Hank Garner's Blog, page 11

Author Stories Podcast Episode 779 | Clint Emerson Interview

Today’s author interview guest is Clint Emereson, author of The Right Kind of Crazy: My Life as a Navy SEAL, Covert Operative, and Boy Scout from Hell.

[image error] Clint Emerson, retired Navy SEAL and author of the bestselling 100 Deadly Skills, presents an explosive, darkly funny, and often twisted account of being part of an elite team of operatives whose mission was to keep America safe by whatever means necessary.

Clint Emerson is the only SEAL ever inducted into the International Spy Museum. Operating from the shadows, with an instinct for running towards trouble, his unique skill set made him the perfect hybrid operator.

Emerson spent his career on the bleeding edge of intelligence and operations, often specializing in missions that took advantage of subterfuge, improvisation, the best in recon and surveillance tech to combat the changing global battlefield. MacGyvering everyday objects into working spyware was routine, and fellow SEALs referred to his activities simply as “special shit.” His parameters were: find, fix, and finish—and of course, leave no trace.

The Right Kind of Crazy is unlike any military memoir you’ve ever read because Emerson is upfront about the fact that what makes you a great soldier and sometimes hero doesn’t always make you the best guy—but it does make for damn good stories.

Clint Emerson grew up in Saudi Arabia, where his father was a civil engineer for the state oil company Saudi Aramco. He attended high school in North Dallas and enlisted in the Navy in 1994, serving stints in SEAL Team Three and SEAL Team Six, before retiring in 2014. Now 42 years old, he runs a crisis-management consulting company, Escape the Wolf, based in Frisco, Texas.

Author Stories Podcast Episode 778 | Joseph Kanon Interview

Today’s author interview guest is Joseph Kanon, author of The Accomplice: A Novel.

[image error] “Gripping and authentic…Kanon’s imagination flourishes [and] the narrative propulsion is clear. A thoroughly satisfying piece of entertainment that extends a tentacle into some serious moral reflection.” —The New York Times Book Review

The “master of the genre” (The Washington Post) Joseph Kanon returns with a heart-pounding and intelligent espionage novel about a Nazi war criminal who was supposed to be dead, the rogue CIA agent on his trail, and the beautiful woman connected to them both.

Seventeen years after the fall of the Third Reich, Max Weill has never forgotten the atrocities he saw as a prisoner at Auschwitz—nor the face of Dr. Otto Schramm, a camp doctor who worked with Mengele on appalling experiments and who sent Max’s family to the gas chambers. As the war came to a close, Schramm was one of the many high-ranking former-Nazi officers who managed to escape Germany for new lives in South America, where leaders like Argentina’s Juan Perón gave them safe harbor and new identities. With his life nearing its end, Max asks his nephew Aaron Wiley—an American CIA desk analyst—to complete the task Max never could: to track down Otto in Argentina, capture him, and bring him back to Germany to stand trial.

Unable to deny Max, Aaron travels to Buenos Aires and discovers a city where Nazis thrive in plain sight, mingling with Argentine high society. He ingratiates himself with Otto’s alluring but wounded daughter, whom he’s convinced is hiding her father. Enlisting the help of a German newspaper reporter, an Israeli agent, and the obliging CIA station chief in Buenos Aires, he hunts for Otto—a complicated monster, unexpectedly human but still capable of murder if cornered. Unable to distinguish allies from enemies, Aaron will ultimately have to discover not only Otto, but the boundaries of his own personal morality, how far he is prepared to go to render justice.

“With his remarkable emotional precision and mastery of tone” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Joseph Kanon crafts another compelling and unputdownable thriller that will keep you breathlessly turning the pages.

Joseph Kanon is the internationally bestselling author of nine novels, which have been published in twenty-four languages: Los Alamos, which won the Edgar Award for best first novel; The Good German, which was made into a film starring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett; The Prodigal Spy, Alibi, which earned Kanon the Hammett Award of the International Association of Crime Writers; Leaving Berlin and The Defectors. He is also a recipient of The Anne Frank Human Writers Award for his writings on the aftermath of the Holocaust. Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a book publishing executive. He lives in New York City with his wife, literary agent Robin Straus. They have two sons.

Author Stories Podcast Episode 777 | Charles Soule Interview

Today’s author interview guest is Charles Soule, author of the new novel Anyone.

[image error] Soon to be adapted for television by Carnival, creators of Downton Abbey

An Amazon Best of the Month Pick for December

An Indie Next Pick 

A Science Fiction Book Club Pick 

Bestselling author of The Oracle Year, Charles Soule brings his signature knowledge—and wariness—of technology to his new novel set in a realistic future about a brilliant female scientist who creates a technology that allows for the transfer of human consciousness between bodies, and the transformations this process wreaks upon the world.



