Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Spy Games

Today we welcome romantic suspense author Gina Robinson back to the Lair. What has been happening with you since you joined us last year?

I’ve been writing away and just generally keeping busy with everyday life. Isn’t life funny? It zips by at a million miles a minute, each day so busy and full you feel like you’ll never get everything done. Then someone asks you what you’ve been up to lately and suddenly you just draw a blank. That’s the way I feel right now. I’ve been busy doing everything and nothing, nothing exciting enough to stand out anyway.

My second novel, Spy Games, was released on December 1st. I’m very happy and excited by that. Now I can say I’m a multi-published author .

Your Spy Camp series sounds like a really cool idea. Please tell us how it's structured.

Sure! Basically each book is a standalone single title story featuring a unique cast of characters. What ties the books together is Fantasy Spy Camps, the fictional extreme vacation company I created. Fantasy Spy Camps (FSC) runs a variety of spy-themed camps worldwide. Spy Games takes place at FSC’s Urban Ops camp in Seattle, Washington. The first book, Spy Candy, took place in Arizona. Since each book is a complete story unto itself, they can be read in any order.

Who are the hero and heroine of Spy Games, and what's their main problem?

My heroine is Reilly Peterson. She’s a former college athlete, former sportswear model, and current sportswear company executive. And she has a crazed ex-boyfriend after her. My youngest daughter is tall and athletic. I gave Reilly those physical characteristics, and a similar love of sports, in an effort to portray tall women as sexy and desirable. Even though most supermodels are 5’10” and over, I think it’s all too easy for the average tall woman to feel somewhat less than feminine.

I’ve seen so many tall young women slump, trying to look shorter and more petite, I guess. Instead they end up looking like they lack confidence. I didn’t want my daughter to feel that way, or to feel like she has to wear flats for the rest of her life. My sister, who’s nearly 5’10”, is a great example for my daughter. My sister’s tall, nearly as tall as her husband, yet she loves heels and wears them all the time. She’s confident and proud of her height. I want my daughter to feel that way, too. Woman of all shapes and sizes should have a good body image. Beauty comes in all shapes.

My hero is Van Keller. He’s a wisecracking math professor who just might be more than he seems.

Their main problem is Reilly’s ex-boyfriend and the dead bodies that turn up at camp. Reilly doesn’t believe a math professor is any match for her athletic ex-boyfriend. As a consequence, she tries to distance herself from Van in order to save him from her ex’s wrath.

Can we have a peek inside?

Sure.

Stalked

“You have any dinner plans?” Van asked.

Suddenly, I was one part pleased and nine parts panic. Flirting with Van under the innocent guise of playing basketball was one thing. But going on a date with him, alone, with Ket out there, was suicide. Or murder, depending on who Ket would kill, Van or me. Or both. I looked around at the group. “I don’t know. Have we made any plans?”

Undaunted by my sudden reserve, Van grabbed my hand and pulled the phone away from my ear. “I was thinking, we could make plans. You and me.” He pointed to me and then him. “Just the two of us. Eating together somewhere nice. I have the feeling you’re a local girl. You could suggest somewhere. I could pay.”

I turned to stare at him, my heart melting to mush. “Are you asking me out? Like for a date?”

“Yeah. Like for a date.”

My phone beeped. I had a text message.

The dude 2 ur right wants u. Tell him ur mine. Im watching U.

Oh, spooky! How are your holidays shaping up, and what's next for you?

I’m having a happy, joyful holiday season. This time of year I’m always reminded of my blessings. Already this season I’ve had lots of fun Christmas parties and activities. Just this past weekend my daughter and I hosted a table at a ladies’ Christmas luncheon whose theme was It’s a Wonderful Life. We used my Christmas dishes and designed an angelic centerpiece. Have you ever tried to find a male angel, let alone one that looks like Clarence? In the end, we used a beautiful clear acrylic female angel figure and lit her from beneath with LED lighting. We felt like Martha Stewart for a day.

