International intrigue is the impetus behind tonight's Writers Bloc evening with author Frederick Forsyth and recently retired NPR Middle East correspondent Mike Shuster. Forsyth was working for Reuters at age 33 when he churned out his unexpected smash 1971 novel, The Day of the Jackal, in 35 days during his off-hours. He let it sit for a while, and then suffered through the usual litany of publishers rejecting it — mainly because French President Charles de Gaulle hadn't really been assassinated, a spoiler on par with making a movie called Titanic. The book is still in print, read by everyone from foreign affairs experts to actual assassins, and Forsyth has a new book out called The Kill List. It's about a pushy Islamic cleric who sticks his nose into everyone's business and says actionable mean things that lead to the usual terrorism and street hassle. Shuster adds his canny thumbprint to the mix with his decades of penetrating insight into wars of Islam and strife in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places most people are happier just reading about. Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School, 3131 W. Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica; Tues., Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m.; $20. writersblocpresents.com.

Tue., Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m., 2013

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