A Reader’s Guide to Seminal Vigilante Heroes

Not long ago on my Facebook page, I decided to share a bit of my research into major vigilante heroes of fiction. Here is what I came up with, starting with the early and most influential figures in the developing genre:

Vigilante Identity/Real Identity

Robin Hood/Robin of Loxley

The Count of Monte Cristo/Edmond Dantes (1884-86)

The Scarlet Pimpernel/Sir Percy Blakeney (1905)

Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega (1919)

The preceding, in that chronological order, are seminal vigilante figures who inspired the creation of most of those that followed.

Robin Hood was the great granddaddy who served as the prototype of the aristocrat-turned-vigilante, a political patriot fighting oppression by a corrupt political elite. Edmond Dantes was a man betrayed by friends and family, who escaped prison to launch a years-long campaign to avenge himself, under a new identity as a wealthy aristocrat. The Scarlet Pimpernel was a direct literary offspring of Robin Hood, transported from medieval England to Revolutionary France. He was another political patriot turned vigilante, but added what became genre tropes: the foppish, ineffectual aristocrat who operated under a secret identity as a daring swordsman fighting murderous revolutionaries, rescuing their victims, and leaving behind a symbol of his alter-ego: a flower (the Scarlet Pimpernel). He, in turn, was a direct ancestor to Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega), whose creator borrowed all of the preceding tropes and transported his vigilante hero to California.

Robin Hood, the Pimpernel, and Zorro in turn sired countless other lone-wolf vigilantes, most notably including…

The Saint/Simon Templar (1928)

The Shadow/Lamont Cranston (1931)

The Lone Ranger/John Reid (1933)

The Phantom/Christopher (later Kit) Walker (1936)

Superman/Clark Kent (1938)

Batman/Bruce Wayne (1939)

Shane/(call him “Shane”) (1949)

Paladin/ (name never revealed) (1957)

Ragnar Danneskjold/ (from Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged) (1957)

Daredevil/Matt Murdock (1964)

Travis McGee (1964)

Mr. A/Rex Graine (1967)

The Executioner/Mack Bolan (1969)

“Dirty” Harry Callahan (1971)

NYC vigilante/Paul Kersey (1972-74)

The Punisher/Frank Castle (1974)

The Equalizer/Robert McCall (1985)

Jack Reacher (1997)

Bryan Mills (2008)

Dylan Hunter (2011) (You didn’t think I’d omit my own creation, did you?)

…plus countless other comic-book and costumed superheroes, spun off the earlier vigilante prototypes. The Phantom, Superman, and especially Batman were hugely influential in transmitting the genre tropes to their vigilante descendants. Virtually all costumed superheroes operate as vigilantes, sharing the trope of a mundane, real-world person who morphs into someone with extraordinary “powers far beyond the abilities of mortal men.” It’s clear that these comic-book characters owe their popularity to almost universal wish-fulfillment: the empowerment fantasy of rising above one’s mundane self and life circumstances to become someone extraordinary, living a colorful life and doing remarkable deeds.

Apart from comic-book superheroes, common subgroups of vigilantes include private eyes (Phillip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Mike Hammer, Spenser, Elvis Cole, etc.), reporters (Rex Graine, Clark Kent, Dylan Hunter), ex-military or intelligence officers gone freelance (Dylan Hunter, Bob Lee Swagger, Mack Bolan, Mitch Rapp, Scot Harvath, James Reece, Harry Nichols, John Milton, Bryan Mills, etc.), and drifters (Shane, Travis McGee, Jack Reacher, Peter Ash, etc.).

A thematic constant in virtually all these stories is the quest for justice and order in an unjust and chaotic world. The vigilante is a person with “a particular set of skills” who dares to step apart from regular society, taking on powerfully corrupt individuals and institutions, and a feckless or equally corrupt legal system, in order to exact justice for the victimized and oppressed and to restore order in the chaos.

The timeless popularity of the vigilante character — from wandering Ronin, to medieval knights errant, to cowboy drifters, to political rebels, to private eyes, and on and on — is a testament to the eternal human yearning for justice and order in an unjust and chaotic world. The image of the lone champion of justice continues to inspire and encourage countless millions — and refashioning such heroes for new generations has become a vocation for thousands of writers, including me.

