Authorpreneur Dashboard – Thad Dupper
Attack on Nantucket
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
A non-stop modern-day thriller in the genre of Tom Clancy. A terrorist plot takes against a US president's family with Nantucket as the backdrop. Andrew Russell, the 46th president of the United States, his wife and two young children have brought back a Kennedy-era feeling of Camelot to the White House. President Russell, an ex-Navy fighter pilot, and his family are spending another vacation on the beautiful island of Nantucket. The US Navy has deployed the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group along with America’s most advanced attack submarine, the USS Jimmy Carter with SEAL Team Two embarked, to the waters off Nantucket for pre-deployment workups that coincide with the president’s vacation. After three years of planning, the Islamic Front has embedded terrorist cells on the island in preparation for the arrival of President Russell and his family. Meanwhile, the US & NATO are becoming increasingly alarmed over China’s military build-up of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The stage is set for a faceoff between these superpowers. The people of Nantucket, descendants of hardy New England stock, along with the combined military and intelligence assets of the US Government are about to be challenged by the events unleashed on the tiny picturesque island. Nantucket serves as the backdrop for this larger-than-life techno-thriller. The book will be available on March 17, 2017 — reserve your copy today.
Book Bubbles from Attack on Nantucket
Monsignor
This is true the US Secret Service uses the same letter for all the members of the first family. In this case I was happy to use Mendham after the beautiful town of the same name in Morris County NJ. And Minecraft for the son -- I thought that is very appropriate name for a young boy who is a gamer.
A Man For All Seasons -- Robert Bolt
I couldn't resist and put in this short reference to the famous Robert Bolt play -- A Man For All Seaons. There are two works I read every year -- this play -- and The Rise of Silas Lapham the novel by William Dean Howells.
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller is a long time visitor on Nantucket having spent his summers there with his parents Ann Meara and Jerry Stiller. What I like about Nantucket -- much like New York City -- we were at the Sophie's T Pizza a couple years ago and Ben was there with his fiancee and no one batted an eye. And I think that is part of the appeal of ACK -- everyone respects everyone else's privacy.
Launch the Alert 5
US Carriers at sea when on station will often have either an Alert 5 or Alert 20 fighter on standby. The number designates how many minutes it would take to get the figher airborne. The Alert 5 -- the highest level of alert -- other than having fighters in the air -- is positioned to be launched in five minutes -- which means the pilot is already seated in the cockpit. The other part of this scene I like is the "wipeout" of the flight controls. If you have ever witnessed a aircraft take off from a carrier (in person of via Youtube) you will see the pilot rotate their stick in order to confirm their flight surfaces are not jammed -- this is what the wipeout is. Usually 2 seconds later the Shooter (yellow shirt) touches the deck and then points to the bow and the Catapult Officer hits the button to shoot the fighter down the deck. 1.4 seconds later you are airborne.
Derek Jeter is Right
In this excerpt I address how in this age of the camera phone that anyone with a modicom of celebrity now needs to be on constant guard. It brings to mind the famous Babe Ruth story. The sports writers were playing poker while travelling with the Yankees by train. All of a sudden there is a commotion and Babe Ruth came running through the car. A second later a woman stark naked came running after him carrying a pair of scissors. One of the sports writers was quoted as saying,"Its a good thing we didn't see what we just saw -- or else we'd have to write about it."
SEAL Team 2
I had the good fortune to be a guest of the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego. This is where,the elite Naval Special Operations units train namely our SEA, AIR, LAND (SEAL) Teams. It was interesting to hear that the SEAL Command tracks the digital signature of the the SEALs. We discussed how SEAL Team 6 had garnered so much attention from the successful Bin Laden mission and their many other OPs. But it was for that reason I selected SEAL Team 2 for my novel. While no doubt all SEALs are heros -- my book portrays the heros of SEAL Team 2.
Palantir
This is a California privately held company that does a lot of top secret work for the US Government Intelligence Agencies. By using advanced software like Palantir along with the access the US Government now gets to call detail records from the large US Telco companies -- in addition to other feeds -- allows analysts to perform in-depth investigations and mentioned in Attack on Nantucket.
