Thursday, April 24, 2014

U: Undercover Agents

In elementary school, I narrowed down my career choices to archaeologist, surfer or secret agent. My first edition copy of Harriet the Spy still sits on my bookshelf. Since I used my "S" post for stress, I thought I'd post today about my obsession with secret agents and the world of espionage.

With all my book research, it's a wonder I don't have the NSA, FBI or the CIA knocking at (down) my door. In the sixth grade, I was given a book on Russian spies filled with stories of KGB agents living life in America during the Cold War. They smuggled information right under our noses. This triggered my curiosity about undercover ops and secret slash double agents. I am by no means an expert in this area, just a huge fan and avid researcher. Because I just finished editing my latest novel, an upper-MG mystery, I am now free to start writing a contemporary upper-MG (maybe YA?) spy thriller I've had stored up in my brain for a long time.

The main character in the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz is a fourteen-year-old teenage spy working for MI6 in London. Horowitz equips his young protagonist with memorable high-tech gadgets and with a keen knowledge of the workings of a spy. After all, he was raised by his uncle who was also an MI6 agent. The backstory runs deep and the adventures are non-stop.

Chris O'Donnell as Agent "G" Callen
I enjoy watching NCIS:LA (not to be confused with the other NCIS). Who doesn't love California, the beach and agent "G. Callen"? I'm hopeful that after five seasons we will find out what the "G" stands for.

Do you enjoy watching secret agent shows or writing about undercover ops? Does your book research tend to get you "noticed" by the government? What do you enjoy researching the most for your novels?



#atozchallenge #amwriting #secretagents #AlexRider #NCIS:LA
(Photos: courtesy of free images)


 

15 comments:

  1. I enjoy a good spy and espionage story!

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  2. I have a feeling I'll be "noticed" once I start posting about my WIP a bit more. A good amount of espionage is involved that'll likely make me look bad ;)

    I'm really interested in this Stormbreaker. I'm going to have to look into this one soon!!

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  3. I enjoy spy stories. Though I have the Anthony Horowitz book, I have not read it. Now I will put it on the top of my TBR pile.

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  4. When I was younger, I wanted to be an undercover agent. Watched too many Bond movies. :)

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  5. Spy stories are cool! Good luck writing yours. I'm sure it will be awesome!

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  6. I have been watching a lot of "missing people" shows because of the book I'm writing. A lot of it ends up being a spouse murdering another spouse. I would hope if the government were watching any of us, they'd say, "Oh...that person's a writer" and decide all bets are off with what we watch and search online!

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  7. Does Agents of Shield count? ;) I enjoy a good spy movie, but I don't typically read or write about them. Their line of work is fascinating, but my goodness, the amount of deception they have to live under... *shudders*

    True Heroes from A to Z

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  8. Spy novels and movies have a long history. It's amazing to me that they're still making 007 movies - I bet Ian Fleming would be flattered.

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  9. I saw the Alex Rider movie but have never tried the books. I should sometime.
    A great spy show is Spooks (also known as MI-5 in the US). There are 10 seasons but they constantly change up the cast of characters which keeps it fresh and exciting. And a spy series I LOVE is the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter (YA). The first one is called, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You. They're so good.

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  10. I love the Alex Rider series. It's so much fun. I love anything to do with spies and undercover agents.

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  11. I think my daughter would make a great spy. She has all the qualifications.
    But she has no interest in Harriet.

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  12. I wanted to be an archaeologist in elementary school, too! I wonder if that's common, or if we're odd? ;) I love undercover stuff, too. I've been a huge John Le Carre fan for years.

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  13. I hope I'm not noticed...

    I loved Burn Notice which was about a burned spy living in Miami. I do enjoy a good spy story.

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  14. I've watched NCIS, and yes, Burn Notice. Good choice for 'U'.

    Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2014, My Latest post

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  15. I loved those types of stories as a kid and imagined doing those things myself.

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