A Good Thriller discussion

Thanks Sean :)

Hi everybody, my writing career started at the BBC, writing comedy sketches, and developing sit-coms while working behind the cameras. I left the BBC to go freelance and develop my screenwriting career. It was while working on documentaries, filming warlords in Beirut and going undercover in Baghdad, that my writing began to move away from comedy towards action thrillers as I experienced those war zone situations first-hand.

I worked for 18 Months as a script analyst for Aramid Capital, reading hundreds of scripts and producing commercial viability reports on many high level screenplays including, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Wrestler, Beyond Reasonable Doubt and The Hurt Locker.

As a result of this experience, I went on to hone my skills writing over 25 screenplays and winning or placing in over fifty screenplay competitions. One of my most successful scripts was LOUISIANA BLOOD, an action thriller that placed or won in over 20 competitions alone and was highlighted by Scriptshadow blogger Carson, as one to watch. Louisiana Blood is now about to be published as my first novel.

Though comfortable writing in multiple genres I’m drawn to fast-paced action thrillers and feel that this is my natural speciality. After winning the competition to adapt Jessica Bendinger’s novel “The Seven Rays” into a screenplay, I realised that this was also a skill I could employ and enjoy.

I went on to win both the Thriller and Animation categories of the Indie Producer screenplay contest which resulted in my techno thriller SHADOW TRADE being optioned by L.A producer Kerry David (Cody Banks I & 2). My action thriller CRITICAL was a Finalist in Page International and semi-finalist at Nichols. My first TV Pilot THE DEMON BUREAU is sleeping at Warner Bros and got me representation.

Looking at this now it's obvious I also need editing...but the less you've done the more you overwrite!

Fast paced action thrillers...

Simon Kernick

Mark Dawson

Victor Methos

David Baldacci

Lee Childs

Chris Ryan

Just a few ideas

Hello everyone,
I'm excited to have joined this group. Although I have been a member of goodreads since the end of last year, I have had little time to make the most of joining in, so this is great for me, and the start of making new contacts and friends, I hope. I have just published my debut paranormal crime thriller, STORM LOG-0505, and I would welcome any questions and chats, and look forward to making acquaintances with you in the coming weeks and months.

I was a reporter, editor and news anchor in the Midwest and South for many years and my first book, When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery is reflective of the Mid-South in the 1970s. The sequel will involve a mystery set in the 1980s.
I live just outside Raleigh, NC.

Hariharan Iyer
Surpanakha
I am a finance professional by default and a writer by choice. Not content with just a rewarding corporate job, I took to writing a couple of years ago. I blogged on media and current affairs for a year before hitting on the idea for this novel.

You know what? I got the idea for my novel "Surpanakha", a political thriller, while reading the balance sheets of a few NGOs and corporates! An idea so powerful that it convinced the accountant in me that I could put together not just a balance sheet but an intriguing political thriller as well. Indian cinema over the last many decades has created many stereotypes— ‘Media crusades against anything bad’, ‘politicians are, without a doubt, evil’ and ‘human rights activists are God’s gift to earth’ to name a few. What if any of these stereotypes is wrong— What if a human rights activist, consumed by personal frustration, tries to bring down an elected government? What if media plays the role of pliable ally? What if a politician is a victim of circumstances?

Answers to these what ifs, my wife’s challenge to write a novel out of them and about nine months’ of labour produced Surpanakha.

I live with my wife in Dar es Salaam while my two sons are pursuing their ambitions in India.

My novel has been published recently.

Hello everyone,

Like so many others (i.e., John Grisham, David Baldacci, Steve Berry, Brad Meltzer, et al.), I'm an attorney turned writer. I differ with my esteemed colleagues, however, in writing a different type of thriller -- nonfiction. Make no mistake, though, as "INTO THE LION'S MOUTH: The True Story of Dusko Popov--WWII Spy, Patriot, and th Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond" is very much a thriller.

