Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Upcoming stories you'd like to see from Josh?
Andy wrote: "More Elliot and Tucker please *g*"
Yes, I do have a story in mind for when that book of dear old dad's comes out. *g*
Yes, I do have a story in mind for when that book of dear old dad's comes out. *g*

Yes, I do have a story in mind for when that book of dear old dad's comes out. *g*"
Excellent! I can't wait. Yeah, I know, I'm greedy and impatient.
Well, speaking of putting in reader requests, I'm roughing out the next Dangerous Ground. Any particular things you'd like to see in this one?
I don't promise to put them in, but it might be fun to fill a couple of challenges. In DG3: Blood Heat, Will and Taylor go to New Mexico to bring back a prisoner and naturally everything goes very wrong. Just how wrong? Hmmm....
I don't promise to put them in, but it might be fun to fill a couple of challenges. In DG3: Blood Heat, Will and Taylor go to New Mexico to bring back a prisoner and naturally everything goes very wrong. Just how wrong? Hmmm....

OK, here we go, first off I want (please) you to write a book about an aid worker type and a soldier. You can choose the time period.
Thanks Josh!
I cannot wait for the DG sequel! So glad you are at that. Now tell your sister to keep her kids at home so you can concentrate on writing!!

I don't promise to put them in, but it might be fu..."
How serious is DG3 going to be? I love how terrified men (and women) without experience can be when they are presented with the necessity of caring for a baby or very young child.
This can certainly mess up the plans to return a prisoner, but doesn't necessarily fit with guns and fighting.

Everyone talks about running into a bus full of nuns at the most inopportune times, but I can't recall seeing it happen anywhere.
:P You know you want to try it...

I don't promise to put them in, but it might be fu..."
Well, Taylor has been hurt far too many times, maybe this time Will should take a bullet?? :). Let Taylor plays nurse for once. What do we have in New Mexico? Mmmm.... Eco-houses? Not very dangerous, those. How about the prisoner play mind game with them and try to mess up whatever insecurity Taylor might still be harboring?

I don't promise to put them in, but it might be fu..."
Will and Taylor and their prisoner end up in the White Sands Missile Range during an exercise dodging missiles...
They end up in the middle of the desert. They come across a truck being used to smuggle people or drugs or arms. They have no way to call for help....
Flash floods in the canyons....
Mountain lion attack....
They run afoul a Navajo shaman.....

I don't promise to put them in, but it might be fu..."
Wow! You've opened the floodgates here! But, what a great way to drown?
Depending on where Will and Taylor are headed, they could come across hidden native lands with legendary stories of protective spirits, vengeful spirits.
OK, here we go, first off I want (please) you to write a book about an aid worker type and a soldier. You can choose the time period
Interesting, interesting. Actually, I think Harper is going to be doing a story on similar lines. Well, the aid worker is an archeologist, but it's a tremendous dynamic. I want someone to hurry up and buy that story!
Interesting, interesting. Actually, I think Harper is going to be doing a story on similar lines. Well, the aid worker is an archeologist, but it's a tremendous dynamic. I want someone to hurry up and buy that story!
Patty wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, speaking of putting in reader requests, I'm roughing out the next Dangerous Ground. Any particular things you'd like to see in this one?
I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
LOL. Well, there just might be a little something for you in there. The prisoner they're escorting is, in a manner of speaking, with child. *g*
I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
LOL. Well, there just might be a little something for you in there. The prisoner they're escorting is, in a manner of speaking, with child. *g*
Missy wrote: "DG3 plot bunny: They stop to help a bus full of nuns with a flat tire and end up in the middle of a hostage situation.
Everyone talks about running into a bus full of nuns at the most inopportune ..."
There is DEFINITELY going to be a bus full of nuns in there somewhere. I love it. :-D
Everyone talks about running into a bus full of nuns at the most inopportune ..."
There is DEFINITELY going to be a bus full of nuns in there somewhere. I love it. :-D
Patty wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, speaking of putting in reader requests, I'm roughing out the next Dangerous Ground. Any particular things you'd like to see in this one?
I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
Very inventive, Patty. I don't think I've used any of those before.
I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
Very inventive, Patty. I don't think I've used any of those before.
Merith wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, speaking of putting in reader requests, I'm roughing out the next Dangerous Ground. Any particular things you'd like to see in this one?
I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
Merith, I definitely need to do more exploring of New Mexico's history and legends. I've been reading up on caves. Wow.
I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
Merith, I definitely need to do more exploring of New Mexico's history and legends. I've been reading up on caves. Wow.

