Australian Literature Review
Interview with thriller writer Chris Allen and author of Defender and Hunter on the Australian Literature Review.
TweedleDee and TweedleDave
EXTRACT FROM HUNTER:
This final phase was always going to be tricky. Morgan knew as much before he went in, although he had hoped to at least make it past the second guard before the others became aware of his presence. But to ensure that the plan to conduct a covert capture of Šerifović remained absolutely top secret, it was imperative that Intrepid took full carriage of the arrest and, as a result, participation by outsiders had been kept to a minimum. At this point even the Interpol liaison officer had been kept at arm’s length, only aware that a high-risk arrest was being made and that he – along with members of EKAM, the Hellenic Police Anti-Terrorist Unit – was responsible for cleaning up the underlings. As far as the local Greek police currently on standby in helicopters at Corfu airport were concerned, it was just another drug bust. Exactly who was being arrested and why had not been disclosed beyond the walls of General Davenport’s office.
Morgan knew that Milivoj Šerifović was not afraid to kill, his record in the Balkans vouched for that, and right now he was a caged animal. With his third bodyguard for backup, he would be ready to kill to extend his tenuous freedom, no matter what. Worst of all, Šerifović was now alerted to Morgan’s incursion and would be ready.
The Importance of Strong Women in Life and Thriller Novels
I’ve always felt very comfortable around women. I like them, I enjoy their company, equally as the company of men. I grew up with two strong-willed and confident older sisters with my resourceful mum ever-near, while enjoying a strong matriarchal figure in our nan and a collection of larger than life Aunties – the collective influence of whom ensured from a young age that I’d have nothing but the greatest respect for the female of our species.
When creating a series of action thrillers, as I am, it’s important to not fall back on the age-old formula of female characters written from a passive view, like that in the old Bond films and to an equal extent, Ian Fleming’s novels. In my espionage stories, the female lead characters are all equal players across the landscape that I create.
Interview with thriller writer Chris Allen on Grubstreet
“The two thirty-eights roared simultaneous.” This is my favourite opening line, says author Chris Allen. “It’s all an action writer hopes to do, teasing the reader about what’s to come.”
The line, from Ian Fleming, opens “Moonraker,” the third story in the James Bond series. The guns don’t roar in an exotic location; Bond is not in a lethal shootout with a gruesome villain. No, he’s on a shooting range, far below the streets of London, requalifying, as a good public servant must, on basic skills.
Alex Morgan, the Allen hero, is public servant, as is Bond. Morgan works search and destroy missions for INTREPID: the Intelligence, Recovery, Protection and Infiltration Division of Interpol. What Interpol can’t do openly, Intrepid does covertly.
INTREPID is different from MI6. INTREPID has a global mandate; MI6 protects mostly British interests. Although deeply hush-hush, MI6 is a public agency. INTREPID doesn’t exist.
Boomerang Books Player Profile
The first thriller I ever read was The Wooden Horse — I was about 12-13 at the time.
At that age, I was really interested in a lot of stories of WWII, particularly the stories that were about individuals and how they overcame things. This was a story about guys who were prisoners of war, pilots who’d been shot down and captured by the Germans. I remember details about that book – that they needed to escape and someone came up with this idea that they needed to build a tunnel to escape. The shortest way for them to build a tunnel, so there was less chance of collapse, was to start right under the middle of the exercise yard, under the nose of the prison guards. So they requested exercise equipment from the guards like a wooden bolting horse. They hid two guys in the wooden horse and those men would work each night to dig out the tunnel each night. The detail was ingenious.
This book had all the elements of intrigue, deception, danger, subterfuge coupled with fearlessness, innovation and ingenuity borne out of a desperate need to escape captivity.
What more could a teenager in Perth ask for in his reading material!? If you were a literary character, who would you be?: I think I’d most like to be Watson from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock series.
In the books, Holmes is so reliant on his partnership with Watson. If it wasn’t Holmes saving the day with some well-paced Judo moves, it would be Watson with his revolver.
I love the duo. They are a much more equal pairing than the old movies ever gave them credit for.
5-Star Book Reviews
New York Times best-selling author Victoria Twead finds out from thriller writer Chris Allen why Hunter has been such a hit, what he does when he's not writing, and which vegetable he is most like (and unlike).
The Creative Penn
When we start writing, it can be daunting to read the amazing books by our author heroes and wonder how we can ever be that good.
Surely, for them, the words just flowed perfectly from brain to page with effortless grace?
But I have seen Thomas Hardy’s manuscript of Tess in the British Library. Check out that editing! Even the greats went through the same creative process as we do. Today’s guest article from thriller and espionage writer Chris Allen explores this further.
From Paratrooping to Publishing a Series of Espionage Action Thrillers
I grew up in Perth, Western Australia reading Ian Fleming and Alastair Maclean novels – coming from a family with history in military service, I dreamed of seeing real action first-hand and one day writing about it. Perth was a pretty sleepy town in the 1970’s so when I was 18 I joined the Australian Army, undertook officer training and became one of the Paratroopers who saw the world from under a billowing canopy. After more than a decade serving in the Australian Army, as well as attached to the New Zealand and British armies, my back gave out and it was time to find a new career (or two) while I learnt the art of writing action thrillers.
Why bookstores are the future not the past
Chris Allen discusses why bookshops are the future, not the past, to commemorate National Bookshop Day 2013.
Digital Pubbing
Recently Sabrina had the good fortune of meeting people from Pan Macmillan Australia, and they put her in touch with Chris Allen, author of the Intrepid series. See more at: http://www.digitalpubbing.com/an-interview-with-chris-allen-author-of-hunter-intrepid-2/#sthash.dVHbbja6.dpuf
The importance of music in books
Guest post by thriller writer Chris Allen on the importance of music in books and his writing - on the Bookd Out blog!
