Kyle Mills: My Brain Is Getting Younger

As many of you know, for the past five years I’ve been splitting my time between Granada, Spain, and the US. I will never fully trade in my Wyoming lifestyle, but there are also many things to love about our European base. The slower pace of life. Beautiful roads to cycle on. Great wine. A society that prioritizes time with family and friends. But it also presents challenges. A different language and legal structure, new ways of doing the simple tasks we take for granted, and the complexities of being an immigrant.  

Research tells us that one of the best things you can do to help your brain age well is seek out novel experiences. At my house we often joke about how all our frustrations and confusion are medicinal and how we’ll be better off for accepting the challenge. Along with flexing my brain while outlining my next book, here’s some of the “medicine” I’ve been subjected to lately… 

A Renovation Project. In Spanish.

In 2022, we decided to commit to Granada and buy a place to live. When we started looking, a renovation was out of the question. Anyone who’s done one knows they are frustrating and expensive under the best of circumstances. In Spain, though, all that is multiplied by ten. Not only because of the language, but the fact that so much is done differently here. Getting the water company to hook up a downtown apartment? Three months minimum. And I had to ask our contractor to repeat himself multiple times when he told me that he builds all interior walls out of brick. I assumed I was mistranslating because that made no sense to me. 

But, miraculously, everything seems to be more or less on track. Hopefully sometime in September we’ll be out of temporary housing and into our new place. 

Immigration Panic 

I wanted to take a photo of me sitting among all the other immigrants at the extranjería office, but I didn’t dare. This is very much a place where you just wait quietly with your mountain of documents and pray you get a government official who’s in a good mood.  

It’s an unpleasant process that everyone should live through at least once in their lifetime to gain perspective. And let’s face it, if I get deported, it’s back to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Not Guatemala or Sudan. My experiences have been incredibly nerve-wracking, but for many it must be downright terrifying.

 Driving Challenges

I really enjoy strolling in cities, but it can be inconvenient when there’s too much to carry and it’s unbearably hot. It would be nice to have a car, but then I remember the many narrow streets. This one is particularly small, and tourists tend to ignore the warning sign at its entrance. A round placard with 1,8m on it means the street narrows to 1.8 meters or less than six feet. Cars get stuck here all the time and there are long scrapes on the buildings to prove it. I have no idea how they get them out. One day, I’ll have to stop at a café and watch with a glass of wine in hand.  

Culinary Exploration

While I enjoy the strange and fascinating world of travel, I know many people don’t share my enthusiasm for exotic food. We’ve done a pretty good job of leaving behind our staples and adapting to the ingredients available here. But I’m still not sure what to do with the whole piglets that I find in the frozen food section. 

 Miscommunication

At times, I have strange experiences that make me question my ability to speak Spanish. I always assume because I’m working in a second language that the error is mine, but often, I discover that it’s not just a translation issue.

This happened again a few days ago when I went to the appliance store to buy a dryer. I explained at length what I was looking for and the guy just stared at me like I was nuts and kept saying “heat pump.” Of course, I replied that I already had a heating system. I just needed a clothes dryer. After a lengthy discourse, I discovered that the Spanish don’t really have dryers that vent outside and that they use heat pump technology to dry their clothes. I’m pretty sure that salesman has never been so happy to see a customer finally leave his store.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: On The Move Again

As many of you already know, I split my time between the US and Granada, Spain. My most recent move to Europe happened in late spring. Now that I’ve unpacked and settled in, I’ve started putting the final touches on Code Red. I’ll head back to the States later this summer to kick off my final book tour for the Rapp series.

We’re adapting to the rhythm of a different culture and language once again just as many locals are clearing out of the city to escape the heat. It seems like all that pent-up travel demand we’ve been reading about has finally come to be. The streets are full of people from all over the world checking out the historic sites, sipping gin and tonics, and enjoying a little paella and flamenco.

One last look at my beloved Tetons until next summer… I’ve received mail and social media comments from fans asking why I’ve left the US. I’m not leaving America behind. I’m just a person who loves variety and a good challenge. Living in a foreign country makes you realize how much you take for granted the ease of life in your home country. From serious stuff like dealing with immigration to trivial issues like buying appliances. Not only do you have to do it all in Spanish, but everything works a little differently here. Ask someone to sell you a clothes dryer with a vent and they look at you like you’re nuts. Then you’re standing there wondering if your crappy Spanish failed you or if their dryers don’t work the same way as ours.

It was good to finally have a chance to relax because my spring was a blur this year. Packing up the house, saying goodbye to friends, and gathering the paperwork that allows us to stay in Europe didn’t leave much time for skiing or biking.

We arrived just in time for feria and Corpus Christi celebrations that take place across Andalucía. Think dancing, eating, and drinking until the wee hours of the morning. And then getting up the next day to do it all over again.

