Today, October 5, 2012, marks the most important day in literary history.
OK, perhaps that’s a little overblown. Maybe not so much the most important day. But an important one, nonetheless.
Why, you ask yourself, wondering whether I slipped into the tequila even earlier than usual?
Because today is the official launch day of JET and JET II – Betrayal. The first two installments in my new series, which is two scoops of absolute kick-ass the likes of which make a Tarentino film seem as fast-moving as The English Patient.
JET is the story of a twenty-eight year old ex-Mossad operative who faked her own death to get out of the game, but whose past has caught up with her in a big, ugly way. It’s honestly the most non-stop action-and-thrills-filled books I’ve ever penned, or for that matter, read. And that’s not hyperbole. I’ll eat my bandanna if you don’t think so.
I was after an over-the-top heroine the likes of what would happen if Jack Bauer and James Bond had a love child. Think Lizbeth Salander with a double scoop of Kate Blankenship in Underworld. I wanted ass-kicking on top of ass-kicking. In other words, an unapologetic escapist romp that set a new, higher bar for what action/adventure can be.
The elevator pitch? Kill Bill meets Bourne.
That about sums it up.
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BREAKING NEWS: A brilliant interview and synopsis of JET by Gail Trish Gentry – an absolute must read!
NEWS: I was featured in an interview at World Literary Cafe, with Melissa Foster! A good one.
NEWS: New guest blog with Sheila Deeth on writing female protags with a sizzling difference! Worth a look.
INTERVIEW: Read an interview with me about JET at Indie Author Land.
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But one important caveat. The writing isn’t what you might expect from my description – puerile, simple-minded, prosaic action. Something odd happened as I was writing it. I sort of hit the groove, and what ensued was closer to literary fiction as far as the use of language goes than your typical shoot-em-up romp. So if there’s a genre that’s roller-coaster, breakneck-paced action crossed with literary fiction, this might be it. All I can tell you is that the result is something unique and for me, at least, utterly new and different.
The books are written in a cinematic fashion. Deliberately so. I conceptualized them as footage playing in my noggin. I saw each chapter in my mind as a movie. So that’s what I wrote. I described the saga screening in my head, and it was all I could do to keep up with it as it moved relentlessly forward. Hopefully you’ll like that.
Now let’s talk pricing. As readers of my blog know, I’m not content to just put it out there and sell books. I’m trying a new pricing strategy, where for a week or so I’m doing the first book at literally a give-away price. Because I want readers, not money (OK, I want money too, but there’s a method to my madness). I believe that if I can get tens of thousands of readers to try JET, they will want to buy JET II and III (I’m hard at work on JET III as we speak). And then they’ll want to move to my other work. So the introductory price of JET? $1.99. All my other new work is priced at $5, but JET is going to be two bucks, and JET II a lousy $3.97. For a limited time only.
So do me a huge favor. Get JET. It won’t cost you hardly anything. Read the first few pages. Then get copies and gift them to everyone you know. Spread the word.
Don’t make me beg. I get all whiny and clingy when I beg. And nobody wants to see that.
For good reason. Help me spare you the embarrassment. We’ll all be better for it. Trust me.
I haven’t lied to you yet.
Buy JET at Amazon. Buy JET II – Betrayal at Amazon.
Hi Russell, I read JET (thanks to R. S. Guthrie) and I must truly say that I hate you a bit because now I have to buy JET II and God only knows how many others in the series! 🙂
You really have a winning character! Congratulations!
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed JET, and here’s to hoping that JET II – Betrayal does it for you as well. I’m hard at work on JET III, so you may be doomed. I know I am.
Jet II was better than Jet in my opinion. As you get to know her you write her better. I have a few nitpicking things based on your not knowing Israel culture but nothing that prevented me from totally enjoying the books. My Jewish religious holidays are finally over and reviews are being worked on. I have holder/short reviews on Goodreads.
Send me an e-mail about the nitpicking. I aims to please. Books (at) RussellBlake.com – anything that I can change without screwing up the story will simply add to the believability. Why not try to make everyone happy?
Glad you liked both books – I was actually worried when I sat down to write JET II that I wouldn’t be able to top JET. Then again, I feel that every time I write another book in a series. “How the hell am I ever going to do that again?” Thankfully, there’s tequila.
I sort of think I’m more in touch with my feminine side as I write more JET and Silver Justice. I’m wearing estrogen patches now and eating a lot of chocolate, but I have never felt better. So there’s that.
Estrogen patches and chocolate? Are you drinking white zinfandel also? Having pedicures and manicures?
I prefer chablis and a good cry. Nothing like a good cry, except maybe a nice warm bath and a cozy mystery.
Well done, my friend…much good fortune with your new babies…Duly posted your announcement on my site…
Warm Regards, Thomas
Thanks Thomas. No rest for the wicked, though. Have to get JET III into shape…
Lizbeth Salander you mean?
