Excerpt… Arlene Harte, mid-fifties, comfortably plump, determinedly blonde and relentlessly single though far from celibate had reported from the various fronts of global wars for the Associated Press for long enough to earn a recognizable byline, a syndicated column, and an occasional spot on Washington Week in Review. Gunfire inevitably palled after thirty years, though…
Excerpt… the CaribbeanJuly 2007 Cal adjusted his binoculars and zeroed in on the tattered flag fluttering off the freighter’s stern. A crew member had bent it on just moments before. “Haitian.” “Yeah.” “So they say.” “Yeah.” Over his shoulder Cal said, “Where are we, BMC?” “Forty-two miles south of Providenciales Island, captain,” Bosun’s Mate Chief…
Excerpt… DusseldorfJune 2007 If 9/11 had taught them anything it was that the simplest plan was the best plan. A small cell, independent, autonomous, well-funded. A clearly defined target. A strong leader to give the cell a focus, and to help them keep it. And most importantly, a clearly stated expectation of results, which Akil…
Excerpt… “You worked for Isa,” Bob said. Behind the glass, Patrick stiffened. “Y-y-y-yes,” Karim said. “From when to when?” Bob said. “F-f-f-from 2003 until you k-k-killed Zarqawi.” “Three years. You must know him pretty well.” A spark of defiance gleamed in the young man’s eyes. “Y-y-you’ll never catch him.” “I’m sure you’re right,” Bob said…
Excerpt… The two men were veterans of military aviation programs and both had seen action in the Gulf. Kenai wasn’t military but she had spent the last five years in rigorous training, including flying in the backseats of T-38s, training in vacuum chambers and sea survival, and she’d been CAPCOM on the last shuttle flight. …
Read more “We’ll give you a seat on the shuttle if you hire us to launch your satellite.”
Excerpt… October 22, 2004Slime Banks, north of the Alaska Peninsula “I say we use him to troll for orcas.” “That’s a little harsh, PO, don’t you think?” Sara said, trying not to laugh. “Already tasked anyway,” Chief Mark Edelen said from the conn. “Tasked how?” PO Barnette said, raising one skeptical eyebrow. Or so Sara…
Read more “They duct taped his bunk shut, poked a hole in it, and sprayed it full of Right Guard.”
Excerpt… Arlene settled herself in the chair across from his desk. “Thanks for seeing me without an appointment.” “Anytime, Arlene, you know that.” He smiled at her. Bad mood or not, he was always very nice to Arlene. A plump, comfortably sized blonde in jeans and blazer over a white turtleneck, she looked like someone’s…
Excerpt… Langley, VirginiaOctober 19, 2004 Hugh’s temper was not improved by the sight of his overflowing mailbox or by the stack of message slips held down on his desk by the soapstone bear paperweight. The bear had been a gift from Sara the last Christmas they were in high school together. He looked at it,…
excerpt… The Chinese saw the waiter looking and returned a flat, unblinking stare. There was something reptilian in that stare, without fear or feeling. For all his experience and sangfroid, the waiter had to make a conscious effort not to take a step back. He had to clear his throat before he could summon enough…
[from the stabenow.com archives, February 10, 2008, with present-day commentary also in bold] Okaaaaay, five days after publication of Prepared for Rage, I have received the first email wanting to know when the next Kate novel will be out. Laurie King and I were talking about this yesterday. We’re pleased and flattered that you “Just…
