history and his heritage.
It is unequivocally the Bond of Ian Fleming.
This post first appeared on Momentum blog: www.momentumbooks.com.au.
If you’re a fan of the Bond films or Fleming books, you’ll love the INTREPID series. Visit www.intrepidallen.com for more.
INTREPID AGENTS KICK ASS
DAY TWO: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
If you missed my blog yesterday, to celebrate Hunter: Intrepid 2, my latest Alex Morgan adventure being launched, we're kicking off an exciting new range of Intrepid gear, with twelve fresh designs in twelve days.
On the second day of Hunter, my inner agent said to me: "Intrepid Agents Kick Ass"!
So...
DESIGN #2: INTREPID AGENTS KICK ASS
Well they do, don’t they? At the risk of stating the obvious we wanted to establish that Intrepid agents are international, have street cred, and, most importantly, they can kick some serious criminal butt no matter what the odds!
Feel free to check out some Christmas gift ideas for yourself or someone else from the new IntrepidAllen range on Zazzle: for that person in your life who does a lot of driving, maybe they'd like a trucker's cap; for the Urban Hipsters there's the ultra cool iPhone cover; for those of you, like me, who drink lots of tea & coffee, there's the travel and at-home coffee mugs; there are t-shirts for dogs, notebooks for writers, postcards and even mousepads.
View the full range of Intrepid Agents Kick Ass gear here.
http://www.zazzle.com.au/intrepidalle...
It's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part. We'll give you twelve different ways to help, one each day.
Spreading the Word Tip #2
Now that you've downloaded Defender, the Book of the Week on the iBookstore for your Apple device, Facebook, email or text your friends this link http://bit.ly/YzNlEF so they can download it for free too!
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
If there's something you'd like but cant see, like a cover for your brand of mobile phone, please email your request through.
I hope you like the second offering in the Twelve Days of Hunter.
If you missed my blog yesterday, to celebrate Hunter: Intrepid 2, my latest Alex Morgan adventure being launched, we're kicking off an exciting new range of Intrepid gear, with twelve fresh designs in twelve days.
On the second day of Hunter, my inner agent said to me: "Intrepid Agents Kick Ass"!
So...
DESIGN #2: INTREPID AGENTS KICK ASS
Well they do, don’t they? At the risk of stating the obvious we wanted to establish that Intrepid agents are international, have street cred, and, most importantly, they can kick some serious criminal butt no matter what the odds!
Feel free to check out some Christmas gift ideas for yourself or someone else from the new IntrepidAllen range on Zazzle: for that person in your life who does a lot of driving, maybe they'd like a trucker's cap; for the Urban Hipsters there's the ultra cool iPhone cover; for those of you, like me, who drink lots of tea & coffee, there's the travel and at-home coffee mugs; there are t-shirts for dogs, notebooks for writers, postcards and even mousepads.
View the full range of Intrepid Agents Kick Ass gear here.
http://www.zazzle.com.au/intrepidalle...
It's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part. We'll give you twelve different ways to help, one each day.
Spreading the Word Tip #2
Now that you've downloaded Defender, the Book of the Week on the iBookstore for your Apple device, Facebook, email or text your friends this link http://bit.ly/YzNlEF so they can download it for free too!
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The team at Intrepid HQ have created an entire IntrepidAllen range that will be available exclusively from Zazzle online, and you can find out more about Zazzle and their print-on-demand methodology here. It's our intention to support a number of charities as we move forward and we'll start off by donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
If there's something you'd like but cant see, like a cover for your brand of mobile phone, please email your request through.
I hope you like the second offering in the Twelve Days of Hunter.
6 WAYS TO THRILL YOUR VALENTINE
Valentine's Day. Two words that leave people in a hot flush, or a cold sweat. The pressure of finding the perfect gift, arranging the perfect dinner or just getting the card right for the person you fancy can be, well, challenging (unbearable).
Usually I'm rushing around at the last minute, eventually picking up a favourite bottle of bubbles for my Sar before we settle into a romantic picnic together somewhere. Of course, this year, we'll be joined by our boys, Captain Morgan and Baby Rhett, and the trampoline in the backyard will most likely be the 'romantic' spot.
So, if, like me, you don't succumb to the commercialisation of February 14 but still want to acknowledge it with a stylish but not excessive hat-tip to Saint Valentine, here's what you do this year: promise that special someone - him or her - some real action!
Of course, I'm referring to action of the armchair variety. Because, clearly, after wining and dining your muse, you'll be looking forward to a rip-roaring action thriller... right?
Here's how you get that special someone's pulse racing:
1. PLATE IT UP
Set the scene: table, candles, music, rose in vase, etc. Then, just as you're pouring the bubbly, gently place Defender: Intrepid 1 on your muse's place-mat and announce that tonight, they get Alex Morgan / Arena Halls / Victor Lundt on a plate (depending on their preferences, of course).
2. IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON
Create a playlist for the evening - kicking things off with Dance Me To The End Of Love by Madeline Peyroux (Arena Halls would be proud of you) and then suggest that you each do an interpretive dance to the song that best suits your mood at the time :) I recommend against Til The End by The Living End, even though Alex Morgan would be happy, not such a good pick for Feb 14... unless you want to end up with whiplash! (Just incidentally, both these songs appear in Defender: Intrepid 1 ).
3. BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS
Nothing says romance like heart shaped foods, I've always thought, and turns out everyone on Pinterest agrees! I particularly like this tasty morsel - such a sophisticated take on bacon and eggs - and it would go down a treat with the Mr or Mrs at dinner. Perhaps more so with the Mr than the Mrs. Anyway, simple is best and you can spend the all time you saved washing pots and pans doing something a little more intimate... like reading Hunter: Intrepid 2 aloud to each other.
4. BUBBLE BUBBLE
Now, it just wouldn't be very Intrepid-esque to leave your options at just dinner and dancing. Why not draw a decadent bubble bath for your muse. Don't leave anything to chance: candles, flowers, music - perhaps something classical that would appeal to Charlotte-Rose Fleming, you get the idea. You're all set so, when your loved one desires, guide them into the water, close the door, then pad back down the hallway, pour yourself a healthy Shiraz and sneak in a few more chapters of Alex Morgan's latest, allowing your muse a few precious moments to soak.
5. BLUE MOON
Perhaps you're more of an outdoorsy type. No problem. Everyone loves the moon, especially when it's full. So, why not serve a nice dessert wine and cheese platter outside? Then, to maximise your time, pre-arrange for head-mounted flash lights so that you don't miss out on a good reading session once the sun does go down and the cheese platter is all gone. I mean, seriously, what else would you do?
6. SHOW US YOUR THRILLER
Finally, for those with an exhibitionist streak, there's always the chance to Show Us Your Thriller. Why not choose just the right moment during the course of your romantic evening together and pose with your copy of Defender or Hunter - or both - maybe even acting out one of the scenes described above. Post it onto my Facebook page - then, after a popular vote, one lucky person will be immortalised with a character in my next adventure story: AVENGER: Intrepid 3!
Now that you and your muse are guaranteed a thrilling time on February 14, here's how to make it a sure thing. Of course, I'm talking about an inscribed, signed, bookmarked and beautifully wrapped copy of Defender and Hunter for $40 plus $12 postage Australia-wide. Or you can get Hunter for $25, Defender for $20 plus the same postage cost.
If you prefer, you can give the gift of an eBook to your loved one and it's dead easy to do on Amazon if your girl or guy has a Kindle. Just go to the page for Defender on Amazon or Hunter on Amazon and select the 'give as gift' option. Our good mates at Momentum Books have also written this blow-by-blow account on how to gift eBooks to other people with all types of eReaders, helpfully titled The Lazy Person's Guide to Gift Giving (http://momentumbooks.com.au/blog/the-...). If that doesn't make you feel good about yourself, I don't know what does.
There you have it, folks. Oh, I forgot to mention - signed copies are best for Australia-wide only, otherwise the postage gets ridiculous; email gday@intrepidallen.com to order; and last drinks (orders) are due by this Sunday evening 10 February so we can get them delivered by Thursday.
Let's make your next Valentine's Day the most thrilling yet: full steam ahead.
Chris
ps. Still not sure if this is the kind of action they want? Check out the latest reviews about the action thriller stories at http://www.intrepidallen.com/reviews
Usually I'm rushing around at the last minute, eventually picking up a favourite bottle of bubbles for my Sar before we settle into a romantic picnic together somewhere. Of course, this year, we'll be joined by our boys, Captain Morgan and Baby Rhett, and the trampoline in the backyard will most likely be the 'romantic' spot.
So, if, like me, you don't succumb to the commercialisation of February 14 but still want to acknowledge it with a stylish but not excessive hat-tip to Saint Valentine, here's what you do this year: promise that special someone - him or her - some real action!
Of course, I'm referring to action of the armchair variety. Because, clearly, after wining and dining your muse, you'll be looking forward to a rip-roaring action thriller... right?
Here's how you get that special someone's pulse racing:
1. PLATE IT UP
Set the scene: table, candles, music, rose in vase, etc. Then, just as you're pouring the bubbly, gently place Defender: Intrepid 1 on your muse's place-mat and announce that tonight, they get Alex Morgan / Arena Halls / Victor Lundt on a plate (depending on their preferences, of course).
2. IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON
Create a playlist for the evening - kicking things off with Dance Me To The End Of Love by Madeline Peyroux (Arena Halls would be proud of you) and then suggest that you each do an interpretive dance to the song that best suits your mood at the time :) I recommend against Til The End by The Living End, even though Alex Morgan would be happy, not such a good pick for Feb 14... unless you want to end up with whiplash! (Just incidentally, both these songs appear in Defender: Intrepid 1 ).
3. BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS
Nothing says romance like heart shaped foods, I've always thought, and turns out everyone on Pinterest agrees! I particularly like this tasty morsel - such a sophisticated take on bacon and eggs - and it would go down a treat with the Mr or Mrs at dinner. Perhaps more so with the Mr than the Mrs. Anyway, simple is best and you can spend the all time you saved washing pots and pans doing something a little more intimate... like reading Hunter: Intrepid 2 aloud to each other.
4. BUBBLE BUBBLE
Now, it just wouldn't be very Intrepid-esque to leave your options at just dinner and dancing. Why not draw a decadent bubble bath for your muse. Don't leave anything to chance: candles, flowers, music - perhaps something classical that would appeal to Charlotte-Rose Fleming, you get the idea. You're all set so, when your loved one desires, guide them into the water, close the door, then pad back down the hallway, pour yourself a healthy Shiraz and sneak in a few more chapters of Alex Morgan's latest, allowing your muse a few precious moments to soak.
5. BLUE MOON
Perhaps you're more of an outdoorsy type. No problem. Everyone loves the moon, especially when it's full. So, why not serve a nice dessert wine and cheese platter outside? Then, to maximise your time, pre-arrange for head-mounted flash lights so that you don't miss out on a good reading session once the sun does go down and the cheese platter is all gone. I mean, seriously, what else would you do?
6. SHOW US YOUR THRILLER
Finally, for those with an exhibitionist streak, there's always the chance to Show Us Your Thriller. Why not choose just the right moment during the course of your romantic evening together and pose with your copy of Defender or Hunter - or both - maybe even acting out one of the scenes described above. Post it onto my Facebook page - then, after a popular vote, one lucky person will be immortalised with a character in my next adventure story: AVENGER: Intrepid 3!
Now that you and your muse are guaranteed a thrilling time on February 14, here's how to make it a sure thing. Of course, I'm talking about an inscribed, signed, bookmarked and beautifully wrapped copy of Defender and Hunter for $40 plus $12 postage Australia-wide. Or you can get Hunter for $25, Defender for $20 plus the same postage cost.
If you prefer, you can give the gift of an eBook to your loved one and it's dead easy to do on Amazon if your girl or guy has a Kindle. Just go to the page for Defender on Amazon or Hunter on Amazon and select the 'give as gift' option. Our good mates at Momentum Books have also written this blow-by-blow account on how to gift eBooks to other people with all types of eReaders, helpfully titled The Lazy Person's Guide to Gift Giving (http://momentumbooks.com.au/blog/the-...). If that doesn't make you feel good about yourself, I don't know what does.
There you have it, folks. Oh, I forgot to mention - signed copies are best for Australia-wide only, otherwise the postage gets ridiculous; email gday@intrepidallen.com to order; and last drinks (orders) are due by this Sunday evening 10 February so we can get them delivered by Thursday.
Let's make your next Valentine's Day the most thrilling yet: full steam ahead.
Chris
ps. Still not sure if this is the kind of action they want? Check out the latest reviews about the action thriller stories at http://www.intrepidallen.com/reviews
INTERVIEW WITH THRILLER WRITER DOUGLAS DOROW
AUTHOR OF THE NINTH DISTRICT
A crucial part of the business of publishing books these days is finding an appreciative audience to connect with. It used to be that the traditional publisher would find those people for you through marketing and media, but now the top-down pyramid has inverted and we authors gotta get out and connect with readers and get to know them a little bit, before they get to know our stories and hopefully become fans of our work.
Through that process I've been privileged to meet a range of fantastic authors around the world as well as book bloggers who play a crucial role in supporting the brave new world of book publishing, marketing and building an author platform from the ground up. Take Mandi from That Book You Like who has reviewed all my books and collaborated on new ways of cross promoting her wares through guest posts, wordsmith Stephanie from Read in a Single Sitting who always posts the most insightful commentary, plus Josh as @oznoir on Fair Dinkum Crime and the lovely Karen from AustCrime Fiction who take considerable time to read, review and post about my books, and a very fun Paratrooping-themed guest post on The Creative Penn where I met readers and authors from across the world that I'm still in touch with today.
So, thanks to the real-time web, it's been fulfilling as all get out to find all these like-minded, thriller readin' and writin' souls to build relationships with.