You can see the outstanding review of fellow Goodreads member, Ryan Steck (The Real Book Spy), here on Goodreads or on Ryan's site. My book is the only nonfiction thriller you'll see on his site, and he ranks it ahead of the recent releases of most of the thriller branded authors. Humbled by that.

Cheers,
Larry Loftis

Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov: World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond

I am the author of The Greek Island Mysteries book series.



Follow my books and found out more about me.
Feel free to add me as a friend, too!
Hugs from Greece!

Hi, I am following your series. We were lucky enough to visit Santorini, Athens and Mykonos many years ago so I am always anxious to read books, especially mysteries, that take me back to those wonderful memories and pictures. The last book I read was the Church Murders. I'll have to download your newest one.
Joann Greene from Pennsylvania.

Hi. I started my writing in Theatre with my own Pantomime script and much script doctoring for others. I especially loved writing original songs with rhyming lyrics.
More recently I am heavily entrenched in writing Thrillers of the Psychological and Crime variety, although my first book was a Contemporary romance (I keep this genre alive with short story books now).
If you had told me last year that I would be writing a Crime series I would have laughed and probably fallen off the chair, Dame style. Now, however. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
My poetry is alive and kicking too and I have been No 1 in the Scriggler.com poetry charts many times for which I am very thankful. My poems range from emotional/topical to humorous.
I hope I have given you a little insight into myself but I love questions and feedback, as soon as I get back onto the chair lol.
Have a fantastic day everyone!

Hi and welcome to new author members, please do take part in all the posts/threads

Here's me..

Born in Israel, father is israeli/Canadian, and half of the family in Canada & NY. I moved to London, UK about 6 years ago. My background is finance (BA, MBA), though i studies international relations as well and served in IDF (Sergeant Major), where I first encountered terror first hand (this is much implemented in my book).

Married, and a father of two small children (2years and 6months - so you can imagine exactly how much free time I have!!)
I work full time in the City of London in finance, so never had the time to fully commit. being an author was always my dream, this is the fifth try and the first to mature to an actual manuscript.
i used to draw comics as a teenager, but writing only came to me in recent years. I love thrillers, especially good espionage ones, and i read quite a lot on the daily commute.

This is the first attempt for me to get something out there. so hardly calling myself an "author" (not quite there).

Hi Everyone, I was born very young and was for a nanosecond the youngest person in the world. I was then trained in the middle of America by love and laughter and work. After successfully escaping the middle, I spent a dozen years working around the edges, moving like a gypsy moth; alternately seeking and then flying from the light. Met lust and lost it, found love and held on for dear life. Settled back in the middle for family and career, but am planning our next escape. Our children (trained by a master) have broken out of the middle. So each day brings love and I closer to the leaving. Tick, Tick, Tick...we can't wait. In the mean time I keep working and writing (The Hobo Kingdom series). I hope reading my stories is as much fun for you as writing them is for me.

Great to hear from you Dan. Interesting story...enjoyed reading. My bio is around here somewhere; go back to a little over a year ago :) or just click on my author profile. I'd love to chat; shoot me a message any time.

Hi, I write in a very narrow sub-genre (and may be the only one in it!)---narrative nonfiction espionage thriller. There have been many great espionage thriller writers--John LeCarre, Graham Green, and Ian Fleming, for example--but they are fiction writers. To keep pace in a nonfiction work requires a very special protagonist!

I don't think we are allowed to mention our book or books here, but my website is LarryLoftis.com, or RealJamesBond.com if that's easier to remember. Even though my current book (due out June 14) is nonfiction, I had a tremendous review--as a thriller--by a terrific thriller site, TheRealBookSpy.com (Ryan Steck, also a Goodreads member).

I focus on WWII espionage--partly out of interest, and partly because those files are now declassified. As British Director of Naval Intelligence Admiral John Godfrey (Ian Fleming's boss) once said, WWII offers more realistic and exciting episodes of action than any fiction writer can devise.

Before writing full time I was a corporate lawyer.

Look forward to discussions here!

Hello, I'm Manning Wolfe from Austin, Texas. I'm an author and attorney who published my debut legal thriller back in February and am currently working on more in the same series. Looking forward to interacting with y'all!

Manning wrote: "Hello, I'm Manning Wolfe from Austin, Texas. I'm an author and attorney who published my debut legal thriller back in February and am currently working on more in the same series. Looking forward t..."
Welcome, Manning. I released my first independent novel back in November 2014, and have self-published 2 more since. I try to keep up on here sometimes, but don't get to focus on it like I want. Good luck, and drop a line any time.

Hi, thank you for this opportunity and allowing me to be part of the group. I have recently self-published my debut psychological thriller, A Hole in Serenity. I only began writing in February 2015 so still have a lot to learn but cannot wait to start work on my second stand-alone thriller. Thanks again for having me, Mark.

Hi,
I never thought I'd end up authoring a book. And then another. Ahem... and another one to be released soon. I just knew I had a story that apparently waited for the right moment to break out.
For many years I'd been involved in law and business in few Eastern European countries, spending most of my time in Ukraine.
Witnessing the meteoric rise of a small number of individuals from modest citizens to mighty billionaires, I felt compelled to expose to the world the unique phenomenon taking place in this less familiar part of the globe. In the fictional plot of the Oligarch series I combine real and imaginary events with some 'lawyers' folklore' and known corruption and criminal schemes customary for Ukraine and other former USSR republics. I share some insight into the glorious and simultaneously tragic events of 2013 uprising in Ukraine resulting in ousting of the president, ensuing Russian aggression in Crimea and tensions and war in the Eastern regions of Ukraine. The imaginary characters are designed to reflect real behavior and mentality and provide decent entertainment for the readers.
Remember movies based on Bill Gates' and Mark Zuckerberg's biographies describing their path to wealth and glory? Although they were truly amazing, I think the rise of their Eastern billionaire peers is just a little more thrilling and unorthodox.
And what happens when tycoons struggle for supremacy? Well, I'm about to release my version rather soon...

Hello Everyone,

I've written a techno-thriller, and I'm working on another thriller set in Southeast Asia. I enjoy reading many different styles and genres. From Michael Crichton to Alice Munro. I also read a fair amount of nonfiction.

Nice to meet everyone. I'm glad to be here.

Hi, everyone. I was born in Jersey, then lived and worked as a graphic designer in Kent for decades before moving to Oldham in 2012, where I live alone writing, designing, and publishing my books full-time.

I've written and published ten books since 2007 in paperback and Kindle editions. Two are also audiobook versions. My first three books, A Slice of the Seventies, The Lying Scotsman, and Straws, are memoirs and form the Mug Trilogy. Potholes and Magic Carpets is a contemporary novel set in London and rural Kent.
Random Bullets is a paranormal crime thriller set in Jersey, Cornwall, Manchester, London, and places not of this world. It is my personal favourite.

I've also published a non-fiction book, Living with Postcards which can also be found on Amazon alongside all my other books. In February 2016, I published a collection of all my short stories to date called Her demonic Angel written in different genres. It is also available as an audiobook.

In April 2016, I published the first of a series of unusual paranormal thrillers called The Hostile. It's also available as an audiobook. Book two of The Hostile series is called Holiday for the Hostile. I published book three, The Hostile Game , in April 2017 and am currently writing book four, Confronting The Hostile.

Hi Everyone,

I am a technical manager by day and writer by night. I have published my debut fiction novel on 6/17. I have also experimented with fusing fiction and non-fiction on the same topic. I enjoy interacting with other writers in local writer clubs and also in goodreads.

