Thom Tate's Blog
April 13, 2026
Beyond All Measure — Beyond the Story
Readers often ask me how I come up with my stories—specifically, “What’s the story behind the story?”
And every time, I brace myself, because the truth feels anticlimactic. Something I never want my books to be. My usual answer?
“I dunno. Beats me. How the hell should I know?”
Cue the tilted head, the raised brow, and the silent Really? That’s all you’ve got?
But here’s the reality: my stories tend to write themselves. They drag me along for the ride, making turns I never planned, and I just do my best to keep up and get the words on the page.
Where It Was Supposed to Go…
Originally, Beyond All Measure was planned as a revenge story—rooted in what happened to Adriana at the end of Spear Garden.
(No spoilers. If you know, you know. If you don’t, I won’t ruin it for you.) But the story had other ideas.
It veered off on its own path, and once that happens, I follow the mission wherever it leads.
What’s in a Name?
At first, this book was going to be called Retaliate. That lasted about five minutes. Next came Deep Rising. It sounded cool—until I realized ten thousand other titles already beat me to it. Then something unexpected happened. While writing one of the late‑story scenes, a character used the phrase “beyond all measure…”
I literally stopped typing. That’s it.
That’s the title. And that’s how the book got the name it was always meant to have.
Building the Story
I love thrillers that take readers somewhere different—places we don’t often see in books or film.
Not London. Not Paris. Not Moscow. We’ve been there. We get it. I wanted remote.
Raw.
Unforgiving. So the story took me to:
The barren Arctic Ocean
Kotelny Island in the East Siberian Sea
The Faroe Islands
Bergen, Norway
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Once I dropped the opening attack scene in the middle of the Arctic, the natural question became: Why?
Why attack them out here? What do they know? At first, I had no idea.
Then it clicked: oil.
A massive, world‑shaking discovery. A secret worth killing for. Everything after that fell into place:
false flags, global tensions, superpowers pointing fingers, and one man quietly orchestrating chaos while the world teeters on the edge of World War III.
And just like that… the arctic thriller was born.
Want a Tease?
If you want to get a taste of the intensity, you can read a quick 2‑minute peek at Chapter 1 right here:
👉 https://tatescovertworld.com/peek
The first page hits hard. You’ve been warned.
What’s Next
Don’t forget to check out my NEWS page for upcoming announcements—podcast appearances, releases, behind‑the‑scenes updates, and more. I’ll was on Jim Hirtle’s “The Last Story” podcast on February 10th at 7 PM EST, discussing Beyond All Measure and my upcoming prequel, Who Is Blake MacKay.
👉 https://rss.com/podcasts/addictedtofa...
Thank You
Your support—whether you’ve read one book or all of them—means more than I can say.
If you enjoy my stories, Amazon and Goodreads reviews make a massive difference in helping new readers discover my work.
You can also scroll to the bottom of a book’s Goodreads page to see the lists it appears in—voting those up helps visibility more than you know.
Thank you, truly.
And God bless.
And every time, I brace myself, because the truth feels anticlimactic. Something I never want my books to be. My usual answer?
“I dunno. Beats me. How the hell should I know?”
Cue the tilted head, the raised brow, and the silent Really? That’s all you’ve got?
But here’s the reality: my stories tend to write themselves. They drag me along for the ride, making turns I never planned, and I just do my best to keep up and get the words on the page.
Where It Was Supposed to Go…
Originally, Beyond All Measure was planned as a revenge story—rooted in what happened to Adriana at the end of Spear Garden.
(No spoilers. If you know, you know. If you don’t, I won’t ruin it for you.) But the story had other ideas.
It veered off on its own path, and once that happens, I follow the mission wherever it leads.
What’s in a Name?
At first, this book was going to be called Retaliate. That lasted about five minutes. Next came Deep Rising. It sounded cool—until I realized ten thousand other titles already beat me to it. Then something unexpected happened. While writing one of the late‑story scenes, a character used the phrase “beyond all measure…”
I literally stopped typing. That’s it.
