Olen Steinhauer's Friends

Olen Steinhauer's Page

About Me:: Scribbler, author of The Bridge of Sighs, The Confession, 36 Yalta Boulevard (The Vienna Assignment in the UK), Liberation Movements (UK: The Istanbul Variations), and the forthcoming Victory Square, August 2007.

1/4th of Contemporary Nomad, www.contemporary-nomad.com

Books And Authors I Like:: Wignall, Bruen, Le Carre, Kundera, Wilson (Robert), Deighton, etc. These days it's espionage-based because of what I'm writing. If you have some suggestions in terms of realist contemporary espionage, feel free to clue me in.

Movies And TV Shows I Like:: Strangely, there seems to be more interesting TV than films these days. The Wire, Deadwood, and Battlestar Galactica triangulate the best for me. The last truly great film experience I had was Syriana, an experience I've had again and again.

At 1:32am on September 16, 2007, Roger Newbury said…: Hi Olen,

I see from your profile, that you enjoy writing espionage stories. I've written 4 novels so far, and my 1st attempt at writing was in fact, a post cold war; nuclear weapons/espionage story, which I called 'Traitors' Net'. I still think it could be interesting, even though I wrote it in 1989/90, but bringing it up to date may ruin its original integrity... if it has any!
I shall keep an eye out for your work, as reading may help any ideas I have to do a re-write and hopefully improve. I tend to write Horror mostly, but I'm also developing my crime-writing abilities, and children's stories too.
Looking forward to getting to know more about you.

At 1:24am on July 13, 2007, Bernd Kochanowski said…: Hello Olen,

sorry to bother you again. But as I am writing a review about "36, Yalta Boulevard" (we Germans are obviously slow !) I wonder about your feelings about the (different) name of the british edition. In my personal view the british titel is not as evocative as the american one.

At 1:11pm on June 5, 2007, Rebecca26 said…: Loved The Bridge of Sighs. It is not a book I would naturally grab off the shelf. I read it for a book club and really enjoyed it. That is why I love my book clubs. At some point, I hope to read the others.

At 1:25am on May 25, 2007, Bernd Kochanowski said…: “Influences are funny things. My first reviews referenced influences I hadn't read,”

Hallo Olen, that what I wonder about all the time when I sense a similarity. My gut feelings are that often these similarities are a result of a similar cultural background and not of a direct influence – but it is suggestive, isn’t ?

BTW: what would be your alleged influences ?

At 7:10pm on May 24, 2007, Ali said…: Yes, agreed - let's do that next time, especially as you taste in reading mirrors my own [to a degree]

Cool - keep writing and I enjoy your blog

Ali

At 11:26pm on May 23, 2007, Ali said…: Olen - seen you at a few events Harrogate et al, never formally introduced myself as I really like you work - read two of you books, evocative and I can see the influences

Best and your friend

Ali

At 10:13pm on May 22, 2007, Olen Steinhauer said…: Imagine if that happened to Bernd, below, or Banks! Despite all the pics I've plastered elsewhere, I kind of like the anonymity of Smiley, who doesn't smile--and besides, if the kids see me smoking, they'll all start doing it! What about the children?

At 10:06pm on May 22, 2007, Kevin Wignall said…: Olen, you changed the pic! Put that one up of you lighting a cigarette - that's a cool picture. The worst thing about having Smiley up there is if people meet you and say, hey you look just like your picture!

At 10:00pm on May 21, 2007, Olen Steinhauer said…: A friend of mine--Robert Wilson--is enjoying great success in Germany these days. So I've got a buddy to be jealous of! But I get your point, and will try not to be sour about it.

At 9:08pm on May 21, 2007, Bernd Kochanowski said…: Oh, there are several good and/or successful "american" authors, which are not translated into german (e.g. Bruen, Krueger) or not keeped up-to-date.

And yes, I think, setting and style of your books would fit for the german market.