I wrote the novel, "The Angel's Claw." We can forget our past but our past doesn't forget us! We go through life unconsciously attracting events, unaware the emotions connected to our past are the reasons we keep reliving it! The law of attraction is the bedrock of my book. This story is about an angel trap. a port hole to hell opens near Redden, demons crawl unseen into the countryside hunting an Angel Maker and the broken man he protects. The unimaginable evil that stalks this unlikely pair is hunted itself; by the limitless light they attract, if they don't run out of time!
Here's the link to my book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I've been a touring stand up comedian for 25 plus years. My 1st novel is based on the emotions (negative and positive) that I've attracted as a performer. I've found, what I feel and give, is what I get and feel. I've taken the 5 principles of stand up writing- mechanics that I teach and used them as the outline for my novel about karma. I've also used the laws of attraction as the bedrock for a story about Angels and demons. Angels protect a broken homeless man, giving him time to heal and claim his purpose. Legions of demons hunt this lost soul with a secret. He's the only person that can save humanity. Here's the link to my book. I appreciate any and all comments! Thank you for reading this.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Thank you for this amazing forum. I remember the moment I decided I was going to quit writing my book, The Angel's Claw. It was 3 in the morning, I walked out into the cold October night and said: "I'm done, I'm kidding myself, who do I think I am that I can write. I'm nobody I have no reasons to write." INSTANTLY a voice in me said, "you write for me." I froze, I thought someone was standing behind me! The vice said: "look up." I fought with myself, said I was crazy but finally gave in and looked up in an absolutely pitch black starless night. "There's nothing there." I said. The voice said: "keep looking." As I looked into dark space, I suddenly saw a faint glimmer of a star, then another and another. The voice said: "Paul, the more you look for me the more you will see me. You write for me." This is the link to my novel I finished because of this moment. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

All,
I'm a wee bit late to the meeting, folks, but better late than.... I have a bit of a problem pounding my own chest, so I 'll make this short. I've written 19 novels and 3 short story collections in the genres of thrillers, mysteries, and sci-fi, or combos thereof. I have a blog that's almost become a newspaper--op-eds about writing and other issues, book and movie reviews, author interviews, and an online newsletter, started out every week by my Monday words of wisdom from multiple sources, including yours truly. Stop by and visit the website sometime: http://stevenmmoore.com. BTW, I love comments to blog posts and/or emails discussing most any thing (keep it clean, though). I'm an introverted author whose social life is mostly internet-based! :-)
r/Steve

Welcome all

Hello authors and group members, so glad to be here. Interesting to see all the authors here and hope to 'meet' some of you at some point. I have only recently dared venture into the wider GR community, mostly have been sussing out how to put up book reviews :) getting more of a technophobe as time passes

Here's something about me - have been writing for ages and my first novel is coming out soon at long last (info further down).

Nature lover, poetry dabbler and intermittent insominac. Agnostic, maybe. A Londoner with Irish blood and Australian spirit. Not great first thing in the morning. Dreams about setting off on a long journey with a kindle-full of books. Married, no kids, one dog. EU supporter.

My debut novel Blind Side (a psychological thriller with mystery and romance set in London around the 7/7 terror attacks) is due out from the crowdfunding publisher Unbound on 28 July 2016.

I have a blog, jennieensor.com - comments on posts happily received! Will be doing some author guest spots soon, pls let me know if you're interested. Also I have a 'shed' over at the Unbound site https://unbound.com/books/blind-side with the latest book info, a video trailer, etc.

Jennie, sounds interesting will be checking it out.

Jennie,
I'd love to exchange interviews. From you to me? How soon will Blind Side come out? An interview on my blog, even one previous to release, could give it a boost here in the States. I can send you a list of suggested questions. From me to you? I think a lot of UK readers might like the international flavor of books in my catalog; Muddlin' Through and Aristocrats and Assassins are prime examples. I can work with your list of questions or use my own after you peruse them for suitability.
Contact me if interested: [email protected] (the latter URL is my website).
Best regards,
Steve Moore

Walter Kreucher was born and raised on the west side of Detroit in a house that his father and grandfather built. He attended Detroit Catholic Central High School when it was located on West Outer Drive. After high school he attended the University of Michigan where he received his Bachelors of Engineering in Materials and Metallurgy. He did his graduate work at the University of Detroit where he received a Masters in Business Administration majoring in Finance. He was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma a national honor society for Business School Graduates equivalent to Phi Beta Kappa for Liberal Arts.

