Tag Archives: Alma Katsu

Episode 81 – How Many Threads Lead Us Down the Rabbit Hole of Deception – Authors Bruce Borgos and Alma Katsu

August 1, 2024UncategorizedAlma Katsu, Area 51, Artful Periscope, Bruce Borgos, dead drops, Deuteragonist, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Intelligence community, James Bond, Kindle Edition, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Lis Salander, Nevada, Porter Book Series, Shades of Mercy, Spy who vanished, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, three-part Novella series, vetting information sourcesartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us down the rabbit hole of deception? On this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with author Bruce Borgos to discuss his latest book Shades of Mercy, the second book in the Porter Beck series. Together, Larry and Bruce analyze Mercy Vaughan, the teenage hacker deuteragonist who has been compared to Lis Salander from the famous The Girl with Dragon Tattoo, and his returning hero Porter Beck. They also explore the Nevada setting, the proximity to Area 51 and crafting character driven narratives.

After the break, Larry welcomes returning guest Alma Katsu back to the show to discuss The Spy Who Vanished, which has been released as a Kindle exclusive three-part novella series. Alma discusses the challenge of writing in a new format, her shift in mindset from the anonymity of the intelligence community vs the public persona of the author, and the improving production of audiobook adaptations. Larry and Alma also talk about vetting information sources, how spies used “dead drops” to exchange information, and why James Bond is actually a bad spy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe Spotify | Email | More

Episode 66 – How Many Threads Lead Us To Cultural Dissonance – Author Alma Katsu

January 13, 2024Uncategorized1927, 1940s, Alma Katsu, female spy novelist, Fire Balloons, fire bombing, historical horror novel, japan, japanese internment camp, jet stream, Larry Davidson, Red London, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Furvor, United states, World War IIartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us to cultural dissonance? In this installment of the podcast, Larry invites back to the program author Alma Katsu discussing her latest work The Fervor Larry asks how difficult is it to put a character into a crisis and how they work their way out of that situation? Alma discusses developing conflict in a story and always ask what the worst thing that can happen, then write their way out. Larry talks about how Alma’s culture growing up with a Japanese mother and being a Roman Catholic affects her writing. The book jumps from the 1927 to the 40’s and Larry posits why the basis of the story starts with a man and his family. Larry asks about the “spy balloons” from China and the balloons in Alma’s book and why are balloons so central to the story? There is also a pensive talk about how the settings are also characters in the story. In terms of memory there are 3 types, short term, long term and institutional memory. Larry asks which memory is central to the book? Alma describes how this work is different than most of her other historical horror/fiction. After a break, Larry speaks about storytelling in terms of professional wrestling. Larry watched the sport in the past and has recently began watching once again. In storytelling there are heroes and villains, but in wrestling, there are heels and babyfaces, and Larry speaks about the Netflix series Wrestlers and how the characters personal lives follow their characters.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe Spotify | Email | More

Episode 44 – How Many Threads Are Hidden in the World of Intelligence – Alma Katsu Red London

March 25, 2023UncategorizedAlma Katsu, Artful periscope podcast, CIA, Intelligence Analyst, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Red London, Sachem Library, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, United States Intelligenceartfulperiscope

How many threads are hidden in the world of intelligence. In this installment of the podcast, Larry has an insightful conversation with the author of Red London, Alma Katsu. Larry inquires about Alma’s past employment working in the shadow world of United States intelligence gathering, how the war in Ukraine effected her creative process mid stream and the challenge of “self isolation” when writing. Larry ponders whether there will be further works entitled “Red Moscow” or “Red Square” and if the character Lindsey Duncan could be an interesting character in a movie or television adaptation. Taking the topic of the book and speculating about current events, Alma and Larry discuss oligarchs and who really controls modern Russa and what role is China attempting to play in the mix. Larry explores the world of NDAs and how Alma’s role in her previous profession effects the publishing of her fictional works.