As for what’s next for me, I have a short story in an anthology coming out in March in the UK and in May in the US. The book’s called The Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romance. My story is “The Lipstick Spy School.” I’m excited to be part of the anthology. There are a lot of great authors in it.

Gina, I envy you having all that lovely decorating done already. And no, I haven't ever tried to find an angel that looked like Clarence from the movie. I'm not surprised it was hard.

Your anthology story sounds great. I'll have an eye out for it.

Gina is giving away a copy of Spy Games to one commenter. So tell us, do you like your spies funny or serious? Who's your favorite spy? Your favorite book or movie involving spies in love?

94 comments:

mariska said...

weeee

Linda Henderson said...

I like my spies to have a sense of humor. Well I think my favorite spy has to be an oldie tv show called Scarecrow and Mrs. King starring Bruce Boxleitner and Kate Jackson. It had a nice romantic plot along with the goofy spying storylines.

Michelle Santiago said...

hi everyone! happy holidays!!

i like my spies serious (but with some sense of humor) and can kick some serious patooties. my favorite spy would have to be sydney bristow of alias. i loved that show! :)

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Mariska, well done!

Oh, Linda, I LOVED Scarecrow and Mrs. King! It was a bit like Remington Steele in feeling - that tongue in cheek feeling and as you say, the great romance.

I think my favourite spy would have to be James Bond! Come on, he has to be the ultimate! And again, there's that tongue in cheek humour. And he's always, ahem, UP for it! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Gina and Nancy, sorry, I got a bit carried away answering the question and didn't say how much I enjoyed the interview. Gina, so glad to have you back and the new book sounds great. I love geeky heroes who turn out to be knights in shining armour. I think intelligence is a really attractive quality in a man! My Matthew in Untouched was a geek! Actually now I think about it, so is Gideon in Captive of Sin until India makes him flex his muscles!

Fedora said...

Hi, Gina and Nancy! I tend to prefer funny, just because I always tend to prefer funny. For instance, I loved the remakes of Charlie's Angels because they didn't take themselves very seriously ;) Congrats on your latest, Gina--your spies sound very exciting!

Congrats on the GR, Mariska!

Jane said...

I like my spies to be serious when they're working, but I would like for them to also have a sense of humor. My favorite spies are Jason Bourne and Sydney Bristow from "Alias." My favorite romances featuring spies Stephanie Laurens' Bastion Club, although they're actually ex-spies.

Helen said...

Congrats Mariska

Great interview Ladies and these books sound really good Gina.

I do like spies serious and with some humour, I always loved Charlie's Angels and Jane I too love Stephanie Lauren's Bastion Club series and who can forget Joanna Bourne's The Spymaster's Lady.
Sean Connery as James Bond oh yes

Have Fun
Helen

Anonymous said...

I love spies, period. Either funny or serious, both can be great in their own way. I was a fan of Scarecrow and Ms King AND Alias so really... both work perfectly for me.
Some of my favorite spies come from historical romances. I'm not a big romantic suspense reader but I should definitely try this one (wooo sexy cover btw ;-)

Silvia said...

One of my fav. books that has spies and romance is: Seducing the Spy, by Celeste Bradley.

Pam P said...

My new favorite is Michael Weston on Burn Notice, campy fun. Also, Jason Bourne and Sydney Bristow. Speaking of camp, the fabulous Diana Rigg as Mrs. Peel in the old Avengers series.

Laurie G said...

I loved Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. I like my spies to be serious.

MattDamon in the Bourne trilogy.
Oh My!

Ian Fleming's whole series of James Bond books are amazing, loved all the new spy gadgets.

I still remember Robert Culp & Bill Cosby in the original I Spy TV series and David Macallum in the original TV Mission Impossible series. Great stuff.

Gillian Layne said...

Oh, I love spies! I was raised on the James Bond movies, and the Pink Panther as well. :)

My favorite spy so far is Ramses in the Elizabeth Peter's series set in Egypt. Ramses is the son of Peabody and Emerson.