Another one of these recent finds is a chap called Douglas Dorow, a thriller writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of many thriller/suspense writers. He wonders whether it is something in the water or the long, cold winters that has spawned a veritable amount of Minnesotan authors - but I reckon if the stories are in your head, they'll be in residence no matter where you are. I know Douglas likes the idea of my great sunny land and it's endless schooners of beer - so here's the invitation to come and write a book Down Under!
His first thriller, The Ninth District, is a kindle best seller. He is working on the second in the series featuring FBI Agent, Jack Miller. He has also started a spin-off novella series and another action/adventure series.
In the spirit of continuing to meet new people and do something a little different, we came up with the idea of a double interview - his on my blog, and mine over on his blog. You can find Douglas's blog here.
So here's what we talked about, author-to-author.
SO TELL ME DOUG, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ALONG THE WAY? CARE TO SHARE YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS AND/OR OPPORTUNITIES?
I've learned so much. May 2010, I was working on query letters for my first book to send to agents, when I read about Amazon starting a program where I could self publish my book as an ebook and get 70% royalties. I could publish as soon as I was ready and make more. It was at that point I became an Authorpreneur - an author and a publisher. I'd been concentrating on learning how to tell & write a story and had to learn how to publish and market my book too.
I had to look at my goals and skills and put together a team. I hired an editor and a cover designer and learned how to create an eBook myself. And then I took on the marketing tasks as well.
Biggest opportunities? I made 2012 the year of THE NINTH DISTRICT. I'd published it as an eBook in 2011. But readers want it their way. So, while I worked on the next books I published THE NINTH DISTRICT as a paperbook, hired a narrator and published an audiobook and a translator and published a Spanish version. I also spent a lot of time with social media and other strategies to market my story.
A couple of my biggest pleasant surprises are that I reached the Kindle Top Ten Thriller rank a couple of times in the past year, and that I was able to connect with so many readers via email, twitter and Facebook.
My biggest disappointment is that I don't have more time to write. I don't write full time. I have a day job and find time to write as I can. I have so many stories I want to tell and my readers are looking for the next book in the series. I wish I could've published it already. I'm planning to release book two in the series sometime around July and I also have a novella series I'm spinning off of the first book that I plan to publish this year.
I’M ALWAYS VERY KEEN TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS OF OTHERS AND THE ORIGINS OF THEIR DESIRE TO BECOME A WRITER. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? WHAT DOES WRITING REPRESENT TO YOU? AND, WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH YOUR WRITING?
I've always been a big reader since my mom taught me to read. And when I was young, some of the first television shows my dad would let me stay up and watch with him were private detective shows. I think these two things merged together into being a reader of thrillers, mysteries and spy novels.
In college, I took a couple of creative writing classes while I was studying engineering. I got some good feedback on my writing and enjoyed the creative process. I think that planted the seed to write. When I got married and we had our first child, I decided to take a couple of writing classes. That was probably eighteen years ago. Minneapolis, Minnesota (where I live) is the home of The Loft Literary Center, as great resource for people wanting to learn to write. A critique group formed out of one of my classes there and we've been meeting every few weeks for the last fifteen years supporting each other in our writing.
I see myself as a storyteller. I enjoy coming up with story ideas, researching and learning about things that I can bring into the story and telling a story that I enjoy writing. I hope I can bring all of these things together into something the reader will enjoy as they look for a fiction story to escape into.
OF YOUR LARGE SUPPORT NETWORK, BOTH CLOSE TO YOU AND ACROSS THE WORLD, HOW DO YOUR SUPPORTERS HELP YOU IN GAINING GLOBAL REACH IN UNEXPECTED WAYS?
It's weird to think I have readers around the globe reading my book. I've received emails and Facebook comments from readers around the world.
Over the past couple of years I have built a Twitter following of writers and readers and I've joined a few groups of Independent Writers (BestSellingReads.com IndependentAuthorNetwork.com and WorldLiteraryCafe.com). As authors we aren't in a competition, we support each other. I've partnered with authors in supporting each other with tweets, promoting each other for new book releases or discounts on our books. These authors are from so many different countries and we have fans around the world.
HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED YOU GET YOUR WORK ‘OUT THERE’ IN THE BIG BAD WORLD?
Twitter has allowed me to connect with other writers and readers around the world. I've also connected with some groups of authors built to support each other and help readers find those authors they might not run across otherwise.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT WITH THE CHANGES TO THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN THE USA?
I like the control I have as an independent published writer and I like the challenge of trying to figure out the business side of the game and how to connect with or be discovered by readers. I'm sad to see some of the book stores struggle to stay open. The new model is good for writers and for eReaders in that the book shelf is limitless, books don't go out of print, you want a book? you can find it and books that may have a smaller share of the market can be published in the new model where in the old model a publisher would pass on it.
