Andrew Warren

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The Real Book Spy: Interview

October 2, 2019 by Andrew Warren Leave a Comment

For thriller fans, the Real Book Spy needs no introduction… Ryan Steck runs the world’s #1 site for thriller reviews, and interviews best-selling authors like Mark Greaney, Brad Thor, Kyle Mills, and countless others.

For as long as I’ve been writing, it’s been a dream, of mine to be featured on his site. Well… this year, the dream came true! Ryan was kind enough to feature me and the Thomas Caine boxed set on his website. Spoiler alert… he liked it!

“I was captivated by his Thomas Caine books, which read like a cross between Mark Greaney and Barry Eisler, with a bit of Steve Berry thrown in there for good measure.” – The Real Book Spy

I had a blast chatting with Ryan about thrillers, the writing process, and some of my inspirations for Thomas Caine. You can read the whole interview here:

THOMAS CAINE THRILLERS: FIVE QUESTIONS WITH ANDREW WARREN

And the Thomas Caine boxed set is available from Amazon, HERE:

And be sure to check out The Real Book Spy for the latest and greatest in thriller news, reviews, and interviews.

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Filed Under: Caine News, Interview, Thrillers

Cold Kill’s Iron Wolf

June 20, 2019 by Andrew Warren Leave a Comment

Sometimes even writers find themselves at a loss for words. Such was the case when UK artist and Caine reader Marc Atkinson reached out to me on Twitter.

After reading Cold Kill, Marc found himself inspired to create a unique piece of art that reflected the savage villain of that story. Piotr Zasko, known as the Iron Wolf, is a brutal Russian special forces commander, who wants to take a bite out of Thomas Caine… literally! And Marc perfectly captured the Iron Wolf’s savage appeal and chilling allure in his stunning 3D artwork.

The Iron Wolf lives…

When he sent me photographs of the piece, I was blown away. When he told me he was shipping me the actual wolf itself, I thought he was joking! But it was no laughing matter when the Iron Wolf appeared on my doorstep…

The Eyes of the Wolf…

To be honest, this post has been long overdue,… frankly, I wasn’t sure there was anything I could say that would do justice to Marc’s generosity, or his incredible talent. I am honored and humbled to have played a part in its inspiration. The Iron Wolf now hangs in a place of honor above my writing desk… reminding me to get back to work, and keep writing!

So without further ado, let’s hear from the master himself… presenting an interview with artist Marc Atkinson:

Tell us about yourself… When did you first know you were an
artist?

When I was about 7 years old my grandad would save me the comic strips out of the papers, Garfield, Charlie brown etc and I would copy them until I found I could draw them myself, He also had hand illustrated nature books, so I started trying to draw wildlife, looking at colour and shadow and light, then I didn’t understand what I was trying to replicate, I just did it and learned for myself.


Are you self-taught or did you have a formal education in art?
I did art at school but didn’t do too well, I was more into mechanics and technical illustration then. My dad used to fix cars and I was fascinated by mechanics and I started to look at H R Giger and bio-mechanical stuff, after that I went to art college where a tutor told me that I would never make a living as an artist and should stick to music, this was mainly because I wanted to paint and draw my way, I did find a love of Vincent van Gogh there that has inspired me all my life, Picasso and Dali also clicked with me because they made it up to suit themselves. After college I became a tattoo artist and did that for the next 20 years.


How would you best describe your style of art?
A lot of my stuff is what is known as steampunk, mechanics and antique thinks, neo-Victorian I suppose, my painting is impressionist in style and my drawing lends itself to a Japanese tattoo style, I mix things up and see what happens. My sculpture pieces I call junk art cos I make it out of anything I find.


What is your favorite medium to work in, and why?
Acrylic painting, It dries fast and covers well, I never got the hang of oils, my 3D work starts with anything I can find all glued together and then painted to look like old metal, rust and corrosion. I have tried to reproduce impressionist painting style on skin and it can be done but it is a long process and obviously gets sore for the client, canvas doesn’t swear and jump so it’s a little more relaxing. Pascal Jarrion know as the tattoo artist bugs does this beautifully http://www.bugsartwork.com/ is really worth a look, he such a nice guy too.


