Chris Allen's Blog, page 5
March 25, 2013
WRITING FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE
OR: HOW TO START PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK
Recently, following a writers' talk at the Lake Macquarie Fellowship of Australian Writers, I received an email from one of the attendees asking me how long I should expect a book will take to write and publish.
My first thought is "how long is a piece of string?" It's a valid question though and one I'd like to address right here, on this blog, to spark thought and discourse with any other aspiring or practicing writers.
If you ultimately seek a successful writing career (and there's nothing wrong with that!) then you may need to do what I did after completing my first book, and drastically alter your writing approach - especially if you ever wish to enjoy the fruits of your labours. The idea? To embrace a shorter but more productive writing timeframe; learn the ropes of the digital revolution in full swing; and take control of your publishing destiny.
The following advice has been prepared on the basis of my personal experience and should be taken as my own journey and therefore may or may not be of assistance to you. The Boss - aka my Sar - suggested I add that particular disclaimer, as there is already a plethora of authors out there providing marketing and publishing advice, and while we all have learnings to impart, no one person is the holy grail. That said, Sarah has done a great course recently - led by one particularly cool fellow - that is worth checking as his advice was incredible and, importantly, based on success that was hard won.
Now, back to the basics.
PREPARING YOUR BOOK
There are a couple of approaches to consider.
Firstly, you may wish to self publish it as I did initially and, thereby, 'test the waters'. If you do, you can: (1) engage some of your writing colleagues and ask for their genuine feedback - this will help you get a sense of what's working or not, then either (2) find and pay for an editor who is experienced in your genre and will work with you to make the manuscript 'publishing ready' - many available online if you look hard enough, or (3) pay for a complete publishing/editorial package which will essentially give you a one-stop-shop to keep the process simple and, relatively, expedient. In this regard, I would recommend researching the Amazon publishing arm CreateSpace - the people I used when I self-published Defender of the Faith.
If you don't want to self-publish then you'll be on the look out for a publisher who specialises in your genre. That could be a mainstream publisher who is looking for writers producing work in that area, or it could be a genre-specific publisher. This will take research and I wouldn't limit your research just to Australia. Spend some time hunting across the internet and look for writing groups, bloggers, reviewers who are focused on that genre - listen for the buzz on whose work they are reviewing, what they are saying about the biggest writers in your space, and use your sleuthing skills to discover who publishes their work, who agents for them, and so on.
KEEP WRITING
Now, all of the above is something you should be doing while concurrently getting started on the next book!
Publishing is a business. Publishers are looking for writers/books that they feel will sell and that they can market and turnaround reasonably rapidly. Your work is a 'product for sale' in the big bad world. So, you need to be prepared to change your writing approach if you wish to be picked up by a publisher and see your books on shelves in stores or online.
These days, with the explosion of eReaders and eBooks and reading a plethora of stories on all manner of technological devices and (gasp) books, you've gotta keep writing to up your chances of success as an dollar-earning author. A publisher could be looking for a six month turnaround from you if they are looking to publish one of your books per year. That gives them time to undertake the full editing process - structural/copy/final etc, followed by the actual production process and then, obviously, marketing ahead of the release date.
THINK SERIES-LY
My experience has been in writing a series, so I'm going to stick to that. Map out your entire series so that you have the full adventure planned and organised into the various volumes i.e. Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 etc. Once you've done that, then get started on book two. That means planning your personal writing process around a certain word-count per day or week (up to you). To me, it's all about word count. Books in my genre of action / thriller / espionage normally average around 100,000 words. It would be wise to find an average word count for books in your genre so that you have an idea of what to aim for. Then, it's simply: creativity + maths = book delivered on time.
No one can tell you exactly how to execute this, especially the creativity part. However, I would advise against paragraph-by-paragraph perfection and stay focused on the entire story. Remember, the book will go through a very detailed (sometimes excruciating) editorial process once you have it finished. Honestly, just get the story down. It's your story and your characters that will win over an audience. They won't be too concerned with every single word and paragraph.
I'll leave it there for now. Do you have a view? Leave a comment below.
Best,
Chris
Recently, following a writers' talk at the Lake Macquarie Fellowship of Australian Writers, I received an email from one of the attendees asking me how long I should expect a book will take to write and publish.
My first thought is "how long is a piece of string?" It's a valid question though and one I'd like to address right here, on this blog, to spark thought and discourse with any other aspiring or practicing writers.
If you ultimately seek a successful writing career (and there's nothing wrong with that!) then you may need to do what I did after completing my first book, and drastically alter your writing approach - especially if you ever wish to enjoy the fruits of your labours. The idea? To embrace a shorter but more productive writing timeframe; learn the ropes of the digital revolution in full swing; and take control of your publishing destiny.
The following advice has been prepared on the basis of my personal experience and should be taken as my own journey and therefore may or may not be of assistance to you. The Boss - aka my Sar - suggested I add that particular disclaimer, as there is already a plethora of authors out there providing marketing and publishing advice, and while we all have learnings to impart, no one person is the holy grail. That said, Sarah has done a great course recently - led by one particularly cool fellow - that is worth checking as his advice was incredible and, importantly, based on success that was hard won.
