tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post867775594061183652..comments2024-03-29T10:25:17.813-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: JON LAND: STRONG VENGEANCEJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43457513678479744542012-07-07T18:30:45.560-04:002012-07-07T18:30:45.560-04:00Coming to this blog a day late, but wanted to comm...Coming to this blog a day late, but wanted to comment that I absolutely love books (thrillers) that combine a bit of history into the present day mystery. And I certainly have a soft spot for the female law enforcement officer! Looks like I have a new series to start!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15329193029296662392012-07-07T12:40:13.969-04:002012-07-07T12:40:13.969-04:00Yeah, I think a man can write a convincing female ...Yeah, I think a man can write a convincing female character. We're all human, after all. I'm sure a lot of popular authors probably do. My favorite is Tim Myers, who also writes under other pseudonyms (including female ones). He writes cozy mysteries.<br /><br />For thrillers I mostly like them in movies (action or suspense thrillers).Michelle Fidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10285519745590239008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73939910603464834652012-07-06T22:18:19.134-04:002012-07-06T22:18:19.134-04:00Jon, interesting that Summer Glau is on the shortl...Jon, interesting that Summer Glau is on the shortlist. It's not unusual to have TV (or movies) bring in actors that don't necessarily match what the writer--or reader--think the character looks like. One example is when the Syfy channel did a short-lived series based on Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Their Murphy was brunette, rather than blonde, and they gave Bob the skull a body. Still was very enjoyable. I do hope the TV series comes to fruition! I spent much time being disappointed about nothing being done with my dad's books (Tom Godwin); finally Syfy did do a version of his The Cold Equations. And that version was "very" loosely based on the story. Still, may the gods smile on you with a successful series.Diane Halehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232621705007156159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88574939102987498382012-07-06T20:19:45.100-04:002012-07-06T20:19:45.100-04:00Thelma: I love your comments on getting into the ...Thelma: I love your comments on getting into the heads of characters. It's definitely a prime part of the Writer's Handbook. But getting into their heads doesn't mean you need to be happy there. When you read that scene between the heinous Jalbert Thoms when he first lays eyes on the rock star-like seventeen-year-old Dylan in STRONG VENGEANCE goes to that point. I love writing villains but I don't like living with them the way I enjoy living with Caitlin and Cort Wesley. In addition to covering the greatest fight scenes ever written, we should do another blog on the most chilling scenes ever written!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10813462395468525942012-07-06T20:16:22.108-04:002012-07-06T20:16:22.108-04:00Thanks, Deb! I'm firm believer that, dating a...Thanks, Deb! I'm firm believer that, dating all the way back to Sherlock Holmes and updated by Ian Fleming in his Bond series, great thrillers are made by great villains. Where would Holmes be without Moriarty or Bond without the likes of Goldfinger, Dr. No. or the deadly Red Grant as played by Robert Shaw so well in From Russia, With Love. There has still never been a better fight scene filmed than the train car battle between Grant and Bond. I continue to be amazed every time I watch it. But don't get me started on the greatest fight scenes ever! I could go on until tomorrow!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21140199752504342602012-07-06T20:13:15.428-04:002012-07-06T20:13:15.428-04:00Rhonda: That's a great question! They do car...Rhonda: That's a great question! They do carry books but don't currently have an account with McMillan and setting one up has proven problematic for some reason. But we've got some new people on it and we'll be doing a Texas-based promo campaign aimed at the six Ranger companies, the Museum and a few other outlets. That's for the thought!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1640780166876123472012-07-06T20:11:18.865-04:002012-07-06T20:11:18.865-04:00Chuck B: More good news for you. Blaine is comin...Chuck B: More good news for you. Blaine is coming back! His return to the page has been scheduled for November in PANDORA'S TEMPLE for my e-book company Open Road Media who will also be doing a print version in trade paperback. Fans of that series will love this one, since it's essentially a throwback to the first four entries in the series. The book poses the question What if Pandora's Box (actually a jar!) was real? Johnny's back too and Sal Belamo along with a pair of really solid villains. In the meantime, you're going to love Caitlin! I promise. Let me know. You and everyone else can reach me at jonlandauthor@aol.com. E-mail me and I'll send you a first pass of the PANDORA cover for your thoughts.Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49481692196153778362012-07-06T20:07:43.192-04:002012-07-06T20:07:43.192-04:00Diane: How interesting you should mention Summer ...Diane: How interesting you should mention Summer Glau. She was the reason to watch the TERMINATOR television series (encouraging first season, abysmal second season) and she is on everyone's short list to play Caitlin. Her young age means the television series would have a different take and feel than the book. But different mediums are apples and oranges. That said, the exec at Sony behind Caitlin also got JUSTIFIED on the air which has remained very true to Elmore Leonard. I can hope for the same, perchance to dream!!!!!!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51983208993860523162012-07-06T20:04:57.672-04:002012-07-06T20:04:57.672-04:00Austin: How nice to hear from another friend on t...Austin: How nice to hear from another friend on this terrific forum! In answer to your first question, it means more rewriting. No matter how much I try to get it right on my own, I need the input of my brilliant editor to make it better and as close to perfect as possible. She's very tough on me on every page and in every single scene. Interestingly, most often the best stuff that ends up in my books is the stuff that gets incorporated after I finish the first draft. It's all part of the process and every writer's is different. See you next week, my friend!