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A NEW PODCAST INTERVIEW

In late September 2022, I was interviewed on the “Books & Brews” podcast about my Dylan Hunter series. This is an unusual show where the hosts — novelist Laura Vosika and beer connoisseur Michael Agnew — “pair” author interviews and readings with recommended beers. If that sounds a bit quirky…well, it is. But it’s fun, too.

During my interview, they asked me a lot of interesting questions about my novels and vigilante fiction generally. They also had me do three readings from the books. An eight-minute video clip from the one-hour podcast appears here. Or, you can listen to the full podcast (audio only) by clicking here. Note: my own interview segments begin several minutes into the podcast.

Enjoy…along with your favorite brew!

A screen capture from the Books & Brews interview: Yours Truly in his writing lair.
Posted in Announcements, Author profiles, BAD DEEDS: A Dylan Hunter Thriller, Biographical, Book samples, Events, HUNTER: A Thriller, Interviews, Personal Appearances, Vigilante fiction, WINNER TAKES ALL | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MY LATEST INTERVIEW

WMAL-FM (Washington, DC) talk show host Larry O’Connor’s interview with me about HUNTER (and much else) is now up on YouTube.

post photo preview

The interview is part of O’Connor’s “O’C Book Club” series on the “Locals” internet platform. I’ve been allowed to share this private link with “superfans” of Dylan Hunter. (That’s you, right?) It was great fun, and I revealed stuff that I haven’t anywhere else. Enjoy!

(Note: there’s a 30-second delay at the start of the video recording.)

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Zorro: The Seminal Vigilante


I missed this article — “Zorro: The Archetypal American Vigilante” — when it was published in (surprisingly) The Washington Post in early January 2021. Writer Michael Sragow’s celebration of the 100th year of Zorro’s cinematic history gets just about everything right, except for the political implications of this American individualist hero:

“This moral rebel, who leaps into battle with a smile and the motto ‘justice for all,’ set the stage for all the gallant swashbucklers who followed. His agility at balancing alter egos spawned the seminal comic-book heroes Superman and Batman. He has always symbolized a bold America with beaming optimism and democratic virtues of tolerance and inclusiveness. All of which makes him an inspirational figure for 2021, his 100th year in movies.”

Zorro, “the Fox,” first stormed into our cultural imagination — and history — in The Curse of Capistrano, a 1919 novel by pulp-fiction writer Johnston McCulley. He was brought to life onscreen the next year by actor Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., who embodied the original “caped crusader” in the popular 1920 film “The Mask of Zorro.” McCulley went on to crank out a long series of popular sequel novels, and over time, more cinematic incarnations followed. Zorro’s fame skyrocketed with the Walt Disney television series of the 1950s, starring Guy Williams (see the photo atop this post). Riding a mighty black stallion, his black cape flowing behind him in the wind, and carving the initial “Z” with his sword wherever he went, the Guy Williams TV incarnation captured the imagination of every young boy of the era, self included. The TV show’s theme song became an indelible memory:

Zorro, Zorro…the Fox, so cunning and free!
Zorro, Zorro…who makes the sign of the “Z.”

The character has been copied, adapted, re-imagined, and resurrected ever since — and he has served as a model for a vast multitude of action-thriller vigilantes and comic-book heroes to this day.

Given the publication he writes for, Sragow tries to put the obligatory liberal spin on the iconic hero, but it doesn’t really fit. Zorro is a champion of the American outlook on life, and of our individualist values and virtues. He embodies the spirit of the irrepressible individual standing against the oppressive state, with individual rights and equal liberty for all as his personal crusade. He exudes America’s historically fearless, joyful, can-do spirit. In his romantic idealism, he is anything but a pallid reflection of today’s “victim” psychology and coarse cynicism.

Zorro is himself the descendant of a long line of fictional rebels and vigilantes, including Robin Hood; the witty poet-and-swordsman Cyrano de Bergerac; Edmond Dantes, “the Count of Monte Cristo”; and Sir Percy Blakeney, the “Scarlet Pimpernel.” His persona draws elements from all of these, but perhaps his nearest ancestor is “the elusive Pimpernel.” Like him, Zorro too operated publicly under a symbolic warrior identity, but disguised any connection to his actual private identity behind the facade of a foppish aristocrat — a masquerade role that threw off his enemies’ suspicions.

From this literary and mythic ancestry, the article does a good job tracing Zorro’s own seminal influence as the progenitor of countless cinematic and literary swashbucklers, vigilante action heroes, and costumed comic-book superheroes. Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega was the direct model for the two original superhero icons, Batman/Bruce Wayne and Superman/Clark Kent — as was acknowledged explicitly by their creators. From them came just about every other vigilante superhero whose costume and mask camouflaged an ordinary identity.

Consider the endless variations on this archetype over the past century: “The Saint,” Simon Templar; “The Shadow,” Lamont Cranston; “The Lone Ranger,” John Reid; Paladin — the 1950s TV Western gunfighter-for-hire — “a knight without armor in a savage land,” who otherwise enjoys the genteel life of a San Francisco dandy; Paladin’s updated crusader-for-hire, Robert “The Equalizer” McCall; Mack “The Executioner” Bolan, the one-man vigilante army who became the founding father of the male, action-adventure pulp thrillers of the 1970s; Bolan’s direct descendant, Frank “The Punisher” Castle; Matt “Daredevil” Murdock…the list goes on and on. Even novelist Ayn Rand reputedly found in the cunning crusader the inspiration for Francisco D’Anconia, one of the heroes of her novel Atlas Shrugged. All are variations on the Zorro vigilante character, examples of what mythologist Joseph Campbell called “the hero with a thousand faces.”

The indelible and universal appeal of such characters is that they symbolize some of our deepest needs and yearnings.

First, they are psychological projections of our own secret fantasies of personal empowerment: our wish and hope that buried somewhere within us lie hidden powers and abilities we can draw upon to exalt ourselves above a mundane existence, in order to forge a colorful, romantic, exciting, and profoundly meaningful life.

Second, the “rebel” aspect of these characters resonates with our desire to break out of the stifling constraints of social conformity.

And third, the “vigilante” element of their crusading taps into our moral craving for justice, in a chaotic and cynical world of rampant injustice.

Zorro and his many literary sons and daughters symbolize our quest for selfhood, identity, independence, and personal fulfillment. These heroes and heroines are models of courage, hope, idealism, and romance.

Readers of my own thrillers should immediately grasp how profound an influence the Zorro character has had upon my Dylan Hunter hero. Along with two of his fictional heirs, Batman and The Lone Ranger, Zorro was my childhood fantasy figure, embodying every virtue I admired and aspired to. That’s why reading this unexpected newspaper tribute to Zorro filled me with nostalgia, and a renewed appreciation for the deep personal and professional influence “the Fox, so cunning and free” has had upon me.

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My Approach to Writing Novels

There are many approaches to writing a novel, and no “one right way.” As I write my fourth novel, I thought I’d share my views about this topic, since many readers are curious about how writers do what they do.

An author can start with something concrete and specific, such as an image of some character. Or of some setting. Or a line of dialogue. Or a news story. Or a conflict of some sort. Or he can start with an abstract theme. In eventually completing a story, the author will get around to incorporating a host of elements, both abstract and concrete — but mostly concretes that, taken together, will ideally add up to some theme, premise, “message,” or “moral.” But he can start the brainstorming process with any germinal seed — and then just keep asking himself questions about that story seed. Answering those questions will start fleshing out the tale.

As far as a writing method: From the germinal seed idea, writers can proceed by seat-of-the-pants, exploratory drafting, just seeing where the idea may take them — or by a highly organized, detailed outline — or by all sorts of hybrid approaches. It doesn’t matter, as long as the outcome is a compelling, cohesive story. Stephen King and Lee Child are examples of authors who take the seat-of-the-pants approach (thus colloquially labeled “pantsers”); the late Robert Ludlum, Ken Follett, and Robert Crais are examples of those who take a meticulous, well-planned, “outliner” approach. Again, there’s no “one right way” to proceed.

Where a writer begins is likely to be affected by his experiences and interests. Stories can be character-driven, plot-driven, setting-driven, style-driven, or theme-driven. Speaking personally, because I’ve been interested in ideas all my life, I write theme-driven thrillers.

I am an “outliner” kind of writer, almost to an O.C.D. extreme. That method works well with my theme-driven approach. I start my Dylan Hunter vigilante tales with some abstract premise: philosophical, legal, moral, psychological, political. In doing this, I track closely with the method detailed by famed writing teacher Lajos Egri in his classic how-to book, The Art of Dramatic Writing.

I first settle on some abstract premise that interests me. Then I dream up a major character who embodies that premise. Next, I think of some character(s) who represent the antithesis of that character. Then I imagine diametrically opposing values held by these characters — and then specific, clashing goals that embody those values and put the characters into irreconcilable conflict. That conflict is the seed of the story’s drama. I build the plot on the development of that conflict, to its final climactic resolution. In plotting the story, I lean on the classic “three-act dramatic structure” as described in many books, such as those by James Scott Bell, Randy Ingermanson, and others. (You can search that term “three-act structure” online and get the gist of it.)

