Ask James Rollins - Wednesday, April 23rd! discussion

Welcome to the group! James Rollins will be answering questions throughout the day on Wednesday, April 23rd in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for the author or just want to introduce yourself, feel free to do so in this thread.

Hi Steven,

"The Killswitch" is the first full length novel with the characters of Tucker and his dog Kane in. There is a novella "Tracker" which features them and they also feature in the Sigma Force novel "Bloodline". The book "Faceoff" is due out in June and James Rollins is paired with Steve Berry. Details are here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Face-Off-Davi...

Steven wrote: "Hey there all you Rollins fans!! So awesome that this guy is coming to Goodreads to answer our questions...very exciting indeed :O) I have enjoyed reading some of these questions and look forward t..."

Nikki wrote: "While I love the Sigma team, I also loved the stand alone books- that's how we got Kowalski after all. Are the stand alones a thing of the past?"

I definitely have plans for more stand-alone books. Some ideas just don’t fit the Sigma series, and it’s fun for me to play in a different sandbox.

Rob wrote: "I've pre-ordered 'Face-Off' and I'm waiting excitedly for it to drop for my kindle. My question is, now that Gray Pierce will meet Cotton Malone, who else (author and character) would you like to see enter that 'universe?"

I’d love to see Pendergast (from the Lincoln Child/Douglas Preston books) to be hired as a consultant for Sigma…or to have a run-in with Scot Horvath from Brad Thor’s books.

Roni wrote: "I love and own all your books! I'd like to understand the process you go through when combining the paranormal in your thriller novels."

Thanks! For me, the key is to ground the story in the real world, then take the reader step by step into the shadowy fringes of history, science, or the paranormal. The goal is to make that transition so smoothly that a reader is unaware they’re not in strange lands.

Alicia wrote: "Hello Mr. Rollins, I'm probably 1 of your #1 fans. Some of my absolute favorite books of yours were stand alone novels, and I'm wondering if we can expect to see anymore in the future?"

Yep. I have five solid plots/ideas for stand-alone stories. I’m biting at the bit to write them.

Alicia wrote: "Hello again! I've got another question. You were a veterinarian, do you ever miss it? Going along that same thread of questioning, I noticed in a lot of your earlier books you seemed to put that animal knowledge to great use. Can we expect more stories in the future that include amazing animal specimens, with amazing embellishments included? I really enjoyed the added threat those giant predators posed. Thanks!!"

I still do volunteer work with my veterinary degree (free spay/neutering at my local shelter), and I’ll never give it up completely. Likewise, I’ll always be exploring the role of animals in books, like Kane in The Kill Switch. As to incredible specimens, you don’t have long to wait. This summer’s big Sigma book (The Sixth Extinction) is chock full of strange creatures and amazing new environmental vistas.

Alicia wrote: "Hi, I have another question. I see your endorsements on many books these days. You're completely original, but I'm curious, out of the books people have asked you to put your stamp of approval on which have you enjoyed the most and why?"

Wow, that’s a tough one. One of my first reviews was for Steve Berry’s first book, The Amber Room. It was great to discover a wonderful new debut author…and someone who has become a great friend over the years (but don’t tell him I said that). More recently, I also really enjoyed The Breach by Patrick Lee. Another debut that blew me away.

Alicia wrote: "Since your writing career skyrocketed, how has your life changed? For better and for worse (if there is a worse)?"

I can’t think of any negatives . One of the biggest positives is that I’ve got a chance to meet and talk with some of my heroes in the literary world: Anne Rice, Clive Cussler, etc. Not saying I wasn’t tongue-tied when I was talking to them…but it was still a thrill.

Alicia wrote: "Where is your favorite place to write your books?"

Since I started writing in my veterinary office during my lunch hour, I learned to write with cats meowing, dogs barking, and telephones ringing. So I’m not that particular where I write, but I do love to write next to a fireplace (even if that means typing in a hotel lobby).

Alicia wrote: "Was it a hard switch going from the Sigma series to The Blood Gospel books? Thanks!"

It’s definitely a different writing gear, but it was less “hard” as it was a “challenge.” As a writer, it’s always fun to push the envelope or stretch those literary muscles in unusual ways.

Kira wrote: "How are you introduced to the topics about which you write in the Sigma Force series? Do you read for pleasure and stumble across an idea, or are you introduced via another party, or do you, perhaps, actively seek out various elements to weave together?"

All of the above. I’ve always got my antenna up for the bit of history that ends in a question mark or a bit of science that makes me go “What if?” And I’ve stumbled upon those “seeds” for a novel from magazines, from documentaries on T.V, from articles on esoteric websites, and even from readers who’ve pointed me in different directions.

Lisa wrote: "I have read and loved all your "James Clemens" books and was wondering if you have anything planned in the fantasy department. My daughter (when she was 10) drew the book cover of Wit'ch Fire which of course made me love that series more. ;)"

I’d love to see that cover! As to more, yep. I have entire outline for another series set in Alasea, and the final books of the Godslayer series is in the works.

Track wrote: "As a retired librarian, I am always curious as to how much research into original source documents are used when working on the framework for a new novel. Do you have a loose 'tree' and then begin to fill in the details with the sources or is it just a matter of being well versed enough to 'wing it' or is there a lot of specific research that goes into the meat and potatoes of your book? I've enjoyed all of your works that I have read , and look forward to reading many more for years to come!"

Research is one of my favorite parts of building a story. In fact, I only allow myself to research for 90 days, then on the 91st day I have to put words on paper. As to sources, I do my best to hunt down the truth, even it means interviewing a scientist, calling Fort Detrick for information, or traveling to make sure my details are correct.

Carole wrote: "I love all your books, But loved your first ones, because they left you with the feeling , could this really happen when can we hope to see some more of these?"

Thanks, I try my best to craft stories that blur fact and fiction. It’s why I started adding a section at the end of my books titled “What’s True and What’s Not,” so readers can follow up on any threads from a novel that interest them.

Beth wrote: "Hi Mr. Rollins, I just read your book Tracker: A Short Story Exclusive and I loved it. I'm right now reading also SIGMA Force novel The Eye Of God and what I've read so far I've loved ,and can't read more of it. My first ever book of your was Subterranean which my dad got me and after that I to read the rest of your books. Anyway I've got 3 questions for you and here they are.1st question is I know that in your books (DARPA)stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, so can you tell me what {SIGMA} stands for and how you came up with that part of the DAPRA .2nd question goes to Tracker will he and his beloved dog Kane become an member of SIGMA Force or will they only come when they need help and will there be more stores about them. And my last question is on your book with Rebecca Cantrell how did you come up with the Sanuguists and the others you talk about in your book the Blood Gospel and will there be a readers guide to that series like you did for the SIGMA series. Anyway that's all I wanted to know and to tell you that I can't wait to read more of your SIGMA series and the rest of the books that go with the The Order OF The Sanguines Series as well as Tracker and Kane's next book and to tell you also to keep up the great work."

Yikes, you’ve raised some good questions. Let’s have at it:

(1) “Sigma” isn’t actually an acronym (like DARPA). The name comes from the mathematical meaning of the Greek letter “sigma,” which basically represents “the sum of all.” Sigma recruits soldiers and retrains them in various scientific disciplines (the joining of “brain and brawn”). Their credo is to combine the best of body and mind to deal with global threats.

(2) I love writing Kane, so there will definitely be more adventures. Next up for Tucker and Kane is the novel, The Kill Switch, where Painter Crowe recruits the pair for a solo mission…but nothing quite goes as planned.

(3) The idea for the Sanguines series came about from a simple concept: what if vampires existed during the time of Christ, how might have Christ dealt with these damned souls, and how might that have changed the Catholic Church, and what would that look like today?