Inside a barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a scientist searching for an Alzheimer’s cure throws a switch—and finds herself mysteriously transported into her husband’s body. What begins as a botched experiment will change her life—and the world—forever…

Over two decades later, all across the planet, “flash” technology allows individuals the ability to transfer their consciousness into other bodies for specified periods, paid, registered and legal. Society has been utterly transformed by the process, from travel to warfare to entertainment; “Be anyone with Anyone” the tagline of the company offering this ultimate out-of-body experience. But beyond the reach of the law and government regulators is a sordid black market called the darkshare, where desperate “vessels” anonymously rent out their bodies, no questions asked for any purpose – sex, drugs, crime… or worse.

Anyone masterfully interweaves the present-day story of the discovery and development of the flash with the gritty tale of one woman’s crusade to put an end to the darkness it has brought to the world twenty-five years after its creation. Like Blade Runner crossed with Get Out, Charles Soule’s thought-provoking work of speculative fiction takes us to a world where identity, morality, and technology collide.

Charles Soule is a Brooklyn, New York-based novelist, comic book writer, musician, and attorney. While he has worked for DC and other publishers, he is best known for writing Daredevil, She-Hulk, Death of Wolverine, and various Star Wars comics from Marvel Comics (Darth Vader, Poe Dameron, Lando and more), and his creator-owned series Curse Words from Image Comics (with Ryan Browne) and Letter 44 from Oni Press (with Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque.)

His first novel, The Oracle Year, about a man who can see the future and way this ability changes the world, will be released in April 2018 by the Harper Perennial imprint of HarperCollins.

A more complete (but not comprehensive) bibliography can be found here.

Author Stories Podcast Episode 776 | Crispin Boyer Interview

Today’s author interview guest is Crispin Boyer, author of Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas (Book 1).

[image error] Greek mythology meets cute talking animals in this first adventure in a hilarious new middle grade fiction series, starring Zeus the mighty … king of the gods … ruler of minions … HAMSTER, and the crazy crew of critters of the Mount Olympus Pet Center.

Welcome to the Mount Olympus Pet Center, which sits high on a hill in Athens … Georgia. The owner, Artie, has a soft spot for animals that need a forever home, and she has rescued a menagerie of creatures, each named after a powerful god or goddess. But these animals aren’t just pets with cool names …

Meet Zeus, a tiny hamster with a mighty appetite for power. His cage sits atop a high shelf so he can watch the other pets from above. But being king of the gods is a tough job: You’ve got to issue orders and decrees, make sure to stay in tip-top shape by running on your exercise wheel, and most importantly, lead your minions on epic journeys. And Zeus the Mighty has one giant task in front of him: Find the “Golden Fleas” and solidify his position before the other gods rebel.

Get ready to laugh, cheer, and learn with this adorable and quirky cast of characters in their unforgettable first adventure — a reimagining of the tale of the Golden Fleece.

Author Crispin Boyer has written more than 20 books for National Geographic Kids, covering topics that young readers find fascinating, from bugs to boogers, ninjas to knights, sharks to cyborgs. Zeus the Mighty is Boyer’s debut fiction novel; it combines his abilities to entertain with lively characters and to educate with historical facts. Follow the series online at ZeusTheMighty.com

Author Stories Podcast Episode 775 | Jaime Castle Interview

Today’s author interview guest is fantasy author Jaime Castle, co-author of The Buried Goddess Saga.

From Book 1: A rotten thief. A disgraced knight. Only together can they save the kingdom.

When the young king’s soul is stolen by a cultist desperate to resurrect the Buried Goddess, exiled knight Torsten Unger makes it his sworn duty to get it back. He has one chance to restore his honor. But he can’t do it alone. He’ll need a thief.

Whitney Fierstown planned the perfect heist, one that would have made him a legend among thieves, until he got caught. Now, a knight with a questionable reputation is offering a deal: rot and die in a dank cell or join him on a dangerous expedition to put his skills to good use and earn his freedom.

Whitney and Torsten must put aside their differences and work together to battle unholy cults, demons, rebels, and worse to become the heroes their war-torn kingdom never expected…if they don’t kill each other first.

Get Book 1 of the Buried Goddess Saga today!

You can also enjoy the series on Audible, performed by the award-winning Luke Daniels. (The Iron Druid Chronicles, Off to be the Wizard). It’s perfect for fans of epic fantasy adventures like the King’s Dark Tidings, Riryia Chronicles and The Hobbit.

Jaime Castle hails from the great nation of Texas where he lives with his wife and two children and enjoys anything creative. A self-proclaimed comic book nerd and artist, he spends what little free time he can muster with his art tablet.