Coffee Chat with Erin: BookGirlOz
Read an interview with thriller writer Chris Allen on the blog Coffee Chat with Erin - in advance of his Facebook Chat with her readers later in July!
Digireado Sydney Writers' Festival Wrap Up
Sydney Writers Festival compere Anna Maguire from the 'Forest For The Trees' panel session featuring thriller writer Chris Allen, YA writer Dionne Lister and Elisabeth Storrs provided a comprehensive wrap up of the session and insights shared on each author's publishing journey.
Hollywood Dream Cast for The Serious Reader
Chris Allen, popular thriller and espionage author, envisages a Hollywood dream cast for the movie version of his book Hunter: Intrepid 2.
Milo's Rambles Guest Post
A guest post by Australian thriller and adventure author Chris Allen on how to write a book about an Interpol Spy Agency. Fictional, of course.
Crime Thriller Fella Review
Crime Thriller Fella blog reviews Defender, saying:
"Chris Allen’s Defender, the first in his Intrepid series, is a book best enjoyed in the pounding noonday heat. It’s widescreen writing. When you see the images in your head, they’re in Imax. Defender is a movie on a page."
Ten Elements of a Cracking Thriller
Chris Allen guest-posts on That Book You Like blog for Intrepid Month with Ten Elements of a Cracking Thriller.
Crime Thriller Girl
Blogger and aspiring Author Steph reviews Hunter and interviews Chris Allen on his military history, writing process, what's on his TBR pile and importantly what is next for Intrepid!
Crime Always Pays Guest Post
A double crime writer blog interview with Irish author Declan Burke and also Chris Allen to discover more about their respective writing influences, processes and successes.
Strong Scene Contest
Interview with Chris Allen on author Gary Ponzo's blog on writing thriller novels, creating a protagonist and ultra-secret Interpol agency Intrepid, and the future of publishing.
Chris Allen - Move over Higgins, Cussler and Patterson
Thriller Writer Chris Allen is profiled on Digital Book Today on Defender: Intrepid 1 and his writing adventure to date.
Imagineer review by Steve
"A tale of cold-blooded ruthlessness (from both sides), treachery, courage, cowardice, avarice and lust for power, Hunter has everything the thriller aficionado could wish for. Yes, it took me a while to read, but then I’m a slow reader and I wanted to do justice to a brand new book in a genre I rarely visit. I found it easy to read, partly thanks to that clever use of chapters varying wildly in length, according to content. To me, the story passed a very important test: I began picturing the characters and locations as I read! There is enough detail for both to give a firm base, and sufficient unsaid to allow the imagination to do the rest. The second test was passed, too: there were times when I read far more than I meant to, and certainly for longer than the time I had available!
"I can happily award Hunter five stars! In fact, now I’m left wanting to read more of these tales…"
Douglas Dorow blog interview
Chris Allen spy storyteller and Douglas Dorow thriller writer exchange blog interviews and tales of writing and publishing in 2013.
Conan Doyle, Holmes & Watson - An Enduring Friendship
A guest post by Chris Allen thriller writer on Sherlock fan blog, Buddy2Blogger. Chis writes about Conan Doyle, Holmes and Watson's enduring friendship.
The Big Thrill
The Big Thrill Magazine, of the International Crime Writers Association, published an interview with Chris in their December 2012 issue.
Authors and publicity In Newswrite Magazine
In the April 2013 issue of NewsWrite, Portia Lindsay from the NSW Writers' Centre interviews authors like Chris Allen on innovative ways to source publicity and build reader engagement for their books.
We Do Write
Dorothy Dorow author hosts a guest post from thriller writer Chris Allen on writing an action thriller series.
Little Library Muse
Book reviewer Little Library Muse in the USA interviews thriller writer Chris Allen on his characters, the importance of story development and the books and authors that have most inspired his writing.
Ten Questions No-one's Ever Asked Thriller Writer Chris Allen
Ten questions by Julie Green about writing, publishing and living the action thriller lifestyle - not what you'd usually read from the author!
Momentum Podcast
Momentum Books featured Chris Allen talking all things Bond, lesser known Ian Fleming facts and the latest Alex Morgan adventure on their weekly podcast.
Imagineer interview
An interview on the Imagineer blog by Chris Allen thriller writer. A Hunter review follows separately on the blog.
Read in a Single Sitting
Read in a Single Sitting book blog interviewed Chris Allen on pacing, plotting and strategy.
Bite the Book Defender review
Review of action thriller Defender by Jon Page of Pages & Pages Mosman on his Bite the Book blog.
CMash Loves to Read
Book blogger Cheryl Mash posted an article by Chris Allen thriller writer about a New Year for Those Who Serve.
See Want Love
Aspiring novelist and PR guru Sophie Louise @sosolouise reviewed Hunter on her blog of all things books, blogs and beautiful things, See Want Love.
Aust Crime Fiction
Karen reviewed Hunter: Intrepid 2 on Aust Crime Fiction blog after first reviewing and enjoying Defender of the Faith when it was self-published.
Just a Guy
Just a Guy That Likes To Read interviewed Chris Allen about his writing career, publishing adventures and approach to writing thrillers.
Just a Guy That Likes To Read
The Creative Penn
Guest post by Chris Allen on five things paratrooping can teach you about self-publishing on The Creative Penn.
That Book You Like
Original and first Defender review from That Book You Like blog by Mandi Johnston, 2011.