Video I’m Watching
The Secret 9/11 Docs That Started a War, by Johnny Harris. By now, there isn’t much controversy on this topic as most of it is already public, but this video lays it out documentary style and is timely as I think back to the events of 9/11 twenty-two years ago today (as I write this).
In September 2001, I was living in New Delhi, India and I watched the events unfold with horror at 6:30 pm New Delhi time (India is 9.5 hours ahead of NY) on CNN from the office where I was working. In the immediate aftermath, there was a strong call from family and senior company leadership to return all the expats to the States. I’m glad that didn’t happen because I went on to live in India for another year, I traveled all around Asia, and as I discussed in the podcast interview, that’s where I started to write.
As I reminisce about that terrible day, I have deep sadness for the victims of the attack and for us as a nation. I’m also grateful for that extended time in India because of the worldview it gave me, the friends I made, and for that stomach parasite that launched my writing career.
Incidentally, Jill and I visited the 9/11 memorial in NYC last fall and I highly recommend the experience.
Podcast I Was On
I was interviewed by The Write Note podcast run by Keira Jacobs and her father J Ryan Fenzel. J Ryan lives in Michigan near where I grew up and it was fun to have that connection. I really enjoyed the conversation and they do a nice job with the format.
We talked about the Cold War, my writing origin story (aka how a stomach parasite influenced me to start writing), and most importantly, I teased the book I have coming out later this fall and may have let slip the name of the new series. Please give it a listen and let me know if you think I should appear on more podcasts.
What I’m Working On
My seventh novel just landed in my inbox from my editor and I have not yet had a chance to parse her suggested changes. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be working through her edits, and if all goes well, we should have a book ready soon for the Advance Reader Team. Watch this space for more information, including a possible title, book cover reveal, and launch date.
I also just sent my editor a rewrite of the novella Cat & Mouse. I dare say it’s significantly improved and includes a major change to the storyline, a new character, more prominent screen time for Goshawk, and a completely new ending. Once this story goes through a round of edits and a proof, I’ll make it available to everyone on this list for free.
Even though I subscribe to Ryan Holiday’s mantra that ego is the enemy, I’m pretty proud of this rewrite.
Show I’m Streaming
Special Ops: Lioness on Amazon Prime. By now, you know I love a strong female lead and this one has two, three if you count the Nicole Kidman character and four if you count Jill Wagner’s role as the team leader for the Quick Reaction Force. I mean come on, what a bonanza.
Lioness doesn’t develop the QRF team characters like Seal Team does, but Zoe Saldana’s position as a CIA officer and the impact of that role on her family life is excellently depicted and supported brilliantly, in my opinion, by Dave Annable’s husband character.
Lioness wasn’t well reviewed, but since Seal Team is on hiatus, it’s just good fun and I highly recommend it.
