"Quite simply, king of the action thriller. Brilliant"

— Adam Croft, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

"Compelling from start to finish."

— Mark Dawson, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

“Your new favourite action-thriller author."

— Nick Thacker, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

 

1) What’s your name, and where are you from?

Edie Kaufman. Born in Montreal to a Quebecois-Jewish dad and Irish-Catholic mom, I grew up in Vancouver, Canada – otherwise known as Hollywood North. As an adult, I’ve lived in Toronto, London, Paris, and now Hamburg.

2) How and where did we meet?

We met in 2016 at the San Miguel de Allende Writer’s Conference – the very same setting for our book. I hung out with you and Leslie, enjoying writing and wine, having a ton of fun with the combined atmosphere of literature, learning, and liquor. We repeated the party in 2019.

3) Do you remember the first fiction you ever wrote? Could you tell us about it?

I was about 8 and had just returned from a 3-month VW van trip around Mexico with my hippy parents, younger brother, and grandmother. It opened my eyes to another culture’s language and ways, food, sweets, and warmth. The many lost-in-translation situations I had with Spanish-speaking children inspired my comedic stories and I wrote a ridiculous little story, hand-illustrated about these misunderstandings. In high school, due to an inspiring English teacher, Mr Henderson, I wrote two novels for English class. All hail supportive English teachers.

4) When did you know you wanted to write novels?

The short answer: in 2012 during a Master’s degree at Oxford. The long answer: I’d been studying with Canadian novelists, Lauren B. Davis and Joan Barfoot and got inspired by the long form again. I did an MSt in Creative Writing at Oxford and worked on what I envisioned to be ‘the most incredible story of all time, of all places’ (in my humble mind) with a great tutor who I eventually greatly disappointed and ended up shoving that ‘piece of perfection’ in the drawer. It still talks to me at night though, in a meek voice. Co-writing with you, Steven has helped get my writing mojo back. Thanks.

5) What writers do you admire, and why?

I admire writers who can meld literary fiction elements with genre: wonderful turns of phrases, strong character development and setting, and a kick-ass plot-driven story. My favourites are Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, Paula Hawkins, and Donna Tartt. Also, Canada’s literary queens: Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro. The darkness of Joyce Carol Oates, Michel Faber, and the gothic style of Michel Paver are also incredible.

6) What makes a good story, and do you have an example?

Character often eclipses everything else, whether they’re hero or villain. We’re all a mix of both. To this day I’m fascinated by Humbert Humbert in “Lolita” whose actions are despicable but fascinating. The puzzle of how someone ticks is alluring. I am drawn to unreliable narrators struggling to come to terms with their own actions and how others see them. “The Girl On The Train” takes its reader along for the journey with the protagonists’ unreliable, alcohol-soaked memory. Aspects of memory and trauma fascinate me. I’m currently reading ‘The Silent Patient’ by Alex Michaelides.

7) Do you have a favourite author/novel?

I’ve listed too many already, but I adore Margaret Atwood’s earlier fiction, “Surfacing” set in the alienating Canadian wilderness. Setting is key and can even be a character in story. Also, Alice Munro’s small-town chronicles are both minute and epic. Magic. Agatha Christie and locked-room mysteries are still a guilty pleasure and I loved Lucy Foley’s recent “The Guest List” set on a remote Irish island during a doomed wedding ceremony.

8) What are we working on together?

We’re working on a thriller trilogy called Festivals of the Dead set in Mexico. Book one is: “Day of the Dead”, in your hometown of San Miguel de Allende – which mingles a traditional death celebration with a contemporary human sex trade implicating the highest government officials. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat true to life and my research has disturbed me. It’s been a great experience collaborating with you on this, Steven. Such a joy.

9) Why should people check out our series?

Readers who love fish-out-of-water stories – of regular people out of their element, pitted against organized crime will love our series. A kick-ass heroine with a stubborn addiction to justice. Day of the Dead plays out in a UNESCO world wonder – a majestic setting with intriguing characters and the seedy travesty of the contemporary human slave trade. The colourful and macabre clashes with twisty suspense and a puzzle of a plot.

10) Could you tell us a little about our main character?

