Ask the Author: Thomas Waite
Answered Questions (10)
Thomas Waite
Hi Karen. Thanks for your question. I suppose my inspiration for writing began when I was young. I enjoyed reading (or being read) stories and created my own (rather poorly) when I was a child. And as I grew up, I read a lot of books as well. In high school I had an English teacher who introduced me to authors like Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, and others and I was hooked. In college I majored in English literature and took a number of creative writing classes. But in terms of my novels, my first (Terminal Value) was inspired in large part by my own experience as an entrepreneur. And my Lana Elkins thriller series (Lethal Code, Trident Code, and Unholy Code) was born out of my board work in the technology field. At the time, no one was writing about the dangers posed by massive cyberattacks. In addition, I had tired of macho male protagonists in thrillers and decided it was time for a heroine, so I created Lana Elkins. With any luck, she'll be inspiring to others!
Thomas Waite
My next novel, Unholy Code, will be released July 12, and you can pre-order a copy at the Kindle store right now. Thanks for asking!
Thomas Waite
Thank you. It certainly grabs your attention, doesn't it? My publisher designed it, though I had input. I hope you enjoy my novel and best wishes to you as well.
Thomas Waite
I don't know your tolerance for thrillers that include a good deal of realism. LETHAL CODE is certainly a "worst-case" scenario and is based on facts. However there are heroes in this book that you will rally around, especially the female protagonist, Lana Elkins. I can't spoil the ending, of course, so I guess it's up to you. I hope that helps and thanks so much for asking me the question.
Thomas Waite
The best thing about being a writer is you work alone and you have the freedom to do what you love. The worst part about being a writer is you work alone. I guess you can turn to your dog and ask "What do you think about this line of dialogue?" but the fact is it is a different profession than working in a collaborative environment.
Thomas Waite
Some authors write for themselves. I write for my readers. Thinking about what I can write that they would enjoy, that would excite and thrill them, is what inspires me.
Thomas Waite
I'm pretty lucky that I don't suffer from writer's block as much as other authors I know. However, when it happens, I don't fight it. I go do something else - whether it is take a jog to clear my head, read a book, or write something completely unrelated to my novel. I think every author needs to determine what works best for them.
Thomas Waite
The single most important advice I can give is to write the book you want to and don't let anything get in the way. A lot of aspiring writers get bogged down in trying to understand the supposed "rules" of writing - whether it is to first write an outline or not; write in the first person; always favor showing versus telling; and so forth. In my view, there are no rules. Just write the very best book you can!
Thomas Waite
I am currently writing the sequel to LETHAL CODE.
Thomas Waite
As an author of thrillers (and a board member of technology companies), I became very interested in the subject of cyber attacks and cyber warfare. I thought it would make for an exciting new series of cyber thrillers. I started doing extensive research on the subject, met with cyber security experts, and spoke with former heads of government agencies focused on preventing a cyber war. Then I developed a detailed synopsis and thorough character profiles and set about writing my latest novel, LETHAL CODE.
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