The Thriller Zone

On the 61st Episode of The Thriller Zone, I'm honored to sit down with New York Times Bestselling Author, Marc Cameron.

Marc has an epic number of novels under his belt which include: 10 Jericho Quinn novels, 5 Tom Clancy Novels, and 4 Arliss Cutter Novels. Yeah, with 3 series and oodles of stories to still tell, Marc shows no signs of slowing down.

In this show, Marc and I discuss a host of topics, from huntin' 'n fishin' to boatin' 'n flyin'. We chat the magic of getting an agent, the art of outlining, and what it takes to make a living as a writer.

We also discuss the life of a US Marshal, what nearly 30 years in that business is/was like, and what he has on the horizon.

Plus, Marc keeps it real in our #RapidFireQuestions round with some answers you may expect, and others you don't see coming.

All in all, this was an outstanding time with a writer who has the magic touch, and left me with the feeling of having a new friend.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did, and would consider sharing with a friend. Also SUBSCRIBE to the VIDEO version of the show over at: YouTube.com/TheThrillerZone. That way, you can keep in touch with us.

To learn more, visit: MarcCameronBooks.com and follow him on Twitter @markcameron1, and as always you can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @thethrillerzone and on the web at: TheThrillerZone.com

Mentioned in this episode:

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

Author Bobby Mathews works as a sports journalist by day, and by night crafts articles for publications, short stories, and novellas. More importantly, he's about to release his latest novel, LIVING THE GIMMICK.

Author S. A. Cosby calls it, “A wild and surreal trip through the subculture of old school pro wrestling.” You'll call it captivating for a young new writer.

Join Bobby and me as we talk about southern fiction, and southern food, in our Rapid Fire Questions round.

To learn more, visit: bamawriter.com, or follow him on Twitter @bamawriter.

And as always, follow us on Twitter @thethrillerzone, on ALL podcast channels, and TheThrillerZone.com

Mentioned in this episode:

AuthorBytes Commercial

If you're looking for a Website Developer & Host who offers exceptional service, security, and peace of mind, look no further than AuthorBytes.com. With industry leading technology, new & improved SEO for enhanced book discovery, blazing fast load times, plus 24-hour security, all built upon the legendary WordPress, this is the company to trust. If you're an author, a media personality, or a social influencer, you know the importance of a rock solid website. So, when you're ready to up your game with a website that takes your business to the next level, take from a guy who uses them too. Hire AuthorBytes.com where "Hope is not a strategy." Sign up today and get 3-months with a 1-year contract, with the CODE: "thethrillerzone." AuthorBytes is a proud sponsor of TheThrillerZone.com and DavidTempleBooks.com

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

On today's 71st episode of TheThrillerZone, I'm honored to welcome back the multi-talented author of not only the Tom Clancy thriller #ZeroHour, but the #MattDrakeSeries of thrillers: Don Bentley.

Yes, Don joins The TZ for a healthy round of information dispersal, intriguing conversation about the military, epic thrillers, the Tom Clancy legacy, his masterful editor Tom Colgan, and so much more.

Sure, we cover his Matt Drake Series, which includes: #WithoutSanction, #TheOutsideMan, and #HostileIntent, but we also drill into his Tom Clancy thrillers, #TargetAcquired and his latest, #ZeroHour. We also talk writing tools, ball-caps vs. Stetsons, Cowboy boots, ribs 'n beer, guns 'n knives, helicopters and vacation spots.

That's right, you can't get this sort of entertainment just ANYwhere!

Don also sheds some healthy insights and pearls of wisdom about what it takes to make it as a successful writer today. "You have to know and respect the business," Don says. "Because if you don't give the audience what they want, you'll have a tough time selling your books."

When Don quotes the world-famous Stephen King, and shares King's take on "the blue collar part and the magic part" of successful writing, well I, along with most all my friends whom are writers, perked up and listened to the promo on Twitter that provided a sneak peek into what was to come on today's show.

Bentley was premiered on my show last August ('21), and I'm thrilled to have him back. Side note, THIS Don Bentley has seasoned and grown wiser with age (and page count), and I for one just lapped up his words-of-wisdom; as I'm sure you will too.

Kick back and enjoy our talk about #ThrillerFest and the magic of #writingcommunity and attending #writingconferences, as well as practices you can incorporate into your work every day.

Lastly, we do our fair amount of name dropping; not to impress you, but to simply share some of the insights of those whom have led the way. They include: Mark Greaney, Nick Petrie, Don Winslow, Brad Taylor, Andrews & Wilson, Chris Hauty, Eric Bishop & Steve Stratton, to name a few.

If you'd like to dig deeper, and perhaps pick up one (or more) of Don's books, go to: DonBentleyBooks.com, and be sure to FOLLOW him on both Twitter & Facebook @bentleydonb.

And as always, I thank you for listening to our podcast on TheThrillerZone.com, or any and all the places you enjoy your podcasts. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram @thethrillerzone, and of course subscribe to our YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/TheThrillerZone.

Thanks for listening. Thanks for subscribing. And thanks for being such a terrific audience who supports those of us who love podcasting.

I'm David Temple your host, and I'll see you next time for another episode of The Thriller Zone!