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35586683278572056042012-07-06T19:55:57.658-04:002012-07-06T19:55:57.658-04:00After reading these comments I wish to state my ow...After reading these comments I wish to state my own strong feelings about writing from the POV of another person! I also am not a serial killer - but some of my strongest writing is from the POV. I am a very feminine person, but most of my protags are men - and so on... We are human beings, we are children, spouses, lovers, parents, role models, etc. We have all the capabilities of a whole himan being. I find it incredible that writers assume they cannot get into the heads of other kinds of people - if this scares you, try it.You'll like it! And probably be excellent at it!! Thelma Straw, MWA-NYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8960049850720510582012-07-06T19:47:39.660-04:002012-07-06T19:47:39.660-04:00Thanks - after reading your blog I ordered his fir...Thanks - after reading your blog I ordered his first book and look forward to his work!!! Thelma Straw in Hottest Manhottttan!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48363817735877547282012-07-06T18:46:31.501-04:002012-07-06T18:46:31.501-04:00Gee, Jon, I haven't read your book yet, but I ...Gee, Jon, I haven't read your book yet, but I already think that Braga will be giving me nightmares! Villains justifying their acts; yeah, that kind of person can be found in any walk of life -which makes things even scarier. (Something tells me that I will be at the bookstore this weekend -after this introduction to Caitlin I want to get to know her and her world better.)<br /><br />Hank,<br />The way you are dropping these little "teasers" here and there about Jane and Jake is almost cruel, because it's not like we readers will get to find out tomorrow or next week what actually happens! (Of course, I DO understand that you yourself don't know for certain at this point either. That ALMOST makes me feel better:-)Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82796576595302654842012-07-06T18:36:38.082-04:002012-07-06T18:36:38.082-04:00Hank - I do need an Eli. I just clambered out of t...Hank - I do need an Eli. I just clambered out of the last plot corner/dead end after about ten days of thrashing around, so I've got some smooth sailing ahead for a bit. By the time I need Eli's help again, though, he'll have a thriving book doctor business he conducts at recess. :) =:-D<br /><br />Jon - Does the Texas Ranger Museum and Hall of Fame know about/carry your books? Back in the day, they had a pretty healthy book section.Rhonda Lanehttp://www.thehorseyset.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37842595629053548162012-07-06T16:56:08.911-04:002012-07-06T16:56:08.911-04:00Jon,
I had to emerge out of "deep lurk"...Jon,<br /><br />I had to emerge out of "deep lurk" status to tell you that this is most timely posting by you ... I've had "Strong Enough to Die" on my TBR stack for a few years, and just started it last night! <br /><br />But I was a big fan of yours years ago, during the Blaine McCracken/"Greek letter" novels, so I'm glad to see you bringing him back, too.<br /><br />Like many of the other commenters, I'm astounded by your pace and discipline (between my family and more-than-full-time job, I'm lucky to write 5-10 pages a week), and by your ability to write that much without outlining (I don't outline, per se, but I need some idea of where I'm headed).<br /><br />In any event, congratulations and continued good luck with both the novels and the TV option.<br /><br />Chuck BChuck Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33737070094623253012012-07-06T15:21:09.955-04:002012-07-06T15:21:09.955-04:00Since I haven't read your series (I plan to co...Since I haven't read your series (I plan to correct that omission), I don't know what physical attributes Caitlin has. I do love Summer Glau as an action star; she was great in Firefly, as well as the Fox network's take on the Terminator spin-off.Diane Halehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232621705007156159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85351381227622524602012-07-06T15:07:54.717-04:002012-07-06T15:07:54.717-04:00Jon is a total inspiration! First to be able to w...Jon is a total inspiration! First to be able to write that much and have it be such tight prose. And then to breathe so much life into his characters. So: 2 questions:<br /><br />@Jon: do you do a lot of rewrites, or does writing at that pace make for better stuff the first time through?<br /><br />@Everyone: How many of you will I be able to meet at Thrillerfest???Austin S. Camachohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17118581689970373700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10074134027852030352012-07-06T15:07:52.311-04:002012-07-06T15:07:52.311-04:00Hey, everybody, just had a thought. As the aftern...Hey, everybody, just had a thought. As the afternoon draws on, let me know who you think should play Caitlin in the television series (Knock wood!!!). I'll give you the inside scoop of who's at the top of Sony's list around 8:00 or so tonight, so stay tuned or stop in again around then. I'll be responding into the night so feel free to keep commenting even after I disappear for a few hours to hit the gym to make sure I stay as strong as Caitlin--again, no pun intended!