The Thriller Zone

On today's 115th Episode of an all new season of The Thriller Zone, I'm stoked and honored to welcome New York Times Bestselling author, Brad Taylor.

I've been trying to get Brad on The TZ for a long time now, and finally our stars and paths and chicken bones all crossed and connected. And just in the nick of time, as his latest military-flavored thriller, The Devil's Ransom, drops on Tuesday, January 24th.

What perfect timing, right? Brad helps me (a) Kick off a New Year, (b) he officially launches our 4th Season, and (c) we get to compare notes on BBQ, Best Beaches in the country, Texas vs South Carolina (in the fight for Southern Supremacy-ish), and (d) we get the INSIDE SCOOP on where he gets some of the nicknames of his NYT bestselling series.

If you'd like to pre-order a copy today, I'll provide a link at the bottom of this page. And trust me, if you're a PIKE LOGAN fan (his lead guy), you'll snatch this puppy up in a blink!

If you're not familiar with Brad, here's bit of nifty background: Brad Taylor was born on Okinawa, Japan, but grew up on 40-acres in rural Texas. Graduating from the University of Texas, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry, where he served for more than 21 years, retiring as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. During his service, he held numerous Infantry and Special Forces positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. Finally, he has conducted operations in support of US national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations.

Now, just a few things you will hear in the show that I think it's worth noting for future, deeper consideration. Several of them are as follows:

Charleston, South Carolina is a mighty fine city. And worth visiting if you ever get a chance.

Folly Beach is quite possibly one of the nicest beaches on the East Coast.

Mount Pleasant is just as its name states: a pleasant place to live (although there are no mountains in the area).

Lewis Barbecue is one helluva restaurant. It's Texas style, and created by the owner, founder, and master of BBQ, John Lewis. John never cuts corners, unless you’re talking about burnt ends of, course. The pit master’s cult-like following can be attributed to his unerring dedication to barbecue, from welding his own custom-designed smokers to waking up at 4 a.m. to tend to the fire, he takes his meat seriously. Barbecue enthusiasts have flocked to his pits for years, waiting in long lines to get a taste of his expertly smoked pork spareribs, beef ribs, “Texas hot guts” sausage, oxtail, and his legendary beef brisket.

You can stop in and enjoy (but forget reservations) here: 464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403. Call ahead to see if they have a spot: +1 843 805 9500, but go anyway.

Also, if you're an aspiring writer like me, or a seasoned professional like Brad T, you need a rock-solid, -kicking, and super- website. As you'll hear in the show, we're both fans of the dudes & gals over at Authorbytes.com who built, manage and support our sites.

Brad's is: BradTaylorBooks.com. Mine is: DavidTempleBooks.com. You can follow BT on Twitter @bradtaylorbooks and DT @thethrillerzone

Lastly, if you want to buy Brad's THE DEVILS RANSOM, CLICK HERE. I don't get anything from this, I just believe in his talents.

Perhaps in the (near) future, Amazon will bless me with some kind commissions, but they will NEVER come out of YOUR pocket. So there!

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The Thriller Zone promises to wrap 2024 in a BIG way...Stay Tuned! Questions? Just write us at "[email protected]"

On today's 171st episode of The Thriller Zone, New York Times Bestselling author Mark Greaney discusses his latest book, The Chaos Agent.

As Mark and I catch up, we reminisce about our previous interactions, as he explains his decision to incorporate the slow burn and tension in his latest thriller that allows readers to delve deeper into the protagonist's character.

We also delve into the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its influence on the story, as Greaney expresses his concerns about the potential dangers of AI, particularly in the development of lethal autonomous weapons. We also touch on the impact of AI on the writing community and the portrayal of the protagonist in a potential movie adaptation.

Later in the show, Mark discusses various aspects of his writing career, The Grey Man Series, and the vulnerability of his protagonist and the importance of creating a story that is interesting and keeps readers engaged.

As we close, Mark also shares insights into the future of The Grey Man series and the challenges of his being a busy writer. Greaney also emphasizes the role of a good editor (like Tom Colgan), and the influence of other writers on his work.

We conclude with a discussion about Mark's early burgeoning career as a "hopeful rock star" in his band BAD ENGLISH, where he played drums and wore very large permed hair. As always, we close with Mark's best writing advice, before we have Mark answer some fun Random Fire Questions, one of our favorite games.

To learn more about Mark, visit: MarkGreaneyBooks.com and as always, follow us at TheThrillerZone.com and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to us at YouTube.com/thethrillerzone.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
00:52 The Slow Burn and Tension
08:21 Mark Graney's Busy Life
14:12 The Influence of AI in Chaos Agent
21:16 AI and the Writing Community
24:06 Ryan Gosling as Court Gentry
25:34 Writing a Vulnerable Protagonist
26:22 Future of the Grey Man Series
27:46 Lack of Control in the Publishing Process
30:36 The Challenges of Being a Busy Writer
31:05 The Difference Between Writing Grey Man and Tom Clancy
33:22 The Importance of a Good Editor
34:51 Influence of Other Writers
44:59 Best Writing Advice
47:50 Random Fire Questions

The Thriller Zone promises to wrap 2024 in a BIG way...Stay Tuned! Questions? Just write us at "[email protected]"

On today's 176th episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson, the authors of the book 'Four Minutes.'
The conversation starts with some lighthearted banter having to do with "silly hats,' but soon delves into the authors' busy writing schedule and their upcoming projects. A highlight comes when they share their collaboration with Tom Clancy's estate and the research they conducted with the US Navy for their Clancy novels.

