​Ho there—be that you?

It seems that no time has passed since we last shared a cup of grog! Now that Spring is finally here we are feeling frisky.

You come in a fair breeze matey! Today we have as our esteemed guest, renowned author Richard Avery, bringing us another exciting Dick Avery Adventure Story.

Danger of the highest magnitude will be aboard, as well as intrigue, international espionage, and action!

Join us at the captain’s table as we eagerly pick the oh-so-fertile and devious brain of that master of spy novels, Richard Avery!
 
HE IS KNOWN AS ‘VLAD THE IMPALER’

HIS  MISSION? TO COMMIT THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF TERRORIST ACTS…ONE THAT WILL USHER IN A FRESH HELL ON EARTH!
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“I reached into my coat pocket for the lighter and he struck, struck hard and slammed me face forward into a concrete wall. I was momentarily stunned, quickly trying to regain my balance, breath and composure. Jeez, I was being mugged within 10 yards of my apartment building!
​
He next applied a stun gun, a small cattle prod, next to my right kidney. It must have been set on high since the pain was excruciating. I immediately dropped to my knees. As I did so, he delivered his message in broken English. “Go home Mr. Avery, you no welcome here. If you no go, you suffer worse. You too young to die painful death!”

1. You have an illustrious professional background dealing with many situations in the Security Service of the State Department. How much did your background influence your choice of subject matter when writing?

Actually, quite a bit. The stories themselves mostly come from my imagination, but within each one I draw on State Department experiences, protocols and foreign locales that I've visited. It seemed natural to write about terrorist events abroad having grown up with such things during my career. By happenstance, I was involved in one aspect or another of the embassy bombing in Beirut in 1983, the murders of four Marine Security Guards sitting at an outdoor restaurant in El Salvador in 1989, the bombing of the iconic Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi in 1980 and other tragic events. I oversaw the security of the then new chancery in Nairobi, Kenya while posted there. It was touted as being a state-of-the art building in terms of the latest security measures. That was until it was reduced to rubble in 1998 by a pick-up truck laden with explosives. When it was designed and constructed, suicide bombings were unheard of. The State Department (and U.S. government as a whole) isn't particularly proactive when it comes to things. What's next?Netting over all federal buildings to protect them from drone attacks? It's all about imagination, ingenuity and ruthlessness on the part of the bad guys.

2. In your opinion how do factors like protocol and politics influence making strides in controlling terrorism.

During my time, they made huge differences regarding security, or lack thereof. The Black Dragons, the senior careerists, always argued that our embassies should be open and inviting to the public, especially the host government officials. Otherwise, how can they effectively carry out bilateral relations? Well, after many years and loss of lives, that notion fortunately changed. The "openness attitude" even applied to Main State, the Truman building, in Washington, DC.  In the fall of 1974, a restroom on the third floor of the building was bombed by The Weather Underground. It was located about 60 feet from my office.The good news is over the past many years things changed in regards to security and the dragons lost the battle. The Diplomatic Security Service now has the human resources, authorities and funding to carry out its mission of protecting people and things around the world. Case in point. While assigned to the Nairobi embassy, my assistant and I tried to provide security services to nine countries in East Africa. Now every country has one or more DSS special agent assigned to them. My have times changed, but not necessarily me!  BTW: the Black Dragons are a topic in an upcoming novel: Dick Slays the Dragons.  

3. Do you think real spies write the best spy novels?

Well, I wasn't a spy, but rather a counterspy, investigator and security adviser all rolled into one. Certainly my career and experiences lend credibility to the stories. A lot of fiction mixed with some fact make for a good read, I believe.  

4.What can followers expect to find in every Dick Avery novel?

Strong plots and story lines along with over-the-top, colorful characters.Then add my quirky sense of humor to the mix and you get a Dick Avery Adventure Story.

5.What are your strengths and weaknesses as a writer?

I believe my story lines plots and characters are strong. My biggest weakness in writing is telling rather than showing, something my publisher berates me about my head and shoulders.  

6.What is the most unusual setting you were in when inspiration struck for another novel? Do concepts ever come to you in dreams?