Stephanie wrote: "Hello Mr. Rollins, My name is Stephanie Lyle and I love your books. I believe it was Sandstorm that I read first and was unable to put it down from the first page to the last. I have always loved books that are adventures with a great deal of real life possibility. I love the new books that you are writing and read the Sigma books all the time. The sign of a great author is when their readers continually re-read all the books written over and over. My questions to you are: Do you have any suggestions for a new writer? How do you come up with ideas and enough information and background to fill an entire book? Are we going to see any new lines for series? Thank Mr. Rollins for responding to all our questions since this is bound to very overwhelming for you. – Stephanie"

Hi Stephanie, I could write volumes about tips on writing. My best is advice is an old one: Write everyday. Practice makes perfect. But I would definitely add a caveat: Read every night. I had no formal training in writing myself. Where I learned to polish my prose was by practicing writing everyday and reading all the time. Whatever difficulty I had during my writing day, I found a solution in the book I read at night. So by writing every day and writing every night, my own prose grew stronger over time. As to building a plot, that’s a little trickier to quickly summarize. It involves coming up with an exciting “What if?” then figuring out which characters are going to tell the story, then doing the research, then committing to writing pages on a regular basis.

Martin wrote: "I just read TRACKER, and I think Tucker and Kane will be a great addition to Sigma Force. But I have to admit, as an animal lover, Kane was my favorite character. You wrote part of the story from Kane's viewpoint - very unusual. Do you foresee writing more of Tucker and Kane adventures from the dog's point of view? If so, how do you get into that point of view?"

Tucker and Kane will be appearing in their first solo novel (The Kill Switch) this May. But that’s not the last you’ll see of this duo. As to Kane, I love him, too. I love writing from his POV, and I did my best to make it as authentic as possible, drawing on my veterinary background and from interviewing soldiers about their dogs. I didn’t want to create a Disney version of a military war dog, but to make the experience as real as possible, to take my readers and put them into the paws of this unique character and experience the world through a dog’s eyes.

Bob wrote: "I have two questions for James:

Do you start out with an outline of your entire story or do you only have a general idea of where the book is headed and then follow wherever the muse takes you?

Also, what elements do you feel are absolutely necessary to make a compelling read?"

I do work from an outline, but it’s not greatly detailed. I know the beginning and end very well, and I know several of the stepping stones between, but I don’t necessarily know how A connects to B connects to C. I prefer to discover that while writing. As to what elements are absolutely necessary: every scene should have some manner of conflict (physical or emotional) and you need characters that readers care about and will root for. If you can accomplish those two elements, any story will shine. 

Tom wrote: "Hi James, any chance we'll see Tucker and Kane in another Sigma Force novel? Loved those two characters in Bloodline."

Yep, they’ll be in their first solo adventure (The Kill Switch) in May. I love that duo too much to leave them sidelined.

Peggy wrote: "Hi Mr. Rollins! I was wondering how you decide who to collaborate with when you write? Does an author approach you with an idea or do you come up with the idea and seek out another author who you feel can enhance the story? Thanks for taking the time to answer all of these questions!"

I’d love to see the books on the big screen (or even the small one, as I think the books could make for a great ongoing series). As to worries about what Hollywood might do with them, I’d just have to keep my fingers crossed. And yes, a majority of my books have been optioned for film, but alas that’s as far as things have progressed.

Melanie wrote: "Hi Mr. Rollins! I was wondering how you decide who to collaborate with when you write? Does an author approach you with an idea or do you come up with the idea and seek out another author who you feel can enhance the story? Thanks for taking the time to answer all of these questions!"

I’ve only collaborated with two authors: Rebecca and Grant. I’ve known them both for many years, and they were friends before collaborators. So when I came up with these ideas for two sprawling big series, I knew I needed help and that their unique talents would pair up perfectly with both the story and my own writing.

Alicia wrote: "I have a question about your book tours. Sadly, I never hear about you coming to Wisconsin. I live in Green Bay but would happily drive 2 hours to Milwaukee or 3 hours to Nadison should you choose to visit our humble state. How do you choose where the tours will be and do you think you can try to make a stop in WI? Cheese, beer and brats await you!! "

You had me at brats! Actually I have signed both in Milwaukee and Madison in the past, and I’m sure I’ll get there again. As to how cities get picked, it’s all done by the publishing house. They try to vary the locations between tours.

Arabella wrote: "What made you decide on Tucker Wayne for this novel?"

The duo of Tucker and his military war dog Kane came about because of a USO Tour. About three winters ago, I was invited by the USO to tour bases in Kuwait and Iraq. It was a thrilling and rewarding experience, but I also got a chance to see handlers and the dogs working the field. After talking to several of the soldiers and learning about the deep bond between handlers and their dogs, I knew I wanted to write about them.

