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ASK ME ANYTHING INTERVIEW JH
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So, our first guest is a military thriller writer who has burst onto the scene this year in style with his debut novel "Clear By Fire". Please welcome Joshua Hood. A veteran of the legendary 82nd Airborne Regiment and current officer of the law in his native Tennessee, Joshua's first book is about the saga of Mason Kane and Renee Hart, two special forces soldiers who cross paths when uncovering a deadly scheme to rewrite Middle Eastern geopolitics in a violent fashion. His second novel, "Warning Order", which centers around a plot by the Islamic Extremist group Daesh shall be released in 2016.
I've told Joshua to wait 1-2 days before coming on, to let the number of questions grow to a suitable number. Until then, feel free to post your questions in advance.
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Josh,
1) As someone who has gotten their first book published, from what you've experienced:
> what would you consider the biggest challenge/difficulty you faced in the initial stages.
> what would you say was the biggest help that got you through the publishing process
> what advice would you give to other would-be writers who are in the position you were when you were trying to get "Clear By Fire" published?
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> ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but Zeus not so much).
> Speaking of which, Zeus the former Libyan spy/secret policeman and the most fun secondary protagonist I've seen this year. How did he come about during the writing process and what ideas where you throwing about when developing his characterization?
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> Looking back, what would you consider the hardest thing when writing? The action scenes or the drama scenes?
> Outliner (Robert Ludlum) or seat of the pants (Vince Flynn) or a messy combination of both. What is your writing/plan style?
That's all for now, lunch beckons, but I've got a lot more things to ask left so I'll return soon.
Is CBF the first manuscript you've ever written? Now that you're published, what's next on your "to-do" list?
The War on Terror has been around for 15 years now with no end in sight. Do you think as a soldier who has seen combat, there is a better way to stabilize the Middle East?
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Another question for Joshua which also doubles as a compliment.
I was very surprised and impressed when reading Clear By Fire to find that one of the main themes of the story was:
"the ramifications of ending the war on terror (albeit through drastic means)".
It's shocking how so few post 9/11 thriller writers have explored this very relevant issue which is becoming increasingly important in this day and age. I applaud you for touching on it in CBF.
My question is this. How did that theme find its way into the finalized plot of clear by fire? It's one of the things which I found made the story stand out amongst the other military thrillers I've read this year.
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Another question for Joshua which also doubles as a compl..."
A side note:
Adding onto the above, apart from you, I can only recall thriller writer Nelson Demille exploring "the ramifications of ending the war on terror (albeit through drastic means)" in his excellent novel "Wildfire" which skewered the murderous wish fulfillment some parts of society have of using nuclear weapons on the Muslim world, titanic collateral damage be damned.
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Who are the authors which have influenced your writing?
I know that you've cited Joseph Conrad and Vince Flynn, but when reading CBF, I also detected some elements of Robert Ludlum and a similar atmosphere to the works by Andy Mcnab and Chris Ryan,
so apart from Flynn and Conrad, are there any other authors who you've been influenced by?
How emotionally connected to your characters are you? Do you have one character who you seem to place your personal attributes in or do you place parts of yourself throughout all the characters?
Do you think about people you know or people from your past and and use them as characters?
Hi Joshua! Which writers, both modern and classic, influenced your style and approach to creating your own stories? In addition, are there some authors that clearly do their homework when writing about matters related to the military, such as weapons, technology, etc?Thank you!
Will
Ok I know I'm supposed to wait but with so many great questions I can't help myself.
First off I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to do this with me. Especially Samuel for being such a gracious host. I'll start with Will's question.
Modern writers who really got me into thinking about writing would have to be Jack Higgins, Dale Brown- obviously Vince Flynn and Tom Clancey. Not only did these guys pioneer the genre, but they defined what a military thriller is.
These guys all did a ton of research and were spot on with tactical applications back when there wasn't a whole lot of open source data.
All of them except maybe Vince Flynn (because the Internet was now available) were in the Library reading through Janes or books on warfare and maneuver or going out to based to ensure they got every detail just right.
That's dedication to the craft and it's why they are superstars.
What Dale Brown did with Flight of the Old Dog still amazes me.
For me that's what makes a military thriller. Authors putting in the time to get ever detail right.
I know that I still have to pick up the phone or pull out a manual simply because so much has changed since 2008.
Samuel wrote: "I'll start things off. Josh,
1) As someone who has gotten their first book published, from what you've experienced:
> what would you consider the biggest challenge/difficulty you faced in the..."
The hardest part of getting published was finding an agent. I think I got like 87 or so rejections before I finally was accepted. It's hard getting kicked in the teeth over and over again. During this time I was accepted by the ATF and the FBI, but I turned them down because I believed in Clear by Fire. I believed that if I worked hard enough I would get to where I wanted to go.
I think you have to be confident in what you are doing and in yourself. I'm not trying to be dramatic, but I felt like Cortez burning his boats- I was all in.
The biggest help was meeting John Paine, an independent editor in New York.
Jack wrote: "How emotionally connected to your characters are you? Do you have one character who you seem to place your personal attributes in or do you place parts of yourself throughout all the characters?
..."
Jack,
Great question.
I think that Renee is the one character I place the most of myself in. I don't know why, but I put a lot of my personal struggles into her backstory. (Not about joining the army for a dude though- that was all her.)
I was also really attached to Barnes. He was the genesis of the book, and since I came up with the idea when I was in Afghanistan in 07, he was kinda "born" in combat.
Mason is the toughest one for me to figure out. It is like he has a mind of his own. I think that comes from basing him on people that I knew or met. When I write a scene and want him to do something, I sometimes see their faces and they are like, "Bro, I'm not doing that." He is a real pain in the ass.
He is also very hard to write because in the first draft he was much darker. I had to change him up because I was told no one would root for him.
I'd really like to cut him loose in a book one day.
Samuel wrote: "2) > ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but Zeus not so much).
> Speaking of which, Zeu..."
When I wrote Zeus I first had to figure out how Mason could survive on his own without any help from the locals. When I was in Iraq and Afghanistan I always wondered what the people there really thought about us. You would see them talking, and I thought it would have been so cool to know Arabic and just kinda listen in. Zeus lets me do that.
I also was intrigued with how that relationship would change Mason. It's easy to hate people who are different but in Mason's case, his best friend is an Arab, and the Americans want him dead.
As for weapons, I think Renee is a typical Government Issue girl. Her biggest weapon is her mind, but it's obvious that she can get down when she needs to. Zeus was brought up around Soviet Bloc weaponry, so I think he's familiar with that.
This part kind of goes back to Will's question. I toyed with the idea of giving Mason a 1911 or some other iconic gun, but the problem with that is Mason knows better. The 1911 has a lower magazine capacity, it's harder to get .45 rounds when you are on the run, and they always break. I think that the weapons are characters. You have to use the right one for the job and if you don't someone is going to call you on it.
As a reader, I am a firm believer in the willing suspension of disbelief. When I am reading a book and someone picks a weapon that doesn't fit, or refers to something that I know is wrong, I stop reading.
I work really hard to make sure that I've done all my research so this doesnt happen.
Beth wrote: "Is CBF the first manuscript you've ever written? Now that you're published, what's next on your "to-do" list?"Beth,
This is the first manuscript that I have ever finished. I started a few when I was in college, but I didn't really have anything to say.
As for my goals, I want to be a full-time writer. That has always been my dream and God willing one day I will accomplish it. Writing is the only "job" that I have ever loved. I wake up every day super excited to write.
Mod
> ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but Zeus not so much).
> Speakin..."
So true. Hence the Glock 17 and G23 he uses.
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> ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but Zeus not so much).
> Speakin..."
Your answer about Zeus clarifies a few things about the character I was curious about. That irony in their dynamic is one of the things which make their interactions great.
Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "2) > ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but Zeus not so mu..."
Yeah. I don't remember him using a Glock 23 in Clear by Fire, but if I put it in I would consider that a mistake. I imagine that it would be pretty hard to get your hands on .40 in the MidEast. Maybe not. I tried to stick with 9mm, 5.56 or 7.62 based on availability.
I think I used the Glock 23 in the Warning Order ARC, but changed it in the final draft.
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> ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but..."
Ah okay.
Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "2) > ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but Zeus not so mu..."
I like Zeus a lot. He is Mason's brake, and I feel that Renee is his conscience. I tried to instil that brotherhood I found in the army into their relationship. I think it's pretty powerful.
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What are three spy/military thrillers that have caught your eye this year? Ones which you would recommend to the group.
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What are three spy/military thrillers that have caught your eye this year? Ones which you would recommend to the group."
And maybe three nonfiction books as well.
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> ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewhat for Renee but..."
Indeed. Not to mention all three of them are outsiders. They only have each other in the cruel world they operate in.
I was blown away by Simon Gervais' Thin Black Line. He killed it. I also really liked Dalton Fury's latest book A killer Force, and I got to read an advanced copy of Overwatch by Mathew Betley. Cartel was also pretty epic.I've read so many Non Fiction books this year that it's hard to say. I just finished The Revenant which blew my mind. I read Ghost Wars and Way of the Knife for the third time.
Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "2) > ["Softball question"]. What are Mason, Renee and Zeus' weapons of choice (sidearms)? (I've got the general idea for Mason, somewha..."
Very true. There is an alienation in war that is hard to share with anyone who hasn't been there. The reason Clear by Fire is so based in the military side of the house is because I wanted fellow Veterans to be able to pick up the book and find something familiar in it.
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Way Of The Knife? Awesome book!
I'm thinking of writing a review for it next year.
Yes it is. I think it's one of the better books out there. Have you read Dirty Wars or Task Force Black?
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1) What do you consider the two most dangerous short term and long term geopolitical issues today which have you concerned?
2) What geopolitical issue would you like to integrate into a future book you may write?
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Yes, I've heard of Dirty Wars and got a copy of Task Force Black lurking around somewhere...
I think our short term foreign policy has caused long term geopolitical issues. Let's take ISIS for example. Our short sighted goal of getting out of Iraq before it was time has caused a long term problem in the region. Our strategy in regards to ISIS seems to applying short term solutions. The fact of the matter is the invasion of Iraq caused an evolution in the region. I don't want to sound demeaning but we dragged radical Islam into the 21st century then we left- creating a vacuum.
To win in al Anbar General Petraeus armed and funded the Sunni militia. What did we think was going to happen when we left? We destroyed a regional hegemond and then acted all surprised that the balance of power shifted.
What I'm writing about in my third book is what this looks like in five to ten years. Obviously I'm not going to set the book that far out but I'm fascinated by the theories dealing with the world power shift of 2025.
Got off on a rant there, sorry about that.
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No worries, it's fine. And a very good answer to my question as well.
what is your opinion of women in special forces?
Kathryn wrote: "what is your opinion of women in special forces?"Dang Kathryn, way to put me on the spot here- lol.
That is a tricky question because it deals with semantics. If you are talking about Special Forces, i.e. Green Berets I think that women could be very useful in that role. I'm not sure if you have read Ashley's War, but it is about using women in what was called a Cultural Support Team. Special Operations Command- which is different from Special Forces say the need for women to be attached to combat units in Afghanistan due to cultural issues.
The Marines were the first to see the need for this in Iraq and started what was called the Lioness Program. Basically, in Middle Eastern culture it is forbidden for a man to touch or speak to a married female, which was causing trouble in Iraq. So they began taking women out on patrol with them to fill this role.
Special Forces has a different role than the Navy Seal and Delta etc. They are primarily used to go into a foreign country and meet up with the locals, gain their trust, and then use them to fight. In this role, I think women could be very useful.
However in direct action mission, I think a problem arises. According to all of the data that I have read women cannot physically meet the standards required at BUD's and in the Ranger Battalion. However, unit cohesion, esprit de corps and the ability to conduct real world missions require that each member of the unit must be at a certain physical level. If you lower that level for ANYONE, you take away from that unit's effectiveness and put people's lives in danger.
Thanks Joshua. I appreciate your answer and I apologize for the vagueness of my question. I have heard of the Lioness program, and I'll have to read Ashley's war. Thanks for that.Sorry I can't remember Renee's actual military role in the book, but have you ever worked with women as tough and strong as she? She seemed almost too good..up until towards the end of the book.
Your point about lowering standards is valid, but I think that horse has left the barn.
Your question wasn't vague at all- it was very well posed. Sometimes Special Forces/ Spec Ops titles get confusing. I was trying to kinda answer two questions at the same time. I never worked with anyone like Renée but that's not to say their aren't women like her out there. Take the two who recently passed Ranger School! I wanted to offer a character who stood on her own and also could act as a role model.
