Ward Larsen's Blog
April 20, 2021
Assassin's Dawn Available for Preorder
Assassin's Dawn, an e-book only novella, is now available for preorder. This is a prequel to the David Slaton series, giving background on what made him the perfect assassin.
August 17, 2020
Assassin's Strike Now Available!
The latest high-octane David Slaton thriller, Assassin's Strike, is now available at bookstores and online!
View the trailer at wardlarsen.com
In a Syrian palace, the presidents of Russia and Iran undertake a clandestine meeting. No staff or advisors are permitted in the room. No records are kept. By necessity, however, there are two witnesses: the interpreters. The Russian, Ludmilla Kravchuk, returns to her hotel room burdened by what she has heard. When her Iranian counterpart is murdered before her eyes, Kravchuk fears she is next and goes into hiding in Syria.
The CIA gets word of the defection. Desperate to uncover the purpose of the meeting, they task their newest off-the-books operator—legendary assassin David Slaton—to undertake a daring rescue. Deep inside Syria’s war-torn borders, what Slaton finds is a plot that will tear the Middle East apart. And one that only the perfect assassin can stop.March 31, 2020
April Kindle Deals
Four of my books will be on sale as Kindle Monthly Deals for the entire month of April. Enjoy any of the following e-books for only $1.99!
The Perfect Assassin -- David Slaton Book #1
Fly By Wire -- Jammer Davis Book #1
Fly By Night -- Jammer Davis Book #2
Passenger 19 -- Jammer Davis Book #3
The Perfect Assassin -- David Slaton Book #1
Fly By Wire -- Jammer Davis Book #1
Fly By Night -- Jammer Davis Book #2
Passenger 19 -- Jammer Davis Book #3
October 30, 2018
Free Book Offer
For a limited time I am offering a free e-copy of my first book, The Perfect Assassin. Simply go to wardlarsen.com and sign up for my new quarterly newsletter. This is not a teaser “first few chapters” but the full novel, and the beginning of my David Slaton series. The book can be downloaded as a .pdf file, read online, or downloaded using the free Scribd app.
It is also available to those who have already signed up.
I hope you enjoy the story!
It is also available to those who have already signed up.
I hope you enjoy the story!
August 21, 2018
Assassin's Run
My new David Slaton book is available today!
When a Russian oligarch is killed by a single bullet on his yacht off the Isle of Capri, Russian intelligence sources speculate that a legendary Israeli assassin, long thought dead, might be responsible. However, David Slaton―the assassin in question―is innocent. Realizing the only way to clear his name is to find out who’s truly responsible, he travels to Capri.
While he searches, a web of disparate events unfolds across the Middle East. Three ships, owned by the group of Russians, deliver a mysterious cargo to the shores of the Arabian Peninsula. In Morocco, a Russian aerospace company begins flight testing an innovative new drone. From Switzerland to the Red Sea to Morocco, Slaton gradually uncovers a conspiracy of monumental scope. It is a plot that will change the world strategic order―and one that goes straight to the top of the Russian government.
January 18, 2018
The Story Behind Cutting Edge
My newest book is called Cutting Edge, and I'd like to offer some insights as to how I developed the story. To begin, it's a bit of a departure from my usual "espionage thrillers." Some might call it science fiction, but I would argue that every bit of technology in the story either exists today, or will arrive in the very near future. I have only compressed the timetable.
The story revolves around two intertwined concepts. To begin, consider where we've been. When I was a kid, the technology that connected me to the outside world consisted of a television across the room and a telephone. The phone was hard-wired, the handset connected to the phone body by a coiled wire. In time, we advanced to the miracle of cordless phones, giving us the freedom to move around the house while we talked. Then came the cellular revolution. Flip phones at first, followed by the smartphones and tablet computers we enjoy today. These modern devices can be augmented with wireless earpieces, and visual devices like Google Glass.
At a very basic level, what becomes obvious is this: as communications technology advances, the enabling devices--handsets, speakers, and screens--have become physically closer to our bodies. The venerable arms' length computer keyboard gave way to thumb typing with bent elbows. That, in turn, is being fast overtaken by voice recognition. We've reached the point where the next step is as obvious as it is revolutionary. Soon, probably within one generation, we will interface without any device at all.
In March of 2017 Elon Musk, famed tech entrepreneur, publicly announced his latest venture. It is called Neuralink, a company whose stated mission is to develop implantable brain-computer interfaces. The first objective will be to advance the control of prosthetics, but the eventual goal is far more broad. In the parlance of Silicon Valley, it is referred to as "human enhancement."Great advancements have already been made in fields that might augment such dreams--think retinal and cochlear implants, which are in use today to restore damaged sensory organs.
And here enters the second part of my story. We live in a web-enabled world. Our cars and vacuum cleaners and cameras are all connected. The locks on our front doors. What if one man had not only the ability for a direct interface, but also unlimited access to pry into all those devices. Even take them over. Human enhancement indeed.
The implications are profound, and I hope thought-provoking.