What drew you to the character of the ‘Iron Wolf’?
When I read the Thomas Caine books it’s usually at night, and that’s also when I get some great ideas too. So as I was reading Cold Kill, there was this guy called the Iron wolf, he seemed like a man of honour and standards… Proud and strong but you then learn that his standards are his own, his honour is just his pride and he is a ferocious man. A true psychopath with the front of a gentleman. Really a wolf in a military uniform. It makes you think, he hunts humans for sport but then has this pretense of standards, what sort of truly messed up person does that. It’s vivid and chilling.

Yes, it even lights up!


What other things influence your work? Music, writing, etc?
I played in a few bands, old rock and roll stuff, Elvis, Johnny Cash and the like. I love a lot of different styles, in the gym its new York hardcore like Biohazard, sick of it all, real aggressive stuff, my usual listening is more Social Distortion, rancid to stuff like Jack Johnson and Oasis. Books I like were mostly horror in nature, Stephen King to the classics like Lovecraft and Poe. As a change of pace I found the Thomas Caine books and got hooked on that, so thank you! England holds a lot of influence to my style because there is such old stuff around us, in the north we had mining and shipbuilding, huge scale engineering. That and I love motorbikes and cars and that all feeds into this mechanical style.


What other projects are you working on now?
I’m working an a portrait of Steve Mcqueen, I.ve just finished one of Boba Fett from Star Wars, I’m writing some songs for a new music project ‘Deadwood Rattlesnakes’ think ZZ top and Waylon Jennings. Like most things in life I kinda just make it all up as I go.


Where can readers find more info about you and your work?
I have my page www.facebook.com/inktindustries and I’m on social media sites as my business, Inkt Industries.


Anything else you’d like to add?
Never listen to anyone who says you can’t do something, if anything do it more, never be afraid to do it your own way!

Marc, thank you again! This is truly an amazing piece of art. I love it, and I promise you this: If I can figure out a way to bring back the Iron Wolf in the books, you’ll be the first to know!

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Filed Under: Caine News, Interview, Thrillers

Techno-thrills with Aiden L. Bailey

May 19, 2018 by Andrew Warren Leave a Comment

We’re just a few short days away from the release of the next Caine: Rapid Fire adventure, SANDFIRE. This is my first collaboration in the Rapid Fire series, and I really enjoyed working with fellow thriller author Aiden L. Bailey. I’ve been a big fan of Aiden’s books for a while now, and I was thrilled to join forces with him to bring readers a new take on Caine and his mysterious past. I thought it would be fun to interview Aiden, and let readers see what it was like to dive into the shadowy world of betrayed assassin Thomas Caine…

ANDREW: Tell us about your experiences writing Thomas Caine. Did collaborating with another author change your writing process in any way?

AIDEN: Writing Caine was both an exciting and daunting process. On one hand Thomas Caine is such a great character and it was fun to put him through the adventure we created for him in Sandfire. I couldn’t say no to an opportunity like that. On the other hand, if I got it wrong, I’d be the guy who forever ruined the Caine series.

Caine’s character was the most challenging aspect for me in Sandfire. He’s a tough guy who brings justice to those who abuse positions of power. He’s also sensitive to the needs of people trapped in difficult situations and self-reflective to his own nature. It was about finding a balance between all aspects of his personality.

The writing process itself ran like a dream. We worked well together perhaps because we already write in similar styles and tell the same kinds of stories. We ‘got’ what each of us was trying to achieve with SANDFIRE. If one or the other didn’t like some aspect to the story, we just came out and said it. We always ended up going with the option that was best for the story and the character.
What was most helpful was watching how you revised and edited the drafts, making the language shorter, sharper and more succinct while refining Caine’s character. I’ve adapted that approach to my writing now, and I’m writing faster as a result. It was a great experience and I am grateful I had the opportunity to write in the Caine series.

On a final note, early reader feedback has been positive and encouraging, so hopefully I won’t be the guy who ruined Caine.

ANDREW: What do you think is the key to crafting a hard hitting, fast paced story in the novella format?

AIDEN: There are several elements I try to incorporate into every story I write — novels or novellas — to remain true to the conventions of the espionage action thriller genre. These included starting and ending the story with the main character so readers are immediately and always invested in the hero. End every chapter on a cliff-hanger or surprise revelation. Keep an underlying sense of danger and tension in every scene. Put the main character in situations that seem almost impossible to escape. Ensure all major characters have strong motives and that their own journeys aren’t always in alignment with any other character. Keep backstory to a minimum and when required bring it out in dialogue where I can. Lastly, transport readers into exotic locations and be creative with action sequences.

I’m never sure how well I do this, but with SANDFIRE, we worked hard to get as many of these elements into the narrative. Hopefully we succeeded.