The good thing about writing theme-driven stories is that they are highly integrated: The author knows exactly where he is going, and every element of the story is connected to the thematic point. Another advantage — especially for “outliner” authors — is that this meticulously pre-planned approach considerably reduces the amount of rewriting or number of drafts that a “pantser” might require before he or she figures out exactly what they want to say and gets their story on track.

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On the other hand, the danger in the theme-driven approach to fiction-writing is that Story can become subordinate to Message: The tale can become tedious, ham-handed propaganda, whose characters are one-dimensional messenger boys and girls — what I’ve described as mere “premises with feet,” instead of anything resembling actual people. Fiction readers want clever plots and strong characters in vividly realized settings; they don’t read novels for abstract moral instruction. So the theme-driven writer must resist the impulse to have his characters sitting around preaching the theme. He must show it, dramatize it in the events of the story, and in the lives of the characters.

Let me get specific, using my own thrillers as examples.

The first novel in my series, HUNTER, grew from my background writing investigative true-crime nonfiction in the 1980s and 1990s, and from my anger about the legal system. I wanted to write a highly suspenseful thriller about putting actual justice back into a criminal justice system that has been corrupted by liberal leniency toward predatory criminals. So, I conjured a mysterious vigilante who would expose that corruption — and then colorfully exact justice against both the predators and their “progressive” enablers. The abstract theme for HUNTER is summarized in a line of dialogue from its hero: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is an enabler.” The corresponding plotline, which dramatizes that theme, is: “An ex-CIA officer hiding under a new identity turns vigilante to punish murderers and their enablers, unaware that his lover is hunting the unknown assassin — or that she is the daughter of his arch-enemy.”

The Dylan Hunter sequel novel, BAD DEEDS, likewise grew from my past nonfiction writing and speaking — this time about environmentalism. In the form of a page-turning thriller, I wanted to expose the actual meaning of environmentalism as a philosophy, and the ugly, little-known truths about the organized environmentalist movement. So, my abstract theme is: “The environmentalist Narrative provides a philosophical rationalization for power-lust and plunder.” The dramatized plotline: “A crusading reporter turns vigilante to stop a deadly conspiracy of powerful politicians and environmentalist fanatics, even though his violent ways may cost him the woman he loves.” Again, the characters, their conflicts, plot events, and story climax all manifest and dramatize the book’s abstract theme.

The third novel in the series, WINNER TAKES ALL, is an even more ambitious thriller, both thematically and plot-wise. Here, I wanted to explore the psychology of power-lust: what I call the “win/lose,” as opposed to “win/win,” view of social relationships. I wanted to dramatize, in another page-turning Dylan Hunter thriller, how that zero-sum outlook on the world corrupts and destroys families, careers, sexual relationships, and of course our politics. This book’s highly abstract theme is: “The zero-sum worldview leads to and rationalizes predatory and exploitative ‘win/lose’ relationships.” However, it took a highly complex plot structure, and a big cast of colorful characters, to dramatize that theme fully, and in a gripping way. The following plotline summary doesn’t do justice to the tale and its characters: “A mysterious vigilante battles a ruthless billionaire, his hired assassin, and Russian spies who are using blackmail and terrorism to install their puppet in the White House.”

Anyway, I offer this commentary to provide a window into one author’s approach to writing fiction. Again, I want to emphasize that mine is not the only or necessarily the best approach. Each author must find an approach that works for him or her, compatible with their own psychology and interests. We only hope that at the end of our labors, our readers become mesmerized within our Story Worlds and can’t stop turning the pages.

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Get HUNTER for Free — This Weekend Only!

If you’re like me, you’re going stir-crazy about now. We’re all trapped in our homes because of this terrible epidemic.

I know you’re also worried about the safety of your friends and family. And maybe about their sanity, too. They’re probably desperate for some fresh entertainment to help them pass the hours and days. (I mean, just how many times can we watch the same old TV and movie reruns?)

Well, here’s a way you can help rescue them from their boredom.

From Friday, March 27, and continuing throughout the weekend, till Sunday night, March 29 — I’m doing something I’ve never done before:

I’m giving away thousands of ebook copies of “HUNTER” — my bestselling debut thriller — to everyone and anyone who wants to download a free copy!

