Real Spies, Real Lives
By P. A. Duncan
Real Spies, Real LivesMar 14, 2024
No Podcast on 5/16/24
What Shall We Talk About Today?
The Good, The Bad, The Book Event
Book events are key to author/reader interaction. They can go well, but they can also go bad, per the author's recent experiences.
SECRETS, the 3-novel eBook box set is now available for preorder for only 99¢, and you can find it HERE.
May is the book birthday month for the author's debut espionage novel, A War of Deception. The eBook edition is on sale all month long, also only 99¢. You can find it HERE.
How About Some Ungentlemanly Warfare?
My thoughts on Guy Ritchie's new movie, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and a reading from Book 1 of the upcoming eBook Box Set, SECRETS.
This month's featured books, all three in the Spy Flash Series are free through 4/27/24, and you can find them HERE.
Benjamin Franklin, France, and Spies
Two Apple TV mini-series show that espionage isn't a 20th century construct: "Franklin" and "Manhunt," about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.
Plus--a reading from the featured April book, Spy Flash II. Find all three books in the Spy Flash series on sale HERE.
Rage Against the Dying of the Light
Apologies for the late posting of this week's episode. Listen to the episode, and you'll understand why.
No Podcast on 4/4/24
A busy schedule and an annoying cold mean no episode this week.
We'll be back on April 11.
Apologies,
P. A. Duncan
Irons in the Fire
Old habits die hard. Turns out P. A. Duncan is as much an overachiever as a writer as she was as a public servant.
The March sale on Duncan's debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season, is on for six more days, so act now before you lose out on the 99¢ sale. You can find the sale book HERE.
You can also preview the April sale books HERE. That sale starts on 4/1/24--no fooling.
Sowing Some Discord?
Some thoughts on the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who illicitly photographed classified documents and posted them online.
The author's debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season, is still on sale--99¢ for the eBook through the remainder of March. You can find it HERE.
Oh, and Happy Ostara!
Welcome to AI -- Maybe
The author plays around a bit with AI--Artificial Intelligence--on what it takes to be an espionage writer.
And . . . to celebrate the book birthday of her debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season, the eBook of that novel is FREE to download March 14 - 18, 2024. You can download it for FREE HERE.
Building a Mystery
With props to Sarah McLachlan for the title.
Why it took so long for the author to release a mystery novel, plus reading that grounds the antagonist's backstory.
Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season is having its first book birthday this month, and to celebrate the eBook is only 99¢.
Find out what secret is hidden behind a parlor wall.
You can find Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season HERE.
Secrets, Secrets--Who Has Them? Who Wants Them?
Spies and secrets go together like ham and Swiss, peanut butter and jelly--you get the drift. But sometimes the secrets are personal, something the author will explore in an upcoming eBook Box Set entitled, appropriately, SECRETS.
Today is the final day that all four books in the 9/11 series will be 99¢ each, so head over HERE to get that bargain before it expires.
Vision, Optimism, and Dictators
It took a few days, but the author, also an historian specializing in Russia, finally found words to discuss the death of Alexei Navalny.
Also, today 2/22 and tomorrow 2/23/24, are the final two days that all four eBook novels of the 9/11 series MEETING THE ENEMY will be free. All four novels right now are comfortable in the top 10 of an Amazon bestseller list. You can find the free eBooks HERE.
Have You Seen Argylle, the Movie?
A review of the new movie Argylle and of an Acorn TV series, Deception.
The author's 9/11 series, MEETING THE ENEMY, is still on sale, and FREE days are coming up next week.
You can find the series HERE.
Thoughts on THE PIGEON TUNNEL
The author discusses John le Carré's memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel, and a documentary where le Carré discusses and expands on the memoir. A "must-see" for le Carré fans, says the author.
The February sale books, the four novels in the 9/11 series MEETING THE ENEMY remain on sale for 99¢ each for the eBooks, which you can find HERE.
PROLOGUES, the eBook-only box set of the four MEETING THE ENEMY reader magnets also is still on sale for 99¢, and you can find PROLOGUES HERE.
What Makes a Series, Well, a Series?
The author talks about the popularity of book series among readers and what constitutes a series. Plus, is her own work a series? You decide.
The February sale eBooks are all four books in the 9/11 series MEETING THE ENEMY, which are 99¢ each. You can find them HERE.
The eBook box set of MEETING THE ENEMY reader magnets, PROLOGUES, will remain at 99¢ for February, also. You can find PROLOGUES HERE.
Writing About The Troubles in Northern Ireland
The author provides a bit of background on a work in progress about The Troubles in Northern Ireland back in the 1970s.
