Author William Beck writes what he knows. Combining events from his military days, and the medical field, Beck has woven a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat series. His latest Bryson McGann thriller, Caribbean Agenda, centers around:
Sara Jennings, a young Miami attorney, is missing. Bryson McGann makes a grisly find at the bottom of a deep water reef in the Gulf of Mexico. The dead woman looks exactly like Roni Canton, sister of his lifelong friend, Joe “T.C.” Canton. Without warning, Roni disappears, eliciting a desperate search that catapults McGann and Canton across the Caribbean Basin and into Central America. This addictive thriller moves at light speed in a breathless race against time, and for Roni Canton, the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.
Fast paced and engrossing, Beck carries the reader inside the life aquatic and into the dangers that are hidden beneath calm, quiet surfaces.
PC: As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
WB: As a child growing up in northeastern Ohio, prior to the electronic age of today, I lived in a world where imagination was the norm. During those early years, I would see myself as a baseball player, a sailing ship captain, an airplane pilot, along with many other things. I remember being greatly influenced by a couple of TV shows - Sea Hunt, with Lloyd Bridges, and Adventures in Paradise, with Gardner McKay. Bridges played a former Navy UDT member, and McKay, the captain of a vessel sailing the Pacific. I think these helped set the stage, because part of my writing revolves around matters in those realms. I can remember the day in 1966, when I heard the Beatles song, Paperback Writer. I was captivated by the lyrics and melody, but more so by the idea that writing would be a really cool way to make a living.
PC: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
WB: I had no way of knowing when I heard that Beatles tune it would be another twenty-three years before the idea of actually putting pen to paper bubbled to the surface. It all began with thoughts of leaving the medical world after finding a great disillusionment with the trend of corporate healthcare, pleasing shareholders, and offering less care for patients. My children were not yet teens and the idea of writing children’s literature became quite appealing. I blurted out one day to my wife, “I want to right children’s literature.” She threw down the gauntlet. Three years later, my education complete, I realized the dream of writing for children was not going to be an option for various reasons, and eventually, the concept of writing fast-paced thrillers sprang to life.
PC: Will you share a little about your background in the Army, and the medical field – and how this has shaped your writing?
WB: After two years of college, I was not really sure which compass point my future was heading. My father was a first sergeant during WWII, and my brother had graduated West Point. So the thought of spending some time in the Army was encouraged by both my parents. I enlisted during the waning period of the Viet Nam conflict. After my initial training, the army assigned me to a medical unit - the Second Combat Support Hospital, which later became the Second Evacuation Hospital. It was a front line Mash Unit.
Although we did not have Hawkeye Pierce or Trapper John, it was indeed very similar in many ways to the TV show. It was the era of the Volunteer Army, and it was a very interesting three years. The ribald tales would take up far too much time and space to put into this article, but the impact of what the unit’s actual purpose was certainly swayed my future. The compelling nature of working to save lives was an intriguing idea that swept me up and set the stage for my involvement in the medical world.
PC: You’ve said that diving and the ocean are part of your soul. Your deep ties with life aquatic comes through in your works. Are there any messages in regards to this passion that you hope your readers take away?
WB: I mentioned before as a child I developed a vivid imagination, so the first time my folks took us on a vacation to the ocean, I was mesmerized. Vivid memories linger of that day; the smell of the sea, the sound of the waves, and the cerulean waters of the Atlantic. That moment spurred me on to becoming a scuba diver and underwater photographer later in life. My hours spent below the surface have certainly been some of my most enjoyable. I developed a far reaching appreciation for the beauty and importance of the sea, and the teeming life living within.
Many people never give the world’s oceans much thought. However, it is vitally important for all of us who are land dwellers. We continually pollute the waters and over harvest the sea life. Probably worst in my estimate is the senseless killing of cetaceans. These magnificent creatures, whales and dolphins, are extremely intelligent, communicate with one another, and have a unique social structure. However, they are continually hunted down and slaughtered needlessly. It is an outrage. It needs to end.
My character, Bryson McGann, works for the National Earth Seas Science Agency(NESSA). The Seattle based government agency is roughly akin to NOAA, only more piquant. It allows me a forum to present actual environmental issues to my readers which they may know little or nothing about.
I also wish to make it known that saving the oceans is an imperative for mankind’s future, and something government, business, and environmentalists need to form a consensus on and make it happen. Willingness to work together is the only option.
PC: What do you think makes a good story? What elements draw you in as a reader?
