Emergency Powers by James McCrone

10/3/2020

Multi-volume, political-thriller author, James McCrone introduces us to his newest volume of the Imogen Trager series, “Emergency Powers”:
The accidental president is no accident.

When the president dies in office, FBI Agent Imogen Trager knows that the conspiracy she chased down a blind alley still has life in it-and she needs to get back in the hunt. The old case may be the key to stopping a brutal, false flag terrorist attack meant to finalize the new puppet president's grip on power. Imogen doesn't know it yet, but she's running out of time.

As bodies pile up and leads go cold, the main target from that old case reaches out to her. He's still at large, and now he needs protection. Imogen doesn't trust him, and it's not only because he's offering intel that sounds too good to be true. He's already tried to kill her once.

Set variously in DC, Seattle and small-town America, Emergency Powers is a story of corruption and redemption, achieved at enormous personal cost, with a ripped-from-the-headlines urgency: a fractious FBI, an undermined Attorney General, powerful people using all manner of treachery to maintain their hold on power. But it's more than headlines about things people think they know. And darker.

This is such a good book! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
McCrone has a keen eye for detail, his plotting is so good! I was sorry when I reached the end of the story, it was such good reading. A very satisfying ending, I might add.
All the steps necessary to uncover the plot to control the presidency are amazing. So many disparate pieces that fit together with unbelievable precision at the end.
There is so much I loved about this book, the characters, even minor players come across with depth, they seemed so real. The dialogues are very organic and the characters to live and breathe. Settings and action are commendable, all of these elements working so well together adds up to a wonderful book to read.
The best and worst part of this story is how real it seemed. I worry that it could come true.
I give “Emergency Powers” a score of 5 stars!

You can buy this book:
https://amazon.com/Emergency-Powers-James-McCrone-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-emergency-powers
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/emergency-powers-james-mccrone
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/jamesmccrone4
https://www.facebook.com/FaithlessElector/
http://jamesmccrone.com/

I have reviewed the previous book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/dark-network

Tags:
thriller, politics, political thriller, mystery, suspense, action, FBI, espionage, procedural, justice
Copyright © 2020 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

49 Comments

James McCrone link

10/4/2020 10:52:17 am

Thanks, Mark! You really zeroed in on the importance of the characters, and thus, the stakes in this book.

Mark Schultz

10/4/2020 11:43:32 am

You are welcome. I enjoyed reading it.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

10/4/2020 12:01:52 pm

A number of people have asked about my character's (FBI Agent Imogen Trager) feeling of isolation in her job, and I have to admit that some of it comes from me and my experience growing up.
We moved around a lot when I was growing up--North Carolina to WI, to IA, to Seattle, with two years spent in the UK--all in my first 15 years. I treasure all those experiences, but they do tend to give you distance. You're perennially the "new kid." People aren't quite sure how to receive you--who are you, where did you come from, why are you here, now?
The experience inculcates a wary watchfulness, a distance. Imogen is a bit like that. (A bit like me.) She has only a few friends, but she's fiercely loyal to them.

Mark

10/4/2020 01:18:46 pm

Moving has been a part of my experience growing up also. I have lived up and down the west coast states. As a child and as an adult.
My wife and I are native Oregonians, but we met and married in San Francisco. Each of our three children were born in a different west coast state also.
Connections don't always come easy.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
If you are, how long have you been a full-time writer, and how much time did it take you to make the transition from part time?

10/4/2020 05:28:17 pm

I've been writing full time for a little over a year. I may go back to the work world (and indeed that was my plan before "all this" happened). For now, I treat writing like a job. I'm sitting at my writing table by 9am each morning, Mon to Fri. I do emails, respond to requests, etc., and then spend from about 11 until 5 writing. Ideally, I try for 1,000 words (4 pages), but that's not always possible, unfortunately. I'm almost done with the first draft of my next thriller, and I'm excited to get back to it--set in Scotland this time! (This week, obviously, has been taken up by Emergency Powers.)

10/4/2020 05:47:00 pm

I think that is a good plan. Making writing a regular part of your work day or week is a good foundation for success. I have heard it said that the muse is a lot like a faucet, nothing comes out until you turn it on.
I will ask you about the new book later.
New questions.
How long have you been writing fiction?
Are you in the writing business for love of writing or for money?