Dave wrote: "Hi, I'm really curious as to how you go about planning your books? When you started writing Sandstorm did you plan for this to be the first book in a series? If so, do you work out a plan for the characters in advance over several books or do you let the writing from each book dictate the direction for the series? Thanks for taking the time to read all of our questions, and thanks for all the great books! – Dave"

Hey Dave, thanks for the questions. Actually I didn’t know Sandstorm was going to give birth to the Sigma series. In that book, I introduced this secretive agency tied to DARPA and a wily field operative named Painter Crowe. After finishing that book, I thought “I wonder what other trouble Sigma can get into.” And the rest is history. As to the arc of characters’ lives, some I plot out in advance; others surprise me. But ultimately nothing is set in stone.

Lee wrote: "SIGMA force is easily one of my favourites series of books right now and while I'm enjoying Eye of God so far I was really disappointed when I found Tucker and Kane weren't in it so I'm glad that they are getting their own book as I especially love the parts from Kane's viewpoint as it's such a vivid and different persepective to experience certain scenes.


• Two questions 1) How has your experience of writing novels changed when you started working with a co-writer? I've read before that as authors feel the need to release books sooner and sooner when they start to work with someone else often all they do is give them an outline of the story and say fill in the gaps. How much influence do your co-writers have on the story and the characters? 2) Kowalski, I've always struggled with his character as often he seems little more than background noise with his only purpose to say the odd bad joke or dumb soldier trope of not understanding anything and just wanting to blow stuff up. Which also seems to be the only thing he contributes to the team most of the time. Is there any chance that you could either drop him from the team entirely or spend more time with his character? I feel that Kat and Monk still get more time and development even though they left the core team. It would be nice to have some time where we see the human side to Kowalski, his thoughts and motivations, just anything more than hey guys I'm carrying this explosive. Thanks."

Thanks! Two questions, two answers:
• (1) In my case, the co-writing process is actually an intense and intimate process. From plot, through writing, through editing, it’s a joint effort. Pages are exchanged weekly, along with long talks via Skype, and lots of back-and-forth to discover the best path to take and how best to tell it. These books are true collaborations in every sense of the word. For me, it’s the only way to make it seamless. I love sharing the story that Rebecca once told me: She was reading a section of The Blood Gospel aloud to her husband, and he stopped her to ask, “Who wrote that last paragraph?” She looked down at it and said, “Actually I don’t know.” That’s how blurred that line becomes during our collaborations.
• (2) Ah, Kowalski. I loved him so much when he appeared in Ice Hunt, that I knew I’d have to eventually recruit him into Sigma. He’s much more complicated than we’ve seen so far, with depths yet to explore. There’s indeed a big story coming soon where Kowalski will shine to his fullest.

Sam wrote: Hello mr Rollins! While I'm exited for reading another book with Tucker&Kain, I cannot pass this opportunity to ask, as some other people have mentioned above, can we see more of Kowalski in the next sigma books? I really feel there's a lot of potential to his character and really wish to see him being more developed like Monk, Painter and the rest of the team. Because, for once he is something different than the usual action/adventure/thriller protagonist we are so used to by now in all books. He is not perfect, nor as cutting as them, but for me that makes him even more alluring and a character you can sympathize with. That was my question. Thank you for your time!"

Yep, Kowalski’s big book is coming up. There’s much more to the big guy than anyone’s seen to date.

Dhaibat wrote: "In the Sigma Force novels where do you think Gray and Seichan's relationship will lead? He obviously still has strong feelings for Rachel but is drawn towards Seichan at the same time! Thank you for your time."

Ah, you’ve not read Eye of God yet. All of that gets resolved—but I’m not going to say a word about it or ruin some major moments.

Sherry wrote: "Will there be another Godslayer book? I did not discover these books until recently and wondered if there were others besides Shadowfall and Hinterland."

Yep. There will in fact be 3 more books in that series.

