Books

THE WARNER OBJECTIVE

In a world shrouded in mystery and deception, why are terrorists avoiding government targets? Where does the endless stream of funds fueling their operations originate? What malevolent end game do they pursue? Imagine a twisted reality where esteemed billionaire industrialists are the true puppet masters behind the terrorists’ facade. Who claims victory – the terrorists or the capitalists?

Introducing “The Warner Objective” – a gripping thriller that places you directly into the mind of Agent Warner. Tasked with piecing together this dangerous puzzle, Warner is a man haunted by his own inner demons. As an operative for a covert government organization, he relentlessly tracks the elusive money trails and shadowy figures from the bustling streets of China to the heart of Europe and across the United States. Bodies fall as Warner gets closer to unveiling the mastermind’s identity, only to face a heart-stopping twist at the climactic moment.

Uncover the shocking truth in a tale where nothing is as it seems. “The Warner Objective” – read the book, discover the secrets.

So here is the backstory on why I wrote this book. It was 1980 I was working in the studio at Golden West Broadcasters. Being part of the staff at that time meant that one day you could be stage managing a network sitcom and to fill your week you could be assigned to do other jobs on other shows on the studio lot. Based on the shoot days I was free from my own shows on the days that Solid Gold the music show would tape. As I was a lighting director on other shows I was scheduled to run follow spot on the that show. The way the show was recorded we only worked the follow spots for about 10 minutes per hour. We were on standby the other 50 minutes. We were sitting up on towers placed around the stage area. The length of the work call was usually 10 hours, take away meal and other breaks, we could end up with up to 5 hours of standing by time. Why tell you all this? Well that left a lot of reading time, and went looking for a book series to fill the time. This was before eBooks so it meant going to a bookstore to get the books. During a visit I stumbled on a series of 10 books (at that time) written by Adam Hall.

Here’s the backstory on why I wrote this book. It was 1980, and I was working at Golden West Broadcasters. Being on staff there meant that one day I could be stage managing a network sitcom, and the next, I might be assigned various roles on other shows on the studio lot. Based on the production schedule, I was free on the days that the music show Solid Gold was taping. Since I worked as a lighting director on other shows, I was assigned to operate one of the follow spots for Solid Gold.

The way the show was recorded, we only used the follow spots for about 10 minutes per hour, leaving us on standby for the remaining 50 minutes. We were stationed on towers around the stage, and with a typical 10-hour workday, minus meal and other breaks, we could have up to five hours of downtime. Why mention all of this? Because it left me with plenty of time to read, and I needed a good book series to pass those long hours. This was before eBooks, so it meant making trips to the bookstore.

On one of those trips, I stumbled upon a series of 10 books (at that time) written by Adam Hall. The series began with The Quiller Memorandum, and as a fan of espionage novels, I picked it up. I was immediately hooked. The book was written in a unique style for its time, using a first-person perspective that completely drew me in. Needless to say, I devoured the entire series during my Solid Gold downtime, and I continued following it into the mid-’90s.

By the mid-’90s, I had started my own production company. My obsession with the series led me to reach out to the publisher by snail mail—there was no Google back then to make instant connections. I eventually discovered that Adam Hall was a pseudonym for Elleston Trevor, and I asked the publisher to forward my contact information to him, as I was interested in the TV rights to the series. In those days, “contact information” meant my address and phone number.

I clearly remember the moment I was told that Elleston Trevor was on the phone for me. I grabbed the receiver, hit the blinking line, and eagerly introduced myself as a huge fan. He couldn’t have been more gracious. We began discussing the business proposal I had sent, and he informed me that the rights had already been sold to Paramount, even though nothing had been done with them since the first movie adaptation. He wasn’t happy about it, but the rights were tied up for a few more years.

Our conversation shifted, and we talked about his most recent book, Quiller Salamander. He even asked for my thoughts, which I found incredibly generous. Then, he gave me a sneak peek of the book he was working on at the time, Quiller Balalaika. It was a fantastic, rambling discussion, and we even talked about the possibility of meeting at his home in Arizona. Sadly, I was unaware of his illness, and he passed away shortly afterward, in July of 1995.

Nearly ten years later, after completing the launch of LATV, the broadcast network, I found myself with some free time. I picked up and re-read Quiller, and the inspiration struck. My goal was to write a book that paid homage to Adam Hall, with a similar style and a lead character in the same vein. I certainly don’t claim to have the expertise or craftsmanship that Elleston gained over his prolific career, but I did my best to emulate his style, borrowing a few elements and terms that always stuck with me. That’s how The Warner Objective came to be. Good or bad, it was a personal journey to honor the Quiller series that brought me so much joy—every year, I eagerly awaited the next book on the shelf. Thank you Elleston for so many hours of shear escape and total enjoyments.

Why I wrote this book...