Jaime co-created and co-authored The Buried Goddess Saga, which includes the IPPY award-winning Web of Eyes.

The Buried Goddess Saga:

Web of Eyes

Winds of War

Will of Fire

Way of Gods

War of Men

Word of Truth

Find out more at www.jaimecastle.com

Author Stories Podcast Episode 774 | Jeff Lindsay Interview

Today’s author interview guest is Jeff Lindsay, author of the wildly popular Dexter series and the new book Just Watch Me, book one of the new Riley Wolfe series.

[image error]A masterful thief plots an impossible crime—stealing the Iranian Crown Jewels.

From the author of the wildly successful Dexter series comes a new, mesmerizing bad guy we can root for: Riley Wolfe. He’s a master thief, expert at disguise, and not averse to violence when it’s needed. It’s no accident, though, that Riley targets the wealthiest 0.1 percent and is willing to kill them when they’re in his way: he despises the degenerate and immoral rich and loves stealing their undeserved and unearned valuables.

In this series launch, Riley aims for an extraordinary target in a heist that will make history. Riley will try to steal the Crown Jewels of Iran. Yes, these jewels are worth billions, but the true attraction for grabbing them comes down to one simple fact: it can’t be done. Stealing these jewels is absolutely impossible. The collection is guarded by space-age electronics and two teams of heavily armed mercenaries. No one could even think of getting past the airtight security and hope to get away alive, let alone with even a single diamond from the Imperial Collection.

No one but Riley Wolfe. He’s always liked a challenge.

But this challenge may be more than even he can handle. Aside from the impenetrable security, Riley is also pursued by a brilliant and relentless cop who is barely a step behind him.

With the aid of his sometime ally, a beautiful woman who is a master art forger, Riley Wolfe goes for the prize that will either make him a legend—or, more likely, leave him dead.

Jeff Lindsay is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dexter novels, which debuted in 2004 with Darkly Dreaming Dexter. They are the basis of the hit Showtime and CBS series Dexter.

Author Stories Podcast Episode 773 | Justin Long Interview

Today’s author interview guest is Justin Long, author of Adventures of the Horse Doctor’s Husband, and under his pen name J. Boyd Long the DimWorld Series.

[image error] When he wedded a veterinarian, chasing horses down the Interstate wasn’t in the vows…

Bestselling author and painter Justin B. Long never dreamed he’d become a horse person. But marrying a passionate vet plunged the self-confessed numbers nerd into the wild world of equine emergency care. And just when he thought he had a handle on his new life, his close-knit community gained Internet fame with a daring freeway horse rescue.

This outrageous collection of uproarious exploits will tug at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone. Through Long’s vivid accounts, you’ll meet a whole host of new friends, including a blind horse stuck in a sinkhole, mayhem-causing rescue kittens, and Highway, the famous I-75 Miracle Horse who cheated death four times!

Adventures of the Horse Doctor’s Husband is an engrossing memoir-style compilation of four-legged antics. If you love animals, you’ll adore this hilarious, delightful, and sometimes heartbreaking behind-the-scenes look at life in a rural vet clinic.

J. Boyd Long is a self-embracing nerd who loves crunching numbers, researching interesting things, and listening to podcasts, in addition to reading loads of books. His exposure to Stephen King’s books at the age of 10 probably stunted him in some way, but he is still determined to leave the world a better place than he found it. He lives near Gainesville, Florida on a small farm with his incredible wife, 7 horses, 5 cats, 2 donkeys, 2 dogs, and a wild owl named Bert. You can connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest @JBoydLong , and you can read his blog on his website, https://JBoydLong.com

Author Stories Podcast Episode 772 | Nick Cole Returns To The Wasteland

Today’s author interview guest is Nick Cole, co-creator of Galaxy’s Edge and author of American Wasteland.

[image error]Forty years after the destruction of civilization…man is reduced to salvaging the ruins of a broken world. One man’s most prized possession is an ancient novel. With the words of the classic echoing across the wasteland, the survivor of the nuclear holocaust journeys into the unknown to break a curse. What follows is an incredible tale of survival and endurance.

One man must survive the desert wilderness and mankind gone savage to live the classic struggle of man versus nature. Part Hemingway, part Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, a suspenseful odyssey into the dark heart of the post-apocalyptic American southwest.

Nick Cole is a former soldier and working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can be found writing books. Nick’s Book The Old Man and the Wasteland was an Amazon Bestseller and #1 in Science Fiction. In 2016 Nick’s book CTRL ALT Revolt won the Dragon Award for Best Apocalyptic novel.

