Fact or Fiction?
James Rollins, one of my favourite thriller authors, adds a section at the end of his novels where he explains which parts of his stories are fiction and which, to some degree, are based on fact. I thought about my own books and realized how different scenes, whether it’s their setting or the circumstances my characters find themselves in, are rooted in fact or taken from news headlines. (By the way, Rollins is releasing his next book in the Sigma Force series: The Demon Crown. You can get it here at Amazon).
In The Emerald Dagger, I wrote about Vikings having visited old Constantinople and Baghdad. This is all true. The Varangians did act as bodyguards for the Byzantine emperors and the Vikings did carve their runes in the marble of the Hagia Sophia as well. One in particular spelled out the name Halvdan. ;)
In the novella Prey, one of four short stories in my new book The Raiders of Folklore Adventures, one of the final scenes with Marco Timber Wolf was actually based on a CBC news story I heard on the radio. I won’t spoil the scene for you, but when I heard the circumstances of this incredible story, I knew I had to somehow work it into one of my books.
What about you? Do you like facts included in the stories you read?
In The Emerald Dagger, I wrote about Vikings having visited old Constantinople and Baghdad. This is all true. The Varangians did act as bodyguards for the Byzantine emperors and the Vikings did carve their runes in the marble of the Hagia Sophia as well. One in particular spelled out the name Halvdan. ;)
In the novella Prey, one of four short stories in my new book The Raiders of Folklore Adventures, one of the final scenes with Marco Timber Wolf was actually based on a CBC news story I heard on the radio. I won’t spoil the scene for you, but when I heard the circumstances of this incredible story, I knew I had to somehow work it into one of my books.
What about you? Do you like facts included in the stories you read?
What I'm reading
Earlier in October, I finished Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz. The book is the eleventh in the series and saw the return of Alex Rider after a five year hiatus. Horowitz said he wouldn’t write another Alex Rider book again—thank goodness he changed his mind. This installment was slow at first, but didn’t disappoint as Alex found himself against deadly adversaries and (almost) impossible situations. I highly recommend this entire series.
Speaking of James Rollins, I finished his Sigma short story, Ghost Ship, last week. It’s classic Rollins and had me on the edge of my seat. If you’ve never read Rollins’ thrillers before, I recommend reading one of his Sigma Force short stories first. These stories are for adults and mature teens.
I’m currently reading Pax by Sara Pennybaker for our school district’s Battle of the Books competition. I have to create 52 questions based on the book for the competition that pits teams from different schools against one another. Students need to read 12 books from a curated list, memorize what happens in each story, and then as a team be able to identify which book a particular passage comes from. This can be tough, but the kids enjoy the competition.
Let me know what you're reading. I might add your suggestion to the teetering stack of books on my nightstand.
Speaking of James Rollins, I finished his Sigma short story, Ghost Ship, last week. It’s classic Rollins and had me on the edge of my seat. If you’ve never read Rollins’ thrillers before, I recommend reading one of his Sigma Force short stories first. These stories are for adults and mature teens.
I’m currently reading Pax by Sara Pennybaker for our school district’s Battle of the Books competition. I have to create 52 questions based on the book for the competition that pits teams from different schools against one another. Students need to read 12 books from a curated list, memorize what happens in each story, and then as a team be able to identify which book a particular passage comes from. This can be tough, but the kids enjoy the competition.
Let me know what you're reading. I might add your suggestion to the teetering stack of books on my nightstand.
upcoming events
November 3-5 - Kamloops Writers Festival
November 10-12 - Getting my geek on at Vancouver Fan Expo
November 13 - Book Signing at Coles Lougheed Mall in Burnaby
November 20 - The Raiders of Folklore Adventures Book Launch!
November 26 - Book Signing at Hillside Chapters in Kamloops
November 10-12 - Getting my geek on at Vancouver Fan Expo
November 13 - Book Signing at Coles Lougheed Mall in Burnaby
November 20 - The Raiders of Folklore Adventures Book Launch!
November 26 - Book Signing at Hillside Chapters in Kamloops
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