To that end, I give you Cutting Edge.
Enjoy!
The story revolves around two intertwined concepts. To begin, consider where we've been. When I was a kid, the technology that connected me to the outside world consisted of a television across the room and a telephone. The phone was hard-wired, the handset connected to the phone body by a coiled wire. In time, we advanced to the miracle of cordless phones, giving us the freedom to move around the house while we talked. Then came the cellular revolution. Flip phones at first, followed by the smartphones and tablet computers we enjoy today. These modern devices can be augmented with wireless earpieces, and visual devices like Google Glass.
At a very basic level, what becomes obvious is this: as communications technology advances, the enabling devices--handsets, speakers, and screens--have become physically closer to our bodies. The venerable arms' length computer keyboard gave way to thumb typing with bent elbows. That, in turn, is being fast overtaken by voice recognition. We've reached the point where the next step is as obvious as it is revolutionary. Soon, probably within one generation, we will interface without any device at all.
In March of 2017 Elon Musk, famed tech entrepreneur, publicly announced his latest venture. It is called Neuralink, a company whose stated mission is to develop implantable brain-computer interfaces. The first objective will be to advance the control of prosthetics, but the eventual goal is far more broad. In the parlance of Silicon Valley, it is referred to as "human enhancement."Great advancements have already been made in fields that might augment such dreams--think retinal and cochlear implants, which are in use today to restore damaged sensory organs.
And here enters the second part of my story. We live in a web-enabled world. Our cars and vacuum cleaners and cameras are all connected. The locks on our front doors. What if one man had not only the ability for a direct interface, but also unlimited access to pry into all those devices. Even take them over. Human enhancement indeed.
The implications are profound, and I hope thought-provoking.
To that end, I give you Cutting Edge.
Enjoy!
November 2, 2017
Upcoming Books
I've been getting a lot of questions about books I have in the works, so here goes.
To begin, the Jammer Davis series is taking a temporary hiatus. It takes me about ten months to write a book, and as much as I love Jammer, I just don't have the time right now. I do, however, hope to pick up the series in the future--flying, and air accident investigation, is a natural fit for my background, and the stories are always fun to write.
The David Slaton "Assassin" series is set to continue regularly. Assassin's Code was released last August, and Assassin's Run is coming in August 2018 with more to follow.
My next book will arrive this January, and it's called Cutting Edge. As the name implies, it's a somewhat futuristic tale, but not as much as most might imagine. Earlier this year, Elon Musk, the entrepenuer behind Tesla and SpaceX, launched a company called Neuralink. Its stated goal is to develop brain-computer interface, which I believe will be the next major innovation to change our lives. Just as few of us could have realized the impact of smartphones twenty years ago, my hero in Cutting Edge, Trey DeBolt, finds himself thrust to the forefront of a new technology--albeit, in his case, with a devastating twist that increases its effectiveness exponentially.
I continue to be buoyed by reader support. Thanks for your feedback. Reviews are always appreciated, and please feel free to contact me via my website wardlarsen.com
Happy reading!
To begin, the Jammer Davis series is taking a temporary hiatus. It takes me about ten months to write a book, and as much as I love Jammer, I just don't have the time right now. I do, however, hope to pick up the series in the future--flying, and air accident investigation, is a natural fit for my background, and the stories are always fun to write.
The David Slaton "Assassin" series is set to continue regularly. Assassin's Code was released last August, and Assassin's Run is coming in August 2018 with more to follow.
My next book will arrive this January, and it's called Cutting Edge. As the name implies, it's a somewhat futuristic tale, but not as much as most might imagine. Earlier this year, Elon Musk, the entrepenuer behind Tesla and SpaceX, launched a company called Neuralink. Its stated goal is to develop brain-computer interface, which I believe will be the next major innovation to change our lives. Just as few of us could have realized the impact of smartphones twenty years ago, my hero in Cutting Edge, Trey DeBolt, finds himself thrust to the forefront of a new technology--albeit, in his case, with a devastating twist that increases its effectiveness exponentially.
I continue to be buoyed by reader support. Thanks for your feedback. Reviews are always appreciated, and please feel free to contact me via my website wardlarsen.com
Happy reading!
August 2, 2017
Events
I'll be attending two book events in the next month. On August 26-27 I'll be at Killer Nashville. My most recent book, Assassin's Silence, has been nominated for the Silver Falchion Award.
The following weekend, on September 3rd, I'll be in Atlanta for the Decatur Book Festival.
I'll be signing books at both events. I hope anyone attending will track me down and say hello!
The following weekend, on September 3rd, I'll be in Atlanta for the Decatur Book Festival.
I'll be signing books at both events. I hope anyone attending will track me down and say hello!
May 14, 2017
Kindle Daily Deal
Assassin's Game is on sale for the first time today, May 14th. It's an Amazon Kindle Deal of the Day, only $2.99. One day only!
February 24, 2017
Passenger 19 on Sale!
Passenger 19, a winner of last year's Florida Book Awards, is on sale this week for 99 cents!
