by Cherry Adair
Innovation: We encourage, appreciate, and seek out the best of the best superior performance in all areas of operations. We recognize that there are always opportunities for improvement and we strive to elevate expectations and exceed in situations that others deem impossible.
Counterterrorism Policy:1. NO negotiation, make no concessions to terrorists.2. Bring terrorists to justice for their crimes no matter who or where they are.3. Isolate and apply pressure on states that sponsor terrorism, forcing them to change their behavior either overtly or covertly.4. Bolster the counterterrorism capabilities of those countries friendly to the mandates of the U.S.5. Improve counterterrorism cooperation with foreign governments and participate in the development, coordination, and implementation of American counterterrorism policy in accordance with the policies of the United States Government.
International Terrorism:
Hostages:
T-FLAC will make no concessions to individuals or groups holding official or private U.S. citizens hostage. Our operatives will use every resource necessary to gain the safe return of American citizens being held hostage. At the same time, it is our policy to deny hostage takers the benefits of ransom, prisoner releases, policy changes, or other acts of concession.
Areas of Expertise:
• Find and retrieve critical personnel and/or property
• Full-range of armaments
• Hard target and soft target risk assessment
• Critical infrastructure assurance
• Physical elimination of terrorist cells
• Homeland and executive security
• Combat/demilitarization
• Nonproliferation/counter-proliferation
• Intelligence
• Private protection of Foreign Dignitaries
• Counterintelligence
• Persons of Special Interest - Snatch and Grab
T-FLAC Covert Operatives
AJ COOPER: Operative - Out of Sight, Hot Ice
ALEX STONE: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
ALEXANDER “LYNX” STONE: Operative - The Mercenary, Hide & Seek
APOLLO HAWKINS: Operative (In Cairo) - Out Of Sight
ARITARIQ: Operative (In Cairo) Out Of Sight
ASH: Operative - On Thin Ice
ASHER DAKLIN: Operative - Hot Ice
AUSTIN: Operative - Hot Ice
BANTHER: (Deceased) Operative - White Heat
BURTON: Operative - Hot Ice
CALEB EDGE: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
CAROL: Nurse - White Heat
CATHERINE SEYMOUR (Savage): Operative & Tango - Hide & Seek, Out Of Sight, and Hot Ice
CHAPMAN: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
CONNOR JORDAN: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
CONRAD CHRISTOF: Operative (In Australia) - Out Of Sight
CURTIS: (Deceased): Operative - The Mercenary
CURTNER: Operative & Trainer - Out of Sight
DAAN VILJOEN: Operative - Hot Ice
DARIUS (aka DARE): Operative - Hide & Seek, White Heat
DEKKER: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Fear
DEREK WRIGHT: Operative - On Thin Ice, Out of Sight
DOYLE: Operative (Security Division) - White Heat
DUNCAN EDGE: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Fear
FARRIS KEIR: Operative - Edge of Fear
FRANK FISK: Operative - Hot Ice
GABRIEL: Operative - Out Of Sight
GABRIEL EDGE: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness,Edge of Fear
GARDNER: Operative - Hot Ice
GARY LANDIS: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
GREG SANDOVAL: Operative - White Heat
GUERRERO: Operative - White Heat
HOLLWELL: Operative - Hot Ice
DR. HOWARD: Doctor - White Heat
HUGO CALETTI: (Deceased) Operative - In Too Deep
HUNTINGTON ST. JOHN: Operative - Hot Ice, Kiss & Tell, On Thin Ice, In Too Deep, White Heat
IRIS: Nurse - White Heat
JAKE DOLAN: Operative - Kiss & Tell, Hide & Seek, On Thin Ice, Out of Sight, In Too Deep, Edge of Fear
JOE SKULLESTAD: (Deceased) Operative - Kiss & Tell