This year we’re living in the city center rather than the atmospheric 800-year-old barrio where we normally stay. Clanging church bells and revving motorbikes are the backdrop, while lively conversations flowing from bars and restaurants keep the energy high. The neighborhood also has an evolving canvas of vibrant street art.

One reason we’ve chosen Granada as our Spanish base is that we can easily escape the city on a bike. There are lots of gravel roads, and the surrounding landscape’s spectacular patchwork of pueblos, orchards, and olive groves make for beautiful and challenging rides. Spain is the largest producer of olives in the world, but unfortunately, this year’s harvest has been on shaky ground due to an ongoing drought. Fingers crossed that recent rains will save the crop. I’m not sure what I would do without my Spanish olives.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Behind The Book CODE RED

Code Red was an interesting novel to conceptualize. Because I was considering making it my last entry in the series, I found myself looking back at where I’d been—from finishing the arc Vince started in The Last Man, to Mitch going toe-to-toe with an opponent who was nearly his equal, to the desperate race to stop a Russian invasion of Europe. Over my time guiding the series, the character has evolved from a man still enraged and frustrated by the death of his wife to someone who’s found the stability of a new family and maybe even a little peace. 

 In the meantime, America has endured a decade of violent geopolitical changes from both inside and outside its borders. The direct threat from Islamicists has given way to growing political dysfunction, an increasingly belligerent China, and advancing technology that seems to be careening out of control. 

What’s Mitch Rapp’s role in this new reality?

In the end, I decided it wasn’t my place to find out. I wanted to leave Mitch’s new custodian a solid platform to launch from without locking him into any particular course.

This gave me the opportunity to end with a stand-alone adventure that puts Mitch back in Arab territory but with a few modern twists. The goal was to tip my hat to Vince’s earlier books by creating an operation that involves a lot of fireworks and returns Mitch to his roots.

Which brings my era to a close. It’s hard not to feel a little sadness, but I’m excited to move forward with my Fade series. While I’ll miss writing about Mitch and the gang, I’m really looking forward to going back to reading about them.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Stranger Than Fiction 2023 - Predictions Part 2

After announcing my departure from the Mitch Rapp series and putting the finishing touches on the Code Red manuscript, I’m finally back with the second installment of this year’s predictions recap. While there’s always a certain satisfaction to accurately foretelling world events, it’s also a little disconcerting. I want my books to have that ripped-from-the-headlines authenticity, but sometimes I wish the headlines were a little less terrifying.

In my last blog, I covered the biggest dumpster fire of a prediction since I anticipated 9/11—the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This month I’ll be exploring a prophecy that hits a little closer to home—the threat to America’s electrical grid.

Total Power
I’ve been thinking about the vulnerabilities of America’s power supply for a long time now. In 2007, I wrote Darkness Falls, a novel about an environmental terrorist group’s attempt to wipe out the world’s oil supply. My protagonist foils their plot, but over the years I began to muse about what would have happened if he’d failed. What America would look like without the energy that propels it.

I finally got my opportunity to explore the subject in Total Power. Again, I selected a domestic terrorist—this time John Alton, a brilliant, twisted megalomaniac. Why not a foreign power? Because it didn’t feel as plausible to me. Players like Russia, China, or Iran might be capable of this kind of attack, but it would be hard to justify it in light of the likely retaliation from both the US and our allies. Not to mention the devastation to the world economy that would occur if its primary driver were taken offline.

This turned out to be prescient. When I was writing the book, my research suggested that there had been very few physical attacks on our grid. Certainly, we have extensive evidence of our enemies attempting to infiltrate our systems, but actual assaults were few in number and limited in scope.

Since then, there has been a noticeable uptick in the targeting of our grid and, as I predicted, the threat has proved to be internal. Instead of my bored genius, though, it often comes from militias bent on fomenting an uprising against the US government.

While still disorganized and tracked by the FBI, these groups are a growing danger. Our grid consists of some 450,000 miles of electrical lines, 6,400 power plants, and 55,000 substations, and its vastness doesn’t translate into security. A government analysis suggests that as few as nine substations would have to be targeted to cause a nationwide blackout. That kind of attack seems well within the capabilities of a small, home-grown group of radicals. In fact, two men were recently convicted of planning just such an operation.

Fortunately, I’m not the only person thinking about this problem. The government is currently making progress in improving our defenses. Unfortunately, as this article points out, the focus has been on cyber threats and extreme weather—not physical security.

In the first eight months of 2022, there were 101 cyber and physical assaults on our power infrastructure. That number doesn’t include the North Carolina substations that were knocked out in early December, leaving around 45,000 people without power, nor does it include the Pacific Northwest attacks over Christmas. Since the end of August, there were at least eighteen more attacks in various states across the nation.

I have to admit that Total Power is the only novel I’ve written that’s made me take action in my own life. My house now contains quite a bit more in the way of emergency supplies and backup power than it did before I started researching the book.

Enemy of the State
Moving on to something a little lighter…

Remember when Mitch rode an electric motorcycle to silently stalk a terrorist through the Iraqi desert? A model like the one he used is currently being tested by the US military and others are finding their way onto the battlefield in Ukraine. There’s even a motorcycle rack designed to be fitted to Black Hawk choppers. It debuted at the Dubai Airshow in 2021 and appears to be made specifically for the bike used by Mitch back in 2017.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

BREAKING: Mitch Rapp News

I can’t believe it, but I’ve reached the end of an era. One of the best of my life.

As many of you know, I’m currently finishing up Code Red, Book 22 in the Mitch Rapp saga. After a lot of thought, I’ve decided that it’s going to be my final contribution to the series.

The first thing that comes to mind as I write these words is gratitude. It was incredibly intimidating to be offered an opportunity to take on one of the most iconic thriller series in the world. Not only because I was afraid that I might not be able to pull it off, but because I wasn’t sure anyone would want me to. 

How wrong I was. 

Less than an hour after the announcement, I began receiving emails from Vince’s fans saying how much Mitch Rapp meant to them and how excited they were that he would continue. Vince’s family, who I’ve since had the privilege of getting to know, also reached out to express how happy they were that Vince’s legacy would live on. I was overwhelmed by the warmth of my reception and without it I’m not sure I ever would have finished The Survivor.

So why now? Why leave the best job I’ve ever had, the best team I’ve ever worked with, and the best fans in the genre? It may be that I’m just nuts.

But the other reason is that I’ve had a character bouncing around in my head for years now and I can’t seem to shut him up. When I wrote the last page of Fade in 2003, I left my SEAL protagonist bleeding out on a tile floor. I thought he was gone forever, but I could never completely shake him. Eventually, I came to see him lying in a coma—a hazy image that, instead of diminishing, became increasingly sharp. He’s been silent for almost twenty years, and now feels like the right time for him to wake. The world has changed radically since I wrote that novel but, ironically, the eponymous character is the perfect person to take it on. Check out the blog on my website if you’d like more details on what I have planned for the series but, for now, I think I know the question burning in your mind:

What will happen to Mitch Rapp?

The answer is very, very good things. 

Appropriate drum roll, please…

I’ll be passing the baton to my good friend Don Bentley. For those who haven’t read his Matt Drake series or his contributions to the Tom Clancy universe, you’re missing out. He’s an exceptionally talented writer with a background in both the army and FBI, making him perfect for the job. Further, Emily Bestler—Vince’s editor and the keel that’s kept the series on track since the beginning—will continue running the show. So readers will get the best of all worlds: fresh ideas and perspectives, but ones that are still anchored to the foundations that have proven themselves time and time again.

And, of course, I’ll continue to be there for everyone involved—Don, Emily, and readers.

I have to admit that I’m kind of excited. After all this time as the master of the Rappverse, I’m looking forward to being a fan again. There’s nothing quite like rushing out to a bookstore on pub day, clearing my calendar, and plopping on the sofa to join Mitch on his latest adventure. Until now, I didn’t realize how much I missed it.

Thanks to everyone. It’s been both an honor and one hell of a ride.

 

Man, I am so excited for this opportunity. Vince Flynn is my all-time favorite author, and I am humbled at the chance to continue his legacy. I don’t remember when I read my first Vince book, but I remember how it felt—like biting into a live wire. Discovering Mitch Rapp forever changed me both as a reader and a writer. Vince took the genre that Tom Clancy invented and adapted it to the Global War on Terror. Mitch Rapp was the protagonist that all of us who served at the pointy end of our nation’s spear wanted to be. 

When I was stationed in Afghanistan, there was a little lending library a short walk from my b-hut, and it was chock full of dog-eared Vince Flynn paperbacks. I mainlined those suckers, and judging by their worn condition, I wasn’t the only one who lived vicariously through Mitch. I would have never believed back then that seventeen years later I’d be entrusted by Vince’s family and his incredible editor, Emily Bestler, to take the reins from Kyle Mills. I am so excited to get started, and I CAN’T WAIT to get my hands on Code Red to see what Mitch, Irene, and Scott are up to now! 

 

Kyle Mills: Stranger Than Fiction 2023 - Predictions Part 1

The predictions business has been pretty good to me this year. Several of my novel concepts have hit the news cycle and, in the case of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stayed there. While it’s gratifying to see my research produce books that are relevant in today’s world, it’s also disheartening. Reading about Mitch Rapp kicking butt in Eastern Europe is a lot of fun, but the reality of war isn’t. It’s a brutal, gut-wrenching enterprise that takes an unimaginable toll on the innocent.