That’s the title. And that’s how the book got the name it was always meant to have.
Building the Story
I love thrillers that take readers somewhere different—places we don’t often see in books or film.
Not London. Not Paris. Not Moscow. We’ve been there. We get it. I wanted remote.
Raw.
Unforgiving. So the story took me to:
The barren Arctic Ocean
Kotelny Island in the East Siberian Sea
The Faroe Islands
Bergen, Norway
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Once I dropped the opening attack scene in the middle of the Arctic, the natural question became: Why?
Why attack them out here? What do they know? At first, I had no idea.
Then it clicked: oil.
A massive, world‑shaking discovery. A secret worth killing for. Everything after that fell into place:
false flags, global tensions, superpowers pointing fingers, and one man quietly orchestrating chaos while the world teeters on the edge of World War III.
And just like that… the arctic thriller was born.
Want a Tease?
If you want to get a taste of the intensity, you can read a quick 2‑minute peek at Chapter 1 right here:
👉 https://tatescovertworld.com/peek
The first page hits hard. You’ve been warned.
What’s Next
Don’t forget to check out my NEWS page for upcoming announcements—podcast appearances, releases, behind‑the‑scenes updates, and more. I’ll was on Jim Hirtle’s “The Last Story” podcast on February 10th at 7 PM EST, discussing Beyond All Measure and my upcoming prequel, Who Is Blake MacKay.
👉 https://rss.com/podcasts/addictedtofa...
Thank You
Your support—whether you’ve read one book or all of them—means more than I can say.
If you enjoy my stories, Amazon and Goodreads reviews make a massive difference in helping new readers discover my work.
You can also scroll to the bottom of a book’s Goodreads page to see the lists it appears in—voting those up helps visibility more than you know.
Thank you, truly.
And God bless.
January 28, 2026
Welcome to my first blog
If you’re reading this, chances are you love high‑stakes stories—the kind where shadowy operatives move in the dark, alliances shift without warning, and the next page always hits harder than the last. That’s exactly the world I love to write in, and I’m thrilled to finally have a space where I can share that world with you. My name is Thom Tate, and if you’ve picked up any of my books, you know I have a deep love for pulse‑pounding action, geopolitical intrigue, and characters who walk the razor’s edge between duty and survival, and I love to deliver it in a cinematic vision that makes you feel as if you're watching a movie in your mind.
This blog is a place where I’ll pull back the curtain on my writing process, share the inspirations behind my stories, talk about the craft, and occasionally explore the real‑world threads that spark my imagination.
The Writers Who Shaped My Voice
Every author is shaped by the stories they devour, and I’m no exception. My bookshelf has always been the foundation of my writing life, and a few writers in particular helped forge the style and tone you’ll see in my novels.
Vince Flynn
No one captured the combination of relentless pacing and deep character conviction quite like Flynn. His “take no prisoners” storytelling rhythm influenced the tempo of my own action scenes, as well as the moral complexity behind the decisions my operatives face. There might also be a bit of Mitch Rapp inside Blake. But just a touch.
Brad Thor
Thor’s mastery of global, high‑threat scenarios—and his ability to make them feel frighteningly plausible—showed me how to ground a thriller in rich, real‑world detail. His work pushed me to make my books not just exciting, but believable.
Neil Gaiman
At first glance, he may seem like an unexpected influence for a thriller writer. But Gaiman’s gift for atmosphere, mythic undertones, and the quiet magic of human emotion taught me that even in stories filled with violence and espionage, moments of wonder and humanity matter deeply. His storytelling reminded me to give the reader something felt, not just something seen. I recommend "Neverwhere" as a great first read of his.
Steve Alten
Alten’s talent for merging science, suspense, and high‑concept wonder inspired me to think bigger—to ask the “what if?” questions that expand a story’s scope and challenge its characters in unexpected ways. His work taught me the power of blending adrenaline with awe.