Mig Comacho, a young Mexican woman is a talented, eager reporter determined to save her local newspaper from bankruptcy in California. By stepping out of her comfort zone, she investigates the brutal murders of businessmen during Mexico’s Day of the Dead Festival and uncovers a link to an underage sex trade. In San Miguel de Allende, she’s drawn into a web of vigilantes, stolen girls, and rotten government officials. Intrepid and dogged, Mig is driven by family guilt at the loss of her father, and a fiery justice for the lost girls, all the while trying to protect her beloved aunt and boss. As determined as she is though, can she survive the personal threat that lures her into this hell?

11) Aside from our collaboration, what other projects are you working on?

I’m finishing edits on “The Smoking Dog”, a psychological suspense between a drama student and a terrorist set in the east end of London in the mid-90s. I’m also writing ghost stories.

12) Where can people find you online?

www.goodreads.com/user/show/123017280-edie-kaufman www.facebook.com/kaufmanwrites/ @random.hamburg on Instagram

It’s been a great experience working with you, Steven and I admire both your writing and your person. Thanks for including me on this adventure.

1) What’s your name, and where are you from?

Jerry Holliday writing fiction as Jay Tinsiano. Born in Ireland and brought up in the rural flatlands of Lincolnshire. Then, my mother and I moved to Bristol, where I’ve been based between travels ever since.
 
2) How and where did we meet?

London Book Fair 2019. I think I introduced myself as an SPF’er (Follower of Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula).We were also both getting cover design kudos from Stuart Bache and got to hang out with a load of cool indie authors. It’s been an incredible year and our collaboration just goes to show what comes of putting yourself out there, in terms of networking.

3) Do you remember the first fiction you ever wrote? Could you tell us about it?

9-years old at an interview for a new school. I was asked to write a short story to, I now assume, test my imagination or something. All I remember is my story involved a tall stranger knocking on a door in a storm and staring down at the inhabitant with dark eyes. The teacher was impressed and I was allowed into the school. Big mistake! ;)
 
4) When did you know you wanted to write novels?

After reading the Godfather when I was twelve or thirteen, although I didn’t know it at that time. I was preoccupied with writing and drawing comics for fifteen years, but that did finally dovetail nicely into fiction writing. I started my first short novel while in Thailand in 1991, which eventually became False Flag twenty years later!

5) What writers do you admire, and why?

Oh there are so many. Firstly, I love the craft of Mario Puzo, the author of the Godfather and other Mafioso inspired epics, John Le Carre for the subtle finesse of his wordcraft. Nicholas Stansbury Smith for his pulpy sci-fi grit. Throw in M.R. Carey for the atmospheric edginess of ‘Girl with all the Gifts’ for icing on the cake.
 
6) What makes a good story, and do you have an example?
Firstly, let’s stick with The Godfather. Great characters. The Don, Michael, Sonny! The vying for power (shades of King Lear) against the backdrop of the post war years and the rise of Michael Corelone, from disinclined war veteran to ruthless saviour of the Corleone crime family. Puzo does a great job of endearing the reader to the Don, a ruthless killer. Pure class.

I also love good pulp sci-fi/horror. Enjoying Tim Lebbon’s take on the Aliens franchise and as aforementioned Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Extinction series. The hook is the unseen monster(s), the setting of an abandoned mine, spaceship or underground laboratory and you just know it’s all going to go to shit. It’s the kind of bated anticipation that I love. You’re gripped by the character journeys and that, for me makes great stories.

7) Do you have a favourite author/novel?

Again, The Godfather. So many facets including a great backstory of epic proportions. There was something about the gravitas of this epic saga of a powerful mafia family that really resonated with me. The fact that it spans decades and has the added bonus of at least two great films that perfectly compliment Puzo’s original.
 
8) What are we working on together?

Ark! An apocalyptic mega-virus series set on a luxury cruise ship during a pandemic. It’s close to current events, perhaps too close.

The first few paragraphs of the synopsis sets the scene:

For the passengers of the Sapphire Star their luxury cruise is about to turn into the worst nightmare imaginable. A pandemic spreads across the entire world in the form of an aggressive and highly contagious strain of the Coronavirus: MKIICoV-2020

On board, hundreds of passengers succumb to the deadly virus, including the Captain. The crisis mounts with nowhere to dock, an overwhelmed medical staff and the collapse of order in the face of chaos.

 
9) Why should people check out our series?