Support from the Navy
I am indebted to many US Navy officers and admirals both retired and active to helped me on this project. Below are some of the standouts who have endorsed my book: "A thrilling and detailed view on the global war on terror along with an incredibly accurate blend of technology, intelligence and the military. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action again. A page-turner that you won't want to miss!" Tom "Chain" Zelibor RADM, USN (ret.) Commander Carrier Strike Group THREE (USS Carl Vinson Strike Group) "Thad has succeeded in nailing the warrior ethos of Naval Aviators in this book. He made me smile." Mark "Guad" Guadagnini RADM, USN (ret.) Commander Carrier Strike Group NINE (USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group) "An adrenaline ride with great authenticity -- well done." Rob "Ice" Ffield CAPT, USN (ret.) Commander Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels, CAG, two tours as instructor at Navy Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN
Sconset
Much of the Nantucket action in my novel takes place in the village of Sconset or formerly called Siasconset. It is a tiny hamlet on the eastern most end of the island. My family has vacationed there for 15 years. I hope you like my book and it motivates you to visit the island. It is one of those places that once you visit -- you almost don't want to tell anyone about it -- because you want to keep it -- as it is -- as your secret special place. I share it with you -- and encourage you to visit -- and enjoy.
AC/DC and the US Navy
A couple years ago I was guest on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) as they completed a training cycle in preparation for a deployment. It was morning and flight operations had not yet commenced. The Air Boss called for a FOD (Foreign Object Debris) walkdown -- this was to find anything loose on a flight deck. The idea is any loose debris (coin, washer, nut) could get sucked into a jet engine -- creating a potential disaster. All off duty personnel typically participate in the walkdown -- as we started at the bow, white vested Safety Officiers carried cans to collect any debris. To past time time -- the Lincoln played Thunderstruck.on their loudspeakers. To be on this mighty ship and hear AC/DC blaring was a truly memorable scene -- that I knew I must use.
For President's Day
The long history of US presidents vacationing on Nantucket Sound was one of the motivations for Attack on Nantucket.
You've been Thunderstruck
Without exception the #1 music played on US Aircraft Carriers at sea -- is AC/DC
Red Crown on Guard
Either you know or you don't...
Launch the Alert 5
US aircraft carriers while at sea often have an Alert 5 fighter standing by -- a fighter that can be launched in 5 minutes. This means a pilot in the cockpit (canopy open) and ready to be positioned on the catapult for an immediate launch. There are also Alert 15s too.
Tortilla Flats
If you are a New Yorker -- or have visited -- you should know about Tortilla Flats on W. 12th -- for over 25 years it has been THE place in the West Village.
Brooklyn
As a Brooklyn native -- I couldn't resist putting Bay Ridge in the book. You can take the boy out of Brooklyn -- but can you take the Brooklyn out of the boy...
Go BC Eagles
Can you write about Nantucket and not mention BC?
AC/DC and the US Navy
I have heard AC/DC on almost every US Navy aircraft carrier I have been on. Most memorable was a FOD walkdown on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) with Thunderstruck playing -- being at sea, on a mighty US aircraft carrier with AC/DC playing while we are getting ready to spin up F/A-18 for launch -- it just doesn't get much better than that...
Black Eyed Susan's on Nantucket
A great place to eat if you ever get to the Island
Noosa
I couldn't help mentioning my favorite yogurt in my Novel
The curse of the cellphone
The impact of mobile technology is ubiquitous in today's society. Sometimes -- as this scene depicts -- you need to get away from cellphones -- no photos -- no recordings. In this day and age you have to expect someone is recording you or photographing you...
Technology Today
My background prepared me to be able to write about the impact of technology on our society. In my book I address wireless technology, social media -- and how the intelligence agencies use products from Palantir and Teradata -- and IBM's Watson AI API to mine vast amounts of data -- to perform analytics. Keep in mind the data the US Government now has access to has never been as broad as it is now. Call detail data from every phone company -- social media feeds -- and other data sources are passed against Palantir and Teradata to give the NSA, CIA and FBI an advantage -- that they use to keep us safe.
I received great support from the US Navy
When writing my novel I was fortunate to get the support of the US Navy Office of Information as well as many active and retired officers and Flags. I have found the US Navy to be a great partner and their involvement made the technical aspects of my novel much more accurate than I could have accomplished on my own. Fly Navy.
