But enough from me. Let's open the door for Andrew Watts to weave the threads together about his intricate CIA thriller. Welcome, Andrew!
DAB: Was there a
point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted
to be an author?
AW: I have always
liked telling stories. When I was a kid
in the 80s, I used to use my dad’s super technology – the VHS video camera – to
make movies with my cousins or other kids in the neighborhood. I loved reading as I got older and when I was
on my last deployment, on board an aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East, I decided to start writing fiction as a
hobby. I’m out of the military now, and
a few people encouraged me to try self-publishing.
DAB: I remember those old cameras! How did your
ten-year stint in the Navy influence the writing of your novella?
AW: I am writing
with the knowledge and experience of my ten year career in the Navy. I have seen a lot of interesting
situations. For instance, I flew
missions supporting the rescue of Captain Philips when he was taken hostage by
Somali pirates in 2009. Flying on night
vision goggles while Seal Team Six is below you on high-speed inflatable boats
is pretty exciting. I am hoping to bring
some of that excitement to my stories.
DAB: Heck, yeah! Where did you
come up with the idea for The War Planners?
AW: I loved Red
Storm Rising, by Tom Clancy. I also
loved the movie Red Dawn (the original, not the remake!) The USSR was a great empire-villain for
stories. Today, I think there is only
one country that has the capability to serve that role in a military thriller,
and that is China. You always read stories about the Chinese
conducting cyber attacks on our military and building up their own
military. It’s a bit strange,
considering the huge economic ties our two countries have. But for fiction, they make the perfect
stand-in villain. (Even though I’ve been
to China,
and have nothing but nice things to say about the actual people there!) I had written several chapters for different
stories about how China
could attack the United
States.
Then I decided to play around with the some fun ideas on how it would
all begin, if it ever did happen…
DAB: Sounds like something I'd love to read...when I can find the time. Tell us about
the moment you received your first real fan correspondence.
AW: Well, as a new
author, I have yet to receive fan mail from someone that I don’t know. But I have had a few total strangers sign up
for my email list. It was the same day
that I ran a FKBT promo. I sold 50 books
that day, by far my best sales day. I
was thrilled. But I can honestly say
that I was even more excited when I got an email telling me that someone had
signed up for my email list. I looked at
the name and didn’t recognize them. That
meant that they had read my book and liked it enough to want to hear about my
next one!
DAB: That's always a great feeling. When I write, I
have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes
and characters. Have you ever written to music?
AW: I almost always
listen to music when I write. I often
listen to Pandora channels of movie soundtrack composers that I like. My favorite right now: Trent Reznor and
Atticus Ross’ music. They did the
soundtracks for The Social Network and Gone Girl. Great stuff.
DAB: There's the
eternal debate whether to outline or not. What is your preference?
AW: I wrote a
detailed outline for The War Planners. I
have also outlined my next work, but it is less detailed.
DAB: Panster here! Usually authors
are also avid readers - what are you currently reading?
AW: I am reading
Swag, by Elmore Leonard.
DAB: What’s the best
thing about being an author? The most difficult?
AW: The best thing
about being a self-published author is the freedom to choose every detail of
your work. The most difficult thing for
me is time management. I have a full
time job and three kids under six years old.
So I try to write at night and on weekends when I get chance. It forces you to maximize the time that you
do have.
DAB: And then some, huh? What are some
things you’ve done to get the word out about your novel(s)?
AW: I have tried a
little of everything (at least everything that I’ve heard of). Facebook posts, Facebook ads, Google Display
Network, Goodreads ads, joining and posting on Goodreads groups, posting on
Kboards, running ads on FKBT and a few other email lists. I have requested reviews and author
interviews from bloggers. Oh and I have
run Amazon’s KDP select promos and ads.
I am learning what works and what does not, and keeping a careful list
to track ROI. Next time I will be much
more focused.
DAB: Well when you get that next novel published try BookBub too. Care to tell us
what is next on your writing horizon?
AW: I am working on
the sequel to The War Planners. Title
TBD. But I’m hoping to launch it in
April.
DAB: Now’s your
chance – give us the final plug for your novel.
AW: David is
kidnapped by the CIA and thrown on a jet.
The CIA operatives tell him about a Chinese plot to attack the United States. They need his help to
figure out how the Chinese are going to do it.
But when he gets to the remote island base where they will plan the
attacks, he learns that all is not as it seems…
Thank you again, Andrew, for stopping by and sharing with us about your exciting-sounding novella. I hope to have a chance to read it later this year...someday. In the meantime, dear readers, check out the book blurb and pick up a copy of your own by clicking on AMAZON.
Book Blurb:
The Chinese economy is faltering. Civil unrest threatens the
Communist leadership’s grip on power. But
where some see a crisis, others see
an opportunity…
A CIA operative in Shanghai
transmits two earth-shattering revelations to his contacts in Langley, and then goes missing. First, the U.S. government
has been infiltrated with Chinese spies. Second, an inner circle of Chinese
leaders have set in motion plans to do the unthinkable – to invade the United States of America.
Lena Chou is one of the few U.S. officials who knows the truth.
She must put together a top-secret task force to help America’s
government prepare for what will come. Now, in order to covertly plan the
defense of the United States,
Lena has gathered a Red Cell, a group of experts that will plan how China could
best attack it.
David Manning is one of those experts. After he is abruptly
taken to the covert island base where the Red Cell is being held, Lena presents
the group with evidence of China’s
imminent attack. But while the Red Cell plans for war, David suspects that
something about this gathering of minds is terribly wrong…
Author Bio:
Andrew Watts graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2003 and
served as a naval officer and helicopter pilot until 2013. During that time, he
flew counter-narcotic missions in the Eastern Pacific and counter-piracy
missions off the Horn of Africa. He was a flight instructor in Pensacola,
FL, and helped to run ship and flight
operations while embarked on a nuclear aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East. Today, he lives with his family in Ohio. Check out his website for contact information and more.
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