Author's Analysis of the First Chapter of Columbia

Yesterday, I posted the first chapter of Columbia for readers to get a sneak preview of the book. Today, I have posted an analysis of that chapter.

One of the most common questions that I am asked is how the novel takes shape: how are the characters established, how do I choose the places that they inhabit, and why are other specific choices made?

Why do readers need to know what kind of tobacco or whiskey Seymour prefers?

I hope I will answer some of those questions, and interest you with some other comments on the structure and framing of this first chapter. Take a look at the redlined chapter analysis here.

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Read the First Chapter of Columbia for FREE

The first chapter of my debut novel Columbia is now available for free at: https://bit.ly/2HLdQp8 . If you have already bought the book, I hope you enjoy the sneak preview. If not, I hope it whets your appetite and convinces you to pre-order a copy . In the book's opening, readers will meet Gerald Seymour, a powerful but mysterious White House aide who is committed to breaking tradition, even if it means breaking Washington. Fair warning, there is a little bit of language in this chapter (it seems Seymour is not a fan of the Attorney General or the Director of the FBI). In my next post, I am going to analyze this chapter, including factors like the choice to write Seymour with colorful language coming out of his mouth, and a bunch of other writing choices I made when shaping this all-important opening chapter.

ANNOUNCEMENT: My Debut Novel Columbia is Signed to Sunbury Press

I am thrilled to announce that my debut novel Columbia has been signed to a publishing contract with Sunbury Press. Sunbury is a Pennsylvania-based independent publishing house with a long history distributing thrillers into sixteen English-speaking countries through their Milford House imprint. The tentative release date for the book is August 8, 2019. From my first interaction with their website ("Continue the Enlightenment"), to all of my discussions with their team during negotiations, Sunbury was a clear first choice to launch Columbia. I look forward to working with the team at Sunbury to get the book ready for the market. Stay tuned for more updates to follow, including the launch of the book's dedicated website, confirmation of the release date, and updates on book reading and signing events nationwide.

Spy thrillers need more LGBT heroes...so I created one!

Columbia is over 350 pre-orders, and I hope that it goes a lot higher! I think most creators want their work to be well-received, but many of us also want to provoke a reaction: we have something to communicate and we want lots of people to hear the message and think about it. I want readers to meet Sami Lakhani, a different kind of spy hero. One of the most frequently asked questions about Columbia is why I wrote a book about a gay, Muslim spy? I think that question can be broken down into many sub-questions: Why did I write a book about a gay , Muslim-American spy ? Why did I write a book about a gay, Muslim-American spy? Why did I write a book about a gay, Muslim-American spy ? Why did I write a book about a gay, Muslim-American spy? The decision to make the protagonist of the story a Muslim-American and part of the LGBT community arose from three choices. First, the artistic choice to do everything possible to rep...

Two Trees, Two More Miles

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