What You Can Expect Here
This blog will be a home for:
Behind‑the‑scenes looks at my books
Teasers, updates, cover reveals, and release news
Deep dives into characters, settings, and research
Thoughts on writing, storytelling, and reading
Occasional commentary on real‑world events that spark new story ideas
And yes… probably the occasional rant about weapons, tradecraft, and why certain movie gun scenes make me cringe
If you enjoy espionage, covert ops, global threats, or just a damn good chase scene, you’ll feel at home here.
Thank You for Being Here
Your support—whether you’ve read one book or all of them—means everything. Writing may be a solitary craft, but stories only truly come alive once they’re in the hands of readers. So welcome. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get to work building this world together. PLEASE feel free to join my mailing list, and if you've enjoyed any of my stories, ratings and reviews help more than you know. They set the algorithm to suggest my book to other readers.
Be sure to check out my NEWS page on my website, https://tatescovertworld.com/news where I announce fun stuff, like podcasts I'll be on.
I'm on Jim Hirtle's "The Last Story" podcast on February 10th at 7 PM EST. Discussing my latest book, "Beyond All Measure", and my upcoming prequel, "Who is Blake MacKay."
https://rss.com/podcasts/addictedtofa...
This blog is a place where I’ll pull back the curtain on my writing process, share the inspirations behind my stories, talk about the craft, and occasionally explore the real‑world threads that spark my imagination.
The Writers Who Shaped My Voice
Every author is shaped by the stories they devour, and I’m no exception. My bookshelf has always been the foundation of my writing life, and a few writers in particular helped forge the style and tone you’ll see in my novels.
Vince Flynn
No one captured the combination of relentless pacing and deep character conviction quite like Flynn. His “take no prisoners” storytelling rhythm influenced the tempo of my own action scenes, as well as the moral complexity behind the decisions my operatives face. There might also be a bit of Mitch Rapp inside Blake. But just a touch.
Brad Thor
Thor’s mastery of global, high‑threat scenarios—and his ability to make them feel frighteningly plausible—showed me how to ground a thriller in rich, real‑world detail. His work pushed me to make my books not just exciting, but believable.
Neil Gaiman
At first glance, he may seem like an unexpected influence for a thriller writer. But Gaiman’s gift for atmosphere, mythic undertones, and the quiet magic of human emotion taught me that even in stories filled with violence and espionage, moments of wonder and humanity matter deeply. His storytelling reminded me to give the reader something felt, not just something seen. I recommend "Neverwhere" as a great first read of his.
Steve Alten
Alten’s talent for merging science, suspense, and high‑concept wonder inspired me to think bigger—to ask the “what if?” questions that expand a story’s scope and challenge its characters in unexpected ways. His work taught me the power of blending adrenaline with awe.
What You Can Expect Here
This blog will be a home for:
Behind‑the‑scenes looks at my books
Teasers, updates, cover reveals, and release news
Deep dives into characters, settings, and research
Thoughts on writing, storytelling, and reading
Occasional commentary on real‑world events that spark new story ideas
And yes… probably the occasional rant about weapons, tradecraft, and why certain movie gun scenes make me cringe
If you enjoy espionage, covert ops, global threats, or just a damn good chase scene, you’ll feel at home here.
Thank You for Being Here
Your support—whether you’ve read one book or all of them—means everything. Writing may be a solitary craft, but stories only truly come alive once they’re in the hands of readers. So welcome. I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get to work building this world together. PLEASE feel free to join my mailing list, and if you've enjoyed any of my stories, ratings and reviews help more than you know. They set the algorithm to suggest my book to other readers.
Be sure to check out my NEWS page on my website, https://tatescovertworld.com/news where I announce fun stuff, like podcasts I'll be on.
I'm on Jim Hirtle's "The Last Story" podcast on February 10th at 7 PM EST. Discussing my latest book, "Beyond All Measure", and my upcoming prequel, "Who is Blake MacKay."
https://rss.com/podcasts/addictedtofa...
