Blog Archives
Switch up the Typical Trope
Heart of Evergreen follows a devoted wife who discovers her name linked to a hit list on her husband’s laptop, turning her life upside down. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This is book three of a trilogy so as such, I wanted to take my characters further into the espionage side of the story and incorporate heartfelt emotions and family-type life mixed in with conspiracy theories, and military installations in and around Denver, CO. I knew how the final two love stories would turn out, so it was important to wrap up my characters to more than satisfactory endings. Living in Colorado and knowing the strife personally that many of my characters went through was therapeutic for me and it helps those who may not know how to help themselves in a given or similar situation.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
One goal was to switch up the typical trope of “bad Russian, good American” by giving the angle of heroism to a character that most wouldn’t. The story is compact but packs a strong punch. It was important to make my characters feel what was written and for that to come across strongly to the reader. The love, the hurts, the mental and emotional toll life can dish out, especially in an environment in which one must die in order to live. Honestly, the conspiracy theories surrounding Denver International Airport, one airport that covers 54 square miles, were fun to write about. I love DEN airport and writing about what you know or have been many times, helps drive the story forward. This book is fiction, but many real-life experiences are woven in.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
Oh yes, I’ve been in life-changing and traumatic events that have shaped and moulded my person forever. Some of these have been incorporated into this trilogy. Multiple child loss, childhood cancer, a child with ADHD yet becomes an Eagle Scout, Nursing, finally finding love, the list is endless.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
This is the last book in this trilogy, so no books to follow this one, with this series.
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He had become a liability and Dmitry had to protect himself. He would not take his own life like the general. Yes, he was heavily trained in special tactics, and yes, his own oligarch money sat nicely in a Swiss bank account under a holding company that was untouchable. Russia could do absolutely nothing about his Swiss bank account. Yet he WAS touchable!!! Even though he, himself had never once killed anyone, he had been complicit by his position between those who ordered hits and those who carried them out. Thus, he packed a bag and drove his luxurious SUV down to Denver, to the Federal Center, and asked at the gate for Director James Tilson, that he, Dmitry Ivanov, had top-secret information for him. One of the guards radioed inside and spoke with the director. Director Tilson informed the guards that two members of his team would go to the gate and escort Dmitry Ivanov inside. Dmitry had to turn himself in if he wanted to live!
It was the last Thursday in May, a lovely day in the mountains, and he wondered if he would ever see the mountains again…or daylight, for that matter…or Susan Davis…he’d come to love her…at age 30, his budding romance with Suz, a gorgeous 25-year-old, green-eyed redhead who was a perfect angel…his angel…she painted like an angel…in watercolor…he would never see her again…he’d come to love her…love…True Love…now that part of his life was over…again…he wouldn’t see any of the people he’d come to know and truly cared about during his time spent in Evergreen…so many regrets…he’d come to care deeply for the children as well…he was racked with grief for what was not to be…and for his numerous regrets…
The Well
The Well, by R. Chapman Wesley, is a riveting blend of science, spirituality, and redemption, masterfully constructed to provoke both thought and emotion. At its core lies Professor Anatoly Popov, a brilliant virologist and Russian defector, whose audacious theft of the world’s deadliest virus from a U.S. counter-terrorism lab sets the stage for a high-stakes, globe-spanning saga. Inspired by an ancient Chinese legend, Popov’s radical vision to fuse the virus with meteorite fragments in pursuit of a universal cure ignites a deadly race among powerful factions. This perilous journey places Popov at the intersection of salvation and destruction, raising an urgent question: Will his ambition heal humanity or seal its doom?
Chapman’s narrative propels readers deep into the Amazon rainforest, where ex-SEAL Rex Lee unravels the mysteries surrounding “The Well,” a fabled source of healing power. As the story unfolds, Lee is forced to confront humanity’s moral dilemmas, balancing the hope of salvation with the terrifying potential for annihilation. With its ambitious scope and intellectual depth, The Well explores weighty themes that resonate on a universal level. It delves into morality, redemption, and the interconnectedness of existence, inviting readers to reflect on humanity’s duality—the capacity for boundless creation and catastrophic destruction.