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

Unless you've been lost in a cave, or sleeping under a rock for the past decade, I'm sure you know the name Brad Thor. Brad is one of the more prolific authors of our time, and the creator of the Scot Harvath Series.

Some have called him, "The Undisputed King of the Genre," (Real Book Spy), while others have said this of his many books: "UN-Freaking-Believable," (The Crew Reviews), then there's, "An Amazing Thriller" says Fred Burton, and "Rising Tiger is ripped from tomorrow's headlines," says Wharton Journal Spectator.

Yes, I could go on for much longer, but instead, I'll simply say, "I have found Brad to be a thoughtful, engaging, gracious and masterful storyteller of the highest caliber. If someone offered a Master Class in writing military-inspired politically-charged ripped-from-headlines thrillers and the professor was Brad Thor, well, you couldn't take my money fast enough."

On today's 76th Episode, and the "Official Launch of Season Three of The Thriller Zone," I'm thrilled to welcome a guy who knows more than a thing or three about writing white-knuckle thrillers. And he's been doing it for several decades now.

With more than two dozen thrillers under his (very expensive and handsomely tailored exotic leather) belt, Brad shows no signs of slowing down. And his latest page-turner, RISING TIGER, is one of his very best.

His protagonist, and deadly operative Scot Harvath, faces down the country's most powerful enemy. Or as the jacket reads, "With democracy itself hanging in the balance, Harvath will risk everything to untangle the explosive plot and bring every bad actor to justice."

Join Brad and I as we talk about the hard work that it takes to make a propulsive thriller like Rising Tiger, learn Brad's "Secret Sauce for Success," as well as enjoy some light-hearted moments like his "Library/Lounge Office", his love of "Guy Toys," as well as our mutual love of antique typewriters, and so much more.

This podcast (and Vodcast on YouTube) promises to land in my "Top 10 Thriller Zone Episodes of the Year," and you'll soon see why.

To learn more, visit: BradThor.com, Follow him on Twitter @bradthor, on Instagram @realbradthor and Facebook @bradthorofficial.

And as always THANK YOU for making TheThrillerZone one of the fastest growing podcasts in the world, as we serve up tasty thrillers and give you a front row seat to the Best Thriller Writers In The World.

Subscribe to our Channel YouTube.com/TheThrillerZone, visit our homepage at TheThrillerZone.com and listen to our podcasts on ALL The Podcast Channels like Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

Thank you for sharing your passion of Thrillers, be it books, movies, or television, with us.

David Temple, Host of TheThrillerZone

Author at TheDavidTemple.com

Follow me on both Twitter & Instagram @TheThrillerZone

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

From CIA to Novelist: David McCloskey & The Art of Espionage

On today’s 208th episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple welcomes back former CIA analyst and author David McCloskey to discuss his latest thriller, The Seventh Floor.

The conversation explores the intersection of social media and author branding, the development of McCloskey's protagonist Artemis Proctor, and the balance between authenticity and storytelling in espionage thrillers.

McCloskey shares insights into the challenges of writing a series and the evolving nature of his characters, emphasizing the importance of engaging narratives over strict adherence to realism. In this engaging conversation, David McCloskey also shares his insights on the writing process, emphasizing the importance of perseverance through creative challenges, the solitude of writing, and the discipline of daily word counts.

Temple and McCloskey discuss the value of learning from established authors by copying their prose longhand and the necessity of reading one's work aloud to ensure clarity and flow. The conversation also touches on the craft of dialogue and the complexities of Middle Eastern policy, reflecting McCloskey's background and expertise, before ending with Temple’s signature Best Writing Advice.

Learn more at: DavidMcCloskeyBooks.com

Keywords: David McCloskey, The Seventh Floor, CIA, espionage, thriller, social media, character development, authenticity, writing challenges, author branding, writing, creativity, editing, discipline, authorship, dialogue, Middle East, storytelling, craft, literature

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to David McCloskey and The Seventh Floor

06:04 The Role of Social Media in Author Branding

12:35 Character Development: Artemis Proctor's Journey

18:48 Authenticity in Espionage Thrillers

24:54 The Challenges of Writing a Series

27:33 Overcoming Creative Obstacles

30:33 The Loneliness of Writing

34:05 Daily Writing Discipline

37:39 Learning from Great Authors

39:30 The Importance of Reading Aloud

41:10 Crafting Dialogue and Prose

42:55 Insights on Middle East Policy

Best Sound Bites:

"You're just a great natural entertainer."

"I need to throw it away and be done."

"It's an imposter syndrome for sure."

"The feed loop is a really long one."

"Writing has really become about the editing."

"Just write the effing story."

"You should probably be spending time longhand copying."

"Read your stuff out loud to yourself."

"Give the reader some credit to use their own imagination."

"It's always interesting to get back into that world."

"We have a real case of main character syndrome."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqhSNxKuWBE

Mentioned in this episode:

Steve Stratton December Sponsorship Commercial

Steve Stratton's newest thriller Caribbean Harvest is coming January 2025. Learn more at StevenStrattonUSA.com

Steve Stratton December Sponsorship Close

Steve Stratton's newest thriller Caribbean Harvest is coming January 2025. Learn more at StevenStrattonUSA.com

Steve Stratton December Sponsorship Open

Steve Stratton's newest thriller Caribbean Harvest is coming January 2025. Learn more at StevenStrattonUSA.com