Favorite Things in 2016

Here are some of my favorite things I did or discovered in 2016 in no particular order-

• Slough House series – Mick Herron blew me away with his spy series. I burned through all 5 books in the series in a matter of weeks. I read an advance copy of Spook Street, out early next year and it’s going to be a spy fiction highlight of 2017.
• Tracks – This Radio 4 show followed a doctor searching for answers after a plane crash. The answers she finds are more personal than she ever would have guessed.
• Traveling by yourself in a foreign country – Over the summer I had the chance to travel to Beijing, China with my wife who was there for work. I had a couple days on my own and it was both great and disconcerting to be on ones own somewhere you don’t speak or read the language. Felt a bit of what it might be like for a spy out in the cold.
• Author Signings – I had the pleasure of meeting and getting books signed by several authors this year. You always learn something and it’s a great way to support writers you enjoy. This year included spy writers Antony Johnson, Chris Holm, Chris Pavone, and Rafael Nieves.
• Escape Rooms/Puzzle Hunts – If you’ve never taken part in an escape room, you need try it. A combination of interactive theater and puzzles, you are locked in a room and have 60 minutes to solve a variety of puzzle to get out. I had a chance to do one in China that was like walking into a movie set. It’s worth doing once and after that my guess is you’ll be a bit addicted.
• Reading out loud – I continue to work out my acting dreams via reading to my kids before bed. There is something different about hearing a story versus reading it and it does change the experience. I love the opportunity to create voices for the various characters. 
• Hoopla – If you’re in the US, your library probably offers access to this app for digital media. It’s been a great way to listen for free to audio books from Deighton, Cumming and Ambler.

We’ll see what 2017 brings!