Symbolism abounds, offering layers of metaphorical richness. The Well itself serves as a moving representation of humanity’s eternal quest for meaning, unity, and salvation. Chapman’s prose is both poetic and precise, weaving themes of sacrifice, spiritual awakening, and the high cost of knowledge into a narrative that feels both timely and timeless. His storytelling is meticulously crafted, seamlessly blending speculative science with philosophical musings to create a work that is as thought-provoking as it is captivating.
For fans of works like The Alchemist and Dune, The Well offers a similar fusion of philosophical depth and imaginative breadth. Its exploration of the intersection of science, mysticism, and the human condition ensures it will linger long after the final page. This is not just a story—it’s an experience, one that challenges, inspires, and enthralls. It is a must-read for those seeking a compelling and meaningful literary journey.
Pages: 202 | ASIN : B0CDMDC6NM
Stop at Nothing
Stinger follows a former DEA informant thrust into a deadly CIA mission to secure a Stinger missile, risking everything to save his kidnapped family in a world of espionage, betrayal, and impossible choices. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was thinking, what if I was a CIA officer tasked with developing a plan to prevent the US from having to invade Iraq to search for weapons of mass destruction. This would be my plan.
How much of the detail in Stinger comes from your own law enforcement background?
The investigative procedures performed by the law enforcement characters are exactly as it would have been done in 2003 if this was a real investigation.
Amir Rahimi is a compelling villain. What was your approach to making him so layered and menacing?
He’s desperate to avenge his son’s death. I wanted him to stop at nothing in getting that revenge.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m contracted with my same publisher, Black Rose Writing, to write a memoir about my four years in Pakistan as a DEA Agent. The working title is: DEA Assignment: Pakistan. It is scheduled to be released April, 2026.
Author Links: Goodreads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
She coerces Robaire Assaly, a Los Angeles based DEA Confidential Informant, to take part in her elaborate scheme. Robaire agrees, however, in doing so, he must betray his long-time DEA Agent handler, Gary Lowery, to get what she needs. Robaire soon realizes June has tricked him into taking the blame for stealing a Stinger missile, which she pulled off right under the nose of the hapless FBI.
The duped FBI and Gary desperately want Robaire. He’s now frantically on the run as an international fugitive with the FBI and Gary relentlessly pursuing him and the stolen Stinger before it is used against an unknown target. However, June finds Robaire first before he can reveal the CIA’s involvement to the Feds.
Otello’s Oil: A Saga of Blood and Oil
Elliott Jones, a Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Secret Service, is not a man to be trifled with. His razor-sharp analytical skills, coupled with Olympic-level marksmanship, make him the agency’s go-to problem solver when crises strike. This time, the stakes couldn’t be higher. During a performance of Verdi’s Otello at the Kennedy Center, the oil minister is assassinated. The big question looms: was the minister the target, or was the real aim to eliminate the U.S. Secretary of State, seated mere inches away? Jones is tasked with unraveling this high-profile mystery, propelling him into a treacherous labyrinth of shifting alliances and hidden agendas.
D.W. Layton’s Otello’s Oil delivers a gripping political thriller that channels the intricate narratives of the late Tom Clancy while evoking the moral ambiguity of There Will Be Blood. At its core, the novel hinges on the steadfast yet evolving character of Elliott Jones. Initially, Jones approaches his mission with a clear-cut sense of justice, determined to find and punish those responsible. Yet, as the investigation deepens, so do the shades of gray. Each suspect and ally harbors selfish motives, blurring the lines between friend and foe. Jones soon realizes that the truth isn’t just elusive—it’s perilous. Layton’s masterful pacing drives the narrative across a globe-spanning stage, where the stakes rise with every turn. The constant motion and international intrigue create a sense of urgency that grips readers tightly. As Jones digs deeper into the assassination’s tangled web, he finds himself questioning not only the loyalties of those around him but also his own role in a world where right and wrong seem interchangeable.
By the novel’s end, the layers of political complexity are peeled back to reveal a chillingly unpredictable reality. Jones emerges both wiser and wearier, and his journey is a poignant commentary on the murky waters of international diplomacy. Readers, too, are left pondering the cost of truth in a world rife with deception. For fans of the genre, Otello’s Oil is a compelling and thought-provoking read, and many will eagerly await a sequel—should Layton decide to continue this enthralling saga.
