We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Richard Lyntton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Richard below.
Richard, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
As a child, I was very optimistic – so much so, that some used to think I was being sarcastic when I was just being cheerful and adventurous. Raised by a single mother and being an only child allowed me to use my imagination and sense of optimism and adventure to believe that anything was possible.
Learning foreign languages (French, German, Russian, Bosnian) helped me to develop my sense of optimism and adventure and gave me self-confidence in my formative years. I studied French and German in high-school and “beginners Russian” at Exeter University, UK, during which I was awarded a scholarship to spend ten months in Moscow during the perestroika and glasnost years of Presidents Gorbachev and Reagan. It was fascinating to be emersed in the world (Soviet Russia) which was so different to my own background and culture. I fell in love with Russians and their language and culture and no one on either side of the Iron curtain ever dreamed that war in Europe would break out in our lifetime. Sadly, we were wrong. During a student visit to Odessa, I was robbed at knifepoint on the famous Potemkin (Ptemkinskaya) Stairs featured in the John Buchan novel The Thirty-Nine Steps. In those days there was virtually no difference between Russians and Ukrainians—for a foreigner like me at least—and certainly no sign of all-out war. Russian/Ukrainian police investigated and caught the culprit who, it turned out, had been released from prison a few days earlier. I mention the story simply to illustrate how utterly inconceivable a war between Russians and Ukrainians was at that time.
Optimism and opportunity go hand in hand. During my ten-month study abroad (1987-8) at the Moscow State Linguistic University (formerly Maurice Thorez Moscow State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages), I persuaded our KGB “minder” to take us to Vladivostok during the Christmas Holiday. I had always wanted to experience the magic and wonder of a 6-day Trans-Siberian train ride. We crossed 10 time zones and arrived in Khabarovsk. We were not allowed to visit Vladivostok because it was a “zakriti gorod”—closed city—no foreigners allowed. I was smitten with Julia, our beautiful Soviet-era Intourist guide who met us off the train clad in her Mink fur hat and coat, and we toured Khabarovsk and the frozen tundra of the Amur River. We could see snow-capped mountains inside China in the distance, and North Korea was less than 50 miles to the south. I had no idea how or when, but I knew that one day I would write a novel—probably a thriller—set in this location. The seeds of North Korea Deception, Book 1 in The Deception Series were born.
I graduated (or “passed out” we say) of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and served as a Captain and tank commander in The Life Guards, Household Cavalry (Prince Harry’s regiment) in Gulf War 1; also European Community Task Force Humanitarian Liaison [PHOTO #4] in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Saratov, Russia; UNHCR Liaison Officer and UN Military Observer (UNMO) in Sarajevo, Bosnia; and UNTV Producer in Former Yugoslavia. I was called to testify at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague after witnessing, filming, and airing on BBC and CNN human rights atrocities and abuses in Bosnia. Somehow, my optimism and sense of adventure neutralized the fear and danger of rolling across the Kuwait desert in a Challenger I tank in Gulf War 1 [PHOTO #1] Operation Desert Storm, or dodging sniper fire and the 1500 shells a day landing in Sarajevo as a UN peacekeeper [PHOTOs 2,3,6]. As a naïve, young man, I was happy to serve my country, and remained optimistic that the world was becoming a better more peaceful place—that my service and potential sacrifice had meaning and purpose. Perversely, serving as a United Nations Military Observer who speaks Bosnian, gave me a sense of optimism about humanity and human nature. Even though the civilians of besieged Sarajevo, had very little food and were trapped/imprisoned in their own city with friends and family being shelled every day, they were friendly, welcoming, and generous. Given, for example, the scarcity and lack of sugar, I was always dumbfounded how Bosnians from all sides—Bosnian, Serb, Croat—would gladly give visitors literally their last spoonful of sugar if we were invited into their homes for tea. Even under the appalling conditions, they continued to display a generous nature in kind and in spirit. War, I discovered, brings out extremes of both good and evil. Hyde Park Deception, Book 2 in The Deception Series, is set in London, Paris, Split, Croatia, Sarajevo, and is based on events and personal experiences during the Bosnia war.
BUT, at the end of my army service, I had had enough of the death [PHOTO #3], destruction, and war crimes in Bosnia, and was ready to do things that I really wanted to do. What, I asked myself after some life-threatening close calls during two tours of the Bosnia war, would I most like to do with my life? After working on a movie in post-war Bosnia called “Welcome to Sarajevo” staring Woody Harrelson and Marisa Tomei, I decided to pursue my life-long love of acting. (I did not yet have the confidence to start writing). In 1998, I attended Mountview Theater School (now Mountview Academy of Theater Arts) and became a professional actor and many years later and more recently, a published author.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a full-time actor, independent author, and publisher. It is a privileged and an honor to pursue an artistic pathway. Yes, it’s a “life gamble” and no, there are no guarantees you will succeed, let alone make money or earn a living from your art. But in just three years, I have sold thousands of copies of my thriller series in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Spain. (The Deception Series has not yet been translated, but many readers in France, Germany and Spain like to read in English thrillers). My first two novels took ten years to write, and if it were not for the pandemic, I might never have published them. The COVID years gave me the opportunity to finish two novels, learn how to publish and, more importantly, how to market them. The time we all had to do new things, and think about what we wanted to do, gave me the time and inclination to write a third novel (Leningrad Deception), and so The Deception Series was born, is published, alive, well and selling on the Amazon and Audible platforms and elsewhere.