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65029439659387581572012-07-06T15:04:24.905-04:002012-07-06T15:04:24.905-04:00Lucy: Thanks for the good word and I'll give ...Lucy: Thanks for the good word and I'll give away one of my secrets. I never leave off a writing session at the end of a chapter or scene. Instead, I always type at least the first few paragraphs of where I'm going next, sometimes leaving off literally in the middle of a sentence. That way, when I start up again it's with a running start as opposed to a dead stop. The other thing I've started to do with the Caitlin books that really took off with STRONG VENGEANCE is get four or five chapter headings ahead, each with a few lines to remind me of where I was going before I stopped. For someone who doesn't outline like me, that provides great security because it always leaves me knowing, at least in a rough sense, what the next 50 pages or so are going to look like. Once you read me, you'll see that I do two other things that play off this. First, my chapters are very short, sometimes little more than 1-2 pages. And second I organize my Caitlin books into ten sections, each preceded by a section header with a quote or tale from the Texas Rangers. This gives me a nice sense of closure since essentially I'm left with the feeling of completion every time I move onto a new section instead of waiting for that same feeling until I finish the book. And it's a true pleasure to be a guest on Jungle Red! What a great blog!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51263477797077401882012-07-06T14:58:48.394-04:002012-07-06T14:58:48.394-04:00Hank: Sounds like Jane is figuring things out jus...Hank: Sounds like Jane is figuring things out just fine on our own. Sometimes our characters become like our kids--we don't want to let them go, but we know they'll likely be better off on their own. Maintain too much control over them and they get stale and before we know it we're writing the same back over and over again with the titles being basically interchangeable. That would let so many of the fans and readers visiting this blog today down and the number one obligation a writer has to his/her readers is to never let them down, never disappoint them. Always leave them finishing one book unable to wait for the next.Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16845119231788406842012-07-06T14:56:08.465-04:002012-07-06T14:56:08.465-04:00Deb: I had the sense when I started the book that...Deb: I had the sense when I started the book that terrorism was over-done in general and that using Islamic radicals was really overdone. They've become the Nazis and Cold War Russians of the genre. So when I started STRONG VENGEANCE it was with the notion to preserve the villainy while introducing some level of humanity. It's a fine line to walk but it's also done in contrast to the waste management baron Teofilo Braga who is a true prisoner of his violent nature and tendency to overreact to situations. Villains don't wake up every morning intending to be bad. They are able to justify their acts within the limits of their own morality--delusional to be sure, but that's what makes them so damn dangerous. And great thrillers are made by great villains planning horrible plots.Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-330571154454431662012-07-06T14:51:51.359-04:002012-07-06T14:51:51.359-04:00Allison: If I had five kids, I would definitely n...Allison: If I had five kids, I would definitely not be writing 100 pages per week!!!! Should be a great time next week!Jon Landhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01783709756792749654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34630974043306430522012-07-06T14:17:23.476-04:002012-07-06T14:17:23.476-04:00it's beginning to become clear how you can wri...it's beginning to become clear how you can write that many pages in a week, Jon, just from all your wonderful comments! But please do tell us about your writing process--we're all struggling to be more productive!<br /><br />thanks for being such an outstanding guest:)Lucy Burdettehttp://www.lucyburdette.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51994483913821930862012-07-06T14:00:04.409-04:002012-07-06T14:00:04.409-04:00Oh,wonderful. See you at Thrillerfest.
And Deb R...Oh,wonderful. See you at Thrillerfest.<br /><br />And Deb Romano, I'm kind of struggling with a scene along those lines--Jane does something, trying to be brave and rescue someone. And it's potentially something that COULD work. She really shouldn't be doing it--but it would be lame of her not to consider it.<br /><br />Jake comes and yanks her away--mostly yanking her from her thoughts, not her actions.<br /><br />She's a person who always refuses help--she sees herself as the helper, not the helpee. So it's part of her growth that she gets taken out of the situation.<br /><br />I just can't decide if she should make the decision on her own.<br /><br />Of course, Jake may be putting himself in peril to save HER.<br /><br />Eesh.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5561755269293857912012-07-06T13:46:53.938-04:002012-07-06T13:46:53.938-04:00Oh, good grief! It is becoming more and more appar...Oh, good grief! It is becoming more and more apparent to me that I need to plan a "stay-cation" so I can make a dent in my ever-growing TBR list! And, Jon, your books have just been added to it!<br /><br />I do enjoy reading about strong women characters who do not need to be rescued, except perhaps in situations where their male counterparts would also need to be rescued. I've read several male authors who have written from a woman's perspective. Some do a great job and I would not know that the author was male, whereas I believe that some others write what they WISH women would think and do!<br /><br />To answer your last question:I like to see characters aging, mellowing witout lowering their standards,perhaps learning better ways of approaching certain kind of situations.<br /><br />I think terrorism will continue to be a "hot topic" for as long as our country is in danger from terrorists. Even before it became a serious matter in our country,some authors did a fantastic job of keeping me on tenterhooks while reading their thrillers that involved terrorist plots. While I was typing this, I remembered my late father and I recommending such books to each other,and he died back in the late seventies.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27264638305006249142012-07-06T13:40:18.739-04:002012-07-06T13:40:18.739-04:00(((blushing)))
I have five kids, that's what ...(((blushing)))<br /><br />I have five kids, that's what keeps me busy. :/ I'll definitely be at Tfest!Allison Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05598446973999304028noreply@blogger.com