10/4/2020 06:53:47 pm

I've written stories since childhood. I'd keep notes about things that had happened--someone on the bus talking to himself, a fight on the playground, something my parents talked about that I didn't understand--and I'd look at it, wondering where in the story I had come in. Was I seeing the beginning, middle or end? Quite often, even as young as seven or eight, I'd write out something to place the event I had seen.
Stories are the way I make sense of the world. I like getting paid for writing, but I'd do it (have done it!) for nothing but pleasure (if that's the word for it, ha ha!) because it's who I am and how I process what's going on.
I'm still a little bit like that kid. I want to know why something happened and what will happen next. And so I write it down...

10/4/2020 07:17:42 pm

You are a born writer and it sounds like you don't have a lot of choice about whether to write or not. Your choice is what should I write about? You are not the first writer that has said that. I think you are lucky to have that means to work through issues around you. We all have that kid inside of us, I think.
New questions.
What kind of work did you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.
Does your past work, since you are retired, have any influence on your writing?
What inspired you to write this series of books?

10/5/2020 10:07:01 am

Thanks, Mark! I worked for non-profit economic development corps, in affordable housing and later commercial corridor/downtown development. I had a lot of interaction with local government officials, and it really emphasized for me that ALL government is local. Certainly, that's how it's experienced.
I've always been fascinated with politics writ large and small. I'm particularly interested in what lies behind headlines and official explanations. Of course, not everything is a conspiracy, but still the thinking, the interests that go into political decisions is fascinating.
This series of books (and they can be read as stand-alones--there's no homework required!) were originally inspired by my interest in how we elect the president here in the US. When I first heard about the Electoral College when I was 12 years old or so, I thought it was crazy. My father, a political science professor (retired), planted the seed of the story--the "What if?"
The 2000 election told me I was really onto something...that not only was it a good story, but that the stakes were sky high. It's been fun--dare I say, thrilling?--to put my protagonist, Imogen Trager in ever-increasingly dire situations as the conspiracy unfolds, first in the Electoral College (Faithless Elector),then in Congress (Dark Network) and finally, in the new Emergency Powers, within the White House itself.

10/5/2020 10:42:14 am

You have more experience with government, without actually being on the inside, than most people. Our youngest daughter's father-in-law has held a similar position for a number of years in a nearby town.
The goals of
American political goals are to protect the interests of all people involved and have many rules to prevent overreach and undue influence. The personal interests of the people holding positions within government constantly push against these boundaries at all levels. The selfish and controlling nature of most people are why our system is replete with checks and balances, including the electoral college.
What if...? So many books are based on those two words. I have enjoyed Dark Network and now Emergency Powers quite a bit. I think I need to go back and read Faithless Elector.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

10/5/2020 10:58:35 am

I'm glad you like the cover! Daniela Medina has designed all three. For this one, I talked about the book, about how the code-named Postman, the grey eminence behind everything, regards himself as like a grand chess master. She came up with the pawn and the shadow of a king--a pawn that thinks it's a king...which is a big part of what the story is about.
Emergency Powers should be a cautionary tale even for bad guys :) If you seek power by dismantling the scaffolding of government, what kind of power do you think you'll really have?

10/5/2020 11:25:48 am

My eye was drawn to the pawn and then traveled to the top of its shadow, I thought it was quite good. The pawn thinks it's a king. There are always those who think they can subvert the will of the people.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

10/5/2020 11:45:04 am

I went through a couple of working titles. Originally, I wanted "Consent of the Governed," but there was a recent thriller of the same name, and I wanted to avoid confusion. With that not available, I really flailed for a while. I used "Who Governs" as a w/t, but that felt too academic for a thriller.
The character of Frank Reed is the key to everything in this story, so for a while it was titled "Get Reed." But that was a bit obscure.
I finally hit on Emergency Powers, because, like Reed, it's the key to everything.
You also asked about character names. They're strange. Sometimes a name just flows out--Nettie Sartain was one such. But most of the time, my working draft is filled with asterisks and things like "**badguyname1" or "**new-agent2" because as I'm writing, I don't want to stop the story flow while I go over and over what someone's name is/should be. I fill them in over the subsequent drafts (the asterisks make them easy to find in the search function. Through that process, often by the second draft, I'm more familiar with them, and the name is easy.
Last names are difficult, and so I watch credits at the end of movies, and write down last names. Sometimes I just take street names. Anyone living in or familiar with South Philly is going to be annoyed with me! :)

10/5/2020 12:16:43 pm

I have similar stories from other authors, choosing titles and names can be difficult. With a million books published every year, the chance of similar titles is huge.
I love your idea of name placeholders, that works quite well. Some authors use websites for popular baby names by year or decade to use or eliminate certain names.
Your comment about South Philly street names made me laugh!
New questions.
Your book is available as an e-book and a paperback. Are you planning any other formats?
This is your third book on Amazon. What is the status of your next book and what is it about?

