Inspirations, Influences, Tips and More!
How did you come up with the plot for "Endgame?"
I have known the genre that I wanted to be in for a long time. The very beginning of the plot for "Endgame" started to take shape in my head about 5 years ago. I wanted the story to be credible with Iran as a threat to the U.S., it certainly met that criteria then and even more so now. Once I had established the who and where, it started to get really fun exploring the why, what and how.
Understanding what offensive capabilities Iran currently has is a disconcerting mental exercise. Iran is a viable threat and has publicly made some unsettling declarations to the U.S. and to Israel in particular. I wanted to incorporate some of that very real and existing tension into the fabric of "Endgame." weaving a blend of fact and fiction and keeping the reader guessing.
Last to come is what the U.S. response would be to overt provocations of war by Iran. "Endgame" is the fictional answer.
What were the hardest and easiest parts of writing your first book?
First off, there weren’t any easy parts. Writing "Endgame" was composed of several parts, all of which were hard!
The first hard part is committing to yourself that you are going to see the project through, period. With that comes the linked component of time. Dedicating hours of research and writing on a daily basis is challenging - any writer will tell you that. For me, I blocked out my day into little boxes and made sure to stay positive and focused. It’s easier said than done.
Skipping ahead to a complete first draft, I remembered a quote from Ernest Hemmingway,
”The first draft of anything is shit.” It’s now time to fix the mistakes from grammatical and beyond, and then know when to stop tinkering. Both are challenging.
Lastly, believe in your work, if you don’t, no one else will. Why should they? I shed my self-doubt when a #1 New York Times bestselling author believed enough in my manuscript to pass it along to both his agent and editor. At that point, I felt I was on my way.
Who are your influences?
Authors that I would consider influences would be Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn and Daniel Silva.
Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring authors?
To be a writer you must first be a great reader. After that, commit to the process of writing and stick to it. Learn to take constructive criticism without taking it personally.
Are you planning on writing more books?
Absolutely. The next book is already underway.
How did you come up with the plot for "Endgame?"
I have known the genre that I wanted to be in for a long time. The very beginning of the plot for "Endgame" started to take shape in my head about 5 years ago. I wanted the story to be credible with Iran as a threat to the U.S., it certainly met that criteria then and even more so now. Once I had established the who and where, it started to get really fun exploring the why, what and how.
Understanding what offensive capabilities Iran currently has is a disconcerting mental exercise. Iran is a viable threat and has publicly made some unsettling declarations to the U.S. and to Israel in particular. I wanted to incorporate some of that very real and existing tension into the fabric of "Endgame." weaving a blend of fact and fiction and keeping the reader guessing.
Last to come is what the U.S. response would be to overt provocations of war by Iran. "Endgame" is the fictional answer.
What were the hardest and easiest parts of writing your first book?
First off, there weren’t any easy parts. Writing "Endgame" was composed of several parts, all of which were hard!
The first hard part is committing to yourself that you are going to see the project through, period. With that comes the linked component of time. Dedicating hours of research and writing on a daily basis is challenging - any writer will tell you that. For me, I blocked out my day into little boxes and made sure to stay positive and focused. It’s easier said than done.
Skipping ahead to a complete first draft, I remembered a quote from Ernest Hemmingway,
”The first draft of anything is shit.” It’s now time to fix the mistakes from grammatical and beyond, and then know when to stop tinkering. Both are challenging.
Lastly, believe in your work, if you don’t, no one else will. Why should they? I shed my self-doubt when a #1 New York Times bestselling author believed enough in my manuscript to pass it along to both his agent and editor. At that point, I felt I was on my way.
Who are your influences?
Authors that I would consider influences would be Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn and Daniel Silva.
Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring authors?
To be a writer you must first be a great reader. After that, commit to the process of writing and stick to it. Learn to take constructive criticism without taking it personally.
Are you planning on writing more books?
Absolutely. The next book is already underway.
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