Real Spies, Real Lives

Duncan explains how Spy Flash II came about and what inspired the writing of each of the four stories in the collection. Duncan also reads from the first story in the collection, "Spymaster." Spy Flash II the eBook is on sale the month of May for only $1.99 at amazon.com/dp/B01N5D6GEP . NOTE: THERE WILL NOT BE AN EPISODE ON MAY 11 BECAUSE THE HOST IS OUT OF TOWN. The podcast will resume...

Duncan talks about the background of her series MEETING THE ENEMY , specifically the upcoming book 3, TREACHERY . Two of Duncan's novellas will be free today (4/27/23) and tomorrow (4/28/23) only, and you can find them here: THE YELLOW SCARF amazon.com/dp/B018R55P2W and MY NOBLE ENEMY amazon.com/dp/B00y40IN7E . If you preordered PROLOGUE TO TREACHERY , you'll find it in your Kindle Library...

A traitor is a traitor. Duncan offers her take on a U.S. Airman accused of stealing classified material and posting it on Discord, allegedly to impress people. And learn about an audiobook hack that allows Alexa to read an eBook to you. For the week of April 24 - 28, 2023, both of Duncan's novellas, The Yellow Scarf and My Noble Enemy , will be free to download (eBooks only). For her birthday...

Duncan explains the tagline for her novella My Noble Enemy -- "There are old spies and bold spies, but no old, bold spies." Also, some chat about The Man from U.N.C.L.E .'s various iterations. My Noble Enemy April eBook sale: amazon.com/dp/B00Y40IN7E . The Yellow Scarf April eBook sale: amazon.com/dp/B018R55P2W . Follow Duncan's Amazon Author Page : amazon.com/author/phyllisdunca...

P. A. Duncan talks about why her books are often on sale and how she uses "organic" marketing to increase her audience. The reader magnet/prequel, Prologue to Treachery , is now available for preorder at amazon.com/dp/BoBZZNFPZH . Special preorder price -- 99¢. On sale for 99¢ each, Duncan's 2015 novellas, The Yellow Scarf and My Noble Enemy . (The latter ties into Prologue to Treach...

Because it's tax season, the podcast is on hiatus this week and will be back on April 6, 2023. Catch you then!

Duncan talks about the importance of research when writing historical or any genre of fiction and gives some researching tips. Duncan is also conducting a workshop on researching historical fiction as part of the Author Transformation Alliance 2023 Virtual Spring Writing Retreat. For more information on that retreat, which starts at 0900 on Friday, March 24, go HERE . Here are other links mentione...

Duncan explores the ethics of espionage, i.e., is it a black and white issue, or are the ethics of espionage dependent upon perspective, what side you're on? And we have a reading from Duncan's debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season . Preorder Supreme Madness of Carnival Season (only two more days) at amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ . Get The Better Spy , Duncan's novel in stories, f...

P. A. Duncan talks in-depth about the plot, characters, and setting for her debut mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival season and reads an excerpt from it. You have 8 more days to preorder Supreme Madness at amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ . Don't forget this month's special eBook sale for The Better Spy at amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A . The Better Spy will be free to download 3/13 - 3/17 at the sa...

Duncan compares and contrasts the mystery and espionage genres and find some commonalities you might not realize. We conclude with a reading from Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season . The March book sale is for The Better Spy , Duncan's novel in stories. The eBook is only 99¢ all month. Find it at amazon.com/dp/B0112R8I8A . The preorder is still on for Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season . F...

After experimenting with AI for a podcast outline, author P.A. Duncan talks about why spies and espionage is so appealing to the average person. It's all about the fantasy for us Walter Mittys. Also, listen to a new excerpt from the upcoming Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season , Duncan's debut mystery novel as read by the author. Preorder Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season at amazon.com/dp/...

Some more observations on Chinese spy balloons and a discussion about how the author couldn't ignore the thread about racial relations in her novel set in a rural southern town. To preorder Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season , go to amazon.com/dp/B0BTTR97KQ . Don't forget this month's feature ebook sale - Spy Flash for only 99¢. Go to amazon.com/dp/B00AKEX062 .