The writer who simply wants to write will struggle in the old model if they aren't a best seller and get the backing of the publisher to advertise, and in the new model where you have to find ways to improve the visibility of your book to readers.
Douglas Dorow
Thanks Douglas, and you can read my half of this thrilling interview tete-a-tete over at Mr Dorow's blog - including what it's like writing a series, opportunities for authors publishing Down Under, all infused with Aussie / Pommy slang for greatest cultural effect.
I've just downloaded The Ninth District and am looking forward to a fresh read by my new Minnesotan pal! Check out Douglas's website and my own interview on his blog over at www.DouglasDorow.com.
Cheers,
Chris
View this post at intrepidallen.com: http://intrepidallen.com/blog/2013/3/...
A crucial part of the business of publishing books these days is finding an appreciative audience to connect with. It used to be that the traditional publisher would find those people for you through marketing and media, but now the top-down pyramid has inverted and we authors gotta get out and connect with readers and get to know them a little bit, before they get to know our stories and hopefully become fans of our work.
Through that process I've been privileged to meet a range of fantastic authors around the world as well as book bloggers who play a crucial role in supporting the brave new world of book publishing, marketing and building an author platform from the ground up. Take Mandi from That Book You Like who has reviewed all my books and collaborated on new ways of cross promoting her wares through guest posts, wordsmith Stephanie from Read in a Single Sitting who always posts the most insightful commentary, plus Josh as @oznoir on Fair Dinkum Crime and the lovely Karen from AustCrime Fiction who take considerable time to read, review and post about my books, and a very fun Paratrooping-themed guest post on The Creative Penn where I met readers and authors from across the world that I'm still in touch with today.
So, thanks to the real-time web, it's been fulfilling as all get out to find all these like-minded, thriller readin' and writin' souls to build relationships with.
Another one of these recent finds is a chap called Douglas Dorow, a thriller writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of many thriller/suspense writers. He wonders whether it is something in the water or the long, cold winters that has spawned a veritable amount of Minnesotan authors - but I reckon if the stories are in your head, they'll be in residence no matter where you are. I know Douglas likes the idea of my great sunny land and it's endless schooners of beer - so here's the invitation to come and write a book Down Under!
His first thriller, The Ninth District, is a kindle best seller. He is working on the second in the series featuring FBI Agent, Jack Miller. He has also started a spin-off novella series and another action/adventure series.
In the spirit of continuing to meet new people and do something a little different, we came up with the idea of a double interview - his on my blog, and mine over on his blog. You can find Douglas's blog here.
So here's what we talked about, author-to-author.
SO TELL ME DOUG, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ALONG THE WAY? CARE TO SHARE YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS AND/OR OPPORTUNITIES?
I've learned so much. May 2010, I was working on query letters for my first book to send to agents, when I read about Amazon starting a program where I could self publish my book as an ebook and get 70% royalties. I could publish as soon as I was ready and make more. It was at that point I became an Authorpreneur - an author and a publisher. I'd been concentrating on learning how to tell & write a story and had to learn how to publish and market my book too.
I had to look at my goals and skills and put together a team. I hired an editor and a cover designer and learned how to create an eBook myself. And then I took on the marketing tasks as well.
Biggest opportunities? I made 2012 the year of THE NINTH DISTRICT. I'd published it as an eBook in 2011. But readers want it their way. So, while I worked on the next books I published THE NINTH DISTRICT as a paperbook, hired a narrator and published an audiobook and a translator and published a Spanish version. I also spent a lot of time with social media and other strategies to market my story.
A couple of my biggest pleasant surprises are that I reached the Kindle Top Ten Thriller rank a couple of times in the past year, and that I was able to connect with so many readers via email, twitter and Facebook.
My biggest disappointment is that I don't have more time to write. I don't write full time. I have a day job and find time to write as I can. I have so many stories I want to tell and my readers are looking for the next book in the series. I wish I could've published it already. I'm planning to release book two in the series sometime around July and I also have a novella series I'm spinning off of the first book that I plan to publish this year.
I’M ALWAYS VERY KEEN TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS OF OTHERS AND THE ORIGINS OF THEIR DESIRE TO BECOME A WRITER. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? WHAT DOES WRITING REPRESENT TO YOU? AND, WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH YOUR WRITING?
I've always been a big reader since my mom taught me to read. And when I was young, some of the first television shows my dad would let me stay up and watch with him were private detective shows. I think these two things merged together into being a reader of thrillers, mysteries and spy novels.
In college, I took a couple of creative writing classes while I was studying engineering. I got some good feedback on my writing and enjoyed the creative process. I think that planted the seed to write. When I got married and we had our first child, I decided to take a couple of writing classes. That was probably eighteen years ago. Minneapolis, Minnesota (where I live) is the home of The Loft Literary Center, as great resource for people wanting to learn to write. A critique group formed out of one of my classes there and we've been meeting every few weeks for the last fifteen years supporting each other in our writing.
