Ask the Author: Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Answered Questions (9)
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Geez, this is really hard to answer.
I kind of have favorites categorized by 'epoch,' and 'genre.' Yes... I read a lot and I read WIDELY! So I have favorites in military non-fiction, modern thriller, classic lit, classical mythology (Chinese, Greek, Roman, Norse, etc), so that's a broad question for me. Right now: I'm re-reading the "Diary of Anne Frank," her hopefulness and the real-world tragedies are valuable inspirations to me; the Sharpes series by Bernard Cornwell, his action is just right - not too intense, not too cheesy and he lends a remarkable literary twist to his books; Red Platoon by Clinton Romesha; the Military Technical Manual for the Barrett M82A1 (for research); Jefferson Bates "Writing with Precision," which is like a modern version of Strunk and White (my go to for all things grammar); "Into the Rising Sun" by Pat O'Donnell; "Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (I was supposed to finish it for a book club I'm in and never did... I know, I know...); "The First Directorate" by Oleg Kalugin; "The Six Secret Teachings by Lü Shang (alias for Jiang Ziya) as research for Red Metal #2; and Mark Greaney's newest book "One Minute Out." Ask me in a month and it'll probably be a whole different list with a whole other flavor. Thanks for reading!!
I kind of have favorites categorized by 'epoch,' and 'genre.' Yes... I read a lot and I read WIDELY! So I have favorites in military non-fiction, modern thriller, classic lit, classical mythology (Chinese, Greek, Roman, Norse, etc), so that's a broad question for me. Right now: I'm re-reading the "Diary of Anne Frank," her hopefulness and the real-world tragedies are valuable inspirations to me; the Sharpes series by Bernard Cornwell, his action is just right - not too intense, not too cheesy and he lends a remarkable literary twist to his books; Red Platoon by Clinton Romesha; the Military Technical Manual for the Barrett M82A1 (for research); Jefferson Bates "Writing with Precision," which is like a modern version of Strunk and White (my go to for all things grammar); "Into the Rising Sun" by Pat O'Donnell; "Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (I was supposed to finish it for a book club I'm in and never did... I know, I know...); "The First Directorate" by Oleg Kalugin; "The Six Secret Teachings by Lü Shang (alias for Jiang Ziya) as research for Red Metal #2; and Mark Greaney's newest book "One Minute Out." Ask me in a month and it'll probably be a whole different list with a whole other flavor. Thanks for reading!!
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Thanks Dave, I enjoyed writing it immensely and am smack dab in the middle of writing #2. Honestly, I've poured more 'stuff' into #2 and so far (though I'm not done with it), I'm pretty proud of how it's coming along. I have 2X out next year: the next in the Tyce Asher series, "The Kill Box" and the 2nd in the Red Metal series which I co-author with Mr. Mark Greaney. Both are due out next Fall. Publisher determines the exact date, not up to me, but at least that gives you a bracket. Teaser: you are gonna HATE the new antagonist in The Kill Box... and I'll love that hate!
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Thanks for your interest! We have a follow-up contract for RM #2 singed/sealed and... well you'll have top wait until next year for it to be delivered!
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Mark Greaney and I were at the United States Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Las Vegas, Nevada. He and I had coffee one day while our wives went out to get their hair and nails done. We chatted for a couple of hours about 'what ifs' and war and global bad guys and their motivations to do ill will and how that its usually for reasons that seem perfectly legit to them, but they seem to be wearing the black hat to the rest of the world. Mark said, "Rip, we just had some really great ideas, I want to write this book with you." I've been in a bro-mance with that guy ever since.
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Experiences.
Plain and simple.
Some good, some bad...
But all become fodder for a good yarn.
Plain and simple.
Some good, some bad...
But all become fodder for a good yarn.
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
I am retiring from the Marine Corps after more than 22-years of Active Duty. I am oddly not looking forward to joining the 1st CIVDIV, which is what we call retirement to the civilian world. All I have known my adult life has been the military and war. It's an odd transition. I am sure my family, kids and friends will support me through the transition - though I will not give up my love of the active life, shooting, hunting, SCUBA and rock drums.
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Don't let small things get you down. I have a lot of rows yet to hoe, but I have had obstacles to everything I've attempted. I am fortunate to have had a 'big gun' mentor in Mark Greaney who must have seen something in my writing, but he, Penguin publishing (Sr. Editor Tom Colgan and Pres. Ivan Held) and my agent Scott Miller all gave me a shot (they all regret it now!).
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
I'm not well established, so this is a better question for the big guns: Mark Greaney, Marc Cameron, Mike Madden, Lee Child, etc. However, from my small piece of the pie: I love to write and craft stories, always have.
Hunter Ripley Rawlings
Sounds cocky, but I don't get writer's block. I have too many ideas, that's my albatross!
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