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
Great story can’t wait for the next book to come out. Full of twist and turns.