Do you think us writers are just a little bit weird? You wouldn’t be the first. We spend hours behind a keyboard figuring out how best to torture dozens of people who don’t actually exist. It’s no wonder that many writers turn to alcohol to cope with the horrors they’ve put on the page. But don’t worry about me, alcohol is not my problem. Like many sober authors, I’m addicted to story. And there’s no denying that God made me this way. So … [Read more...]
Setting Spotlight: Costa Rica
One of the biggest perks an author gets is visiting the location where a novel is set. For Book Two in the Earth Hunters series, Created, I had to hunt for the perfect location. The plot required several special conditions for the setting: Plenty of room for a mysterious dinosaur-like creature to run around and cause trouble, yet stay hidden. A volcano and jungle close to each other so I could bring together my main characters, … [Read more...]
Is it Wrong to Manipulate Human DNA Like It’s Computer Code?
What makes us human beings? My 3rd grader could give the correct scientific answer—DNA. It gives all of our cells instructions and makes each of us individuals. Based on my heritage, I have blue eyes, brown hair that started going gray in my twenties, skin that tans easily, and a second toe that is slightly longer than my big toe (My sister and I used to tell our friends it was a sign of royalty. I think they might have even believed … [Read more...]
Janice Boekhoff: One Writer’s FAQ
When people find out I’m an author, I get two reactions. One: “Wow, that’s great!” Followed by many questions of what and how I write. Two: “Oh.” Followed by a subtle eye roll and somewhat condescending questions about how easy it must be to use my writing to get rich without doing much work. Thankfully, the first reaction is much more common, so I thought I would write up the answers to the questions I’m most often asked. That way the … [Read more...]
LOCKOUT’s John Nance: Where Have All The Pilots Gone?
For all my career as an airline pilot (Braniff International, 1975-May 12, 1982, 4:34 PM; and Alaska Airlines, 1985 2005) I’ve heard the breathless rumor that a pilot shortage was just around the corner–and it never was. Until now. Today, for various reasons (some of them complex, and some of them due to the gross misunderstanding of those we jokingly refer to as a Congress), we do in fact have a genuine shortage of professional pilots … [Read more...]
Les Abend: Can An Airline Pilot Really Be Creative?
Let’s be honest. Airline pilot is not a profession that screams creativity. We’re perceived more as left-brain people. And quite frankly, our passengers want a left-brain person at the pointy end of the airplane. Passengers want their airline pilots to all be Chesley Sullenberger’s. I understand. Pilots themselves want their fellow crewmember to be left-brain people. We can certainly do without the emotions of a left-brainer dominating in the … [Read more...]
Pilot Les Abend Discusses Why He Wrote PAPER WINGS
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 … [Read more...]
Les Abend’s PAPER WINGS Featured In Flying Magazine!
An excerpt from Les Abend's upcoming aviation thriller, PAPER WINGS, was featured in Flying Magazine on December 15th, 2016! Abend is a veteran airline pilot and aviation analyst whose writing has frequently appeared in the hit magazine over the last 15 years. Check out the article here! PAPER WINGS is now available from WildBlue Press! Order your copy today! “Wow! Les Abend’s PAPER WINGS rockets through a beautifully intricate plot – a … [Read more...]
LOCKOUT’s John J. Nance Discusses How He Comes Up With His Bestselling Book Plots
As an author whose stock in trade is telling exciting stories and, hopefully, keeping you up past midnight (the way a great thriller always keeps ME flipping pages till dawn), I love it when you guys are interested enough in the backstage machinery to ask how I come up with plots like LOCKOUT. I could be flippant and say it takes a lot of scotch and cigars sitting on the back deck, but in reality, it’s more of an orderly procedure. First, I … [Read more...]
Romantic Suspense Author Janice Boekhoff Gives Six Humorous Writing Dos and Don’ts
Have you ever wondered how writers endure hours of solitude, 1,001 rejections, a myriad of bad reviews, and even worse insecurities? The not-so-surprising answer is humor. If we didn’t laugh at this writing life, we would go crazy. So, here are some humorous dos and don’ts to lighten up the writing life and help those of you who don’t write to understand what makes writers just a little bit different. 1. Don’t shred your first rejection … [Read more...]