I agree, the Scarecrow and Mrs. King was so fun to watch.

Nancy said...

Mariska, congrats on bringing home the rooster. :-)

Nancy said...

Linda, I LOVED The Scarecrow and Mrs. King. The stars had great chemistry, and the humor seemed to come naturally.

Nancy said...

Chelleyreads, I discovered Alias comparatively late and totally fell for it. I have the first two seasons. Watching Season One in chunks showed me how intricate the story arc really was. Jennifer Garner was great as Sydney.

How do you feel about Vaughn?

Nancy said...

Anna C.--Remington Steele?! Indeed, as my buddy Teal'c would say. *g*

Pierce Brosnan (speaking of Bond) was such a beanpole back then, always wore double-breasted suits. He and Stephanie Zimbalist also had great chemistry.

You know I love Bond--spent an hour watching him blow stuff up on SyFy yesterday.

Nancy said...

Anna, glad you enjoyed the interview. I agree on intelligence. If a guy doesn't have a brain (and use it), any attraction would be fleeting.

And Gideon is such a fabulous tortured hero. You keep raising the bar on those and then you keep jumping it.

Very Plantagenet of you. ;-)

Nancy said...

Hi, Fedora--I have the first Charlie's Angels movie. It was tongue in cheek, as you note, but it had lots of great action.

I love funny, but I love boom more when it comes to spies. Bond movies always have lots of boom.

Nancy said...

Hi, Jane--you have lots of company in the Sydney Bristow/Jason Bourne corner, I suspect. I'd forgotten about Bourne (watched him blow stuff up the other night). Matt Damon did a great job in that role.

I was sorry Marie didn't make it through the whole series--in fact, I was discussing that with someone the other day but am so brain-fried right now from exams and holiday mess that I can't remember who. Apparently she continues through the books. I read the first one many years ago but didn't remember it well or know there were others.

Nancy said...

Hi, Helen--

Another Bastion Club fan, I see. Ex-spies would seem to have lots of story potential, especially in the form of pasts that could come back to bite them.

Nancy said...

Emmanuelle, isn't that a great cover?

I like spies serious or humorous, too, but I don't go for spoof-y. Lots of people do, of course. I'm not big on spoofs in general, though. Have never seen Space Balls or read Bored of the Rings, for example.

Nancy said...

Silvia, I haven't read Seducing the Spy, but the title's intriguing. What's it about?

Nancy said...

Pam, we love Burn Notice! It's one of the few boom-oriented things the dh not only will watch with me but actually gets into. Can't wait for new episodes to appear.

I love the snarky tone, and I adore Fiona and her boom fixation (naturally). And Sharon Gless, who was wonderful on Cagney & Lacey, and Bruce Campbell are terrific.

Nancy said...

Hi, Laurie--Another vote for Jason Bourne!

One of the reasons I watch NCIS is for David McCallum. (Wasn't that The Man From UNCLE, though? There were so many spy shows around then, I get them confused sometimes.) I have I Spy on DVD.

Nancy said...

Laurie, I forgot to say I love the gadgets, too. I have this honkin' big book I tried to plow through earlier in the year but got too busy to stay with, Spycraft about the CIA's technology development program. We saw the authors on C-Span, and I went out and bought the book. The beginning is way cool, but I never got farther than that. Maybe this break . . .

Nancy said...

Gillian, we love Bond here, speaking of gadgets, and the boy adores The Pink Panther. He's never seen the original, but I'll suggest it to him for rental over his break.

Silvia said...

@ Nancy -- Seducing the Spy is about this woman Lady Alicia who had her reputation ruined and is unfortunately known as a liar. She overhears about a plot to kidnap the Prince and she seeks help by this man Lord Wyndham to prevent it. Thinking he alone will help and believe her. He has a gift to tell if people lie but this does not work with her and it frustrates him. He will help her if she poses as his mistress and she agrees. You get the picture, I’m sure, about what happens between them. It’s romantic, sensual, adventurous and makes you laugh. They try to find the traitor and spy together, I thought it was great fun.

Nancy said...

Silvia, thanks. Seducing the Spy sounds great!

EilisFlynn said...

I like my spies with a wink!

Maureen said...

Hi Gina,
I like that your heroine is tall because I am too and you do tend to slouch, especially when you're young and so much taller than both the girls and boys. I think I like spies who are clever but definitely with a sense of humor.

Gina Robinson said...

Good morning, everyone! Thanks to Nancy and the other Bandits for having me as a guest today.

I like my spies every which way, too. In my house, we have the complete 007 DVD collection as well as several seasons of Get Smart and the new Get Smart movie.

I was a big fan of Tom Clancy and his Jack Ryan character. I'm currently reading a Vince Flynn novel. I've read Joanna Bourne's The Spy Master's Lady. As a kid I read Le Carre and Get Smart novelizations :-)

Love the Scarecrow and Mrs. King, like the Bourne series, and The Recruit with Collin Farrel (hope I have the title right and I'm sure I misspelled his name!).

And I also like Ally Carter's YA books about a spy school for girls. Of course, there's Harriet the Spy, which I read as a kid.

Nancy said...

Hi, Eilis--Any particular winker you like?

Nancy said...

Maureen, I'm also tall. My petite friends and I joke about whether it's worse to have everything too long or everything too short when clothes-shopping.

Nancy said...

Hi, Gina--

Glad you're with us today!

I liked Le Carre, too. I'd forgotten about him. I haven't seen The Recruit. What's that about?

Gina Robinson said...

Nancy--Here's the high concept for The Recruit--A brilliant young CIA trainee is asked by his mentor to help find a mole in the Agency.

It also stars Al Pacino. It's a great movie. You should check it out.

KDSGS said...

Hi Gina and Nancy!

What a great interview, and I love my spies to have both danger and humor mixed like a vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.

So...I guess James Bond fits that bill quite well, with Daniel Craig being my fav Bond with Sean Connery a close second. My fav Ian Fleming Book? "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Oh, how I dream thay will remake that with Daniel Craig!! *sigh*

Another spy movie I liked was "True Lies", and I was usually not a Schwarzenegger fan, but it was fun, entertaining and a little sexy.

I also watched Scarecrow and Mrs. King, goofy, romantic fun.

Deb said...

I enjoyed the interview, Nancy and Gina.
I'd forgotten about Remington Steele; that was a good show as was Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Moonlighting was fun, too.
My fave spy is Sean Connery's 007. Drop-dead gorgeous--and he's still goodlooking.
I think I would like to read a story about a fun and funny spy; a bumbling, who-done-it-kind of spy.

jo robertson said...

Hi, Gina, welcome to the Lair.

I like my spies serious with a twist of wry humor.

I think it's so wonderful your heroine in Spy Games is tall. Two of my three daughters are 5 feet 11 inches (their dad's 6'4") and I'm so grateful they didn't get my short genes LOL. They've always worn their height with grace and dignity. I think they love being tall.

And it certainly has its advantages at a concert!

Unknown said...

I like a little humor in my books! I think it adds to the book! I always love the Charlies Angels shows. The newer ones and the old. You just can't beat a good spy story!

Margay Leah Justice said...

I don't usually go in for the whole spy thing - that is until I read about this book. I love the whole concept of it. So Spy Games could be my favorite spy story.
Margay

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hi Gina! Welcome back to the lair!

As much as I love Daniel Craig as Bond, and I also loved Pierce Brosnan as Bond, my favorite spy both in books and on film was Jason Bourne.

I'm a Ludlumite from way back, and loved the original books. An assassin/spy who has lost his memory...what's not to love about that? While the books were waaaaaaaaaay different than the movies, Matt Damon's portral of him was "spot on" in my opinion!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Now, I have the pleasure of also pre-reading a new erotica spy series debuting in March with I SPY A WICKED SIN, by my friend Jo Davis. So between her books and your spy series, I seem to be reading quite a few spy books this year!!!

Nancy said...

Gina, thanks for the blurb on The Recruit. It sounds fun.

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Gina - Welcome to the lair.

I've loved spies since the SPY versus SPY days from MAD Magazine (grin). I even had a pen once that I swore was the communicator from THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Guess I'm admitting my age)
But - can you blame me? How can anyone not love all those deep, dark secrets and amazing skills. Nothing like a spy to say "competent" (because if they're not - they're toast!) I like my spies with a dry sense of humor - hence I'm a big James Bond fan. Loved the Remington Steel series. Liked the Mission Impossible TV series (not crazy about the movies). I even enjoy all the spoofs on the James Bond movies. Thank you Ian Fleming!

Nancy said...

Hi, Drew--True Lies has a lot of fans here. I'm not particularly an Arnold fan, but I like several of his movies, including that one. And every Christmas, we watch Jingle All the Way.

I like Daniel Craig as Bond. My favorite Bond is Connery, then Brosnan, and then probably Timothy Dalton or Daniel Craig.

Nancy said...

Hi, Deb--Moonlighting was a fun show, too. Had lots of fans.

Did you see Get Smart? That's what comes to mind when I think of bumbling spies.

Nancy said...

Hi, Jo--Yeah, the tall thing does have its advantages. Your daughters have a couple of inches on me. I've always been one of the tallest women in any room, and one of the weirdest experiences I ever had was attending the Women's Final Four basketball playoffs and walking along the concourse amid women who towered way over me--women well over six feet tall. I figured that must be how more petite women see the world.

Nancy said...

Hi, Virginia--I watched the old Charlie's Angels, too. And the new one. :-)

Nancy said...

Suz, you Bourne fan you! The first Ludlum I ever read was The Matarese Circle, and I liked it a lot. Don't remember much about it now except that I did like it.

I'm with you in reading lots of spy stories. I love them.

Nancy said...

Donna, the dh LOVED Mad Magazine and Spy vs. Spy. And I loved The Man From UNCLE. I have a few episodes on video and am hoping to acquire some DVDs. UNCLE has fandom somewhere out there--they do a convention, or did.

I miss the humor in the Bond films. The last two were very dark and intense, and while I'm okay with that, I did miss the tongue-in-cheek aspect.

Julia Hunter said...

I think of spies as a bit sociopathic - one side is a charmer and one side is lethal.

Gina Robinson said...

Moonlighting and Remington Steele--we have both of those on DVD, too.

Margay--I hope Spy Games does become your new favorite spy story ;-)

I'm glad to hear from the tall women. I'm just a little above average height myself. But I grew early and was almost my full height at 12. At 12, I towered over most of my classmates, all except for the boy who went on to grow to 6'8" .

Gerri Russell said...

Hi Gina!

Congratulations on the new book. It sounds fabulous. The right kind of read for the holiday break. :-)

My favorite spy . . . James Bond. But which bond was best? I love them all for different reasons.

Wishing you much success with your new release, Gina, and Happy Holidays!

Nancy said...

Julia wrote: I think of spies as a bit sociopathic - one side is a charmer and one side is lethal.

That's a great description!

Nancy said...

Gerri, I liked all the Bonds, too. And the franchise has certainly stood the test of time.

Nancy said...

For fans of UNCLE:

http://www.manfromuncle.org

Just found it on the net--a fan site with links to other fan sites.

Unknown said...

Hi Gina! Great to see you here.

In the movies I like more serious spies but in books I do like to see a bit of humor in them. As far as favorite spies, I'm not sure I have one. I'll watch most of the James Bond movies but I can't take them seriously. There's just too much that can't really happen.

Anna Campbell said...

Ooh,Pam, Diana Rigg as Mrs. Peel? Was she not the coolest woman EVAH on television?

Anna Campbell said...

Plantagent, Nancy? Oh, be still my beating heart! I KNOW how big a compliment that is from your lips, m'dear! Thanks for those lovely words about Gid, by the way!

Nancy said...

Christie, yeah, spy movies are full of things that would never happen--or if they did (most of the Bond opening sequences), the spy in question would be dead. But I will like them.

Nancy said...

Pam I was browsing the web a few minute ago, saw The Avengers on DVD and remembered, in the weird way of assocational thinking, that I hadn't seconded your vote for Mrs. Peel. Go, Emma!

Nancy said...

Yes, Anna C., intended as a compliment. Which you are uniquely qualified to appreciate.

Gina Robinson said...

Emma Peel! I love her, too, though I must admit that I never understood The Avengers.

Mission Impossible, that's another good one, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it...this tape will explode in thirty seconds.."

And since we're talking old shows with spies, how about The Wild, Wild West? All those gadgets. It was steampunk before its time.

Gina Robinson said...

With most spy movies, and to be honest, most action adventure movies, you have to suspend your disbelief about the survivability of the hero and heroine.

But I still enjoy them.

Judith said...

Gina and Nancy--great interview, and I loved the discussion that followed. Re things that couldn't happen--I'm very put off by them in a serious book but couldn't care less if it's a comedy. Case in point: What's Up Doc? one of my all-time favorite movies. A number of things in the movie couldn't possibly happen. The topper is Barbra Streisand hanging by her fingers from a ledge 30-or so stories up, with a towel wrapped around her! Not only does she pull herself back onto the ledge, her towel never gets disarranged. And I laugh like a hyena every time I see it. (I'm not off-topic here--there are spies in the movie!) Some other, unmentioned favorite movies/TV shows of mine are Jumpin' Jack Flash with Whoopi Goldberg and the MacGyver series.

Pissenlit said...

Hi, Gina! Reilly's ex-boyfriend stalker sounds creepy!!

I like my spies, period. lol
Woo hoo! Add another vote for Dianna Rigg as Emma Peel! Gosh, I loved The Avengers with John Steed and Emma Peel so much that I bought the mega DVD box set when it came out. And then there's also Sean Connery as James Bond. *happy sigh* And back in high school, I was all about Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and John Clark.

I can't think of a favourite book or movie with spies in love but I'm currently enjoying The Man with the Golden Torc by Simon R. Green and the main character seems to be headed in the love department. :)

catslady said...

I always like some humor in my books - not a comedy but just here and there and I hate it when they take themselves too seriously. Sean Connery or Pierce Broslin had just enough but Roger Moore was too over the top in the 007 movies.

Cassondra said...

Hi Gina, and welcome.

I absolutely love the interaction between your characters in that bit. You've hooked me. I also love the concept of the Fantasy .
you've set up.

I tend to like spies serious, like the latest version of Bond. Though I did really like Scarecrow and Mrs. King, which was a cool concept.

Nancy, thanks for hosting Gina!

Pat Cochran said...

Several of my favorites have already been mentioned, but I need to add
to the list: Maxwell Smart, the men
from the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (loved
Ilya, now known as Ducky!), and
my super favorites from Charlie's
Angels.

Pat Cochran

Beth Andrews said...

Welcome back to the lair, Gina, and congrats on your latest release!

At the moment, my favorite spies are on the TV show Chuck. I can't wait for the new season :-)

The Scarf Princess said...

I like my spies serious-after all they have a very important job to do. And I just loved Vaughn from Alias. Him and Sydney were smokin hot together!

The Scarf Princess said...

To the poster that mentioned The Man From U.N.C.L.E. I totally agree! I loved that showed and had a huge crush on Iliya Kuryakin (aka David McCallum).

Gina Robinson said...

