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Clear by Fire
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ASK ME ANYTHING INTERVIEW JH
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Mod
Another question for Joshua..."
"There is no substitute to victory"- General Douglas Macarthur.
Indeed. And in the second decade of the War on terror, the issue of ending it before it's too late will continue to get more relevant.
It's astounding how few writers in the genre have explored the issue, as mentioned previously, I only know of you and Nelson Demille taking a crack at it.
Mod
Another question for Joshua..."
As for Cage, I like his extremely sympathetic motives, which are a nice Foil to Barnes' who I think wanted to "play God" in the position he found himself in by having the power of life and death over millions.
Cage is different. His gave his son to the war effort, knows time is running out, that the current methods aren't working as well as they should and tries to do what he thinks is best for his country (and by extension the civilized world) by solving a meddlesome geopolitical problem which is sucking its blood and economy dry through drastically cutting the knot so to speak.
So, a compliment. I commend you for taking a character who, with the wrong execution could have become a two dimensional cliché warmonger and instead became a very understandable and extremely fascinating figure who inhabits a dark shade of gray where morality is concerned, something extremely rare in post 9/11 thriller fiction.
Mod
On a thread in this group about James Bond, Walther arms and a replacement for the PPK you mentioned that you weren't a fan of Heckler and Koch. How come? Is it their prices or something else?
My particular opinion is based on the USP and P2000. First off I hate the factory trigger. If you have shot one you know what I'm talking about. If I am going to pay that much money for a pistol can you give me a decent trigger pull?Second issue is the safety. I have only fired the Law Enforcement models, which if I remember correctly are either Double Action only or Double Single. Why have a safety? It annoys me.
Third is the magazine release.
Finally I think they are a bit on the heavy side and I'm not a huge fan of how they shoot outside of seven yard line.
These are all personal issues. I know a lot of people like H&K. I love their subguns, and the 416, but like Sig I think their pistols are stuck in the 1980's.
Samuel wrote: "3) > Looking back, what would you consider the hardest thing when writing? The action scenes or the drama scenes?
> Outliner (Robert Ludlum) or seat of the pants (Vince Flynn) or a messy combin..."
I didn't outline Clear by Fire at all and I paid for it when it came to editing. It was messy, disjointed and lacked focus. But, it was my first book, so what can I say.
With Warning Order, I did a detailed outline, which allowed me to write faster, and know where I was heading throughout the first draft.
On my third book, I'm mixing it up. I am using the first draft as a rough outline. I laid out the scenes I want, and fill in a few lines for each chapter so that I have what I call waypoints. That way I get to lay out the book real quick. I compare it to building a house. I laid the foundation, and then framed it, and now I can see what needs to be fixed before I start putting in the plumbing and electrical.
With Clear by Fire the action parts were the easiest to write. I had scenes that I wanted to lay out, and just used what I had seen overseas to draw them out. Writing the Political scenes were the hardest because I didn't really have any interest in Washington.
Samuel wrote: "Another question. Who are the authors which have influenced your writing?
I know that you've cited Joseph Conrad and Vince Flynn, but when reading CBF, I also detected some elements of Robert L..."
The only Andy McNabb I ever read was Bravo 2 Zero, which I thought was pretty epic. Chris Ryan had a pretty big influence on the "feel" of the book simply because I love Strike Back. I think it is the most authentic show I have ever seen.
A funny side note is that I had an actor that I based Mason Kane on, but the more I wrote, the more I kept seeing Sullivan Stapleton's Damian Scott. I think both of them have the same attitude, and wit.
Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "Samuel wrote: "Hello again, I'm back. Hmmm. Seems the broadcast function didn't work as well as it should. Will have to do things the old fashioned way. Another ques..."
Thank you. I think some people look at Cage as being boring. I've had people compare him to Cheney and Senator McCain, which I'm not a 100% comfortable with. In the next book you begin to see how far he is willing to go.
I think the war on terror has become very gray. As I was writing CBF I began to wonder what this war would have looked like without the spectre of Vietnam still hanging over our Generals heads.
I wrote an article called Legacy of Ash, which comes out tomorrow on the Havok Journal, where I talk about the legacy of General Petraeus' Counter Insurgency manual, and the effects it is having on modern warfighting. For some reason people cannot get away from "lessons learned" in Vietnam, however they seem to be repeating them with ISIS.
For me, the most damaging military takeaway that has been the most ignored is what we "learned" after the first Gulf War.
I was really looking forward to the Q&A unfortunatella I'm since about two weeks in bed and can't think thright so even if I would like to join I have to postpone and hope there will be another chance.