The series is for fans of Apocalyptic Survival Thrillers. I’m hoping we have created a series readers won’t be able to get enough of. Besides the main theme of the human condition and survival in a contained environment there will be plenty of characters with agendas, devious sub plots and back stabbing.

10) Could you tell us a little about our main character?

Craig Nicholls is on an anniversary cruise with his wife, Shelly. He’s a resilient and dependable character who finds himself in the frontline of a terrible situation that will test him to the max. At home he works for Public Health Laboratories in England and this gives him some insight into the spread of the virus although he soon finds the disease ravaging the world is the least of his immediate problems.

There are also some great secondary characters worth mentioning. His wife, Shelly has a phobia about germs. She is definitely in the wrong place and Donnie Manson is a character you’ll love to hate.

 
11) Aside from our collaboration, what other projects are you working on?

I’m currently working on book 3 (Black Horse) of the Dark Paradigm series with Jay Newton. It’s a complex conspiracy thriller series turning apocalyptic, that spans almost a century.

 
12) Where can people find you online?

www.jaytinsiano.com is a great start or @jaytinsiano on FB and Twitter.
 
Thanks for your great answers, Jerry,. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be working with you on our exciting series.
 

1. What’s your name, and where are you from?

Luke. From Nottingham in England.

2. How and where did we meet?

We met in a pub one evening after the London Book Fair. I didn’t know anyone, had already necked about three pints and saw Steve at the bar. It just so happened that I’d just finished reading one of his books and joined his Facebook group, so I recognised him. So, glass in hand, and possibly slurring a little, I introduced myself.

3. Do you remember the first fiction you ever wrote? Could you tell us about it?

I remember writing some short pieces when I was a teenager. Fortunately, I can’t remember what they were about and I’m relatively sure they don’t exist anymore – which is a good thing for the world of literature as they were no doubt classic teenage angst-filled, self-absorbed ramblings. I think I’ve got more fun with age. I hope so anyway.

Fast-forward about fifteen years, in 2017 I started taking writing seriously. Just short stories to start with. Some of these, as with my teenage writing, will never see the light of day, others though have made their way into my novels. One of my early short stories was called ‘The Story of the Himalayan Lamb’ and has formed the basis of my first novel, Kathmandu.

4. When did you know you wanted to write novels?

I’ve always loved stories, but it was travelling through India that made me first want to write my own. I remember clearly, the sun had just risen as we flew across the tarpaulin tint of the slums to land at Mumbai airport. The taxi journey that followed was one of the most incredible of my life. I watched the city unfold like a story. People washing, children playing, chickens, cows, goats, all beside an eight-lane motorway. It’s a trip I’ll never forget. The city was so different from my own and opened my mind to new worlds, new experiences, which I knew I needed to share.

But that was in 2011 and on getting back to the UK I bought a house, got a proper job and forgot about writing all together. Then in 2017 I made the commitment to start writing regularly – almost every day. I knew that if I didn’t find the time somehow, I would never do it. At that point I had no idea how to write a novel, let alone get it out in the world. But I sat down and wrote for about 45 minutes every day, and five months later had a very early draft of my debut novel.

5. What makes a good story, and do you have an example?

For me a good a story must transport the reader somewhere. This could be (as in many of the stories I love) to a different place in the world, or to a world of the past, or a world that never existed. But it’s that transportation that keeps me opening the book again.

6. Do you have a favourite author/novel?

I know this is one of Steven’s favourites too, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. This is a brilliant example of a novel that transports.

Some people say parts of it are true, others say it’s all a load of rubbish, but you know what, I don’t care. It’s a fantastic, emotive, explosive story that takes you across the world to a life you never imagined. It’s beautiful, heart-breaking, poetic and… well it’s just fantastic.

If you’ve not read it drop me an e-mail. I buy a copy every time I see one in charity shops, so I have loads. I even bought one from a bar owner in a Chinese provincial town. I was so surprised to see it on a shelf of Chinese fiction, I just had to have it straight away.

7) What are we working on together?

We’re working on the story of a fearsome young lady called Natalie Kaye. First appearing in Steven’s ‘Shadow of Kailash’ (which is my favourite of his books so far), Natalie was doing some travelling through Asia when she was kidnapped by a group of people traffickers. Bad luck for them as she’s a kick-ass Tae-Kwon-Do black belt, with a ruthless sense of right and wrong and a passion for revenge.