Danielle wrote: "Hi mr Rollins. Will there be another Jake Ransom book? If so, when can we expect to see it? I really like the series and am hoping for another. Would you consider a movie for one of your books? What relationship do you rather - GrayxRachel, or GrayxSeichan? (Before Rachel died)"

Yep, there will be more Jake Ransom, but the current plan if for me to write the entire 5-book series, then release the new books every six months.

Tim wrote: "Do you know the course your stories will take when you start writing or do you simply start and see where the story will lead you?"

I definitely know the ending of each book, often even the very last line. And I know the beginning just as well. The middle has a few roadmarkers, but it’s a hazier path.

Ambre wrote: "Hi Mr Rollins, I have thoroughly enjoyed every book of yours I have read, though I will admit as primarily a lover of fantasy stories, that I will always have a preference for the Wit'ch books. Will there be any more James Clemens novels? Also I would love to know what inspired you to write the Sigma novels - something you read, saw, heard, experienced?"

Yes, there will be more books by that writer James Clemens. I encourage you to check out the new website: JamesClemens.com. As to the origin of Sigma, it was a happy accident. Painter Crowe and Sigma appeared in the novel Sandstorm as ancillary characters, but I loved them so much and I knew there were so many stories to tell about them, that Sigma, the series, was born. 

David wrote: "Hi James, We get attached to characters and having them die, or move away from a series is difficult for both writer and reader. so,how hard was it to kill off Rachel?"

So much for that big spoiler

And yes, it’s hard to write the death of a character that I’ve lived with on often a daily basis for many years. It’s like losing a friend. I can’t say that I didn’t get choked up at the loss of several characters. 

Dean wrote: "How does the co-author process work? Does one write while the other interjects or do you take turns writing? Love your collaboration with Rebecca and CANNOT wait for the next Jake book! I'm a kid ..."

I love Jake, too. I grew up reading books about smart kids getting into all manner of huge adventures and wanted to add to that canon. As to cowriting, it’s a complicated and exciting process. It involves exchanging pages weekly, long talks on Skype, and lots of back-and-forth. We divided the books by picking scenes that played to our respective strengths, writing those, exchanging them, rewriting each other or making suggestions. The goal was to create a seamless whole, to make it hard to tell where one writer’s work begins and another ends.

Randy wrote: "Hi James, I was wondering if there is a character you prefer to write about or one you find easier to write? Is there a character you find difficulty writing?"

I love writing the point of view of Kane, the military war dog. It was a challenging perspective to research and get as “right” as I could. But in general, it’s also fun to write scenes from the villain’s point of view. I’m not sure what that says about me.

Sunny wrote: "How does collaborative writing work best, between you and Grant? For example, who writes what, and how do you blend it all together? Do you ever flip a coin to settle a decision between you two?"

We first hash out a detailed outline, then decide who will tackle which parts. Grant has a military background, so scenes that lean heavily on Tucker, a former Army Ranger, he took the lead. If it involved Kane and the scientific aspects of the novel, I’d take the lead. Then we would exchange papers and edit each other, then hand it back. Sometimes this exchange would occur multiple times until a scene was just right.

Kat wrote: "I love all your books that I've read, I think they are wonderfully written, and very original.

Which of your books did you enjoy writing the most? What bit of history was the most fun to research?"

One of the novels I had the most fun writing was Amazonia (mostly because of the weird animals), but The Sixth Extinction is vying for that position…and for the very same reason. Probably the history that I loved exploring the most was for The Devil Colony.

Lisa P wrote: "Hi James, I've read and enjoyed all of your books and am really looking forward to The Kill Switch. My question is what kind of research did you do for Tucker and Kane? Did you get to meet and work with any military dogs during this process? Thanks!"

The creation of those characters came during a USO tour to Iraq and Kuwait, where I got to see handlers and their dogs in the field. As a veterinarian, how could I not talk to them? Also on that same tour, I ran into one of my vet school classmates, who was working as an Army veterinarian. He was a great resource. I also interviewed several former handlers in preparation for writing this novel.

Nicole wrote: "Hi James. I love your books-- especially the Sigma series. I have a couple of questions:

- How long did it take to get your first book published?
- How much research do you do for your books?
-How detailed are your outlines?

