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Gordon A. Kessler

Goodreads Author

Born

Midwest, The United States

Website

http://GordonKessler.com

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror

Influences

Mike McQuay, Leonard Bishop, Douglas Preston, James Rollins, Clive Cus ...more

Member Since

July 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/gordonkessler1

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I am a fulltime thriller novelist, living in the Kansas City metro area with my golden retriever, Jazzy Brass. I’ve taught novel-writing for several community colleges, worked over twenty years for the BNSF Railway, and I am a former US Marine Recon Scout, Super Squad team leader, parachutist, marksmanship coach and troop handler. I enjoys SCUBA, sailing, snow skiing and being with my kids and grandkids.

My first novel, Jezebel, landed a contract with a large publisher back in 1992. But nearly three years later, on the week they were supposed to make a 10,000-book print run, the publisher went bankrupt.

Since then, I’ve contracted with a couple of big name New York agents, have turned down a small publishing contract, had a verbal deal fall I am a fulltime thriller novelist, living in the Kansas City metro area with my golden retriever, Jazzy Brass. I’ve taught novel-writing for several community colleges, worked over twenty years for the BNSF Railway, and I am a former US Marine Recon Scout, Super Squad team leader, parachutist, marksmanship coach and troop handler. I enjoys SCUBA, sailing, snow skiing and being with my kids and grandkids.

My first novel, Jezebel, landed a contract with a large publisher back in 1992. But nearly three years later, on the week they were supposed to make a 10,000-book print run, the publisher went bankrupt.

Since then, I’ve contracted with a couple of big name New York agents, have turned down a small publishing contract, had a verbal deal fall through before the written contract was made, and have had numerous manuscripts passed around the tables at the big NYC publishing houses. A senior editor from one of the largest publishers in the world has even emailed me asking “what are you working on, now?”

With the connections I’ve made, you’d think I’d stick with traditional publishing, wouldn’t you? I’m not that smart! Besides, I’m having a blast writing eBook thrillers—more fun than I’ve ever had in my life.

I currently have three thriller novels in both paper and eBook: Jezebel, Dead Reckoning and Brainstorm. All three of these are between 110,000 and 125,000 words long–typical, big thriller books.

My latest men’s action adventure novels are a part of ”The E Z Knight Reports” series. These books are a departure from the big thriller books I’ve focused on in the past. They consist of episodic yet standalone stories in the 50,000 word range with a number of recurring characters. They’re fast, fun reads; gritty, sexy, irreverent and sometimes humorous–with a modern-day, ramped up “The Rockford Files”/”Magnum PI” feel. But they’re also poignant looks at the darker side of life, crime and the human condition.

I’ve also published two short story eBooks: a humorous piece called “Toothpick for Two” and a nostalgic romance called “Jack Knight” (unrelated to the E Z Knight series). Please check them out.

Aside from my fiction, I’ve written a book specifically for novelists, Novel Writing Made Simple. It’s a great primer for beginners and an excellent refresher for the experienced wordsmith.

I am a founder and current president of the Kansas Writers Association, a sixteen-year-old organization of some very special people. Last year, I started a group to help support independent authors called the Indie Writers Alliance—another group of great people.

Life is great! ...more

58 posts
Gordon A. Kessler's Blog

One of America’s True Heroes

She looks so much like Jazzy Brass at that same age. Bretagne (Brittany) lived a long life for a Golden Retriever–nearly 17 years–but it was still too short for such a wonderful dog. See the story here: http://www.today.com/pets/never-forge... Filed under: … Continue reading →

Combine Editions
Gordon A. Kessler’s books

Average rating: 3.62 · 257 ratings · 46 reviews · 20 distinct works

	Jezebel 4.05 avg rating — 56 ratings — published 2001 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Brainstorm 3.47 avg rating — 58 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dead Reckoning 3.54 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2001 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Toothpick for Two 3.10 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	KNIGHT'S BIG EASY really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	KNIGHT'S RANSOM (The E Z Knight Reports Book 3) 3.59 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	KNIGHT'S LATE TRAIN (The E Z Knight Reports Book 2) 3.89 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Write Your Novel — Storytelling, the Writer and the EBook Novel (Novel Writing 1) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Edit, Revise and Rewrite Your Novel--a Quick and Simple Guide (Writing Novels) 3.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jack Baron liked it 3.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars