Mark Combs Author

He’s spent more than 20 years in Oregon newspaper newsrooms, dividing his time and energy between weekly’s and daily’s. He’s won awards as a reporter, a columnist and as an editor. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he also served as spokesman for the mayor of Portland, Oregon.His first suspense/thriller, CRASHERS, was released in 2010 by Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press. It won the Spotted Owl Award from Friends of Mystery as 2010’s best mystery or thriller written by a Northwest writer.BREAKING POINT, the sequel to CRASHERS, was released in 2011 and hailed as a “white-knuckle thriller” by the Library Journal. In 2013 & 2014, our guest released ICE COLD KILL & GUN METAL HEART, which follow the high-energy exploits of Operative (wink/wink) Daria Gibron. Last week’s guest, Meg Gardiner, said, “These books are a blast!” Today, we’re going to talk about his latest release, ST. NICHOLAS SALVAGE & WRECKING. Please welcome to the show, thriller writer extraordinaire, Dana Haynes.

She was born in Oklahoma, raised in Santa Barbara, California, and graduated from Stanford Law School. She practiced law in Los Angeles, taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara, and is also a three-time Jeopardy! champion.To date, she’s authored fourteen thrillers, including a 5 book series featuring Evan Delaney and the 4-book, Jo Beckett series. Her latest novel, Into the Black Nowhere, has been called, “a terrifying, brilliant read” It’s book #2 in the UnSub series featuring rookie FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix. The first book in the series, titled UNSUB, won the 2018 Barry Award for Best Thriller and is in development as a TV series by CBS.She’s won a long list of awards, including The Edgar from Mystery Writers of America, the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Procedural, and her book, Phantom Instinct, was listed in O Magazine as one of Oprah’s “Best Books of the Summer” in 2014.If you’re looking for something to keep you up at night, today’s guest has got plenty of great

She’s an award-winning journalist and former television producer. She’s written articles for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record, and numerous web sites, including CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com, BusinessWeek.com, and CNBC.She’s also a USA-Today bestselling author, with a number of very popular novels in print, the most recent of which we’re going to explore today. Cate Holahan is my guest and today’s adventure walks us into the pages of One Little Secret...

He’s a negotiator, an advisor, a mediator and a speaker whose expertise is sought worldwide. He has worked with clients ranging from Wall Street bankers to United Nations Officials & political leaders to battered sales teams, cheated spouses and convicted felons.His groundbreaking results have been formally recognized by the United States government for their positive economic and social impact. He is a Harvard MBA, trained journalist, and former corporate and investment banker.His first book, “Negotiating with Giants” — which relays David vs Goliath negotiation stories from across time — was touted by CNN News as “What you need to know to get a good deal on just about anything.”His second book, a work of historic fiction titled “Weapons of Peace,” will provide the backdrop for today’s adventure. Please welcome Peter D. Johnston…

She was born in Manhattan and raised in Tenafly, NJ, the only child of immigrants. Her father was born in Russia. Her mother was born and raised in England.A former journalist, she is the award-winning author of two mystery series. The first features Georgia Sheehan, a NYC firefighter-turned-fire investigator.The second, which we’ll be digging into today, stars Jimmy Vega, an upstate New York, homicide detective navigating the world of the undocumented.Book #1 in the series, Land of Careful Shadows, was listed as a top five mystery books of 2016 by the American Library Association. Book #2, A Blossom of Bright Light, was an Amazon “Mystery Pick of the Month” when it released.Please welcome our guide for today’s adventure into mysteries of the undocumented… Suzanne Chazin...

