The Genesis of a Character

A couple of my colleagues here have been talking about characters. They are the building blocks of a story. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes may make for excitement, but it's how people react to such phenomena that we enjoy reading about. I know some authors who tear pictures of people out of magazines and post them near the computer to model for their characters. Others base characteristics of their creations on people they know.

For the most part, I create my characters from scratch, giving them traits and history that blends in with their role in the story. I literally build them as I go, adding to the characters as the story develops (I don't outline or plot the book in advance). When I began writing what became my first published mystery, Secret of the Scroll, book one of five in the Greg McKenzie series, the tale I had in mind required a retiree with investigative experience. Since I had an Air Force background, I decided to make him a former Office of Special Investigations agent. And since I had gotten involved in the new Scottish Society of Middle Tennessee, I gave him a Scottish name and heritage.

As I said, that has been the case with most of the characters who people my books. However, there has been one striking departure. It involved the first novel I wrote when I turned to fiction in earnest back in 1989. That time, also, I needed a man with investigative experience. But in this case he would need a background that would allow him to have worked in the past with a CIA officer. As I thought about it, I had the perfect fit in a former FBI agent I had first met during my days as editor of Nashville Magazine.

I discussed the man whose background formed the basis for my character Burke Hill on this blog last April in The Story Behind the Story. I didn't use his physical characteristics for Hill, and I did a bit of tweaking with his backstory, shifting the timeline and fictionalizing his activities following the dismissal by J. Edgar Hoover. A tale about Burke working with his old CIA buddy in Mexico isn't part of the story related by my ex-FBI friend, but he did tell me about a wild concoction produced by a lab at Dugway Proving Grounds.

Hill is the central figure in my trilogy of Post Cold War political thrillers, which had different literary agents when written in the early nineties and wound up in the manuscript pile on my office floor. The first, Beware the Jabberwock, was finally published this year and is available on Amazon in ebook and paperback. The second, The Poksu Conspiracy, will be in the Kindle Store by the end of this month.

Burke Hill's character is further fictionalized in the second book with the revelation of a son by his first marriage. But the basic story of his FBI career, starting with his job of delivering documents to Hoover's home, follows the account the agent told me in interviews.

The other characters in both books are figments of my imagination. Incidentally, I haven't mentioned the former agent's name, but if you're curious, take a look at the dedication in the print version.

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The Story Behind the Story

My newest ebook, just available on Amazon for the Kindle, is titled Beware the Jabberwock. It has quite a story behind it. Actually, several stories. I wrote it back in 1990 after I retired from an eighteen-year career as executive vice president of a statewide trade association. I had written non-fiction for years as a newspaper reporter, free-lance writer, magazine editor, and a few other permutations. I had written two book manuscripts over the years and told everyone I intended to write novels when I retired.

I was an avid spy story reader all through the Cold War, so it was natural that I turned to this genre when I looked for a plot. I had read extensively about the KGB and CIA and had no trouble creating a situation involving both agencies. With the Iron Curtain shredding and the Soviet Union falling apart, clandestine warriors on both sides found their futures in jeopardy. I chose that as my starting point.

Since this was an international thriller, the setting was anywhere. I had been on a fifteen-day tour of Europe in the early eighties and spent a month touring the Far East in 1987. With that background, I had lots of possibilities to choose from. I started the story in Vienna, then moved to Washington, DC.guide I had to depend on guidebooks for scenes on Cyprus and in Tel Aviv, but I had visited Hong Kong and most of the locations in the States. I created a small island off the Florida coast south of Apalachicola.

For the main character, I turned to a man I had met back in the sixties when I was editor of Nashville Magazine. He was a close friend of one of my colleagues and I got to know him pretty well. He was an ex-FBI agent with a wild story to tell. I did a long interview with him, and we talked about writing a book. Then he had second thoughts about writing it as a true story. The statute of limitations hadn't run out on some of the things he had done.

According to his story, and my colleague vouched for his authenticity, he had gone to Washington out of high school and worked as a clerk at FBI Headquarters while getting an accounting degree. His job involved taking documents to Hoover's home, and he became closely associated with the director. He attended the FBI Academy after graduation and worked as a field agent. He was tapped by Hoover to be a member of his Goon Squad, a select group of agents who carried out sometimes illegal acts for the director. According to my guy, some of it involved cases outside the U.S.

Hoover and his assistant came up with a plan to infiltrate the Mafia and chose my agent for the task. He was told to resign from the FBI, commit a few crimes to establish his bona fides, and work to get in with the mob in Las Vegas. But after months of trying, he never managed to get connected. When he came back to Washington, Hoover refused to talk to him, calling him a failure.