I see myself as a storyteller. I enjoy coming up with story ideas, researching and learning about things that I can bring into the story and telling a story that I enjoy writing. I hope I can bring all of these things together into something the reader will enjoy as they look for a fiction story to escape into.
OF YOUR LARGE SUPPORT NETWORK, BOTH CLOSE TO YOU AND ACROSS THE WORLD, HOW DO YOUR SUPPORTERS HELP YOU IN GAINING GLOBAL REACH IN UNEXPECTED WAYS?
It's weird to think I have readers around the globe reading my book. I've received emails and Facebook comments from readers around the world.
Over the past couple of years I have built a Twitter following of writers and readers and I've joined a few groups of Independent Writers (BestSellingReads.com IndependentAuthorNetwork.com and WorldLiteraryCafe.com). As authors we aren't in a competition, we support each other. I've partnered with authors in supporting each other with tweets, promoting each other for new book releases or discounts on our books. These authors are from so many different countries and we have fans around the world.
HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED YOU GET YOUR WORK ‘OUT THERE’ IN THE BIG BAD WORLD?
Twitter has allowed me to connect with other writers and readers around the world. I've also connected with some groups of authors built to support each other and help readers find those authors they might not run across otherwise.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT WITH THE CHANGES TO THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN THE USA?
I like the control I have as an independent published writer and I like the challenge of trying to figure out the business side of the game and how to connect with or be discovered by readers. I'm sad to see some of the book stores struggle to stay open. The new model is good for writers and for eReaders in that the book shelf is limitless, books don't go out of print, you want a book? you can find it and books that may have a smaller share of the market can be published in the new model where in the old model a publisher would pass on it.
The writer who simply wants to write will struggle in the old model if they aren't a best seller and get the backing of the publisher to advertise, and in the new model where you have to find ways to improve the visibility of your book to readers.
Douglas Dorow
Thanks Douglas, and you can read my half of this thrilling interview tete-a-tete over at Mr Dorow's blog - including what it's like writing a series, opportunities for authors publishing Down Under, all infused with Aussie / Pommy slang for greatest cultural effect.
I've just downloaded The Ninth District and am looking forward to a fresh read by my new Minnesotan pal! Check out Douglas's website and my own interview on his blog over at www.DouglasDorow.com.
Cheers,
Chris
View this post at intrepidallen.com: http://intrepidallen.com/blog/2013/3/...
MY TOP THRILLER WRITERS OF ALL TIME
TEN OF THE BEST ACTION AUTHORS (AND THEIR NOVELS)
This collection of works by my favourite thriller writers is the equivalent of my literary lifeblood. I continue to enjoy them equally as much today as at my first read, and it's heartening to reflect on the fact that they've kept me entertained and out of trouble since growing up as a teenager in Perth in the 1970's, and even while I was deployed in the various jungles and deserts of my past, wondering what the normal people were doing for a day job. I've grown up on many of these books, and continue to be inspired by these top thriller writers, all of them leaders in the action & espionage arena. Henceforth, and also inspired by a recent post on my favourite action movies that has been a hit, I humbly offer my list of top thriller authors alongside some of what I think is their best work!
1. IAN FLEMING - CASINO ROYALE
The first James Bond novel and iconic turning point in popular culture, penned by Ian Fleming, my literary hero. This wasn't the first Bond I ever read - I first found The Man with the Golden Gun in the school library - but it gives great insight into the author himself, what he was feeling at the time and his plans for his protagonist. It's full of all the classic heroics we expect of Bond but there is a fair amount of fear and uncertainty as well. I've read everything he's written over a dozen times each.
2. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE - THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES
Having enjoyed these stories as a boy, I rediscovered them in my forties and only truly realised then, with the benefit of some considerable years and life experience under my belt, just how good they were. So much of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is embedded within the character of Dr John Watson, trusted biographer and loyal friend of the great detective, that the perspective of his adventures alongside Sherlock Holmes becomes a very personal one for the reader. The language and style of writing is particular to a time while being also uniquely timeless. I devour these stories regularly.
3. CLIVE CUSSLER - SAHARA
I've enjoyed Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt books for over 20 years, discovering them on the recommendation of a friend in the early 1990's. These are all rip-roaring adventures and they just got better and better as Cussler became more familiar and comfortable with his protagonist. Sahara is classic Dirk Pitt and epitomizes, in my view, the style of narrative Cussler aspired to when he first created the character. Clive Cussler continues to produce great work, including one of his most recent stories, The Chase, which has become a new favourite for me. And, for the record, I prefer it when he writes alone!