The authors also explain the concept behind their latest military thriller, Four Minutes, which involves a special operations team using advanced technology to predict future events.

The show wraps with a brief discussion about the challenges and limitations of time travel in the book, how it could be possible through the use of modular fusion reactors, as well as the potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in writing and warfare.

To learn more visit: Andrews-Wilson.com

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Show Updates
08:06 Collaborating with Tom Clancy's Estate and the US Navy
21:54 Creating Realistic Rules for Time Travel
22:51 The Importance of Family Support and Military Dedication
22:57 Exploring the Intersection of the Human Condition and Technology
23:25 Time Travel through Modular Fusion Reactors
24:24 Limitations and Consequences of Time Travel
26:43 The Potential Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence
38:19 Gratitude for Opportunities in the Entertainment Industry

Some take-aways:

• Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson have a busy writing schedule, but they are grateful for the opportunities they have been given.
• The authors collaborated with Tom Clancy's estate and conducted extensive research with the US Navy for their Clancy novels.
• 'Four Minutes' explores the concept of using advanced technology to predict future events and its implications for special operations teams.
• The authors wanted to create realistic rules and limitations for time travel in the book.
• The episode highlights the importance of family support and the dedication of military personnel. The hosts are interested in exploring the intersection of the human condition and technology.
• Time travel in their book is made possible through the use of modular fusion reactors.
• Time travel has limitations and unintended consequences.
• Artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool if humans are in control of it.
• The hosts are grateful for the opportunities they have in the entertainment industry.

The Thriller Zone promises to wrap 2024 in a BIG way...Stay Tuned! Questions? Just write us at "[email protected]"

On today's 184th episode of The Thriller Zone, a BONUS episode at that, we're pleased to welcome Washington Post Contributor and New York Times Bestselling Author David Ignatius.

On this podcast, David talks with us about his latest thriller, Phantom Orbit, and shares the inspiration and research behind his latest thriller, as well as the real-world events that influenced the plot.

Our hefty conversation delves into the complexities of satellite warfare, the role of technology in espionage, and the geopolitical landscape of Russia and Ukraine.

Best of all perhaps is when David shares insights into his writing process and offers advice for aspiring authors. Learn more at DavidIgnatius.com.

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Author Introduction
02:55 Crafting Realistic Thrillers
05:08 The Geopolitical Landscape of Espionage and Satellite Warfare
16:00 The Plot of Phantom Orbit and Real-World Influence
25:11 Writing Advice and Conclusion

The Thriller Zone promises to wrap 2024 in a BIG way...Stay Tuned! Questions? Just write us at "[email protected]"

On today’s 202nd episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple welcomes Andrew Child, who discusses his writing process, the appeal of the Jack Reacher character, and the collaborative effort with his brother, Lee Child.

They delve into the simplicity of Reacher's adventures, the importance of reader engagement, and the significance of cover design in storytelling. Andrew also shares insights into his personal projects and the challenges of balancing them with the Reacher series.

In this engaging conversation, Andrew discusses his Janitor series, exploring themes of justice and moral dilemmas in fiction. He shares insights into the collaborative writing process with his brother Lee, the evolving landscape of publishing, and offers valuable writing advice for aspiring authors.

The discussion highlights the importance of character development, the balance between traditional and self-publishing, and the role of social media in an author's career.

Learn more at: AndrewGrantBooks.com and JackReacher.com

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

02:47 The Writing Process and Coffee Consumption

06:03 Distractions and Writing Environment

09:13 The Simplicity of Reacher's Character

11:55 Cover Design and Character Focus

15:04 The Appeal of Jack Reacher

17:58 The Knight Errant Archetype

20:46 Reader Engagement and Storytelling

24:01 Andrew Child's Personal Projects and Future Work

30:16 The Janitor's Quest for Justice

33:09 Moral Dilemmas in Fiction

36:28 Collaborative Writing Process

49:20 The Evolving Landscape of Publishing

56:38 Writing Advice for Aspiring Authors

Keywords: Andrew Child, Lee Child, Jack Reacher, writing process, storytelling, character development, thriller novels, podcast, author interview, book cover design, Janitor series, justice, moral dilemmas, collaborative writing, publishing, writing advice, thriller genre, character development, self-publishing, social media

The Thriller Zone promises to wrap 2024 in a BIG way...Stay Tuned! Questions? Just write us at "[email protected]"