10/5/2020 02:14:19 pm

I hope those living in Philly will be as charitable about my liberal use of names! :)
Yes, it's available in paperback and ebook, and I'm looking into audio, but haven't decided yet. It's brand new territory for me, and I want to make sure I get it right.
My next book is set in Scotland and...well, I'd better keep the rest of it under wraps for now. I hope it'll be out by the end of next year, or early '22.
You'll be one of the first to know about, Mark!

10/5/2020 06:07:55 pm

Audio has been exploding around the world for several years now. There are many countries where English is the official language, and many more where English is taught as a second language. A lot of these countries have millions of users on the internet, but only through a smart phone. So an audio book is an ideal form of consumption. Listening to audio books can help them with their English speaking skills also.
During the interview for a book, Heir to a Prophecy by Mercedes Rochelle, she brought the voice actor into our review. He gave a lot of good information about the topic. Put his last name, Green, in the search box below and the listing will be at or near the top.
Plus there are a lot of excellent blogs and podcasts about audio books. Put audio in the search box, you will get lots of results.
The Scottish accent is fairly tricky. I am looking forward to that.
New questions.
Every genre's fans have expectations about what they are going to want to read. Fans of cozy mysteries have a set of expectations that can differ greatly from the expectations of fans of hard-boiled murder mysteries.
What expectations do fans of your genre have in mind, when you think of political action thriller?

10/5/2020 06:20:54 pm

It's a good question. I think they expect action, suspense, secrets, lies, double-crosses, and they want to have confidence in the protagonist; that s/he can navigate these treacherous waters; that the protag has what it takes.
Within that--or should that be "alongside?"--the story and the scenario have to be credible: could this really happen?
There are also, I think, a number of subgenres or categories. There's 1) the hero, who's an expert marksman, ninja warrior (James Bond), and then there's
2) more the patient detective who's working to figure it all out. Both, of course, are operating against a ticking time-bomb, whether literally or metaphorically.
I like both categories, but of the two, I prefer the tense detective work, the slow build that gathers momentum and threatens to go berserk destroying everything.

10/5/2020 06:38:13 pm

James Bond has been such an enduring character, nearly iconic. He came out of books and onto the big screen. Thank you, Ian Fleming and company.
The procedural is a popular subset of the genre. I like it quite a bit because it's fascinating to follow alongside as different pieces of a puzzle are found and try to fit them together to see the big picture. You nailed it, a long, slow burn and so delicious!
New questions.
I noticed that you didn’t put your book in Kindle Unlimited. Why is that?
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

10/5/2020 08:37:07 pm

Kindle Unlimited is a good choice, but it can also be restrictive. It's certainly available on Kindle....and Nook and Apple, and Kobo, etc. The "contract" time is almost up for Faithless and Dark Network, and then they will be more broadly available, too.
I have queried agents, and I got lots of nice rejections back. Some even said things like "no one knows anything about, or cares about the Electoral College." I think they do now.
When I finally got together with an editor back in 2015, he counseled that I should self-publish. We wanted to take advantage of the probable increase in attention of the general election, and if I took the time to query, maybe get a publisher, etc. it would take a year or more to get into print, but which time the election would be over, and we thought the scrutiny and excitement of an election year would help people find the book. It worked. Faithless Elector did very well, and continues to do so.
Now, since the industry views the subsequent books as a series, agents aren't interested. So Dark Network and Emergency Powers have been self-published, too.
I'm actually glad it's worked out as it has. I've learned (and am still learning!) the book business from the inside out. If my next efforts are traditionally published, I think I'll know and understand more than if I'd just waited to go the traditional route from the beginning.

10/5/2020 09:21:34 pm

KU is a harsh mistress and very jealous! She brooks no competition.
Ever since Amazon upset the apple cart and turned the traditional publishing industry on its collective head it has been in a precipitous decline. The number of trad. publishers has shrunk dramatically. Their profit margins are so slim now, they rarely take a chance on an unknown or indie author.
I know an author who write a nice series and decided to query number 4. She got one real response, the agent asked her to rewrite the story out of the series. She responded with a few questions and never heard back. She proceeded to self-publish and hasn't looked back.
I think that most indie authors are going to be happier not using a traditional publisher. When a contract is signed, almost all control is lost over the book. The publisher can require changes be made in the story, the cover might be changed, the book might not even be published for a year or more. If there is an advance paid to the author, nothing more will be forthcoming until the advance is made back by book sales. The trad. publisher is going to market the book for the indie author, not! Promotion and marketing still falls square on the shoulders of the author. The indie author still winds up doing most of the post publication work for the privilege of less money per book sold.
That is the good news. If. perchance, the agent or traditional publisher are not all on the up and up, they will steal the intellectual property rights forever, until they change their mind, then they might sell the IP rights back to the author. Maybe.
So, it behooves the wise and careful author to have a lawyer familiar with this type of law look every contract very carefully.
You are right, you know so much more now than when you started. Your decisions going ahead will be much wiser to your benefit.
New questions.
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?
What are the three most important considerations for an independent author to be certain of when signing a contract with an independent or hybrid publisher?

