Real Spies, Real Lives

Duncan talks about the importance of research when writing historical or any genre of fiction and gives some researching tips. Duncan is also conducting a workshop on researching historical fiction as part of the Author Transformation Alliance 2023 Virtual Spring Writing Retreat. For more information on that retreat, which starts at 0900 on Friday, March 24, go HERE. Here are other links mentioned in this episode: Link to the blog post "When Is Something Considered History?" Link to the March sale eBook, The Better Spy, amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A Link to follow P. A. Duncan's Amazon Author Page, amazon.com/author/phyllisduncan

Duncan explores the ethics of espionage, i.e., is it a black and white issue, or are the ethics of espionage dependent upon perspective, what side you're on? And we have a reading from Duncan's debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season. Preorder Supreme Madness of Carnival Season (only two more days) at amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ. Get The Better Spy, Duncan's novel in stories, for free (also only two more days) at amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A. Also, consider following P. A. Duncan at amazon.com/author/phyllisduncan.

P. A. Duncan talks in-depth about the plot, characters, and setting for her debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival season and reads an excerpt from it. You have 8 more days to preorder Supreme Madness at amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ. Don't forget this month's special eBook sale for The Better Spy at amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A. The Better Spy will be free to download 3/13 - 3/17 at the same link.

Duncan compares and contrasts the mystery and espionage genres and find some commonalities you might not realize. We conclude with a reading from Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season. The March book sale is for The Better Spy, Duncan's novel in stories. The eBook is only 99¢ all month. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A. The preorder is still on for Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ for the special preorder price of $1.99.

After experimenting with AI for a podcast outline, author P.A. Duncan talks about why spies and espionage is so appealing to the average person. It's all about the fantasy for us Walter Mittys. Also, listen to a new excerpt from the upcoming Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season, Duncan's debut mystery novel as read by the author. Preorder Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season at amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ. This month's featured sale, Spy Flash, can be found at amazon.com/dp/B00AKEX062. (c) 2023 by Unexpected Paths Media (P. A. Duncan)

Some more observations on Chinese spy balloons and a discussion about how the author couldn't ignore the thread about racial relations in her novel set in a rural southern town. To preorder Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season, go to amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ. Don't forget this month's feature ebook sale - Spy Flash for only 99¢. Go to amazon.com/dp/B00AKEX062.

Some thoughts on the Chinese spy satellite saga, a history lesson on balloons used in spying, and a reading from the soon-to-be-released mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season. Buy link for the featured, February 99¢ sale of Spy Flash: amazon.com/dp/B00AKEX062. The preorder period for Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season starts on 2/11/23, but here's the preorder link: amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ.

Duncan talks about some spy movies to brighten a dreary day and about her upcoming new book, a mystery, which is a genre change for her. Also explained is the connection of the new book, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season, to an Edgar Allan Poe short story, "The Cask of Amontillado." To comment on this episode, go to the podcast's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/RealSpiesRealLives. This month's promotion is Duncan's second collection of espionage short fiction, Spy Flash, 25 flash fiction stories. The eBook of Spy Flash is on sale this month for 99¢, and you can find it at amazon.com/dp/B00AKEX062.

Duncan winds up her promotion of her first collection of espionage short stories, Blood Vengeance, with a bit of Balkan history and a reading of the award-winning title story. You have until January 31 to get the eBook of Blood Vengeance for only 99¢. Go to amazon.com/dp/B007WWBX14 and grab it now.

What happens when your parents are spies but your teacher insists they come to career day? The second story in Blood Vengeance is "Career Day," and Natalia Bukharin has a lot of questions for Mai and Alexei about what they really do. The answers, however, are not forthcoming. Blood Vengeance is FREE January 19 and 20 then after that 99¢ for the remainder of January. You can download it at amazon.com/dp/B007WWBX14.

Time to give some love to P. A. Duncan's first collection of espionage short stories, Blood Vengeance. Published in 2012, these stories are the earliest ones featuring U.N. spies Mai Fisher and Alexei Bukharin, and they delve, of course, into history. Blood Vengeance is on sale for 99¢ for all this month. Go to amazon.com/dp/B007WWBX14.

It's Season 4, Episode 1 of the podcast where we talk about writing, spies, and writing about spies. Today, though, we're talking more about writing and the writing life, especially when a spy writer decides to try writing a mystery. While you're waiting for Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season -- the mystery -- to be ready for preorder, check out P. A. Duncan's spy writing. All reasonably priced whether eBook, paperback, or hard cover. Go to amazon.com/author/phyllisduncan and see for yourself.

It's going to be a busy couple of weeks to the end of the year for P. A. Duncan, what with family holiday "stuff" and a book launch on 12/24/22, so the podcast is on hiatus until 1/5/2023. In the meantime, you can still preorder MEETING THE ENEMY: REVENGE (book 2) and find MEETING THE ENEMY: TERROR (book 1) on sale at amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8. Happy Holidays and a safe New Year to all!

When you're a writer focused on historical accuracy and you can't verify something through research, where can you turn when all else fails? A subject matter expert. The link for the Meeting the Enemy: REVENGE preorder, the sale for Meeting the Enemy: TERROR, and the print editions of REVENGE is amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8. There for your holiday shopping.

How does a writer deal with making a secondary character the main character? What happens if there's not much action? A NaNoWriMo update and a free excerpt from the upcoming novel, REVENGE. To preorder REVENGE and to find book 1, TERROR, on sale, go to amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8.

Duncan is still building up to the launch on December 24 of Meeting the Enemy Book 2: REVENGE. She explains how an incident in her work life found its way into her fiction (happens all the time) and discusses how National Novel Writing Month has helped create a publishing backlog for her. Finally, you can preorder REVENGE for a special preorder price (eBook only) and find Meeting the Enemy Book 1: TERROR on sale at amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8. Also note: There will be NO PODCAST ON NOVEMBER 24 -- HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Unexpected Paths Media and P. A. Duncan.

Duncan apologizes for doing her civic duty as an election officer and missing the recording of a podcast for last week. This week we learn about the origin of Meeting the Enemy: REVENGE, book 2 in the series, and Duncan reads a free excerpt. For the REVENGE ebook preorder and the ebook sale of book 1, TERROR, go to amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8. If you're in the central Virginia area, specifically near Richmond, VA, on November 12, you'll find P. A. Duncan at the Hanover Book Festival, VFW Post 7808, 7168 Flag Lane, Mechanicsville, VA, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast is taking a break this week because P. A. Duncan's time has been taken up with election officer duties. So, don't forget. Go vote! Democracy depends on it. See you next week.

Some current Balkan history, or current events, and a final reading from Self-Inflicted Wounds. All 3 eBooks are FREE today and tomorrow only, so grab 'em while you can from amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.

Duncan talks about the fact that justice can sometimes be construed as injustice when it doesn't go the way you want. The third book in the Self-Inflicted Wounds trilogy is about some justice gained and some lost. Along with the eBooks of Welcome to Belgrade (book 1) and Dangerous Truths (book 2), book 3, And Justice for All, is on sale for 99¢. You can find all three books at amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.