AKA: Why Women Make Good Spies
by Sonja Stone
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The KGB's Cold War lipstick fired a .177-caliber round
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IN THE PRESS...
“They may seem like characters from best-selling thriller novels, but these kick-ass women writers have very real lives....” –The Big Thrill
“An all-star lineup of premier thriller authors.... I'm a huge fan of their work.”
–The Real Book Spy
Lisa Black
● A forensic specialist, she is still catching criminals in FLA. Her novel, Perish, is a nominee for the Sue Grafton Memorial Award.
Chris Goff
● An intrepid world traveler, she was once trapped with her daughter in a dangerous enclave in the Middle East.
Karna Small Bodman
● While serving as Sr. Director of the National Security Council, Karna was the highest-ranking women on the White House staff. Her books regularly hit Amazon's #1 in Thrillers.
Jenny Milchman
● A former psychotherapist, her first (unpublished) novel of crime fiction was inspired when she was assigned a very frightening case involving a five year-old child.
KJ Howe
● Has raced camels in Jordan and ziplined in
a Costa Rican jungle. Her novel, The Freedom Broker, won the Thriller Award for Best Debut.
Gayle Lynds
● Recently appeared on CBS Sunday Morning about conspiracy theories. She shattered the glass ceiling at Bouchercon's all-boys poker games.
Carla Neggers
● She ran the Dingle (Ireland) half-marathon in epic wind and rain, while on deadline for Imposter's Lure. Author of multiple New York Times bestsellers.
Lynne Constantine
● Has explored coral reefs all over the world, sunken wrecks in the South Pacific, and fallen in love with angelfish in the Caribbean. She is two people: Liv Constantine writing with her sister, and L.C. Shaw writing solo.
Valerie Constantine
● Has worked with advance teams at the White House, planning presidential trips and travel and has visited over forty foreign countries.
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The KGB's Cold War lipstick fired a .177-caliber round
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MY goodness, Sonja, what a beautiful post! Thank you so much for recognizing us one and all, including you for trailblazing for YA spy stories starring ... gasp, girls! x
ReplyDeleteOh, Sonja, that was such a lovely post mentioning all of us "Rogue" members and our varied career moves while keeping the home fires burning as they say. You are so right to say that women make great spies and have contributed to the safety and security of our country. So glad women in general are being recognized for their many accomplishments all this month Finally, I know I've mentioned this before, but your story DESERT DARK was truly terrific! Can't wait to read the next one.
ReplyDeleteGayle and Karna, thank you so much! It truly is an honor to know you both!
ReplyDeleteLet's hear it for the women!!! Thank you for blazing the trails for those of us coming along after you!! May we never forgot the shoulders on which we stand to reach for our goals. Hugs to all of you!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm the last of six daughters, which means that when I was entering kindergarten my older sisters were in college...in the 1960s. So many of the life events and lessons I've watched them experience have taught me how to live, and I'm constantly aware that they were trailblazers for opportunities I was allowed to take for granted. I'm grateful to all of them--and to the men who understood these things were rights, not privileges.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I am the only child of an only child, but my grandmother and mother were incredible role models for me. My grandmother lost her husband when my mother was 10 and instantly life changed. No more being a stay-at-home mom, living in the big house. It was 1939 and my grandmother and mom had to move to a small apartment in town. My grandmother had to take a full time job to pay the bills. And, I never realized until much later, my mother actually had to share a bedroom with my grandmother until she left for college.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was never a great stay-at-home mom. She worked for Vogue magazine before I was born, and immediately upon my going to kindergarten, she took a job as the business manager of the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra. When I was 12, she took a job with KUSA Channel 9, at the time the ABC affiliate in Denver. As Director of Public Affairs, she was responsible for many of the flagship programs the station brought to Denver: 9 Health Fair, 9 Who Care, 9 Cares/Colorado Shares. She raised massive amounts of money for public service programs in Denver, had her own television show, and produced documentaries way back in the 1970s on the water issues the west is now facing. She became a corporate VP of Gannett Broadcasting Company, and she died young. Too young.
I have five daughters, and I can only hope I'm half the role model to my daughters that both my grandmother and mother were to me. Thank you, Sonja, for reminding me to appreciate those that paved the way.
Debi and Francine, I completely agree! The trailblazers before us lightened our load and lit our path.
ReplyDeleteChristine, what an amazing story. You come from a long line of remarkable women!
I came back from vacation to this lovely post. Thank you Sonja!
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