Pages: 359 | ASIN : B0D8RNYFLP
Unique Personalities
Romance in Evergreen follows a family meeting for Thanksgiving who have their celebration disrupted by the threat of an unknown assassin. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This is part two of a trilogy so the setup was on target in book one. In this book, I was able to incorporate many things that I knew about Evergreen, NORAD and Cheyenne Mountain, the Denver Federal Center, and Colorado since once you live in the area for many years you learn a lot. Colorado is perfect, I think.
How did you come up with the idea for the antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?
The assassin is angry in book one, that both Kim and Nancy’s husbands died in a rollover accident while chasing after Kim. Thus, he takes it internally, and it angers him. He was no longer calm and cool, but out for revenge. That revenge meant Kim, Nancy, family, and friends suddenly became targets!
“What did you just say?” The senior officer (Special Agent Thompson) of the two men from Homeland Security, that both Nancy and Kim knew prior, repeated, “Rob and Liza Caldwell were taken out as a hit in Boston last night, and we think their assassin is the agent handler extraordinaire, who put out the hit job on the President, and on you, Kim, last November. The hit man’s name is Jeffrey Sanders, we don’t know any alias, ethnicity, or if male or female. Security cameras were disabled before the actual hit. Rob and Liza were asleep when it happened early this morning. A silencer was used, and neighbors heard their dog barking non-stop and became worried. The couple checked on them, found them dead in their bed, and called 911. The police detectives could tell it was a professional hit and called us. Special Agent Hughes and I flew directly here from Washington, DC. A note left at the scene read, ‘Two down, eleven to go’ and the eleven to go are most likely both of you, the President, and people unidentified. Make no mistake. The hit man will take out anyone with you, when, NOT if, they find you.”
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I loved writing about family and friends and how they interacted together and with other people. They each have unique personalities. Each one is warm and caring but can be a bit sassy with jokes.
Can you tell us where the book in the Heart of Evergreen series goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
The antagonist at the end of this book, Dmitry Ivanov, plays a large part. Ginormous actually. That is all that I can write at this time.
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“How dare you take out my two best assets! I’m coming for you, Kim, and your friend, Nancy! Never mind, my best assets died in a roll-over accident! They were after you, Kim! Now I’m going to finish the job! Both of you and yours are going down! I know where you are and who you have in your life! Tit for tat. The same back to both of you!”
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‘The Gallery Loft of Evergreen’ was Kim’s heart in the world of art and creativity. Kim stepped lightly down the stairs from her art gallery’s second floor, all five feet, three inches of her trim body sporting seafoam green eyes, and curly blonde hair that bounced with each step.
“What is up, Nancy? Need some help?” With a paint brush in hand, a smock over her top, and sporting dark blue skinny jeans with rugged black leather boots, Kim stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the two men. Fear gripped her heart and lungs tightly, and she barely breathed as she stared at both men.
Oh my…no…never…not again…why are those men here of all places… fear caused her blood to feel like ice as it coursed through her jarred and shocked body…Steve and Gary are dead, killed in the accident…Nancy and I are safe now…no assassins are after us, no assassin is after ME…both died in that wreck…both bodies had positive identification…this is not happening…it can’t be happening…NO…Steve and Gary are dead…get a grip now, Kim…close your eyes…then reopen…only Nancy will be there…except they were there…
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Paul never saw the large black dual cab truck, with a black bull bar in the front, hit him at an angle that directly threw his Land Rover over and into a rocky and briar-filled ravine coming to rest on the passenger side, driver’s side wheels spinning in the air.
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The agents coordinated together so they all arrived near the same time. With bewildered occupants, they drove through their assigned gate and to the building that housed the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
How Quickly Relationships Evolve
Spies on Safari follows a group of highly trained spies on a mission to find a hidden treasure that turns out to be more than they initially anticipated. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Going on safari myself! Safaris are my favourite type of vacation, and this book is inspired by one that we took in Botswana in 2022. Since I started to write my previous book, The Repurposed Spy, which I realise now was inspired by my many travel experiences in Latin America, I found that I started to look at my fellow travellers and think, “Are they tourists like me, or do they have some ulterior motive?” Then there was one safari lodge we went to where we were almost the only visitors for 100km in any direction – and I got to thinking, “If someone wanted to hide some illicit activity here, would anyone ever discover it?” With those ideas in mind, the words just flowed!
