Dishing it up with Robert Browne

Today I’m thrilled to be dishing it up with thriller writer extraordinaire Robert Browne.

Robert is an AMPAS Nicholl Award-winning screenwriter who ran screaming from the movie industry and jumped into writing novels.


His first novel, KISS HER GOODBYE, was recently produced in Chicago as a pilot for a CBS Television series tentatively titled THE LINE, by Sony Pictures and Timberman/Beverly Productions, with a script written and directed by Michael Dinner.

Before the jump, he developed screenplays for Showtime, Viacom, Saban/Fox Kids, Krost-Chapin, and Marvel. He was also staff writer for Fox Kids’ Diabolik, and a contributing screenwriter for Spider-Man Unlimited.

Post jump, Rob has written four thrillers for St. Martin’s Press in the U.S., Macmillan in the UK, Droemer Knauer in Germany, with books also published in Russia, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.

His books KISS HER GOODBYE (2007) and WHISPER IN THE DARK (2008 UK/2009 US), are critically acclaimed. Bookfinds.com proclaimed, “This is a writer whose name will soon be a household word” and Publisher’s Weekly gave WHISPER IN THE DARK a starred review: “The deeply satisfying story moves at a furious pace, packed with unexpected and original clues and plot twists.”

His third novel, KILL HER AGAIN, was released by Macmillan UK in May of 2009 and July in the U.S.

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN was released in May, 2010 and has been nominated for a 2011 ITW Thriller Award.

His new thriller, THE PARADISE PROPHECY, was released on July 21, 2011.


JET: Can you tell us about the Paradise Prophecy?

Rob: The Paradise Prophecy is a big, edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller about dark angels trying to take over the world and the two screwed-up mortals trying to stop them. It spans the globe from Brazil to Los Angeles, London, Istanbul and back, is full of exciting set pieces that scream make-me-a-movie, and will hopefully have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

JET: What drew you to writing thrillers?

Rob: I grew up reading and watching thrillers. When I was a kid I watched all the Warner Brothers crime thrillers on TV and read every thriller I could get my hands on, including the Richard Stark Parker series and William Goldman's Magic and Marathon Man. I consider Marathon Man to be one of the greatest thrillers ever written. Goldman is smart enough to know that thrillers aren't just about plot mechanics. They have to have heart or emotion, and there's plenty of that in Thomas "Babe" Levy's life.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Rob: Believing I could write a book. I became a "pro" through the publication of a short mystery story in EasyRiders magazine, believe it or not. Then I broke into the screenwriting world and wrote a ton of screenplays, never feeling I was quite ready to tackle my true love, novels. When I became disenchanted with Hollywood, I decided to finally try my hand at it and Kiss Her Goodbye was born. The irony, of course, is that despite my abandonment of Hollywood, they came calling a few years later, wanting to adapt the book for a TV series.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Rob: Well, besides getting the call telling me I'd sold Kiss Her Goodbye, it was standing on the set when they were filming the pilot and watching Dylan Walsh play a character I had created. Both of the worlds I loved had come together. It was quite a head trip.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

ROB: I already mentioned Stark and Goldman, Stark being Donald Westlake, of course. I also loved his comedy mysteries. In fact, the first book of his I ever read was serialized in Playboy magazine, which I read when I was thirteen. I was also a huge fan of James Kirkwood and Newton Thornburg. Kirkwood wrote quirky slice of life stories and Thornburg wrote some of the most literate thrillers I'd ever read. Cutter and Bone is a masterpiece.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Rob: When I read Westlake's novel in Playboy. It was a revelation to me and I knew at that moment that I wanted to tell stories for a living. To be able to keep a person glued to the page the way he did me, was to my mind the greatest thing in the world.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Rob: One of my books is a thriller about reincarnation called Kill Her Again. The male lead is a hypnotherapist who reluctantly delves into past-life regression in order to understand the visions that are plaguing the woman at the center of the story. In order to understand the process, I went to a hypnotist who specialized in past-life regression and had her put me under. It was an interesting experience. Mostly it was me doing what I do best—making stuff up—but it was fun.

The most interesting thing I think I've uncovered was when I was doing research for The Paradise Prophecy. I had never heard of the Codex Gigas—or Devil's Bible—before and I thought the legend surrounding it was fascinating. The book is about the size of a packing trunk and was allegedly written in a single day after the monk assigned to write it made a pact with the devil. Obviously, it was a perfect fit for The Paradise Prophecy. In fact, the entire mystery centers around the book's seven missing pages. And that's real. I didn't make it up.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Rob: I'll have to go with The Paradise Prophecy for a couple of reasons. It's my latest, and you always have high hopes for your latest, and it also signals a change for me. Not so much a change of direction. My books are all supernatural to some degree. But the size and scope of this novel is much broader than usual. It has a pretty large cast of characters, and covers a lot of ground. Raymond Khoury called it an epic and I think that applies. It certainly felt like one as I was writing it.

JET: Any advice for the novices out there?