He worked for over thirty years in the automobile industry in the environmental field where he specialized in providing technical support on legislation and regulation, including clean fuels and vehicle fuel economy. He has ghost written for Congressmen and Senators and has authored parts of legislation and regulation in these areas.

Now he is entering the next phase of his life as a fiction writer. I know what you are thinking writing for politicians is fiction. At least now he is calling it what it is.

Drone

Walter,
I read somewhere that writing for politicians was also frustrating. ;-) I think Clinton's (that's Mr. Hillary Clinton) speechwriters complained that he was always ad-libbing. Reagan's too (to make this bipartisan). In some ways, we've had a parallel career--I collected story ideas for decades but only 10+ years ago did I start publishing them. Those early decades were agonizing because my muses (banshees who discovered tasers) kept asking, "What good are all those ideas if you don't do anything with them?" :-) Bottom line: go for it, man!
r/Steve

Hi there guys!

I'm a freelance journalist based in London, England, who has spent the last 20 years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines.

I've written for publications including The Guardian's Guide and Guardian Online; OK! Magazine; Total Film; Empire; Q; GT; The Independent; Star; Reveal; Company; Daily Star and News of the World's Sunday Magazine.

My debut novel The Wronged Sons, was released in 2013 and in May 2015, I released my second book, Welcome To Wherever You Are.

Last week my third novel A Thousand Small Explosions, came out.

I find my novels hard to categorise but from what others say, even though all three are very different, they are all character-lead slow-burn psychological thriller types.

Hi,
I'm Kim Britt-Badman, and I'm a new independent author. My book - In the strictest Confidence is a suspenseful, psychological mystery.
I'm a married mother of two children. I'm interested in people, and like to listen more than I like to talk, which is why I trained and qualified as an integrative counsellor.
I've always been an avid reader of murder mysteries; Agatha Christie being a particular favourite.
If you want to know more about me please visit - http://www.KBritt-Badman.com

Hi, everyone. So glad to be here! Before I became a full-time writer, I worked in sales, finance, and high tech. I took an early retirement from the corporate world and haven't looked back since. I love reading mysteries and have written my own series. My author profile describes what I enjoy doing best these days:

Sandra Nikolai is the author of the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series, a blend of cozy mystery, crime thriller, and psychological suspense. Her two sleuths--a cautious ghostwriter and a daring investigative reporter--face thrilling challenges as they hunt down ruthless murderers and struggle to stay alive in the process!

You can learn more about my writing journey by visiting my website and blog at www.sandranikolai.com

Sandra,
Having a ghostwriter moonlight as a sleuth is interesting. I checked out ghostwriting once and found many of the jobs posted were from guys wanting someone to write porn and erotica for them. I know there are many ghostwriters who make a good living NOT doing that--hopefully your MC is one--but it seemed to me they already have the good jobs that are available.
r/Steve

Hi, Steve.
Megan Scott, the ghostwriter in my mystery novels, writes marketing materials, biographies, website copy -- all clean and often boring stuff. What drives Megan Scott into partnering with crime reporter, Michael Elliott, is a growing curiosity in his investigative work and the excitement it brings to her otherwise drab and orderly routine. I enjoy writing scenes where the mindsets and habits of these two characters conflict. Lots of fun!

Sandra,
Sounds like I should check it out. Always love a good mystery with interesting characters.
r/Steve

Welcome new author members,

please do take part in our very active threads.

Lorrea(WhatChaReadin'?) wrote: "Jennie, sounds interesting will be checking it out."

Jennie wrote: "Hello authors and group members, so glad to be here. Interesting to see all the authors here and hope to 'meet' some of you at some point. I have only recently dared venture into the wider GR commu..."