You have written an engaging cast of characters that, each on their own, would be a thrilling read. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters to create the bond they have?
They’re all to some extent based on people I have met and worked with, though every character is a blend. I’m fascinated by how people adopt different attitudes to different people they meet, and how quickly relationships evolve. So I started with a cast of characters, and the evolution and bonding – or not! – just came about naturally as I wrote.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
I try to keep a fast pace going by avoiding what I call “descriptive waffle.” Descriptions and backstories of people and places are essential, of course, but I find a lot of authors just put in too much and tend to be repetitive – making me think, “Please let’s get back to the story.” I’ve been criticised for not including enough description, so it’s obviously not something that I’ve got completely right yet.
I found writing the action scenes difficult. I don’t like gratuitous violence, and guns make me shudder! I knew what characters I had and what end result I wanted, then tried to put myself in their shoes and guess how they would react. Then I found some videos online of relevant action sequences and did my best to describe those! I’ve had good feedback, so I think I did a reasonable job.
I find a problem in well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a third book planned?
Indeed there is, and I’m already 10,000 words into it! I was a little stung by criticism of The Repurposed Spy – my idea of a cliffhanger was interpreted as The End by some readers who said, “Don’t read this as there can’t be a sequel.” I hope they’ve retracted now and have been enjoying Spies on Safari.
The third book, Spies on the Silk Road, takes most of the same cast of characters to Central Asia, following a dastardly plot of thefts of high-value medical equipment from Kazakhstan through Kyrgyzstan and on to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. And yes, before you even ask, the inspiration came from a long trip that we made just a few months ago. The plots in my book may be pure fiction, but the locations, people, and food are authentic! I’m aiming for Spies on the Silk Road to be published in mid-2024.
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Hidden deep within the African wilderness, an elusive mine, impervious to aerial surveillance, holds the potential to shatter fortunes. A desperate client is willing to bet it all to find this hidden treasure, but is this cloak-and-dagger mission truly what it seems?
What begins as a straightforward expedition, a safari expedition spanning Botswana and Namibia, transforms into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, teeming with deceit and peril at every twist and turn. Amidst the wild terrain, danger lurks in the form of crocodiles, lions, and cheetahs, but these natural adversaries are the least of their concerns.
The shackles of their former employer, the elusive and enigmatic Mr. Smith, are no longer binding. Now, the formidable trio of Chameleon, Latviana, and Pilot is back in action, each deploying their unique skills in deception, strategic planning, and daring aerial maneuvers. And as if that weren’t enough, a surprising resurrection sends shockwaves through the team, with Ronald Jones emerging from the shadows, thirsting for vengeance.
Spies on Safari masterfully weaves a complex tapestry of intrigue and interconnected plots that intensify towards an electrifying climax. Brace yourself for a spellbinding journey, a rollercoaster of thrills, and an irresistible adventure you won’t be able to put down.
Author Oliver Dowson, with his firsthand globe-trotting escapades, infuses his storytelling with a distinctive realism that sets this spy thriller apart. The second installment in his captivating Spy series, Spies on Safari, promises an exhilarating read. While fans of the first book, The Repurposed Spy, will savor the satisfaction of tying up loose ends, this book can equally enthrall those new to the series. Get ready for a pulse-pounding adventure that will leave you hungry for more!
National Threat Comes From Within
Code Name: Juggernaut follows an FBI agent investigating a series of murders that all seem to be connected to an assassin named Jack-L who also happens to be working for a neo-Nazi terrorist group. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Previously, it seemed that terrorism arising from the Middle East – hijackings, bombings, kidnappings and so on — was constant fare on the news. I first started researching what emerged as Code Name: Juggernaut in the mid-1990s, seeing the disturbing rise of political division in this country. In writing this book, I wanted to not only create a thriller which is hopefully entertaining but also to delve into the mindset of political extremism in this country. I decided that it represented a relatively untapped and fertile area for literary development. Jacqueline (“Jackie”, alias “the Jack-L”) Lynch is a strong woman and, in many respects, the book’s main character. She is associated with WEREWOLF, a neo-Nazi terror group. She and her lover, Howard Brennan, are conspiring to carry out a plot (code named “Juggernaut”) to foment unrest.