Rob: The best advice I can give a novice is the same advice any pro will give: read a lot and write a lot. Always have a book with you and always be working on a book. It's really the only way you can learn. But equally important, I think, is don't be impatient. Learning the craft takes a long time and a lot of trial and error. Don't rush it. Eventually you'll get there.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Rob: Plastic. Only because of the handles.

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Rob: I have to make a choice? I love both.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Rob: I grew up with the beach a few blocks away from me, but have never been a huge fan. I actually prefer mountains.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Rob: I lean toward rock-n-roll, but I've heard a few country songs I've loved. Just depends on my mood. My tastes are pretty eclectic.

JET: Paper or Digital?

Rob: Digital. I never print anything out.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Rob: Again, both. I love movies in general. So much so that I'll even watch direct to DVD fare. Some of it is very good. I think the only thing I don't love is torture porn. Watching people get skewered or skinned alive doesn't do a whole lot for me.

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Rob: Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Rob: Oh, boy. Once again: both. But I lean toward sweet.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Rob: Unknown back shelf. Especially if they were written in the fifties and sixties.

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Rob: Not the Mayan Prophecy, but The Paradise Prophecy, which is coming July 21, 2011. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

JET: LOL. Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Rob: The sequel to The Paradise Prophecy, of course… Oh, wait, that may have been a spoiler.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Robert Browne and his work at his website: http://www.robertbrownethrillers.com/

And if you haven’t picked up any of his books yet – what in the name of heaven are you waiting for?

Until next time,

Ciao,

JET

Happy July 1st!

Welcome to July. I love July. Fireworks. My Birthday. Thriller Fest. Dark Reckoning and Survival Games came out in July of 2010.


All things considered, July is by far my favorite month of the year.

Everything uber-cool happens in July and this year is no different.

I’ve got a kick-ass line up of guests including, Tim Ellis, J. Carson Black, Katie Salidas, Pam Jennoff, Kiki Howell and closing up the month, I’ll be dishing it up with Robert Browne.

In the meantime, check out these sizzling summer reads…

J.E. Taylor – The Raising – June 1, 2011

What would you do to bring your soul mate back from the dead? Would you give up your soul? Your talents? Your life?

Dr. Holly Robbins lost her husband to a stray bullet and now she has another patient on the brink between life and death. A patient whose mother offers a unique opportunity, but only if Holly can save her son.

E.J. Findorff – Unhinged – July 1, 2011

Detective Decland Dupree arrives at the crime scene, where the recipient of his first childhood kiss lies in a pool of blood. Not fifteen minutes later, the body of a man is found next door. The most sadistic serial killer in New Orleans history is on the prowl. He selects both a man and a woman, raping and killing them on the same night. When another woman from Deck’s past is found and identified, the young detective is flooded with questions. How does this maniac know Deck? Why is the FBI deputy director sabotaging his efforts to capture the killer?And, most unsettling, who’s next? As the Absinthe Killer continues to evade arrest, Deck is relieved of duty. But he’s far from giving up—and, unfortunately for Deck, the FBI knows it.

Boyd Morrison – The Vault – July 5, 2011

Tyler Locke's routine commute on a Washington State ferry is interrupted by a chilling anonymous call claiming that his father has been kidnapped and that a truck bomb is set to detonate on board in twenty minutes. When Tyler, a former army combat engineer, reaches the bomb on the boat's car deck, he's stunned to find classical languages expert Stacy Benedict waiting for him. She's received the same threat and her sister has also been taken. In order to disarm the bomb, they must work together to solve an engineering puzzle--a puzzle written in ancient Greek. Preventing the explosion is only the first step. They soon learn the entire setup is a test created by a ruthless criminal who forces them to go on a seemingly impossible mission: uncover the legendary lost riches of King Midas.

Tyler and Stacy have just five days to track down the gold. Armed with an ancient manuscript penned by brilliant Greek inventor Archimedes, they begin a quest to unravel a 2,000-year-old mystery whose answer is hidden within the workings of a cryptic artifact: the Antikythera mechanism, a device designed by Archimedes himself.

To save their loved ones and prevent their captors from recovering a treasure that will finance unspeakable devastation, Tyler and Stacy head to Italy, Germany, Greece, and finally the streets of New York City in a race against the clock to find the truth behind the story of King Midas.

Lynne Griffin – Sea Escape – July 6, 2011

Acclaimed novelist and nationally recognized family expert Lynne Griffin returns with Sea Escape—an emotional, beautifully imagined story inspired by the author’s family letters about the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

Laura Martinez is wedged in the middle place, grappling with her busy life as a nurse, wife, and devoted mom to her two young children when her estranged mother, Helen, suffers a devastating stroke. In a desperate attempt to lure her mother into choosing life, Laura goes to Sea Escape, the pristine beach home that Helen took refuge in after the death of her beloved husband, Joseph. There, Laura hunts for the legendary love letters her father wrote to her mother when he served as a reporter for the Associated Press during wartime Vietnam.

