Five By Five—Brian Morra’s second book inspired by 1980s history

By Max Bowen

“Five By Five” is the name for our series of written Q&A interviews with writers and musicians. The name actually refers to audio signals, which ties in with our regular podcast. Five By Five is another way to say “good signal strength” or “loud and clear,” but can also mean “exceptional quality,” which certainly lines up with the artists we speak with. Now with that out of the way, on to the book!

Following the success of his debut novel, “The Able Archers,” author Brian J. Morra returns with a sequel, “The Righteous Arrows” (Koehler Books, April 16).

In the sequel, readers reconnect with American Kevin Cattani and his older Soviet counterpart, Ivan Levchenko in the mid-1980s for a chilling Cold War saga of superpower confrontation. After Cattani barely escapes with his life from an East German bunker, he and Levchenko find themselves on opposite sides of the Soviet Union’s brutal war in Afghanistan, where Cattani supplies the Islamic resistance with advanced weapons to kill Russian troops. In facing new homegrown adversaries, both men question the roles they play in the deadly superpower duel.

In this interview, Brian goes into the history behind this story and how real-life events played a role. He talks about the lessons learned from “The Able Archers” and how his work as an intelligence officer came into play.

"The Able Archers" was your debut novel. What were some of the lessons you learned that you applied to "The Righteous Arrows"?
I learned a great deal about the writing process from my experience with “The Able Archers,” but I think I learned even more from writing the television treatment for that book. Writing for TV taught me a lot about brevity and story arcs and that influenced the final manuscript of “The Righteous Arrows.” I also applied lessons about dealing with conflict and character development–at least I hope I applied them! I think one becomes a better writer by composing in different forms.

What about this time period–the 1980s–inspired you?
Ah, the 1980s. I was an intelligence officer during the 80s and it was a formative time in my life. Also, I find that there is an interesting paradox in America’s collective memory of Cold War history. Despite the fact that the Cold War reached its second climax during the 1980s, most people in the US think of the 1960s and the Cuban Missile Crisis when they recall the Cold War. I find it ironic, because during the 1980s there was great consternation in the media and in academia about Ronald Reagan’s policies toward the Soviet Union as causing a new Cold War, which seems to be forgotten in large part.

I believe that the 1980s are better understood in Europe where the deployment of new NATO nuclear missile systems and fears of provoking the USSR reached a fever pitch in 1983 and 1984. To answer your question about “inspiration,” I think I am inspired to educate readers about the critical events of the 1980s Cold War and how those events reverberate in today’s geopolitics. These events ought to be as well known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

What kind of research was needed?
My research differed for “The Able Archers” and “The Righteous Arrows” in the following way. In regard to “The Able Archers,” I relied a great deal on my own memory of events and I conducted research with aim toward validating those memories. For events I had no personal connection with, I had to conduct research. One example from “The Able Archers” would be the “Petrov ICBM incident.” I had less personal involvement in many of the events in “The Righteous Arrows,” although I had some. For example, I did a great deal of research about how the Soviet military conducted operations in Afghanistan during the war in the 1980s. I wanted my depiction of the climactic Soviet raid into Pakistan to be based on the way that Soviet Spetsnaz forces really fought.

I read that you’ve worked as an intelligence officer. How did this inform your books?
As I have mentioned, my experience as an intelligence officer is central to my writing. It would never have occurred to me to write these historical novels had I not had that experience. I think my experience allows me to write realistically about how intelligence works and the challenges that one confronts as an intelligence officer. The feedback I have gotten from people in the intelligence field and from special operators has been very positive.

Any real-world stories that found their way into these books?
Oh my. My books are historical fiction, so they are based on real events. I also tap into my personal memory and write from that perspective. At times, I get a sensation of time travel. When composing a scene that is based on personal memory, I get into a zone where I travel back to the event. Sometimes I can hear the dialogue and see faces from those long ago times. At times like those, I feel I am transcribing rather than composing.

Doug Knight returns to talk about a series dedicated to the doctors

Douglas Knight of Crosseye Comics is back to talk about the newest issue of “Super Wicked White Cell Squadron,” a series launched last year and based on his time in the hospital as a kid undergoing cancer treatment. 

The comic is dedicated to the doctors that took care of him and which Knight wrote, drew and colored.

This series features a team of heroes inspired in part by the doctors Doug knew as a child and we talk about these real-life heroes. The 70-page first issue was released in 2023 and we look at how the story of SWWCS continues with the second issue. 

Unlike others in the creative fields, Doug chose not to back this through sites like Kickstarter and goes into what led to this decision.