ANDREW: Your next book, Blood Ivory, is scheduled for release shortly after Sandfire. What can you tell us about this new thriller on the horizon?

AIDEN: Blood Ivory is a short action adventure thriller novella featuring the hero Simon Ashcroft from The Benevolent Deception and The Assyrian Contraband but is set before both those adventures. There was also a strong emotional hook in the story that compelled me to write it.

Ashcroft is a former Australian Army soldier employed as a counter-terrorism officer with the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). He’s tasked with identifying the links between Philippine terrorists and Tanzanian ivory smugglers. In East Africa he’s trying to stay dispassionate about the plight of elephants who are being slaughtered wholesale across the continent, but he can’t.

I’d seen elephants in the wild in East Africa when I traveled there, even came face to face with one in the bush without meaning too. They are incredible animals and you sense immediately that they are very intelligent and very emotional creatures, who feel and hurt and love as strongly as humans do.

In the past 100 years African elephant populations have been reduced by 97%. They are near extinction. It is such a tragedy that some people place greater value on dead tusks than they do on the value of living, caring elephants. This is the theme of Blood Ivory.

ANDREW: Tell us about your character Simon Ashcroft. What do you think sets him apart from other thriller heroes?

AIDEN: Ashcroft is an Australia soldier turned spy turned security contractor who across four books just can’t seem to find his way home to his family. He has two young daughters he barely sees and a job that is dangerous, working for incompetent people who don’t always have his back. Past missions have taken him to all the worst danger spots in Africa and Asia. But he’s not afraid to confront threats and deal with those who impart unjust misery on others. He’s a man of action often getting into difficult situation requiring creative means of escape. I like to think he has a sense of humour.

As to what sets him apart, I’m not sure. I’m probably too close to the character to give an objective view on that one.
Feedback from readers however is that Ashcroft is able to feel and express empathy but can lock those feelings completely down in dangerous situations. He isn’t haunted by his deeds like many other thriller protagonists evident in him being able to have a family despite his shadowy work. Readers have also said they find him charismatic, which is nice, and the complete opposite of the secluded stoic personality type common in this genre.

ANDREW: I’ve been a big fan of your Benevolent books since the beginning… what are your plans for this mind-bending techno-thriller series?

AIDEN: The Benevolent Series is an espionage technothriller that features Simon Ashcroft from Blood Ivory and The Assyrian Contraband.

In the first book, The Benevolent Deception, Ashcroft is assigned to find and protect Casey Irvine, a tourist on safari in Kenya. After saving her life, they discover wildlife poachers, corrupt police and even the local military have targeted Casey for assassination. She has no idea why and neither does Ashcroft.

As Ashcroft and Casey run for their lives across East Africa, a new global threat emerges. Cyberterrorists have unleashed a digital weapon known as ‘Shatterhand’. An insidious program that can command the world’s military forces, manipulate the media and impersonate the President of the United States.

The sequel and concluding novel is tentatively titled The Shatterhand Code. It’s written now and I’m going through the editing phase. There are several twists and turns to keep readers guessing right up to the last chapter as to what really has been going on over the two books. A conspiracy behind the conspiracy. I hope to release the full series towards the end of the year.

ANDREW: Both of our books feature lots of travel, and exotic locations around the world… what are some locations you plan to feature in your upcoming books? Any travel plans in your future?

AIDEN: Blood Ivory is set in Tanzania and Kenya, specifically the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tsavo West National Park featuring shootouts with poachers and wildlife aplenty. Other scenes include an assassination in the Tanzanian city of Arusha and an confrontation at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Shatterhand Code features a chase through the slums of Mumbai, a perilous pursuit on the roof of a fast-moving train in the tropics of Western India, gun battles in the streets of Abu Dhabi, a dangerous journey across the deserts of Saudi Arabia and paramilitary action in the tropical scrub of northern Australia, to mention a few locations. I try to make exotic locations feel as real as I can, while simultaneously looking for what is unusual or unique about each place, then sharing those experiences with readers.

Although I have no travel plans for the immediate future, I do plan to return to Africa one day and see the places I missed last time I went. About half the ideas I have for adventure thriller novels are set in that continent, so it’s not really surprising I’m eager to return.

ANDREW: I know we’re both big Ian Fleming fans, and you asked me about my favorite Bond novel. Now it’s my turn… What is your favorite Bond novel, and what scene stands out for you the most?