Believing the beauty and sway of her father’s words will have the power to heal, Laura reads the letters bedside to her mother, a woman who once spoke the language of fabric—of Peony Sky in Jade and Paradise Garden Sage—but who can’t or won’t speak to her now. As Laura delves deeper into her tangled family history, she becomes increasingly determined to save her mother. As each letter reveals a patchwork detail of her parents’ marriage, she discovers a common thread: a secret that mother and daughter unknowingly share.

Weaving back and forth from Laura’s story to her mother’s, beginning in the idyllic 1950s with Helen’s love affair with Joseph through the tumultuous Vietnam War period on to the present, Sea Escape takes a gratifying look at what women face in their everyday lives—the balancing act of raising capable and happy children and being accomplished and steadfast wives while still being gracious and good daughters. It is a story that opens the door to family secrets so gripping, you won’t be able to put this book down until each is revealed.

Pam Jenoff – The Things We Cherished – July 12

An ambitious novel that spans decades and continents, The Things We Cherished tells the story of Charlotte Gold and Jack Harrington, two fiercely independent attor¬neys who find themselves slowly falling for one another while working to defend the brother of a Holocaust hero against allegations of World War II–era war crimes.

The defendant, wealthy financier Roger Dykmans, mysteri¬ously refuses to help in his own defense, revealing only that proof of his innocence lies within an intricate timepiece last seen in Nazi Germany. As the narrative moves from Philadelphia to Germany, Poland, and Italy, we are given glimpses of the lives that the anniversary clock has touched over the past century, and learn about the love affair that turned a brother into a traitor.

Rich in historical detail, Jenoff’s astonishing new work is a testament to true love under the worst of circumstances.

Robert Browne – The Paradise Prophecy – July 21, 2011

A spectacular thriller inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost in which the final chapter of the War in Heaven is about to play out on Earth, with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

The Myth

When God cast the archangel Satan into Hell, ending the War in Heaven, peace prevailed on Earth. Until the fallen angels took revenge in the Garden of Eden. Ever since, mankind has been in a struggle between good and evil, paradise and apocalypse: the fall of Rome, The Crusades, World Wars, nuclear proliferation, the Middle East Crisis... The War in Heaven never really ended-it just changed venues. For millennia, God's angels have been fighting Satan's demons on Earth, all in hopes of bringing about Satan's greatest ambition, the Apocalypse.

The Reality

Satan has never been closer to his goal than right now.

Agent Bernadette Callahan is a talented investigator at a shadowy government organization known only as Section, on the trail of a serial killer with nearly supernatural abilities. Sebastian "Batty" LaLaurie is a religious historian who knows far too much about the other side- and that hard-earned knowledge is exactly what Callahan needs. This unlikely duo pair up for a race across the globe, decoding clues left in ancient texts from the Bible to Paradise Lost and beyond. In the process they stumble upon a vast conspiracy-one beyond the scope of mankind's darkest imagination.

Melanie Benjamin – The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb – July 26, 2011

In her national bestseller Alice I Have Been, Melanie Benjamin imagined the life of the woman who inspired Alice in Wonderland. Now, in this jubilant new novel, Benjamin shines a dazzling spotlight on another fascinating female figure whose story has never fully been told: a woman who became a nineteenth century icon and inspiration—and whose most daunting limitation became her greatest strength.

“Never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it.”

She was only two-foot eight-inches tall, but her legend reaches out to us more than a century later. As a child, Mercy Lavinia “Vinnie” Bump was encouraged to live a life hidden away from the public. Instead, she reached out to the immortal impresario P. T. Barnum, married the tiny superstar General Tom Thumb in the wedding of the century, and transformed into the world’s most unexpected celebrity.

Here, in Vinnie’s singular and spirited voice, is her amazing adventure—from a showboat “freak” revue where she endured jeering mobs to her fateful meeting with the two men who would change her life: P. T. Barnum and Charles Stratton, AKA Tom Thumb. Their wedding would captivate the nation, preempt coverage of the Civil War, and usher them into the White House and the company of presidents and queens. But Vinnie’s fame would also endanger the person she prized most: her similarly-sized sister, Minnie, a gentle soul unable to escape the glare of Vinnie’s spotlight.

A barnstorming novel of the Gilded Age, and of a woman’s public triumphs and personal tragedies, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is the irresistible epic of a heroine who conquered the country with a heart as big as her dreams—and whose story will surely win over yours.

Julie Kramer – Killing Kate – July 26, 2011

Not all angels are divine...

As TV reporter Riley Spartz discovers a serial killer drawing angel-shaped chalk outlines around the bodies of his victims, she unearths an eerie legend dating back nearly a century. Tracking the story to an Iowa cemetery, Riley finds an infamous Black Angel monument that may be connected to the string of homicides throughout the Midwest. Now she is up against a delusional young man who believes the statue is urging him to kill.



Grab a drink and your kindle, stretch out on the beach or by the pool and enjoy!

Next Friday I’ve got Tim Ellis on tap, swing in and say hi!

Until then,

Ciao.

JET