I don't promise to put them in, but it ..."
It's called too much practice brain-storming with 4 graders; not that Josh is a 10 year old, but I'm guessing the process is the same.
And I've made the drive from both Los Angeles to Texas across NM on I40 and from San Diego to Texas across NM on I10. I'm a natural worrier, so "What if.... " bothered me on every drive.
There was something very un-nerving about reading the sign that said "Next gas station is in 120 miles, be sure you have enough gas to cross the desert." What if you have a flat tire or your car over-heats.....
Winding through the mountains and an 18-wheeler seems to be trying to run you off the road...
Rock slides ahead...
On I10, bridges crossed gorges that were impossibly high and I was certain the bridge would collapse...
Then there was the fear of stopping in a small isolated town and running into a sect of religious zealots or anti-government nuts. My husband and I were both carrying our Navy IDs at the time...
It was also very creepy driving north through the White Sands missile range reading the signs that say "Keep Out" and wondering what would happen if a missile went zooming over our heads...
And to piggy-back off your idea, Merith, there are the Navajo skinwalkers (too many Tony Hillerman novels-LOL).....
Gah. I carry a worry stone in my pocket so I don't bite my nails to the quick! ;-)

Sorry, don't have any challenges. :)
Wonder what part of NM you are thinking of -- it is a quite varied state. Caves has me thinking SE NM. Ocotillo country... :) (Chihuahua desert).
New Mexico is the most beautiful state in the nation.
...in my humble opinion...
*wistfully looks westward*
It's amazingly rich in history and geography. Not sure why I never thought of it as a setting before. Actually, it probably wasn't the best idea to set the story here as I don't have all the time I'd have liked for research. Having to move very quickly through this one, but I'd be happy just to spend a few days studying the ghost towns of New Mexico.
Patty, with that imagination I can see why you carry a worry stone. There are some great ideas there, though!

Thank goodness I've learned to laugh at myself! I know, Will and Taylor stop to help neurotic, foolish pregnant woman driving west across the country with 18 month old son, 3 dogs, and 2 sedated cats "singing" softly in the background. In July.
It's not ALL imagination. ;-)

...in my humble opinion...
*wistfully looks westward*
One of the most beautiful sites I ever saw was one summer, when I was 18, we were driving through a valley near Albuquerque right at dawn. The sun was just coming up over the hills and shining across the green valley floor to the homes that backed up against the hills on the far side of the valley. The homes were small, weathered, and made of gray boards. The hills were red and gold. There was a slight mist rising up from the ground in places. Everything glimmered. It looked like a painting.
I agree that New Mexico is very beautiful.
Especially in January! ;-)
(*wistfully looks south*)
Patty wrote: "Ocotillo wrote: New Mexico is the most beautiful state in the nation.
...in my humble opinion...
*wistfully looks westward*
One of the most beautiful sites I ever saw was one summer, when I was..."
That's lovely!
...in my humble opinion...
*wistfully looks westward*
One of the most beautiful sites I ever saw was one summer, when I was..."
That's lovely!

One of these days, yes. I enjoy them too much to never write them again. It'll probably be on the lines of a short story or a novella, I imagine. Thanks for asking!

that’s a link to josh's website where he has a little enough on All She Wrote, the sequel to Somebody Killed his Editor

Totally unrelated, but I'm disappointed it's planned for the last December week. I was so hoping for the beginning of December. :(

No! Not the last week in December - not fair, I won't be anywhere, where I can buy it. I'll have to wait and get it when I return. That'll make me even crankier on the 9 hour flight...