Casey Neistat in Attack on Nantucket
For the hipsters out there -- a shout out in my book to Casey Neistat...
Life is all about opportunities -- some realized,
This scene is a precursor -- or a missed opportunity. If only...
The Attack
A supposedly quiet morning jog on Nantucket erupts into an attack on the US President. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group that is operating off the coast of Nantucket on pre deployment manoeuvres swings into action when it hears the Secret Service call.
Prologue
Attack on Nantucket is a Tom Clancy-like techno-thriller that is set on the island of Nantucket. The US president, as ex-naval aviator, family is kidnapped by a terrorist organization while on vacation on Nantucket. There is a lot of intrigue and military action and technology in this story. It is not available yet -- it will go on sale March 17th. Check out www.attackonantucket.com for more info and to reserve a copy. Cheers, Thad Dupper
Attack on Nantucket
Literature & Fiction
TOPGUN meets the West Wing in this modern-day, military techno-thriller set on the picturesque island of Nantucket. Vacationing with his wife and two young children, US President Andrew Russell is enjoying a well-deserved break from Washington politics when Islamic militants launch a fierce assault. Faced with a major terrorist attack only a few miles from the US coast, Russell--an ex-naval aviator--responds with the same focus and determination that made him one of the best fighter pilots in the fleet. But will it be enough? If you like Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts and Brad Thor, you'll thoroughly enjoy this nonstop page-turner.
Book Bubbles from Attack on Nantucket
Because I was inverted...
Many recall the classic line from TOPGUN -- but the naval (and Marine) aviators who assisted me on Attack on Nantucket are the real-life heroes. With more than 4,000 carrier assisted landings across this select group of aviation legends -- as well as hundreds of combat missions -- their aircraft inventory includes F-8, F-14 and F/A-18's. This elite group of aviators includes Navy Fighter Weapons School TOPGUN instructors, Carrier Group Commanders, CAGS and a CO of the famed Blue Angels... Fly Navy.
Attack on Nantucket
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
TOP GUN meets the West Wing in this modern-day, military techno-thriller set on the picturesque island of Nantucket. Vacationing with his wife and two young children, US President Andrew Russell is enjoying a well-deserved break from Washington politics when Islamic militants launch a fierce assault. Faced with a major terrorist attack only a few miles from the US coast, Russell--an ex-naval aviator--responds with the same focus and determination that made him one of the best fighter pilots in the fleet. But will it be enough? If you like Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts and Brad Thor, you'll thoroughly enjoy this nonstop page-turner.
Book Bubbles from Attack on Nantucket
The Torchlight Gambit
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
As the follow-up to Attack on Nantucket, The Torchlight Gambit takes the reader on a suspense-filled, international ride. North Korea is red hot having obtained the Dong-Feng 21D “carrier killer” missile technology that can take out an American Aircraft Carrier with a single shot. Armed with the new “Torchlight” laser weapon system, the US President, Andrew Russell, decides the time is now to confront North Korea. Meanwhile, Apple has just refurbished the iconic ocean liner the SS United States with its mission to travel the world to conduct training and tech seminars for the world’s youth. As part of an PR coup, Apple has decided to send the SS United States to the Korean Peninsula. The stage is now set for a global showdown. Everyone knew it would come and now that it has – the unexpected and unpredictable becomes the real threat.
Book Bubbles from The Torchlight Gambit
The Torchlight Gambit
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
As the follow-up to Attack on Nantucket, The Torchlight Gambit takes the reader on a suspense-filled, international ride. North Korea is red hot having obtained the Dong-Feng 21D “carrier killer” missile technology that can take out an American Aircraft Carrier with a single shot. Armed with the new “Torchlight” laser weapon system, the US President, Andrew Russell, decides the time is now to confront North Korea. Meanwhile, Apple has just refurbished the iconic ocean liner the SS United States with its mission to travel the world to conduct training and tech seminars for the world’s youth. As part of an PR coup, Apple has decided to send the SS United States to the Korean Peninsula. The stage is now set for a global showdown. Everyone knew it would come and now that it has – the unexpected and unpredictable becomes the real threat.
Book Bubbles from The Torchlight Gambit
