alexkenny01

  His words carry weight that would break the jaw of a less interesting man.

I try.

I’m from New Jersey, somewhere north of Exit 0 and the Rockland County New York Line.

For a few years now I’ve been attending night school for engineering, while holding down a day job and a weekend one in addition to trying to get this book off the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rather than write a complete biography which given the short amount of time I’ve been around would take too long, here’s a few Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Travel: Get out, see the world or at least as much of it as you can. I’m blessed with a strong work ethic that allows me to save up enough to get out of Jersey once a year. Highly recommend Vermont, Ireland, San Diego, and Salem.

2. Work: Yes, i have a “real” job. Come to think of it, I’ve got two. Great places, great people.

3. Hobbies: Fishing, hiking, boating, wrenching on cars, photography and writing. Not necessarily in that order either.

4. Got you into writing: I think it was my voracious appetite for books. My home office is literally lined with shelves of books to where I don’t recall the color of the wall behind them. I remember being in 3rd grade and Mrs. Sundie asking each of us what we liked about reading. Amongst the mixed responses was mine: it’s like I see what’s going on in the scene playing out in front of me. like a movie.

It also helps that I’ve got awful short-hand. So writing for me was an attempt to make my handwriting more legible. To this day I’m told i’d have made a fantastic doctor with how I write.

5. Writers Block?: I find that I don’t get it as I more often run out of time to write than as opposed to running out of ideas at a clip. However, I find a cold glass of water and a change in scenery for a few minutes quite effective.

6. Literary Influences: When I was young my family went on vacation “down the shore” to Manasquan. The house we rented had a small bookcase near the entrance to the porch. Among the titles was a book called The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy. Reading voraciously at night and during the largely rained-out trip, it came to a point where -spoiler alert- Baltimore is attacked by a nuclear weapon. I’ll never forget the chills that ran up my spine and I slammed it shut. Too much for a ten year old to comprehend perhaps?

In addition to Tom Clancy I can feel the influence of greats like Ted Bell, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Robert Ludlum, Franklin W. Dixon, Dale Brown, David Morrel, Dan Brown, Robert Ludlum, Ian Fleming, Stephen King, Michael Chrichton, John LeCarre, John Grisham and Clive Cussler.

7. Characters: I’ve tried to base the characters in my upcoming novel off of people I’ve had the privilege, and sometimes displeasure, of meeting and getting to know in my life. The protagonist comes from a melding of several good people and the antagonists each represent those who I’d have rather not encountered.

8. Is the story based in fact?: The novel itself has its roots in the real world, and stays relatively grounded in terms of what’s possible and impossible. Subsequent novels still in the bulleting and roughing phases will also stay to what’s possible. Though some of the technology described seems generations ahead, everything the characters touch and use is 100% real. The locations are also pretty damn close. I’ve spent time at every setting in order to give a better sense of detail. Any inconsistencies are my fault.

9. Do you live vicariously through your stories?: I live vicariously… through myself .

10. Bourbon, Scotch, Beer?: In that order

11. Most interesting person you’ve met?: Capt. Sullenberger. Nice guy, really can command a room. That and belly-flop a plane into the Hudson River. Capt. Kirk Lippold is up on that list too. I also met the real life “Catch me if you can” fellow. Charming guy, I can’t imagine how he spent a decade or more ripping people off.

12. Bar Trick?: I can name all the US presidents in order… and have been able to do so since the 2nd grade.

13. Historical person you’d want to meet?: Theodore Roosevelt. I get the impression that everything he said had quotation marks at each end.

14. Is the main character a real person? Yes and no. Yes in the sense that there’s a guy who does what he does. No in the sence of is that being this unknown soldier’s name. He represents the rough men and women who stand guard at night while the rest of us sleep. Ready, willing and able to visit violence on those who would try to harm us. Is he perfect? No. Is he right? We hope so.

15. Pet Peeve: See i really don’t have what the average person would call a ‘pet peeve’, I have anywhere from minor to major psychotic issues with stupid people depending on the level of stupidity they display.