Here's to another Author installment - this week's guest is AJ Tata, author of Sudden Threat, and the soon to be released Rogue Threat.
Q: What is your favorite question people have asked you?
A: "Who is your favorite character in your books", to which I respond, my favorite characters vary from book to book, but of course Matt and Zach Garrett are my heroes, literally and figuratively, and I enjoy putting them into difficult situations only to have them help me figure a way out. It is not unlike acting. As an author, once I develop a character, I have to get into the mindset of that character, think like them, in order to proceed writing through that character's point of view. So I become quite attached to all of the heroes and villains in my books. Even the bad guys have a certain appeal to them. My favorite good guy other than my main protagonists? Abe, the Japanese engineer in Sudden Threat. His story arc is one of the best I've written and I get lots of email about what an interesting character he is. My favorite bad guy? Ballantine in Rogue Threat, hands down. He's a complex, conflicted man bent on killing Matt Garrett and destroying US infrastructure. Though, Del Dangurs in Hidden Threat is a sinister villain also.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your career?
A: I served for 28 years in the U.S. Army and am retiring this summer as a brigadier general. I have had 15 different duty assignments, each requiring a move-in and a move-out, with 6 combat or operational missions overseas in foreign lands, each requiring a deployment into and out of the country. So, if you do the math, that's a lot of moving, a lot of turbulence, uprooting and planting, making friends along the way. The military is a fantastic career if you have the resiliency to withstand the constant change. Some people thrive on that lifestyle. I always come back to the nobility of a career in service whether that's military, state department, education, etc. I'm always drawn toward those that choose to have a component of their life contribute to the greater good. That's how I've viewed my life in the military. It has been more about peace making and peacekeeping than about war. Sure, I've done my share of combat, but I also know that a Soldier's heart lay in resolution of conflict as opposed to its emergence.
Q: Do you want to talk about any of the current events based on this?
A: Sure, here are a few of my thoughts.
Afghanistan:
I've probably done about 30 radio interviews and 10 TV shows in the last few months and I always get asked about current events, especially in Afghanistan. For the record I think we're making the right steps in Afghanistan, but without a commensurate effort in Pakistan, our progress will be limited. Our decision after 9-11 to not put boots on the ground in Pakistan was shortsighted, in my view. There is enemy sanctuary in Pakistan now and they are threatening us strategically as a nation and operationally in Afghanistan. So the troop surge in Afghanistan must have a parallel diplomatic and economic effort in Pakistan.
Pirates:
Pirates are transnational terrorists just like Al Qaeda and other associated movements. How our nation confronts piracy should be consistent with how we confront other terrorists. Pirates threaten our shipping lanes, which are a vital interest of the United States. It's really a pretty straightforward issue. Determine from the pirates operate; destroy their means of operation whether it be vessels or vehicles; and then isolate those afloat and kill or capture them. Make piracy untenable to those who wish to practice it; something we did not do with respect to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, yet.
There you have it folks. Thanks to BG Tata. If you're into military thrillers, get out and pick up Sudden Threat. It's a boots-on-the-ground style look into what happens on the battle field. And to see more of Tony, be sure to visit the book page, there are videos there to see from a few of those interviews he talked about above.
Next weeks guest, Steven Savile!
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment