charlesfpurcell

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This is The Spartan!

Hi there, Charles Purcell here, journalist and author of the recently released military thriller The Spartan, now available on Amazon. How are you today? As you can see, this is the very first entry of my blog. In it, I hope to share my experiences in writing, particularly with the sequel to The Spartan, tentatively called The Spartan: Blowback. I’m about 55,000 words through it at the moment. I…

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Robert, Woody, Kathy, Barack Obama and me … my top 10 celebrity interviews

HERE’S a little compilation of some of the best celebrity interviews I’ve done over the years. For me, they’re all outstanding in some way, whether it was the connection I forged with the subject, what we were talking about or that fact I just really dig their work. Take a look … Robert Downey jnr Robert just absolutely oozed charisma in real life. Witty, charming and erudite, he was in Sydney to…

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Check it out, Cyberpunk 2077 fans ... the day I met Keanu "Johnny Silverhands" Reeves in the flesh

Check it out, Cyberpunk 2077 fans … the day I met Keanu “Johnny Silverhands” Reeves in the flesh

So we’re all loving Keanu Reeves’s appearance in cult game Cyberpunk 2077, am I right? Frankly I can’t think of a cooler cat to play a silver-handed cyber terrorist from the future. Can’t wait to find out more about what Johnny Silverhands has in store for my character. I’m sure it’s going to be a blast.But why meet Reeves online when you can meet him in the flesh?Fortunately enough, I meet…

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'The Chinese Premier couldn't afford to make the same mistake as his predecessor': Excerpt from Game Of Killers: The Spartan

‘The Chinese Premier couldn’t afford to make the same mistake as his predecessor’: Excerpt from Game Of Killers: The Spartan

“Do you want war?” yelled the Chinese Premier down the phone to the President of the United States. “Because wars have been started over far, far less!”

“With respect, Mr Premier, we had no choice but to respond after your sub sunk the Abraham Lincoln,” replied POTUS. “You had to expect a response with the whole world watching.”

“Bah! With greaterrespect, Mr President, I already told you that we…

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"You and your friends killed JFK": Excerpt from Game Of Killers: The Spartan

“You and your friends killed JFK”: Excerpt from Game Of Killers: The Spartan

The inside of the elite retirement home boasted the sort of wood-meets-marble-meets-money look that rich retirees and Bohemian Grovers drooled over. Judging by the level of comfort and the contented demeanor of its occupants, the casual observer would never think that the mighty USA was suffering outside. This was a port from the storm, an oasis of calm in the surrounding scorched earth.

Garin…

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Mantel’s mirror can illuminate the modern world For the Young Adult book market, the biggest event is the release of a new Harry Potter novel.

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'The Premier denies responsibility': Excerpt from The Spartan

‘The Premier denies responsibility’: Excerpt from The Spartan

The Chinese Premier had learnt how to handle unexpected phone calls from the US President. Typically his American opposite asked him to address the vast difference in their balance of trade, to let the yuan appreciate or to do something about Chinese protectionism. Or, most tiresome of all, he would lecture him about human rights like he was addressing the White House press gallery in public and…

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‘A Chinese agent was caught trying to plant a biological weapon on a rooftop in Brighton Beach’: Excerpt from The Spartan “Why, it’s the most interesting man you know, come to pay you a visit.” “Welcome Colonel Garin,” said the president’s secretary, Harmony, a blonde beauty in her early fifties.

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Excerpt from The Spartan: Pandemic preparations Bad news comes in threes, and for those enlightened few still paying attention to the big picture, news that China had overnight banned all flights to and from the US was a shock.

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Excerpt from The Spartan

Marchenko unsealed the fridge and removed the suspicious device. “Good thing it didn’t go off in the club,” said Colonel Garin, staring at the metallic canister. “We’ve got the remote control,” said Marchenko. “Maybe we shouldn’t be standing so close to this.” Neither man moved back. “Afraid, American?” “Only of the clap … so what do you think it is?” Garin asked. “A weaponised, contagious…

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Happy birthday, Keanu … aka the day I met Mr Reeves I MET Keanu Reeves once. It was at the premiere of The Matrix Revolutions at the Sydney Opera House in 2003.

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Nation’s dogs demand apology for all those water bottles left on lawns

Nation’s dogs demand apology for all those water bottles left on lawns

WOOF, Australia’s peak body for domesticated dogs, today demanded an apology from humans everywhere for decades of leaving half-empty water bottles on lawns. Dubbing the move cruel and unusual, Doctor Canine Rex, spokesdog for WOOF, said it was about time humans apologised for their long-held practice of preventing dogs from relieving themselves on lawns. Doctor Rex claimed many of its members…

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Why none of us are good enough to be invited to the royal wedding I feel like Megan Markle’s dad today. He is apparently not going to be walking his daughter down the aisle.

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My ball tampering shame Our nation reels under our greatest cricketing controversy since Trevor Chappell’s infamous underarm bowling incident. And yet, amid the howls of outrage from the public, I am reminded of another cricket controversy – the day my own team was accused of ball tampering.

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Book excerpt from Game Of Killers: The Spartan

Book excerpt from Game Of Killers: The Spartan

In the event China went to war with the United States, the Chinese military had prepared a list of American targets it called “the irreplaceables”. These “irreplaceables” were the best of the best of their enemy: brilliant men and women whose genius-level talent and brainpower could potentially sway any conflict. Sourced from all races, colors and creeds, “the irreplaceables” had the ability to…

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Is the world ready for a Chinese Rambo? He’s the special forces soldier taking down his country’s enemies around the world. He’s an irresistible force of patriotism and violence that leaves a trail of bodies in his wake.

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Who’s the better employer – Don Corleone or Silicon Valley?

Who’s the better employer – Don Corleone or Silicon Valley?

Don Corleone Job for life (literally) Silicon Valley Job until you’re 30 (so, so old) Don Corleone Must kill Silicon Valley Must code Don Corleone Workplace full of aggression Silicon Valley Workplace full of microaggression Don Corleone Must pay obeisance to all-powerful father figure Silicon Valley Must pay obeisance to all-powerful tech guru Don Corleone Co-workers mostly dudes Silicon Valley…