In many ways, Sara, the heroine, wrote her parts of the thriller herself – she is very strong-willed!

31 March 2023

The Back Flap

Sara West is a beautiful 28 year old graduate student on a scientific expedition in Africa—who stumbles upon a cache of WWII Nazi files in the wreck of a German bomber hidden in the jungle. The files reveal the location of a multi-billion dollar war-chest, secretly deposited by the Nazis in numbered Swiss bank accounts at the end of WWII. The story that follows is a nail-biting thriller, with a captivating heroine who is pursued across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe by relentless Russian and American hitmen.

About the book

What is the book about?

The File is a spy thriller with a different kind of heroine.  Sara West is a 28-year-old graduate student on a scientific expedition in Central Africa who stumbles upon a cache of WWII Nazi files in the wreck of a German bomber hidden in the jungle.  The files reveal the location of a multi-billion-dollar war-chest, secretly deposited by the Nazis in numbered Swiss bank accounts at the end of WWII.  Two very different, but equally evil, men learn of West’s discovery: Ivan Petronov, a former KGB agent who has been hunting for the Nazi deposits for decades, and Franklin Kerrington III, the CIA’s Deputy Director, whose patrician family’s secret support for the Nazis would be revealed by the file.  Petronov and Kerrington dispatch rival teams of mercenaries to Africa to retrieve the file – Petronov for the Nazi money and Kerringon to hide his family’s traitorous past.

When did you start writing the book?

I started in earnest in 2015.  I had previously thought about various versions of the book for a decade or so.

How long did it take you to write it?

Once I put pen to paper, it took about 2 years to do a complete first draft.  It was then another 2 years to edit and revise (which led to a fair number of changes).

Where did you get the idea from?

I was hiking in the Rwenyori Mountains in Uganda (the so-called Mountains of the Moon), where the Nile River has its origins, when the outlines of a plot came to me.  Later, working on cases involving secret bank deposits and WWII helped develop parts of the story.  In many ways, Sara, the heroine, wrote her parts of the thriller herself – she is very strong-willed!

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Every single page.

What came easily?

Editing the draft was easier than getting the story down on paper for the first time.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I borrowed pieces from many people I have come across in my professional career (as an international lawyer).  Sara is her own person, although the women among my friends and family contributed there as well.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

George R.R. Martin, John Le Carre, Nelson DeMille and David Ignatius all influenced me in different ways.

Do you have a target reader?

Of course, I think everyone would love the book.  The most obvious target audience includes those who love strong female characters, those who like spy thrillers, those with an interest in Africa and anyone who likes action-packed excitement.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I wrote the first draft mostly in long-hand, on lengthy plane trips around the world.  The first draft was based on fairly detailed outlines (chapter by chapter) that I sketched out before hand.  And, even before that, I put together a list of characters and basic plot.  The hardest part was the first draft: sitting there, with a blank page, on which anything could happen, in any way, was both daunting and energizing.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do outline, in two stages – one very high level and then chapter-by-chapter, with a mini-outline of what happens in the chapter.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I waited until the first draft was finished before going back and editing.  At that point, though, the editing went through dozens (and dozens) of iterations.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I do…. – fairly eclectic, but folk, country and pop, with an emphasis on female vocalists.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My publisher loved the book so I took it off the market.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

It was done professionally.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have amazing marketing help from Books Forward.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Never lose hope or confidence.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a series of U.S. military bases in France and Germany.  Places like Orleans, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Bremerhaven and Mannheim.  Summers were generally camping trips all over Europe and the Middle East – Italy, Greece, France, Turkey and Morocco.

Where do you live now?

I live in London, U.K., but spend a fair amount of time in New York.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I am an international lawyer, who practices all around the world.  I love dispute resolution – which can be as challenging, and as exhilarating, as writing spy thrillers.

What are you working on now?

Another exciting thriller, about China… The Priest

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The File from Amazon US or Amazon UK.