The wonderful thing about writing and publishing is that you can do as much or as little as you need or desire to do, and you can do it whenever you want and where-ever you are. Selling books like any other business involves selling—selling yourself and selling your stories. Being an independent author is 35% writing and 65% marketing, and nowadays, I would argue, the same ratio is true for traditionally published authors where agents and publishers are calling the shots. I have learned to love selling. You cannot be a successful new author if you don’t love selling (unless you have a massive marketing budget which most of us do not). I look forward to book signings where I can meet potential new readers and get to know them. You must show readers that you are passionate about your books. I have learned that you can turn a lukewarm potential reader into a buyer if you are enthusiastic, optimistic, and passionate about your books. Even contemporary thriller masters like Ken Follet and Daniel Silva are always putting themselves “out there” to reach new readers.
For first time authors, I want to stress I have learned to do these things. It’s hard to put yourself out there when the thing you are selling is your “baby.” But equally, no one knows your baby like you do. So, if you can’t sell it, no one can. I also enjoy being creative and thinking outside the box to sell books—I do zoom book signings and talks, started a local TV and YouTube show called “Author Hour” to interview and help new and established local authors launch their books. I created some exciting book trailers to entice readers using real footage from my time as an UNMO in Bosnia, and I love designing and launching Canva Ads and Facebook ads. (If you don’t have time and inclination to learn Amazon ads and Facebook ads, you are going to have to pay someone to do it for you.)
[See www.richardlynttonbooks.com/events for resources and recommendations]
I am very excited about a recent marketing idea/strategy I wanted to try. Leningrad Deception, Book 3 in The Deception Series is set in Leningrad, Stockholm, London, Venice, and Capri. As Capri is our favorite place to vacation, I used my contacts to make my book available on the island. La Conchiglia, the local Capri bookstore [PHOTO #8] is selling The Deception Series, even though most of their books are in Italian. But I didn’t stop there. Raffaele, one of the supporting characters in Leningrad Deception is based on the head waiter at Grand Hotel Quisisana, the most famous and cherished destination for the rich and famous on the island since the 1850s. Adalberto Cuomo, owner, and GianLuca Salvia, director of marketing, loved that I was so inspired and passionate about using Capri locations – Faraglioni Rocks, St. James Charterhouse Monastery, Marina Piccola, and the Quisisana Cocktail terrace (number one people watching spot on the island), that they agreed to put my series in their hotel library and make it available to international VIP guests [PHOTO #5]. I have no idea if this will help sell more copies, but it’s an example of sowing book seeds and trying relevant strategies to sell books.
Fun fact: As we left Capri this summer, Gary Oldman was filming The Apartment directed by Paolo Sorrentino on the Grand Hotel Quisisana cocktail terrace also the location of several scenes in Leningrad Deception.
See attached video link of Gary Oldman talking to Paolo Sorrentino and photo.
[See attached photos:
#5.
Grand Hotel Quisisana with Raffaele (character in Leningrad Deception) and hotel staff.
#8
Bookstore – La Conchiglia with Vincenzo Sorrentino, owner
Acting:
I am very excited about two projects:
Filming and postproduction are underway on two projects I am very excited about. I play one of the leads—Colonel Wilmer Schtein, Nazi POW camp commandant—in a WWII independent action movie called “Talons of the Phoenix” directed by Wesley Mellott, written and produced by Darrin Archer, and featuring Costas Mandylor. “Relative Control” is another smashing independent movie directed by Dafna Yachin, written and produced by Charlene Davies, starring Teri Polo (The Fosters, Meet the Fokers/Parents, Little Fokers), filmed on location in and around Philadelphia and Wilmington. We began shooting four years ago before the pandemic and we were delayed again more recently due to the SAG/AFTRA strike. Ultimately, we were granted the SAG/AFTRA interim strike agreement and completed filming in August 2023. Finally, I play a Latvian Host in the next series of Daredevil: Born Again with Vincent D’Onofrio. One of the fun and rewarding things about acting is that you occasionally get to act opposite great actors you have watched for many years and whose work you enjoy. Scene partners include: Jeff Daniels and Nora Dunn (The Answer Man); Marishka Hargitay and Christopher Maloney (Law & Order SVU); Sylvestor Stalone and Michael B. Jordan (Creed 1); Jarod Leto (WeCrashed); Chris Noth (The Equalizer); Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil: Born Again), Teri Polo (Relative Control).
