Ep12: Today at Elaine’s Literary Salon, meet John Gilstrap — bestselling author of the Jonathan Grave thrillers, and his new series focusing on Irene Rivers

This week at Elaine’s Literary Salon, we meet critically acclaimed bestselling author John Gilstrap and learn about his newest novel, Burned Bridges.

About the author and his books: When John Gilstrap’s first novel, Nathan’s Run, hit the market in 1996, it set the literary world on fire. Publication rights sold in 23 countries, the movie rights were scooped up at auction by Warner Bros., and John changed professions. A safety engineer by training and education, he specialized in explosives and hazardous materials, and also served 15 years in the fire and rescue service, rising to the rank of lieutenant.

That “first” book was really his fourth, and that one call from an agent (after logging 27 rejections) changed the trajectory of his life. Twenty books and seven movie projects later, it’s been a good run, and it’s still running. But his career track looks more like a sine curve than a rocket ship. There were lots of setbacks along the way. At one point, his writing career appeared to be dead. Then came the comeback. John’s presentation, “Dare to Dream”, tells the story of triumph, disappointment, despair, and finally some long-lasting success.

John has spoken at events across the country, most recently at the Pike’s Peak Writers Conference in Colorado Springs, and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in Denver. In February, he will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the California Association of Teachers of English in Los Angeles. His YouTube channel, “A Writer’s View of Writing and Publishing” has over 1,700 subscribers and more are coming aboard every day. Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, hazardous materials, and fire behavior. Learn more here: johngilstrap.com.

About Burned Bridges — An Irene Rivers Thriller: Brimming with suspense, intense drama, and riveting intrigue, Burned Bridges plunges readers into a world of hidden threats and unlikely heroes. The creator of the renowned Jonathan Grave thriller series captivates readers again with the release of Burned Bridges, the first novel in a groundbreaking new series.

Known for his electrifying storytelling and gripping narratives, Gilstrap introduces fans to a powerful new protagonist, former FBI Director Irene Rivers, who is ready to take justice into her own hands. A standout character in the Jonathan Grave series, Rivers is the last truly “honest” civil servant. She’s willing to bend, and even break, the rules to restore justice, making her one of modern fiction’s most formidable female protagonists.

“Irene Rivers is a badass female protagonist,” says Gilstrap. “Readers of my Jonathan Grave series will recognize her, but Burned Bridges casts her in a whole new light. She’s done playing by the old rules; now she’s creating her own.”

Gilstrap’s literary journey began with his critically acclaimed debut novel, Nathan’s Run, published in over twenty countries and translated into multiple languages. His remarkable success continued with At All Costs, for which he sold book and movie rights before ultimately leaving his “day job” to pursue writing full-time. With Burned Bridges, Gilstrap embarks on his most compelling series yet, blending his signature suspense with an unflinching look at small-town corruption and justice. With an unparalleled ability to craft heart-pounding narratives, Gilstrap once again delivers a thriller that raises the bar for the genr