How To Share: International Lawyer to Thriller Writer

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“Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb

When A. Marc Ross in college, he made a deal with his dad so that he could spend a couple of summers writing. He’d spend half a day writing and half a day working around the house. By the end of the deal he realized that he wasn’t ready to match the literary giants of the time.

So he went to law school. After a successful career as an international lawyer, Marc was ready to circle back to that dream of writing. He’s now published two thrillers with two more on the way.

I love Marc’s story because it reassures me that it’s never too late to pursue our lifelong dreams. It also reminds me that our experience along the way is helpful. In his book, Attacking the Dragon, Marc’s knowledge of China gained from his work as an international lawyer is part of what makes the action and intrigue so compelling.

My co-host Vicki Atkinson and I had a fascinating conversation with Marc on the How to Share podcast about his fabulous geopolitical thriller and his journey as a writer. We celebrate the art of reinvention—exploring how accomplished professionals like Marc transform their expertise into page-turning fiction and embark on a thrilling second act as authors. We get to hear firsthand how Marc turned his lifelong dream of writing novels into reality, overcoming challenges along the way.

This episode is packed with intrigue, inspiration, and actionable insights for anyone looking to excel not just in one career, but two! Don’t miss your chance to meet Marc Ross and fall in love with Attacking the Dragon—a must-read for fans of international suspense and powerful storytelling

Takeaways:

  • Marc Ross’s book ‘Attacking the Dragon’ explores China’s geopolitical landscape.
  • The Belt and Road Initiative is a significant yet under-discussed topic.
  • Ross aims to portray China as a victim rather than an aggressor in his narrative.
  • His legal background provides a unique perspective on the thriller genre.
  • Character names in Chinese culture are complex but manageable for storytelling.
  • Ross’s writing journey reflects a long-held dream to become an author.
  • He emphasizes the importance of creating unique protagonists in thrillers.
  • The art of storytelling involves engaging readers through vivid descriptions.
  • Ross enjoys the process of writing and values reader feedback. His experiences as a lawyer enrich his fictional narratives.

Here’s a short clip of Marc giving the elevator pitch for this great book:

Here are some ways you can watch this compelling and inspiring episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

Links for this episode:

How To Share: From International Lawyer to Thriller Writer transcript

A. Marc Ross’s website: https://www.amarcross.com/index.html

Attacking the Dragon on Barnes & Noble and Amazon

From the hosts:

Vicki’s book about resilience and love: Surviving Sue; Blog: https://victoriaponders.com/

My book about my beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

(featured photo from Pexels)

29 thoughts on “How To Share: International Lawyer to Thriller Writer”

  1. This…this…this! Such a fab conversation, Wynne! I loved reading “Attacking the Dragon” and the chat with Marc was amazing. So many insights into his craft…what a storyteller! ❤️😉❤️

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  2. Sounds very interesting!

    And no, it’s never to late in most situations to revisit one’s dreams from one’s youth. Our life experiences bring so much to whatever activity we choose to involve ourselves in, and even if it doesn’t work out that it becomes a new career, it can at least bring a lot of enjoyment and depth to one’s life.

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  10. Wonderful conversation, Wynne and Vicki. International thrillers are a great genre and it’s always intriguing when the author has lived experience in the game and brings those relationships and travels into their world building.

    As someone who’s Chinese and has family in that part of the world, it’s fascinating to see China emerge as a world leader and also concerning to see the growing tensions between China and the US – definitely a potential next war-like situation which I hope does not come to fruition. There’s so much the East and the West can learn from each other. But I know that’s not how politics and economics work unfortunately!

    I love what Marc said about mutual enjoyment about writing. That does sound like the best part of writing and being a writer!

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    1. It might not be how politics and economics work – but it is how you work which is part of your amazing charm and growth mindset. Let’s hope we can learn to cooperate! Thanks for tuning in, Ab!

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  11. Oooo, I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch the games translators play – that’s a fascinating concept! But seriously, I like that Ross has always wanted to write, and even with an entirely different career, he felt the pull to try again. He’s the real deal. He’s picked a strong topic (China) and then made it a thriller – that’s a potent combination. Thanks for allowing us to take a peek into Marc’s fictional world.

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  12. Marc’s story certainly reminds us once again our story is never complete until it ends…so keep on writing it…and in his case that is exactly what he did. Timely subject matter for his book as well.

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  13. Marc’s book sounds so intriguing and because he had his other career first, the material is sure to be rich and full of an insider’s perspective. Sometimes our paths don’t go in the order we expected and that’s what makes life so interesting. Maybe he wouldn’t have been ready to write a book like this had he gone the other way.

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