Thank you so much for doing this!! Nicole"

The first novel I wrote was Subterranean. I was lucky enough to see that novel picked up by a publisher, but not before 49 different agents rejected that same book. It was the 50th agent who saw something in that book and agreed to represent it. But prior to writing Subterranean, I wrote short stories for four years without a single sale. So it was a tough haul to publication. As to research, I do an intense 90 days of research, then begin writing. But some of that 90 days is also when I work out a rough outline of the story. I know the beginning and ending very well and a few roadmarkers in between, but that’s about it.

Ida wrote: "Hi James. My boyfriend is usually a slow reader, but he devours your books in a matter of days. As an aspiring author, I dream that one day my writing will have the same effect on people. My questions are:

1) Your books are so fast paced. Is this a result of ruthless cutting during the editing process to tighten up the plot, or does it come naturally to you as you write your first drafts?

2) Are there any ideas or concepts you found really interesting that never made their way into a published novel?

3) In the FAQ on your website you say that Hollywood optioned for turning your novels into films, but nothing went into production. Why was that? Are you holding back, or is at all on their end? I would love to experience your stories on screen as well as on paper - and I know I'm not the only one!

4) Do you have any inspirational words or advice for aspiring authors?

And lastly; thank you for hours of entertainment and inspiration! I have only just begun dipping into your bibliography, and I cannot wait to experience the rest of your books. Thanks, Ida"

Hi Ida!

(1) Pacing is something that’s a combination of having an ear for it and editing to make it tighter and sharper. Sometimes a scene will come out just the way I want it to on the first draft, but that’s rare. Most of the fine-tuning comes during the rewrite.

(2) As to ideas, I have a box full of bits of unexplained history or cutting edge science. Most will never become stories, but I sift through and add to that box regularly, dreaming up storylines. Some dry up and blow away; some get stuck in my head to the point where I can’t let them go and have to write that story.

(3) In regards to Hollywood, options, and projects getting greenlit or dying, it has nothing to do with me. I’d love to see Sigma on the big or small screen, but that’s dependent entirely on Hollywood.

(4) The best advice I could give for aspiring authors is to write everyday, but read every night. I’ve had no formal training in writing. I learned simply by dabbling with writing during the day and reading at night. A good book (or a bad one, for that matter) is the best teacher.

Steven wrote: "Hey there all you Rollins fans!! So awesome that this guy is coming to Goodreads to answer our questions...very exciting indeed :O) I have enjoyed reading some of these questions and look forward to seeing them answered since a lot of them were things I was wondering myself. The only thing at the moment I can think to ask is something maybe one of the fans here can answer :o) This new title he is promoting sounds like it must have a part one or something, what are some other titles with this character in it? Also, Rollins looks like he has a short story coming out in a book in June called Face Off :O) I am wondering which character he is going to have "face off" with a character from another author's series? As for stand alone titles, I too would like to read more of these. Amazonia and Ice Hunt were both fantastic."

Tucker and Kane first appeared in a short story named “Tracker.” Then they were recruited for an adventure with the Sigma crew in Bloodline. But their first solo adventure (and the perfect place to meet them for the first time) is The Kill Swith, which comes out in May.

As to FaceOff, that’s the name of an anthology, where various authors’ characters are pitted against each other. In my case, Commander Gray Pierce runs afoul of Cotton Malone (the main character from Steve Berry’s series). It’s a fun jungle adventure.

Lina wrote: "Dear James, I love the way you interweave fact and folklore into your tales and I adore the paranormal elements. When creating/writing a new story which comes first in your plotting the mystery element or the lore?"

Stories have risen from both sides of that coin. I wish I had a set method for coming up with a storyline, but sometimes it comes from the history, the science, the place, or some cool concept. It varies every time.

Hi James,
As with all books, magically characters can be brought back from the dead. Bring back Rachel!! Her & Gray were meant to be (unless you already did). I also wondered about the real last name thing, though now it just makes more sense to stick with Rollins.

Laura-gaga wrote: "Hi Jim :-)

I'm a member on your Facebook page too and love all of your books, Black Order is probably my fave so far :-)
How do you go about writing your books?

Do you have a certain routine or is it a case of an idea sparking and you write little but often or do you just sit and let it all tumble out?