10/5/2020 09:45:22 pm

Yes, I think an Indy can produce a book as well, but the key will be editing--overall, and line editing...perhaps you could recommend someone for that :).
Then it's design, inside and out.

As to what are the most important things for indys/hybrids, I'd say to know your rights. Some publishers offer an ISBN for using their service, but it's not portable. That is, if you want to take the book to a different publisher/printer, you will need to get a new ISBN, which is costly and can cause havoc. It could potentially lose you reviews (I know this one first hand).
Second, be fully aware of any other constraints that may be placed on your work. And, if you want to sell physical books, make sure that the publisher/printer allows for returns. If your printer doesn't allow the standard discount and return, bookstores will be very wary of carrying your book.

10/6/2020 12:25:59 pm

I do not know a line editor personally. I do have a list of Editors and Proofreaders on my Twitter page that is easy to peruse when you select members.
The intellectual property rights are very important, they are key to long term success for an author. The ISBN is a great tip. I didn't know about the portability or lack thereof. It could be a real problem, as you point out.
Return of unsold books is a big deal, it turns out. The large publishers over order the printing runs to bring the cost per copy down. They then turn around and sell these remaindered books to a discount wholesaler or merchandiser such as Big Bad Wolf. The Wolf sells these English language books in foreign markets by the millions.
New questions.
You are self-publishing now.
Have you started your own imprint? Here is a good article about that idea: https://www.janefriedman.com/why-self-publishing-authors-should-consider-establishing-their-own-imprint
If a new writer asked you for one piece of advice to be a good writer what would you say?

10/6/2020 02:06:04 pm

Thanks for the link, Mark! Very helpful. Jane Friedman is wonderful.

The best advice for writing, which Charles Johnson gave me years ago, was about humility. The story is bigger than you are. You, the writer, are in service to it. That may sound contradictory since you're the story's creator, but in the end, the story's not about the writer (unless you're writing memoir, and even then I'd argue that the same principles hold).
Beyond subsuming yourself to the process of writing, and to making sure you're getting things right, I'd say that humility will also serve you as you write your characters. Even "bad guys" think they're doing the right thing. Why? How? Humility and empathy, leavened with imagination will get you a long way.
Because, again, it's about the story. Your protagonist grows in relation to the antagonist. Is the antagonist a worthy opponent? If s/he's just some stick figure/cardboard cutout, why the struggle? Why is it so hard to defeat him/her, to win?
Humility will also let you hear constructive criticism, will guide you to frank evaluations of the work, will drive you to get it right in every way you can.

...and of course, humility will keep you from ever presuming to give advice. :)

10/6/2020 03:31:53 pm

You are welcome. I have links to many of her blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
I am so humble, it's hard not to tell everyone about my humility, my finest trait. ;-)
I think that is a good perspective, the author does serve the story. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it is not.
The well-written antagonist must think he is the hero of the story. That is what allows us to have empathy with him also.
Your final point is probably the most important. Being able to consider constructive criticism regardless of the source.
An enemy is quick to point out the weaknesses, the things that need to be addressed.
New questions.
Is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?
Did you use ads on Amazon or other platforms such as Facebook or Bookbub?

10/6/2020 05:39:23 pm

Ha ha! Yes, it's hard not to brag about humility :)
I've tried Amz and FB in the past, and may do so again. Bookbub is something I'm looking into.
Social media is wonderful, but even if you have a good number of followers, you're only posting or tweeting at the same group of people. It's crucial to grow the circle. I'm doing a blog tour this month, since everything is virtual, and that's been helpful. I wish I knew what worked best, but I don't.

