Author Norm Clark Interviewed by Tarak Ghosh
Author Norm Clark
Interviewed by Tarak Ghosh
1. You were born and raised in a military environment and you like to write action packed thriller novels. What is the chemistry between 'environment' and 'liking'?
The CIA and the military have an indepth working agreement, so to make the step from a militant background to the action/thriller genre was a natural progression for me.
2. Jack McDuff, the Agency's top rated covert agent. Please tell your readers how you created this character?
The first thing I did when I decided to write a novel was create a picture of Jack in my mind—a large thickset man with reddish-brown hair, a ruddy complexion, and hazel eyes. So, I opened the telephone book and selected a Scottish surname to fit his description. The CIA lured him from the Army Ranger service for black-ops duty, which gave him a military connection.
3. How did you choose the genre you write in?
Many friends through the years were Navy Seals and an ex-Air America pilot from the Viet Nam era. Their anecdotes and attitudes set the action/thriller tone for me.
4. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
Titles should relate to the book’s storylines. In my first book, “Resurrected”, Jack McDuff is reassigned to a desk job when he learns of assassinations of his friends and fellow agents in Europe. He accepts an unsanctioned mission to track the killer and in the process resurrects his field agent status. The second book in the series is “The Saladin Strategy.” Jack uncovers a Jihadist scheme to replicate Saladin’s unification of the sects and tribes centuries ago to defeat King Richard during The Crusades.
5. Tell us a little bit about your cover art ( The Saladin Strategy). Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?
The cover is a modern-day photo of the underground alleys in the old city of Jerusalem, which sets the cover in the story’s theme. Many readers have commented on the mystique of the cover, which drew them to the book.
6. Who is your favorite character from your books and why?
I would have to select my protagonist, as the story is built around him. However, we would have no story without an antagonist, and the minor characters are essential to create the richness and fullness required for a well-rounded story.
7. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?
I must confess, I love them all.
8. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Are you inspired by anyone?
I was probably in my mid-twenties when Ken Follett’s “The Eye of the Needle” planted the novelist seed for me. Unfortunately, life got in the way and delayed my dream for many years, but writing became my life when I could retire and begin my first book.
9. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
At about the age of eight years, I read “The Wizard of Oz” and became an insatiable reader.
10. Tell your readers a little bit about yourself and your first thriller "Resurrected."
My first writing project, “Resurrected,” gave birth to my new life as an author and soon taught me the dedication required to become an author of merit.
11. Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
Any of the ‘living’ characters created are eligible for inclusion in future work if the story dictates their involvement.
12. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
The basic storyline is created in the imagination, however, many of my scenes and plot directions are based on anecdotes and experiences from real life.
13. Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?
As an Indie Writer/Publisher, the answer is no. The responsibility to publish a quality product rests squarely on my shoulders.
14. In future what do we expect from you ? A new genre?
My immediate plan is to publish a third book in the current series. For the future, I might write a book in the mystery genre. Though the format differs from a thriller, the genres are considered quite similar. We’ll see what happens.
15. Why readers like your books? Your opinion as a reader.
I’ll respond with my recent release as the topic since the reviews and comments rate “The Saladin Strategy” as a sure-fire best-seller candidate, which justifies the writing style I have developed. The complex plot dictates short chapters, which greatly reduces confusion describing simultaneous events and contributes to the flow of the story. The conflict grabs the reader in the first chapter and refuses to let go until the very end, which makes the book a legitimate page-turner.
My foregoing opinion as a reader is substantiated by the reviews and other reader comments, which fills me with pride for the quality book I have written.
Interviewed by Tarak Ghosh
1. You were born and raised in a military environment and you like to write action packed thriller novels. What is the chemistry between 'environment' and 'liking'?
The CIA and the military have an indepth working agreement, so to make the step from a militant background to the action/thriller genre was a natural progression for me.
2. Jack McDuff, the Agency's top rated covert agent. Please tell your readers how you created this character?
The first thing I did when I decided to write a novel was create a picture of Jack in my mind—a large thickset man with reddish-brown hair, a ruddy complexion, and hazel eyes. So, I opened the telephone book and selected a Scottish surname to fit his description. The CIA lured him from the Army Ranger service for black-ops duty, which gave him a military connection.
3. How did you choose the genre you write in?
Many friends through the years were Navy Seals and an ex-Air America pilot from the Viet Nam era. Their anecdotes and attitudes set the action/thriller tone for me.
4. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
Titles should relate to the book’s storylines. In my first book, “Resurrected”, Jack McDuff is reassigned to a desk job when he learns of assassinations of his friends and fellow agents in Europe. He accepts an unsanctioned mission to track the killer and in the process resurrects his field agent status. The second book in the series is “The Saladin Strategy.” Jack uncovers a Jihadist scheme to replicate Saladin’s unification of the sects and tribes centuries ago to defeat King Richard during The Crusades.
5. Tell us a little bit about your cover art ( The Saladin Strategy). Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?
The cover is a modern-day photo of the underground alleys in the old city of Jerusalem, which sets the cover in the story’s theme. Many readers have commented on the mystique of the cover, which drew them to the book.
6. Who is your favorite character from your books and why?
I would have to select my protagonist, as the story is built around him. However, we would have no story without an antagonist, and the minor characters are essential to create the richness and fullness required for a well-rounded story.
7. How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?
I must confess, I love them all.
8. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Are you inspired by anyone?
I was probably in my mid-twenties when Ken Follett’s “The Eye of the Needle” planted the novelist seed for me. Unfortunately, life got in the way and delayed my dream for many years, but writing became my life when I could retire and begin my first book.
9. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
At about the age of eight years, I read “The Wizard of Oz” and became an insatiable reader.
10. Tell your readers a little bit about yourself and your first thriller "Resurrected."
My first writing project, “Resurrected,” gave birth to my new life as an author and soon taught me the dedication required to become an author of merit.
11. Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
Any of the ‘living’ characters created are eligible for inclusion in future work if the story dictates their involvement.
12. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
The basic storyline is created in the imagination, however, many of my scenes and plot directions are based on anecdotes and experiences from real life.
13. Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?
As an Indie Writer/Publisher, the answer is no. The responsibility to publish a quality product rests squarely on my shoulders.
14. In future what do we expect from you ? A new genre?
My immediate plan is to publish a third book in the current series. For the future, I might write a book in the mystery genre. Though the format differs from a thriller, the genres are considered quite similar. We’ll see what happens.
15. Why readers like your books? Your opinion as a reader.
I’ll respond with my recent release as the topic since the reviews and comments rate “The Saladin Strategy” as a sure-fire best-seller candidate, which justifies the writing style I have developed. The complex plot dictates short chapters, which greatly reduces confusion describing simultaneous events and contributes to the flow of the story. The conflict grabs the reader in the first chapter and refuses to let go until the very end, which makes the book a legitimate page-turner.
My foregoing opinion as a reader is substantiated by the reviews and other reader comments, which fills me with pride for the quality book I have written.
No comments have been added yet.
