I'm taking things easy today It's my last free day before my critique group meets a final time for my manuscript and I know tomorrow I will be busy editing.
I've been reading a bit about Tom Clancy. If you hadn't heard by now, he passed away this week. He was a master at military suspense and really broke ground in that genre. I read an interview where he had a high-ranking U.S. defense officer ask him how he'd accessed secret documents (I want to say Secretary of Defense, but I can't quite recall) and Mr. Clancy replied he'd only read unclassified documents and drew conclusions from those. How awesome is that, that his hunches were so accurate?
President Reagan mentioned in public that he couldn't put The Hunt for Red October down and after that comment, Mr. Clancy's career was made. Something similar happened when Stephenie Meyer talked about not being able to put down Hunger Games if I recall correctly. Proof that word of mouth is the best marketing tool.
Mr. Clancy also said having a movie made out of your books was like turning your daughter over to a pimp. Which is sad because I loved The Hunt for Red October and Clear and Present Danger. The great thing, though, is that his words and stories will live on. And he left a legacy that cannot be denied. Rest in peace, sir.
Have you read any of his books? Did you like the movies that were made from them?
I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
3 comments:
I saw a video clip of President Reagan walking down from his presidential helicopter holding Clancy's book--front cover out--and a reporter asked him about it. He said something to the effect "Can't put it down." That shot Clancy's career right off the charts. But how often can you get a good president to give an honest critique?
We have all of Tom Clancy's books in our library. I've read some of them. I enjoyed the Hunt for Red October movie, but the other movies didn't necessarily resemble his books.
I have read most of Clancy's books. He was a very good writer for the genre. Red for Red October and Clear and Present Danger were probably my favorites, although all were good.
Debra, that's a good point on a presidential critique. And sad about the movie/book thing. :(
Those were my faves, too, Charlie!
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