John Ross review of novel "Enemies Foreign and Domestic"

[Lupine]

Hey, Travis

I did get that part...but thanks for reminding me, because I better see your intention. Again, I really enjoyed the book, and reading it while on a weekend "girls trip to the beach" brought up some interesting questions and conversations, and since I was headed to a "fun shoot" at the quarry after the weekend getaway, I had the opportunity to "recruit" a few new female shooting enthusiasts.

Good luck on the next book!

 

[Tamara]

Deep into the book.

I think Ranya's character is very cool.

(Although real women don't carry Lightweight Commanders and ride YZF600 Yamahas. Instead, we carry all-steel 5" 1911's and ride literbikes. )

 

[greyhound]

Got mine yesterday. Really looking forward to it.

Enjoyed "UC" too.

Anyone give a copy to a leftist/anti? THAT I'd pay to see!

 

[Travis McGee]

Willard: Thanks for sticking up for 21 year old virgins, especially Catholic schoolgirls! As a plot element, at least it leads to some very intense (implied) sex when it finally happens. I think many modern slutty girls can have sex today and not even feel it. Well, enough on that, glad you liked the book!

 

[Kobun]

Hey Travis,
You made me want to go sailing.
Finished the book a week ago. (Got it from lifelibertyetc)

For the sequel you can include the former exchange student from Norway that comes back to help you fight off the domestic enemies. This for a promise he gave to a now late vietnam vet that he lived with in MN.
Just make sure he is tall and has blonde hair.
(Fiction is best when it is based in reality, right?)

 

[Travis McGee]

Lupine:
I really enjoyed your feedback. I kind of got focused on the 21 year old virgin thing, but your other comments about typical Hollywood action babes were spot on. I wanted Ranya to be a more complex character than that, to be tough but still a woman, not just a man-clone or "Ducklip" vixen.

Growing up I was #9 out of 10, with 8 sisters, so I really was able to absorb how girls and women talk and think, better perhaps than most men. For the most part, I think male novelists don't quite "get" female dialogue and thoughts right. They're just a bit "off key." Or worse, they write the females as sexy sidekicks, mere dialogue excuses to give a reason for Mr. Macho to talk out loud. Then Miss Sexy Sidekick disappears for a few chapters, unnoticed, while Mr. Macho goes off with his macho pals to beat up the evildoers. Ho-hum.

So all along I had in mind to write a gun novel that would appeal to women as much as to men. That's why Ranya is elemental to the plot. Men are easy to write for: Bang Bang = Good Book. I figured that if I could write a gun book that women liked as much as men, it would benefit greatly by increased word-of-mouth recommendations.

That's why I'm so pleased by your responses!

Matt

 

[Travis McGee]

Tamara: I guess compared to some ladies, Ranya is a lightweight!

Did you get to the golf course scene yet?

Matt

 

[Travis McGee]

Kobun: Are you from Norway? I visited Narvik and the Icefjord region in the 80s. I remember Norwegian guys driving us in their volvos across ice fields while passing around the "hembrent" home-brewed white lightning!

"Ten thousand Swedes
came out of the weeds,
chased by one Norwegian."

You have to love a country where the national sports are biathlon (shooting) and orienteering!

Matt

 

[tiberius]

Travis,

I really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

I have a question regarding the alias “Tennyson Champion†that used in place of, I assume, “Thompson Contenderâ€. I understand why you would use aliases for journalistic entities and such: “TOP News†(Fox), “Sledge Report†(Drudge), “Free Americans†(Free Republic); because you are basically putting words into the mouths of these sources. But I am neither author nor Lawyer so I can’t figure out why you changed the name of the pistol.

Just curious,

 

[Tamara]

Because Thompson Center may not appreciate the star of their product lineup being used to... um... well, being used for what it was used for in the novel.


(Besides, we all knew what it was, and we were all cheering when it got used, right? )

 

[tiberius]

Besides, we all knew what it was, and we were all cheering when it got used, right?

I know I was.

I assume that is indeed the reason, but when John wayne used a Winchester or a Colt to take out a bad guy, they were proud of the publicity I imagine.

 

[Travis McGee]

tiberius: Tamara has it exactly right. I didn't want the fine T/C company branded as a producer of "sniper pistols" for "urban terrorists." (I've been told but cannot verify that the USSS uses them for concealable counter-sniper weapons, in the event a detail is pinned down by distant fire. You must admit that a weapon capable of 400 yard shots that fits into a daypack or under a jacket could come in handy in certain scenarios.)

As far as changing other brand names, I kind of did it on a case by case basis. I created the "Sure-Flash" tactical light company for example, because I didn't want folks to feel like I was sucking up to them with free advertising. Tactical folks will know the name brand I meant, and non-shooters won't know either way.

Matt