All of this is covered in the background of my character, Burke Hill. I lost contact with the ex-agent but learned he died several years ago. It makes for quite a story. You can check out Beware the Jabberwock at  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VQJ3PY.

Chester Campbell

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My Field of View Is Narrowing

I've realized that the focus of my writing has narrowed over the years. My first three novels written in 1990-93, but never published, have a decided international flavor. The first ranges from the U.S. to Austria, Cyprus, Hong Kong, and Israel, winding up in Toronto. Book two takes us from the U.S. to Korea and China, while the third wanders among Ukraine, Iran, Belarus, Mexico and the U.S.

This trilogy of post-Cold War spy stories grew out of my love of the espionage genre, which I had followed for years with authors like Helen Macinnes, John le Carre, Graham Greene, and Robert Ludlum. The international scene was fresh in my mind from travels across Europe and around the Far East in the eighties.

While revising the books with an eye toward publication, I was reminded of how much additional research I had done in preparation for writing them. I make folders for each of my books and place all of the research material in them. Besides notes they include call slips for various books I checked out of the library. I also have a supply of maps and travel books covering the areas. The shelves in my office include books on the CIA, the KGB, and such famous spies as Harold Adrian "Kim" Philby.

By the end of the nineties, my settings had narrowed down to mostly U.S. locations. After a trip to the Holy Land in late 1998, however, I set my first Greg McKenzie mystery half in the U.S. and half in Israel. My second McKenzie book wandered off to Perdido Key, Florida where we vacationed often in my brother's condo, but since them the mysteries have all taken place around my hometown of Nashville.

I suppose this is part of the aging process, since my wife and I have cut back on our personal wanderings over the years. There's probably a bit of laziness involved, also, as it's much easier to write about an area you are intimately familiar with. I enjoy venturing out to re-check locations I haven't visited in a while, and I'll occasionally include a place I've never been before.

I still enjoy the high-octane machinations of the spy story, though I haven't read a good one lately. Who knows, I might just stumble into a dead drop  or pick up a one-time pad and get motivated to turn out another espionage tome. Meanwhile, look for the Burke Hill trilogy in the near future.

Chester Campbell
http://chesterdcampbell.com
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PLEASE WELCOME MY GUEST, THRILLER WRITER, KENSINGTON ROTH

Today, I'm happy to feature a recent interview of one of my Book Place members, thriller author, Kensington Roth, along with information on his current spy thriller, Able Danger.   Leave a comment in the comment section, along with your email address. One lucky winner will receive a free copy of Kensington's thriller, Able Danger. (Entry void where prohibited by law) Morgan Mandel

Author Interview

ABLE DANGER author Kensington Roth, recently sat down and answered a few questions about his novel, his inspiration, and more.

What inspired you to write Able Danger? Is this your first book?

Able Danger was born after my trip to mainland China and following the 9/11 attacks. I pondered for some time about a what-if scenario of China attacking the U.S. with a weapon more powerful then a nuclear weapon and just how the White House might react.

Because my story has many dimensions of action, intrigue, and romance I felt it could be best portrayed on the silver screen. After I wrote the screenplay I adapted the story to the novel format for all spy-thriller fans to read and my first book was published.

How did you come up with the idea for Able Danger?

After watching all the movies that have been made about the U.S. and Russia fighting over nuclear weapons, I thought they’re much too busy haggling over nukes when there is something with far greater destructive power that they should be be worrying about. In the novel Gravvox is discovered, not by the Americans, but by another superpower — China.

I understand you did a lot of research in the Library of Congress to prepare for this book?

Yes I did and I discovered many “behind the curtain” facts about the 9/11 attacks and also a lot about China’s global ambitions.

What is the origin of the title Able Danger?

After I finished writing the story, I realized that the U.S. government’s overly confident attitude about war has made them think they are able to encounter and overcome any danger. So, the title Able Danger stuck.

Your main character Harrison Court-006, has been called the American James Bond. Are you an avid James Bond fan?

Yes, ever since I was 7 years old when my father took me to see my first Bond movie Goldfinger, I was intrigued by the many elements the characters delivered to the story. I didn’t know that I wrote an American Bond-like novel until the novel was finished.

Who are your biggest fans?

It seems most Bond fans have taken a liking to my American version of the Bond-like story theme and most are eager to read the novel and see the movie on the big screen. They have the same thirst for spy-action intrigue, coupled with romantic interludes portraying beautiful women, as I do.

What was the most frustrating aspect about writing and publishing this book? What has been the most rewarding?

I thoroughly enjoyed writing the story so everyone can share in the Harrison Court-006 saga. Self-publishing the novel has been the only challenge to overcome. The most rewarding factor is that I discovered the many, many people who simply adore spy-thriller action stories about intriguing spies and gorgeous ladies found in exotic locations.

