Into the Fire

So when do you think is the right time for a cover reveal? Just before release? Several days, weeks, even months before release? When? Or not at all? 

Understanding that different promotional activities might precede a book release depending on a marketing team, design for marketing, publicity factors – all might contribute to an author's/publisher's decisions . . .  Do you want to see a cover before you see the entire book? 

Father, the only thing that truly matters is what you want. Help me to be who you designed me to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Mitch is still Mitch in Red War, the latest in the Mitch Rapp/Vince Flynn legacy written by Kyle Mills. However, there is too little of Rapp in this current edition of the series. And although Grisha Azarov is a fascinating character, he's not as fascinating as Mitch Rapp. Understanding the need to lay the groundwork for the bones of the story, Rapp is the character most of us diehard fans want to continue to experience so when he's absent for a significant part of the story, we – well, I – tend to flip through the pages with less interest until I get to his parts. This is not particular to Kyle Mills. Vince Flynn also did this in a couple of his stories. In fact, many authors do this in a long running series to add variety with their more interesting characters to complement their heroes, but when you've created and reinforced the best hero-type personality ever written in this genre, readers want to indulge in him as often as possible.

The very ill leader of Russia (Krupin) has his sights set on eternal power over the country he rules with his short list of loyalists. Capturing his personal physician and demanding every form of treatment be tried and evaluated, he elicits everything possible to appear in control as he takes leave of Moscow to hide out in a secured and secret modified treatment center. Employing an exiled military devotee ensures he can still operate as he desires. However, Krupin's one final need is to eliminate the possibility of challenges from his former assassin and superhero and to exact revenge for his departure. Only one way that doesn't happen: Irene Kennedy and Mitch Rapp.

Every means of discovering what's happening with Russia's leader are exacted by Irene, and she and the POTUS determine the outcome of their investigations warrants intervention. When there is an aggressive move in the Baltics, Rapp, Coleman (almost fully recovered leader of Rapp's operational team), and Azarov are sent to neutralize the situation. During this operation, Rapp observes just how "relaxed" in his retirement Azarov has become, clearly no longer the elite killer he once was. The philosophic admissions coming from Grisha as they're in the middle of the op prove uncomfortable for the strong, silent, focused, Mitch, and Kyle writes them just right. 

The final scenes in Red War are the thriller-exciting we're accustomed to with a little One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest flair.

I fear this series might be coming to an end, and, frankly, that worries me. I'm not ready for that and doubt I ever will be. I know Mitch is aging, he is a known commodity by every world enemy, and he's still able to strike fear into those wicked hearts, but as with us all, he has personal desires yet to be accomplished and realized, and he has slowed down some but not much really. He's living with a woman, who is now the logistics leader of his ops, and her young, precocious (and often obnoxious) daughter – but not sure he knows if it's love. (And I of course hope it doesn't last because as is somehow always the case with his love interests, I don't like her. Plus there seemed to be a possible connection between her and Coleman during his convalescence.)

Father, you know the hearts and minds of authors, what inspires and drives us, how we operate, our flaws and characters. Please continue to bless each of us with your instruction and desires. Please bless Kyle with your presence and abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

               Such incredible beauty. Lovely waterfall. 

Father, we're grateful for every shred of beauty in this wicked world. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This is the young Neil Young with his unique voice and acoustic skills. I loved his work so many years ago. Can't say I appreciate who he's become, but his talent was indisputable. 

Father, only you can save us from ourselves. I pray for those who are desperate for you yet don't realize it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Depending on the genre, what do you want from your fiction? And is there anything that will salvage the story that doesn't meet your normal standard for the genre? 

We've talked here about the "definitions" of different genres. For example, many novels today describe their stories as "thrillers" when they're clearly not a genuine thriller. They're usually suspense novels. 

You know I define my "romance" novels as "love stories" because generally I don't adhere to the formula for the romance genre. 

So what to do you want or expect from the genres you read? 

Father, thank you for all the different things you inspire and the gifts you give to people. We are so grateful to you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.  . . . 

     You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words, so that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."     . . . 

     But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

     See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

     Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:14-16;18-20;22-28 (NIV)

Five of my less than sterling qualities . . . 

I'm a "sore loser". Terrible, angry, pouty loser in games and/or watching my team(s) lose. Not happy. Ever since I was a child getting beat at Monopoly and running to my room crying . . . Yeah, that kind of loser.

I'm jealous. If you are a female, do NOT speak to my husband if you don't intend to speak to me also or at least acknowledge me. I've also been that way since my first boyfriend.

I can be selfish.

I get impatient.

I detest bad driving. 

Father, you know me and love me anyway. Please forgive me when I'm obnoxious and unreasonable. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

So. What makes a character "hero-worthy" to you? For me, the male must be strong and not necessarily in physical strength, although that would fit the description inherent in the word "hero". Does he have to be a military character, involved in law enforcement? To whom do you attach the hero status? 

Vince Flynn's creation of Mitch Rapp is, for me, the ultimate hero. He's been an assassin, an operative, a man who decided early on in learning his craft the difference between good and evil and maintained peace with his line of work because of it. He was not without emotion and rarely did he display any vulnerability, but once in a great while it showed up.

I do think on rare occasions ordinary people achieve heroism, but it's more difficult for the untrained to do heroic things. In a story a good author could make that one everyday character step up out of necessity, but laying the groundwork for the character to make him/her capable of exceptional conduct would have to be done well and convincingly – not always an easy task when discussing heroics. 

Your thoughts?

Father, you're the ultimate hero offering rescue from the sins that so easily consume us. You gave us Jesus and in Him is salvation, forgiveness, and amazing grace. As always, thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                Gorgeous, gorgeous, isn't it? Wow.

Father, your creation is beyond words. The beauty is everywhere if we just look. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

There was unlimited musical talent in this era of "drugs, sex, rock 'n' roll". There were also broken lives, heartache, war, and the breakdown of morality. 

Father, we've always needed Jesus. Always. Some of us just refuse to believe it. So sad. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.