10/6/2020 07:15:25 pm

You are right. Growing the circle is very important. I think that is why so many authors reach have as many different social media accounts as they can handle. Sometimes they over reach also.
It is so easy to spend so much time on social media that little writing actually gets done.
Social media is only one aspect of promoting and marketing a book. There are many other avenues to consider also. Face to face stuff has gone by the wayside for the time being, book readings and signings in book stores are out, unless it is done outdoors, for the most part. An author can pursue the local-author angle, by seeking placement of a few copies in a countertop holder at places frequented by tourists, such as restaurants, motels, museums and curio shops. Some of the places might by the books or take them on consignment. You would want to have a means for the retailer to easily order more.
Local publicity can be obtained at cable access, local newspapers, TV and radio stations. Large high schools and colleges sometimes have their own radio or TV station or a club devoted to the broadcasting arts, interviews are possible there also. Due to the nature of your books, fraternal organizations should be considered also.
A lot of blogs and podcasts have been made examining various angles of this topic. Put marketing or promoting in the search box at the bottom of the page here, I have a lot of links to blogs on those topics, they are all good.
More questions.
Have you thought about offering a large-print edition of your books?
Have you thought about doing an audio book?

James link

10/7/2020 10:54:05 am

It's a good set of questions, Mark. And thanks for pointing me toward some of the blogs and podcasts that might help.

I'm definitely looking into both large print and audio, but I have no experience with either.

This has been great fun talking about writing and getting to know each other!

10/7/2020 11:30:13 am

You are very welcome. I have learned a lot from many blogs and from authors in these interviews. I have tried to gather resources and links that authors would find useful.
With Print-On-Demand technology, there is no need to order a run of books and store them for sales in the future.
Audio books are exploding around the world and have been for several years. Many countries use English as the official language of commerce and government. Other countries teach English as a second language. That means there are many hundreds of millions of people that speak or understand English. Many of those use audio books to help increase their proficiency and their primary access to the internet is with a smart phone, so audio books are the easiest way to consume a book. Aggregators can help get a book onto many platforms in different countries.
If you would like to learn more about narrating an audio book check out the interview I had with Mercedes Rochelle and Kevin Greene, he narrated her book, Heir to a Prophecy and joined the interview. Put his last name into the search box below.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

10/7/2020 03:35:18 pm

Wow! A favorite? I can talk about favoriteS at a given moment, I suppose. :)
I go in waves, and I follow my enthusiasms. At the moment, I'd say: Forsyth, Le Carre, Greene, Orwell, Rankin, McIlvanney, Denise Mina, Meg Gardiner, Dick Belsky, Stephen Mack Jones, Attica Locke, JJ Hensley, Thomas McGuane, Art Taylor, Philip Kerr, Chris Brookmyre...I'm basically reading the names of the authors on the books closest to me on my bookshelves! (And they're close to me because I re-read them, or reference ideas in them, or both.)
As to children's lit: there was a book about the Loch Ness Monster called "Nessy the Mannerless Monster." My brother and I loved that one! Nessy doesn't feel she's being treated fairly and goes south to London to complain. Mayhem ensues. I won't spoil the end :)
I really liked Watership Down, and I actually re-read that one every so often.
Around 12 years old, I started reading sci-fi, and really loved that--Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, short stories. The first really big book I tackled was Dune, by Frank Herbert (written while he was in Florence, OR, I think. Not too far from you?). I loved Dune but somehow never engaged with the sequels.
Sometimes I worry that books get dealt with as commodities. In the strictest sense, they are, I guess, but they're so much more.
A book bides with you. It's read, re-read, dipped into for favorite scenes. They live WITH you.

10/7/2020 04:08:43 pm

You have some great names there! I don't recognize all of them because sci-fi and fantasy are my top favorites, personally. Nessy sounds very cute. Did you ever see the movie The Water Horse? It is ostensibly a film for children, but it has some moments that are too intense for young ones.
Watership Down was good, but I only read it once.
I read Dune a couple of times and finally the whole series through eight or nine volumes. The emperor one was pretty strange and a bit of a slog. I didn't know that FH lived in Florence, Oregon. It's about 3 hours away from me. It is beautiful. The entire Oregon coastline is breathtaking.
Books do live within us, when we are heavily impacted by them.
New questions.
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

10/8/2020 01:18:44 pm

Ha ha! That's a little like asking who's your favorite child!
Each touches me profoundly, if differently. Faithless Elector was the first, and it helped me prove to myself that I could do this, and that readers would find it and respond positively.
Dark Network felt a bit more mature, and I feel that I gained a greater measure of tonal control. I was growing as a writer, too (I hope I will always be so!), and it showed me I could handle intricate plotting and have it pay off.
The new one, Emergency Powers, let me look at the bad guys in a new way, to bring them to the fore. And while it's a good, suspenseful thriller, it really allowed the characters to come alive. The character of Frank Reed, as you and others have pointed out, is perplexing. I think of Reed's journey in the book a little like one of the late scenes in the movie Dr. Strangelove, where Slim Pickens' (sp?) bomber is still going forward. (Their radio is out, and they haven't received the call to return to base.)
It's a wickedly strange moment, because intellectually you know it will be a disaster if they get through, and yet your emotions kind of want them to get through. It was a big risk to let one of the bad guys have so much "stage time," but it sounds like it works for readers.
So my cop-out answer is that I'm proud of all the books of I've written, and I'm very excited for my next, w/t Not Proven.