Warning: Contains one irascible, forty-year-old mystery writer who desperately needs to get laid, one exasperated thirty-something ex-cop only too happy to oblige, an isolated country manor that needs the thermostat cranked up, various assorted aspiring and perspiring authors, and a merciless killer who may have read one too many mystery novels.
Antonia wrote: "Here's also Samhain's page for All She Wrote with the publication date:
Totally unrelated, but I'm disappointed it's planned for the last Decembe..."
Crap, I thought it was earlier in the month myself.
Totally unrelated, but I'm disappointed it's planned for the last Decembe..."
Crap, I thought it was earlier in the month myself.
Lissa wrote: "This is hilarious:
Warning: Contains one irascible, forty-year-old mystery writer who desperately needs to get laid, one exasperated thirty-something ex-cop only too happy to oblige, an isolated c..."
That's pretty much the plot, right there. *g*
Warning: Contains one irascible, forty-year-old mystery writer who desperately needs to get laid, one exasperated thirty-something ex-cop only too happy to oblige, an isolated c..."
That's pretty much the plot, right there. *g*

Excellent, you're too kind :o)
And, off topic, I decided to check out the writing group at my local library last night. A book about a murdered mime would have been welcome. I can not share what I write with them. It may have given me a story idea, so it wasn't a total loss.
And, off topic, I decided to check out the writing group at my local library last night. A book about a murdered mime would have been welcome. I can not share what I write with them. It may have given me a story idea, so it wasn't a total loss.
I must say that sounds promising for all the wrong reasons. :-D
I must say that sounds promising for all the wrong reasons. :-D

Bella wrote: "I would really really love a new book on I Spy series ; I loved I Spy Something Bloody and I Spy Something Wicked, and I really wanna know more about Mark and Stephen ; I love this couple so much. ..."
Hmmm. Maybe a little holiday story for them one of these days. We'll see.
Glad you enjoyed them!
Hmmm. Maybe a little holiday story for them one of these days. We'll see.
Glad you enjoyed them!

Mary, I do absolutely plan on doing a sequel to Nick and Perry. In fact, they're pencilled in for 2012.
I don't know about Cards on the Table. That's one of those stories I never felt any strong desire to revisit. There are a few like that...Don't Look Back is another.
But I'm very glad you enjoyed those two -- thanks for letting me know!
I don't know about Cards on the Table. That's one of those stories I never felt any strong desire to revisit. There are a few like that...Don't Look Back is another.
But I'm very glad you enjoyed those two -- thanks for letting me know!

I'm crushed. Don't Look Back is one of my favorites and I would love to see how things turned out for them.

I love that story. I love how he sees things differently after the clonk on the head. And wonders how on earth he was the way he was before the clonking.
You had mentioned that before -- it's the most interesting thing about that story to me as well -- but it's just not one I felt like there was more to explore. I mean, never say never, but while I feel affection for the characters, I felt satisfied with where I left them.

Patty wrote: "What about the suggestion by someone else (sorry- can't remember who!) to write a story about David Bradley, LCDR, USN? I'm curious about how you would handle that story. Having gotten out of the N..."
Weeellll, the truth is, I just don't find Bradley that interesting a character. I'm pleased that readers warmed to him, but his story wasn't one I wanted to explore, although it's possible he might turn up in Will and Taylor's lives down the road.
Not that his situation isn't full of possibilities, just that I didn't create him to carry a story on his own.
Weeellll, the truth is, I just don't find Bradley that interesting a character. I'm pleased that readers warmed to him, but his story wasn't one I wanted to explore, although it's possible he might turn up in Will and Taylor's lives down the road.
Not that his situation isn't full of possibilities, just that I didn't create him to carry a story on his own.

He did nothing for me because he was a barrier between Will and Taylor. I know intellectually that was his role in the story, but still.
I think the DADT policy is very topical.Where do the gay and lesbian population in the military safely go to socialize? And how would that affect a relationship? My husband and I broke the rules (fraternization!) and we used to drive from San Diego to Romona, Julian, and LA to get away when we were dating. Worrying about getting caught is stressful! I know how Will and Taylor feel. It would be interesting to see an author take it on. Somebody like Alan Chin. He was in the Navy; he has an insiders perspective on the workings of the service.
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It's starting to look more like early next year, but the book is definitely on the schedule. It's one I'm looking forward to. It'll be slow going because of the research involved.