In the first book of our series, Set You Free, she goes home to Sydney but realises that some demons just can’t be escaped. Struggling to fit back into suburban life, Natalie finds herself embroiled in the disappearance of a young girl. Natalie’s sure she saw the girl at the airport and is convinced the police aren’t doing enough. Sure, it’s none of her business, she could just leave the authorities to do their job – but that’s not Natalie’s way at all.

8) Why should people check out our series?

If you love powerful female characters with a cast iron sense of right and wrong, then you’ll love it. Natalie is a woman who never takes no for an answer and fights for good like she has nothing to lose.

As you can probably tell I’ve really enjoyed being part of it.

10) Aside from our collaboration, what other projects are you working on?

I’m currently going through the edits for the second in my Leo Keane series. This one takes place and will be called Hong Kong - that’s right, all the books are named after the places they’re set.

The series follows a guy called Leo who, at the start of the first book, is an out of work journalist, struggling to come to terms with his anxieties and totally dedicated to his girlfriend. The only problem, his girlfriend went missing on a Thai island two years ago and hasn’t been seen since.

11) Where can people find you online?

You can find out all about me, and download a free short story called ‘The Music of the City,’ in which we meet one of the characters from Kathmandu on my website:

www.LukeRichardsonAuthor.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/lukerichardsonauthor

1) What’s your name, and where are you from?

My name is David Berens and I’m from Marietta, Georgia (North of Atlanta, Georgia)

2) How and where did we meet?

I met Steven through a few Author groups on Facebook and became a fan of his Hiram Kane series. I eventually trusted him with the editing of my Troy Bodean series.

3) Do you remember the first fiction you ever wrote? Could you tell us about it?

My first fiction was a book called Dragon Reign. It was loosely based on some fantasy role-playing that a few friends and I did in high school and into college.

4) When did you know you wanted to write novels?

I didn’t really find the passion for writing longer works until I wrote Dragon Reign. Once people began to read and enjoy it, I knew I wanted to write novels.

5) What writers do you admire, and why?

I like Stephen King for his amazing detail and ability to write character-driven horror and thriller novels. And I love Carl Hiaasen for his zany Florida Fiction which is almost always more about character than plot.

6) What makes a good story, and do you have an example?

A good story is one that keeps you turning pages regardless of any other obligations you have. I recently read The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and literally could not put it down before I reached the conclusion.

7) Do you have a favourite author/novel?

Oh, that’s a tough one. I probably would have to say Carl Hiaasen and I enjoyed his book Skin Tight the most. Whenever I’m looking for a new book to read, I almost always check to see if he has something new out.

8) What are we working on together?

Steven and I are working on a spinoff series from my Troy Bodean series that features Troy’s brother Ryan. They have a more action/adventure style and will have a slightly less zany feel than the Troy books do.

9) Why should people check out our series?

I have to say, I’ve worked harder on this new series than anything else to date. I want them to be as good or better than any traditionally published books by action/adventure greats like Clive Cussler or James Rollins.

10) Could you tell us a little about our main character?

Ryan Bodean is a man who has run into some hard times. He’s on the brink of losing everything, his job, his home, his plan when suddenly, an incredible discovery comes along that might change everything in a HUGE way.

11) Aside from our collaboration, what other projects are you working on?

I’m currently writing with 4 other authors on various projects, but my main focus right now is getting a 7th Troy Bodean tropical thriller done.

12) Where can people find you online?

www.tropicalthrillers.com is home to all of my projects.

I can also sometimes be found at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBerens/

Thanks for your great answers, David. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be working with you on our exciting series.

1) What’s your name, and where are you from?

Dusty Sharp, straight outta Cali! Born and raised in Southern California. But I live in the un-glamorous section of inland Southern California.

2) How and where did we meet?

I don’t remember exactly when, but it was from traveling in the same circles on social media, being in some of the same indie author groups and promos together. And we’re also both SPF alumni.

3) Do you remember the first fiction you ever wrote? Could you tell us about it?

I don’t remember exactly what it was, as I used to write a lot as a kid. Very little of those early works still exist. They were mostly just small snippets and short stories. I would write them to help me deal with whatever emotional issues I was going through at the time. But there is one short story that I wrote while I was in college (1990 or so), that I still had an old Word document for. Last year I dusted it off and started offering it to my email subscribers as a bonus. So my earliest existing work is almost thirty years old.