Over the next three days, you, or anyone you know, can get HUNTER absolutely free, directly from Amazon. No gimmicks. No strings attached. All they have to do is go to the book’s Amazon page…

https://amzn.to/2WK0HCE

…then simply download a free copy of the ebook to any device — phone, tablet, Kindle ereader, or computer. They can do that and read the ebook using the free Kindle Reading App, available at checkout.  

Why am I doing this? Well, call this my contribution to national sanity. I think we all need a diversion from our current worries. And it’s also my way of introducing thousands of new readers to the exciting world of Dylan Hunter…and to all the books coming soon.

I’m counting on loyal fans of the series to spread the word. If you have read and enjoyed the Dylan Hunter series, just copy that Amazon page link, above, then paste and forward it to your friends by email, or post it on your Facebook page, Twitter, or other social media. Explain to your friends just how much you enjoyed the book, and tell them you think they’d like a free copy, too.

You can also tell them that HUNTER was an “Amazon Editors’ Pick” and a Wall Street Journal “Top 10 Fiction Ebook.” It became a runaway bestseller: the #1 title in “Mysteries & Thrillers” on Kindle — the #1 Kindle title in “Romantic Suspense” — the #1 Audible bestseller in “Espionage Thrillers” — the #2 novel in the entire Kindle “Romance” category — and, overall, the #4 bestseller among all books on Kindle, both fiction and nonfiction.

But please emphasize that this free offer is good ONLY THIS WEEKEND. On Monday, HUNTER will go back to its full ebook price of $4.99.

Here’s that link again, to copy and circulate:

https://amzn.to/2WK0HCE

Thanks. And for you new visitors to the site — enjoy HUNTER … with a vengeance!



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Some Cool Free Gifts for Dylan Hunter Fans

If you’ve read and enjoyed any of my Dylan Hunter thrillers, you are probably intrigued and curious about the history and background of this mysterious vigilante … back in the days when he was “Matt Malone.”

When and where was he born? What was his childhood like? Where did he get his education? How and when was he recruited into the CIA? What training did he receive?

And what top secret operations and missions did he undertake as one of the Agency’s most lethal and effective “non-official cover” officers?

If you’re curious, well, I’ve got something for you: The Dylan Hunter Dossier.

Prepared by his former CIA boss and mentor, Grant Garrett, this secret file reveals our vigilante hero’s physical description, and it summarizes Malone’s childhood and early education. Then it provides a detailed timeline of his life: his time as a brilliant student at Princeton … his CIA recruitment … his extensive training … Malone’s many deadly “black ops” missions for the Agency … his secret plan to leave the CIA … his last, harrowing, fateful mission … Malone’s sudden disappearance — and finally, his eventual resurrection as crusading journalist and secret vigilante Dylan Hunter.

Interested?

Then I’ll be happy to send you THE DYLAN HUNTER DOSSIER — absolutely free — as your welcoming gift when you join the Dylan Hunter email list.

And that’s not all you’ll get.

When you become a list member, I’ll send you my free BULLET POINTS e-newsletter, too. As a recipient of the newsletter, you’ll be the first to learn about new book releases in the Dylan Hunter series. You’ll get advance “sneak peeks” at book covers, sample chapters of coming books, background and insights about the stories. Plus, you’ll become eligible for exclusive deals, discounts, special offers, and contest prizes.

Oh, and you’ll get one more thing:

As a member of the Dylan Hunter email list, you’ll be the first to receive — absolutely free — the next Dylan Hunter story, BLIND EYE, when it is published in a few more weeks.

You’ll get it all — The Dylan Hunter Dossier, Blind Eye, and the Bullet Points e-newsletter — just for signing up to the Dylan Hunter email list.

If you’re worried about sharing your email address and inviting spamwell, you can relax. You have my promise: I will never share your email address with anyone. And you can unsubscribe at any time.

You can receive your copy of The Dylan Hunter Dossier immediately. Just click this link. You’ll be guided to the sign-up page, and from there to a link where you can download the Dossier.

Again, The Dylan Hunter Dossier is an exclusive gift available only to members of the mailing list. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now!

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The Genesis of Dylan Hunter

From time to time, readers ask how and when I first dreamed up Dylan Hunter, what my original story ideas were, and how I developed the character and series. Luckily, I’m an obsessive note-taker, and I’ve compiled detailed, dated records about all this stuff.

