Monday, April 27, 2015

Ed Kovacs's "The Russian Bride"

Ed Kovacs is the author of the critically-acclaimed Cliff St. James mystery/crime series published by St. Martin’s Press. Kovacs has studied martial arts, holds many weapons-related licenses, certifications and permits, and is a certified medical First Responder. Using various pen names, he has worked professionally around the world as a screenwriter, journalist, and media consultant. He is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, American Legion Post 299, the International Thriller Writers association, and Mystery Writers of America.

Here Kovacs dreamcasts an adaptation of his new novel, The Russian Bride:
The hero of The Russian Bride is Kit Bennings, an American military intelligence officer in the army's most secret unit. I envisioned a man who could not only blend in amongst various cultures, but who could alternately appear harmless or extremely menacing.

I settled on Karl Urban, who played a deadly assassin in The Bourne Supremacy—he was the guy who killed Bourne's girlfriend. Urban is handsome, rugged, and can deliver a chilling gaze. Perfect. I printed out his photo and tacked it above my writing desk.

As for my Russian heroine, Yulana Petkova, I couldn't decide on an actress who'd be perfect, so I found a Russian fashion model's headshot that just seemed to nail it.

Having spent a lot of time in Russia myself—including working with intelligence agents (I stayed in the same hotel in Kazakhstan as the notorious Russian deep cover agent Anna Chapman), I wanted a beautiful, exotic female with an undercurrent of melancholy and the suggestion that she had many secrets to hide. Perhaps readers could suggest the perfect actress for Yulana.
Learn more about the book and author at Ed Kovacs's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Russian Bride.

Writers Read: Ed Kovacs.

--Marshal Zeringue