Beth--I'm a huge Chuck fan, too! How could I forget to mention him! I hope the new season gains a big following. It took a Subway campaign just to get a second season of Chuck. I think he's a nice blend of humorous and serious.

mariska said...

i hope i'm not too late. My internet was crashed for whole day, yesterday. And i hope it'll good today (it's Thursday morning here, and it's raining, and a have coffee with me :)

Hi Gina, Spy Games Hooked me ! i love romantic suspense. I'm curious now :)

I always like when my spies serious and have a sense of humor too. the combination of both will be great in life.

Matt Damon in Bourne will be my favorite of spies. The Mission impossible either in movies or series in TV, they are great.
I saw Get Smart and The Recruit.

Nancy said...

Gina, we loved The Wild, Wild West. A lot of people who read science fiction and fantasy say they think steampunk is the next hot thing.

Nancy said...

Judith, I think a lot of people are more forgiving when a comedy stretches the truth. I'm very forgiving when boom results.

And I loved MacGuyver--and Richard Dean Anderson on Stargate SG-1.

Glad you liked the interview.

Nancy said...

Pissenlit, I pretty much love most spies, too. Diana Rigg's Mrs. Peel was ahead of her time. So was Anne Francis as Honey West, but I think that lasted only a season or two (and I believe she was a private detective, not a spy).

Stephanie Powers was great as The Girl from UNCLE.

And how could I go all day and forget Modesty Blaise? She's way cool. I'm not sure whether the books are still in print, but I have several of them.

Nancy said...

Hi, Catslady--I like Roger Moore, but he just never seemed a good fit as Bond to me. I don't really know why.

Nancy said...

Cassondra, hey! Aren't these books the coolest concept?

We rented Quantum of Solace and had trouble hearing the dialogue. We were confused at the beginning about what was going on. I think maybe if we'd watched it immediately after Casino Royale, things would've been clearer.

Nancy said...

Beth, Chuck has a pretty big following. I'll watch anything that has Adam Baldwin in it. And I think Matt Bomer, from White Collar, was on Chuck for a while.

Nancy said...

Joder, I also thought Vaughn and Sydney made a great couple.

If you had a crush on Illya, are you watching NCIS? They're doing a marathon on USA Network tonight--or at least multiple episodes if not a marathon.

Nancy said...

Mariska, I hope your internet doesn't go out again. What a pain!

Matt Damon as Bourne has been very popular today!

Nancy said...

Hi, Pat--I see you're watching NCIS, or at least aware of it.

Get Smart was funny. I liked the shoe bit.

Pam P said...

Lots of favorite spies in common here. I like the MI movies, but really loved the TV series. Wasn't crazy about Roger Moore as Bond but liked him as The Saint. The Wild, Wild West was another favorite in our family.

And how did I forget Jack Bauer on 24 (Kiefer), love that show. Petra Wilson as La Femme Nikita is another one.

Nancy said...

Pam P--La Femme Nikita and Jack Bauer, of course!

We watched Mission: Impossible, too. And I vaguely remember seeing The Saint in re-runs and liking Roger Moore in that. Didn't care much for the remake with Val Kilmer a few years back.

Heidi Ruby Miller said...

Gina:

I, too, love John Le Carre's books. George Smiley is a great protagonist: rather dumpy and out of shape, never excitable, proper in his English manners, the man you would overlook in a crowd, but oh so smart and surprisingly ruthless when necessary.

I look forward to reading both of your books.

~Heidi

Dina said...

I like them both, but my fav spy shows are the Bounre seris and MI5.

Nancy said...

Heidi, hello! Didn't Alec Guiness portray Smiley at some point? I have a vague memory of him in the role on PBS.

Nancy said...

Hi, Dina--MI-5 is on my Santa list.

Bourne is very popular here, as you may have noticed. :-)

Lady_Graeye said...

I like my spies to be spunky, sly and have a kenn sense of humor! Can't wait to get my hands on your new book!

Gina Robinson said...

Good memory, Nancy. According to IMDB, Alec Guinness played George Smiley way back in 1982.

Nancy said...

Lady Gra_eye, thanks for stopping in! I like your taste in spies.

Nancy said...

Gina, thanks. I thought I remembered that.