She’s a former freelance writer and web producer for titles at Condé Nast and Hearst, among others. Currently, she lives in Baltimore with her husband and their dogs.Her debut novel, I’ll Eat When I’m Dead, was listed as a Refinery 29’s Best Book of 2017 and described as “delectable.” It was featured in Fortune, Us Weekly, and The New York Post, among others high profile book review publications.Today, we’re going to talk about her second novel, which has just released. It’s a story, The Booklist calls 1-part Dirty Dancing and 1-part Twin Peaks. Today, author Barbara Bourland joins us to talk about her latest exposition on human nature, Fake Like Me…

She moved to Montreal, Canada when she was 12 years old and studied Creative Writing at Concordia University, in Montreal, following her graduation from High School. She speaks Russian, French, and English, but pens her novels in English. The original draft of her first novel, Girl Last Seen, was written while she was attending Concordia. It was published to rave review in June of 2017.Her second novel, What My Sister Knew, made Good Morning America’s End-Of-Summer reading list in 2018. Her most recent book, is set for release on June 11th. Nina Laurin joins us for today’s adventure and you’re invited to come along as we peel back the pages of The Starter Wife…

Before she began penning captivating crime fiction, she was a journalist. She got her start as an intern at Harper’s Magazine in New York and then joined the staff of Canadian Living magazine in Toronto. After deciding that she’d rather write than edit, she left her day job to freelance full-time. That decision led to the composition of 18 nonfiction books (17 of them for Frommer’s Travel Guides) and articles for a number of publications including Discover, Martha Stewart Weddings, American Archaeology, Fitness, and Reader’s Digest. Her debut novel, The Damage Done, won both the Anthony and the Crime-Spree Award for Best First Novel. Two more novels completed a trilogy, that I’m sure we’ll talk about at some point along the way. And, she’s been a part of several Anthology volumes that we’ll want to explore.We’re going to begin our adventure, however, talking about her latest release: One Small Sacrifice. It’s hot off the presses, thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing and it’s been tabbed as an Amazon “Firs

She’s the USA Today Best-Selling author of The Oakwood Mystery Series, a trio of Cozy Mysteries that take place in the all too real city of Oakwood, Ohio, where murders are rare but great stories lie thick on the ground.In addition to writing about murder, she also teaches writing at a local community college. After the written word, Her passions include her husband, her son and daughter, hiking, tennis and strong black coffee, not necessarily in that order. USA-Today Best-Selling weaver of Cozy Mysteries, Leslie Nagel, joins us on the show today to talk about her latest release – The Codebook Murders…

She began her career as a journalist. She then became an editor, an acquisitions specialist, a digital content manager, and finally, publishing executive. She teaches the craft of writing, has published a couple of books on the topic, that I’m sure we’ll talk about today, and she’s a popular public speaker.She’s worked for such media giants as WGBH public radio in Boston, Disney, F&W Media, and Gannett. In 2012, she joined Talcott Notch Literary Services as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, high-concept Science Fiction & Fantasy, as well as nonfiction titles. Today, she’s joining us to talk about her own Police Procedural, A BORROWING OF BONES. Please welcome our navigator for today’s Adventure – Paula Munier.

The joy she experienced from reading in her childhood attracted her initially to the world of children’s fiction. She honed her writing skills first as a journalist and magazine editor, and later as an author of children’s books. There are 12 in all, penned under the name June Considine.Fantasy, adventure, gritty realism, teen lives and loves… eventually, as all young people do, the characters she created grew up. So she turned her attention to the domestic life of adults and the intimacy of family. Today, we’re going to step inside the pages of her novel, GUILTY, which has been recently released from Grand Central Publishing in hardback. From the shoreline of Broadmeadow Estuary, near the town of Dublin, Ireland, today’s guest is Laura Elliot.

He’s a critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. His Tracy Crosswhite series of books has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. Book 1 in the series, My Sister’s Grave, has been optioned for development as a television series.Today’s guest is also the author of the best-selling, attorney, David Sloane series. His books are sold in more than 25 countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages. He has been nominated for, and won, numerous awards for his writing, included being a finalist for the 2017 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for best novel and a two time finalist for the International Thriller Writers award. Today, we’re going to crack open the pages of his latest release, The Eighth Sister…

He’s the author of more than 45 novels, many of which climbed the best-seller rankings shortly after their release. He’s a master in the techno-thriller genre, and gifted with surprising versatility. His writing career launched in the mid-80’s, during the final years of the Cold War. He found a home writing chilling portrayals of threats to the United States, and of the men and women who operated undercover, and sometimes outside the law, to maintain U.S. security.He penned the popular Blaine McCracken series, a Green Beret with a bit of a James Bondian outlook, and he’s 11 books deep into a series featuring Caitlin Strong, a 5th generation Texas Ranger, who finds out that the west can still be a pretty wild place at times. The multi-talented and ridiculously imaginative, Jon Land is my guest and today, we’re going to see just how versatile he can be...

