Tech to Thrills: A Conversation with Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey on Writing Tech Thrillers

In this exciting episode of The Uncommon Place, hosts Stacey and J.R. Sparrow sit down with Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey, the dynamic duo behind the Enigma Series of techno-thrillers. What began as a career in technical writing has now evolved into an action-packed literary journey filled with cyber threats, high-stakes drama, and, yes, a touch of humor.

The conversation dives into how two tech professionals transitioned from creating manuals and reports to crafting page-turning thrillers. They share their creative process, the balance of writing as a team, and how they inject humor into the intense world of tech thrillers. Plus, they talk about real-world technology like AI and cryptocurrency—and how fiction can sometimes predict the future.

Whether you're a budding writer or simply a fan of gripping, tech-driven narratives, this episode offers unique insights into the intersection of technology and storytelling.

Key Topics:

• ​The transition from tech writing to fiction: How they shifted from technical reports to crafting the Enigma Series.
• ​The Enigma Series: The origins and themes of their books, including identity theft and cyber threats.
• ​The creative process: How they divide characters, scenes, and plotlines.
• ​Injecting humor into a techno-thriller: How a bit of comic relief adds depth to their otherwise high-tension stories.
• ​Real-world tech and its impact on fiction: From AI to cryptocurrency, how Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey
• ​incorporate real-life threats into their thrillers.
• ​Resolving creative conflicts: How they handle disagreements in their writing process, with a surprising twist!

Resources Mentioned:

• ​Enigma Series (available on Amazon and major retailers)
• ​Charles and Roxburgh’s website: www.enigmaseries.com