Former submarine officer writes a 21st century "Hunt for Red October"

David Bruns knows submarines and he knows book. The result? A new series—The Third Option.

Weapons Free (1) —A submarine cat-and-mouse hunt in the South China Sea between a US Navy Virginia-class sub and a Chinese submarine as the Chinese Navy tests a devastating new weapon.

Alpha Strike (2) releasing July 21 —A brutal jihadi raid on a medical camp in Africa takes a high-value American hostage, turning a regional strike into a national security emergency.

Written with J.R. Olson. https://www.bruns-olson.com/

About David Bruns:

David earned a Bachelor of Science in Honors English from the United States Naval Academy. (That’s not a typo. He’s probably the only English major you’ll ever meet who took multiple semesters of calculus, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, naval architecture, and weapons systems just so he could read some Shakespeare. It was totally worth it.)

After meeting Tom Clancy and reading The Hunt for Red October as a midshipman at the Naval Academy, he served six years as a commissioned officer in the nuclear-powered submarine force chasing the Russians in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. When the Soviet Union collapsed, David left the Navy for corporate life. For two decades, he schlepped his way around the globe as an itinerant executive in the high-tech sector, and did a stint with a Silicon Valley startup.

David is the author of more than twenty novels, including the six-book SynCorp Saga series about a corporate takeover of the solar system with co-creator Chris Pourteau. His short fiction has appeared in dozens of magazines and anthologies.

With retired naval intel officer JR Olson, he writes contemporary national security thrillers that look less like fiction every time he checks the news.

What inspires Pamela Fagan Hutchins to write 21 Wyoming thrillers and counting?

The people and the land.

You’ll understand why when she talks to Kevin Christensen, whose leadership and bravery in combat are featured in the award winning documentary Apache Warrior.

Listen to learn about the real Wyoming, its values, and the culture.

Kevin Christensen:

Raised in Wyoming, strengthened by combat, resilient and ready to lead in Congress.

He is a Republican who is a fiscal conservative and a fierce advocate for individual liberty. Kevin values and protects the culture and traditions of Wyoming. He is a Republican for all Wyoming.

Kevin grew up in Casper Wyoming, attending grade school, middle school, and graduating from Kelly Walsh High School in 1984.

Kevin attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1989. Kevin’s education also includes:

• Master of Science in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology

• Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington DC.

He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Wyoming where he received a Regular Army commission in the Aviation Branch and immediately began his active duty career in May 1989.

Highlights of Kevin’s over 27 year distinguished military career include:

• AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter pilot with a Master Aviator Badge

• Commanded at Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels, culminating in the rank of Colonel

• Combat experience leading at the task force and battalion level in 2003 during major combat operations and again during surge operation in 2008.

• His command of Task Force Gunslinger in Iraq received the prestigious Valorous Unit Award for combat operations in Iraq.

• Senior Advisor and Division Chief on Joint Staff at the Pentagon where he provided military advice to our most senior military and civilian leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

​​Kevin is a highly decorated senior military officer:

• Army Combat Action Badge

• ​Legion of Merit

• Defense Superior Service Medal

• Bronze Star Medal X 2

• Air Medal X4

• Valorous Unit Citation as commanding officer of Task Force Gunslinger in Iraq

​Kevin’s leadership and bravery in combat are featured in the award winning documentary Apache Warrior

Kevin worked in the private sector for the Lockheed Martin Corporation in Washington DC as a Senior Manager for Army Aviation and tactical missile systems

• Worked closely with senior Army and Defense Department officials in the development of next generation vertical lift platforms, avionics, missiles, and aircraft survivability equipment.

• Met with and testified before Congressional staff on procurement and funding status of key defense systems and programs.

​Kevin returned to Wyoming in 2019 to lead the High Plains District of BLM Wyoming through 2025​

• Worked closely with County and State leaders to manage public lands in 10 Wyoming counties (Natrona, Johnson, Sheridan, Campbell, Converse, Crook, Weston, Niobrara, and Goshen) as well as public lands in Nebraska.

• Significantly increased and improved access to public lands.

• Authorized the development of 5,000 new oil and gas wells in the Converse County project area.

• Served as an Agency Administrator in the wildland fire program.

• An advocate for increased access to Wyoming coal.

• Responsible for the Casper Interagency Dispatch Center for Wyoming fire program and the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.

• Fought hard to limit federal overreach during the Biden Administration and retain Wyoming lands for the use and enjoyment of Wyoming residents.

Kevin is married to the former Amber Lee of Cheyenne Wyoming. They recently celebrated their 36 year anniversary together. Amber is the Chairman of the Casper Celtic Irish Festival.

​

Welcome to The Next Chapter Podcast. Today I’m welcoming the inspiring and delightful G.P. Gottlieb with her newest installment in the Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series, CHARRED.

Meet G.P Gottlieb—

In her own words:

I earned music degrees and performed, taught, composed, or administered while writing stories, songs, and several unwieldy manuscripts. After recovering from breast cancer in 2015, I turned to writing in earnest, melding my two passions: nourishment for mind and body and recipe-laced murder mysteries.

As the host of New Books in Literature, a podcast channel on the New Books Network, I’ve interviewed over 280 authors. I lead the Sisters in Crime Chicagoland book group and also belong to SinC Colorado, SinC Wisconsin, Mystery Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Blackbird Writers.

The first three Whipped and Sipped Mysteries (Battered, Smothered, and Charred) have been reissued by Anamcara Press, and #4, Pounded: A Whipped & Sipped Mystery, will be released March 16, 2027!

About CHARRED:

Welcome to Chicago's Coziest Cafe - the pastries are vegan, the coffee is strong, and the gossip can be deadly!

Even a worldwide pandemic can’t keep a woman like Alene Baron down... nor from finding herself in the middle of a murder investigation. While she has to get creative to keep the Whipped and Sipped Café going during the COVID lockdown, that is nothing compared to figuring out the real story about a dead body found in a burnt-out building in her neighborhood. Red herring might not be vegan, but it does seem to be the order of the day.