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Action, Thriller Author J.B Turner. Questions and Answers May 31st 2024
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J.B Turner , especially Jon Reznick seem to me to be getting stronger.
Just finished book 13 in the series. One of the authors/characters I have kept up to date.
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How to read the Jon Reznick Series in Order?
Every entry in the Jon Reznick book series works as a standalone story, but the lives of the different characters evolve from one novel to the other.
Sean, Here are a few questions.Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
Has your writing process changed over time?
I understand you read thrillers and history. What have you read recently that stood out for you?
Your interest in geo-politics comes through in the quality of your books. They must require an incredible amount of research. Do you have a specific approach to research?
Besides getting current on the Jon Reznick series, I want to read the Jack McNeal series. Will there be a third book in the series?
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Do you have time to read ?
If so who are your favourite authors.
I am a film buff, lots of film topics here, can you list your top ten films.
Do you travel to some of the destinations mentioned and used in the books.
Do you remember all the characters, good and bad in your books to maybe mention in future books, or do you keep documented details for future use.
What made you pick Jon Reznick's role to be American, rather then British/Scottish SAS ?
When you start a book do you think ahead to a story arc or character development? Do you have back stories or history that you keep in mind or is it more an organic growth
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Hopefully all sorted out soon.
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Maybe found some more authors to read.
Another question.
On your travels where have you enjoyed the most and will consider this location for your books.
Sean wrote: "Thanks for joining the group JB, hope you have had a look around.Maybe found some more authors to read.
Another question.
On your travels where have you enjoyed the most and will consider this ..."
Thanks for inviting me! Delighted to be joining the group. I love New York, Miami and also beautiful northern Mallorca, in particular Port de Soller and Cala San Vicente. Hard Vengeance featured Mallorca throughout most of the book. And Hard Shot was inspired after a research trip to New York. Yankees game. And also South Beach Miami and the Keys are such a fascinating part of the world. My first book, Miami Requiem, is set there.
Sean wrote: "I have a few questions.Do you have time to read ?
If so who are your favourite authors.
I am a film buff, lots of film topics here, can you list your top ten films.
Do you travel to some of th..."
Perri wrote: "When you start a book do you think ahead to a story arc or character development? Do you have back stories or history that you keep in mind or is it more an organic growth"
It might start with an idea. It might start, for example, like HARD VENGEANCE, with the idea that an FBI Assistant Director - a confidante of Jon Reznick - is on a yacht which is blown up in an explosion in the Med one summer. So from one idea, I begin to develop the story. Maybe an outline/synopsis up to twenty pages, maybe more. And that will be my north star, showing me how to get to the end and how to get through the plot. That said, I believe my books grow as and when I write. The first draft might have only five pages for the first chapter. But by the third, there might be twenty. I will blend in far more description, details, bit of back story (not too much as pacing as important). So to answer your question, I would say i pursue the story arc and the character development grows from that story, page after page.
PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
My journalistic career affected my novel writing in the sense of my interest in current affairs, politics etc which I weave into my political/conspiracy thrillers. I guess it also helped me in the sense of learning to not be verbose. Less is more in my book with fiction. A more stripped back approach.
Has your writing process changed over time?
I outline and plot far more. My first Jon Reznick book, I started with an idea . . . what if an assassin (Reznick) did not carry out a planned assassination? And from there it developed, chapter by chapter. The first three chapters of that book focused on Jon Reznick. Then the next point of view character, FBI Asst Director Martha Meyerstein was introduced on chapter four. And it went from there. Organic book which just evolved and developed, draft by draft.
I understand you read thrillers and hist..."
PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.
Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
Has your writing process changed over time?
I understand you read thrillers and hist..."
Sean wrote: "I have a few questions.Do you have time to read ?
If so who are your favourite authors.
I am a film buff, lots of film topics here, can you list your top ten films.
Do you travel to some of th..."
I make time to read. It might only be reader the news on my iPad. It might be reading a chapter on a biography of John Le Carre. It might be catching up with the latest Harlan Coben. But it is a very good question . . . finding the time as a writer to actually read. But the thing is . . . reading as much and as widely as possible invariably develops a writer.
Favorite authors:
James Ellroy, Muriel Spark, John Buchan, George Orwell, John Grisham, Hunter F. Thompson, Jack Kerouac, Patricia Highsmith, I could go on.
Favorite films: One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Godfather, Taxi Driver, The Conversation, The Parallax View, Carlito's Way, Babette's Feast, Jean de Florette, Heat, Shaun of the Dead, you get the picture . . .
Why is Reznick American?
I think for me, I'm heavily influenced by American movies in particular from the 1970s. Love them. My favorite films are set there. But it's also because America is such a geographically huge country, encompassing so many climates, time zones, physical landscapes whether it's desert, the cities - New York, LA, Miami - the small towns where I have located Jon Reznick (Rockland, Maine). But also, for political thrillers/action thrillers, setting books in the United States, with government agencies such as the CIA, FBI and Homeland Security etc, it provides an endless canvas for most authors, be they literary or crime/thriller writer.