JUANITA SALAZAR: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
KANE WRIGHT: Operative - Out of Sight, In Too Deep, Kiss & Tell, White Heat
KLEIVER: Operative - White Heat
KRISTA DAVIS: (Deceased) Operative - The Mercenary
KURTZ: (Deceased) Operative - White Heat
KYLE WRIGHT: Operative - Hide & Seek, In Too Deep, On Thin Ice, Out of Sight
LARK ORELA: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness, Edge of Fear
LEVINE: Operative - White Heat
MANNY ESCOBAR: Operative - Out Of Sight, Hot Ice
MARCUS SAVIN: Operative (Boss/CEO) - The Mercenary, White Heat
MAURO ZAMPIERI: (Deceased) Operative - White Heat
MAX ARIES: Operative - Hot Ice, White Heat
MCBRIDE: Operative - Out Of Sight
MICHAEL WRIGHT: Operative - In Too Deep, On Thin Ice, Kiss & Tell, Hide & Seek, Out of Sight
DR. MICHAEL YET: Doctor (HQ) - White Heat
MICHAELS: (Deceased) Operative - The Mercenary
MIKE RAGUSA: Operative (Security Division) - White Heat
NATASHA: Laundry (HQ) - White Heat
NAVARRO (Rafael): Operative - Hot Ice, White Heat, Ice Cold
NEAL BISHOP: Operative - Hot Ice
NIIGATA (Keiko): (Deceased) Operative - White Heat
NOAH HART: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
PAUL BRITTON: (Deceased) Operative - Kiss & Tell
PAUL ROBERTS: Operative (Co-Pilot) - Hot Ice
PETER BLAINE: (Deceased) Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
PIET COATZEE: (Deceased) Operative - Hot Ice
RAYNARD ACKART: Operative - White Heat
REBECCA SANTOS: Tech girl - White Heat
RICHARD STRUBEN: (Deceased) Operative - Out of Sight
RIFKIN: Mailroom (Operative Trainee) - White Heat
ROMAN KILLIAN: Operative (In Cairo) - Out of Sight
ROSS LERMA: (Deceased) Operative (& Tango = Dancer) - Kiss & Tell
SAM PLUNKETT: (Deceased) Operative - Kiss & Tell
SAUL TANNENBAUM: Tech guy (Encryption Dept.) - White Heat
SAVAGE (CATHERINE SEYMOUR): Operative (& Tango) - Hide & Seek, Out Of Sight, Hot Ice
SEBASTIAN TREMAYNE: Operative - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
SIMON PARRISH: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
STAN BROWN: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Darkness
TATE: Operative - Hot Ice
TAYLOR KINCAID: Operative - Hot Ice, White Heat
TES WONDWESEN: Operative (In Cairo) Out Of Sight
THOM LINDLEY: (Deceased) Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
TONY (Anthony) ROOK: Operative - Edge of Fear
UPTON FITZGERALD: Operative (PSI Unit) -Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
YANCY: Operative (PSI Unit) - Edge of Danger, Edge of Darkness
Cherry Adair Interview
Questions with New York Times & USA Today’s
Bestselling Author Cherry Adair
1. What is the best part of being a writer? What is the worst?
Best- The people I create can’t tell me “No!” lol I love writing the second (3rd, 4th, 5th lol) draft. For me, writing the first draft is like building a house half a brick at a time with one arm tied behind my back and a blindfold on! Slow and painful. Unfortunately, at this stage of the process I have the attention span of a water newt, and can’t seem to sit still for more than 15 agonizing minutes at a time. But once the walls are up, I’m filled with gusto, and then I’m obsessive about getting all the finish work done. Once a decorator, always a decorator.
I love the process of polishing and rewriting. I love the minutia of the last
tweak, that last spit polish before sending it off to my editor. I even love revisions from my editor, because that gives me yet another shot at making the book shine.
Worst- That first draft. Erk! Not my fav. And having to be disciplined. It’s hard on an Aries to plant her behind in that chair. I love to write, but sometimes the process of sitting down to write is painful.