The sale on PROLOGUES, the eBook box set of Meeting the Enemy reader magnets continues through 1/31/24, and you can find the box set HERE.
What's Coming
The author talks about an upcoming project, an eBook box set of three novels pushing some secondary characters to the forefront.
And the eBook box set of MEETING THE ENEMY reader magnets, titled PROLOGUES, launched on 1/15 and is available still at its preorder price of 99¢. Find it HERE.
Every Story Has a Beginning
Listen to some background on the author's newest eBook release, PROLOGUES, a compilation of all four reader magnets for the 9/11 series, MEETNG THE ENEMY. PROLOGUES is still available for preorder HERE.
Hear some stats on how well the podcast did last year (pretty good, actually), and listen to a free excerpt of the lead-off story in PROLOGUES.
If you're interested in more from author P.A. Duncan, check out her Substack page HERE.
Real Spies Real Lives Podcast is Back!
I hope you enjoyed your holiday break because I did, but now the podcast is back with weekly episodes.
Check out the eBook box set of the reader magnets of the 9/11 series, Meeting the Enemy. You can preorder the eBook HERE, and it launches on January 15, 2024.
And I'm now on Substack with some blog posts and some flash fiction. You can subscribe HERE--for free.
Happy New Year! And thanks for being patient for the podcast to return.
The Spies Will Be Back in January
To make sure each episode is a quality presentation, the host is taking time off from the Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast for the rest of 2023.
Look for a new episode Jan. 4, 2024--and Happy Holidays!
Rewriting or Self-Editing?
What's the difference between self-editing and a full rewrite of a manuscript, i.e., a draft? The author gives her opinion. Plus a reading of a free excerpt of Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules.
Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules is on sale all this month. The eBook is only 99¢ to download, and there'll be some free days later in the month. You can download Spy Flash III HERE.
No Podcast for 11/2
Life happens, and you don't get to do a podcast this week. We'll be back next week--after the local elections.
This month's sale book is Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules. The eBook is only 99¢. You can find it HERE.
See you next week.
50,000 Words in 30 Days?
The author extols the creative benefits of National Novel Writing Month and relates which of her published works got started there. You can still sign up to participate in NaNoWriMo HERE.
If you live in a state that has an election cycle this year for state and local governments, make sure you vote, and the author explains why that's important.
The 2021 novel LOVE DEATH, a NaNoWriMo project from several years ago, is FREE from 10/26/23 to 10/30/23, and you can download it HERE.
Backstory
What's Next?
The author discusses what's in the pipeline for publication for the next few years, plus a reading from the October sale book, Love Death.
Today and tomorrow are the last two days to preorder PROLOGUE TO RENDITION, the reader magnet for the concluding novel of Meeting the Enemy, RENDITION. You can still preorder (at the special price of 99¢) HERE.
Love Death, this month's sale book, can be ordered with reduced prices for the eBook and print editions HERE.
October Means Sales
The author gives some background on October's book-on-sale, Love Death, and on the reader magnet, Prologue to Rendition. Turns out the author had a lot of good story ideas in the 1990s, but she's a much better writer now.
You can find Love Death at amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS.
You can preorder Prologue to Rendition until 10/13 at amazon.com/dp/B0CJ7C6FBL.
Inspiration Lives On
An homage to the original "international man of mystery," Ilya Kuryakin as portrayed by actor David McCallum who died this week.
The Self-Inflicted Wounds trilogy and reader magnet remain on sale through 9/30/23. amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.
Prologue to Rendition, the reader magnet for the concluding novel of the 9/11 series Meeting the Enemy is now available for preorder. amazon.com/dp/B0CJ7C6FBL
Wrapping Up Self-Inflicted Wounds
The three novels and the reader magnet that comprise the trilogy SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS are FREE to download through 9/24/23. amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP
Also, the final reader magnet for my 9/11 series, MEETING THE ENEMY is now available for preorder. PROLOGUE TO RENDITION has a preorder-only price of 99¢, so reserve yours now. amazon.com/dp/B0CJ7C6FBL
When Truth is Dangerous
The author reflects on the Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity (C3) Con and reviews the first two episodes of the Netflix series, Spy Ops.
All three books in the Self-Inflicted Wounds trilogy plus the trilogy reader magnet are 99¢ each for the eBooks all this month. Look for some free days next week at amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.
Some Yugoslavian History
The author provides some background on book 1 of her Self-Inflicted Wounds series, Welcome to Belgrade.
Books 1 (Welcome to Belgrade), 2 (Dangerous Truths), and 3 (And Justice for All), plus the series reader magnet Dateline: Belgrade, are on sale for 99¢ each for the eBooks. amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.