Hi Lorrea thanks for that - just a quick message to say that Blind Side is now up on Amazon UK, will be on Amazon.com in day or so. I'll add it to it on GR as soon as find out how.

Hi guys, I'm Jasmaine Payne.

I'm a Guyanese writer, blogger and journalist who believes that passion must be the utmost driver in all endeavours in life. I often say that writing is my passion and that it is the only biography I have.

Today, using descriptions such as my “sanity” and my “soul mate” to describe her relationship with writing, I've molded my career path along those lines so as to fulfill my passion. I hold a Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of London, I'm the Editor in Chief of the Miss World Guyana Magazine and am also a freelance writer for the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper. My website missjazmania.com was launched in November 2013 and aims at keeping the arts and the written world alive.

Most of all however, I'm currently working to fulfill my dream of becoming an author with the upcoming release of my first novel 'Leech' a thriller which explores themes such as existentialism and adverse morality. An excerpt of my novel is scheduled to be released in a few hours so I'll be posting it in the promotion section and hope to hear from you guys!!

Hi, I write YA Thrillers - a series called Sixty Minute Reads (does what it says on the tin)

I'm based in Sheffield, love my young family and climbing, and write in my (very thin on the ground) spare time.

Until I began this process, I never realised there were so many writers out there! Hello everyone!

Jasmaine wrote: "Hi guys, I'm Jasmaine Payne.

I'm a Guyanese writer, blogger and journalist who believes that passion must be the utmost driver in all endeavours in life. I often say that writing is my passion an..."

Welcome Jasmaine and Dave

Haha - not to burst your bubble or anything (it kind of did at first when I found out) but I found out at my writers conference this past week that Amazon puts out anywhere from 4800 to 5000 new titles EVERY DAY! Geeeeesh, talk about a lot of authors wanting to be heard, including myself.

Wow! That's a much bigger number than I would have thought!

Crazy huh? If I weren't so stubborn and set in my ways, that may be discouraging. But hey - I just will continue to make my ripple upon this great big pond!

Hi there 'Good Thrillers':
My name is Marianne Scott. I'm a Canadian author who has self published her first thriller novel, Finding Ruby. I'm so very excited to be a member of this discussion group. I'm retired (although the first person who calls me 'old' is going to wind up in a rather precarious situation in one of my novels). I'm now doing what I knew I always wanted to do, be a writer. Can you imagine? I spent my whole working life as a purchasing agent/material planner in the manufacturing industry (automotive). Although, I have to say, there was always lots of suspense, drama, and misdoings in that environment that gave good fodder for a story.
I'm currently writing the sequel to Finding Ruby which is a spy thriller. I have targeted it for completion early in 2017.
So- I'm just saying hello today and looking forward to many lively discussions about all things 'thrilling'.
Cheers
Marianne Scott

Welcome to the group.

I cannot wait to retire, to spend more time doing the things I want to do..

Some great busy threads here.

Love Canada.

Retirement is an 'age' thing; so please be careful for what you wish. LOL. But I'm starting to like retirement because it allows me time to write, which I truly love. I see you are from Great Britain. I love you folks as well.

I look forward to lots of good conversations.

Cheers to you Sean.
Marianne Scott
author Finding Ruby

Member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Sue Coletta is the author of Wings of Mayhem (Crossroad Press), MARRED (Tirgearr Publishing), The Rendering, Crime Writer's Research, and 60 Ways to Murder Your Characters.

A multi-published author in numerous anthologies, her forensics articles have appeared in InSinC Quarterly; her flash fiction in OOTG Flash Fiction Offensive, One Hundred Voices (Centum Publishing), and in the upcoming dark fiction anthology, RUN.

In addition to her popular crime resource blog, Sue's the communications manager for the Serial Killer Project and Forensic Science, and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter. You can learn more about Sue and her books at: www.suecoletta.com