For Russkie, I was on a long drive with my friend Janet and discussing possible ideas for another story; one that would be an outrageous, terrorist attack that would make 9/11 seem like child's play. We discussed scenarios about sabotaging the internet, world power grids and the like, but those didn't seem to work for me. So, I came up with Operation Scorched Earth, masterful attacks on the infrastructures of the oil producing nations to the benefit of the country of Bhutar. Bhutar is gaming the international spot markets for crude and reaping obscene profits after each attack. Its goal is to create a caliphate in the Middle East with it in charge. Ex-KGB officer, Vladimir Booskowsky, is its instrument to make those things happen.

7. Major Ludmilla Aleksandra Petrova has an interesting relationship with the protagonist Dick Avery. Without giving spoilers, was it your intention to portray their partnership as a working relationship with romantic potential?

Ludmilla Petrova, Pet to her friends, is an interesting character. She's a strong, professional woman working in mainly a man's world. There is a good chemistry and working relationship between Pet and Dick, but, of course, Dick has more than work on his mind. He's the perennial wannabe seducer of women, although only in his dreams. Pet's a great foil for Dick and his romantic thoughts and antics. As he says in the book, his woman's intuition is never strong since he doesn't have a clue about them.

8. As a globetrotter, if you had to live in one of the places that factor in this novel (e.g., Russia, Dubai, Seychelles, etc) which would you choose and why?

That's easy, the Seychelles since it's one of the most beautiful string of islands on the planet and the people are laid back and welcoming.

9.Can you quote one of your favorite passages in this novel?

Vladimir Booskowsky, better known as Vlad the Impaler by his former KGB colleagues,
was a shadowy, elusive figure who terrified even the most hardened intelligence officers in the old Soviet spy service. He was a vicious sociopath of the first order and that remarkable fact had served the rodina, the motherland, well during his long career as a sanctioned killer for the former Soviet Union at the height of its power and influence.  

10.What  projects are you focused on currently? Can you give us just a teaser snippet from any of them?

Sure, I just finished writing Dick Hacks the Hoodoos set in Haiti. The Russians are orchestrating a nefarious campaign to disrupt U.S. relations in the Caribbean. Its surrogate, Cuba, is facilitating the operation by employing a voodoo cult called The Family to do the dirty work. Dick is up to his neck in bad voodoo, juju, hoodoo and do-do in this action packed story of murder, mayhem in the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

11. There is a lot of humor in ‘DICK ROUTS THE RUSSKIE’, even in the title. Are
you a plotter or a pantser when you write?

Probably more of a panster.

​Okay, we admit Dick's not the most politically correct agent alive, and he sometimes bumbles and reminds us of what happens when you cross a certain French Inspector with a British Legume to produce an American Dick, but you have to admit that he's as cute as a pink Rottweiler when he's on the scent of a good case! Who says you can't teach an ole dog new tricks?

