In episode 163, I sit down with Jack Carr — veteran, bestselling author, and screenwriter — to talk about Cry Havoc, his latest addition to The Terminal List series of novels and the evolving journey from page to screen.
Our conversation dives into how Jack’s relentless world building isn’t just about crafting thrillers; it’s about intentionally seeding story elements that let him explore multiple generations and secret corners of the narratives he creates as both a novelist and as a showrunner. If you’re driven to tell stories at the highest levels, every decision is an opportunity to lay groundwork for future storytelling, and no detail is too small if it sets the stage for new layers of exploration.
Jack and I talk about the differences between writing for the screen and for the page and discuss how living as both a screenwriter and an author challenges and grows his craft. Collaborating with a creative team to build a TV series from a book is a radically different experience than solo writing, but mastering one makes him sharper and more flexible in the other, ultimately enriching character development, authenticity, and the stories themselves.
We talk about the accountability that comes with a passionate fanbase, the reward of honoring veterans by getting the details right, and how creating in both worlds — the page and the screen — lets us explore the deepest truths in the universe we build.
In this episode:
- How filming took Jack from South Africa to Europe to Morocco, forging a tight-knit production family.
- Jack breaks down the challenges of adapting novels to TV, starting from built universes versus executive briefs.
- Jack reveals why he plants seeds for characters early on to explore deeper history in future stories.
- Jack dives into writing Cry Havoc with authentic era perspectives, not just modern hindsight.
- Jack dissects how writing novels aloe and producing TV with a team sharpens his storytelling.
- Jack credits the writers’ room for helping him deepen characters and expand future novels.
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Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.
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