GET A FREE BOOK: http://bit.ly/TheRedKing

Nick’s website: http://www.nickcolebooks.com/

Chat with Nick about the end of the world, the rise of the robot overlords and everything else over at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickcolebooks/

THE WASTELAND SAGA

Post Apocalyptic Fiction

* The Old Man and the Wasteland

* The Savage Boy

* The Road is a River (Available only in the Wasteland Saga in the US)

The SODA POP SOLDIER NOVELS

LitRPG science fiction

* CTRL ALT Revolt!

* Soda Pop Soldier

THE BOOKS OF WYRD

Weird Post Apocalyptic Horror

* Third Red King

* The Dark Knight (Book 2)

* The Pawn in the Portal (Book 3)

* The Lost Castle (Book 4)

OTHER NOVELS

Fight the Rooster
The End of the World as We Knew

Author Stories Podcast Episode 771 | Crystal Watanabe Talks Editing And Pikkos House

Today’s guest is Crystal Watanabe, editor and educator talking about how an editor can help you achieve your best product.

About Crystal:

My name is Crystal Watanabe, and I am an independent editor for fiction authors. I’ve loved books all my life, and I believe that helping authors achieve their publishing dreams is what I was meant to do.

In 2012, I did a beta reading for Hugh Howey, bestselling author of Wool, for Third Shift: Pact. He was so happy with my feedback that he suggested I start doing this for authors, and he offered to send referrals my way for editing if I wanted it. I was working in a career in administration at the time, so I wasn’t ready. I eventually took him up on his offer, and I began editing full-time in late summer 2014. Pikko’s House now works on over seventy-five novels a year and serves more than 150 clients around the world, both in self-published and traditionally published circles.

I am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), a founding member of the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals (AIPP), a member of the Authors Guild, and an affiliate member of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA). I have been a supporting member of WorldCon since 2016.

Crystal in a Nutshell

Creative, goofy, passionate.

Loves: Domokun, comics, science fiction, Star Wars, Marvel, Game of Thrones, and The Hunger Games.

Personal Details

I’m a 39-year-old wife and mother to three living in Honolulu, Hawaii. Born and raised in the small town of Hilo, Hawaii, I grew up reading nonstop, doing that ridiculous flashlight-under-the-covers thing until I read myself into needing glasses in the first grade. After that, my parents let me read whenever I wanted as long as I had a good, strong lamp nearby.

I’m a Domokun addict, a Marvel fangirl, and a former hardcore gamer. In fact, the name Pikko was the name of my character in Final Fantasy XI, where I achieved minor fame as a gardening Tarutaru, spending hours and hours of time in my Mog House. Thus the name Pikko’s House.

In June 2010, Yum-Yum Bento Box was released, and I officially became a published author. The sequel to Yum-Yum Bento Box, Yum-Yum Bento All Year Round, is now available.

I am the owner and cofounder of the Hunger Games fansite Jabberjays.net. I cohosted EnderCast for 37 episodes and JabberCast for 28 episodes.

Author Stories Podcast Episode 770 | Robin Cook Returns With Genesis

Today’s author interview guest is Robin Cook. Robin returns to the show to talk about his brand new medical thriller Genesis.

[image error] New York Times-bestselling author Robin Cook takes on the ripped-from-the-headlines topic of harnessing DNA from ancestry websites to catch a killer in this timely and explosive new medical thriller.

When the body of twenty-eight-year-old social worker Kera Jacobsen shows up on Chief New York City Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery’s autopsy table, at first it appears she was the victim of a tragic yet routine drug overdose. But for Laurie and her new pathology resident, the brilliant but enigmatic Dr. Aria Nichols, little things aren’t adding up. Kera’s family and friends swear she never touched drugs. Administrators from the hospital where Kera worked are insisting the case be shrouded in silence. And although Kera was ten weeks pregnant, nobody seems to know who the father was–or whether he holds the key to Kera’s final moments alive.

As a medical emergency temporarily sidelines Laurie, impulsive Aria turns to a controversial new technique: using genealogic DNA databases to track down those who don’t want to be found. Working with experts at a start-up ancestry website, she plans to trace the fetus’s DNA back to likely male relatives in the hopes of identifying the mystery father. But when Kera’s closest friend and fellow social worker is murdered, the need for answers becomes even more urgent. Because someone out there clearly doesn’t want Kera’s secrets to come to light . . . and if Aria gets any closer to the truth, she and Laurie might find themselves a killer’s next targets.

Doctor and writer Robin Cook started his medical career as a general surgical resident and finished with an ophthalmology residency at Harvard. He is the author more than thirty international bestsellers and is credited with creating and popularizing the medical thriller genre with his novel, Coma, which was published 40 years ago. His most recent bestsellers include Host, Cell, Death Benefit, Cure, and Charlatans. Cook divides his time between Boston and Florida.