Action-Adventure, Thriller, and Speculative Fiction Author
NICK THACKER
Nick Thacker is a USA Today Bestselling Author of fiction thrillers, mystery, and sci-fi novels. He’s published numerous series, including the Amazon bestsellingHarvey Bennett Thrillersseries. He also runs two author-focused companies, Sonata & Scribe, which produces “soundtracks” inspired by books and series, and Author.Email, a low-cost email service provider.
He has a home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but is currently living in Hawaii with his wife and two girls. They have two dogs and a tortoise named Rockefeller.
As a well-established self-published author, what got you started in writing?
I originally wrote The Golden Crystal(since relaunched as The Atlantis Stone) for my dad, after his father passed away. I loved the process of producing a book so much that I did it again (The Depths) and then again (The Enigma Strain).
Out of the different series of books you have out, which one is your favorite (not necessarily your most popular)? Why?
I love the Mason Dixon Thrillersseries. Mason Dixon is a southern bar owner who just wants to pay off his bar. In order to do that, he takes jobs as an assassin on the side. I love the series because he’s edgy, sarcastic, and can’t seem to get anything right.
Was the protagonist(s) of those novels a real-life inspiration?
Absolutely. There’s a lot of me in Mason (more about the mixology stuff and less about the killing people stuff), so he’s a blast to write.
What books have most influenced your life?
Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Codehelped me rediscover my love for reading, and ultimately my love for writing. He turned me on to an entire genre of mystery novels, and to this day they’re the first types of books I read.
RAPID FIRE
Part One
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PROJECT(S)?
I’m currently working with about 10 other authors to turn my Harvey Bennettseries into a multi-author universe. It’s been tricky, but a blast so far.
After that, who knows? I’d probably like to tackle some nonfiction books at some point.
DOES A BIG EGO HELP OR HURT WRITERS?
I believe a little ego is required. We have to believe our work is good enough to think other people might enjoy it, right? Too little ego and we’re terrified of publishing. Too much ego and we’re just jerks.
WHAT IS YOUR WRITING KRYPTONITE?
Research. I loveresearch, but it tends to be a rabbit hole for me. The problem is that I try to err on the side of not getting stuck researching, so then I do too little research and my settings don’t feel real.
DO YOU TRY MORE TO BE ORIGINAL OR TO DELIVER TO READERS WHAT THEY WANT?
I want to take the genre expectations I know my readers have and give them something fresh within those constraints. I believe trying to do both is massively more difficult than either ‘being original’ or ‘fitting a genre.’
WHAT OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH, AND HOW DO THEY HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER WRITER?
Kevin Tumlinson is one of my best buds, and he’s given me the kick in the pants I’ve needed for four years. He wakes up at like 1am every morning to write, so that by the time I drag my lazy butt out of bed he’s finished a whole workday.
There are so many others who are skilled writers that I can also all friends — indie publishing is a community of like-minded people, and we all tend to stick together pretty well.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
The biggest trap for me was shiny object syndrome.There’s always going to be a new toy, tool, or trick to use, and we’re always going to want to chase it, thinking it’s the hottest new way to market our books, write our books, edit our books — whatever. There’s nothing that will put the words on the page like putting the words on the page, so that’s always got to be the number one strategy.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
All those dreams you have can absolutely come true, but don’t ever stop working. Don’t give up on them, and they won’t give up on you.
Also buy lots of shares of a thing called Google.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I realized that I enjoyed the entire process of bringing a book to market, from the writing all the way to the cover design and marketing. For my next books, I focused more on the non-writing things in order to get better at them.
Throughout it all I studied and tested different methods for outlining and writing, and I still do. My writing ‘system’ is a constant work in progress.
RAPID FIRE
Part Two
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE UNDER-APPRECIATED NOVEL?
Hatchet, by Gary Paulson. Survival fiction will never be as good as that.
HOW MANY UNPUBLISHED AND HALF-FINISHED BOOKS DO YOU HAVE?
I hate leaving things unpublished, so I only have a handful of short stories and snippets laying around on my hard drive.
WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
Literally success is simply freedom — I want the freedom to work however I want, whenever I want, from wherever I want. I don’t want to be burdened by financial strain, either.
HOW LONG WERE YOU A PART-TIME WRITER BEFORE YOU BECAME A FULL-TIME ONE?
I wrote for about five years while I worked at a church. My writing income steadily increased until I was ready to ‘make the leap.’
HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE?
Between 2 and 3, typically. I do a lot of marketing and data analysis for my books in the morning, then I’ll usually head out of the house for a change of scenery and get some writing done in the afternoon.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I do — not with any regularity, but I tend to keep up with the latest ones. I have a pretty thick skin, so they don’t bother me. I know I can’t please everyone, and some of the bad reviews are just downright funny (e.g. “product did not work as intended. One star.”)
What was your hardest scene to write?
In Seeing Red, I show a flashback of the main character trying to deal with the fact that his soon-to-be wife wants to get an abortion, and she does. He doesn’t want her to do it, but he has no say in the matter, and it rips apart their relationship.
Is there anything else you’d like the readers/authors out there to know about you, your novels, and/or the publishing process?
I tell people that self-publishing is something of an entrepreneurial venture. If you’re not up for doing the entire process yourself (at least until you have enough income to hire out pieces of it), you’re better off seeking a traditional publishing deal.
RECENT BOOKS
By Nick Thacker
BRIDGE TO THE FOG
A virus that's been dormant for centuries...
...has been released.
A reclusive Yellowstone park ranger is forced into action, teaming up with a beautiful woman from the CDC.
Harvey Bennett isn't a fighter, but he'll fight for what's right.
And he'll do anything to take down the terrorists behind the attack.
From Yellowstone across the American landscape, Harvey and Juliette must do what it takes to survive, before it's too late.
Grab the first book in the bestselling action-adventure thriller series today that's been described as "National Treasure meets Indiana Jones" and "the next James Rollins."
From USA Today Bestselling Author Nick Thacker, The Enigma Strain is a fast-paced action-adventure and technothriller with terrorism elements and virus apocalypse themes, and it will have you clinging to the edge of your seat! If you like James Rollins, Clive Cussler, and Preston and Child then you will love the entire Harvey Bennett Thrillers series.
MORE INFO
For more information and to stay up to date on all things Nick Thacker, visit his website: nickthacker.com