When did you start writing?
I started writing rather late in life after more or less being retired with a lot of spare time on my hands. I’d toyed with the idea off-and-on for several years and finally decided to sit down and write a book. That start ended after I wrote five novels over a continuous, two year period. The story lines kept popping into my head until I couldn’t come up with any more. It was most definitely a manic phase in my life.
What methodologies do you use in writing your books?
I’m not sure what that means. I simply start out with a vague idea as to what the story will be about and go from there; sort of a stream of consciousness or perhaps unconsciousness way of doing things. One sentence leads to another until I’m finished. If I get stuck, I skip the part and move on. I don’t diagram things or sketch out the story line beforehand. Of course, I go back and try to perfect the writing, but for the most part it’s all about moving the plot along until conclusion.
What’s the raison d’être behind the books?
I wanted to write humorous spoofs and send-ups of the State Department, my organization, the Diplomatic Security Service, and U.S. foreign policy; all set to mystery/adventure stories. I didn’t want to vilify or glorify anything, but rather to poke some fun at our institutions and their foibles overseas. They are most certainly politically incorrect reads. There was already a plethora of conventional spy heroes, secret agents and the like out there and thought I‘d take a different tack. I believe my firsthand experiences and insights into the Foreign Service culture give the stories added depth and credence thus enhancing the reads. I also throw in some tongue-and-cheek comments about our war on terrorism, embassy life and customs, diplomatic protocol as well as some insider tidbits and teases.  
Where do you draw your material from?
The Dick Avery Adventure Stories come from both my experiences working abroad and a vivid imagination, along with a very quirky sense of humor. They are loosely based on assignments and travels I had with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, The World Bank, and as an international security consultant. I’ve lived overseas and traveled the world during my career and have come across many different situations that lend themselves to a good story.
 Tell us about the protagonist in the series.
Dick Avery is a retired special agent of the Diplomatic Security Service who is down on his luck and life. He doesn’t have enough money to sustain his many vices and few virtues and is always looking for a handout from Mother State. Hopefully, it’s a bone with some meat left on it for a change. He’s considered an expendable commodity and convenient scapegoat by the big suits in the State Department. That’s why he’s recalled to take on the tough cases that no other right-minded agent would readily accept since the assignments are fraught with danger to one’s Foreign Service career. Dick typically solves the cases in his own unorthodox, bumbling style of investigation, with the help of his colorful colleagues.
So, what’s Dick Scalps the Injuns about?
Dick is sent to India by his masters to investigate the kidnapping of the U.S. ambassador’s daughter in New Delhi. He subsequently learns that Afghan President Karzai’s daughter had been kidnapped at the same time and this has the State Department and White House in an uproar. Karzai’s daughter had been living at the ambassador’s residence under an assumed name and attending the International School of Delhi. His search for the girls leads him from Delhi to the crematoria Ghats in Banaras to the Taj Mahal and back to Delhi in his pursuit of his adversary, his foe and his nemesis: Kris Amar, the head Dalit at the largest crematorium in Banaras.
Why the pseudonym Dick Avery?
I originally used Avery Dick, but the publisher thought that it was a little too racy. I thought it was spot on to describe the character, but she won out. By the way, a nom de guerre is only used by Pentagon wonks with any leftover tail feathers relegated to the State Department as nom de plumes. So, Dick Avery it is.
Are you working on other projects?
Yes, I’ve written an anthology of paranormal stories titled Macabre Memories (Eclectic Tales to Chill the Soul) that I’m trying to flog at the moment. 
 Did you have a particular audience in mind when writing this novel?
No, I didn't, but the publisher thought the protagonist should be a younger, good looking guy who would better appeal to women. So, that's what happened in the editing in order to create broader acceptance by the readership.
Humor has a predominant place in ‘Dick Scalps the Injuns’ in the form of wisecracking, pun intended and other word play. Did you find in reality that the serious business of acting as a Special Agent has a lighter side?
Yes, most definitely. Despite the serious nature of the job and sometimes tragic events overseas, there were quirky, humorous events that happened from time-to-time. Early one Sunday morning, in the mid 1980's, when assigned to the embassy in Panama, I was awakened by a helicopter gunship hovering outside my bedroom window of my apartment on the 13th floor of my building. This was during the rule of General Manuel Noriega and the Panamanian people were expressing their displeasure with him and his regime. The area I lived in was largely populated by wealthy Panamanians who were protesting his continued leadership. By the way, gallows humor is very popular in the Foreign Service.

I received a frantic call one day from the pouch supervisor while assigned to our embassy in Bangkok. It seem an intruder had entered the pouch vault at the rear of the chancery without notice. An 8 foot long water snake had slithered underneath the back door and moved about 6 feet down a hallway and slid beneath the day gate to the vault, nestling itself among the diplomatic pouches. The snake likely came from the klong (canal) at the rear of the building. It was a funny event to everyone except the supervisor.   
Coming from a unique insider background of 49 years as a Special Agent and Security Specialist are you ever concerned that you might reveal too much concerning the inner workings of government agencies?
No, of course not. My books have been vetted and read by my former superiors and colleagues.and were for sale at the Diplomatic Security Service store in a State Department annex.for several years when I self-pubbed them. When I refer to insider information and teases, I'm talking about embassy life as it relates to such things as how employee housing assignments are made and how some try to scam the system and how currency accommodations are handled and could be abused and many other tidbits. However, they are all made up from transparent, whole cloth---some fact, but a lot of my imagination.  
As a world traveler, what cultures appealed to you the most? Would you consider retiring in any of them?
I lived in Thailand for 2 years and would consider retiring to Chiang Mai in the North of the country. Great people, medical facilities, food and a very low cost of living.
Can we expect more books from your series?
Yes, most assuredly. There are four more titles to be released by the publisher over time: Dick Slays the Dragons, Dick Fades the Albino, Dick Cases the Bank and Dick Hounds the Afghans.
Just one more question, for fun. What’s your favorite color?
That’s easy, pink of course. It’s the color of the mascot of the Dick Avery Adventure Stories: the Pink Rottweiler.