Marc Cameron

Last updated
Marc Cameron
Born1961 (age 6263)
Texas, U.S.
OccupationWriter
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater Weatherford High School
Genre
Years active2011–present
Notable works
Tom Clancy: Power and Empire
National Security
Website
marccameronbooks.com

Marc Cameron (born 1961) is an American novelist. He is best known for the Jack Ryan series, which is part of the Tom Clancy universe, as well as for the critically acclaimed Jericho Quinn series of action adventure novels.

Contents

Early life

Cameron was born and raised in Texas, and graduated from Weatherford High School in 1980. [1] He later spent 29 years in law enforcement as a police officer. In early 1991 he became part of the United States Marshals Service, specializing in dignitary protection, and moved through the ranks until finally retiring as chief of the district of Alaska in 2011 in order to pursue writing full-time. [2]

Cameron has a second-degree black belt in jujutsu, and often teaches defensive tactics to law enforcement agencies and civilian groups. He is also a certified scuba diver, man-tracker and an avid adventure motorcyclist, in which would later prominently feature motorcycles in his novels. [3]

Writing career

Cameron loved to watch Indiana Jones and James Bond movies as a child, which aroused his interest in becoming a writer. [4] He published his first novel, National Security (2011), which became critically acclaimed; bestselling thriller writer Brad Thor hailed it as "awesome" and praised Cameron as “one of the hottest new authors in the thriller genre”. [5] Its success spawned seven more novels: Act of Terror (2012), State of Emergency (2013), Time of Attack (2014), Day Zero (2015), Brute Force (2015), Field of Fire (2016), and Dead Drop (2017); as well as a novella, The Triple Frontier (2018). [6]

Cameron’s short stories have appeared in The Saturday Evening Post and Boys' Life magazine. [7] In addition, he has also written a Western novel, To Hell and Beyond (2017), under the pseudonym Mark Henry. [8]

Cameron has started a new thriller series featuring U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter; its first entry, Open Carry, was released in February 2019. [9]

Tom Clancy universe

Cameron became a fan of Tom Clancy from reading The Hunt for Red October as a rookie policeman. [10] Later on, his friend and writer of the Jack Ryan series Mark Greaney suggested him to his editor Tom Colgan when he was planning to step away from the franchise. Greaney later said of the recommendation: "His writing is both intelligent and action-packed, and Marc has an impressive personal resume that I am sure he will work into the novels to great effect.” [11]

The Real Book Spy announced Greaney's departure from the franchise on February 20, 2017, and introduced Cameron to replace him as writer of the Jack Ryan novels slated for winter release. Speaking about his inclusion into the series, he says: “I especially enjoy writing Jack Ryan. He’s such a good, honest archetype of a character. The cool thing about Jack is that he’s so strong and so vulnerable at the same time. I wanted to be sure I got him exactly right, so I wrote a lot of drafts of the chapters with him.” [12] Regarding the negative reaction upon authors continuing the Tom Clancy universe after his death, Cameron asserts: “Some people are, like, ruined-their-life angry. I’m a lighten-up kind of guy. If you don’t want to read them, don’t. But there are so many stories in these characters, and we have an obligation to keep them going, authentically, like the original author wanted them to be.” [13]

Cameron's first entry in the series, Tom Clancy: Power and Empire , was published in November 2017 and debuted at number six on the New York Times bestseller list. [14] Publishers Weekly praised the novel: "All the writers who have contributed to this series since Clancy’s death have been good, but Cameron’s formidable performance puts him at the head of the pack." [15] Cameron continued the series with Tom Clancy: Oath of Office, . [16] and Tom Clancy Code of Honor [17]

Bibliography

Jericho Quinn series

Jack Ryan series

Featuring characters created by Tom Clancy

Arliss Cutter series

As Mark Henry

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Clancy</span> American author (1947–2013)

Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. was an American novelist. He is best known for his technically detailed espionage and military-science storylines set during and after the Cold War. Seventeen of his novels have been bestsellers and more than 100 million copies of his books have been sold. His name was also used on screenplays written by ghostwriters, nonfiction books on military subjects occasionally with co-authors, and video games. He was a part-owner of his hometown Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, and vice-chairman of their community activities and public affairs committees.