The series gives a nod to shows like “Power Rangers,” and Doug shares how the costumes, mech designs, and villains all came to be. We also get a look at what he plans next in this series, and the many other projects he has in the works.

Citywide Bytes-Ryan Estrada shares some heartfelt stories in his new comics

The newest guest on the Citywide Bytes live show has worked on award-winning titles such as “Banned Book Club,” “Occulted,” and is here to talk about two great new titles.

Ryan Estrada joins me to dive into “The Silver City,” the second part in the “Student Ambassador” series, which features a new adventure with main character Joseph Bazan. We talk about Joseph and how he came to be as well as how he fares in the newest mystery. This comic is based on a very real place and Ryan goes into how he world-built the newest comic.

For “No Rules Tonight,” Ryan worked once again with his wife Kim Hyun Sook on this very real look at South Korea in the 1980s. We talk about what the country was like in this time period and how this influenced the story. Ryan shares the collaboration process with his wife and how this continues the story found in “Banned Book Club.”

Don Silver’s new book takes on a powerful coming-of-age story

Many know Don Silver for years in the music industry as a producer, talent scout and much more. But Silver’s also an accomplished author, as we see in his soon-to-be-released book, Scorched (May 7, Holloway Press). Here’s a look at what’s in store:

After his father's sudden death, 14-year-old Jonas tries to support himself and his mother by selling weed and tranquilizers at parties–until he gets busted and sent to a boarding school for fatherless boys. To survive Lafayette Academy, Jonas and his four roommates form a tight bond. The boys vow to have each others’ backs for life--but that promise is broken the weekend before graduation when they’re drawn into a violent encounter that results in a man’s death. Twenty years later, when one of his old roommates shows up unannounced, Jonas is forced to confront his complicated past once and for all.

Max and Don talk about the origins of the book, how he got into the head of Jonas, and how the main character changed over the course of the writing process. Don talks about how he got into writing in the first place and three books later, if he feel he has “arrived.”

This is Don’s second book in the “coming-of-age” genre and we go into what about this type of story appeals to him. We also shed light on the rest of the cast, and how they grow the story in different ways.

Citywide Bytes-Mark Femino talks 30 years of music

In our most recent episode of the live show Citywide Bytes, I’m joined by Mark Femino, and if you’re in the Boston music scene, that’s a name you likely know. 

Mark’s been a professional musician, performer, and teacher for nearly 30 years and actively toured in the mid-90s with the jam band, Blind Man’s Sun.

Today, Mark is a seasoned musician and, in this interview, we talk all about the path he took to get here, including the recent release of his single, “Damn Girl,” a really interesting take on a breakup song. 

Mark also has a new acoustic album called “These Are The Moments,” and he shares some of the stories he’s captured in these eight songs. We also get a couple live songs!

Following this interview is the new single, “Damn Girl,” in its entirety.

Dennis Hopeless shares his past in new comic series

Dennis Hopeless is known for titles such as X-Force, Darth Vader, Suicide Squad and Invader Zim. Now, he shares a true-life story in the Comixology-exclusive title “She’s Running on Fumes.”

Set in Deepwater, Missouri circa 1984, a criminal named Jody is severely injured in a car wreck and his wife discovers he was a drug trafficker and begins her own criminal career in a desperate bid to keep her family afloat. The twist is that this tale of crime and survival is inspired by Hopeless' own parents.

In this episode, Dennis talks about what led him to bring his family’s story to this new series and how his mother helped him to collect all the details. We talk about his past work, which includes titles like X-Force, Spider-Woman and Suicide Squad and how at times his own backstory inspires what he’s written.

Dennis goes into the fiction portion of “She’s Running on Fumes” and how he views this portion of his life, which he witnessed at a very young age. He talks about how he views his father as a person, all these years later.

Citywide Bytes-Mark Maia takes into his new dark comedy comic series

Our next guest in the Citywide Bytes series is set to release an 8-issue dark comedy series, “So-Called Living” set in a world much like our own…Well, except for all the vampires, werewolves and zombies, that is.

Mark Maia’s story focuses on a guy named Jack, whose life is turned upside down when he finds himself unwillingly transformed into a vampire. With the help of his friends, he tries his best to adapt to this new way of "living." Unfortunately for Jack, he's gotten himself mixed up with the wrong kind of "people," and "living" is about to get difficult.

Mark talks about what inspired the series and introduces us to Jack and how he manages life when he’s technically no longer among the living. He talks about the great art team he worked with and the choice to utilize AI in one of his covers.

There’s a Kickstarter going on until April 25, and Mark talks about meeting (and exceeding) his goal and how it feels to know the project is fully funded. He also provides a few glimpses into what else we can expect in this series.