Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Society & Culture
Business
Sports
Health & Fitness
Technology
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
Loading...
0:00 / 0:00
Podjoint Logo
US
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts125/v4/55/8b/9c/558b9c20-a25a-54b0-5f56-9a460e6cab16/mza_4310248975062101564.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
Real Spies, Real Lives
P. A. Duncan
222 episodes
4 days ago
Where we talk about writing, spies, and writing about spies.
Show more...
Books
Arts
RSS
All content for Real Spies, Real Lives is the property of P. A. Duncan and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Where we talk about writing, spies, and writing about spies.
Show more...
Books
Arts
Episodes (20/222)
Real Spies, Real Lives
The Big Four, Plots That Is - Part 1

We've talked about the archetypes in spy novels, now let's talk about The Big Four -- the plots for spy novels. First up, The Mission.

Book 2 in my mystery series, The Ewington Mysteries, is ready to preorder (the eBook). You can preorder Mournful Influence of the Unperceived Shadow for only 99¢ at amazon.com/dp/B0DYJYWXYN.

Show more...
8 months ago
23 minutes 16 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Protecting Covert Operatives

Why it's important not to reveal the identity of covert operatives, the laws ensuring protection, and more.

The Cold War novel LOVE DEATH is still on sale for 99¢ through the end of this month. You can find it at amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS.

Coming in March, a new mystery in the Ewington Mysteries Series.

Show more...
8 months ago
25 minutes 35 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Plot vs Character

A writing talk about plot vs character and which drives a story.

The 2021 standalone espionage novel LOVE DEATH is the featured sale book for February 2025. The eBook version of the novel is only 99¢. You can find it at amazon.com/dp/B08QDLXBCS

Show more...
8 months ago
24 minutes 2 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Back to Spy-Writing Basics - Archetypes

Learn all about the archetypes that should appear in spy fiction, courtesy of author Graeme Shimmin.

P. A. Duncan's new novella, Every Day is a Test, is FREE to download through 1/19/25. amazon.com/dp/B0DRPNH4VS

Unexpected Paths Publishing announces its first publication by an author other than P. A. Duncan: Secondhand Hugs, a chapbook of poetry by Mel Jones. amazon.com/dp/DRTGZKL7

Show more...
9 months ago
27 minutes 13 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Annus Horribilis

Apologies for no music. Technical difficulties or operator error, take your pick.

In this first episode of 2025, we learn that the podcast will now be twice a month, not weekly as it was previously.

And a new novella by P. A. Duncan debuted on 1/1/25, and you can find it as an eBook or Paperback here: amazon.com/dp/B0DRPNH4VS

Look for a new episode in two weeks.

Show more...
10 months ago
20 minutes 37 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
The Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast is on Indefinite Hiatus

Play the recording. It explains it all.

Show more...
12 months ago
2 minutes 18 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
No 10/31/24 Podcast

Apologies for no podcast today. My flu shot kicked my butt.

I'll be back next week, but in the meantime, keep an eye out . . . for spies!

Show more...
1 year ago
41 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
What Could Possibly Go Wrong with a Writer's Browser History?

You've seen the memes: "Don't mind my browser history; I'm a writer." But is there anything to worry about? Maybe. Maybe not.

We're in the final few days of the October promo: the 3 novels and the reader magnet for SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS will be 99¢ each through 10/31/24. Find them at amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP.

Show more...
1 year ago
32 minutes 11 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
The Writing Life

Fifteen years of the writing life, and what do I have to show for it?

Everything I ever dreamed of.

The three novels and the reader magnet for Self-Inflicted Wounds are FREE to download through Sunday, October 20. amazon.com/dp/B08L3886FP

Show more...
1 year ago
30 minutes 2 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
It's the 200th Episode

To celebrate the 200th episode of the Real Spies, Real Lives Podcast, here is a history of how the podcast got started and some stats on how it's fared up to the 5th season so far.

And the October eBooks sale is still on. The three novels and the reader magnet for SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS are 99¢ each, and you can find them HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
26 minutes 59 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Open Channel D

Some insight into how the 1960s TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. inspired the author's fiction and an homage to the ground-breaking television spy series.

The sale books for October are the books in the series Self-Inflicted Wounds plus the trilogy's reader magnet, Dateline: Belgrade. The four eBooks are 99¢ each, and you can find them HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
35 minutes 3 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Sun Tzu Says . . .

Sun Tzu's THE ART OF WAR and its take on espionage.

Five days left to score all four ebooks in the series, A PERFECT HATRED for 99¢ each. Find them HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
26 minutes 8 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Inside the Heads of Spies - Part 2

A spy's training enhances skills they already have, but what are the effects of information overload, AI, and ethical quandaries.

All 4 eBooks in A PERFECT HATRED are free starting today, Sep. 19, 2024, through Sep. 23, 2024, and you can download them for free HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
21 minutes 25 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
No 9/12/24 Episode

I've run out of time while preparing for the convention I'm going to this weekend, so Part II of getting inside a spy's head will be next week.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but adulting . . .

Show more...
1 year ago
33 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Inside the Heads of Spies - Part 1

What are the characteristics of a good spy and how do spies use them for a successful operation?

The September sale eBooks--all four books in the series, A PERFECT HATRED--are 99¢ each this month, and you can find them HERE.

Sept. 13-15, the author will be at the Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Con in Columbia, MD. Find out more HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
30 minutes 29 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
The 5 Most Realistic Spy Movies -- IMHO

How does my Top 5 list of realistic spy movies compare to The Google's? Listen and find out. Note: If you haven't watched any of these, you need to.

Also, three days left to download the eBook of THE BETTER SPY for on 99¢ HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
27 minutes 2 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
No Podcast for 8/15/24

P. A. Duncan is on a writer's retreat where she's writing, not podcasting, so a new episode will drop next week on 8/29/24.

See you then!

Show more...
1 year ago
26 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Celebrity Spies?

What about a celebrity could possibly make them a good spy?

Listen and find out.

The paperback edition of TAKING HER BOWS dropped earlier than expected, so you can find a copy HERE.

The August sale book, THE BETTER SPY, is only 99¢ for the eBook HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
26 minutes 45 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Why Do Writers Write?

An answer to a question writers always get--why did you become a writer.

The August sale book The Better Spy is 99¢ HERE.

The paperback edition of Taking Her Bows will be available to order on 8/17/24 HERE.

Show more...
1 year ago
24 minutes 26 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Who Won the Cold War? - Part Two

Computer issues made this late yet again. Many apologies.

This episode concludes the answer to the reader question "Who won the Cold War?"

The August sale book is the novel in stories THE BETTER SPY, which you can find HERE all this month for only 99¢.

Show more...
1 year ago
24 minutes 30 seconds

Real Spies, Real Lives
Where we talk about writing, spies, and writing about spies.