Do you plan to write another novel? Have you begun?

I plan on writing the sequel to Able Danger which will be called Danger for 2. I have already started my other genre of action-adventure-fantasy which will feature the first of a series showcasing the first female action hero for all audiences to enjoy. It will be published in early 2010.

When you Google Able Danger, you pull up the Able Danger movie. Does it relate to your novel?

The movie from 2008 has nothing to do with Able Danger the novel. It’s a question asked often and the public will discover this after reading the novel.

Do you have plans to make your own movie of Able Danger?

I planned on making the movie as I wrote the screenplay which is currently in the early stages of development. Two accomplished actresses are slated to play China doll “MISSONG” and the voluptuous “VOLACE.” Several amazing theme tracks and songs from the soundtrack have been sent to me for review. A choice director is joining the ensemble to entice two famous known actors to play the lead role of Harrison Court-006 and his nemesis DaSage.

Can you tell us why you choose the Virtual Book Tour to promote your book?

The virtual book tour is for the general public to be made aware of my new explosive spy-thriller that has a Bond-like appeal.

Are you promoting Able Danger by any other means? Website? Blog? Twitter? Facebook?

Able Danger the novel can be viewed at my website. http://www.able-danger.net/ for the full synopsis and for ordering information. My profile is displayed on Facebook, along with The Kensington Roth Fan Club so everyone can get plugged-in with the latest events taking shape about Able Danger the movie adapted from the novel.

Do you have any final words?

I hope audiences around the world will welcome the Able Danger series of spy-thrillers and Harrison Court-006 in his perilous exploits that take him across the globe to fight the evils of the world, while never getting his tuxedo dirty.

Thank you for this interview, Kensington. Good luck on your tour!

Dexter Matthews says:

December 16, 2009 at 2:59 pm

Outstanding interview. I took an interest in the book “ABLE DANGER” after be-friending Kensington Roth on facebook. The more I read the synopsis the more I wanted to read the book. However, after reading just the first two chapters I was “HOOKED” I’ve always loved the spy thrillers since I was a kid. “JAMES BOND,” “OUR MAN FLINT,” “THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E,” and the “AVENGERS” to name a few. Harrison Court AGENT 006, brings back the excitement, intrigue, adventure and romanticism of the genre. As a reader you’ll love the twist of this novel and the depth of each character. As a fan of spy movies ,you’ll anxiously await the release of “ABLE DANGER” the film. It is safe to say you will not be disappointed with the saga of agent Harrison Court and his sexy spy-girl Missong.

ABLE DANGER

http://www.abledangerbooktour.com/

Synopsis

Agent Harrison Court-006 a black ops-spy discovers China’s secret attack planned for the U. S. taking him on a new mission across Asia and Europe against time to stop a rogue ex-CIA agent DaSage. Court uncovers China’s deadly super weapon from a known terrorist leader hiding in the caves of Tora Bora. OO6 must find out what American cities the silent gravity weapon will destroy by defeating the phantom of reverse gravity before history is altered forever.

Excerpt from Chapter 1

From outer space the satellite disengages its laser on this American suburban household, as the TEST of Gravvox’s destructive firepower has concluded. The laser’s disengagement creates a sensitizing, bursting, spherical-shaped flash traveling almost forever in space. The effects of the laser burning out causes a phenomenal, geomagnetic interference with Earth’s ATMOSPHERE.

How Able Danger, the Novel, was born

Kensington returned from his trip to the Orient in March 2004. Being his assistant, I noticed for some months he was distracted and always jotting down illegible notes. The months went by and the office was filled with small pieces of paper everywhere. He was truly fixated with some big story. What did he see in Hong Kong? Was it main land China that moved him? The people? The culture?

As the next year turned the corner, he began transferring his ideas in no apparent order onto the computer. He struggled in the last months of that year to grasp some sort of flow which didn't come out about until the fall of 2006, and that's when he started writing Able Danger for the silver screen. In the spring of 2008 the novel was written and subsequently published by his company Kensington Roth Media, Inc. - Karina

BIO for Author, KENSINGTON ROTH

Known for his spy thrillers set in exotic locations across the globe, Kensington Roth is the author of this highly acclaimed explosive, action spy-thriller. “Able Danger” fits the international espionage spectrum of sequels for avid readers and has been adapted to film by the author for moviegoers to view agent Harrison Court-006 on the silver screen. The sequel ”Danger for 2” will be featured in paperback and theaters in 2011.

http://www.able-danger.net/

Please leave a comment or question for our guest,
Kensington Roth. Make sure to include your email
address to be eligible for the contest drawing for
a free copy of Able Danger.