Michelle Vandepas interviews Jerry Jenkins about The Last Operative
In an interview with Talking Purpose, Jerry talks about the dynamics involved in writing, why writes about places he knows, and his latest novel,The Last Operative.
If you’re a fan of suspense novels and spy thrillers, you’re going to enjoy The Last Operative.In this book, Jordan Kirkwood is an NSA intelligence officer who isi just about ready to quietly go into retirement.His wife has been supportive of his career but his assignments have kept him away so long that he barely knows his children. Just as he decides to take his wife on a long overdue vacation to Europe, he receives stunning intelligence information about the biggest threat to the country since 9/11. In a devastating turn of events, Kirkwood arranges to meet his wife at the airport, only to find her brutally killed along with a male passenger who resembles him.
In this fast paced thriller, Jenkins effectively blends international intrigue, faith, family and patriotism as it follows the exploits of Jason Kirkwood. Readers easily gain sympathy for Kirkwood as he is torn between his love for his family and his commitment to his job. Jason Kirkwood is a worthy hero tormented by his cynicism and strained relationship with God as he struggles to step up to the challenges that lies before him. This is definitely a page turner that will have you at the edge of your seat from start to finish.
The Last Operative is a book that has all the elements you look for in a suspense thriller–action, adventure, romance and intrigue. In the novel, Jordan Kirkwood is a man ready for retirement after a long career spent as an NSA Intelligence Officer. But his last assignment turns into a nightmare when he tragically loses his wife and must uncover an insidious plot against the country he’s committed his life to serving. But the risks are high as he goes into a quest for the truth when he suspects that there is a mole in the NSA. He begins to not only question his instincts but even his faith in God.
About Jerry Jenkins
Jerry B. Jenkins is the author of more than 175 books, including the best selling series Riven. He is a former editor and vice president for publishing of Moody Magazine and now serves as the chairman of the board of trustees for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
His novel, Riven, was released in July 2008. He considers it his life’s work and received fantastic reviews. A movie adaptation of the book is slated for release in 2011. He recently collaborated with Tim LaHaye is the The Jesus Chronicles novel series (John’s Story , Mark’s Story, Luke’s Story, Matthew’s Story) that are based on the Gospels. Another book with the working title The Brotherhood/ A Boone Drake Novel, is scheduled to be released in February 2011.
Jenkin’s other books include non fiction motivational book Game Plan for Life: Your Personal Playbook for Success which was written with NFL coach Joe Gibbs, and a slew of as-told-to autobiographies such as the best selling books about Orel Hershiser and Nolan Ryan. He has also written for Time, Reader’s Digest, Parade, Guideposts and serves a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest. He also wrote the sports comic strip, Gil Thorp, from 1996-2004.
Jerry Jenkins owns Jenkins Entertainment (www.Jenkins-Entertainment.com), an LA-based filmmaking company that produces critically acclaimed films such as Hometown Legend and Midnight Clear, a 2007 Cinequest Film Festival “Best First Feature” awardee. He also owns the Christians Writer’s Guild (www.ChristianWritersGuild.com), an organization that is geared towards training future professional Christian writers worldwide.
He is a sought-after speaker and humorist and he currently lives with his wife Dianna in Colorado. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren. Visit his website http://www.jerryjenkins.com and his blog http://jerryjenkins.blogspot.com
Michelle Vandepas started Talking Books TV as a site to help authors and their books get more exposure. She teaches authentic marketing for on and offline marketing campaigns and specializes in working with people who want to live their Conscious Livelihood (R). Find out more about how to work with Michelle on her site, MichelleVandepas.com 
27 Comments
12:30 pm
Debbie @ Happy Maker
Great interview, Michelle. I am going to have to start reading his books. This interview definetly got me interested Jerry Jenkins writing. Thank you very much, I like a good thriller.
Debbie
8:10 am
MichelleVan
Thanks Debbie, The Left Behind Series is awesome. Big Christian overtones with Armageddon topics – but whatever your religious background the books are compelling. I highly recommend them.
1:32 pm
Corinne Edwards
Michelle – I loved this guy. And think you did too.
It certainly is inspirational to writers not to wait – just write.
175 books. What an achievement.
You are a great interviewer and pull the best from every author. And all so different…
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8:11 am
MichelleVan
Thanks Corinne, I learned from the best….. And Jerry is certainly an inspiration. He’s agreed to be a guest speaker on the membership site for authors
1:35 am
Beat Schindler
My (professional) life being currently a suspense novel all by itself, I’m busy just turning my own pages as it were. Still, was happy to tweet and facebook, and mostly, to take the opportunity to say, “Hi!”
