Chris Allen (author)
{{Short description|Australian thriller writer (born 1964)}}
{{other people||Chris Allen (disambiguation){{!}}Chris Allen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Chris Allen
| image = Chris Allen Sheriff.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Allen, Sheriff of New South Wales (2008)
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|12|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia
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| occupation = Thriller writer
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| period = 1999–present
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| notableworks = Defender: Intrepid 1, Hunter: Intrepid 2, Avenger: Intrepid 3, Helldiver: Intrepid 4, Ranger: Intrepid 5
| partner =
| children = Morgan and Rhett Allen
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Chris Allen is an Australian thriller writer, based in Wollongong, Australia. A former paratrooper,{{cite news|last1=Hardy|first1=Karen|title=Take Three: Action thrillers from Australian authors|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/take-three-action-thrillers-from-australian-authors-20140904-10ba3n.html|access-date=19 June 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=13 September 2014}}{{cite web|title=NSW Government Lawlink|url=http://www.jp.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/local_courts/ll_localcourts.nsf/vwPrint1/SHO_chrisallen|publisher=NSW Government|access-date=20 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317200426/http://www.jp.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/local_courts/ll_localcourts.nsf/vwPrint1/SHO_chrisallen|archive-date=17 March 2011}} Allen has also served as Security Manager for the international aid agency CARE in Timor Leste;{{cite news|last=Lacey|first=Stephen|title=2 of us|url=http://defenderofthefaith.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Good-Weekend.pdf|access-date=20 February 2012|newspaper=Good Weekend Magazine|date=13 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411060741/http://defenderofthefaith.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Good-Weekend.pdf|archive-date=11 April 2013}} with the Australian Protective Service; and for the Government of New South Wales as Head of Security for the Sydney Opera House{{cite web|title=Case study - Security for our critical infrastructure|url=http://www.standards.org.au/OurOrganisation/CaseStudies/Documents/0502_case-study_17.pdf|publisher=Standards Australia|access-date=20 February 2012}} and as Sheriff of NSW.{{cite web|title=NSW Government Courts & Tribunal Services|url=http://www.courts.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/cats/history/history_sheriff_nsw.html|publisher=NSW Government|access-date=20 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420120428/http://www.courts.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/cats/history/history_sheriff_nsw.html|archive-date=20 April 2013}} He self-published his first novel, Defender of the Faith, in 2011.{{cite book|title=Defender of the Faith| isbn=978-1456545413 | last1=(Novelist) | first1=Chris Allen | year=2011 | publisher=Bright Sea }} In 2012 Allen was offered a contract for two books with Pan Macmillan's digital imprint Momentum,{{cite news|title=Chris Allen|url=http://intrepidallen.com/media-coverage/2013/11/18/mindfood-magazine|access-date=19 June 2015|work=Mind Food|date=2013}} followed in 2014 by a contract for a further two books and 2016 for a further book, a novella.{{cite web |title=Momentum | website=Facebook |url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Momentum/200558650006046?ref=ts |access-date=20 February 2012}} The Intrepid series has been optioned for film and television.
Following a period of hiatus, Allen announced that he is developing the first trilogy in his Intrepid series to be called The Dark Heart Trilogy. He has also announced the development of a new thriller, featuring a new protagonist. Both works are intended for publication 2022-2023{{cite web | url=https://intrepidallen.com/about | title=Chris Allen - about }}
Career
Allen served with the Australian Army, including an exchange posting with the New Zealand Army and later with the British Army's 5 Airborne Brigade,{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Kate|title=Incredible life of soldier, author Chris Allen|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/incredible-life-of-soldier-author-chris-allen/news-story/3340741c1bc56b11aa328fffd4cf0659|access-date=20 August 2016|work=news.com.au|date=11 January 2016}} before leaving the military due to injuries. Following retirement from the army Allen led security operations for an international aid agency in East Timor in 1999. Post 9/11, he served within Australia's government protective security and law enforcement environment. He was headhunted to take over the protection of the Sydney Opera House after the 'No War' incident{{cite news |last1=Michelmore|first1=Karen |title=A subversive spotlight |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/02/02/3421549.htm |access-date=18 October 2016 |work=702 ABC Sydney |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2 February 2012}} of 2003. In 2008 he was appointed Sheriff of New South Wales, a post he held until 2011.{{cite web |title=History of the Office of the Sheriff |url=http://www.courts.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/cats/history/history_sheriff_nsw.aspx |publisher=NSW Department of Justice |access-date=12 December 2015 |date=25 March 2015}}
In recent years Allen undertook a number of Australian Government and New South Wales Government senior executive appointments, including as a Director and Assistant Secretary of Australian Classification, Chief Operating Officer of Venues NSW,{{cite web |title=Venues NSW 2014-15 Annual Report
|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/papers/DBAssets/tabledpaper/webAttachments/15484/Venues%20NSW%20Annual%20Report%202014-15.pdf |access-date=27 August 2016 |website=NSW Parliament}} and as a Director with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.[https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisallenintrepid/ LinkedIn Profile] {{Self-published source|date=August 2022}} Allen has also served as a member of the Classification Review Board 2018–2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.classification.gov.au/about-us/classification-review-board/board-appointments|title=Board appointments|website=classification.gov.au|access-date=21 April 2024}}
Bibliography
The Alex Morgan Interpol spy thriller series includes the following titles:{{cite web|title=Chris Allen|url=http://momentumbooks.com.au/authors/chris-allen/|website=Momentum|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816014352/http://momentumbooks.com.au/authors/chris-allen/|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Defender (November 2012)
- Hunter (December 2012)
- Avenger (January 2015)
- Helldiver (November 2015)
- Ranger (April 2016)
Reception
Reviews of Allen's work generally agree that the author leverages his life and work experience to good effect. The main character of the Intrepid series, Alex Morgan, is a former army Major, as was Allen; plot twists in the series often mirror Allen's career.{{cite magazine|title=Parachuting to publication|magazine=Australian Writers' Centre Magazine|date=April–May 2014|issue=2|pages=12–13|url=http://issuu.com/writerscentre/docs/awc_magazine_issue002_apr-may2014_da0ce2a898a2a3/13?e=9284503/7313281|access-date=19 June 2015|via=ISSUU}} The Australian Army Newspaper wrote concerning Hunter that "Allen knows his weapons and aircraft particularly well, and his immense attention to detail shows he has obviously walked the streets of the cities where his character's actions take place."{{cite news|last1=Morley|first1=Dave|title=Action-packed pages|url=http://intrepidallen.com/media-coverage/2013/6/30/australian-army-newspaper|access-date=19 June 2015|work=Australian Army Newspaper|date=30 March 2013}}
Personal life
Allen is divorced and lives with sons Morgan and Rhett on the NSW South Coast, Australia.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Chris Allen (author)}}
External links
Website: [https://intrepidallen.com/ Chris Allen Author]{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Chris}}
Category:21st-century Australian novelists
Category:Australian male novelists
Category:Australian crime fiction writers