Video: Stoneham Resident Pens Action Thriller

Stoneham resident Leo Maloney is quick to admit that he’s not a seasoned writer. Maloney comes from a military background, having been recruited into the army in 1966. He does, however, have vast experience as a skilled world traveler, actor, oh, and black ops contractor. Yes, black ops. What better subject matter for an action thriller fiction novel based on real-life events?

The novel is titled “Termination Orders: Code Name Cobra” and is available to purchase at his first book signing at , located at 311 Main St., from 7–8:30 p.m. Jan. 27.

For over 35 years, Maloney couldn't explain to his closest family and friends what he really did for a living. While serving his country, he operated several cover businesses in order to complete his missions. These included masquerading as an antique and classic car broker, owning limousine companies as well as a detective agency.

When Maloney retired in 2001, his family and close friends urged him to put his story in writing.

Maloney said that he and his ex-black ops partner, with whom he was partners with for most of his life, did talk about writing their stories down years ago. Unfortunately, his partner passed away and Maloney shelved the idea until many years after his retirement.

“Finally I decided to put my story out there," Maloney said. "I decided to write the novel as a fiction book based on actual events, which created a really good story.”

Maloney enlisted the help of ghost writer, Caio Camargo, with whom he had an easygoing relationship.

“It was very easy working with Caio,” he said. “He’s laid back and listens well. He being the formal writer would listen to me when I had an idea and work through it with me. He never once said no to an idea.”

Maloney acknowledges that he’s not the most patient person in the world, but he managed to tough it out through three iterations of the story before he felt it was complete.

“The hardest part of writing this novel was the time involved," Maloney confessed. "I learned a lot from this process. I’d spend a lot of time writing, re-writing, and then something else would pop into my mind to make it even better.” But after three years of working on the novel, he says it was well worth the effort.

“Once we really got into writing between the two of us, the creative juices really started to flow," Maloney said. "I was surprised that I could put things on paper and create a story as well as I did because of my lack of experience. We could actually see [the story] forming.”

Readers will likely be asking themselves what’s real and what’s fiction as they read this novel. That’s part of the fun in reading a quasi-memoir that’s action-packed. Main character, Dan Morgan, is “simultaneously hunted by a double-crossing CIA and Congress, vengeful foreign agents, a corporate drug ring, the Taliban, and narco-terrorists,” according to Maloney’s website.

After reading “Termination Orders: Code Name Cobra,” readers will surely want a sequel to this fascinating novel. Maloney said, “When we finished the book, we left it open-ended. The main character is going to go on with another adventure.”

For a synopsis of “Termination Orders: Code Name Cobra,” visit Maloney’s website.

For more information, e-mail Leo Maloney at leojmaloney@yahoo.com. To contact his publicist, Sky Wentworth, e-mail skyewentworth@gmail.com or call 978-462-4453.

Also visit Maloney’s new website, Independent Publishing House, to order “Termination Orders: Code Name Cobra.” The book is also available at , Wakefield and Melrose.

To inquire about his book signing at The Book Oasis on Jan. 27, call 781-438-0077 or e-mail thebookoasis311@rcn.com.