<i>The Hunt for Red October</i> 1984 novel by Tom Clancy

The Hunt for Red October is the debut novel by American author Tom Clancy, first published on October 1, 1984, by the Naval Institute Press. It depicts Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius as he seemingly goes rogue with his country's cutting-edge ballistic missile submarine Red October, and marks the first appearance of Clancy's most popular fictional character, Jack Ryan, an analyst working for the Central Intelligence Agency, as he must prove his theory that Ramius is intending to defect to the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Ryan (character)</span> Fictional character created by author Tom Clancy

John Patrick Ryan Sr. (Hon.) is a fictional character created by author Tom Clancy and featured in his Ryanverse novels, which have consistently topped the New York Times bestseller list over 30 years. Since Clancy's death in 2013, five other authors, Mark Greaney, Grant Blackwood, Mike Maden, Marc Cameron and Don Bentley, have continued writing new novels for the franchise and its other connecting series with the approval of the Clancy family estate.

The Ryanverse is a term for the political drama media franchise created by author Tom Clancy centering on the character of Jack Ryan and the fictional universe featuring Jack and other characters, such as John Clark and Domingo Chavez.

<i>Threat Vector</i> 2012 techno-thriller novel by Tom Clancy

Threat Vector is a techno-thriller novel, written by Tom Clancy and co-written with Mark Greaney, and published on December 4, 2012. A direct sequel to Locked On (2011), President Jack Ryan and The Campus must prevent a Chinese expansionist government from enacting war in the South China Sea. The book debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Command Authority</i> 2013 novel by Tom Clancy

Command Authority is a techno-thriller novel, written by Tom Clancy and co-written with Mark Greaney, and published on December 3, 2013. It is Clancy's last major work of fiction and was released posthumously two months after his death. Set during the Cold War and after the events of Threat Vector (2012), the novel features President Jack Ryan and The Campus as they must deal with Russian dictator Valeri Volodin, a character widely noted as similar to real-life Russian president Vladimir Putin. The book debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Support and Defend</i> 2014 novel by Mark Greaney

Support and Defend is a thriller novel, written by Mark Greaney and published on July 22, 2014. The book is a spinoff from the Tom Clancy universe and features FBI agent and The Campus operative Dominic “Dom” Caruso, who is President Jack Ryan’s nephew. It is the first novel in the franchise written after Clancy’s death during the previous year, as well as Greaney’s first solo contribution to the overall series.

<i>Full Force and Effect</i>

Full Force and Effect is a political thriller, written by Mark Greaney and published on December 2, 2014. It is the fifteenth overall entry in the Jack Ryan series and the first such entry to be published after original author Tom Clancy’s death during the previous year, as well as Greaney's second solo contribution to the franchise.

The following is a complete list of books published by Tom Clancy, an American author of contemporary spy fiction and military fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Greaney (novelist)</span> American novelist (born 1967)

Mark Greaney is an American novelist focusing on thriller. He is best known as Tom Clancy's collaborator on his final books during his lifetime, and for continuing the Jack Ryan character and the Tom Clancy universe following Clancy's death in 2013. He is also known for the Gray Man series of novels, which was produced by Netflix into a feature film.

<i>Under Fire</i> (Blackwood novel)

Under Fire is a political thriller novel, written by Grant Blackwood and released on June 16, 2015. It is the seventh book in the Jack Ryan Jr. series, which is part of the overall Tom Clancy universe, as well as Blackwood's first solo contribution to the franchise. In the novel, Ryan must choose between his country and his mysterious friend Seth Gregory, who is involved in Dagestan's struggle for independence from the Russian Federation. The book debuted at number four on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Commander in Chief</i> (novel) 2015 novel by Mark Greaney

Commander in Chief is a political thriller novel, written by Mark Greaney and released on December 1, 2015. In the book, President Jack Ryan and The Campus must stop Russian president Valeri Volodin from launching a covert violent offensive in an effort to bring back Russia as a superpower. Commander in Chief is Greaney’s third solo entry in the Jack Ryan series, which is part of the overall Tom Clancy universe. The book debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Point of Contact</i> (novel)