I write a bit but mine is very ad hoc, I tend to record ideas for characters and plots; etc and when I have a definite idea it all tumbles out at once and at times like that I can write for hours. Laura :-)"

Hi Laura! The method for coming up with a story is different every time, but I’m always basically looking for an intriguing bit of history and some cutting edge of science. Then I do 90 days of research on the various subject matters to be raised or explored in the book. Then I begin writing. My method then becomes fairly predictable. I write 5-7 pages a day (five out of seven days a week) until the book is done. Then there’s about a month of polishing and editing.

Ferry wrote: "Hi Mr. Rollins, I'm Ferry from Indonesia. I love your works, especially Sigma Force series. I'm really want to collect all your book, but the problem is, here, in Indonesia, there are only 3 of your book (Map of Bones, Black Order, and The Doomsday Key) already published into Indonesian language. I'd love to collect in English series too but still none in Indonesia. I hope you can figure this out very soon Mr. Rollins ;) Another thing that I'm really curious and super exciting, about Sigma Force into Big Screen! I'm IMDb active member and look at this page http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682183/c..., it said that still "In Development". When Mr. Rollins? I think I can't wait forever :D"

The Sigma series was indeed optioned for film (as have most of my other novels at one time or another), but nothing’s been officially greenlit. Some projects have gotten close—only to fade away. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed. Once a book is optioned, it’s out of my hands.


As to the books in Indonesia, again I don’t have any control on which books get published out there. I’d love to see the entire series translated and published in as many countries as possible.

Dave wrote: "Hello Mr. Rollins, I love your books, and your writing has influenced me. If you think back to your beginning as an author, when did you feel you had arrived and could leave your "day job" for writing? Thank you Cheers, Dave"

Hey Dave, there was no bigger thrill than walking into a bookstore and seeing your novel on a shelf. That milestone alone was enough to make it feel like I’d “arrived.” As to leaving the day job, that was a slower process. I had about five books on the shelf when I finally began to pull back a bit from my veterinary career. I first sold my clinic, but stayed employed full-time with the new owners, then I went to part-time, then just weekends—until finally I stepped away and now just do volunteer work with my veterinary degree.

Ronnie wrote: "Dear James, I live in Peru which is where Excavation takes place. Any chance of Peru appearing in any future novels? Thanks :)"

I’m sure Sigma will be visiting Peru. There are too many great places and mysteries in your beautiful country. 

Alan wrote: "Hi, Just wondering if there was a particular inspiration for Tucker and Kane. I remember you publishing quite a few service dog photos on facebook and pinterest prior to Tracker coming out, and was wondering whether there was something / someone specific that inspired the characters. Many thanks, Alan"

Hey Alan, that duo came about after visiting Iraq and Kuwait three years ago as part of a USO tour. I saw the handlers and dogs in the field, talked with the soldiers, and learned about the close bond between a dog and their handler. They even have a phrase about that closeness: “It runs down the lead.” Which means over time the emotions of a dog and a handler flow up and down the leash between them until they can read each other without saying a word or signaling a command. I knew I wanted to try to capture that close pairing into print.

Ellen wrote: "Hi Mr Rollins.. I've really enjoyed all your different situations and heros.. but I agree with many of the group that Kane is becoming my favorite.. please don't let anything bad happen to him! Again, like others, I look forward to a melding of the heros and organizations.. keep up the entertaining and wonderful work! Ellen"

Thanks! Kane is close to my heart, too.

Dixie wrote: "Hi all. Mr Rollins, my questions is simple.(I hope) when you are not writing, what books do you read for pleasure? Do you read thrillers when you are writing them? Or something entirely different? And how long in between books do you take time out? Like a week vacation from writing? or a month? I love all your books and think it is wonderful you taking time out of your day to do this. Appreciate it more than you know. Dixie "

I seldom take a big break, maybe a week at best. Even when I’m on a book tour, I’m usually writing in my hotel room at night. But one of my great pleasures is still reading. And I still read a wide gamut of genres. I’m always looking for a new exciting debut author. And I have a long list of must-read authors. And I’m not particularly worried about what genre I’m reading when I’m writing. I’m happy to be reading a thriller when writing a thriller.