Now, back to the basics.
PREPARING YOUR BOOK
There are a couple of approaches to consider.
Firstly, you may wish to self publish it as I did initially and, thereby, 'test the waters'. If you do, you can: (1) engage some of your writing colleagues and ask for their genuine feedback - this will help you get a sense of what's working or not, then either (2) find and pay for an editor who is experienced in your genre and will work with you to make the manuscript 'publishing ready' - many available online if you look hard enough, or (3) pay for a complete publishing/editorial package which will essentially give you a one-stop-shop to keep the process simple and, relatively, expedient. In this regard, I would recommend researching the Amazon publishing arm CreateSpace - the people I used when I self-published Defender of the Faith.
If you don't want to self-publish then you'll be on the look out for a publisher who specialises in your genre. That could be a mainstream publisher who is looking for writers producing work in that area, or it could be a genre-specific publisher. This will take research and I wouldn't limit your research just to Australia. Spend some time hunting across the internet and look for writing groups, bloggers, reviewers who are focused on that genre - listen for the buzz on whose work they are reviewing, what they are saying about the biggest writers in your space, and use your sleuthing skills to discover who publishes their work, who agents for them, and so on.
KEEP WRITING
Now, all of the above is something you should be doing while concurrently getting started on the next book!
Publishing is a business. Publishers are looking for writers/books that they feel will sell and that they can market and turnaround reasonably rapidly. Your work is a 'product for sale' in the big bad world. So, you need to be prepared to change your writing approach if you wish to be picked up by a publisher and see your books on shelves in stores or online.
These days, with the explosion of eReaders and eBooks and reading a plethora of stories on all manner of technological devices and (gasp) books, you've gotta keep writing to up your chances of success as an dollar-earning author. A publisher could be looking for a six month turnaround from you if they are looking to publish one of your books per year. That gives them time to undertake the full editing process - structural/copy/final etc, followed by the actual production process and then, obviously, marketing ahead of the release date.
THINK SERIES-LY
My experience has been in writing a series, so I'm going to stick to that. Map out your entire series so that you have the full adventure planned and organised into the various volumes i.e. Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 etc. Once you've done that, then get started on book two. That means planning your personal writing process around a certain word-count per day or week (up to you). To me, it's all about word count. Books in my genre of action / thriller / espionage normally average around 100,000 words. It would be wise to find an average word count for books in your genre so that you have an idea of what to aim for. Then, it's simply: creativity + maths = book delivered on time.
No one can tell you exactly how to execute this, especially the creativity part. However, I would advise against paragraph-by-paragraph perfection and stay focused on the entire story. Remember, the book will go through a very detailed (sometimes excruciating) editorial process once you have it finished. Honestly, just get the story down. It's your story and your characters that will win over an audience. They won't be too concerned with every single word and paragraph.
I'll leave it there for now. Do you have a view? Leave a comment below.
Best,
Chris
February 21, 2013
MY TOP ACTION MOVIES OF ALL TIME
(Read the full blog and watch the accompanying movie clips at http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201....)
Being in the line of fire certainly helps a scene to come alive, but it isn’t the only thing. If the dreaded writer’s block ever pops up, I know I can always trust the big screen to throw me some great ideas.
Here’s my list of the Top Classic Action Films that I turn to when the ol’ memory needs reviving.
Where Eagles Dare (1968) with Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood
This was the type of film guys my age sat down to watch with their dad's, it was a natural part of growing up. The Alistair Maclean classic Where Eagles Dare is not your stock standard war film: it’s full of double-agents, behind the lines missions and really powerful characters pitted against each other. I loved it as a boy and I still do. It highlighted conflicts and betrayals on both sides of the war rather than the standard ‘us against them’. Real life is much more complex and they nailed that well in the context of an action movie. The cable car scenes are legendary and the ending is just brilliant, but I won’t give it away. The character that I most identify with is Major Smith, played by Burton: a cold, hard and relentless professional – that’s how I see him.
Taken (2008) with Liam Neeson
This film copped a bit of flak over stereotyping certain people and groups, but I’ll leave it there. The real strength of the film’s premise is in displaying a father’s commitment to the protection of his child and the inherent instinct to protect them no matter the cost. I love the way that they convey the normal dad behaviour, with all the normal insecurities and sometimes overbearing characteristics, pitted against the man as a professional spy. They do that really well. For me, it reinforces that no matter how specialist and dangerous people may be due to their career choices, at the end of the day they’re just people. Neeson looks like he would comfortably sit down and have a beer at the bar with you, just as easily as loppin’ your head off.
The Eagle has Landed (1976) with Michael Caine
This is a favourite among ex-Paratroopers. Michael Caine plays the German Paratrooper (Fallschirmjäger) Commander perfectly. Once again, it’s the character interplay and people not necessarily being who they seem to be that keeps this movie current, despite its WWII setting - especially the scene where a young German soldier dies in the process of saving a little English girl from drowning. It’s written by another of my favourite authors, Jack Higgins. As an aside, I remember one of the guys in the regiment years ago loved this film so much that he changed his name by deed poll to Kurt Steiner (the name of Caine’s character). That’s dedication!