As to your final question, it totally energizes me. You and I have talked about how books live with us, abide with us, and the idea that I might be adding--contributing--to that stream is wonderful...and daunting. I'm not going to claim that I write every day in a fever of ecstasy, but I love what I'm doing, and I'm pleased, humbled and grateful that readers have come along with me, and with my characters.

10/8/2020 02:15:12 pm

Yes, you are growing in skill as an author. This book, EP, shows Reed as human and thinking he was doing so well. You didn't give him a change of heart, only a perspective that he was in danger from his own people, the people he had trained.
Many authors report having feelings of happiness and satisfaction after a good writing session. Sometimes they are tired, but they still are quite pleased.
New questions.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
How does a writer ensure the reader will connect with the characters?

10/8/2020 05:35:57 pm

Those are great questions, Mark! I wish I knew. :)
But broadly, when I'm reading, I want to know and feel the character's struggle. I want to see and understand what s/he's up against, and understand (even if I don't agree with the character's choices) why they do what they do.
And writers need to tap into this because the point of the story is to reveal character through action. The writer is finding out things about the character as s/he's writing it. That sense of urgency and discovery (one hopes) will come through, and the readers will feel they are discovering something new.

10/8/2020 06:13:07 pm

You do know. I think you nailed it quite well. The readers get to know the characters through the interactions with other characters and events. All things that can reveal more about the characters as they struggle through the challenges.
You pinpoint the writer's job perfectly. Even though the writer maybe discovering more about the characters with each chapter. The stakes have to get higher and failure more expensive. Good editing is an important part of that process.
New questions.
What was your goal in writing this book? Did you achieve it?
Has your life turned out differently than expected or planned?

10/9/2020 12:53:04 pm

My goal was to tell a good story--a thrilling story!--one that would challenge and delight readers. Based on reviews and correspondence I've been getting from readers, I'd say it's worked.
I'm fascinated by what's happening behind the scenes, behind official explanations. Each of my books is set in a moment in time when things are in flux--the in-between times.
In Faithless Elector, it's the period between the general election and when the Electors meet; in Dark Network, it's the confusion of a contingency election; and in Emergency Powers, the conspirators hope to exploit the chaos after the president dies in office.

I don't know what I expected my life to be, and I certainly can't say that much has been planned. I spent a long time (too long) on a dead-end road. I'm pleased that I didn't stay on that road, but found my way back to writing. I'm grateful every day.

10/9/2020 03:09:59 pm

I must agree, you have written thrilling stories! That bodes well for the next story set in Scotland.
I think many of us feel a little bit like a pathfinder, the world is so much the same and yet it's different every day.
New questions about the next story.
Will that story be stand alone or starting a new series? Same or different genre?

10/9/2020 04:50:07 pm

That's difficult to say, Mark. The next book uses some of the same characters as this one, but it's definitely a new direction and a departure.
It's always possible there will be more, but I'm not really thinking about that right now. I'm having a tough enough time getting it into shape to send to the editor. :)

10/9/2020 05:16:15 pm

That is hint enough. Thanks, I appreciate it.
Self-editing is hard. I don't know any author that doesn't struggle with that. An author wants to have something at least halfway presentable to send to the editor. The ideas and plot have to be reasonably clear for the editor to have much of an impact.
Everyone knows that the easier it is for the editor, the lower the bill. That leaves more for the proofreader. ;-)\
One of the problems authors run into is brain fatigue, our brain starts to lie to us about the words we have actually written. Our brain tells us what we want to see and it glosses over the typos and misplaced words. That is one big reason that so many authors use beta readers and go through several edits before sending the manuscript to the editor. There may well be more than one pass to the editor also. Then a few more rounds of self-editing and polishing. Then off to the proofreader for the final inspection and high gloss polish.
There are a couple of tricks to use to help uncover the errors our brain won't show us. One is to set the book aside for a few weeks. That space of time and distance can work wonders. Another trick is to read the story aloud, or have the computer read it aloud to you.
Another idea is to print out a hard copy, go old-school at least once. Another idea is to change the font and the color of the font dramatically. Lastly, read it backwards one paragraph at a time. All of these tricks will shake your brain up and get it to show you what is really there.
New questions.
November is almost here.
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?
What kind of preparation do you do before NaNoWriMo starts?
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

