In The Poison Factory: Operation Kamera, real-life former CIA Chief of Station Lucy Kirk has created a fast-moving spy/crime thriller revolving around the fictional Dektora Raines, a migraine-med popping, white-wine drinking CIA agent on leave from the agency. “Decky” is tutoring Russian and trying to locate her significant other Alex, whose disappearance has something to do with Syria, when she suddenly receives an urgent plea from Sergei, a Russian defector whom she had onc

Troubleshooting for Formatting, Upload and Preview (Especially For PC Users Starting in Word) If you’re an indie author struggling with the technical side of Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), this post is for you. (If not, abandon it now; this is a very technical post.) Now that I made it through the book-publishing process for the second time with my new novel Source of Deceit, I thought I’d share some things I wish I’d known a couple of months ago. While I found the

Bangkok – Thursday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. (9:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 26) The driver opened the rear door of the German luxury sedan, and Ko stretched his long legs out onto the red carpet. He paused before the main entrance of the Honor Park Embassy, brushed off his suit and straightened his tie. A tropical downpour—strangely early this year—had just ended. The air smelled fresh, and the trees and plants lining the semicircular drive glistened as they dripped dry. Patches of

Washington, DC – Wednesday, Feb. 26, 9 p.m. EST A waiter rested his tray, loaded with five steins of beer and five glasses of bourbon, on the table next to Anna. Around her sat Viktor, Raven, Mel and Sara. The table was draped in a white tablecloth. A little plastic “reserved” sign stood in the middle. “I can’t believe you got Karl to take a reservation, Mel,” said Anna. “You’re welcome,” Mel said. “But let me be clear—the tablecloth was Karl’s idea.” “What about the drinks?

Washington, DC – Wednesday, Feb. 26, 11:00 a.m. When Anna walked into the conference room at the DC bureau of the Daily Journal, it was already full. A crescendo of claps, cheers and hoots filled the room. “Whoo hoo!” “Congratulations!” “Welcome back!” She smiled at everyone. Tanner's hands were in the air with palms springing up and down, as if patting an invisible pet. “Alright! Alright! Settle down,” he said. Marching to the head of the conference table, he left the chair

Washington, DC – Monday, Feb. 24, 12:00 noon EST Anna was dying to confront de Jeanbourg. For the last couple of hours, she had been consumed with her obligations at the crime scene. She had watched with satisfaction as the hand-cuffed assassin was shoved into a squad car, and regret had washed over her as Jean Claude placed a cloth over Giovanni’s face and comforted Sara. Giovanni had probably not realized how literally he would end up protecting Sara, Anna figured. But he h

Koh Samui, Thailand – Friday, Feb. 21, 10:00 a.m. local time & Miami – Thursday, Feb. 20, 10:00 p.m. EST In the sitting room of his private villa on Koh Samui, Jesse clenched his teeth and called Jimmy Lin again—his fourth attempt in so many hours. The wide-open sliding doors created the effect of a picture frame. Outside, Joanna was reading her daily devotions on a lounge beside a sea-green infinity pool. A glass of ice water stood beside her on a little bamboo table. She wo

Miami – Wednesday, Feb. 19, 8:58 p.m. EST Two minutes early, Lin drove his German luxury sedan up to the twelve-foot wrought-iron fence surrounding Torenmaas’ main property. On a little peninsula on the bay side of Key Biscayne, the villa lay at a dead end off Harbor Drive—as secluded as one could get. An armed guard left the security booth and approached the car. Lin pressed the button to lower the window and announced himself. Two additional guards observed him from the boo