Bad Boys I (1995) with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence
A little out of left field for me, I know, but I love the way that they nailed the banter between two really tight friends in a very contemporary way. It’s over the top and out of control but funny, and the things that make it funny are all the normal human elements of the characters, not the gun ho, macho, shoot ‘em up stuff that, as you may know, the movie is full of.
Iron Man Series (2008-10)
My favourite superhero movie series of recent times is the Iron Man series (with another set for release in April 2013). The reason it's my favourite is simple: Robert Downey Jr. RDJ has made an unbelievable character somehow believable. He’s cocky, self-assured, fearless, and funny at the same time. The combo of him and the director, Favreau, who also appears in the movie as Happy Hogan, is fantastic. They just understood what they wanted to achieve when they set out to do the movie and they delivered it. It’s a fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining blockbuster. Hand in hand with that is another Marvel, The Avengers (2012) with Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner. Absolutely fantastic movie and anything with Scar-Jo has to be tops (fortunately, my Sar agrees).
The Peacemaker (1997), with George Clooney and Nicole Kidman
When this came out in the late nineties, I liked it because it was a contemporary action thriller that focused on relevant and current issues at the time. The lone radical individual carrying a nuclear weapon in a backpack around a major city is now almost a clichéd scenario but back then I think they forecast pretty well the fears of a major incident in just about any city of the world - sadly, all too familiar now. I like the two lead characters a lot. Clooney’s military officer character was understated and mission focused; a ‘get the job done’ kind of guy. Kidman’s nuclear specialist was a great model for strong, independent and intelligent female leads, equally adept at saving the day as her male counterpart, far removed from the clichéd window-dressing of old. They make a great partnership.
Finally, I’d say Skyfall (2012) with Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem
Skyfall has the essential ingredients of the Bond franchise: glamour, humour and charm. It took Bond back to basics. It humanised him, pushed him back into his family history and brought out his loyalty and sense of duty to his country that is a really important part of that character’s background and the original premise that Fleming created him on. Without being a Fleming story, they got as close as they ever have in bringing Fleming’s Bond back to life, even more so than in Casino Royale (2006). You can read my Skyfall review on the Momentum blog here.
Skyfall is the perfect dose of realism and escapism that might be found in my favourite action flick of all time (to come), and that would be any featuring Alex Morgan and Intrepid!
These are the films that are kept right at the ready by my desk when I need some inspiration. They capture all of the elements that I try to include and emulate in my own stories: the human elements behind the action heroes; the interactions, betrayals and insecurities that are so familiar to everybody; and, from an action point-of-view, the characters are relentless, cold, hard-hitting professionals that no matter what, get the job done.
Chris
Being in the line of fire certainly helps a scene to come alive, but it isn’t the only thing. If the dreaded writer’s block ever pops up, I know I can always trust the big screen to throw me some great ideas.
Here’s my list of the Top Classic Action Films that I turn to when the ol’ memory needs reviving.
Where Eagles Dare (1968) with Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood
This was the type of film guys my age sat down to watch with their dad's, it was a natural part of growing up. The Alistair Maclean classic Where Eagles Dare is not your stock standard war film: it’s full of double-agents, behind the lines missions and really powerful characters pitted against each other. I loved it as a boy and I still do. It highlighted conflicts and betrayals on both sides of the war rather than the standard ‘us against them’. Real life is much more complex and they nailed that well in the context of an action movie. The cable car scenes are legendary and the ending is just brilliant, but I won’t give it away. The character that I most identify with is Major Smith, played by Burton: a cold, hard and relentless professional – that’s how I see him.
Taken (2008) with Liam Neeson
This film copped a bit of flak over stereotyping certain people and groups, but I’ll leave it there. The real strength of the film’s premise is in displaying a father’s commitment to the protection of his child and the inherent instinct to protect them no matter the cost. I love the way that they convey the normal dad behaviour, with all the normal insecurities and sometimes overbearing characteristics, pitted against the man as a professional spy. They do that really well. For me, it reinforces that no matter how specialist and dangerous people may be due to their career choices, at the end of the day they’re just people. Neeson looks like he would comfortably sit down and have a beer at the bar with you, just as easily as loppin’ your head off.
The Eagle has Landed (1976) with Michael Caine
This is a favourite among ex-Paratroopers. Michael Caine plays the German Paratrooper (Fallschirmjäger) Commander perfectly. Once again, it’s the character interplay and people not necessarily being who they seem to be that keeps this movie current, despite its WWII setting - especially the scene where a young German soldier dies in the process of saving a little English girl from drowning. It’s written by another of my favourite authors, Jack Higgins. As an aside, I remember one of the guys in the regiment years ago loved this film so much that he changed his name by deed poll to Kurt Steiner (the name of Caine’s character). That’s dedication!
Bad Boys I (1995) with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence
A little out of left field for me, I know, but I love the way that they nailed the banter between two really tight friends in a very contemporary way. It’s over the top and out of control but funny, and the things that make it funny are all the normal human elements of the characters, not the gun ho, macho, shoot ‘em up stuff that, as you may know, the movie is full of.