2. Why do you write?
I can’t. . .not. If I didn’t get it all down on paper the voices in my head would mean I was crazy instead of creative.
3. Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.
Snakes have two penises. (peni?) Not something that comes up in the normal course of conversation that often. (book: BLACK MAGIC)
4. Do you have a favorite motto?
Two. I love Mark Twain’s: My books are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. (Fortunately) everybody drinks water. And Gary Player’s: -The harder you work, the luckier you get.
5. Do you have a favorite fictional hero? Favorite fictional heroine?
I’m pretty fickle. Whichever character I’m wring at the time is always my favorite. I must admit though that I do have a soft spot for Marc Savin (The Mercenary) because he was my first hero. We always remember our first. But currently I’m mad about Gideon Stark in GIDEON. He’s the brother of Zak Stark (HUSH) I couldn’t wait to see what really happened to him in the jungle when he and his brother separated after the kidnapping. And for much of the book, he doesn’t know who he is or how he ended up where he ended up. SO much fun to write. I love writing jungle books (HIDE & SEEK, NIGHT FALL, TROPICAL HEAT, HUSH AND GIDEON. So far. Lol)I love exotic locals because to me the location is as much a character as my people.
As for a heroine, I adored Teal Williams. She was such a great foil for Zane, I’ve never written a heroine who is shy before. It was fascinating to get into her skin and see how she ticked.
6. Which fictional character would you hang out with?
Any of my heroes.
7. What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?
I love the cover of WHIRLPOOL - Him- the splashing colors- him- the puzzled look- oh, yes, him.
8. What would readers be surprised to learn about you?
I’m pretty much an open book, so probably not much. I used to be an Interior Designer, I’m originally from Cape Town, South Africa. I love to read, enjoy playing in my garden (preferable after someone else has done the sweaty work) and can’t not write every day. Spare time? What spare time?!
9. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?
I’m a stripper. A fruit. A rude connotation A blossom. And a bomb. lol
10. If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose? Why?
Back, because I’d know what was coming next.
11. Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why? Hmm. Both. But if I had to chose one - voice. Even if a story is well written, if the voice is dull and draggy, the book will be a snooze.
12. I know this is a difficult question with there being so many amazing authors out there to choose from but who are some of the GOT-TO-HAVE authors in your TBR pile?
I used to read a book a day. Now I’m lucky if I have time to finish a book in a month! That’s the downside of doing what I do. I love being an author, but it’s left me no time to enjoy one of my greatest pleasures. Some of my fav authors in no particular order - Ann Stuart, Maggie Osborne, Linda Howard. . .and dozens of others.
13. Are there discussion guides available for your books? Also, do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?
Cherry: Yes, each book has a discussion guide available. Me, talk? Of course! (see above re: moderation)! I love talking with readers. The best way for you to get the discussion guides or arrange phone chats, or workshops is to contact me at [email protected]
14. You have so many awesome books out currently. How many have you published and when did you start your writing career?
A: I’ve published- hang on I have to count them. . . .63 I started writing long before I published. I wrote (and shredded) 17 books before The Mercenary came out in 1993
15. Since you live in the Northwest, where do you get your inspiration? Do you travel to the places in your books?
A: I have traveled to many of the exotic locals in my books, but not all of them. I don’t like creepy-crawlies or not being anywhere near a shower or a flushing toilet! (and observant readers will notice that my heroines don’t like the same things)
16. What other type of research do you do in order to start a book? Esp with the Black ops elements in your T-FLAC series?
A: I do extensive research - it’s one of the most time consuming, and fun, aspects of writing for me. I’m lucky enough to have fans and friends in interesting places who fill me in on some of the local color first hand. When I’m doing research I try to find an expert in that field who is usually happy to answer all my question. Over the years I’ve made a lot of fascinating contacts because of my writing. (and a few very scary people, too!) I know several black ops guys who are incredibly monosyllabic in their answers, and it’s like pulling hens teeth to get any kind of direct information out them. But once they got what I was writing, and that not only didn’t I need to know troop movement in Iraq (or wherever, I really didn’t want to know classified Intel) they were great at giving me other interesting factoids to make my operatives fun and interesting.