10/11/2020 01:41:48 pm

I've never done NaNoWriMo, Mark. It's intriguing, but I'm writing so much that to do so would take away from what I'm working already working on.
I'm probably a bit of an over-writer in early drafts, but that's not quite the whole story because when I go back through it, I'll find over- and under-written parts.
The point of a first draft is to write the end. With an ending established, you can go back over the draft and fill in holes, delete extraneous bits, dead-end ideas, etc. And then it's necessary to go back over it to get the tone right--what is the narrative attitude? When/should it break? Should some character get more (or less) "stage time?" Are the scenes vivid?
And the process isn't linear, but recursive. While there is one "finished first draft," subsequent drafts alter and change--one change requires a corresponding change somewhere else in the MS so that it "fits." When I've gone over all that I can, I send it to the editor. For my files, I call that the second draft, but it's really more like the fifth!

10/11/2020 02:09:28 pm

NaNoWriMo has turned into a pretty large event for a lot of writers. People join groups for mutual support and sometimes prizes. They make it seem like a lot of fun.
The authors who are serious plotters will already have a major part of research done, the outline written and perhaps character sheets created, all in advance of November. That way they can hit the ground running. Pantsters, on the other hand, sometimes can't decide which idea to pursue so are asking friends to vote on the ideas.
Many authors are underwriters and overwriters at different stages in the manuscript. Some obsessively save drafts and others keep massaging the same draft to completion. If I was a writer I would land in the camp of many drafts saved.
You are right, the ending affects the rest of the story. It is the most important part.
New questions.
When working through the excess writing, are you talking about sentences, paragraphs or a chapter that didn't survive the final cut?
Do you cut mostly descriptions, action or dialogue?
Do you save the parts that didn't make it into the final version?

10/11/2020 02:23:26 pm

It could be anything, Mark. I don't know that I've cut a whole chapter, but I have moved it within the MS. I have certainly cut entire scenes--or rewritten them.
What I cut and what I add is guided by what the story needs (see above). If the dialogue in one area is plodding, I'll either tighten it up or cut it outright. If a description takes away from the flow of the narrative, I'll pare it back or cut it. Or, in contrast, if I haven't given enough sense of place, I'll take a moment to enhance it by adding in some description.
I have a "cut file" which I keep open with the working draft of the book. I have rarely gone back to it to retrieve something, but it functions like a lifeboat (or a security blanket? :) for my writing and ideas. It helps me to feel better about what I'm getting rid of.

10/11/2020 05:07:48 pm

I like the idea of the cut file. I would want that same assurance of being able to recover something if necessary.
The story is the thing. It needs to escape the head and be outside, otherwise there is no way to improve it. That first draft is just telling yourself the story and only you can do that. After that point, other people are brought in, first an alpha reader, such as a spouse or sibling. Then, after more rewriting the beta readers, 4 to 7 in number for many writers. After more rewriting and perhaps some shelf time between drafts, the editor is hired. After a round or two of more rewriting, many authors get the proofreader to provide some final polish. When all is said and done there can easily be 12 to 20 people involved in the final manuscript.
New questions.
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your books?
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories? How do you give them depth?
Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to just invent them completely?

10/12/2020 12:57:06 pm

Really great questions, Mark! Both tags and beats are something I'm still working on.
In my early writing, I tried to use as few dialogue tags as possible because I felt it broke up the flow of dialogue. (Interesting side note, when I do public readings I tend to add a few, because I want people who are listening to be certain of who's talking--on the page, it's clear, but sometimes it's difficult to hear.)
I certainly use action beats, too. I'm afraid I don't have any hard rules about where and how to use them. The key to dialogue is that it be necessary. WHY are these people talking right now? What are they trying to find out, what are they trying to hide, what useful information is being imparted?
I don't base my characters on real people. In fact, my standard disclaimer says "anyone seeing a resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is paying the author an extravagant compliment." (I stole that from Robertson Davies :)
Obviously, I use little things I see real people do--a facial expression, a gesture, a way of walking--and I give it to one of my characters. A kind of mix-and-match to make up someone new that the reader can "see."
For instance, on p. 53 of the paperback, I describe Frank Reed as he sits talking with Alec Nash, wearing "what he always wore, work boots and Carhartt dungarees, drab fatigue jacket, work shirt, and a suspicious, beleaguered scowl..." The clothing had been described before, and it was essentially Reed's uniform, but I wanted to give something of his personality, too. I stole the "beleaguered scowl" from a guy I see sometimes at a cigar shop I go to. The man with the beleaguered scowl isn't Reed, but his resting expression was something I wanted to use, and I felt it fit.

