One great thing about collaborating with Aiden L. Bailey on Sandfire, is that we both have a love for international travel and thrilling locations. I hope you’ll agree, we came up with some some stunning new locales for Thomas Caine to visit. With the book launch less than a month away, it’s time for Part One of the Sandfire Location Report. For Part Two, please visit Aiden L. Bailey’s site, HERE…
Sandfire is an early adventure in Caine’s career, set when he was still a member of the CIA’s Special Operations Group. He’s younger, less experienced, and forging relationships that will become important later when he is disavowed and on the run. Even back then, he was a global traveler. This story takes Caine on a perilous journey from the frozen heights of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, to the burning depths of the largest sand desert in the world…
SOUTHERN ALPS, NEW ZEALAND
Caine treks into the picturesque snow-capped mountains of New Zealand, in search of a fellow CIA agent on the run. The range extend over 500km along the majority of the Southern Island with peaks reaching 3,000 meters. The region is renowned for its adventure sports, including skiing. Caine soon finds himself involved in a treacherous downhill chase, pursued by heavily armed mercenaries…
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Sydney Airport is the busiest airport in Australia handling over 40 million passengers and 350,000 aircraft movements every year. It was modernized for the 2000 Olympics, and is the favorite airpot for foreign tourists visiting Australia. Unfortunately, Caine doesn’t get to see the local sights, as he’s confined to the terminals and a hotel complex with a CIA case officer he’ll get to know rather well in later novels. Considering the intimate nature of his debriefing, he shouldn’t complain too much…
SANA’A, YEMEN
During the events of Sandfire, Sana’a is the capital of Yemen. It is a city under siege, plagued with violence as various religious and political factions battle for control of the region. Sana’a is the largest city in Yemen, and the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It is also one of the world’s highest capitals, with an elevation of 2,300m. The Old City of Sana’a is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with distinctive architectural character including multi-story buildings decorated with geometric patterns.
Caine is sent to Sana’a to find a missing CIA plane that was shot down in the northern deserts with an explosive secret on board. In the rundown, dangerous city streets, Caine takes part in a brutal urban warfare battle against Al Qaeda terrorists, whose power base is growing in this increasingly political and ecumenically failing metropolis.
EASTERN HIGHLANDS, YEMEN
After teaming up with a feisty Australian UN aid worker and a mourning Bedouin mother, Caine escapes Sana’a and enters the Eastern Highland, a rocky mountainous region under Al Qaeda controls and under siege by Houthi rebels from the north.
While arid, the region is fertile enough to support crops and farming. A drought has plagued the region, causing widespread famine and disease. Caine and his companions must pass through an Al Qaeda checkpoint without revealing their true identifies if they are to reach the Empty Quarter to the northeast…
Whew! All those amazing locations around the world, and we’re only halfway done! For Part Two of this report, and more incredible locations, please visit my co-author, Aiden L. Bailey, at his website: Aidenlbailey.com
Sandfire launches May 22nd. In the meantime, you can check out the other books in the Caine series HERE.
That’s all for now… Stay tuned for more Caine news, coming soon!
Andrew Warren
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