SPOTLIGHT ON… Momentum Books: Chris Allen
Chris Allen, author
Chris Allen, author
Chris Allen
Describe yourself in one word:
Complicated
What is your background with regard to writing?
I haven’t had any formal training or undertaken any study in relation to writing. I just try to write as best I can in my way. I guess I’ve learned what I know so far through trial and error.
When did you first begin writing with a view of embarking on a career as a published author?
About 13 years ago. I’d returned from a deployment to East Timor as an aid worker and felt that I’d reached the right point of my life to finally give my writing aspirations a go. I’d wanted to write ever since I was a kid but the moment when I felt it was time didn’t arrive until quite a few years later. It seems to have been the right moment because I love writing, I’m enjoying the opportunity to create my stories and readers are enjoying them too.
Tell us about the first book you wrote:
The first book I ever wrote went through so many iterations I can barely remember what the very first draft even looked like! That said, I persevered and the story morphed into what eventually became ‘Defender of the Faith’ – which we self published – and then, more recently, Defender – the edition currently available and released by my publisher. The story establishes my protagonist, Alex Morgan, a former army officer and paratrooper who is recruited as an agent into a new ultra-secret, black ops division of Interpol called INTREPID. Defender is Morgan’s first solo mission as an INTREPID agent and pits him against corrupt officials, assassins and rogue agents all against the backdrop of a brutal civil war. I’m very proud of it.
What is your writing routine?
I basically write whenever I can and whenever I’m in the right frame of mind to be creative. I’m not sure that what I do could really qualify as a routine. One thing I now know is that you can’t waste time on the detail when you’re trying to get the story on the page. Just get as much down as you can to capture the story and edit or refine things later.
Favourite snack whilst writing?
Coffee
If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
Touring the world as a drummer in a cool jazz combo, preferably with a few very successful CDs thrown in for good measure!
One thing you’d like readers to know about the romance genre…
Romance exists in every genre. It isn’t limited to just one. There’s no escaping the fact that a solid mix of action and a healthy dose of romance goes a long way.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list?
Survive long enough to tick off all the things below.
Biggest accomplishment to date:
1. Marrying Sarah and, 2. Our sons.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the third Alex Morgan novel, developing a completely new series of books starring a new hero, and working on a TV pilot.
Confessions of an Author:
Is there something we’d be shocked to know about you?
I’m a total softy. My kids can reduce me to tears just by doing something cool.
What do you find easiest to write? And, the hardest?
Action flows easily for me but I do find it harder to write romance!
Favourite travel experience?
The first time I ever set foot on the European continent was the result of a parachute descent. No airport or customs formalities.
Favourite fictional character:
Sherlock Holmes
Milk or dark chocolate?
Dark
Red, white, bubbly?
Red
Salty or sweet?
Salty
Beach or mountains?
Mountains
Give or receive?
Give
Find Chris online:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
AusRomToday 
And now, the true answers!
Q: Describe yourself in one word:
A: Sauvadocious.
Q: What is your background with regard to writing?
A: I once killed seven insurgents using only a Montblanc pen. After that, writing didn’t seem so hard.
Q: When did you first begin writing with a view of embarking on a career as a published author?
A: As a baby I was diapered with the pages of Ian Fleming’s novels. Apart from a brief flirtation with cage-fighting there was never any doubt I would be a writer.
Q: Tell us about the first book you wrote:
A: I thought to myself – why are James Bond and Jason Bourne such girly wusses? – Someone needs to toughen up the action-spy-hit-man genre – one year later, Defender was released to blood-thirsty acclaim.
Q: What is your writing routine?
A: Nothing fancy – I drink a bottle of single malt, snort a line of gunpowder and get to work. Occasionally I have my sons booby trap my desk so that I stay sharp at all times.
Q: Favourite snack whilst writing?
A: Blood sausage and diesel.
Q: If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
A: I would still be a hit-man/killer whale trainer moonlighting with the Chippendales
Q: One thing you’d like readers to know about the romance genre…
A: In an emergency a romance novel can easily and quickly be wrapped around the end of a 9mm pistol to make a pretty decent silencer.
Q: Number one thing to do on your bucket list?
A: Win the Mr Olympia title and the Booker Prize in the same year … again.
Q: Biggest accomplishment to date:
A: Tearing out Tony Abbot’s heart and lungs, then putting them back without anyone noticing, in order to win a hilarious Army drinking game.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I’m currently working on the third Alex Morgan novel while disarming bombs in Afghanistan – sort of a working holiday.
Confessions of an Author:
Q: Is there something we’d be shocked to know about you?
A: I once made a glove puppet for my kids out of the neighbour’s yappy Shih Tzu.
Q: What do you find easiest to write? And, the hardest?
A: I’m currently adapting the King James Bible as an action thriller – the action scenes are great, almost effortless, but it’s very hard to write romantic scenes for a man wearing sandals.
Q: Favourite travel experience?
A: Arriving in Europe by parachute with my pockets bugling with duty free grenades. No airport or customs formalities. Brilliant.
Q: Favourite fictional character:
A: Badger from The Wind In The Willows – Badger didn’t take any shit. Period.
Q: Milk or dark chocolate?
A: Candied tarantulas
Q: Red, white, bubbly?
A: Snake Blood
Q: Salty or sweet?
A: Vodka with a dash of battery acid
Q: Beach or mountains?
A: Private island
Q: Give or receive?
A: Throat punch.
These answers are absolute brilliance, thanks so much for your extremely humorous input 🙂
My Pleasure, Jaimee,
Chris and I served together in 3RAR (Para) – and we’ve been friends for over 20 years – if anyone knows the truth about him, it’s me! 🙂
Thanks so much for supporting his wonderful books, and for championing Australian writers in general.
Cheers,
BTG