(by) Donna McCrohan Rosenthal
Burroughs High School graduate and successful thriller writer Brett Battles will give the Ridge Writers program on Thursday, July 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church, 633 W. Las Flores. Public invited, admission free, masks requested.
Batttles will discuss publishing platforms from print to electronic, along with pitfalls to avoid. A USA Today bestselling as well as Barry Award-winning author of over forty novels, including “Rewinder,” the Jonathan Quinn series, the Logan Harper series, the Project Eden series and, with Robert Gregory Browne, he has coauthored the Alexandra Poe series
His first novel, “The Cleaner” (2007), introduced recurring character Jonathan Quinn, freelance intelligence operative who specializes in making bodies disappear. His second novel, “The Deceived” (2008), won the Barry Award for Best Thriller. His third novel, “Shadow of Betrayal” (published in the U.K. as “The Unwanted”) continues Quinn’s adventures.
Publishers Weekly described “The Cleaner” as “displaying an enviable gift for pacing and action, Battles’s debut novel is a page-turner that may remind some readers of the cult TV spy series ‘Alias.’ Admirers of quality espionage fiction can look forward to a new series worth following.”
Looking on his formative years, Battles has reflected, “Brett Battles is that kid back in 6th grade who convinces his teacher that, as an assignment, everyone should write a short story that is at least 10 pages long. He received an A- on his project, while another student (name withheld) received an A+. Brett’s not bitter about this, nor does he ever think about the incident. Mostly.” One of the founding members of Killer Year, and a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, he cites Stephen King, Robert Ludlum, Graham Greene, and Haruki Murakami as important influences on his work.
He will follow his presentation with informal conversation and a book signing. Read more about him at www.brettbattles.com.
Ridge Writers is the East Sierra Branch of the 113-year-old California (calwriters.org) that has 22 branches throughout the state and traces its roots back to Jack London and friends in the Bay Area.