10/12/2020 01:23:39 pm

Both action beats and dialogue tags are necessary to the story. A lot of dialogue tags, in many stories, can be replaced with action beats. As you described action beats are a good way to provide more information about characters or plot hints. I think action beats are a good way to maintain the flow of a story. Some authors use 'saids' as a way to emphasize a point or end a section.
Authors are great people watchers! Just like you, they use bits and pieces to assemble characters. Since almost every reader qualifies as a people watcher, we have all seen these expressions and actions also. We can relate quite well.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

10/12/2020 01:48:36 pm

Wow, that's tough! I guess I'd say that neither exists meaningfully without the other. without both sides of the coin, there's no conflict, no drama.
I love the moment in the movie "Rush" about the rivalry on-and-off the track between the two Formula 1 drivers, James Hunt and Nikki Lauda: toward the end, Lauda says something to the effect that Hunt's antagonism made him better, gave him something to strive against. He was *defined* by that opposition. The protag and antag in my stories are a little like that. The protag is better for having been tested by the antag.
So who's more fun? I'm going to sound like I'm copping out again when I say: whichever one I'm writing about at a given time. both have juicy, delicious moments, and I'm always curious and excited to see what they'll do next.

What do I dislike about Imogen? She's impetuous and single-minded. She doesn't have much time for people who don't agree with her. :)
I struggle to find anything redeeming the Postman, but I do have something of a soft spot for Reed. He's an arrogant jerk, but he's been used, too; and he's looking for some payback.

10/12/2020 04:21:34 pm

There is a lot of truth in what you say and every book relies on some kind of conflict to tell a story. Without a quest, without an obstacle or without an antagonist to overcome there isn't much of a story. Something has to move the protagonist out of their comfort zone, whether they want to or not. In your excellent example, the two men are competing for the prize, there is only one winner. Each believe they are the hero of their story and so it should be. A well-written antagonist is coming against the protagonist for reasons that are perfectly good from the point of view of the antagonist.
Imogen is bull-headed, no doubt about that. She reminds me of myself, I am somewhat stubborn also. Reed has his opinion and it matches his world view quite well. He was willing to go to any length to achieve his goals.
Last questions.
Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?
Did your writing process change much from your early writing to your current book or did it stay the same?

10/12/2020 04:51:43 pm

Pace or flow? They need to work together.
Certainly, a story needs to flow naturally and logically or readers won't stick with it. Pacing is important to keep the book moving along--and in a thriller it's doubly important! Suspense and tension build from the reader's understanding of who the protagonist is and what's at stake.
What's interesting for me with regard to pace and flow is that I often don't have a good feel for pacing in a first draft. Often my experience of writing a scene or a moment makes me worry that I'm killing the pace at just the time where I should be kicking it into gear. But what I find is that it's my experience of writing it that I'm reacting to, not the scene itself.
To get something right, I may be gone over it for days, so my impression of what I've put down is colored by the time it took me to write it, and I think it's terrible, a l.o.n.g. drag on the story. But when I come back to it, it turns out it's only a page (sometimes less), and it has served to keep the story flowing, but hasn't killed the pace.
For readers, I think, there need to be moments to slow down, to take stock. Without that, you wouldn't "know" the characters as well, and the experience of reading would be liking trying to drink from a fire hose. You'll get soaked, but will you really be able to drink much? :)

My actual writing process hasn't changed much over these past years. I try to put something on the page (or screen) every day, and I'd like to be able to finish one novel per year. That hasn't quite worked out, but it is the goal.

I want to thank you for doing this interview, Mark. Your questions have been fabulous, and they've forced me to look and think about my writing. (I've even cribbed a couple of my responses because it helped me clarify how I thought or felt about certain topics.)

Thank you!

10/12/2020 06:08:54 pm

That is as good of a description of pace and flow as any I have seen. You are quite right, there needs to be a rising and falling of the pace to build and release tension. It's very hard to quench a thirst from a fire hose, that kind of constant, overwhelming pace will cause damage.
I have another promotion starting tomorrow, so it's time to bring our conversation to a close. I have really enjoyed our conversation and look forward to continuing it in the future.
Stay safe and sane, and keep writing.

10/13/2020 11:34:59 am

Thank you very much, Mark! This has been a wonderful and stimulating conversation. I'm looking forward to hearing from others who might have "tuned in."
All the best to you!

Emergency Powers by James McCrone

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