
Conor Black.
I’m
Old-School Heroes ⌖ Cunning Conspiracies ⌖ Artful Violence
I’m the author of the Nate Vigil Thrillers—an action-packed crime series.
Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X, and Barry Eisler’s John Rain will find a lot to enjoy in my fiction. See below for more influences.
Misspent Youth
At age 16 I won the Current Science, science fiction short story contest, and I’ve been writing ever since.
I have a B.S. in Psychology and a master’s degree in Information Science & Technology.
I’ve earned coin as a strength coach, a web designer & e-commerce consultant, and a licensed motor carrier. I sold my company in 2021 to write fiction full-time.
A natural progression. 🤣
Writing Influences
In no particular order: Lee Child ・Chuck Palahniuk・ Stephen King・ Don Winslow・ Gillian Flynn・ Clive Barker・ John D. McDonald・ Joan Didion・ Raymond Chandler・ Brett Easton Ellis・ Edgar Rice Burroughs・ Cormac McCarthy・ Barry Eisler・ Gregg Hurwitz・ Joe Ide・ Dennis Lehane・ Richard Price・ Michael Connelly (and other legends currently escaping me).
Plausible Deniability
I realize I “look” like some kind of a redneck Marine, or maybe someone who takes their neighborhood watch duties a little too seriously. Actually, I’m quite chill.
I’m one of the most introverted (and happy) humans you’ll ever meet. I love people, but it’s in solitude that I come alive and recharge. This works out quite well for my creative pursuits, which all require large amounts of time alone.
I’m the opposite of tribal. I don’t choose sides and I’m not on anyone’s team. I prefer to think for myself, one issue at a time, rather than parrot talking points from a politically biased pundit. Sometimes the characters in my novels share political opinions, but I almost never do.
How I Live
I’ve pursued a lot of things. Made a lot of mistakes. But I’ve also made sure to take note of the behaviors that brought me success. I’ve learned from Taoist, Zen, and Stoic philosophies, and filtered their teachings through personal experience. I kept what worked, forgot what didn’t.
Here’s my framework for living a good life:
I - Awareness:
Know Thyself
Know What’s Real
Notice Opportunity
II - Acceptance:
No Judgment
No Attachment
No Expectations
III - Authentic Growth:
Tend Your Garden
Master Your Craft
Share The Fruits
What I Love Other Than Writing
My sweet Eve, and I love her most of all.
Things I Enjoy Other Than Writing
Reading, lifting weights, mixed martial arts, overlanding, hiking, sailing, fishing, and web design. Also—not gonna lie—I’ve got a pretty sick Toyota Land Cruiser (if Vigil ever gets his Driver’s License, maybe this will be his ride ;)
Also a Fan of
The Golden State Warriors and recreational iconoclasm.
Pronouns
All my nouns are professional—I’m a writer.
Now
(updated November 12th, 2024)
Writing - Fiction: MEAN STREETS (subject to change) - A Nate Vigil, Vigilante Thriller. Book 2 [writing ⌖ May, 2025. Probably.]
Reading: (see my Goodreads profile—though I need to update it!)
Writing - Nonfiction: The Conor Black Book on Storytelling series (maybe).
Be more active on the socials (doubtful, there’s literally no point anymore with all the trolls).
Later
Traveling: Going to Spain at some point. We’ll have a house sitter, so thieves, don’t bother. You wouldn’t wanna steal my collection of squirrel figurines, anyway.
Blog: Have a look at new blogs—now separated into a blog for writers & readers alike, because different people follow me for different reasons.
Published: (audiobook) IN THE WIND - A Nate Vigil, Vigilante Justice Thriller. Book 1 [⌖ Live on Audible ] (as of September 25, 2024)
Married: Sweet Eve
Published: IN THE WIND - A Nate Vigil, Vigilante Justice Thriller. Book 1 [⌖ Live on Amazon]
Published: VIGIL: A Vigilante Justice Thriller (novella) [⌖ FREE on this website]
Blog: Have a look at the most recent blog entries here.
Read: (see my Goodreads profile)