Iron Man Series (2008-10)
My favourite superhero movie series of recent times is the Iron Man series (with another set for release in April 2013). The reason it's my favourite is simple: Robert Downey Jr. RDJ has made an unbelievable character somehow believable. He’s cocky, self-assured, fearless, and funny at the same time. The combo of him and the director, Favreau, who also appears in the movie as Happy Hogan, is fantastic. They just understood what they wanted to achieve when they set out to do the movie and they delivered it. It’s a fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining blockbuster. Hand in hand with that is another Marvel, The Avengers (2012) with Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner. Absolutely fantastic movie and anything with Scar-Jo has to be tops (fortunately, my Sar agrees).
The Peacemaker (1997), with George Clooney and Nicole Kidman
When this came out in the late nineties, I liked it because it was a contemporary action thriller that focused on relevant and current issues at the time. The lone radical individual carrying a nuclear weapon in a backpack around a major city is now almost a clichéd scenario but back then I think they forecast pretty well the fears of a major incident in just about any city of the world - sadly, all too familiar now. I like the two lead characters a lot. Clooney’s military officer character was understated and mission focused; a ‘get the job done’ kind of guy. Kidman’s nuclear specialist was a great model for strong, independent and intelligent female leads, equally adept at saving the day as her male counterpart, far removed from the clichéd window-dressing of old. They make a great partnership.
Finally, I’d say Skyfall (2012) with Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem
Skyfall has the essential ingredients of the Bond franchise: glamour, humour and charm. It took Bond back to basics. It humanised him, pushed him back into his family history and brought out his loyalty and sense of duty to his country that is a really important part of that character’s background and the original premise that Fleming created him on. Without being a Fleming story, they got as close as they ever have in bringing Fleming’s Bond back to life, even more so than in Casino Royale (2006). You can read my Skyfall review on the Momentum blog here.
Skyfall is the perfect dose of realism and escapism that might be found in my favourite action flick of all time (to come), and that would be any featuring Alex Morgan and Intrepid!
These are the films that are kept right at the ready by my desk when I need some inspiration. They capture all of the elements that I try to include and emulate in my own stories: the human elements behind the action heroes; the interactions, betrayals and insecurities that are so familiar to everybody; and, from an action point-of-view, the characters are relentless, cold, hard-hitting professionals that no matter what, get the job done.
Chris
February 5, 2013
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
January 3, 2013
A NEW YEAR FOR THOSE WHO SERVE
This post first appeared on C Mash Loves to Read.
The Christmas and New Year period is a very trying time for military families, especially those with young children. The absence of a loved one who is necessarily in harm’s way only serves to intensify the impact of protracted separation upon the family unit. So, it becomes incredibly important for the families at home to have strong support both from their own immediate networks and the community, just as much as the deployed servicemen and servicewomen require the best possible support along with our thoughts and most sincere best wishes for a safe return home.
I’m a first generation Australian, with a strong British lineage on both my Dad’s and my Mum’s side of the family, specifically England and Wales. I grew up on the stories my father told of my grandfather and my uncles during both world wars and as a young lad, those things really resonated. I felt a strong pull towards military service very early on and, as I got older, I became serious about it. That childhood interest grew into a real sense of duty. It was almost inevitable that I would choose a military career.
We have an eclectic mix of military service throughout the family, soldiers, sailors and airmen, but I feel the strongest link to my father’s eldest brother, Stanley, who served with the British Parachute Regiment during the Second World War. Sadly, I never met Uncle Stan but you can imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment I felt when, many years later as a young Captain, I was chosen for a highly coveted attachment to British Airborne Forces. In terms of my family history, I really felt as though I had come full circle at that point.
A couple of years later, when injuries I’d sustained in service caught up with me, I was medically retired having reached the rank of Major. Then, following a sojourn into the world of humanitarian aid during the emergency in East Timor in 1999, my post-military career has predominantly been in law enforcement and government security roles.
I’ve often been asked if there are any moments from my military career that have found their way into my novels. There are hundreds of experiences I draw on and many of them appear in my Alex Morgan adventures. However, one in particular came to mind when I was writing my first novel that was so perfect for the story, that I decided to include it almost verbatim – from real life onto the page.
I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading DEFENDER, but this incident involved a number of parachute jumps we were doing while I was attached to 3PARA in the UK. The Regiment was required to trial the new low-level parachute being considered for introduction into British Airborne Forces. These particular ‘chutes are designed to deploy, as the name implies, at very low levels. We’d jumped a few times on this day at a much lower altitude than we usually would have – so the margin for error was significantly reduced. That is, jumping out of the aircraft at low altitude means less air time and much less time to rectify a problem in an emergency. In essence, you jump with a large parachute on your back (the Main) and a much smaller parachute on your chest (the Reserve) – although despite the fact that we were still jumping with Reserve parachutes, at such low altitude they were more or less along for the ride rather than being of any actual use.
On this one jump, when I exited the aircraft into the full blast of the aircraft’s slipstream and carried out all of the drills familiar to every paratrooper, my Main parachute wasn’t in the mood to comply. In fact, it was belligerently refusing to participate in the activity at all. I thought at the time that it must have had something against Australians! Realizing that the ground was rapidly on its way up to meet me and my Reserve parachute was nothing more than a passenger, my only option was to somehow convince the Main parachute to do what it was supposed – fly!