- Beat
Beat Schindler´s last [type] ..Protected- Guilty Pleasures
8:12 am
MichelleVan
Beat that’s so funny, yet I’m sure living it isn’t. Living a suspense novel is never fun.. still I’m happy you took the time to come say hi in the midst of it.
2:39 am
David Rogers
Michelle
Interesting interview, again with someone I’ve never heard of who, apart from the last 30 seconds, talked a of of sense. You always come across as genuinely interested in the people you are interviewing, which does encourage us to keep watching.
David
David Rogers´s last [type] ..Achieve One Goal
8:12 am
MichelleVan
David I’ve got to go listen again for the last 30 seconds! ….. LOL!
6:00 am
Bruce
I knew the name but not the man. While his books did not interest me, many people I know loved them and I will refer them to this interview.
Bruce´s last [type] ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-09-19
8:14 am
MichelleVan
Bruce I’m happy you took the time to come say hello.
9:44 am
Andrew @ Blogging Guide
It’s not my type of book but you cannot take away the fact that he is inspirational – someone who has written 176 books – what a fabulous achievement.
Andrew
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5:31 pm
MichelleVan
yes I think I said 175. You were listening carefully. What an achievement. As you know, it is taking me MONTHS just to write a simple ebook! LOL
9:49 am
Joel
Interesting interview and he book sounds great. I could write 175 books but they’d all be terrible so this is a great achievement.
Joel´s last [type] ..Upsizing Your Business- Growing Your Blog To Match Your Company
5:32 pm
MichelleVan
Joel if you too all your blog posts you’d already have a great book on blogging…
1:40 pm
Lisa
Great interview! I am so impressed by the sheer volume of books written — I can’t imagine writing one!
5:32 pm
MichelleVan
thanks Lisa, I’m glad you came by to visit.
4:21 pm
Cheryl Malandrinos
Excellent interview. I’ve read the Left Behind series and The Last Operative. I’ve loved them all. Jerry is a wonderful writer and he’s never disappointed me.
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10:42 am
MichelleVan
Hi Cheryl. Yes he is. yes he is… Thanks for stopping by.
11:50 am
Sherri--Hurricane Katrina Pictures
Fantastic interview Michelle!
I really like Mr. Jenkins’ advice to just write and turn off your internal editor. When I first began writing it took me too long because I edited as I wrote, especially after I got my first computer with a word processor (a Fat Mac (512k) with a 10 MB HD with a very early version of MS Word). Since I’ve been blogging, I’ve learned to turn off my internal editor on the first draft and just chunk out the main stuff, then go back and edit. Very sound advice and it really does work.
That he’s written 176 books reminds me of a musician-composer who decided to write one new song every day for a year. They weren’t always good, in fact, many were mediocre, but by the end of the year he had 365 songs that he could work on to make into real sellers. It was his musical idea library. Sitting down to write 20 pages a day when you write without editing strikes me as the same kind of thing. Learn to generate the ideas in a brainstorming-like fashion.
Very compelling,
Sherri
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5:49 am
Michelle Vandepas
Sherri
What a great idea to sit down and write a song everyday! I would love to try that! or to at least write everyday. I spend so much time managing my blogs that I hardly update them.. sort of defeats the purpose doesn’t it?.Maybe I’ll focus more on writing for 2 weeks and see what happens.
9:27 am
Benjamin
Wow!
I just finished my own first book. I don’t think I’m ready to wrap my mind around 175…
On a side note, I saw something somewhere about a book/authors convention this weekend in Manitou Springs. Hopefully I’ll see you there!
keep smiling,
Benjamin
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5:50 am
Michelle Vandepas
Benjamin.
YES COME! I’m speaking at the conference and there is a lot going on. I can’t wait to hear all about your book!
3:24 pm
Edward Jones
I have only 174 to go, how he does it I do not know. I guess I need to get busy. Thanks Michelle and Jerry, great conversation to listen with.
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5:51 am
Michelle Vandepas
Edward..
You’ve got the same volume of content in all your paltalks and videos I think. Maybe instead of a book you can put them all into a course? (I think maybe you ARE doing that!)
8:25 pm
Blog Income for Women
175 books that is insane! I have self-edited 3 and I think it’s not that bad, but this Jerry guy is making me feel like a slacker.
Krizia
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5:52 am
Michelle Vandepas
You’ve got 3 books? Wow. Great for you Krizia. email me, lets talk!
8:31 pm
Amy LeForge
Michelle, I’m so thrilled that you got to interview Jerry Jenkins! I’ve read several of his books and enjoyed them all. I’ll have to pick up this one now that you’ve whetted my appetite!
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