She’s founder, and Editor-in-Chief of The Common. Her short stories, translations, and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Literary Review, Harper’s, and Publishers Weekly, among other places.She has a Master of Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars, and she teaches literature, creative writing, and editing at Amherst College. Her name is Jennifer Acker and today she takes us on an adventure to explore her latest release, The Limits of the World…

She’s a graphic designer and illustrator, who has twice been awarded a Writers’ Bursary by Literature Wales, most recently for the book that we’re going to discuss today.She won the Myriad Edition “First Crimes” competition in 2016 and her work has been short-listed for the UK’s Harry Bowling Prize, and the Caledonia Fiction Prize in Edinburg. She’s also on the current long-list for the Bath Novel Award. Author, Vanessa Savage is my guest… and today she introduces us to The Woman in the Dark…

Today’s content requires Level 1, CIA Clearance, as mandated by Executive Order #05148. If you do not have Level 1, CIA Clearance, you are hereby notified that a temporary clearance has been established for you that will expire at the close of today’s Public Display of Imagination Adventure.Today’s discussion will examine ITEM 103-A, Dated: 16-November, 1961. CIA Special Agent Lana Wells has uncovered a Russian Film Canister, which was smuggled over the Berlin Wall during World War 2, at great cost. Today’s guests will take us behind the scenes, as we look at what can and can’t be revealed, regarding the contents of that canister. Please welcome the writing team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar…

She grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but moved to Manhattan in 2005 to audition for theatre work. That bold move led to a day job, waiting tables at a restaurant that would be leveled by bulldozers shortly after she took the job. With a fresh opening in her daily schedule, she began transferring her vivid imagination to the printed page. With more than a dozen novels and short-stories in print, she continues to weave tightly spun storylines that keep readers turning pages.Her latest work introduces an injured young woman, on the run from a New York City, prohibition era, liquor deal that went sideways. Destination… Portland, Oregon, and The Paragon Hotel. Today, we go back to the roaring 20’s with author, Lyndsay Faye.

He's a NY Times Best-Selling author who has seen his work translated into 40 different languages that have produced more than 23 million copies of his thrillers, sold in 51 countries around the world. He invested 30 years of his life as a trial lawyer; was a founding member of the International Thriller Writers and served as a publicly elected official for 14 years.History, mystery, and suspense drip from every page of his novels. Today, we follow Cotton Malone to the Island of Malta, through the creative vision of Best-Selling Thriller author, Steve Berry.

Growing up, she confesses that she was (in her own words) "bad at science and math" and not much of an artist either. Her dad, a CPA, was great with calculations and her mom was a gifted artist. Although skilled at neither math, nor art, she was quite appreciative of both and even developed a fascination for science. She studied communications and developmental psychology in grad school and sharpened both skills as a writer.As a mother of 3, she became immersed in the STEM / STEAM programs and began writing books for teens. Robin Stevens Payes is my guest... and today, she's going to take us on an Adventure to the Edge of Yesterday and beyond...

She’s a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps, School of Journalism. She served as Editor-at-Large for Writer’s Digest magazine for nearly a decade. In 2017, her debut novel, Almost Missed You, was a Barnes & Noble Best New Fiction Selection and a PopSugar Best Spring Read. She followed that up with another Book of the Month Club selection in the spring of 2018 entitled, Not That I Could Tell.The spring of 2019 is busy greeting the world with fresh new blooms of every color, which means it’s time for another hot new release from today’s guest. Jessica Strawser takes us on our adventure today as we dig into the pages of her latest suspense thriller, Forget You Know Me…