After a few thought provoking seconds where I engaged in a macabre parody of riding an invisible bicycle while trying to pull apart the support chains of a children’s playground swing, I managed to get some air into the canopy and the recalcitrant parachute deployed. I emerged from a rough landing unharmed, albeit a little shaken and stirred.
Episodes like these are written these stories for lovers of the action thriller genre who enjoy gritty realism served with a healthy dose of escapism; a perfect excuse to escape over the Christmas & New Year holidays without ever having to leave your chair.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to spend Christmas at home with my family and friends. Many others are not so fortunate. Many of the characters I have written about in these books are exactly the types of men and women who will be away from their loved ones over the holidays, most probably in harm’s way. Therefore, while we celebrate the season in safety and contentment, enjoying the dangerous adventures of our fictional heroes – whoever they may be – on a movie screen or from the pages of a book, it’s very timely to spare a thought for those brave individuals all over the world who protect others as their day job. Spare a thought too for their loved ones who know only too well what the sacrifice of service really means.
Happy New Year.
The Christmas and New Year period is a very trying time for military families, especially those with young children. The absence of a loved one who is necessarily in harm’s way only serves to intensify the impact of protracted separation upon the family unit. So, it becomes incredibly important for the families at home to have strong support both from their own immediate networks and the community, just as much as the deployed servicemen and servicewomen require the best possible support along with our thoughts and most sincere best wishes for a safe return home.
I’m a first generation Australian, with a strong British lineage on both my Dad’s and my Mum’s side of the family, specifically England and Wales. I grew up on the stories my father told of my grandfather and my uncles during both world wars and as a young lad, those things really resonated. I felt a strong pull towards military service very early on and, as I got older, I became serious about it. That childhood interest grew into a real sense of duty. It was almost inevitable that I would choose a military career.
We have an eclectic mix of military service throughout the family, soldiers, sailors and airmen, but I feel the strongest link to my father’s eldest brother, Stanley, who served with the British Parachute Regiment during the Second World War. Sadly, I never met Uncle Stan but you can imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment I felt when, many years later as a young Captain, I was chosen for a highly coveted attachment to British Airborne Forces. In terms of my family history, I really felt as though I had come full circle at that point.
A couple of years later, when injuries I’d sustained in service caught up with me, I was medically retired having reached the rank of Major. Then, following a sojourn into the world of humanitarian aid during the emergency in East Timor in 1999, my post-military career has predominantly been in law enforcement and government security roles.
I’ve often been asked if there are any moments from my military career that have found their way into my novels. There are hundreds of experiences I draw on and many of them appear in my Alex Morgan adventures. However, one in particular came to mind when I was writing my first novel that was so perfect for the story, that I decided to include it almost verbatim – from real life onto the page.
I don’t want to spoil it for anyone reading DEFENDER, but this incident involved a number of parachute jumps we were doing while I was attached to 3PARA in the UK. The Regiment was required to trial the new low-level parachute being considered for introduction into British Airborne Forces. These particular ‘chutes are designed to deploy, as the name implies, at very low levels. We’d jumped a few times on this day at a much lower altitude than we usually would have – so the margin for error was significantly reduced. That is, jumping out of the aircraft at low altitude means less air time and much less time to rectify a problem in an emergency. In essence, you jump with a large parachute on your back (the Main) and a much smaller parachute on your chest (the Reserve) – although despite the fact that we were still jumping with Reserve parachutes, at such low altitude they were more or less along for the ride rather than being of any actual use.
On this one jump, when I exited the aircraft into the full blast of the aircraft’s slipstream and carried out all of the drills familiar to every paratrooper, my Main parachute wasn’t in the mood to comply. In fact, it was belligerently refusing to participate in the activity at all. I thought at the time that it must have had something against Australians! Realizing that the ground was rapidly on its way up to meet me and my Reserve parachute was nothing more than a passenger, my only option was to somehow convince the Main parachute to do what it was supposed – fly!
After a few thought provoking seconds where I engaged in a macabre parody of riding an invisible bicycle while trying to pull apart the support chains of a children’s playground swing, I managed to get some air into the canopy and the recalcitrant parachute deployed. I emerged from a rough landing unharmed, albeit a little shaken and stirred.
Episodes like these are written these stories for lovers of the action thriller genre who enjoy gritty realism served with a healthy dose of escapism; a perfect excuse to escape over the Christmas & New Year holidays without ever having to leave your chair.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to spend Christmas at home with my family and friends. Many others are not so fortunate. Many of the characters I have written about in these books are exactly the types of men and women who will be away from their loved ones over the holidays, most probably in harm’s way. Therefore, while we celebrate the season in safety and contentment, enjoying the dangerous adventures of our fictional heroes – whoever they may be – on a movie screen or from the pages of a book, it’s very timely to spare a thought for those brave individuals all over the world who protect others as their day job. Spare a thought too for their loved ones who know only too well what the sacrifice of service really means.
Happy New Year.