4. ALISTAIR MACLEAN - WHERE EAGLES DARE
Alistair MacLean wrote some now legendary action thrillers in his time, this one among the most famous, featuring one of my favourite characters, Major Smith.
I actually first discovered Alistair MacLean as a result of watching the film of the novel, starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. So intrigued was I by the complexity of the story that I had to find the book and was pleased to discover that the writing and the subterfuge from the novel had been expertly replicated by the filmmakers.
MacLean is a master in the action genre in that the characters are relentless but flawed, the stakes are always high and the storytelling is supreme.
5. TOM CLANCY - WITHOUT REMORSE
Tom Clancy came to prominence during the 90's with a now-huge backlist of thrillers. A favourite of mine being Without Remorse, which focuses on one of Clancy's best characters, John Clarke.
While the popular view is that Jack Ryan is Clancy's best character, I can't help but feel that's a result of the films starring Alec Baldwin in one and Harrison Ford in two others. But the Clarke character seems to me a much more real and accessible hero who does not enjoy the prestige or accolade of the Ryan character. I really like that about Clancy's ability to write such different heroes.
6. JOHN LE CARRE - THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
Fantastic book, this one, and I thought that Richard Burton did a great job as Leamus in the movie of the same name.
Le Carre had a way of conveying much more of the rawness and darkness of Cold War Europe and the complexity of personal human relationships that became intertwined in the professional intelligence environment on both sides of the Iron Curtain.
7. JON CLEARY - THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
One Aussie writer I've always enjoyed is Jon Cleary, though he's unfortunately no longer with us. He had a unique Australian take within an international setting in some of his work. He was equally adept at focusing on Australian domestic issues and his characters were very real and believable.
I loved this book particularly the earthy Australian detective Scobie Malone. Mr Cleary is a legend amongst crime authors.
8. MATTHEW REILLY - ICE STATION
Matthew Reilly is another incredibly talented Australian author who has legions of fans in the sci-fi / action genre. This book made Reilly internationally and features his most enduring character, Scarecrow.
I was thrilled to chat to Matthew at a recent movie screening in Canberra for a mutual friend. Not only can he write ripping yarns but he's a genuinely great person who had lots of insights to exchange about the Australian publishing industry.
9. PATRICIA CORNWALL - RED MIST
Patricia Cornwall is such a strong contemporary force to be reckoned with, who has - I think - perfectly captured the relationship between her own history and that of the protagonist she's created, Kay Scarpetta. Her characters are real and believable, not neccessarily superhuman, and I like that!
A strong point about Cornwall's writing is how she manages to incorporate complex family relationship issues within the darkness of her subject matter.
10. JACK HIGGINS - SOLO
Another great English writer, Higgins wrote many stories which I enjoyed throughout my military years. His book, Solo, features a parachute regiment Colonel named Asa Morgan, which is not that dissimilar to the name I chose for my own protagonist. Must be something in that!
I still have literally dozens of Jack Higgins novels which I would carry in my pack at various times over the years. They were perfect material when you only had time for short, sharp bursts of reading as they were intense and fast-paced. This one was all about revenge, family loyalties and ultimately being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Who are your top writers and their most treasured novels of yours? Leave me a comment below or at http://intrepidallen.com/blog/2013/4/....
This collection of works by my favourite thriller writers is the equivalent of my literary lifeblood. I continue to enjoy them equally as much today as at my first read, and it's heartening to reflect on the fact that they've kept me entertained and out of trouble since growing up as a teenager in Perth in the 1970's, and even while I was deployed in the various jungles and deserts of my past, wondering what the normal people were doing for a day job. I've grown up on many of these books, and continue to be inspired by these top thriller writers, all of them leaders in the action & espionage arena. Henceforth, and also inspired by a recent post on my favourite action movies that has been a hit, I humbly offer my list of top thriller authors alongside some of what I think is their best work!
1. IAN FLEMING - CASINO ROYALE
The first James Bond novel and iconic turning point in popular culture, penned by Ian Fleming, my literary hero. This wasn't the first Bond I ever read - I first found The Man with the Golden Gun in the school library - but it gives great insight into the author himself, what he was feeling at the time and his plans for his protagonist. It's full of all the classic heroics we expect of Bond but there is a fair amount of fear and uncertainty as well. I've read everything he's written over a dozen times each.
2. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE - THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES
Having enjoyed these stories as a boy, I rediscovered them in my forties and only truly realised then, with the benefit of some considerable years and life experience under my belt, just how good they were. So much of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is embedded within the character of Dr John Watson, trusted biographer and loyal friend of the great detective, that the perspective of his adventures alongside Sherlock Holmes becomes a very personal one for the reader. The language and style of writing is particular to a time while being also uniquely timeless. I devour these stories regularly.
