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.

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.

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.

“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 ?

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

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

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?

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!

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.

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.

Thanks Bernd--I too have been hoping for a German translation, but so far no publishers have bit. My new agent, however, is focusing her energies on Germany, so I have high hopes that this year, perhaps, we'll see some movement on that front. I'm honestly surprised no German publisher has yet shown interest, since I think the books would do well there.

Hi Olen.

indeed, nice to have you here.

I like your yooks a lot, any chance that they will be translated into german ?

Kevin begins, I follow. As usual.

Hi, Olen. I was wondering when the Nomads would finally wander over here.

Hi Mary--thanks! This really is a great space.

Hi -very nice to see you here. I love your books and look forward to the next one.

And you too, Barbara. It's been a long time! I'm trying to dig myself, just a little out of the writer's solitude. Expect sudden bursts of conversation followed by head scratching mysterious disappearances. But overall, here.

Nice to see you here, Olen!

As I said (or suggested) on the top of the forums, I'm happy to be here, and as usual late-coming. It's amazing how you've put this comprehensive thing together--there's really nothing else like it around.