The author will signing her books the evenings of 9/9 and 9/10 at the Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Con (C3). Go to creaturescrimesandcreativity.com for all the details.
Winding Up a Promo and More
Was anyone surprised that Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash? The author describes how she would write it -- and maybe one day she will.
We wind up the promotion for the novella A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. Coming next month will be the promo for the trilogy SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS about the 2000 elections in the former Yugoslavia.
Today is the last day to get A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER for 99¢ at amazon.com/dp/B08376X37B. Starting tomorrow, the three books in SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS plus the series reader magnet, DATELINE: BELGRADE, will be on sale for 99¢ each for the eBooks. Find them at amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
We're almost, but not quite, done with the novella, A Change for the Better, this month's featured promo. The author talks about how she used her experience as a manager to write portions of the novella about Mai Fisher's managerial style.
A Change for the Better is 99¢ for the eBook, but -- drum roll -- starting Monday August 21 through Friday August 25, the eBook will be FREE. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B08376X37B.
The podcast will take a short break next week and return on August 31. NOTE: The date of the podcast's return is INCORRECT in this week's episode.
Second Guessing
A deeper delve into the first half of A Change for the Better, the author's novella about the 2016 election, plus an extra reading from the novella this week.
A Change for the Better eBook is on sale for the entire month of August for only 99¢ -- yep, a novella for under a dollar. You can find it at amazon.com/dp/B08376X37B.
Warning: Some adult language used.
Writing as Catharsis
Writing can heal wounds, whether you're a soldier with PTSD or a citizen who was traumatized by the 2016 election. The author discusses the origins of the novella she wrote about that election's results.
The featured August promotion is A Change for the Better, and the eBook is only 99¢ for the entire month. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B08376X37B.
Note: Some rather salty language.
Slow Horses and the Like
A couple of mini-reviews of the movie, Oppenheimer, and the TV series, Slow Horses.
Plus, the four volumes of A Perfect Hatred and the reader magnet compilation Quintet are free to download through July 29, 2023. You can find them at amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT. Quintet is under the "Related Material" tab.
Act now. The free days end on Saturday.
Next month's promo: the novella A Change for the Better.
Timelines Out of Control?
Duncan delves more into the writing life with some advice on how not to let a timeline bog down your historical fiction.
The four volumes of A Perfect Hatred plus the reader magnet compilation Quintet are 99¢ each, and you can find them at amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT. Look for some free days starting on 7/25/2023.
Fiction and Reality Merge
Duncan talks about reviews and how to cope with the bad ones, plus a documentary that validates how she presented her story in A Perfect Hatred.
The four eBooks in A Perfect Hatred, plus the reader magnet compilation, Quintet, are on sale this month for 99¢ each. Find them at amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT.
Historical Fiction Can Be Fun
The author talks about how she merges her spy fiction with history and how cathartic writing historical espionage fiction can be.
To learn more about this month's featured sales books, books 1-4 of A Perfect Hatred (plus Quintet), go to amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT.
Private Armies, Prigozhin, and Putin
Thoughts from a writer of espionage fiction about the alleged, almost, maybe coup attempt in Russia last week.
Today, 6/29, is the last day to download free eBooks of A War of Deception (amazon.com/dp/B06Y5ZZ7FQ) and its mini-sequel A Face in the Crowd (amazon.com/dp/B01N2WCHMM).
Today, 6/29, and tomorrow 6/30, are the final two days to enter to win a copy of a Meeting the Enemy short story, "It's in the Blood." Enter here: kingsumo.com/g/nua7uq/its-in-the-blood.
A Book Launch is Coming!
As of this broadcast, we're two days away from the launch of P. A. Duncan's latest novel, TREACHERY, book 3 of her 9/11 series MEETING THE ENEMY.
To celebrate the launch, the two books that were on sale for June will be FREE from 6/25/23 to 6/29/23. Also, you can enter to win one of five copies of a MEETING THE ENEMY related short story, "It's in the Blood."
Starting June 25, you can download free copies of A WAR OF DECEPTION at amazon.com/dp/B06Y5ZZ7FQ and A FACE IN THE CROWD at amazon.com/dp/B01N2WCHMM.
On June 24 through June 30, you can enter to win a copy of the short story, "It's in the Blood," at kingsumo.com/g/nua7uq/its-in-the-blood.
Don't Forget the Deets
The author talks about how to improve your fiction with "quotidian details" -- look it up. This week we have a longer reading from TREACHERY because next week, June 15, there will be NO podcast while the author is at a writing workshop.