AIDEN: While Live and Let Die was the first Bond novel I read in my teenage years, and it left a lasting impression, I would have to say Dr No is my favorite novel. The scene where Bond battles the squid was so unexpected, surreal and typically Bond. I don’t know why that scene hasn’t been adapted into one of the films yet, but I can see why in 1962 when the Dr No film was made it would be near impossible to do with the technology available at the time.
Incidentally, the squid scene heavily influenced a sequence in The Assyrian Contraband where Simon Ashcroft comes head to head with a bull shark.

<<<< >>>>

 

SANDFIRE releases May 22nd, and will be free in Kindle Unlimited. You can check out the other Caine books HERE.

You can learn about Aiden L. Bailey and his books at his website, HERE, and his Amazon Page, HERE.

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Filed Under: Interview, Thrillers, Uncategorized

Thriller Author Interview: Ty Patterson

September 11, 2017 by Andrew Warren 4 Comments

Ty Patterson is the USA Today best selling author of the Warrior action-thriller series, featuring special forces operative Zeb Carter, along with a fantastic cast of quirky and fascinating supporting characters. Many of these characters have gone on to star in spin-off projects of their own.  Ty is known for having an amazing connection with his readers, and he seems to have a knack for writing exactly what they want to read next! I’ve been a fan of Ty’s writing, and his exemplary work ethic, for a long time. So, I’m thrilled and honored to present an interview with Ty himself. I hope you all enjoy it!

Tell us about yourself… how did you become a writer?  What other writers influenced you?

I have always been writing, short pieces of fiction or humor, that got published in various magazines. What pushed me into writing longer stories, thrillers, was a combination of events. I found myself spending a lot of time on social media, which got my better half to challenge me to put my time to better use 😊. The other was that, I had started writing bits and pieces of a particular story, which started coming together, and became The Warrior.

I am heavily influenced by thriller writers, which I guess is understandable, since I love and write in that genre. Joseph Finder, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Dashiel Hammett, Robert Crais. Greg Rucka, are some of my go-to authors. Your books, Andrew, are great reads as well, and I never fail to watch out for your latest releases.

Another author, Louis L’Amour, not strictly a thriller author, has been a great influence as well.

What led you to create Zeb Carter? As a character, What do you think makes Zeb so popular with your readers?

That’s a very good question. I was very keen to not create just another loner hero, when I started writing. Therefore, I made Zeb to be the lead operative of a team. I think what appeals to my readers is that interesting dynamic: Zeb is a loner, but heads a team. He is not much of a conversationalist, but his crew are witty, and love pulling his leg.

His intense loyalty to his team, and to his country, without being jingoistic, is also what makes him popular.

How long did it take you to become a best selling author? Did achieving that success change anything for you in terms of your writing process, or that kind of books you write?

A long time, Andrew 😊. I, like many new authors, was certain that The Warrior, my first book, would be a mega bestseller. I was confident that Hollywood would come calling in the first week.

Reality hit me a few months later. It made me realize that the power dynamic was firmly in the readers’ hands, not in mine. All I could do was write the kind of stories that they needed to hear.

I hit the USA Today Bestselling List, last June, with Zero. That was my eight book, a good three years after The Warrior.

I think a lot of authors think that indie publishing is a race. It isn’t. It is a journey.

What I write hasn’t fundamentally changed since I first started out. I still write action thrillers, but I have started releasing more often. I have a year long release schedule, which means there’s a new book by me, out there, every quarter.

It is the non-writing parts of indie publishing that I have had to learn. Professional book covers, a good editor, meeting deadlines, managing a reader list…. those are as important, if not more so, than the stories themselves.

In 2015, I also started a new series, the Gemini Series, featuring twins, Beth and Meghan Petersen. They are part of Zeb’s crew, but I wanted them to have their own stories.

Those books are more in the detective/private investigator genre. I wanted to attract a different audience with those books, and also not have all my eggs in the action thriller basket, which was why I started that series. Those books are coming along well.

Based your body of work, you must be an incredibly prolific writer! Tell us about your writing process… do you write every day? Do you set a word count target? What tools do you find indispensable for your work?

I write every day except on weekends and when on vacation. My word count target is 2k a day. That is an achievable target for me. I could write more, but that would have an impact on other parts of my work day. I self-edit as I write, so that when I complete a book, it is good to go to my external editor.

In terms of tools, I am pretty backward. I use MS Word for my writing, and that’s pretty much it!