So, here goes . . .

 

I first envisioned a sketchy version of Dylan Hunter way back in late June 2004. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorism, it’s not surprising that my initial conception of him was inspired by the sort of counterterrorism tales and heroes conjured by authors like Vince Flynn and Brad Thor. At that time, I imagined that Dylan was to be a counterterrorism hero, too.

Reviewing my handwritten notes from that period, I was surprised to see how much of WINNER TAKES ALL — the third novel in the published series — grew from ideas for what I then conceived would be the first Hunter thriller, titled CRUSADER. That planned story, in which terrorism played a central role, grew along with the Hunter character.

I settled on the surname “Hunter” almost immediately, but in 2004, “Dylan” was only one of a host of first names I considered. I kept matching the “sounds” of various first names to surnames, never quite happy with the combinations. (For a while that first year, he was “Reno Lee Hunter.”) While my physical image of the character evolved over time, I described his background, personality, skills, and combative history with the Russians pretty much as they eventually turned out in the published series.

After my initial flurry of inspiration and note-taking in 2004, I got sidetracked by Life. It wasn’t until March 2008 that I revisited the character and the CRUSADER storyline. On April 4 of that year, I finally settled on his full name, Dylan Lee Hunter, and began to refine and fill in his biography. By late May I also settled on his physical appearance. I spent the rest of 2008 and 2009 further developing the character. My copious notes include many photos of a Hollywood actor whose appearance evoked my image of him; a fully developed timeline of his early life; and extensive essays about his background, psychology, and career in the CIA.

It was only in mid-November 2009 that I decided CRUSADER wasn’t the right story to launch the Hunter character. It presented him “currently,” without his backstory and history, which would be crucial for readers to understand him. I realized that if I published CRUSADER first, either I’d have to interrupt the plot with an extensive flashback, or I’d eventually have to write a prequel novel as an “origin” story for the character. It made more sense to start the series at its chronological beginning, instead. So I set CRUSADER aside and dove into plotting HUNTER.

Simultaneously, I also decided to abandon counterterrorism as Dylan’s mission. By then, the 9/11 atrocity was eight years past, and many other thriller authors (some with special ops credentials) had already written great counterterrorism series. Besides, that theme narrowed the subject matter my books could address. So, I changed Dylan’s crusade to a subject in which I had previously acquired knowledge and experience, as a journalist. He would keep his CIA background and skill set, but now he would take on corruption in the criminal justice system, as a vigilante.

Interestingly, Annie Woods was a latecomer to my planning. Early on, I had no intention to inject romance into the Hunter stories — indeed, the idea of doing that frightened me. As a male, novice author, I had no confidence that I could present a romance that readers wouldn’t laugh or wince at. I mentioned Annie only as a minor secondary character, in a single brief paragraph of my December 2008 CRUSADER notes. It wasn’t until mid-November 2009, when I abandoned CRUSADER and started to work in earnest on HUNTER, that I began to flesh out her critical, central role in the series. Why? Because I felt that I needed to torment my hero with some intensely personal emotional conflict, to add depth to his story. What better way to do that than through the tribulations of a tumultuous romance? I realized that as his lover, Annie also could be the perfect foil for my hero, enriching, complicating, and threatening his life in profound ways.

I’d say that decision worked out pretty well.

At that time I was writing it, I didn’t necessarily think of HUNTER as a series opener: I just wanted to see if I could actually write a novel. So I developed that story as a stand-alone thriller. Only after it was published and became wildly successful did I feel confident I could launch a series based on the character. I then conceived and wrote the sequel, BAD DEEDS, as a chronological continuation of the HUNTER storyline and characters.

Writing the second novel wasn’t easy. I felt an enormous weight of responsibility after HUNTER: I didn’t want to let down fans of that book. I knew that after a big, successful first novel, the sequel frequently disappoints fans. In the publishing industry, they call it “the sophomore slump.” I felt I had to prove to myself, and to fans of HUNTER, that I didn’t have only one good story in me. That meant this new one had to be as good or better than the first.

One big challenge was figuring out what to do with the Dylan/Annie relationship. To keep their romantic tension going, I needed some new kind of conflict that would tug them apart. Also, I wanted to answer a few critics of HUNTER who saw Annie as too “weak” — a mere damsel in distress. I had to make clear she was Dylan’s equal in courage and toughness.