December 13, 2012
TO THE BRAVE BELONG ALL THINGS
DAY TWELVE: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the last day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
TO THE BRAVE BELONG ALL THINGS
In my days as a Paratrooper, I remember this exact phrase would flash across my consciousness whenever we’d force ourselves to depart from a perfectly good aircraft into black, starless skies… Not surprisingly, sometimes we needed encouragement to launch out into the unknown, and when it came to me, it worked every time.
The stoic Celtic adage applies equally to those of us part of the current publishing revolution – blazing a trail into the world of eBooks, online communities, and technologies that allow readers to find and enjoy stories from a diverse new range of voices.
This is what I wrote in a guest-post on The Creative Penn just over a year ago, and now, partnering with Digital publishing supremos Momentum, seeing overwhelmingly good news coming in about Intrepid books 1 and two (such as today's review on That Book You Like), and now a third book underway, as well as a film and franchise deal in the pipeline, as each day passes it couldn't ring any truer.
It's been a fantastic twelve days since Hunter has been launched - it hit #1 Best-Seller status on the iBookstore (take THAT Jack Reacher!); jumped up the charts on Amazon; had fantastic reviews on blogs like Fair Dinkum Crime; I signed books and drank beer at my Hunter drinks last Saturday; and had the chance to release these Intrepid-inspired designs.
You can view the range of 'To The Brave Belong All Things' gear here. I particularly like the dummy for the Intrepid agent-in-nappies.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Here's the full range of Intrepid designs, including some featuring the Defender and Hunter book covers on Zazzle.
http://www.zazzle.com.au/intrepidallen
Thank you for coming along for the ride. I'm grateful for your efforts to help spread the word: every new reader who enjoyed the book - whether they couldn't get anything done on the weekend for reading it, or missing their train station because they didn't realise their destination had come and been - is a true thrill. This is the stuff that propels me into the next book, Avenger, to be released in 2013!
As a final round up, here's what happened in the first eleven days of Hunter ...
The first day of Hunter: There's a New Agent in Town | The second day of Hunter: Intrepid Agents Kick Ass | The third day of Hunter: Alex Morgan is Back | The fourth day of Hunter: Dear Santa | The fifth day of Hunter: Super Intrepid Style | The sixth day of Hunter: Guns Choppers Action | The seventh day of Hunter: Get In Sit Down Shut Up Hang On | The eighth day of Hunter: Get Some Action | The ninth day of Hunter: Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof | The tenth day of Hunter: Morgan, Alex Morgan | The eleventh day of Hunter: Imma Secret Agent |
This has been a whole lotta fun. I hope you've enjoyed it too.
Cheers, Chris
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The IntrepidAllen range is available exclusively from Zazzle online. I'll be donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
On the last day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
TO THE BRAVE BELONG ALL THINGS
In my days as a Paratrooper, I remember this exact phrase would flash across my consciousness whenever we’d force ourselves to depart from a perfectly good aircraft into black, starless skies… Not surprisingly, sometimes we needed encouragement to launch out into the unknown, and when it came to me, it worked every time.
The stoic Celtic adage applies equally to those of us part of the current publishing revolution – blazing a trail into the world of eBooks, online communities, and technologies that allow readers to find and enjoy stories from a diverse new range of voices.
This is what I wrote in a guest-post on The Creative Penn just over a year ago, and now, partnering with Digital publishing supremos Momentum, seeing overwhelmingly good news coming in about Intrepid books 1 and two (such as today's review on That Book You Like), and now a third book underway, as well as a film and franchise deal in the pipeline, as each day passes it couldn't ring any truer.
It's been a fantastic twelve days since Hunter has been launched - it hit #1 Best-Seller status on the iBookstore (take THAT Jack Reacher!); jumped up the charts on Amazon; had fantastic reviews on blogs like Fair Dinkum Crime; I signed books and drank beer at my Hunter drinks last Saturday; and had the chance to release these Intrepid-inspired designs.
You can view the range of 'To The Brave Belong All Things' gear here. I particularly like the dummy for the Intrepid agent-in-nappies.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Here's the full range of Intrepid designs, including some featuring the Defender and Hunter book covers on Zazzle.
http://www.zazzle.com.au/intrepidallen
Thank you for coming along for the ride. I'm grateful for your efforts to help spread the word: every new reader who enjoyed the book - whether they couldn't get anything done on the weekend for reading it, or missing their train station because they didn't realise their destination had come and been - is a true thrill. This is the stuff that propels me into the next book, Avenger, to be released in 2013!
As a final round up, here's what happened in the first eleven days of Hunter ...
The first day of Hunter: There's a New Agent in Town | The second day of Hunter: Intrepid Agents Kick Ass | The third day of Hunter: Alex Morgan is Back | The fourth day of Hunter: Dear Santa | The fifth day of Hunter: Super Intrepid Style | The sixth day of Hunter: Guns Choppers Action | The seventh day of Hunter: Get In Sit Down Shut Up Hang On | The eighth day of Hunter: Get Some Action | The ninth day of Hunter: Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof | The tenth day of Hunter: Morgan, Alex Morgan | The eleventh day of Hunter: Imma Secret Agent |
This has been a whole lotta fun. I hope you've enjoyed it too.
Cheers, Chris
ABOUT THE TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
The IntrepidAllen range is available exclusively from Zazzle online. I'll be donating 10% of IntrepidAllen profits from every item sold from the Zazzle online range to the British Parachute Regiment Charity.
