Pilot Les Abend Discusses Why He Wrote PAPER WINGS

Les Abend’s new aviation thriller, PAPER WINGS, became available from WildBlue Press on March 7th! Order your copy today!

Except for the grey clouds that I might fly through on any given flight, as an airline pilot I deal with a world that is mostly black and white. Checklists. Procedures. Protocols. The cockpit is not an environment for a philosophical discussion. If an engine chooses to catch on fire, pilots are not apt to have an open conversation about the merits of shutting it down. We follow strict guidelines for flying the airplane and strict guidelines for handling the emergency.

In contrast to my pilot profession, writing affords me the opportunity to go outside the boundaries. And although I have been a contributing editor to an aviation magazine for many years providing insightful stories of my experiences, a novel allows me to simply create. I find the writing both exciting and challenging. It is a passion I have enjoyed since I stopped peeing in my diapers.

PAPER WINGS Is Now Available! Order Your Copy Today!

That being said, I wanted to write an entertaining story that appealed to readers of all interests but still provided insight to my airline pilot profession without bogging down in technical jargon. Although I do include a sprinkling of technical terms, they appear in context under the assumption that readers are intelligent enough to under stand their meaning.

This isn’t my first rodeo…so to speak. I wrote a novel that was never published…and for good reason. An agent took an interest and then passed on the book, but not without taking the time to offer some valuable advice. A piece of her advice was to write another book and consider the first novel as good practice. Once I licked my wounds, I was able to see the error of my ways. The agent was right.
In that regard, I wrote, “Paper Wings.” It is a much better product. Even if you’re not a pilot, the characters are relatable to anyone. The plot has a plausible scenario with some twists that keep you guessing. The dialog is peppered with realistic humor. And the pacing of the action will have you turning the pages.

Everybody enjoys a good suspense thriller or whodunit. I’ve just added airplanes to the mix. And I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it enough to continue reading the genre as a series. The series is intended as the Cold Case of airplane accidents. The main protagonist, Hart Lindy, will reappear. I’m sure that you’ll find him likable and unlikable all at the same time.

An airline pilot writing a novel? Try it. You might like it.