This is the last, but far from the least, in our three-part series of interviews with three terrific authors we met through the Thriller/Mystery panel discussion at the recent Santa Barbara Book and Author Festival.
New York Times bestseller Gayle Lynds is the award-winning author of eight international espionage novels, including The Last Spymaster, The Coil, Masquerade, and Mesmerized, which are published in some 20 countries. Her books have won such awards as “Novel of the Year” (The Last Spymaster) given by the military Writers Society of America, and have been People magazine’s “Page-Turner of the Week” and “Beach Read of the Week.” Publishers Weekly lists her work among the top ten spy novels of all time. BookPage concurs: “Gayle Lynds has joined the deified ranks of spy thriller authors like Robert Ludlum and John le Carre.”
A member of the Association for Intelligence Operatives, Gayle is co-founder and co-president (with David Morrell) of International Thriller Writers, Inc., and is listed in Who’s Who in the World. She also lives in Southern California. And without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, a couple moments with bestseller Gayle Lynds:
Authors Gayle Lynds, Michael Mehas and Robert Gregory Browne discuss the finer nuances of thriller writing.
1) So how did a beautiful woman like you get started in writing international spy thrillers?
Aren’t you nice. Life is complex, isn’t it. Years ago I was an editor with top secret security clearance at a defense think tank, which I found fascinating. But then I’d grown up on history and politics, and espionage as all of us know is an extension of governance by other means. Secrets are compelling, particularly state secrets, which led me to the think tank, and that experience led me onward to write spy novels. Interestingly, I began life as a literary writer, writing short stories published in the small journals. One never knows for certain what field one will end up tilling, but I do think I’ve landed exactly where I should be, in a field that is so big and broad that I can create page-turning adventures while exploring the more serious side of intelligence work. Please visit me at www.GayleLynds.com for all sorts of good espionage stuff, including a Test Your Spy-Q quiz. Readers who sign up for my newsletter are eligible to win terrific prizes, including items directly from CIA – I was given a private tour recently, and brought back some wonderful things for fans.
2) What would you say are the secrets for an author to becoming a New York Times bestseller?
My first thought is persistence. Few authors make the list, but those of us who manage that hurdle are successful because we never give up, not just writing but writing well, not just storytelling but telling great stories, and not just an occasional book in a different field each time we publish, but books that explore an area from many angles and in depth and give readers a chance to trust us and want more from us.
3) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love movies – a great area in your life, too, as I recall. I also love to work out. Years ago my mentor was Robert Kirsch, the LA Times literary critic, and he impressed on me the connection between the mind and creativity, and the need for good physical health. The older I get, the more convinced I am that he was right. Writing a book is like running a marathon, so I work out several times a week. Reading is also high on my list. Traveling, seeing my family and friends, and finding a marvelous new restaurant also give me a lot of pleasure.
4) You put a lot of research into your books. What do you think are the most important aspects of researching for a thriller?
Accuracy is critical. If the author makes one mistake, the reader is inclined to forgive. Three mistakes, and the reader wants to throw the book across the room, and the author has likely lost that reader forever. My background as a newspaper reporter comes in handy here. I’m trained to keep digging until I’m sure of my information. Besides, I have a lot of curiosity, so research excites me.
5) Could you tell us a little bit about the International Thriller Writers, Inc.?
Please visit us at www.InternationalThrillerWriters.com. We’re a young organization, only four years old, but we’re already a Who’s Who of thriller authors. You’ll find news, interviews, and the latest in books on the website.
