Steve's latest book

THE ASSASSIN

on sale

August 5, 2008!

NOW ON SALE!

Frequently Asked Questions


In what order should the Jake Grafton books be read?
The ten (so far) Jake Grafton novels follow, more or less, the naval career of the hero, Jake Grafton. THE INTRUDERS was written "out of order" as a direct sequel to FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER. The sequence is:

FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER
THE INTRUDERS
FINAL FLIGHT
THE MINOTAUR
UNDER SIEGE
THE RED HORSEMAN
CUBA
HONG KONG
AMERICA
LIBERTY

Jake is also a character in the Tommy Carmellini novels, and the sequence of those is

LIARS AND THIEVES
THE TRAITOR
THE ASSASSIN 

Why don't you write more novels about Jake Grafton early in his career?
I write novels that I think today's public wants to read. The public votes by buying books. The plot of every tale is discussed thoroughly and completely with the publisher, who has to finance the publication.

How do you research your novels?
I read books that might throw light on the subjects I am writing about, newspaper articles, visit cities mentioned in the stories, and ask experts questions I need specific answers to.

Do you read all your fan mail?
I read every letter and email I receive. I try to answer all of them that deserve an answer.

Are you going to do another flying adventure like THE CANNIBAL QUEEN?
Maybe someday. None in the works just now.

Are you related to Dean Koontz, the horror writer?
I don't know. My branch of the Coonts clan came to America in the 1700s, before the Revolution. They were illiterate German peasants, none of whom learned their letters or how to write their names until the 1850s. They adopted the Coonts spelling, although some of the family later changed their names to Koontz. All are buried together in the family graveyard in West Virginia.

Why don't you sell as many books as Clancy?
I am trying to stay undiscovered, read only by a few discerning lovers of fine literature.

Do you think pot will ever be legal?
Perhaps.

Why do you have female heroes in your stories?
I like women.

Should I join the Navy?
I don't know.

Where is your son David, whom we read about in THE CANNIBAL QUEEN?
He's alive and well and living in Colorado.

I have thought up a great plot for a novel.

Would you like to buy it? Would you write it if I gave it to you?
A story you write has to be one that you see, one that you think you can pull off with the writing skills you have or can develop in the course of the story. I have more plots now that I could write in forty years.

There is too much cussing in your books. Why don't you clean up your act?
I try to write the characters as realistic as possible. Unfortunately sailors cuss. When I write them I try to make them sound as they are. When I do ladies at a party, I also try to write them realistically. I don't think I use any words or phrases that any person over twelve hasn't heard before.

Why don't you put more sex in your books?
My stories are action/adventure, not heavy or realistic romance. I write the stories that I would like to read, and that I think my fans wish to read.

Why don't you write faster?
I write as fast as I can and still have a life.

Are you going to do any more books like SAUCER?
I have written one sequel, SAUCER: THE CONQUEST, which was published in trade paperback in September 2004. We have not decided if there will be a third novel in the series.

Why aren't more of your books made into movies?
The movie producers haven't expressed an interest. If and when they do, we'll see.