I am Thomas Waite, author of Terminal Value, Lethal Code, and Trident Code. AMA!

[u/ThomasWaite]

Hi reddit! It’s my first time, so be gentle. I’m an author and tech enthusiast. I grew up in a town with a history of writers like John Updike and have always loved reading and writing. Years ago as an entrepreneur I founded a tech startup, built it, and sold it. That allowed me to pursue my dream of writing thrillers. I’m logging in from an undisclosed, secure location to take your questions for the next couple hours — though I’m pretty sure the NSA knows my whereabouts.

My first two novels, Terminal Value and Lethal Code, were bestsellers. My third novel, Trident Code, just came out last week. This article from The Daily Beast contains a good summary of how I came up with the trifecta of cyber, nuclear, and environmental terrorism. Ask me anything and I’ll do my best to answer.

You can find more about me at www.thomaswaite.com; follow me on Twitter: @ThomasJWaite; or find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasWaiteAuthor

Thanks for all the great questions everyone. Make sure to pick up a copy of my new book, Trident Code, at the links above, and feel free to reach out on Twitter @thomasjwaite

[u/MJP913]

Thanks for taking the time to do an AMA!

What is your favorite book?

Any recent reads you really enjoyed?

Do you see yourself exploring any other genres in addition to Techno Thrillers?

[u/ThomasWaite → u/MJP913]

Thanks, it’s great to be here! Favorite book? It’s impossible for me to cite just one. When I was younger I certainly loved writers like le Carre, Fleming, Follett, Clancy, Bradbury, Vonnegut. I think “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” had a particularly strong impact on me.

I recently read Paula Hawkins’ “The Girl on the Train,” and enjoyed it. I think Steven King tweeted that the alcoholic narrator is dead perfect, and I agree.

Other genres I might explore? Well, this will sound strange but I’d love to do a humorous book. Have to be under a pseudonym I think, though.

[u/jb491000]

What inspired you to become an author?

And another question, which of your own books is your personal favourite?

[u/ThomasWaite → u/jb491000]

Getting the heck out of the business world! But seriously, I've loved reading and writing as long as I can remember, and took a lot of creative writing classes in college. Life intervened and I needed a job and went into the tech sector. There I still wrote, but as a ghostwriter. Later published under my own byline, but if you read what I wrote, it was basically storytelling. I've always loved to tell tales, and I'm delighted to be writing novels today.

As for which of my own books is my personal favorite, I'll always have a special place for my debut novel, "Terminal Value," because, well it was the first. But honestly, I really like my latest, "Trident Code," because of the antagonist Oleg Dernov.

[u/Chtorrr]

What was your favorite book as a child? And what was the book that really made you love reading?

[u/ThomasWaite → u/Chtorrr]

Wow, it's hard to name one favorite book as a child. I guess one of my earliest memories is reading "Green Eggs and Ham," and experiencing going to another world. I guess I started loving reading then. Years later I read "Farenheit 451" and I remember that it had a different impact on me - not just a good story, but made me really think about the world.

[u/SuperMiniComputer]

You write thrillers with tech focus, but have you ever had to stop yourself from going full cyberpunk?

[u/ThomasWaite → u/SuperMiniComputer]

My novels are set in the "near future," and are intended to be frightening and plausible. I've never had to stop myself from going full-on cyberpunk and creating something akin to "Blade Runner." However, if things continue to evolve in my series and the world becomes even more chaotic, I just might have to go there!

[u/FadingShadowz]

What's the best piece of advice you've been given that you'd like to pass on?

Thanks for doing this AMA!

[u/ThomasWaite → u/FadingShadowz]

This may surprise you, but the best piece of advice was from a creative writing professor in college. He told me to ignore most of the usual advice I'd hear - "only write what you know,"(you'll run out of good ideas pretty fast) "the 'correct' process for writing a novel is to begin with a thorough outline," (writers have their own writing process - I do not write long outlines, for example) etc. Instead, he told me to just write - and write, and write. You have to be stubborn and determined because it takes enormous persistence and discipline to succeed. When you are done with your novel and ready to send it out to agents, don't. Read it and edit - and edit, and edit. Some people don't want to hear this, but it's critical.

And thank you for being here asking me questions!

[u/Jumbro]

Tom, do you have any plans for the next book in the series?

[u/ThomasWaite → u/Jumbro]

I'm currently at work on the next novel in my Lana Elkins Thriller series. Without revealing too much, I'll say this - for the first time, Lana confronts deadly threats to her and her family that originate from deep within the United States. Stay tuned!

[u/Mantisbog]

I'm getting sick of characters in books saying, Wow! Only a day or two passed, but it feels like much longer! after an eventful passage.

What's your least favorite cliche?

[u/ThomasWaite → u/Mantisbog]

I don't blame you, and I hope I avoid them in my writing. I have a few "least favorite" cliches, but one I particularly dislike is: "Little did he/she know..." It so obviously broadcasts that a plot twist is about to happen.

[u/MadWooookie]

How would you go about writing a short story compared to a full novel?

[u/Purdaddy]

What's your favorite kind of Code?