Episode 239: Science and Intrigue in Thrillers — Interview with Dan Grant

by Gabriela Pereira
published in Podcast

Hey there word nerds!

Today I am delighted to have Dan Grant on the show!

Dan is an author with a background in electrical engineering who has always loved the world of stories and intriguing tales, especially suspense and thrillers that weave science, medicine, or technology into the fabric of the drama.

As a licensed professional engineer he’s had the unique opportunity to work with a variety of medical and technological projects and to get behind the scenes at military facilities. And as you read his debut thriller, The Singularity Witness, you can definitely see how his engineering background has filtered into the narrative to form a broader storytelling tapestry.

Dan is currently hard work on his next thriller entitled Thirteen Across, as well as the next book in his Singularity series.

Now listen in as Dan and I chat about his awesome debut The Singularity Witness, and how to balance hard science with the fast pace of thrillers.

In this episode Dan and I discuss:

  • How to use research for a science based thriller without info dumping.
  • Showing your story’s world through the perspective of an outsider.
  • How to add depth to your characters without slowing down the plot.
  • Worldbuilding in a unique setting grounded in today’s reality.
  • Choosing the path of self publishing.

Plus, Dan’s #1 tip for writers.

About Dan Grant

Dan has always loved the world of stories and intriguing tales, especially suspense and thrillers that weave science, medicine, or technology into the fabric of the drama.  His debut thriller, The Singularity Witness, released in October of 2018.

He is a licensed professional engineer with degrees from Northern Arizona University: a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a masters’ in college education and English with an emphasis in creative writing.

His engineering endeavors have provided unique opportunities to work with a variety of medical and technological applications, and get behind the scenes at military facilities. Those experiences add threads to conspiracies and form a broader storytelling tapestry.

Dan lives in Colorado and is working on his next thriller, entitled Thirteen Across. And Thomas Parker and Kate Morgan will be back in The Singularity Transfer.

To connect with Dan check out his website at dangrantbooks.com.

The Singularity Witness

What happens when a radical technology ushers in an ominous future? Abduction and murder are just the beginning.

When a clandestine research lab disposes of its test subject and kidnaps a U.S. Senator to protect its secrets, those events trigger a federal investigation. The covert program requires the services of Thomas Parker, a Princeton University professor and cutting-edge neurologist, to deliver their breakthrough achievement. And FBI Special Agent Kate Morgan needs Parker to help her infiltrate the secret lab.

They discover that no sacrifice is too great for a cause that unravels the mysteries of the mind. and changes the world. Neurological singularity becomes an uncharted frontier and a new precipice for scientific achievement.

Together, Parker and Morgan are faced with the dilemma of advancing the revolutionary technology in order to solve the senator’s abduction, save the singularity witness and others, and survive.

“What if” medical and biological research scenarios are placed against a tapestry of science, medicine, technology, and conspiracy. Who is the singularity witness?

 

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

 

Link to Episode 239

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