Mod
Very enlightening perspective and observations from a technical standpoint.
The USP 9mm I fired must have had a modified trigger with a pretty smooth pull (compared to the Glock 19C I also used) because it seemed quite smooth when I tried doing double taps and "failure to stop drills". (Although to be fair, that was the first time I ever shot a firearm, so I admit compared to you, I very much lack the practical experience. Planning to revisiting the range in question next month on my Philippine holiday.)
I totally agree with you about the unconventional magazine catch. Not H&K's best design decision and the potential to accidentally drop a mag at the wrong moment is high with it.
Pistols stuck in the 1980's. Funny you should say that. The original Heckler and Koch was destroyed by that very thing. Over-engineered their handguns the failure to secure key contracts like the one to replace the M1911A1 and the rise of Glock bankrupted them. I always thought the USP was made to avert the over-engineering which ruined them. Would you say that they haven't succeeded?
Mod
Cheney and McCain? Wow. I consider Cage miles from them when it comes to personality and competence.
Mod
Who are the authors which have influenced your writing?
I know that you've cited Joseph Conrad and Vince Flynn, but when reading CBF, I also detected some eleme..."
I see. I thought the vibe was similar. It's a very nice touch and made the atmosphere of CBF unique.
Mod
History does have an infuriating habit of repeating itself.
I'll be sure to check out your article.
Mod
Settings. You've been to Iraq and Afghanistan in your military career but you also bring to life other locales like the alleys of Morocco very vividly. Have you been visited there by any chance?
Mod
I know quite a few thriller writers and soldiers play a little game when watching action films, namely pointing out and picking apart the times when Hollywood decides to shatter reality in matters of combat/tactics.
Do you have a particular special effect/suspension of disbelief breaker which annoys you when watching films?
Samuel wrote: "Another question. Settings. You've been to Iraq and Afghanistan in your military career but you also bring to life other locales like the alleys of Morocco very vividly. Have you been visited the..."
I'm going to have to bump this one.
Mod
Settings. You've been to Iraq and Afghanistan in your military career but you also bring to life other locales like the alleys of Morocco very vividly. Have you b..."
Fair enough.
Samuel wrote: "One more question then I'll take a break and let others have a turn. I know quite a few thriller writers and soldiers play a little game when watching action films, namely pointing out and pickin..."
Uniforms get me. When some guy is supposed to be a Navy Seal or whatever and he's wearing an Army uniform. The movie American Sniper was like that. The uniforms the Rangers wore were way off, and the Humvees were way too clean I also don't remember any MRAPs being in country around that time.
Then the long distance shot, through the scope at the end.
Agnieszka wrote: "I was really looking forward to the Q&A unfortunatella I'm since about two weeks in bed and can't think thright so even if I would like to join I have to postpone and hope there will be another cha..."I'm sorry you are feeling bad. I hope you get to feeling better especially with the holidays coming up.
Mod
I know quite a few thriller writers and soldiers play a little game when watching action films, namely pointing..."
Ah yes, the scope shot ;)
Mythbusters put that one in the grave
Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "One more question then I'll take a break and let others have a turn. I know quite a few thriller writers and soldiers play a little game when watching action films, ..."
I was thinking the same thing. I know I've been jumping around a bit, please let me know if I have missed any questions.
Mod
I know quite a few thriller writers and soldiers play a little game when watching..."
I think Gopal had another question for you on the previous page near the bottom....and I'm slowly drawing you away from it.
The question Gopal had on the other page I think was about power vacuums and the Russians setting up shop in the Middle East.
Gopal (The Minion) wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Gopal, I didn't miss it just pacing myself. To begin answering your question, I have to ask, have you read Clear by Fire?"Clear By Fire is on bucket list of to read books. Waiting ..."
I think we are seeing Russia working its way into Syria. As for China, I think they have a firm foothold in Africa and aren't too worried about what happens there.
Joshua wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "what is your opinion of women in special forces?"Dang Kathryn, way to put me on the spot here- lol.
That is a tricky question because it deals with semantics. If you are talking ab..."
That's an awesome response. My protagonist is a female and I do not have her do anything that she could not do in real life. If what she does is a bit on the hard to believe side I make dang sure you understand what prepped her to be able to do such things.
Jack wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "what is your opinion of women in special forces?"Dang Kathryn, way to put me on the spot here- lol.
That is a tricky question because it deals with semantics. If you..."
I think you are right on track. I love it when authors branch out, and take risks like having a female protagonist in a male-centered genre.
Mod
Hmmm. Very well thought out analysis. So he was overly relying on short term stop-gap measures to keep looking good. Their eventual failure was compounded into the titanic disaster which is still ongoing.