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His character is Ryan Kaine, a great character, another series I have kept up with and highly recommend.?
Gregg Hurwitz, another favourite with The Nowhere Man ?
And of course more favourites
Mark Dawson, Tom Wood, Simon Kernick
Do you have time to keep up with reading
PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
Has your writing process changed over time?
I understand you read thrillers and hist..."
Will there be a third book in the Jack McNeal series? No plans as yet. I'm hard at work putting the finishing touches to HARD DUTY which is out on 3 October 2024. Very excited about this book. It sees Jon Reznick tasked with tracking down and neutralizing a retired CIA operative in the Middle East. And he teams up with Trevelle Williams, ex-NSA computer genius and recruits ex-SAS tough Scot, David McCafferty as they head out on a high-risk mission to kill an elusive target!
J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
My journalistic career affected my novel writing in the sense of my inter..."
Thank you!
Sean wrote: "Sounds great"Thanks Sean! It's pretty wild. It might be one of my favorite Reznick books. Certainly had a lot of fun writing it.
PamG wrote: "J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
My journalistic career affected my novel writing in the sens..."
Your welcome!
J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
Has your writing process changed over time?
I understand you read thril..."
I'm looking forward to reading HARD DUTY. This one sounds fantastic.
You're welcome, J.B.What was one of the most surprising things you learned doing research for your books?
PamG wrote: "You're welcome, J.B.What was one of the most surprising things you learned doing research for your books?"
I guess what surprised me most was how accommodating people from myriad backgrounds, countries, invariably are. I'm talking about everyone from FBI in Miami field office, NYPD at the 19th Precinct, Miami Beach Police, the locals in small Mallorcan fishing villages where I set part of Hard Vengeance, or even speaking to people in Crete for research for my forthcoming book, HARD DUTY . . .I could go on . . . even the Yankees fans up in the Bronx, little nuggets of information on all sorts of interesting things. People give their time to talk to writers, on or off the record. And it is incredibly valuable resource. And for that, I'm very grateful for their time. I almost forgot, a memorable discussion with an ex-Delta operator who gave me valuable insights. Tremendously helpful and very cool guy too!
Sean wrote: "Have you read an author Kerry J DonovanHis character is Ryan Kaine, a great character, another series I have kept up with and highly recommend.?
Gregg Hurwitz, another favourite with The Nowhere..."
J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.
Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
My journalistic career affected my novel writin..."
PamG wrote: "J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "Sean, Here are a few questions.
Does your former journalist career affect your writing of novels? If so, how?
Has your writing process changed over time?
I understand y..."
I haven't read any Kerry J Donovan but I intend digging into a lot of new books and authors this summer. Mark Dawson is a tremendous writer. Really big fan of his. What's not to love about the John Milton books? Awesome. And Tom Wood, now that's a first class writer. Viktor the Assassin is a superb literary creation. In passing, have to mention Richard Stark (Donald Westlake) whose Parker series is one of the finest in crime fiction. Current authors I very much like include Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke and Lee Child. Oh, and Jack Carr. Do check out The Terminal List on Amazon . . . quite sensational.
I've been running errands today, so I have been in and out of the discussion. However, I want to thank you, J.B. for participating and answering my questions. If you are still monitoring this, I have two more questions:What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you're still working on a book?
Is there any question that you wish we had asked, but haven't?
Thanks!
PamG wrote: "I've been running errands today, so I have been in and out of the discussion. However, I want to thank you, J.B. for participating and answering my questions. If you are still monitoring this, I ha..."I'm still here! If a new idea jumps out at me, I write it down in Notes. I have maybe a dozen little ideas for future books. Any question that I'd wish you'd asked? Why do people write? I guess I would say that as far back in human history, maybe going back as far as Aborigine cave paintings, it's'all about a human need to express ourselves. To tell our story. The need to tell the story of their lives. The story of what it means to be human. And that's why people read books. They want to learn about their fellow human beings. They want to learn about stories. Real and imagined. Nothing more, nothing less.
Thank You Sean for setting this up. Thank You J.B. for answering questions.
J.B. wrote: "PamG wrote: "I've been running errands today, so I have been in and out of the discussion. However, I want to thank you, J.B. for participating and answering my questions. If you are still monitori..."Thanks, J.B.
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Reading Jack Carr now number 4 in the series well over 5oo pages,
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He's on my reading list for the summer. Appreciate the recommendation.
Thanks for your thoughtful answers, J.B. It's always interesting to me to hear from the other side of the book :)
Perri wrote: "Thanks for your thoughtful answers, J.B. It's always interesting to me to hear from the other side of the book :)"Many thanks. Delighted to take any opportunity to talk about writing.
Please add your questions here, now or on the day.