I’m thrilled to report that work on Fire and Forget (the new Thomas Caine thriller) is coming along well.  I’m a little more than two thirds of the way through, which means I’ve hit another milestone… So it’s time for another location report!

KHARTOUM, SUDAN

The Republic of  Sudan is the third largest country in Africa.  It is a primarily Muslim country, and in 2011, it’s president officially sanctioned the implementation of Sharia Law.  Khartoum, the nation’s capitol, sits at the meeting point between the White Nile, which flows north from Uganda, and the Blue Nile, which flows west from Ethiopia. The two Niles meet near the Tuti Bridge, and form the singular Nile River, which continues north into Egypt.

The Tuti Bridge is not far from one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the opulent Corinthia Hotel. This modern, egg shaped structure is a luxurious five star hotel, and Caine stays there during his time in the city.  But the decadent, towering hotel is a far cry from the poverty in the surrounding neighborhoods of the area.

TUTI ISLAND, SUDAN

Tuti Bridge crosses the Nile, and leads to Tuti Island (of course). This ancient farming community actually predates the city of Khartoum, and its inhabitants have preserved their way of life there for centuries. Before the bridge was constructed, farmers had to take boats and ferries across the river to deliver their crops and produce. To this day, the farms on the island still provide most of the fruits and vegetables in Khartoum.

Caine visits an old contact there, who uses the sparsely populated island as a secure meeting spot. While there, he is treated to a savory feast of local dishes, including one of my favorites, kofta, a blend of spiced beef and lamb…

MALAKAL AND EZ ZERAF, SOUTH SUDAN

From the dark alleys and vibrant spice markets of Khartoum, Caine travels south, to the war-torn city of Malakal, South Sudan.

After a brief stop is this barely recovered war zone (which is actually the second largest city in South Sudan) Caine soon finds himself on the move once again. When his stolen truck runs out of gas, he and his ally must travel by foot past the Ez Zeraf game reserve. This protected area is home to numerous wild animals, including tapir, elephants, and even lions.

Well, that’s all for now! Once I finish the first draft (hopefully not long from now) I’ll post my final location report, and announce a reveal date for the new cover!

Until then, have a great weekend, and keep reading!

Thank you,

Andrew Warren

As many of you know, I’ve been hard at work writing the next Thomas Caine thriller, Fire and Forget. To keep things fun and interesting, I like to “gamify” the writing process.  I try to set up small goals and milestones for myself, on the way to the finish line. Recently,  I hit one of those milestones, and crossed the thirty thousand word mark of the new novel. Time to celebrate!

I’d like to present the first Fire and Forget: Location Report!  I hope you enjoy this showcase of some of the fascinating and exciting locations featured in the new book:

SOUTH SUDAN:

Our story begins in the newest nation on earth, South Sudan.  In 2011, the country gained its independence from Sudan, in the North. But now, only a few years later, the fledgling nation finds itself wracked by civil war. Centuries of ethnic tension, tribal feuds, and territorial disputes over oil and other resources, have exploded into a bloody conflict, with no end in sight.  The war has killed hundreds of thousands, and displaced many more as refugees.

Trapped in this chaotic conflict is a certain CIA operative, formerly the head of Rebecca Freeling’s security detail.  This operative is found recovering from injury  in the war torn town of Kanfar, under the care of  a kind South Sudanese family.  Kanfar is fictional, but it is based it on the (sadly) all too real villages of Leer, and Malakal, which have been devastated by the fighting and bloodshed.

LOUISIANA BAYOU:

Next, we catch up with Thomas Caine, as he continues his rogue mission to investigate the conspiracy within the US Intelligence Community.  Following a lead from Ted Lapinski, Caine has tracked the Director of National Intelligence, Jon Blayne, to New Orleans.  From there, he follows the comprised DNI to a secret rendezvous in the dense, impenetrable swampland of the Louisiana Bayou.

Things quickly spiral out of control…. We finally get to see Caine kick some butt in his home country, as armed mercenaries chase them through the swamp in high powered air boats. These flat bottomed craft skim across the water at impressive speeds, driven by propellers that spin close to the speed of sound!

CIA HEADQUARTERS:

Still back in the good old USA, we check in on Director Rebecca Freeling, who has been summoned to a meeting with her boss, the D/CIA, also know as the “God on the Seventh Floor.” The Director’s office is located is located on the seventh floor of the Old Headquarters Building.  (Shout out to fellow author Matt Fulton for sharing some details with me about the Director’s office.)

After a tense confrontation with her superior (who has mixed feelings about her illegal operation to capture Ted Lapinski in Red Phoenix), Rebecca is able to catch a rare glimpse of some pieces from the CIA’s “Intelligence Art Collection”.

This unusual collection of intelligence-themed paintings and sculpture record for posterity the experiences of intelligence officers in peace and war. Also on display are some modern art pieces from the 1950’s & 60’s that were actually funded in secret by the CIA, to serve as propaganda during the cold war.

These works were meant to celebrate the freedom, creativity, and intellectual freedom of the United States. It was believed that the Russian art of the period, forced to showcase communist ideals and principles, would be seen as unable to compete.

Well, I hope that gives you a little taste of what’s to come… I’ll release the next location report when I hit the halfway point.  And soon after that, I’ll share a glimpse of the new cover!

As always, let me end by saying thank you… your emails and encouragement keep me going, so please keep ’em coming.  Until next time, have a great week, and keep reading!

Thank you,

Andrew Warren