We're celebrating the first book birthday of Welcome to Belgrade , book one in the Self-Inflicted Wounds Trilogy. As part of that celebration, I'm giving away a signed, hardcover copy of Welcome to Belgrade . Here's how you can enter: Go to the Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast Facebook page. www.facebook.com/RealSpiesRealLives Leave a comment on today's episode, number 40. At the end of the month, I'll put the names of all commenters in a randomizer tool and have it pick the winner, whom I will co...
Oct 07, 2021•34 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Some final readings from the novel in stories, THE BETTER SPY, a mini-review of American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, and what's coming up in October.
Sep 30, 2021•29 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Two readings from "The Better Spy," the title story for the novel in stories, a Netflix series review, and a book review. I was quite talkative this week.
Sep 23, 2021•44 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Why writing conferences are cool, a reading from my novel in stories, The Better Spy , and the expected COVID/vaccination rant. If you want to learn more about the Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity (C3) Con, click HERE .
Sep 16, 2021•38 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast The IRA kidnaps the daughter of U.S. Secret Service Agent Henry Munro. Who can he turn to for help? A woman he met briefly in the aftermath of the Kansas City bombing - Mai Fisher. Enjoy some excerpts from one of the stories in Blood Vengeance , "A Father's No Shield for His Child."
Sep 09, 2021•37 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast After a two-week hiatus, "Real Spies, Real Lives" is back with more about writing, spies, and writing about spies. Oh, and some books are on sale, too.
Sep 02, 2021•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast I'm at a writer's retreat with limited internet access, so tune in next week for a return to our regular programming! Have a wonderful weekend.
Aug 26, 2021•1 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast Explaining why there’s no podcast this week.
Aug 19, 2021•2 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast Reading from the second half of A Change for the Better, a couple of mini-reviews, some baseball talk, and, yes, the weekly COVID rant.
Aug 12, 2021•44 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Some readings from a recent novella, A Change for the Better, and how it came about. Plus, wear you d****d mask!
Aug 05, 2021•45 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast A reading from book 1 of a new trilogy starting in 2022, Meeting the Enemy, about 9/11. A couple of mini movie reviews, too.
Jul 29, 2021•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Readings from the final two stories of Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules , a bit about the writing life, what's coming next month, and, of course, my COVID safety reminder.
Jul 22, 2021•40 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast A couple of reviews: the Netflix series "Spycraft" and. . . Black Widow! And some readings from another story in Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules, "Pick the Time and Place for Action," which features the return of Olga Lubova. Where did she go? You'll have to read the story!
Jul 15, 2021•44 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast Moscow Rule number seven's story introduces two hapless SVR officers given the task of following Cybill Fleming in Moscow. A beta reader called the two officers the "Keystone KGB"--so you get some humor amid all the drama. Enjoy!
Jul 08, 2021•36 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast The next Moscow Rule is "Vary Your Pattern and Stay Within Your Cover"--again a somewhat long and cumbersome story title, so I wrote two stories. "Vary Your Pattern" takes us back to the early 1990s when Edwin Terrell, Jr. is still alive and Mai and Alexei are struggling to accustom their lives, personal and professional, to raising Alexei's granddaughter Natalia. "Stay Within Your Cover" is an examination of debating whether or not to do the right thing. If you don't someone might die; if you d...
Jul 01, 2021•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast The 4th Moscow Rule--Don't Look Back; You're Never Completely Alone"--was a bit long for the title of a single story, so I split it and wrote two stories for Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules . And it's 16 days to launch!
Jun 24, 2021•30 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast Moscow Rule number 3 and story number 3 from SPY FLASH III: THE MOSCOW RULES. If things seems too good, like this really beautiful woman--or guy--paying attention to you, better be careful.
Jun 17, 2021•31 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast The second Moscow Rule and the title of the second story in Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules --Never Go Against Your Gut. Sage advice for anyone. Preorder Spy Flash III at amazon.com/dp/B09673NDHJ .
Jun 10, 2021•45 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast Assume nothing--the first Moscow Rule, and the first story in my new collection, Spy Flash III: The Moscow Rules. Hear some excerpts and learn about the special preorder price.
Jun 03, 2021•35 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast This episode concludes the look back at two of my novellas, The Yellow Scarf and My Noble Enemy, and it has a tease for my July new release. Also the podcast now has a Facebook Page. Follow it HERE .
May 27, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast This episode features the second novella published in 2015, My Noble Enemy--where I, gasp, kill off a character. A bit of a warning: adults discussing sexual situations and some sexual innuendo; nothing explicit.
May 20, 2021•53 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast This episode wraps up the focus on my 2015 novella The Yellow Scarf before we move onto the other 2015 novella My Noble Enemy . Also, you get a movie recommendation and a warning about some sexual banter between a married couple and some pretty harsh language. Enjoy!
May 13, 2021•48 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast A brief discussion about novellas and reading from my first novella, The Yellow Scarf. It and my second novella, My Noble Enemy are on sale this month. Find them on my Amazon author page .
May 06, 2021•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast A writing lesson, some readings from Collateral Damage --the concluding volume of A Perfect Hatred --and a little preaching about civics. Plus, two days left to get all four books of A Perfect Hatred for free .
Apr 29, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Readings from Descending Spiral , book 3 of the series, A Perfect Hatred , and a bit of a chat about ethical dilemmas facing undercover operatives. Look for a birthday gift next week -- from ME to YOU for my birthday; all four books of A Perfect Hatred will be free from 4/26/21 to 4/30/21.
Apr 22, 2021•56 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Continuing my revisit of my series A Perfect Hatred , I read from book 2, Bad Company , and discuss music and writing. WARNING: Both readings end with a leave-it-to-your-imagination sex scene; nothing explicit.
Apr 15, 2021•58 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast It's the 3rd anniversary of the start of the series A Perfect Hatred . What better way to celebrate than with special pricing and a reading from Book 1, End Times .
Apr 08, 2021•57 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Some readings from my rough draft of a new novel and a brief review of the new movie, The Courier , with Benedict Cumberbatch. To celebrate the three-year anniversary of the launch of the series A Perfect Hatred , all four books are specially priced.
Apr 01, 2021•35 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast We tie up all the antagonists' threads in this episode, and you get a preview of the books I'll be featuring in April--my four-book series, A Perfect Hatred. (Warning: some salty language)
Mar 25, 2021•46 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast More reading from A War of Deception and a brief discussion of an interesting, unclassified report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Mar 18, 2021•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