I see Barnes and Cage were trying to answer that question he asked, "How Does It End?"
On a side note, one of the not very flattering monikers the subject of your article picked up (General Betray-Us) reminds me of the one Generalismo Chiang Kai Shek, leader of the old Republic Of China received, namely "General Cash-My-Check", bestowed upon him by the US Army officers who loathed how he and his in-laws stole all the foreign aid the American government handed to them on a silver platter.
Mod
I know quite a few thriller writers and soldiers play a little game when watching..."
Noticed a missed question asked by Katryn on the previous page of this thread concerning John Paine and the two types of publishing. Located somewhere near the bottom of that section.
Kathryn- I met John through an editor at Kensington Press. As for advice well...For me writing Clear by Fire was easy. You learn the rules of your genre and hope for the best.
The hard part is selling it. I knew the odds were low but I knew I only needed one yes.
The thing I hear over and over is, "I want to write a book but I never can get started." My motto is: you can't sell anything from an empty cart. You have to take the plunge.
Joshua, are you limiting the Mason books to 3 ? Do you want to sell the stories to Hollywood for movies? Thanks for doing this, and thanks for your service for the country and for Shelby county.
I don't know what I'm going to do with the series. I'm writing book three now but I'm not sure what's going to happen. I don't think Hollywood is interested.
My pleasure. I've enjoyed it.
Mod
I see we're beginning to stall somewhat.
I'm going to post my last question. Then I'll be out for the day. Until I return, keep posting questions.
When I return, I'll be freezing this thread and concluding this particular AMA discussion because despite my efforts, while the level of participation has been excellent, the number of participants has been low.
Mod
I don't think Hollywood is interested.
My pleasure. I've enjoyed it."
Josh,
The title of your first book, had some thematic significance to the scheme which the plot revolves around (the perpetrators wanted to "clear by fire" the Middle East).
Your second book's title is "Warning Order". What does it mean and would you say that there is any plot relevant/thematic significance to it and how it relates to the book?
Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "I don't know what I'm going to do with the series. I'm writing book three now but I'm not sure what's going to happen. I don't think Hollywood is interested.
My pleasure. I've enjo..."
In the military a Warning Order is a preliminary notice of an Oder to action. It's like, "hey get ready."
The original title was Movement to Contact- another military term that deals with moving towards the enemy- but that got nixed.
Warning Order fit because the book is about ISIS and I wanted to explore the danger they pose right now.
Its is a general observation from my side, how the Middle East kingdom nations are particularly keen for the Europe and US to take in more refugees from the war torn countries while absolutely keeping their own borders sealed.On one hand they talk and preach about equality and life for all and on the other they are propping up their own regimes by suppressing the same freedoms and expect to be rewarded for it.
Is it time for Europe and US to be more insular and leave the Middle East nations to their own devices given the game being played out there?
Is it possible to beat the ISIS by cutting off their funding, their arms and their reach in global media? Why aren't these alternative strategies being followed, we all know ISIS deals in black market oil from Syria and Iraq, why aren't these supplies cut, why isn't the international community putting more pressure on nations buying such oil?
Oops, I seemed to have jumped on my soapbox.
The idea essentially here is in addition to boots on ground, what additional ways can the ISIS be combated in?
Those are the questions I try to answer in Clear by Fire. It seems like a huge mess and I hope the book offers a different perspective.
Joshua,At what point did you decide you "had a book in you"? Did you always want to write or did you see other guys leaving the military and writing and think "I can do that"?
I've always wanted to write and there came a point where I couldn't put it off anymore.
Mod
Hello, I'm back. I now conclude this Ask Me anything interview. I shall leave this open for six minutes so anyone who has one more thing to say can post and have a final word. After that, I'll be freezing this discussion thread. This interview has been mostly successful, despite not having the number of participants I had hoped for and envisioned, the discussion was excellent, informative and enlightening.
So, thank you to all who have participated in this AMA, especially Joshua, who was more than generous to take a few minutes of his time out of one week to provide excellent answers to some of the questions we were dying to ask. I hope this interview has gotten people interested in Joshua's work and will get them reading his soon to be growing military thriller series which has had an excellent start.
I would also like to wish Joshua a happy birthday.
Thank you. That is all.
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The Orion Team.
Books mentioned in this topic
Clear by Fire (other topics)Warning Order (other topics)
Another question for Joshua which also dou..."
Winning the war on terror is something I believe every soldier has thought deeply about. It was only natural that my first book deal with this very relevant subject.
Cage and Barnes are what I consider true believers, men willing to put everything on the line to achieve their goals.