Bookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest Allen Wyler. Allen is a retired neurosurgeon turned author with several works of fiction. He practiced neurosurgery at the University of Washington, University of Tennessee, and finally at Swedish Hospital in Seattle before leaving practice to become Medical Director for medical device start-up 2002. He has written several technical books and articles, published multiple novels, and twice nominated for a Thriller Award. His latest work, Deadly Odds 4.0 has just been published.

Good day Allen and thanks for taking part in our interview.

Allen: Thanks for the invitation, Norm. I appreciate it.

Norm: How did you get started in writing? What keeps you going? 

Allen: Interesting story. Unbelievably, I majored in English during premed because of my love of reading, yet remained focused on becoming a physician. Finally, one day after coming home from Saturday morning rounds, I decided, what the hell, why not try writing a novel? Never regretted the decision.

Norm: What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was least useful or most destructive? As a follow up, did you read any special books on how to write fiction? 

Allen: No, instructional books, just read a ton of authors I resonated with, then analyzed what appealed to me about their styles. So, in a way, I learned by following examples, the ultimate trial and error process.

Norm: Do you write more by logic or intuition, or some combination of the two? Please summarize your writing process.  

Allen: Given that Arnold, my protagonist, is a brilliant but socially stunted hacker, I try to approach drafting my works logically, the way I imagine he programs computers. Logic sometimes hampers creativity for me, so I do a bit of ceiling gazing to drum up some ideas.

Norm: Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?  

Allen: My ideas come from real present-day cybercrime. With the recent surge in such crime—particularly ransomware—it’s timely for 4,0’s plot line to be centered on that topic.

Plus, I get truckloads of assistance from some very cool dudes and dudettes, ranging from a retired FBI agent to a real honest-to-God hacker.

Norm: How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?  

Allen: Given my subject matter, my scientific training has helped me approach my subject matter more objectively, which, I believe, is an asset to writing about hacking.

Norm: In fiction as well as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with their material to tell a good story or make a point.  

But how much is too much? 

Allen: If, by liberties, you mean exaggeration beyond what’s realistic, then I don’t commit that sin. I run questionable scenarios by my appropriate sources and if he or she claims it’s unrealistic, I modify the plot accordingly.

I painstakingly adhere to reality. It’s true that some very crazy actions really are stranger than fiction, but they’ve always passed muster by the appropriate consultant.

I amass some twists from listening to war stories from my contacts in the cybersecurity world and by reading all that I can about hacking from various sources.

Norm: Has a review or profile ever changed your perspective on your work?”  

Allen: Yeah, actually, it has. A specific criticism of an earlier work made me think hard about it and then conclude that the reviewer was spot on. Never happened again.

Norm: Please tell our readers a little about your recent novel, Deadly Odds 4.0.

Allen: This 4th installment in the Deadly Odds series continues the character arc of a socially stunted (particularly in dealing with the opposite sex), 24-year-old computer genius who flies to Las Vegas lose his virginity and, in the process, becomes embroiled with terrorists.

By this episode he’s growing an IT business and, in the process, maturing as a result of the truly weird circumstances his cases embroil him in. As mentioned earlier, this case deals with ransomware.

Norm: How did you develop the plot and characters? Did you use any set formula?  

Allen: When writing medical thrillers, the publisher did set a formula. But in this series Arnold’s personality has grown organically as events have forged him.

I love and am constantly surprised by how his personality and approach to others is constantly evolving. But I suspect his greatest difficulty is dealing with a mild case of (as yet diagnosed) Asperger’s.

Norm: What was your main focus when you created the protagonist Arnold Gold? Is he based on someone you know or knew?

Allen: Yeah, in fact he is a very weird, but very cool dude I’ve known since grade school.

Norm: What did you know going in about your theme?

Allen: Back in the day, when running my neurophysiology lab at the UW, I was writing proprietary programs for my lab computer. That’s when I became interested in hacking and hackers, having cut my teeth on Clifford Stoll’s 1989 book, The Cuckoo’s Egg. Been hooked on the subject since.

Norm: Do you agree that to have good drama there must be an emotional charge that usually comes from the individual squaring off against antagonists either out in the world or within himself or herself? If so, please elaborate and how does it fit into Deadly Odds 4.0?

Allen: To me, good drama is conflict and should mix internal and external turmoil. I try for a realistic blend in my plots.

One of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly is masterful at concocting a perfect mix of these ingredients. I recently reread his entire Bosch series, looking for hints to how he’s so successful at this.

Norm: What will you be doing for promotion and how much of it is your doing?  

Allen: Promotion is difficult. Having left a big NY publisher for a smaller one, promotion rests entirely on my shoulders. I do what I can, so really appreciate opportunities like this one to expose myself to potential new readers. Thanks again!

Norm: Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We would love to hear all about them!)  

Allen: Just finished my first draft of 5.0, and so while it’s on the back burner simmering, I’m working on the plot kernel for 6.0. I’m excited about where Arnold is taking his new company Gold and Associates.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and your novels?

Allen: Check out my WEBSITE

Norm: As this interview comes to an end, if you could invite three authors, dead or alive to your dinner table, who would they be and why?

Allen: Michael Connelly, John Sanford, Robert Crais, all writers I avidly read and admire.

Norm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your novels.