WB: As an author in this genre, I believe a well written story will draw the reader in with an opening punch, a hook that leaves them questioning what does this have to do with the storyline. It is also part of what keeps them turning pages and seeking resolution. I really enjoy a well written book offering a sense of mystery, conspiracy, suspense, action, adventure, and intrigue.
PC: Tell me about Bryson McGann. How did this character find you (and is he as real for you as he is for your readers?
WB: My family heritage is Scot and German, and so I wanted a character with ties to Scotland. In H.A.A.R.P.’S FURY, my first novel, the prologue begins with an explanation as to how McGann’s ancestor arrived in this country. My father’s middle name was Bryson and because of his influence in my life, I created a character with this name. He passed away before the first title was published, but knew about the book and Bryson before his death. I remember him smiling when I told him. For me, I believe that connection adds even more to the realism of my character.
I wanted to create a book character that was ‘real.’ Someone who is not perfect, but is intelligent and capable. By creating a series with a revolving main character, it allows me to portray the strengths and weaknesses of major characters. For the reader, it lets them become more intimate with McGann with each sequel. In life, relationships evolve in that manner, so do my characters.
Many of today’s book heroes operate beyond reality, and while those stories are exciting to read, they also leave me disenchanted by the nature of superhuman efforts. Bryson McGann is as real as I know how to make him.
PC: You write fast-paced thrillers. What drew you into this genre?
WB: I read many types of books including histories, biographies, true life dramas, conspiracies, and others. I make an effort to be well rounded in my reading. However, I am a sucker for some good ‘head candy.’ Novels of suspense and intrigue won me over a long time ago as their biggest fan. I find them delightfully entertaining and a great divorce from reality. It seemed natural to take on this genre as one to write about.
PC: Will you talk a little about how much research goes into your novels – In Caribbean Agenda, you begin with a glimpse into the past. The imagery and era translate effortlessly onto page. But how much research makes this possible?
WB: Hunter S. Thompson, a compelling figure and journalist said this. “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.” Nothing is more true than when it comes to writing.
In the prologue of my second novel, RED 7, there is a tale of historical fiction within the opening pages, and as you mentioned in CARIBBEAN AGENDA, a glimpse into the past which becomes an integral part of the story. I plan on continuing this in all my works. Suffice it to say, it does require a certain amount of hours actually dedicated to accurately weave history and fiction into a term I use as faction; blending the real with the imaginary.
I have a strong interest in historical events, and have always enjoyed exploring their consequences. So for me creating a tale where the past influences the present is enticing. Doing so in the most accurate way also provides the reader with a sense of past history and fulfills part of what I see as my role as a writer - an educator. Besides entertainment, I believe readers should come away with the thought I learned something new. So the numerous hours spent getting it all on point makes it worth the effort.
PC: What do you see as the influences on your writing?
WB: Aside from my childhood fantasies and education, I believe the need to inform readers about current events are another important factor. Too often the public overlooks these matters for numerous reasons. Also, my own life experiences come into play. I often wonder how younger writers are able to bring a story to life. Without the events that have shaped my life, the idea of writing in this genre would be extremely difficult.
PC: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
WB: There are two things. Each time I begin a new McGann novel, I am left with the nagging doubt of will I be able to write this. For me, the prologue is one of the most difficult aspects. Because of my expectations, taking historical accounts and bringing them to life in a way that is entertaining and enlightening, requires a great deal of thought. Fortunately, once I have completed a few pages, those notions of potential failure tend to disappear.
The other aspect are the scenes in which McGann is using his martial arts skills. I hold the title of Sho Dan in Go Ju style karate. So anything I portray in battle scenes has to be realistic. I find myself choreographing fight scenes before I write them down. While this may not sound difficult, getting it just right is. People watch movies where the hero takes on a multitude of fighters and comes out on top. In the real world, there are very few individuals who could fight more than two or three people at one time and come out the winner. Keeping it honest is key.
PC: How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
WB: Before beginning the series, I sat down and created character names, bios, and all the different aspects that comprise an individual. I began building a background on each of the main characters - birthplace, family, etc. Once that was done, I composed a very detailed outline for the first Bryson McGann novel, H.A.A.R.P.’S FURY.
Interestingly, ideas for my novels come from a variety of sources. As an example, in RED 7, the prologue mentions a copper ingot mined from Isle Royal in Lake Superior. A good friend gave me one of those ingots and that spawned an idea for a portion of the prologue. In actuality, a mining trade did exist, extending from the Great Lakes with trade routes into central America long before Europeans arrived.