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Belief in yourself and your idea/story/book etc.
I am not sure if this had anything to do with my belief—subconsciously perhaps?— but I’ll tell the tale anyway. In 2009, I was playing a British journalist in the opening scene of “The Answer Man” opposite Nora Dunn in a romantic comedy starring Jeff Daniels set in Philadelphia. The movie is about an author who has written a book called, “Me and God.” My character makes his point: “People want to read this story, Terri. I’ve read ‘Me and God’ twelve times for Christ sakes!” When I finished my first book, I told myself again and again, “There are probably a million readers who would enjoy this story. I just have to find them.”
Hyde Park Deception, Book 2 in The Deception Series, is set in London, Paris, Split, Croatia, and Sarajevo, Bosnia. I was told by agents many times that, “No one is going to read a book about the Bosnia War.” For many years, I believed them. But with the confidence gained from launching and selling North Korea Deception, I knew Hyde Park Deception would also sell, especially as it was part of a series.
2.
When I draft the outline of a new book, I need two things:
The story must be genre specific. If you are writing a thriller, you must know your genre and sub-genre. You must also be passionate about premise and story idea. You are going to spend one, two—in my case ten years—with the story. Day in, day out, you are writing, adjusting, editing, creating sentences and chapters that fit the premise. If you don’t find your premised fascinating, you will be bored, and might give up.
For example, in my research for Leningrad Deception, I stumbled across some fascinating nuggets of history.
A. In 1982, apparently the CIA blew up the Yamal oil and gas pipeline. It was the biggest non-nuclear explosion every—a 3 kiloton burst. I had never heard about this even though I spent four years studying Russian, including a year in Moscow, and six months at Sandhurst and the Royal Armored Corps center in Bovington, Dorset, UK studying east-west military strategy.
B. As President Ronald Reagan openly courted Mikhail Gorbachev on the international stage, who was desperately trying to bring the Soviet Union into the 21st Century with perestroika and glasnost, Reagan was also secretly engaged in subterfuge launching something called ‘The Deception Committee’ (no connection to The Deception Series), in order to economically bring the Soviet Union to its knees. I studied in Moscow during the Reagan-Gorbachev summit 1988, but I had never heard of this ‘Deception Committee.’ I had lived and worked in Russia during this period and was blind to the real situation that led to the end of the Berlin Wall. My sense of optimism we talked about earlier was based, in part, on a lie.
C. Another nugget of research I found was the “Whiskey on the Rocks” debacle in Sweden. Long story short, Soviet and NATO submarines were playing cat-and-mouse military maneuver games off the neutral waters of Sweden. At one point a Soviet submarine seemingly purposefully ran aground in the Swedish fiords, but no one ever quite worked out who was responsible. Equally puzzling in the truth-is-stranger-than fiction realm, is that there was a secret pact/operation between US security services and the Italian navy, to send a submarine into Swedish waters to pretend to be a Soviet vessel. Whether or not this was true, I was fascinated and inspired to weave this research into the plot of Leningrad Deception for obvious genre-specific reasons.
3.
Lazer focus on your goals:
When new authors contact me about publishing, the first thing I ask is, “What is your long-term goal?”
It sounds obvious but you must be crystal clear and focused on your goal. Do you just want to write a book and have it available on Amazon and other platforms for friends and family? Or do you want to write a series and make a business and profit from your writing, books, and series? How much time can you spend on writing and marketing every day and what is your budget? Being a published, profitable author is 35% writing and 65% marketing.
Do not get caught in the vanity publishing web! Find a reputable agent or publisher who will do more than just upload your (poorly edited) manuscript and a mediocre cover to Amazon. You should find a professional cover designer, professional editor (ask to see their client list and see how their books are doing), and professional interior book designer. 65% of the work happens after the book is released. Make sure any money you invest is used for this crucial 65% of the publishing and marketing process.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am delighted to launch an innovative idea/concept for corporate sponsors. I am currently reaching out to corporate entities who would like to partner with a thriller author and series. They will effectively “sponsor” a commercial thriller series in exchange for brand recognition on the book cover or inside pages and on all book marketing platforms. eg. The Deception Series sponsored by Company X. They receive signed copies, enjoy in person workshops for executives with the author including sessions for those who would also like to write and publish a novel. I meet many senior executives—some close to retirement—who have “always wanted to write a novel.” This is a win-win for all parties. Please contact me via my website for more info. Malchik Media and richardlynttonbooks continues to offer full independent publishing services and/or consultation services for fiction and non-fiction authors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.richardlynttonbooks.com
- Instagram: @richardlyntton [acting] @richardlynttonbooks [author]
- Facebook: @richardlynttonbooks
- Twitter: @richardlyntton
- Youtube: @richardlyntton
- Threads: @richardlynttonbooks
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