IMMA SECRET AGENT
DAY ELEVEN: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the eleventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
IMMA SECRET AGENT
And the award for the most inept display of manners goes to... Kanye West, whose 'Imma let you finish' take-down during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards made the pop culture wall of fame and in doing so, inspired this design. Kind of.
Still though, the 'Imma Secret Agent' tagline was topical and on-trend enough to run with it.
You can view the full range of Imma Secret Agent gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #11
Give the gift of Hunter to someone you love this Christmas. For Kris Kingle, an eBook can be gifted for Kindle via Amazon. For the action lover in your life, a personally inscribed, signed and wrapped copy should put a smile on their dial. Email us gday@intrepidallen.com and we'll send you an order form. Too easy!
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.
On the eleventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
IMMA SECRET AGENT
And the award for the most inept display of manners goes to... Kanye West, whose 'Imma let you finish' take-down during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards made the pop culture wall of fame and in doing so, inspired this design. Kind of.
Still though, the 'Imma Secret Agent' tagline was topical and on-trend enough to run with it.
You can view the full range of Imma Secret Agent gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #11
Give the gift of Hunter to someone you love this Christmas. For Kris Kingle, an eBook can be gifted for Kindle via Amazon. For the action lover in your life, a personally inscribed, signed and wrapped copy should put a smile on their dial. Email us gday@intrepidallen.com and we'll send you an order form. Too easy!
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.
MORGAN ALEX MORGAN
DAY TEN: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the tenth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: MORGAN, ALEX MORGAN.
This one should be no surprise seeing as I'm out and proud that Ian Fleming's novels - basically - inspired my own aspirations to write. See my recent Skyfall review on Momentum's blog and a Bondcast on the December Podmentum. www.momentumbooks.com.au/blog
You can view the full range of Morgan Alex Morgan gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #10
Maybe you are part of a book club or a reading group that meets in person or online. If you're looking for something to add to your reading curriculum in 2013, please suggest Defender or Hunter. I'd love to do a Skype or video chat and hear how people found the Intrepid series featuring star agent Alex Morgan!
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.
On the tenth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: MORGAN, ALEX MORGAN.
This one should be no surprise seeing as I'm out and proud that Ian Fleming's novels - basically - inspired my own aspirations to write. See my recent Skyfall review on Momentum's blog and a Bondcast on the December Podmentum. www.momentumbooks.com.au/blog
You can view the full range of Morgan Alex Morgan gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part...
Spreading the Word Tip #10
Maybe you are part of a book club or a reading group that meets in person or online. If you're looking for something to add to your reading curriculum in 2013, please suggest Defender or Hunter. I'd love to do a Skype or video chat and hear how people found the Intrepid series featuring star agent Alex Morgan!
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.
TEN FEET TALL AND BULLETPROOF
DAY NINE: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the ninth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: TEN FEET TALL & BULLETPROOF.
As I said in Friday's post, this design is inspired by one of the newest characters in the book, Hermann Braunschweiger.
You can view the full range of Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Maybe you're thinking, what happened to the eighth day of Hunter? Seeing as we hit the Commodore Hotel for an afternoon celebrating the Defender / Hunter launch with friends and fans, I gave myself the afternoon off.
Which brings me to the next point. You may know that both Defender & Hunter have been doing extremely well on iTunes and Amazon and, when Hunter was heading to the #1 spot on iTunes Crime & Thrillers last week, I made a promise that I'd dance 'Gangnam Syle' at the book launch if it did make it to #1. Needless to say, Alex Morgan did in fact kick Jack Reacher off the top spot! So, I was committed to doing the dance (and, therein, the humiliation that goes with it!) True to my word, during the launch, and after much researching the PSY Gangnam Style dance, I was directed by my Sarah to take the floor and perform - in accordance with my promise. Well, I did it, much to enjoyment of our guests and the entire pub and much to the chagrin of the two friends I pulled into the dance line-up. Now, the whole episode was filmed, however the camera failed to work. Seriously. So, here we are without any footage or proof to show you. Don't despair, if any other footage or photos ever do surface I'll be sure to post them on the blog!
You can view a photo album from the book launch on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/intrepidallen.
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #8
Post a review of my newest Alex Morgan adventure, Hunter: Intrepid 2 on Amazon, iTunes or Goodreads. Reviews hold amazing cachet with new readers.
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.
On the ninth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: TEN FEET TALL & BULLETPROOF.
As I said in Friday's post, this design is inspired by one of the newest characters in the book, Hermann Braunschweiger.
You can view the full range of Ten Feet Tall & Bulletproof gear here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Maybe you're thinking, what happened to the eighth day of Hunter? Seeing as we hit the Commodore Hotel for an afternoon celebrating the Defender / Hunter launch with friends and fans, I gave myself the afternoon off.