3. CLIVE CUSSLER - SAHARA
I've enjoyed Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt books for over 20 years, discovering them on the recommendation of a friend in the early 1990's. These are all rip-roaring adventures and they just got better and better as Cussler became more familiar and comfortable with his protagonist. Sahara is classic Dirk Pitt and epitomizes, in my view, the style of narrative Cussler aspired to when he first created the character. Clive Cussler continues to produce great work, including one of his most recent stories, The Chase, which has become a new favourite for me. And, for the record, I prefer it when he writes alone!
4. ALISTAIR MACLEAN - WHERE EAGLES DARE
Alistair MacLean wrote some now legendary action thrillers in his time, this one among the most famous, featuring one of my favourite characters, Major Smith.
I actually first discovered Alistair MacLean as a result of watching the film of the novel, starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. So intrigued was I by the complexity of the story that I had to find the book and was pleased to discover that the writing and the subterfuge from the novel had been expertly replicated by the filmmakers.
MacLean is a master in the action genre in that the characters are relentless but flawed, the stakes are always high and the storytelling is supreme.
5. TOM CLANCY - WITHOUT REMORSE
Tom Clancy came to prominence during the 90's with a now-huge backlist of thrillers. A favourite of mine being Without Remorse, which focuses on one of Clancy's best characters, John Clarke.
While the popular view is that Jack Ryan is Clancy's best character, I can't help but feel that's a result of the films starring Alec Baldwin in one and Harrison Ford in two others. But the Clarke character seems to me a much more real and accessible hero who does not enjoy the prestige or accolade of the Ryan character. I really like that about Clancy's ability to write such different heroes.
6. JOHN LE CARRE - THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD
Fantastic book, this one, and I thought that Richard Burton did a great job as Leamus in the movie of the same name.
Le Carre had a way of conveying much more of the rawness and darkness of Cold War Europe and the complexity of personal human relationships that became intertwined in the professional intelligence environment on both sides of the Iron Curtain.
7. JON CLEARY - THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
One Aussie writer I've always enjoyed is Jon Cleary, though he's unfortunately no longer with us. He had a unique Australian take within an international setting in some of his work. He was equally adept at focusing on Australian domestic issues and his characters were very real and believable.
I loved this book particularly the earthy Australian detective Scobie Malone. Mr Cleary is a legend amongst crime authors.
8. MATTHEW REILLY - ICE STATION
Matthew Reilly is another incredibly talented Australian author who has legions of fans in the sci-fi / action genre. This book made Reilly internationally and features his most enduring character, Scarecrow.
I was thrilled to chat to Matthew at a recent movie screening in Canberra for a mutual friend. Not only can he write ripping yarns but he's a genuinely great person who had lots of insights to exchange about the Australian publishing industry.
9. PATRICIA CORNWALL - RED MIST
Patricia Cornwall is such a strong contemporary force to be reckoned with, who has - I think - perfectly captured the relationship between her own history and that of the protagonist she's created, Kay Scarpetta. Her characters are real and believable, not neccessarily superhuman, and I like that!
A strong point about Cornwall's writing is how she manages to incorporate complex family relationship issues within the darkness of her subject matter.
10. JACK HIGGINS - SOLO
Another great English writer, Higgins wrote many stories which I enjoyed throughout my military years. His book, Solo, features a parachute regiment Colonel named Asa Morgan, which is not that dissimilar to the name I chose for my own protagonist. Must be something in that!
I still have literally dozens of Jack Higgins novels which I would carry in my pack at various times over the years. They were perfect material when you only had time for short, sharp bursts of reading as they were intense and fast-paced. This one was all about revenge, family loyalties and ultimately being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Who are your top writers and their most treasured novels of yours? Leave me a comment below or at http://intrepidallen.com/blog/2013/4/....
THANKS FOR INTREPID MONTH
FACEBOOK AUTHOR EVENT FOR ONLINE BOOK CLUB
Intrepid Month was great fun during June, where I took part in an interactive Author Chat on Facebook and guest-posted on the That Book You Like blog.
“On Monday night.. we had a chance to chat to Chris Allen. It was entertaining and informative, a fabulous insight into writing, reading and living an adventurous life.”
— Mandi, That Book You Like
You can catch the round-up from Intrepid Month on That Book You Like here: http://thatbookyoulike.wordpress.com/...
Intrepid Month was great fun during June, where I took part in an interactive Author Chat on Facebook and guest-posted on the That Book You Like blog.
“On Monday night.. we had a chance to chat to Chris Allen. It was entertaining and informative, a fabulous insight into writing, reading and living an adventurous life.”
— Mandi, That Book You Like
You can catch the round-up from Intrepid Month on That Book You Like here: http://thatbookyoulike.wordpress.com/...