TREACHERY, book 3 of MEETING THE ENEMY, is still available for preorder at amazon.com/dp/B0C55ZXWYT.
June Sales:
A WAR OF DECEPTION - eBook on sale for $1.99 at amazon.com/dp/B06Y5ZZ7FQ.
A FACE IN THE CROWD - eBook on sale for 99¢ at amazon.com/dp/B01N2WCHMM.
The podcast will resume on June 22, 2023.
Me, Quit Writing? Never!
The author philosophizes a bit about bringing her characters to an appropriate end and whether a second retirement is in her future. Bonus - a reading from book 3 of Meeting the Enemy -- TREACHERY.
Preorder TREACHERY for $1.99 at amazon.com/dp/B0C55ZXWYT.
June featured sales books:
1. A War of Deception (2017 debut novel) -- $1.99 at amazon.com/dp/B06Y5ZZ7FQ
2. A Face in the Crowd (mini-sequel to A War of Deception) -- 99¢ at amazon.com/dp/B01N2WCHMM
Spy Movies and TV Shows -- Top 5s
The author talks about her favorite spy movies and television series compared to the top 5s from IMDb. Plus, a reading from TREACHERY, book 3 of the series Meeting the Enemy.
From 5/27 - 5/31, the author's 2016 short story collection SPY FLASH II, will be FREE to download at amazon.com/dp/B01N5D7GEP.
TREACHERY can still be preordered at a special, low price at amazon.com/dp/B0C55ZXWYT. TREACHERY launches on 6/24.
Undercover in the CIA?
The author discusses the feasibility of the premise that a counterintelligence officer from one spy shop could go undercover inside the CIA. We get a brief history of one traitor in the CIA who might be considered an "undercover agent." Plus, you'll get a reading from the author's upcoming novel, TREACHERY, book 3 of the series Meeting the Enemy.
The featured May sales book is SPY FLASH II, on sale this month for $1.99. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B01N5D7GEP.
PROLOGUE TO TREACHERY, the prequel reader magnet for TREACHERY, remains on sale for 99¢. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8.
Finally, the novel TREACHERY releases on June 24, but you can preorder it now at amazon.com/dp/B0C55ZXWYT.
No Podcast Episode 5/11
Because the host is out of town, there will be no podcast episode this week. The podcast will return on 5/18/23.
Thank you!
The Why of Spy Flash II
Duncan explains how Spy Flash II came about and what inspired the writing of each of the four stories in the collection. Duncan also reads from the first story in the collection, "Spymaster."
Spy Flash II the eBook is on sale the month of May for only $1.99 at amazon.com/dp/B01N5D6GEP.
NOTE: THERE WILL NOT BE AN EPISODE ON MAY 11 BECAUSE THE HOST IS OUT OF TOWN. The podcast will resume on May 18.
Prologue to TREACHERY
Duncan talks about the background of her series MEETING THE ENEMY, specifically the upcoming book 3, TREACHERY.
Two of Duncan's novellas will be free today (4/27/23) and tomorrow (4/28/23) only, and you can find them here: THE YELLOW SCARF amazon.com/dp/B018R55P2W and MY NOBLE ENEMY amazon.com/dp/B00y40IN7E.
If you preordered PROLOGUE TO TREACHERY, you'll find it in your Kindle Library, and it can still be ordered at the preorder price at amazon.com/dp/B0BZZNFPZH.
Don't forget to follow P. A. Duncan's Amazon Author Page at amazon.com/author/phyllisduncan.
By Any Other Name . . .
A traitor is a traitor. Duncan offers her take on a U.S. Airman accused of stealing classified material and posting it on Discord, allegedly to impress people. And learn about an audiobook hack that allows Alexa to read an eBook to you.
For the week of April 24 - 28, 2023, both of Duncan's novellas, The Yellow Scarf and My Noble Enemy, will be free to download (eBooks only). For her birthday week, she's giving presents to her readers. You can find The Yellow Scarf at amazon.com/dp/B018R55P2W and My Noble Enemy at amazon.com/dp/B00Y40IN7E.
There is a week left before the launch of the reader magnet prequel, Prologue to TREACHERY, and you can preorder it still at amazon.com/dp/B0BZZNFPZH.
And that's all, folks.
Old Spies and Old Pilots
Duncan explains the tagline for her novella My Noble Enemy -- "There are old spies and bold spies, but no old, bold spies." Also, some chat about The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s various iterations.
My Noble Enemy April eBook sale: amazon.com/dp/B00Y40IN7E.
The Yellow Scarf April eBook sale: amazon.com/dp/B018R55P2W.
Follow Duncan's Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/phyllisduncan.