Which brings me to the next point. You may know that both Defender & Hunter have been doing extremely well on iTunes and Amazon and, when Hunter was heading to the #1 spot on iTunes Crime & Thrillers last week, I made a promise that I'd dance 'Gangnam Syle' at the book launch if it did make it to #1. Needless to say, Alex Morgan did in fact kick Jack Reacher off the top spot! So, I was committed to doing the dance (and, therein, the humiliation that goes with it!) True to my word, during the launch, and after much researching the PSY Gangnam Style dance, I was directed by my Sarah to take the floor and perform - in accordance with my promise. Well, I did it, much to enjoyment of our guests and the entire pub and much to the chagrin of the two friends I pulled into the dance line-up. Now, the whole episode was filmed, however the camera failed to work. Seriously. So, here we are without any footage or proof to show you. Don't despair, if any other footage or photos ever do surface I'll be sure to post them on the blog!
You can view a photo album from the book launch on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/intrepidallen.
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #8
Post a review of my newest Alex Morgan adventure, Hunter: Intrepid 2 on Amazon, iTunes or Goodreads. Reviews hold amazing cachet with new readers.
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.
GET IN SIT DOWN SHUT UP HANG ON
DAY SEVEN: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the seventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
What a fantastic birthday present to see that on Amazon, Defender has been made free for a few days, and is rocketing up the charts. At the time of writing it's #1 Kindle Spy Stories, #7 Kindle Action & Adventure and #257 in the overall Kindle free lists, and #28 Top-rated Spy Stories.
But really, this is what a secret agent once said to me:
GET IN SIT DOWN SHUT UP HANG ON
Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying a birthday dinner tonight with someone who is ten feet tall and bulletproof - the guy who inspired 'The Key' in Hunter - and this will be (SPOLER ALERT!) a feature of tomorrow's design. You can read about The Key's character more on www.intrepidallen.com.
You can view the seventh day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #7
Live in Sydney? Ask the good folk at your local library or bookstore to have me in to do an Author Chat or book signing. I love to go and meet readers and fellow writers and would be only too happy to make an appearance.
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.
On the seventh day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
What a fantastic birthday present to see that on Amazon, Defender has been made free for a few days, and is rocketing up the charts. At the time of writing it's #1 Kindle Spy Stories, #7 Kindle Action & Adventure and #257 in the overall Kindle free lists, and #28 Top-rated Spy Stories.
But really, this is what a secret agent once said to me:
GET IN SIT DOWN SHUT UP HANG ON
Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying a birthday dinner tonight with someone who is ten feet tall and bulletproof - the guy who inspired 'The Key' in Hunter - and this will be (SPOLER ALERT!) a feature of tomorrow's design. You can read about The Key's character more on www.intrepidallen.com.
You can view the seventh day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #7
Live in Sydney? Ask the good folk at your local library or bookstore to have me in to do an Author Chat or book signing. I love to go and meet readers and fellow writers and would be only too happy to make an appearance.
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.
GUNS CHOPPERS ACTION!
DAY SIX: TWELVE DAYS OF HUNTER
On the sixth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
GUNS CHOPPERS ACTION!
Last night, I wrote to you saying that if I made the #1 Crimes and Thrillers Best-Seller list on iTunes I would allow myself to be filmed doing the Super Intrepid Style dance - a jig I have not envisaged, nor do I care to think too deeply about.
And then, as if by some force majeur, Hunter: Intrepid 2 rose majestically to the top spot on the best-seller list, kicking Lee Child's Jack Reacher squarely in the backside on the way.
All great sport, sure, but as the morning dawned so did the realisation: not only do I need to learn how to move like PSU of Gangnam Style infamy, I will also need to master my own interpretation of the moves, quick smart, by Saturday.
It won't be a full set filming me, sure - more like my bubbly wife Sar with some of her bubbly friends, after a few drinks at the Commodore Hotel this Saturday. But it will undoubtedly go live before the weekend is out.
You can view the sixth day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #6
Give the gift of Intrepid this Christmas by giving an eCopy version of Defender, Hunter or both to a friend. On Amazon Defender is here, and Hunter... is here.
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.
On the sixth day of Hunter, a secret agent said to me:
GUNS CHOPPERS ACTION!
Last night, I wrote to you saying that if I made the #1 Crimes and Thrillers Best-Seller list on iTunes I would allow myself to be filmed doing the Super Intrepid Style dance - a jig I have not envisaged, nor do I care to think too deeply about.
And then, as if by some force majeur, Hunter: Intrepid 2 rose majestically to the top spot on the best-seller list, kicking Lee Child's Jack Reacher squarely in the backside on the way.
All great sport, sure, but as the morning dawned so did the realisation: not only do I need to learn how to move like PSU of Gangnam Style infamy, I will also need to master my own interpretation of the moves, quick smart, by Saturday.
It won't be a full set filming me, sure - more like my bubbly wife Sar with some of her bubbly friends, after a few drinks at the Commodore Hotel this Saturday. But it will undoubtedly go live before the weekend is out.
You can view the sixth day of Hunter range of designs here.
http://www.intrepidallen.com/blog/201...
Remember, it's all just a bit of fun. Enjoy!
Cheers, Chris
PS If you want to help get my action adventure books out to an appreciative audience, here's another way you can play an important part.
Spreading the Word Tip #6
Give the gift of Intrepid this Christmas by giving an eCopy version of Defender, Hunter or both to a friend. On Amazon Defender is here, and Hunter... is here.
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.