Sanders, Salander, Salamander…whatever. You know what I’m saying. Sort of. Doh.
Sounds a bit like the Dark Angel series from Cameron. A bit. 🙂
Jessica Alba *corrected to bow to pedantic pressure* could totally play Jet. But beyond that, not much similarity. Read it and you’ll see. Although I should live so long that it is even close to as popular as Angel was. It was popular, wasn’t it?
Jessica! Jessica Alba!
That’s sort of what I meant. Her too. Jennifer Alfa or whatever. I obviously watch a lot of TV. Remember that down here, other than soccer and Mexican soap operas, there is no TV to speak of. Speaking of which, did you ever see the “Que Hora Es?” bit from SNL? Frigging hilarious, I thought. Then again, I was drinking.
I’ve never watched a single episode of Dark Angel. It was after I got rid of TV. I know of her because a friend of mine was infatuated with her. I’ve never heard of Que Hora Es… What time is?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cKGyOE_jOI
Very funny, especially if you live in Mexico, as I do.
Hahahahaha Is that how you communicate with Mexicans?
Fairly close to the truth, I’m ashamed to say.
I missed this. You are telling ME I’m pedantic? Mr. Blake, you should know that in some circles, your man card would be confiscated for not knowing her name? Shame on you.
I am chastened. But why exactly do I need to remember their names again? That’s never been a prerequisite until now. Just tequila, a gift of gab, and some date rape drugs.
No clue. Maybe those are for the women who are accessible enough so you can actually have drinks together?
There’s that. Are you saying Jennifer Abba is out of my league? I’ll have you know I’m a playah.
Can’t stop laughing. Jennifer Abba… hahahaha
And yes, yes, I am. Way out of your league. She’s like, what… thirty? I don’t think she’d go for a septuagenarian.
I’ll have you know that some of my girlfriends are way younger and hotter than Jennifer Abba. I just need to go meet them. They’re out there, but I’ve been kind of busy writing and stuff. I could so have Jennifer Abba stuffing twenties in my man thong at Jalapeno Heat for a slice of that caliente Blake love. I could. Really. I’m pretty sure.
OK, you convinced me. You can. Absolutely. Calm down. You’re not having a stroke or anything, are you?
I think I hurt something.
Awww, I thought you said cantorron, which is my Twitter handle!!
Thanks for the good deal on the new books. Your marketing has done well for you. I picked up one of your free promotional books when it was recommended by Amazon, and based on that I’ve bought probably 10.
Love your work, look forward to more of it.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad to hear that something is working. And I’m especially glad that you like my work. Makes it all sort of worth doing, to hear honest reader feedback.
You hooked me Russell. Purchased an downloaded.
Good luck with the book.
Oh good. Let me know what you think.
I bought Jet, flipped through the first chapter. Will finish it after Abarat and Thief of Always (again), though I must say it doesnt look like an easy read, but then again I’m coming into it from a children’s book by Clive Barker, lol. First chapter was intriguing. Will let you know what I think (please tell me that your villain is not cooler than your heroine, and that he gets killed in some horribly grotesque fashion?) I hate when Clive Barker does that. His character Rictus (Thief) was one of the single most bestial (yet loveable) characters I had ever read. Guess what happens to him in the end…ick.
Compared to a children’s book it might appear scholarly, but I can assure you that I strove for only the most prosaic and puerile as I wrote it. And I have a feeling that you won’t be disappointed with how things turn out. Be sure to let me know what you think.
JET I – Much as I loved the fluid action scenes and props used and the natural descriptions and clever wordplay, I think the casino (seduction) scene is my favorite. The interplay was brilliantly done throughout. I adored this line:
“She offered a dazzling smile, her eyes glittering the promise of better fortunes to be had.”
Loving your book so far, Russell. Just a question.
Do you market this book primarily to females, males or both? I mean generally speaking, do you think males might get turned off by the female lead, sexist as that may be? I write erotica and sci-fi with similar heroines. Sometimes after finishing a novella I think I’ve given them more strength than they really needed to get the story coherent. Is there such a thing as a female lead who is “too strong” (i.e. Ridley’s G.I. Jane)?
I don’t differentiate between males or females in my marketing, and I don’t imagine some target reader when I write. I write what I would want to read.
I think JET is a perfect blend of strength, seduction and softness. As one female reviewer put it, men want her, and women want to be her. I think if you create a memorable character who is three dimensional, even if she’s an overblown character, readers will respond to her, feel her pain, root for her and feel a kinship. Many of the things she’s going through are universal – a sense of abandonment, distrust of the world, having to make her way independent of any help, being betrayed, feeling lonely or alone, etc. I think the trick is to get the reader to care – if he/she doesn’t care, it doesn’t matter what the character does, or how weak, soft, or in between she or he may be. I never saw GI Jane, but when I was writing Jet and thinking of her, I was thinking a female Jack Bauer from 24, who bleeds when cut, feels pain, fatigue, and all the rest, but is still an unstoppable force. So put Jack Bauer into a female wrapper, albeit hot, and you have Jet, but with more depth and none of the hokey “let’s establish her family values in the next four pages” stuff that always had me groaning in 24.