Special Agent Douglas Rabson has had to overcome a lot in his career and personal life by the time this story starts, and he is working on these cases. Was the character’s backstory something you always had, or did it develop as you were writing?
It was a little of both. Novels are generally driven by conflict. In addition to the obvious conflict presented in Code Name: Juggernaut of extremist terrorists versus the federal government there is the inner conflict of Agent Rabson, who is Jewish and whose relatives perished in the Holocaust, pitted against neo-Nazis, as well as antisemitism he encounters. His commitment to his duty is only strengthened in the novel as he slowly uncovers the scope of the terrorists’ plot, sometimes in the face of skepticism of his superiors.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I got the idea for this novel when domestic terrorism, as seen by the Oklahoma City and Atlanta Olympics Bombings, was becoming increasingly prevalent right here. It touches on racism and antisemitism which, unfortunately, are quite prevalent today. Part of the book’s appeal is that the baddies are domestic threats who arise among us, rather than being foreign-born terrorists. The national threat comes from within. These terrorists are our fellow Americans, people who might be your co-worker or next-door neighbor, rather than some troglodyte residing in a cave somewhere in Afghanistan. Finally, as one goes through the book, the reader is made to ponder the question “…Given the political situation in the USA today, could something like what is depicted in Code Name: Juggernaut actually happen?”
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Industrial Espionage
The Repurposed Spy follows a retired linguistics professor as he accepts a translation assignment and is suddenly thrust into the world of espionage. What inspired you to write this novel?
Somewhat surprised by the success of my first book, which was a travelogue (There’s No Business Like International Business), I decided to write a novel. I love travel, and often when I visit somewhere different my mind wanders and wonders what interesting things might be going on under the surface. I know something about industrial espionage, love languages and food, and this was a great opportunity to let my imagination rip and combine all these elements.
Mr. Jones is such an interesting character. What were some driving ideals behind his development?
I grew up in a family of school teachers and met many others as a result. I dreamed up Ronald Jones as an amalgam of several real examples that I met years ago – some of whom taught me as a teenager. The linguistic side is personal – being able to speak Spanish and Portuguese, I am fascinated by the myriad variants of the same language in different countries and regions, especially when I travel around Latin America.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
I’m guessing every author puts things from their own life in their novels! But there’s nothing autobiographical about The Repurposed Spy. What I did build in was my first-hand knowledge of all the places that Ronald Jones goes to and meetings similar to the ones he eavesdrops on. Oh, and the character Chameleon is inspired by a real life character – you’ll have to read my first book to guess which one.
Can fans expect to see more of Mr. Jones? What are you working on now?
I’ve had some reviews that have assumed that, after the end of The Repurposed Spy, there could be no sequel – but how wrong they are! The sequel – and what I hope will be the second in a series – titled Spies on Safari, comes out in November 2023. Not only does it explain what really happened to Mr. Jones, it reunites the other characters and introduces new cast members. Staying as true to life as an imaginary scenario can be, Spies on Safari is set in Africa, again all places that I have visited myself.
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After years spent teaching, Ronald Jones is ready to escape his chronic anxiety and distrust of others and resolves to explore the world. His first destination? Brazil – a place he once visited as a young man.
But just as he’s ready to embark on his adventure, the enigmatic Mr. Smith appears on his doorstep, turning his world upside down. Suddenly, Jones finds himself in a new and dangerous existence, surrounded by moody men in suits, shape-shifting female agents, spooks, and robotic controllers. With no apparent experience of this new world, Jones is in mortal danger and way out of his depth.
As you turn the pages of this gripping novel, you’ll be catapulted into a thrilling world filled with unexpected twists and turns. Will Jones cooperate with the mysterious figures surrounding him? And if he does, will they ever bring him back from the edge? Find out in this must-read book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the – unpredictable – very end.
Ronald Jones, The Repurposed Spy, is a spy like no other you’ve ever read about.
So what are you waiting for? Book your one-way ticket to adventure and join Ronald Jones on an unforgettable journey around Latin America and beyond that will leave you breathless.
LITERARY TITAN 