The great thing about our military is that it is full of motivated volunteers who always seem to rise to the occasion. I have faith that as a nation, we are in great hands.
where did you go to college and what did you major in?
I went to the University of Memphis and majored in English
Hey Joshua, you missed my question:The War on Terror has been around for 15 years now with no end in sight. Do you think as a soldier who has seen combat, there is a better way to stabilize the Middle East?
A couple of additional ones:
Also do you think that Radical Jihadism spiked directly proportional to the end of the Cold War?
Who benefits? How can we restore the balance?
Joshua wrote: "First off I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to do this with me. Especially Samuel for being such a gracious host. I'll start with Will's question.
Modern writers who really got me in..."
what about other writers besides modern - Faulkner, Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, Shakespeare - anybody like that influence your writing?
Gopal, I didn't miss it just pacing myself. To begin answering your question, I have to ask, have you read Clear by Fire?
I think a stable MidEast is a misnomer. What or who defines stable? Exporting democracy was supposed to stabilize Iraq, but I don't think it quite worked out according to plan. When you ask who benefits, I think you are on the right track. Radicalized religion is nothing new, certainly not in the Middle East. I think the end of the Cold War sent certain people searching for a new "boogie" man and maybe radical Islam fits that bill.
Classical Influences for a thousand: I think classical literature influenced the way I structure sentences. I love long compound sentences because I feel they better convay emotion. They sound better to my ear- if that makes any sense. I think short sentences are "Pulpy" and have a place when you are ramping up pace.
As for authors I love Steinbecks descriptions, Conrads's voice, and Homers action.
I never understood Catcher in the Rye nor have I ever figured out why I had to read Silas Marner in school.
Joshua wrote: "Gopal, I didn't miss it just pacing myself. To begin answering your question, I have to ask, have you read Clear by Fire?"Clear By Fire is on bucket list of to read books. Waiting for my turn to get the book from the Library.
The plot line reminds me a bit of Area 7 from Matt Reilly, but only the soldiers gone rogue part of it.
Can the US really get out of the Middle East without causing a vacuum which would then be exploited by China or Russia?
Joshua wrote: "Samuel wrote: "I'll start things off. Josh,
1) As someone who has gotten their first book published, from what you've experienced:
> what would you consider the biggest challenge/difficulty y..."
So how did you meet John Paine?
I think you've done a really good job getting your name and book 'out there'. Social media helps these days, and you know how to exploit it. I heard about Clear by Fire from fellow Memphian Mark Greaney (a facebook post, I think).
Any advice to other new writers trying to find an agent? Would you recommend self-publishing?
thanks!
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Another question for Joshua which also doubles as a compl..."
Looking back at this question, I think it's a bit mangled so I'll rephrase it to give a little more clarity.
I found that the scheme which the plot of CBF revolves around touches on a very relevant issue which has been shockingly barely explored in Post 9/11 thriller fiction, namely "finding a way to end the war on terror in one fell swoop."
and the ramifications of someone willing to go all the way to achieve that objective regardless of the mountain of corpses that they would accumulate.
How did that theme find its way into CBF? It was perhaps the biggest surprise I found when reading, and a very satisfying one at that.
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Another question for Joshua which also dou..."
Adding onto the above, having finished reading CBF for the second time (to catch certain details I might have missed) I have a question about Winston Cage, which is similar to the one about Zeus.
Mr Cage. A well intentioned extremist who has a pretty understandable and very sympathetic goal but is willing to rack up a titanic body count to achieve his objectives. By far the most interesting antagonist I've encountered this reading year (even knocking off Barnes from that spot) and a very savvy one as well.
How did he come about when you were writing CBF and what were the concepts you were considering when finalizing his characterization?
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The Orion Team.
Books mentioned in this topic
Clear by Fire (other topics)Warning Order (other topics)
Here we'll have authors who are members of this group take questions from the members, about their work, background before writing and how they went into the publishing business and many other topics (it is "ask me anything" after all)
The only rules here are to keep things polite and
mostly relevant to the subjects this group focuses on. .
This is the first part of a two interview trial run, still getting the hang of it.