I met an interesting Ph.D nuclear physicist who helped me with info in CHAMELEON. A Venezuelan “business man” who loves my books, and has offered to help me with whatever I need (Let’s leave it at that. Lol) Jacques Cousteau’s grandson, Fabien Cousteau (who is as yummy and delish as one of my heroes!) has helped with research for several of my books over the years. And I found a fascinating treasure hunter named Dr. Lubos Kordac who is helping me with details on salvaging for the Cutter Cay books. Over the course of 30 plus books I’ve collected a fascinating little black book filled with incredible and invaluable contacts. If I told you where I hide it I’d have to have one of my heroes (talk!!??) to you.
17. Is the T-FLAC series done now or will you continue those at some point?
A: I love my T-FLAC operatives, and yes, I will write them as long as readers love them as much as I do. My latest T-FLAC book is GIDEON, and I’m working very hard (OK obsessively!) on the two new trilogies which are not T-FLAC. (Although readers might see a familiar operative pop up where they least expect them.)
18. Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Who gave you the most trouble?
A: I’m pretty fickle. Whichever character I’m wring at the time is always my favorite. I must admit though that I do have a soft spot for Marc Savin (The Mercenary) because he was my first hero. We always remember our first.
19. Who do you read? Favorite authors? Are you reading anything now?
A: I used to read a book a day. Now I’m lucky if I have time to finish a book in a month! That’s the downside of doing what I do. I love being an author, but it’s left me no time to enjoy one of my greatest pleasures. Some of my fave authors in no particular order - Ann Stuart, Maggie Osbourn, Linda Howard. . . and dozens of others.
20. I know you like to take walks, what else do you do in your spare time?
A: I don’t like to take walks!
21. Hollywood is calling!!! Who is playing the main characters in any one of your books?
A: The yummy and delicious Alex O’Loughlin (Hawaii Five-0) is my new TV crush. I’d pick him to play the role of Finn Gallagher. (Book: WHIRLPOOL) (I’d pick him to play…with me.)
Cherry, please tell us where we can find you in cyber world. For desperate readers like me, we just have to know…
I have lots of fun with readers on my Facebook, and Twitter page
s, and I love hearing from readers through my web site www.cherryadair.com (where you can see pictures of ALL my heroes, read excerpts from my books, and find my complete booklist.)
About Cherry Adair
Always an adventurer in life as well as writing, New York Times best-selling author Cherry Adair moved halfway across the globe from Cape Town, South Africa to the United States in her early years to become an interior designer. She started what eventually became a thriving interior design business. “I loved being a designer because it was varied and creative, and I enjoyed working with the public.” A voracious reader when she was able to carve out the time, Cherry found her brain crowded with characters and stories of her own.
“Eventually,” she says, “the stories demanded to be told.” Now a resident of the Pacific Northwest she shares the award- winning adventures of her fictional T-FLAC counter terrorism operatives with her readers.When asked why she chooses to write romantic action adventure, she says, “Who says you can’t have adventure and a great love life? Of course if you’re talking about an adventurous love life, that’s another thing altogether. I write romantic suspense coupled with heart-pounding adventure because I like to entertain, and nothing keeps readers happier than a rollercoaster read, followed by a happy ending.”
Popular on the workshop circuit, Cherry gives lively classes on writing and the writing life. Pulling no punches when asked how to become a published writer, Cherry insists, “Sit your butt in the chair and write. There’s no magic to it. Writing is hard work. It isn’t for sissies or whiners.”
Cherry loves to spend time at home. A corner desk keeps her focused on writing, but the windows behind her, with a panoramic view of the front gardens, are always calling her to come outside and play. Her office has nine-foot ceilings, a fireplace, a television and built-in bookcases that house approximately 3,500 books.
