Into the Fire

Brad Thor is very much like the late Vince Flynn – except he's different. But he writes true thrillers in the same vein as Vince did and he created a hero similar to the amazing Mitch Rapp by the name of Scot ("with one t") Harvath. Code of Conduct is Brad's latest release, and the concept fits right in with today's believable conspiracies and potential horrors created by those utopian-minded elitists who think they're the best humanity has to offer.

The prologue sets the stage for the intense danger to follow. Something horrible has happened at a medical mission's headquarters in the Congo which in and of itself isn't necessarily unusual considering the unrest and military uprisings in country. However, the USA needs to find out exactly what and why this particular place and its people seem to have been targeted for what happened to them. Scot Harvath is dispensed to get information and through trusted channels meets a British team of former Special Ops (SAS) men and a female doctor, once a wartime journalist, to assist him. The British team knows very little about his mission, and the doctor only wants to find out what happened to the men and women she'd worked with at the mission. She becomes a problem almost immediately.

With the discovery at the mission, Harvath is forced to give the British team more information. With the stubborn doctor refusing to leave, arrangements between the Brits and Harvath are made, and he returns to the US. What he and "The Old Man", former CIA operative and founder and leader of the Carlton Group who employs Harvath, learn about the Congo incident is amplified by a Mossad agent's and an asset's trip to the US to track a dual-citizenship holder (Canada and USA) who holds a position at the United Nations. From there it only gets worse as individuals begin to drop dead across the nation.

Thor gives us a wealth of characters in Code of Conduct. One of my favorite repeat characters is ace-hacker Nicholas along with his huge dogs. Although a typical despicable antagonist, Damien fills the bill as the powerful elitist. The reluctant Mossad asset with the sorrow-filled past resents her job and plans her departure. Her handler with his crippled hands is the classic Israeli agent. Nothing and no one comes before love of country.  

There are similarities between Harvath and Rapp. Their reactions to loss and the devastation of the soul, their ability to define evil and eliminate it (much like American Sniper Chris Kyle), these are the markers of specific kinds of operatives and those in Special Forces. You might even call it a code of conduct. If you're a Vince Flynn fan, you'll notice particular events and reactions which will remind you of Vince's work. And that fact is the highest recommendation I can give to Brad Thor's books.

You want a political thriller? Brad Thor begins his series of 15 novels with The Lions of Lucerne. Code of Conduct is his latest. Poignant, powerful, and pervasive.

Some profanity. 

Father, thank you for your people and their commitments. Please continue to bless and direct Brad's life as he does his best to serve you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I'm over at Novel Rocket today discussing why we like certain authors. Care to join me?

Father, thank you for it all. I'm desperate for you always. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

For those of you who don't watch NCIS-LA, how's this for romance? I love this series and this scene. Great writing. And these two are perfect in their roles of Marty Deeks and Kensi Blye.

Ah, Lord, save their souls. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sent to me by BK Jackson. Is this fabulous or what? Oh how I love this kitchen. Magnificent.

Father, not that anything down here can be close to what you offer in heaven, but thank you for the beauty in all that you've created. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

You've heard the expression "the devil's in the details", and it's up to you which translation of that little phrase you care to use or understand. When I'm reading a novel, I love details, but even I will admit there can be too many or too much.

If you've ever read any of Tom Morrisey's novels, you know that Tom employs many details. In my favorite book of his, In High Places, Tom uses his rock climbing knowledge with all the proper terms and descriptions of the equipment and experience. He never talks down to the reader. I guess he figures if the reader doesn't know or can't grasp the term(s) he uses, he/she will look it up – which I had to do a couple of times. In my opinion Tom Morrisey uses just the right amount of focused detail to convey authenticity in his stories.

Some authors interrupt their stories to explain detailed information, making what has been narrative morphing to conversational. When the writing changes from the organic deliverance of information (i.e. via dialogue) to the recitation of definitions, the details become a hindrance to the story. If the detailed description goes on too long, the continuity of the story succumbs to potentially losing or boring the reader.

Some readers don't want to read about characters' appearances. I do, providing the description of those details isn't cliché. It takes some finesse to do this because, after all, there are only so many shades of blue, so many colors of hair, so many types of builds, and you get my drift. To set individual characters apart, an author has to make those details unique as the character who "wears" them. Sometimes it's another character's point of view making the observation of those details and it's reasonable to assume some of those observations might be typical and clichéd.

What kind of details do you enjoy reading, and can you think of an author who does "details" well?

Father, you gift us all differently according to your design and pleasure. Thank you for it all and for viewing each of us equally. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,

   but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

Proverbs 22:5 (NIV)

You know I loathe promoting myself. That's not to say I don't believe in my work because I do know that some people have enjoyed my stories and found something meaningful in them.

But it's Friday, and I've got little to say other than these are my two novels formatted for e-readers, The Famous One only for Kindle and Destination for all versions. They're priced inexpensively ($1.99 and $2.99 respectively) and do contain the gospel message to be upfront about their spiritual content.

The Famous One reads like a fictional biography and Destination is a small town love story. Here are the blurbs:

    The Famous One takes an introverted yet passionate character of few words and deep running emotion and puts him into the spotlight of fame where he is hungry for value, substance, and real love but struggles to find them.

     Life leads us to and from many places, but when it comes to eternity there are only two choices for our destinations . . .

     An unlikely felon returns to his roots and the friendship of a fiery old widow.  The last things he expects to find are true love, a ministry to youth, and the unusual burden for his new love’s ex-fiancé.    Destination

Father, thank you for the privilege and pleasure of writing my novels. You provide the inspiration. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Here is the light and dark of it. Kitchens with ambience, room, and beauty. Love big kitchens.

Lord, you know me. And I'm grateful for that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Combine Tim Burton and Johnny Depp and apply them to a weird little tale of Alice In Wonderland and you will come up with scenes such as this which will make you smile in spite of yourself.

Father, you know my heart. Please. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Maybe all writers don't consciously intend to author a masterpiece, but the ones I know all desire to write something meaningful. From humor to drama to western to contemporary, I don't know a single writer who doesn't work diligently to create something of value. Preferably, lasting value. To be remembered. Whether it be with a giggle or tears, a whimsical wish or an applicable hope, we want to leave a reader with a good memory for having invested in what we wrote.

Masterpiece might be grandiose, but sometimes when we really feel the anointing to write a story, when we're done with the process, it feels like our hearts touched that place reserved for reverent experiences.

I suppose most of us appreciate certain artists and their paintings or sculptures whether or not they are identified as The Masters of old. Will some contemporary artists eventually belong to their esteemed grouping? Impossible to know. You can bank on the fact that each one sets out to wow whoever views their work – and of course to satisfy his soul.

We writers in the faith can understand the source of our creativity and the pleasing nature of our dedication to fulfilling our callings. I suspect the Lord takes far more pleasure from our determination to be obedient to His instruction than we realize. And I assume He enjoys the finished work dedicated to Him with gratitude.

I admit I long to compose a novel which some might call a masterpiece, but I doubt I ever will. I'll settle for pleasing the Lord and a few readers along the way of my journey here.

Father, thank you for the privilege of writing stories. Thank you for the inspiration that I can't find anywhere else but from you. Thank you for your generosity when I don't deserve it. And of course I'm desperate for you. And thank you is never, ever enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.