Author Interview with V.B. Tenery

Today’s blog post features an Author Interview with V.B. Tenery. She’s stopped by to talk about her latest release, Against the Odds. Have you read it? If not, here’s a great time to learn more about it.

The main characters are factious, but we did use the real names of a few people since it was a historical event. I was fascinated by the thought of what would happen to non-Muslim people outside the American Consulate and CIA Annex when the attack occurred. When I decided to write the book, I invited David Arp to join me. Dave and I have been critique partners for years and he has an extensive back ground in the Middle-East. He and his family lived in Saudi Arabia for many years. He was a natural fit to co-write the novel. 

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

Not so much before but a lot during the process. A tremendous amount of research was needed to accurately portray the attack, the local, and the culture of the city of Benghazi and how it became the powder keg that exploded on 9/11/2012. I also watched the movie, 13 Hours, to get a feel for the events that unfolded.  

You wrote this book with David Arp. How do you both write? Take turns, collaboration?

I initially asked David to create a character that would blend with my two main characters. I had already written the first two chapters when Dave joined me, and he created Tree, the Mississippi giant who becomes entangled in Sam and Winter’s story. It was my first collaboration and the writing went smoothly. Dave would write a chapter and send it to me and vice versa. We discussed where the plot was going and came to know each other’s characters as well as our own.    

That’s so fascinating! How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

I don’t think my writing process has changed. I’ve always been  a seat-of-pants author, but generally know the characters and have a good concept of where the plot is going. Then I play the what-if game. For example, what if the hero had a mission that required him to stay in Benghazi after the attack. What if he had to deal with another threat besides the Consulate attack? Thus, the Russian arms dealer was born.  
 
What was your hardest scene to write in Against the Odds?

All the action scenes were difficult. LOL. We were writing about a city we knew little about and wanted to keep it authentic. Lots of research was required to do that. The movie was a great help.

I love reading fight scenes! So engaging. 
And last but not least, what is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

I’ve never liked cliché characters. I like to populate my stories with people who are real and smart but are also charismatic and exciting. That is not always easy. I loved the late Alfred Hitchcock’s stories. He took ordinary people and placed them in dangerous heart-stopping action. The best example of that was in North by Northwest, where an average advertising man is having a drink in a hotel bar. When he raises his hand to get a bellhop’s attention and is mistaken for a government agent. That kind of action and suspense is what I strive to achieve.