Where we talk about writing, spies, and writing about spies.


Real Spies, Real Lives

Fifteen years of the writing life, and what do I have to show for it?
Everything I ever dreamed of.
The three novels and the reader magnet for Self-Inflicted Wounds are FREE to download through Sunday, October 20. amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP

The Writing Life

We've talked about the archetypes in spy novels, now let's talk about The Big Four -- the plots for spy novels. First up, The Mission.Book 2 in my mystery series, The Ewington Mysteries, is ready to preorder (the eBook). You can preorder Mournful Influence of the Unperceived Shadow for only 99¢ at <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0DYJYWXYN" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">amazon.com/dp/B0DYJYWXYN</a>.

The Big Four, Plots That Is - Part 1

Why it's important not to reveal the identity of covert operatives, the laws ensuring protection, and more.The Cold War novel LOVE DEATH is still on sale for 99¢ through the end of this month. You can find it at amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS.Coming in March, a new mystery in the Ewington Mysteries Series.

Protecting Covert Operatives

A writing talk about plot vs character and which drives a story.
The 2021 standalone espionage novel LOVE DEATH is the featured sale book for February 2025. The eBook version of the novel is only 99¢. You can find it at <a href="amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS</a>

Plot vs Character

Learn all about the archetypes that should appear in spy fiction, courtesy of author Graeme Shimmin.
P. A. Duncan's new novella, Every Day is a Test, is FREE to download through 1/19/25. amazon.com/dp/B0DRPNH4VS
Unexpected Paths Publishing announces its first publication by an author other than P. A. Duncan: Secondhand Hugs, a chapbook of poetry by Mel Jones. amazon.com/dp/DRTGZKL7

Back to Spy-Writing Basics - Archetypes

Apologies for no music. Technical difficulties or operator error, take your pick.
In this first episode of 2025, we learn that the podcast will now be twice a month, not weekly as it was previously.
And a new novella by P. A. Duncan debuted on 1/1/25, and you can find it as an eBook or Paperback here: amazon.com/dp/B0DRPNH4VS
Look for a new episode in two weeks.

Annus Horribilis

Play the recording. It explains it all.

The Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast is on Indefinite Hiatus

Apologies for no podcast today. My flu shot kicked my butt.
I'll be back next week, but in the meantime, keep an eye out . . . for spies!

No 10/31/24 Podcast

Computer issues made this late yet again. Many apologies.
This episode concludes the answer to the reader question "Who won the Cold War?"
The August sale book is the novel in stories THE BETTER SPY, which you can find HERE all this month for only 99¢.

Who Won the Cold War? - Part Two

The author discusses what&#39;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¢) <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0CJ7C6FBL" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.
Love Death, this month&#39;s sale book, can be ordered with reduced prices for the eBook and print editions <a href="amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

What's Next?

You've seen the memes: "Don't mind my browser history; I'm a writer." But is there anything to worry about? Maybe. Maybe not.
We're in the final few days of the October promo: the 3 novels and the reader magnet for SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS will be 99¢ each through 10/31/24. Find them at amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong with a Writer's Browser History?

To celebrate the 200th episode of the Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast, here is a history of how the podcast got started and some stats on how it's fared up to the 5th season so far.
And the October eBooks sale is still on. The three novels and the reader magnet for SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS are 99¢ each, and you can find them <a href="amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">HERE</a>.

It's the 200th Episode

Some insight into how the 1960s TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. inspired the author's fiction and an homage to the ground-breaking television spy series.
The sale books for October are the books in the series Self-Inflicted Wounds plus the trilogy's reader magnet, Dateline: Belgrade. The four eBooks are 99¢ each, and you can find them <a href="amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">HERE</a>.

Open Channel D

Sun Tzu&#39;s THE ART OF WAR and its take on espionage.
Five days left to score all four ebooks in the series, A PERFECT HATRED for 99¢ each. Find them <a href="amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

Sun Tzu Says . . .

A spy&#39;s training enhances skills they already have, but what are the effects of information overload, AI, and ethical quandaries.
All 4 eBooks in A PERFECT HATRED are free starting today, Sep. 19, 2024, through Sep. 23, 2024, and you can download them for free <a href="amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

Inside the Heads of Spies - Part 2

I&#39;ve run out of time while preparing for the convention I&#39;m going to this weekend, so Part II of getting inside a spy&#39;s head will be next week.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but adulting . . .

No 9/12/24 Episode

What are the characteristics of a good spy and how do spies use them for a successful operation?
The September sale eBooks--all four books in the series, A PERFECT HATRED--are 99¢ each this month, and you can find them <a href="amazon.com/dp/B07QNMHPBT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.
Sept. 13-15, the author will be at the Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Con in Columbia, MD. Find out more <a href="https://creaturescrimesandcreativity.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

Inside the Heads of Spies - Part 1

How does my Top 5 list of realistic spy movies compare to The Google&#39;s? Listen and find out. Note: If you haven&#39;t watched any of these, you need to.
Also, three days left to download the eBook of THE BETTER SPY for on 99¢ <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

The 5 Most Realistic Spy Movies -- IMHO

P. A. Duncan is on a writer&#39;s retreat where she&#39;s writing, not podcasting, so a new episode will drop next week on 8/29/24.
See you then!

No Podcast for 8/15/24

What about a celebrity could possibly make them a good spy? 
Listen and find out.
The paperback edition of TAKING HER BOWS dropped earlier than expected, so you can find a copy <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0D47BVMMQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.
The August sale book, THE BETTER SPY, is only 99¢ for the eBook <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

Celebrity Spies?

An answer to a question writers always get--why did you become a writer.
The August sale book The Better Spy is 99¢ <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.
The paperback edition of Taking Her Bows will be available to order on 8/17/24 <a href="amazon.com/dp/B0D47BVMMQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

Why Do Writers Write?

Apologies for a late upload. Updated software offered some incompatibility issues, which I hope to resolve by next week.
This episode is where I try to answer a reader&#39;s question about who won the Cold War.
To download Love Death for free (until midnight TONIGHT), go <a href="amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HERE</a>.

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#222

The Writing Life

#221

The Big Four, Plots That Is - Part 1

#220

Protecting Covert Operatives

#219

Plot vs Character

#218

Back to Spy-Writing Basics - Archetypes

#217

Annus Horribilis

#216

The Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast is on Indefinite Hiatus

#215

No 10/31/24 Podcast

#214

Who Won the Cold War? - Part Two

#213

What's Next?

#212

What Could Possibly Go Wrong with a Writer's Browser History?

#211

It's the 200th Episode

#210

Open Channel D

#209

Sun Tzu Says . . .

#208

Inside the Heads of Spies - Part 2

#207

No 9/12/24 Episode

#206

Inside the Heads of Spies - Part 1

#205

The 5 Most Realistic Spy Movies -- IMHO

#204

No Podcast for 8/15/24

#203

Celebrity Spies?

#202

Why Do Writers Write?

#201

Who Won the Cold War? - Part One