Dylan also had to evolve beyond the inner conflicts he wrestled with in the first novel. In HUNTER, he comes to terms with his new identity. In BAD DEEDS, he comes to terms with his basic nature as a protective “sheepdog” in a world of predatory wolves and vulnerable sheep.

Even before I finished writing BAD DEEDS, I was mulling ideas for the third book in the series. I revisited my old CRUSADER notes and found a lot of fertile material. I planted some of it in BAD DEEDS, as seeds to be harvested in the next novel. When that second book was published, I culled many story ideas and characters from the CRUSADER notes, reworked and expanded its plot, changed its theme, and renamed it WINNER TAKES ALL.

For example, you may be interested to learn that the very first scene I ever drafted in the entire Dylan Hunter series was the traumatic terrorist bombing that now appears at the midpoint of WINNER TAKES ALL; it was drawn directly from my 2004 notes for CRUSADER.

I also borrowed many characters from that trove of material. The main villain in CRUSADER was to be Avery Trammel; his motives, background, and activities were very similar to the way he turns out in BAD DEEDS and WINNER TAKES ALL. I also wrote that Trammel would “need a thuggish hitman, an American (probably with military training and a criminal record)” — a “psychopath” who “rides herd on the local terror cell.” That character, then named “Lash,” became assassin-for-hire Ray Lasher. I planted his name as a mere passing reference in HUNTER; his ghostly, intermittent presence haunts BAD DEEDS; and his role expands to become, with Trammel, the co-villain of WINNER TAKES ALL.

I had developed Julia Haight, Trammel’s actress wife, in those early notes, too, though I presented her far less sympathetically than how she evolved in WINNER TAKES ALL. The CRUSADER notes also sketched profiles for Hunter’s ongoing series sidekick Freddie “Wonk” Diffendorfer, as well as for other WINNER TAKES ALL characters: investigative journalist Arnie Wasserman, presidential candidate Carl Spencer, nonprofit villains Wallace Rouse and Paul Ratzenberger, and nonprofit good guy Dennis Hatcher.

With the publication of WINNER TAKES ALL, I found that I had completed an unplanned opening trilogy for the Dylan Hunter series. The trilogy establishes the major characters, their clashing values and goals, and the intricately developed Story World in which they live. It will forever serve as the essential foundation for all other series tales, going forward.

The character of Dylan Hunter has preoccupied me for fifteen years. He evolved from archetypal ancestors in “vigilante” fiction who captured my imagination when I first encountered them during childhood in the 1950s, on TV and in comic books, and later, in the thrillers of other authors.

I’m happy to say that he now has a vivid and vital life of his own.

Posted in BAD DEEDS: A Dylan Hunter Thriller, Biographical, HUNTER: A Thriller, Inspirational, Vigilante fiction, WINNER TAKES ALL | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dylan Hunter Makes List of Ten Compelling Mystery Protagonists

WikiEZvid.com — which bills itself as “the largest and most comprehensive video wiki on the planet” — just notified me that they have posted a video listing “10 Addictive Mystery Series That Follow Compelling Protagonists.”

A screen capture from the video

And Dylan Hunter was selected as one of those “compelling protagonists.”

“Mysteries are often best remembered for their main characters, from Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot,” the video explains. “In order to keep readers coming back for multiple books, these protagonists should be more than just clever; they need to be dynamic and compelling as well. The ten series listed here star cunning and intriguing sleuths who will keep you coming back for more.”

It continues: “A relatable and likable main character is important for any good mystery, and especially crucial when writing a series. Readers should be able to celebrate their favorite sleuth’s successes and mourn their losses as they follow them from book to book.”

The list of ten protagonists is presented “in no particular order,” and when they get to Dylan, here’s what they have to say:

“Investigative reporter Hunter is dedicated to the truth. Once reckless and impulsive in his search to uncover injustice, he is forced to become more careful and calculating after he falls in love with Annie, a government analyst. Finding creative ways to expose the misdeeds of governments and corporations is Hunter’s forte, and his passion for justice is infectious.”

I was amused by the images they used to illustrate the Dylan Hunter segment, and I think you will be, too. You can find it on the video by fast-forwarding to the 3:32 mark.

Enjoy!

And thanks to the folks at WikiEZvid.com.

Posted in Announcements, BAD DEEDS: A Dylan Hunter Thriller, HUNTER: A Thriller, Reviews, WINNER TAKES ALL | Leave a comment

Marrying Suspense Thrillers with Romance — Interview with Belle Ami

 

Pianist.