Some thoughts on the Chinese spy satellite saga, a history lesson on balloons used in spying, and a reading from the soon-to-be-released mystery novel, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season. Buy link for the featured, February 99¢ sale of Spy Flash : amazon.com/dp/B00AKEX062 . The preorder period for Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season starts on 2/11/23, but here's the preorder link: amazon.co...

Duncan talks about some spy movies to brighten a dreary day and about her upcoming new book, a mystery, which is a genre change for her. Also explained is the connection of the new book, Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season , to an Edgar Allan Poe short story, "The Cask of Amontillado." To comment on this episode, go to the podcast's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/RealSpiesRealLives . This mont...

Duncan winds up her promotion of her first collection of espionage short stories, Blood Vengeance , with a bit of Balkan history and a reading of the award-winning title story. You have until January 31 to get the eBook of Blood Vengeance for only 99¢. Go to amazon.com/dp/B007WWBX14 and grab it now.

What happens when your parents are spies but your teacher insists they come to career day? The second story in Blood Vengeance is "Career Day," and Natalia Bukharin has a lot of questions for Mai and Alexei about what they really do. The answers, however, are not forthcoming. Blood Vengeance is FREE January 19 and 20 then after that 99¢ for the remainder of January. You can download it at amazon.c...

Time to give some love to P. A. Duncan's first collection of espionage short stories, Blood Vengeance . Published in 2012, these stories are the earliest ones featuring U.N. spies Mai Fisher and Alexei Bukharin, and they delve, of course, into history. Blood Vengeance is on sale for 99¢ for all this month. Go to amazon.com/dp/B007WWBX14 .

It's Season 4, Episode 1 of the podcast where we talk about writing, spies, and writing about spies. Today, though, we're talking more about writing and the writing life, especially when a spy writer decides to try writing a mystery. While you're waiting for Supreme Madness of the Carnival Season -- the mystery -- to be ready for preorder, check out P. A. Duncan's spy writing. All reasonably price...

It's going to be a busy couple of weeks to the end of the year for P. A. Duncan, what with family holiday "stuff" and a book launch on 12/24/22, so the podcast is on hiatus until 1/5/2023. In the meantime, you can still preorder MEETING THE ENEMY: REVENGE (book 2) and find MEETING THE ENEMY: TERROR (book 1) on sale at amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8 . Happy Holidays and a safe New Year to all!

When you're a writer focused on historical accuracy and you can't verify something through research, where can you turn when all else fails? A subject matter expert. The link for the Meeting the Enemy: REVENGE preorder, the sale for Meeting the Enemy: TERROR , and the print editions of REVENGE is amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8 . There for your holiday shopping.

How does a writer deal with making a secondary character the main character? What happens if there's not much action? A NaNoWriMo update and a free excerpt from the upcoming novel, REVENGE . To preorder REVENGE and to find book 1, TERROR , on sale, go to amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8 .

Duncan is still building up to the launch on December 24 of Meeting the Enemy Book 2: REVENGE . She explains how an incident in her work life found its way into her fiction (happens all the time) and discusses how National Novel Writing Month has helped create a publishing backlog for her. Finally, you can preorder REVENGE for a special preorder price (eBook only) and find Meeting the Enemy Book 1...

Duncan apologizes for doing her civic duty as an election officer and missing the recording of a podcast for last week. This week we learn about the origin of Meeting the Enemy: REVENGE , book 2 in the series, and Duncan reads a free excerpt. For the REVENGE ebook preorder and the ebook sale of book 1, TERROR , go to amazon.com/dp/B09ZHZXXF8 . If you're in the central Virginia area, specifically n...

The Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast is taking a break this week because P. A. Duncan's time has been taken up with election officer duties. So, don't forget. Go vote! Democracy depends on it. See you next week.

Some current Balkan history, or current events, and a final reading from Self-Inflicted Wounds . All 3 eBooks are FREE today and tomorrow only, so grab 'em while you can from amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP .