Allan Cole creates first thriller,
‘Dying Good,’ in Boca Raton
By Skip Sheffield
Boca Raton News Staff Writer
Is America really ready for another rascally, resourceful hero from Florida?
Author Allan Cole has created just such a character for his first thriller novel, “Dying Good.” Addison Mizner Flagler Titus Broward MacGregor – just call him “Mac” for short – is related to just about everyone in Florida, good and bad, and he calls Boca Raton home.
Mac lives in a rambling, three-story beach house with three decks near Spanish River Park. Other than the coveted oceanfront property, Mac is not a man of wealth of station, but he has power and influence far beyond his scruffy appearance, thanks to the many rich and powerful friends he has helped out of a jam.
Mac is a kind of modern day knight-errant, and when he learns of a nefarious scheme to kidnap 50 children and sell their body parts to the highest bidder, he springs into action with all his resources.
“Dying Good” begins with the brutal murder of one such victim at the hands of a vicious Florida cracker and his low-rent wife.
Tampa and Bonita are just minions of higher-placed and more powerful villains who stop at nothing to make a buck. In short, “Dying Good” is just an exaggeration of real life in Florida for the past 150 years or so.
Allan Cole should know. His aunt and uncle live in Boca Raton and he has lived in various parts of Florida a number of times in his 62 years.
While Mac is a piece of work, Allan Cole the man is probably more fascinating than any of the characters he’s created. He’s working on that too, with (an autobiographical) story set in Cyprus, where he spent some formative years as a child.
Cole is the son of a “spook:” a CIA agent who was recruited out of the U.S. Navy submarine service (shortly after) World War II.
“Submarine service guys made good spooks and spies,” said Cole in a recent interview at the Boca Raton News. “They were already used to being stealthy and sneaky and their nerves had been tested. I grew up in Cyprus, the Middle East, Europe, the Far East: anywhere dad’s assignments took him. It was great fun.”
Cole attended an incredible 32 schools, (most before) he’d graduated from high school. After his father’s retirement he ended up in Manhattan Beach, California where he met Chris Bunch, brother of his wife to be and later his writing partner.
“I was a journalist for 14 years, working at newspapers in California,” he recounts. “I loved the work and I found the (deadline) adrenaline rush addictive. I flattered myself by saying Hemingway started the same way. But I knew at some point I had to get serious about writing fiction.”
Cole teamed with Bunch in 1976 and (they) began writing prospective stories 35 hours week in their spare time. They tired suspense and thrillers, but learned there was a more steady market in science fiction. Thus was born “Sten,” their first novel, sold in 1979.
In that same (month) lightning struck again and Cole and Bunch sold a script to the “Quincy” television series, thanks to some help from Jack Klugman. (At that point) Cole vowed to become a fulltime (novelist and scriptwriter) but it cost him his first marriage with three children.
The Cole-Bunch partnership flourished with the eight-book Sten science fiction series, (The Far Kingdoms) series and an acclaimed Vietnam novel, “A Reckoning For Kings.” (Cole’s other works include) the “Tales Of The Timuras,” and the non-fiction “A Cop’s Life,” (which he wrote with his uncle, Thomas Grubb about Mr. Grubb’s thirty-year career on the Philadelphia police force.)
And he even teamed up with Russian author, Nick Perumov, on (the SF-Fantasy adventure) “The Lords Of Terror.”
Cole and his second wife, Kathryn, (to whom “Dying Good” is dedicated) moved from Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico to Boca Raton in late 1999. Cole no longer writes in partnership with Bunch, and though he has survived (several) heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery, he finds plenty to inspire him in Boca Raton.
“I was in the (Boca Raton) library, and I found they had a whole section devoted to the scoundrels of Florida,” he relates. “One day my wife and I were invited to Royal Palm Polo, and who was playing, but Tommy Lee Jones. Florida is filled with fascinating characters and it’s not that hared to spin off and create someone like Mac.”
Cole had already begun another Mac adventure and is putting finishing touches on his Cyprus book. “Dying Good” retails for $16.95 in trade paperback.
Note from Allan: You can buy the book online from Amazon.com.
Or, if you prefer, you can buy it directly from publisher at discount by calling 301-695-1707.
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Email to Allan can be sent to sten3001@aol.com |
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| Copyright © 1995 - 2008 Allan Cole . All rights reserved worldwide. | ||
Last revised: Sunday, January 01, 2006 .