Point of Contact is a techno-thriller novel, written by Mike Maden and released on June 13, 2017. Set in the Tom Clancy universe, the novel depicts Jack Ryan Jr. as he helps avert a North Korean plot to crash the Asian stock market, along with his Hendley Associates colleague Paul Brown, in Singapore. Point of Contact marks Maden’s debut as the sole author of the Jack Ryan Jr. novels, succeeding Grant Blackwood. It debuted at number 3 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Mike Maden is an American novelist. He is well known for the Jack Ryan Jr. novels, which are part of the Tom Clancy universe, as well as for the Drone series of techno-thrillers.

<i>Power and Empire</i>

Power and Empire is a political thriller novel, written by Marc Cameron and released on November 28, 2017. Set in the Tom Clancy universe, President Jack Ryan and The Campus must prevent a secret cabal heightening the tensions between the United States and China from causing a violent coup in the Chinese government. Power and Empire is Cameron's first book in the Jack Ryan series, succeeding Mark Greaney. It debuted at number six on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Line of Sight</i> (novel) 2018 novel by Mike Maden

Line of Sight is a techno-thriller novel, written by Mike Maden and released on June 12, 2018. It is his second book in the Jack Ryan Jr. series, which is part of the overall Tom Clancy universe. In the novel, Ryan has to avert a sinister plot by Serb extremists to provoke war between NATO and the Russians in the Balkans. It debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>True Faith and Allegiance</i>

True Faith and Allegiance is a political thriller, written by Mark Greaney and released on December 6, 2016. In the book, President Jack Ryan and The Campus must contain a massive intelligence breach that has been responsible for a series of terrorist attacks on American military and intelligence personnel. True Faith and Allegiance is Greaney's last book in the Jack Ryan series, which is part of the Tom Clancy universe. It debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Oath of Office</i> (novel) 2018 thriller novel

Oath of Office is a techno-thriller novel, written by Marc Cameron and published on November 27, 2018. Set in author Tom Clancy's "Ryanverse," universe, President Jack Ryan and The Campus deal with a sinister plot behind a series of protests in Iran, dubbed the Persian Spring. Oath of Office is Cameron's second book in the Jack Ryan series. The book debuted at number eight on the New York Times bestseller list.

<i>Code of Honor</i> (Cameron novel) 2019 novel by Marc Cameron

Code of Honor is a techno-thriller novel, written by Marc Cameron and published on November 19, 2019. It is his third book in the Jack Ryan series.

<i>Firing Point</i> 2020 novel by Mike Maden

Firing Point is a techno-thriller novel, written by Mike Maden and released on June 9, 2020. It is his fourth and final book in the Jack Ryan Jr. series, which is part of the overall Tom Clancy universe. In the novel, Ryan investigates an old friend's death while vacationing in Barcelona, Spain. It debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list.

References

  1. "Next Tom Clancy writer hails from North Texas". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. "Marc Cameron (Biography)". PenguinRandomHouse.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  3. "Marc Cameron - Book Series in Order" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. "Marc Cameron - Book Series in Order" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. "National Security by Marc Cameron". The Big Thrill. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. "Marc Cameron - Book Series in Order" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. "Biography - Marc Cameron" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. "To Hell and Beyond Overview" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. "Open Carry (An Arliss Cutter Novel)" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. "A Tom Clancy Fan Continues Tom Clancy's Series" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. Steck, Ryan. "Exclusive: Big Changes Coming To The Tom Clancy Universe In 2017" . Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  12. "Next Tom Clancy writer hails from North Texas". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  13. Hoffman, Barbara. "These authors risk the wrath of readers to keep book franchises alive". New York Post. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  14. "Combined Print & E-Book Fiction Books - Best Sellers - December 17, 2017 - The New York Times" . Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  15. "Fiction Book Review: Tom Clancy: Power and Empire by Marc Cameron". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  16. "Tom Clancy Oath of Office (A Jack Ryan Novel): Marc Cameron" . Retrieved 28 Dec 2019.
  17. "Tom Clancy Code of Honor". Amazon.com. Retrieved 28 December 2019.