When I began the second novel, my outline was only two pages long. For CARIBBEAN AGENDA, it was one page and the rest in my mind. The same holds true for my forthcoming McGann thriller, CROSSCURRENTS. This is certainly an unconventional approach. Some might deem it unwise. It is not one I recommend for writers, especially for beginners, but it does seem to work for me.
PC: How do you craft the voice of your novel? Is there any particular exercises you use to go inside the mind of your characters?
WB: When I sit down to write, I see a movie playing in my mind’s eye. That translates onto the written page as storyline, and I then bring to life conversations that tell the remainder of the tale. The characters I envision need to fulfill several purposes. For the protagonists, creating someone you would like to emulate or have as a good friend is a must. But also giving them depth, developing them so the reader can come to know a whole person, not just a one dimensional action figure. Building characters is similar to building real life relationships. For the antagonists, I want someone you would love to hate. A person whose actions and ideas are amoral, against the law, spurious, and leave the reader waiting to see if they will receive just reward for their actions. Good and evil, if done well, is the essence of a thrilling novel. Obviously, that scenario plays out in every writers’ storyline, but the clever aspect is telling it in a new and fresh manner that takes the reader on a breathtaking roller coaster ride all the way to the final page.
PC: Reading thrillers is an exhilarating, sometimes frightening, but delicious escape. How is the process different in writing them? Does your subject matter feel real, or can you see it as story alone?
WB: Reading and writing are two different worlds. Reading is meant to be relaxing, a means by which to detach oneself from the reality around them. Writing on the other hand, at least for me, is demanding. Adjectives like accuracy, intriguing, provocative, and spellbinding are some of the words others have used to describe my style. It seems to fit. However, that demands emotional, mental, and even physical stress. I become deeply caught up when writing a novel; a bloodhound tracking a scent. Since I use real life events for much of my stories, it demands patience and hard work to bring it to life. Although my Bryson McGann novels are a series, any of these books can stand alone without having to read the others. But then, why would you want to?
PC: The publishing world is evolving. Most readers are unaware of the process. Can you take us through the steps for one of your books getting published?
WB: The ice we are now treading is becoming very thin. The book world of ten or twenty years ago is a far cry from what exists today. It has evolved, and like the music industry has suffered the pangs of the digital age. I really don’t believe they saw it coming. The book world’s transformation makes bringing a book to market extremely difficult, at least in the traditional sense.
A prerequisite for getting published by one of the big houses in New York requires having a literary agent. After numerous queries, I found one who was interested. A few months later I received a call from the New York State Attorney’s office followed by one a few days later from the FBI. My former agent remains in jail today on numerous counts. My only option at that point was publishing independently. Going this route affords you the ability to publish a book, but comes with many pitfalls. The author oversees each aspect of the books creation from cover, format, font, and numerous other things.
Many chain bookstores will not take your work, no matter how well written. This leads to the question of how do I market my work. Creating a webpage is a must, on line social pages are another way of promoting, blogging, and tweeting seem to be the rage, but ultimately it is up to the author to find avenues that will generate income for hard earned endeavors.
I am currently on the hunt for an agent/major publishing house and have a nine time bestselling author who is making every attempt to help. Without carrying on about agents, having connections helps, but is not the end all.
Also, for those wishing to create a book for family or friends, publishing independently is the answer. Beware. There are unscrupulous individuals out there who will take your money and offer a service to the novice that is less than acceptable by industry standards.
PC: What advice would you share for aspiring writers? Are there any tools you feel are must-haves for writers?
WB: Some writers ascribe to the mantra of writing every day. For me that is not possible. Working full time and feeding my passion to write often causes gaps in my writing time. Fortunately for me, writing is similar to turning a faucet on and off. When I sit down to write, the story flows.
The beginnings of writing anything, whether a letter or full length novel, start by having a sense of good grammar, knowing proper sentence structure, and then translating those ideas into written words that are real, fresh, and invoke emotional response and interest for your readers.
The two most important things I have beside my computer are an unabridged dictionary and a thesaurus. I never write without them.
PC: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in any of your books?
WB: I think writers can nitpick themselves to death if they allow it to happen. Once written the watchword becomes - edit, and then do it again and again. Not necessarily for story content, as much as to ensure the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed. Nothing is worse than a good story going south due to poorly constructed sentences and punctuation. It is distracting and causes me to lose focus and interest in reading anything. Another point for authors - get your facts straight. I always laugh at some of the things I read when there is need to interject something medical. As picky as editors and agents are they often overlook accuracy in that arena.
The hope or goal is to get better with each book. Honestly, looking back at my work I would not change them. In the end, I’ll let Bryson McGann stand as is against any character created by today’s well known authors.
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