My effort is to always ensure my characters behave naturally – as I would. If they aren’t true to your vision and don’t behave naturally, the reader won’t suspend disbelief with you, and will start critiquing instead. I try to achieve that transformative effect in my fiction, where the reader buys into the package – but you can’t screw them and do something unnatural, or stupid just to make the plot work. The hardest part of all of this for me is coming up with plots that haven’t been done, but seem natural and believable, even if outrageous. I think JET achieves that. I’d also love to believe that a guy like Ridley would read it and go, “Holy shit, now THAT’S a STORY!” And then I’d make millions, the hot starlet (maybe Jennifer Abba) would fall for me on the set, and we’d all live happily ever after. It could happen. I’m sure it could. Sniff.
Dream big. Don’t go for Jennifer Abba. I’ve heard she has a hotter younger sister, Jennison, who, by the way, played Lizbeth Salamander on Broadway.
Wow. Another reason to drink.
Although I heard the songs were the best part of the Broadway show. “Kill em now, kill em ALL, kill em big (jazz hands, step step twirl), kill em SMALL!” That was my favorite from the album.
What a great answer, Russell, your posts would sell me the book if I weren’t already overdrawn!! Excellent insight into the mind of a heroine built out of flesh and blood, not out of an archetype.
Loving Jet #1 – sitting up at night and can’t stop reading til tiredness causes me to hallucinate and drop my kindle – you are the cause of my chronic lack of sleep! keep writing.. who needs sleep anyway?
Hi,
I read most of your books, and in the process of completing reading the remaining. Just bought Jet 2, I like the story, it reminds me a bit of Modesty Blaise, but cooler.
Btw, Whois the model on the Jet covers? 😉
Regards,
Daniele
Glad you’re enjoying JET. My cover designer picked the model, so I can lay no claim to knowing her. Unfortunately. Sigh.
Hi Russell,
I bought JET as soon as it came out and couldn’t put it down. I would try to stop and sleep, but ended up turning the lamp back on so I could read some more! It was a fantastic read. I loved Maya and look forward to reading as many JET sequels as you can write.
Glad you liked it. JET II is out and getting good press – I think it may be as good or better than JET! But don’t start it in the evening. That’s a recipe for a sleepless night. Be sure to leave a review – they all count.
I like this book already. You need an Israeli girlfriend to help with some of the verisimilitude, but that’s an easy fix. In your long response to Mark you explained how you built a real flesh-and-blood hero out of one of Israel’s top elite. In 3 Through History, I created a time-warped historical misfit who bounces back and forth between the Kibbutz and the US, finally winding up here and mourning the loss of the Socialist ideal. My readers have found him deep, lovable, and broken in a very fetching way.
So what I’m saying it that having plucked a character out of Israel’s castoffs, I appreciate your creation of a real character at the other end.
Just read Jet#1 last week, and finished Jet#2 today… enjoyed both immensely! Can’t wait for #3… pleaassssee HURRY! While I’m eagerly awaiting the completion of #3, I’d like to start on one of your other novels – what book do you recommend?
Absolutely try King of Swords. If you liked JET, you will like King.
Leave reviews! Thanks.
RG – don’t miss out on The Geronimo Breach – one of the best novels I have ever read (twice).
Thanks for your feedback! I’ve added those 2 titles to my list.
Loved Jet, Jet 2. When will Jet 3 be out on Kindle? Also a big fan of your other books. All page turners.
I’m shooting for a Nov 1 release of JET 3. My fingers are crossed. I think it turned out really, really well. Now it’s up the editor to whip it into further shape,
Ok – I finished Jet 2 last night… was equally as sleep depriving as the first, if not more. Absolutely deliriously waiting for no.3. If only you could write ’em faster than i read ’em! Wonder if anyone’s ever read themselves to death? Anyway, i’m off to make coffee, lots of it.
Glad you enjoyed em. JET 3 is at the editor. So Nov 1 or so, it goes live.
Kindly leave a review if you found it meritorious. They all matter, and I appreciate them.
Gracias.
Hi Russell
i just wanted to say that i have read jet 1 and 2 and looking fowarded to jet 3. I have also read all of your other books and i very much like your style of writing. I do read numerous authors and i just want to say thumbs up to you, and thank you for the insight.
Also i must say the pricing of your books are so gracious and thank you.
I’m so glad you like my work. Now I just need to get the word out and find another million like-minded souls, and I’ll be able to afford the good tequila!
I loved Jet and Jet 2. Can’t wait for Jet 3. Great characterization and action. Would read as many Jets as you feel like writing!