New Web Site

My website wardlarsen.com is finally back up and running with a new and improved look. There are a number of new ways to connect with me, and you can sign up to be notified when my next book is released.
Take a look and let me know what you think, and Happy New Year to all!

Book Signing

I'll be signing books at Barnes & Noble in Sarasota, Fl tomorrow, Wednesday December 13th, from 2-4 o'clock. Signed first editions make great Christmas gifts!
I'd like to say a special Happy Holidays to our troops who are serving overseas. They have not been in the news as much lately, but thousands of men and women are still in harm's way. Best wishes to all.

1.99 Fly By Wire

For those who buy on Amazon, my second book Fly By Wire is on sale for the entire month of December. Only 1.99!
Jammer Davis, an aircraft accident investigator, is assigned to get to the bottom of a crash when one of the world's newest cargo aircraft, a giant C-500, goes down. What he finds is an incredible conspiracy--a conspiracy that he may not be able to stop in time.

website

My apologies to anyone who has tried to contact me lately via my website. Wardlarsen.com is having technical issues and should recover in the near future.
I have finished my next book, a sequel to The Perfect Assassin, and it will arrive on the shelves (and e-reader screens) near the end of next year. I'll provide updates when I have more specific information. Hope everyone has a terrific holiday season!

Gabriel Allon?

I've had many people ask me if David Slaton, the protagonist in The Perfect Assassin, is modeled after Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon character. There are numerous similarities: both are Israeli assassins who work for a surly spymaster. The truth, however, is that we developed the character at essentially the same time. I began writing The Perfect Assassin in 1998, but it was not first published until 2005. The first Gabriel Allon book was, I believe, released in 2001, and I didn't actually read it until roughly two years later, at which point I was trying to sell the completed manuscript.
I have great respect for Silva's writing, and I think he is a class act. All the same, there are substantial differences between the characters and writing styles, and with the greater message behind the stories. Bottom line? With a hundred literary heroes out there who are former U.S. Special Forces, I think there must be room for two from Israel.

Florida Heritage Book Festival

I will be participating in the Florida Heritage Book Festival this next weekend, September 14-15. For anyone who lives in the St. Augustine area, I hope you can take part. Dozens of writers will attend, giving talks and answering questions, not to mention signing books.
Learn more at www.fhbookfest.com/

Fly By Night

For those who have not yet read it, Fly By Night is currently reduced to $1.99 on Amazon's Kindle. This is the first time my latest book has been reduced in price, and I'm not sure how long it will last.
School is back in session in Florida which means I can finally get back to writing!

Thanks to those serving

I flew a military charter the other day and hauled a group of 80 U.S. Army Reserve Combat Engineers on their last leg home from a ten and a half month tour in Afghanistan. These guys have spent nearly a year in primitive conditions, and removed from their families. "Thanks" does not cut it.
If anyone has a friend or relative serving overseas who enjoys thrillers, send their name, rank, and military address by way of my website, Wardlarsen.com, and I will forward a book while supplies last.

I'm Writing As Fast As I Can!

I've had a few inquiries lately about when my next book is coming out. The follow-on to The Perfect Assassin is complete but not scheduled to be released until late 2013. I know this is a big lag (I find it frustrating as well) but after that I expect to have at least on title a year hitting the shelves.
The gap between completion and publication is a particular problem for those of us who write contemporary spy thrillers because in that interim world events can change. Think Arab Spring and the issue of Iran's nuclear program.
Best to all for a cool summer!

Thanks to all

I'd like to thank everyone for their support last weekend. On Saturday, May 5th, The Perfect Assassin became a hit, rising to #4 on the Kindle Bestseller list. For a short time it outsold the entire Hunger Games trilogy! For those who want to see more of this series, good news--the second installment will arrive next year. Stay tuned for details. And feel free to contact me at my website, wardlarsen.com with any questions or comments on my books.

Florida Book Award

Went to Tallahassee a few weeks ago to receive the Florida Book Award. Got to meet a lot of interesting people, including Senator Bob Graham, pictured here, who was the Bronze Medal Winner. I also got a picture of me with Bobby Bowden (great guy) but can't post it as my son is a Gator!

Gold

I was notified this week that Fly By Night has been awarded the Florida Book Award Gold Medal for Popular Fiction! It is truly an honor, and I'm looking forward to the awards luncheon at the Governor's Mansion next month. I will soon be posting the schedule for associated book signings.
Happy Valentines Day to all!