Scott Finch

Spy fiction author | Wrote Operative 13 |
Mildly introverted. Occasionally funny.
Professional overthinker.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I wrote a spy novel about a government assassin who treats the job like a normal 9-to-5.

No revenge arc. No monologues.
Just a calm professional who happens to be extremely good at violence.

If that's your sort of thing:

https://t.co/cNnDMamC1f

#SpyFiction #ThrillerBooks

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I'm a little conflicted to be honest. I recently had another idea for a story, but I feel there's crazy and then there's CRAZY.

How do you feel about a slushie-drinking, sword-wielding, hellhound-owning monster hunter?

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I’ve always admired characters who remain calm under pressure. Mostly because I absolutely do not.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I think the trick with writing a good book is making the reader feel clever, while secretly controlling everything. Slightly manipulative, admittedly.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

If you had to pick: slow-burn tension or immediate chaos?

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

Writers don’t get writer’s block. We get “what if this is all terrible?” episodes.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

There’s something quite comforting about fictional danger. Real life rarely comes with background music.

Though I often wonder what mine would be if it did.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

Question for readers: what makes you trust a protagonist? Competence, honesty, or sheer audacity?

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I suspect half of writing is just choosing which details to pretend were intentional.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I find it's always hard to write my best work when slightly under-caffeinated and mildly irritated.

Unfortunately, that seems to describe me on most days.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

What’s the most intelligent character you’ve read recently?

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I spend my days negotiating contracts and trying not to ruin lives. Grey spends his ending them with a knife and a quiet word.

Somehow my job feels less dangerous.

#Operative13 #ActionThriller #SpyFiction

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

Some men blend into a crowd. Alex Grey disappears inside it. One moment your target is breathing. The next… he simply isn’t. And nobody saw who did it.

Welcome to Operative 13.

#SpyThriller #DeniableOps #GreyMan #OrphanX

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

Precision replaces chaos in Operative 13.
Fans of The Terminal List will understand.

#BookRecommendations

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

If you like Jason Bourne, you’ll recognise the discipline. If you like The Gray Man, you’ll recognise the pace. Operative 13 sits between both.

#SpyThriller #EspionageFiction

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I’m told writers should “build in public.” Slightly alarming thought.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

A reader mentioned they’d happily pick Operative 13 up alongside Gregg Hurwitz and Lee Child.

Which is either very kind… or a sign I need to raise my standards immediately.

Either way, I’ll take it.

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

@KoalaQuillHQ That’s deeply concerning. He’s been reviewing my work in complete silence, which is never encouraging.
Do you think he prefers tighter prose, or is this more of a personal vendetta?

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

I had hoped to get some writing done today. I'm working on book 2, you see.

Unfortunately my cat decided my keyboard is better than his bed.

Negotiations are ongoing.

#WritingLife

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

One thing I enjoy about intelligence fiction is the idea that entire organisations could exist quietly in the background of the world.

Most people would never notice them.

Which, I suppose, is the point.

#SpyFiction

[Scott Finch @ScottFinchBooks]

Before Operative 13 was published, several agents told me some variation of:

“This is very good, but not right for our list.”

Which is publishing-industry code for many things.

Thankfully @DolphinFiction disagreed.

#IndieAuthor #WritingJourney