4) When did you know you wanted to write novels?

Ever since I discovered Stephen King, as a kid in the late 70’s. I thought “I want to do that”. But it had always been sort of a fantasy and not a real goal. Back then I knew about what a pain in the ass it was to get a book deal and I didn’t want to deal with it. Years later, when independent publishing became a thing, I was too immersed in my career to notice. And then one day I read that one of my favorite authors, Steve Berry, was 48 when he published his first book. I was then 47, and I’d realized that quite a few of the authors I had been reading were indies, so I decided to go ahead and start, with a goal of publishing my first book while I was still 48, to match Steve Berry. I ended up publishing the first two books that year.

5) What writers do you admire, and why?

Stephen King is my all time favorite. Not so much for his story telling, but for how immersive his writing is. He is the definition of “show, don’t tell.” I’ve worked hard to emulate that quality in my own books. Also Lee Child, for his depiction of action sequences and also his economy of words. He gets right to the point and keeps you in the action without too much extraneous text. I’ll include Steve Berry too, for his ability to put the reader into exotic locations with an intriguing story. I read his books with an iPad in my other hand because there’s always so much great information in there that I like to look up in more detail, or go on Google Maps to see the area and terrain for myself.

6) What makes a good story, and do you have an example?

The age old definition of good literature is that it both instruct and delight. I like to add that I enjoy a story that has good characters who either grow over the course of the story, or our understanding of them evolves. Plots need to be tight, or if they’re complex, well done. But it’s the characters that grab me. The best example that comes to mind for me, in recent media, would be the television show The Haunting of Hill House. That was an awesome piece of story telling.

7) Do you have a favourite author/novel?

Stephen King. It's hard to single out one book, but if I had to, I’d say The Stand.

8) What are we working on together?

The Alexandria Ridley thrillers. In the Hiram Kane timeline, they are set in between The Shadow of Kailash and The Feathered Serpent. They feature Hiram Kane’s girlfriend Alexandria Ridley, along with Natalie Kaye, who was introduced in The Shadow of Kailash. These two women go on a crusade to take down human trafficking rings, beginning with the one that ensnared Natalie Kaye, and later Alex Ridley, during the events of Shadow of Kailash. The first book is set in Mumbai, India, with the following two books planned for Morocco and Italy.

9) Why should people check out our series?

I think current readers of both of our main series will find more of what they love within these pages, along with discovering something new. For the Hiram Kane series fans, they will get to know Alex Ridley more intimately. We’ll be taking her down some dark paths, stress-testing her in new ways to see how she reacts. For my Austin Conrad fans, they will get a chance to enjoy my gritty writing style but in a more exotic setting than they’re used to, with colourful new characters they will love. For both sets of readers, it will introduce them to the other author’s books, writing and storytelling styles.

10) Could you tell us a little about our main character?

Alexandria Ridley is, as mentioned, Hiram Kane’s girlfriend/fiancé. She’s tough, smart, and beautiful. But she’s not quite flawless. I’m writing her stories as sort of a “coming out,” in other words, giving her the opportunity to assume her own identity rather than being Hiram Kane’s constant shadow. Along the way we discover that, despite her love and respect for Hiram, she’s not a carbon copy of him. She focuses more on results than means, meaning that she isn’t afraid to break a few eggs to make the omelette. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, as her methods can sometimes be cruel to those who get in her way. But her love for Hiram, her growing admiration for Natalie, and her determination to exterminate the human traffickers keep her motivated.

11) Aside from our collaboration, what other projects are you working on?

This is my only current collaboration, though I’ve been talking with Nick Thacker and we may do something together in the future. Currently, I’m dedicating all of my writing time to the Alex Ridley books. But waiting in the wings are the continuation of my Austin Conrad series, as well as a spin-off series featuring his cousin Henry Stone, which will lean more toward action-adventure than thriller, with historical and archaeological elements. I also have a completely unrelated “post-apocalyptic-western--fantasy” series planned out.

12) Where can people find you online?

My website: https://www.dustysharp.com

My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dustintaylorsharp/

Thanks for your great answers, Dusty. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be working with you on our exciting series.