Welcome
Comments: 13
Date: 15 Nov 2008
Thanks for visiting ajtata.com. I have pledged 100% of my royalties from Sudden Threat, for the life of the book, to the USO Metro DC Hospital Services Fund for our wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital as well as the Warrior Transition Units at Fort Meade and Fort Belvoir. Already we’ve helped raise over $115,000 for the troops being cared for in these facilities.
The number one question I get asked about my writing is: how do you find the time to write? Writing is one of many hobbies or activities I’ve enjoyed ever since I was a kid. In the mid nineties I began studying how to write books and screenplays and by the late nineties had completed Sudden Threat and Rogue Threat. It seemed that I found time late at night and on the weekends to chip away at a few pages a day and before I realized it, I had two completed manuscripts. Even today I’m able to give 2000% to my military duties and family and find time to write on the weekends and in the evenings when I’m traveling.
Like the manuscripts of many authors, Sudden and Rogue Threat sat idle on my computer or in a box in my home. After reading the manuscripts, friends and family encouraged me to publish. In 2005 prior to deploying to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division I decided to see if my writing had the chops to compete in the open market. As a newly minted brigadier general I chose to publish under a pseudonym, Aiden Rocke, to avoid any distraction from my real mission, then being the deputy commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division. I chose to publish Rogue Threat, the second book in the series, because it was the one I had most recently updated post 9-11. The self-publishing company iUniverse was great to work with and I think they do a fantastic job on the books. I was very pleased with their work on Rogue Threat.
A combination of four things happened to make me get serious about writing and publishing. The reviews for Rogue Threat on Amazon and Barnes and Noble were about 5:1 positive to negative. Compared to more established authors, I thought that was a good indicator. Next, completely unsolicited, I received a call from the producer of the movie Lions for Lambs inquiring about the movie rights for Rogue Threat. I thought this was a good indicator also. Third, I began receiving emails from readers that enjoyed reading Rogue Threat and were anxious to get the sequel, Hidden Threat, which had been mentioned in U.S. News and World Report’s Washington Whispers section. Last, after helpful guidance from Brad Thor, Variance Publishing signed me to a two book contract. Tim Schulte, the owner of Variance and a pro in the book business, wanted to start with the beginning of the series, which meant diving back into Sudden Threat.
As I thought about finishing Sudden Threat, I asked myself the question: what if there was a group inside the beltway that was motivated and able to prevent the run-up to the Iraq war; how might that play out? I also asked myself: what if an ally wanted to exploit our focus in the Middle East? How might the U.S. respond? Hence, the “Rolling Stones” and their high-minded conspiracy were invented. My two heroes, Matt and Zach Garrett, get caught in the cross-fire of the resultant machinations as two powerful groups attempt to steer the nation in two different directions.
The sequel, Rogue Threat, will be updated with some new chapters and possibly a new ending, published under Variance’s imprint summer/fall 2009 and released nationwide in bookstores. Next will be Hidden Threat about this time next year, followed by Dark Threat.
I enjoy hearing from readers, so either send me a note from the contact page or join in the discussion in the Reader’s Operations Center (ROC).
Again, thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe,
Tony Tata
p.s. In case you’re wondering, the last name is Italian. My grandparents emigrated from Italy in the 1920s to Detroit, Michigan.
Comments
Ali 15 Nov, 5:33pm
It has been great working with you on your site.
Bob Henry 26 Dec, 9:51am
Tony,
Wow… been following your career since BG (congrats), and now an accomplished author (congrats again). I look forward to reading all your books. And thanks for donating proceeds to our Wounded Warriors and AER.
All the best,
Bob
Army Lax ‘81
US Army (ret’d)
Herndon, VA
Pam & Steve Blais 26 Dec, 7:08pm
Hi Tony,
Although we have never met, Steve and I are extremely pleased to have you in our family. A welcome is a little late, but here it is WELCOME!!!
We have read your first book and could not wait for your second one. Rogue Threat was very good reading and I personally could not put it down. I was very excited to hear you had another one come out. I am now on chapter 16 and enjoy it very much. We are very slow readers LOL As we proceed through the book and finally finish we will contact you again. Thank you very much for the book.
Pam & Steve Blais
Robert Blanchard 27 Dec, 12:37am
BG Tata, I served on your personal security team in Kosovo (KFOR 3-A ,2/101st MP Company Air Assault). Congrsts on the new book and success. I have bought Sudden Threat and looking forward to reading it. I will have you sign it whenever I can get to a book signing. Good Luck!
Judith Pitalo Peebles 23 Mar, 2:23am
Tony, lost your email addy so I can’t write you. Hope that you will respond. It was wonderful talking to you when you were visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast. WLOX has wonderful people working there. God bless and hope to hear from you. Judith Pitalo Peebles
Doug McLiverty LTC (RET) 11 Nov, 11:02am
Sir,
Great job on WNIS this morning. You are a national treasure. With your experiences and education, have you ever considered serving in Congress? We could sure use someone like you in DC. There are so few veterans in Congress.
I briefly worked for you in JFCOM, J9 and I never knew you had this incredible background. I have met your parents at our Civic League meetings and I understand how you turned out the way you have. You come from a great American Family.
Hope our paths cross in the future.
All the best,
Doug
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