World traveler.

Skier. Gourmet cook. Wife. Mother . . .

Romantic thriller author Belle Ami

And the author of gripping romantic suspense thrillers.

Meet the remarkable Belle Ami.

After exchanging social-media comments with Belle for a long time, I interrupted this busy lady’s writing schedule and invited (well…implored) her to submit to an interview. Happily, she agreed to join the ranks of the other stellar authors I’ve chatted with here on “The Vigilante Author.”

If you love suspenseful thrillers spiced up with hot romance, then Belle’s novels should be next on your reading list. Our conversation will tell you why.

 

~*~

 

The Vigilante Author: Hi, Belle. Thanks so much for agreeing to tell my readers about yourself, your journey, and your popular books.

You had already written a number of novels — including three titles in your Tip of the Spear spy series — before your breakout novel, The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci, simply killed it on the Amazon bestseller lists.

But maybe we should begin by having you tell readers about your latest release.

Belle Ami: Thank you!

I just released my second novel in the Out of Time series, The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio — a time-travel thriller with romantic elements. The first book in the series, The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci, is my first Amazon #1 bestseller. Hopefully, by the time this interview is published, The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio will join the ranks.

The Vigilante Author: Congratulations on the huge success of your series debut, and I hope the sequel kills it, too. What’s it about?

Belle Ami: The book continues the story of Angela Renatus, an art historian turned detective with a psychic gift: She can see into the past — into the lives of great artists.

In book 2, Angela is working full time with her fiancé, Alex Caine, a former Navy SEAL turned art detective. When they’re enlisted to solve the mysterious theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity — one of the greatest art heists in history — Angela senses her visions about the tortured artist go far beyond the missing masterpiece.

A web of secrets and lies entangles Angela and Alex on a twisted and treacherous journey. They trace the final years of Caravaggio’s tumultuous life, while facing danger on several fronts as they seek the missing painting.

The Vigilante Author: Sounds like a treat for Dan Brown fans.

Belle Ami: Well, if I get one quarter of the fans that Dan Brown has, I’ll be jumping for joy.

I plotted the book around the actual theft of this painting. In 1969, Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Nativity with Saint Lawrence and Francis was stolen from the Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo, Sicily. Thought to be stolen by the Mafia, it has remained on the FBI’s list as the number two biggest art heist in history, second only to the Isabella Gardner Museum theft.

The Vigilante Author: I remember that Gardner Museum heist. It included a rare Vermeer and a Rembrandt, I recall. So, how did you refashion the Caravaggio theft into a novel?

Belle Ami: The curator of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence enlists my heroine, Angela Renatus, and her fiancé, art detective Alex Caine, to find the Nativity. Angela who has begun to realize the purpose of her psychic powers decides to employ an unconventional method of recovering the missing masterpiece: Instead of following the trail of the theft, she follows the twisted personal journey of the artist, Caravaggio, who was on the run for seven years prior to his death for killing a man in a duel.

It’s a riveting adventure that will take you all over Italy, with a thrilling surprise ending.

The Vigilante Author: I love it when authors weave real-life events into their stories. Rooting fiction in history gives a story a kind of credibility that pure fantasy can’t. But getting the history right is always a challenge.

Belle Ami: I’m kind of a stickler for getting the history right. Partly because I know history can be manipulated, altered, and molded based on the prejudices, fantasies, and political preferences of the historian or chronicler. We see it happen every day in the media.

I use this premise in my Out of Time series to debunk historical myths and right the wrongs of history. When you’re dealing with events that happened four or five hundred years ago, there is so much gray between fact and fiction. Boy, do I skate the line!

The Vigilante Author: It sounds as if you’ve struck a rich vein of inspiration for an ongoing series, though. What’s next?

Belle Ami: My next book in the series is The Girl Who Adored Rembrandt, which will be out later this year.

I haven’t decided who the artist in my fourth book will be. I’m considering a woman, which will be fun to write about. We’ll see where my research takes me. One thing is certain: I love this series with my heart and soul because it blends art, history, action, adventure, and poignant human relationships in a thrilling story. I can’t wait to start writing the next one.

The Vigilante Author: The Out of Time series seems to be a departure from your earlier books. Is there anything that links them? Or are they distinct genres? If so, do you have a favorite genre?

Continue reading

Posted in Author profiles, Biographical, Inspirational, Interviews, Publishing Advice, Self-Publishing | 1 Comment