When writing, I turn off all devices, except for the radio. Soft music in the background is my companion.

What do you think are the key ingredients of a page-turning spy thriller?  What do you look for when you read for your own pleasure?

I think in terms of three Ps. Person, Plot, and Pace.

Person – a protagonist readers can identify with. For me, that’s someone strong, but at the same time, sensitive. A protagonist who has a strong moral code but accepts that life isn’t black or white.

Plot – something believable. I like books which are set in contemporary times, and write on the same lines. For example, terrorism, financial fraud, cyber terrorism, those are all current hot themes anywhere in the world. The books I read have a lot of those themes.

Pace – this is what makes me continue reading a book or give up. I love books in which something happens in each chapter. In action or spy thrillers, the ‘something’ is usually a confrontation, a set back, a pivot.

Describing how paint dries, wouldn’t hold my attention 😊.

Which reminds me, I don’t like books that are crammed with technical details – such as descriptions of weapons, or rate of fire. I find such details interfere with the flow of story.

I go back to Louis L’Amour whenever I have to describe an ideal book. His Westerns had the three Ps in ample!

How did you get involved with self-publishing?  What do you think the future of publishing will be for independent writers like yourself?

I never even considered going to trad publishers or agents. I disliked the idea of sending hundreds of emails and waiting for someone to bite.

Indie publishing suits me. I am a person who likes to be in control of my own destiny. Self publishing allows me that freedom. I can choose which editors or cover designers to work with. I set my own writing schedule. I am beholden only to my readers.

I think indie publishing is here to stay. The line between trad and self-publishing are blurring. What I mean by that is, readers, now accept that there is a kind of author who publish their own work.

Frankly, readers are caring less and less whether a book is trad or indie publishing. It is the content that matters.

Now, what that means, is that indie authors will have to up their game. Market forces will demand that the books they put out look as good as what trad publishers release.

Covers, blurbs, proof-reading, editing – all those matter now.

The indie authors who neglect all those aspects will not succeed in the long run.

In terms of the long term, I think indie and trad publishing will co-exist. Trad publishers will not become extinct. They play an important role in the publishing eco-system. They can get books into physical stores – something indie publishers aren’t able to do as a group.

I also think indie authors will start getting more respect from our trad peers. After all, we don’t have a support system behind us. Our success is totally down to us, and not to a ‘brand name’ publisher.

You have an incredibly dedicated and engaged fanbase… what advise would you give new authors on building, nurturing, and engaging with their audience?

I don’t engage as much as I would like with my fan base. That said, my suggestion would be create a fan base in the first place. That starts with something as simple as a mailing list.

Then, cultivate that fanbase. Share exclusive content with those readers. Get them to engage in return. Conduct polls. Ask them to suggest character or place names. Acknowledge those readers in your book.

Believe me, if a reader can hold a book up and find herself or himself in the acknowledgements page – that’s gold dust. Those readers will go a long way towards supporting you.

No author should forget that, for all the Facebook ads we run, for all the sponsored mailing lists we can get on to, word-of-mouth is the greatest tool at our disposal.

If an author gets a dedicated fan base – that’s word-of-mouth multiplied several times over.

What’s upon next for you and your writing?  Do you plan to stick with action thrillers, or are there other genres you would like to tackle? Any other projects or endeavors you’d like to highlight?

I am thinking of starting a new SciFi series. The interesting thing is I don’t like scifi that deals with aliens or interstellar warfare. I am sure it will sound sacrilegious to many, but Star Trek does nothing for me 😊.

So my SciFi series will be action thrillers, set in the future. A bit like J.D. Robb’s In Death series, but without the romance, and with more action.

Right now, all I have got is a working title. I am still working on a release schedule. I am thinking of publishing either late this year, or early next year.

The title will be, The Last Gunfighter of Space 😊.

If you could be any hero of the spy thriller genre for a day, who would you choose and why?

Andrew, I used to repair large diesel engines, when I started my career. I sold tea to street-side stalls. I exported luxury leather products. I sold software. Now, I write thrillers.

The point is, my characters have their own lives, and I have mine. I don’t have much interest in living their lives 😊.

And on that cop-out answer, thank you so much for interviewing me.

I’d like to thank Ty for making the time for this interview.  He’s a great writer who has earned his success, and a fantastic guy as well!  If you’d like to learn more about Ty Patterson and his books, please visit his website HERE.

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Filed Under: Interview, Thrillers, Uncategorized

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