So, let’s kick this year off with the biggest story of 2022…

RED WAR
My book, Red War, was published in September of 2018. I’d been wanting to write a story about a conflict in Europe for some time, but wasn’t sure how to realistically ignite it. Russia was the obvious catalyst, but why would someone with a reputation for rationality like Vladimir Putin (Maxim Krupin in the novel) do something so reckless?

Of course, there’s the motivation of pure megalomania. Giving a dictator great power for a long period of time has a way of twisting their perceptions. The old adage “absolute power corrupts absolutely” exists for a reason. And for someone like Saddam Hussein or the Kims in North Korea, that would have been plenty. But Russia’s a nuclear power and major player on the world stage. The idea that they’d embark on something this destructive in order to satisfy one man’s ego and delusions of empire seemed far-fetched.

In the end, illness seemed to be the most plausible motivation for my villain. A leader like Vladimir Putin rules very much through his aura of power. Shirtless horseback rides and his reputation as former KGB. Triumphant martial arts and hockey videos. He’s a man who’s seductive to worship and easy to fear.

But what if that aura of power and nationalism was suddenly taken from him? Without it, he would become vulnerable. But even if he were successful in holding off his enemies, with nothing to lose, his caution might give way to adventurism.

Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, an unnamed oligarch was secretly recorded spilling the news that Putin was very ill and a Russian investigative outlet said Putin had seen an oncologist thirty-five times in the past few years. While the Kremlin would never admit this and still hasn’t, speculation intensified when videos showed a soft, puffy Putin making odd movements and gripping furniture in what looked like an attempt to control tremors.

Another prediction in my book related to the weakness of Russia’s military. The West has long suffered from a Soviet hangover that’s led us to treat Russia as though it’s still a superpower. Even prior to the war, they only had an economy about the size of Texas’ and a military budget that was less than one tenth of America’s. Sure, they have nukes, but their conventional capability has always been grossly overestimated. In reality the Russian army is wildly corrupt, poorly trained, poorly equipped, and poorly motivated. The idea that they could go toe to toe with NATO, particularly on the high-tech battlefield of today, has always been laughable. And now we see that writ large. The truth is that their nuclear arsenal is the only thing that’s preventing the US and its allies from wiping out their entire invasion force over the course of a long weekend.

THE UTOPIA EXPERIMENT

Years ago, I wrote three books based on high-concept plotlines rooted in technology. The Utopia Experiment explored what it might be like to have a computer interface implanted directly into your brain. Called the Merge, it was capable of overlaying a user’s vision with computer-generated images, bypassing their ears and sending sound straight into the auditory cortex, and directly integrating with various peripherals—a feature that had significant military applications.

This may not be limited to the realm of fiction for much longer. In December, Elon Musk’s company Neuralink announced that it’s preparing to start testing brain implants in humans. Musk claims that he’ll be able to restore sight as well as movement in people who have lost those capabilities.

The world is changing, and technology is advancing so fast that it’s hard to stay ahead of it. Every year, I worry more that reality will catch me between the time I conceptualize a book and get it on the shelves. Sometimes it’s hard not to look back fondly on the precarious stability of the Cold War and wonder how masters like Tom CIancy and John le Carré saw the world. Did it feel as breakneck to them then as it does to me now?

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: The Expanding World Of Rapp

Once a year I like to take stock of what I’ve done over the past twelve months. Sometimes it’s hard to quantify what I’ve accomplished but that’s not true with the Rapp series. When you pile it up, the stack actually gets taller. My annual Most-Complete-Collection-Of-Rapp-Novels-In-The-World pic, has become the hourglass that measures my journey through life.

Mitch’s universe is now this high.

This teetering column of ink has chronicled every phase of Mitch’s life. His brash youth, his transformation into the world’s most effective killer, the death of his wife and unborn child. Now, we see a man with a devoted partner, a girl he’s come to think of as his daughter, and the ability to see gray where only black and white existed before.

After finishing the initial draft of The Survivor, I had the honor of possessing the most complete collection of Rapp novels in the world for the first time.

When I inherited Mitch, he was angry and alone. His frustration with his inability to right every wrong was in danger of destroying him. I needed to pull him back from the brink and provide him with new challenges like coming up against an assassin that was his equal, shutting down a Russian attack on its neighbors, and preventing the destruction of our power grid in the US.

The Red War manuscript—a story that, sadly, feels very relevant at this moment.

The geopolitical landscape continues to change at a historic pace and Mitch has to change with it. Now, he’s forced to examine his place in the world and admit that not all threats come from outside.

The Total Power manuscript just before the world was introduced to COVID-19.

No matter how the Rappverse evolves, there’s one consistent message: While the fight may be long and bloody, honor, courage, and patriotism will always prevail.

Enemy at the Gates side table, my pandemic project.

Happy holidays and, as always, thank you for your support!

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Video and Radio Interviews - OATH OF LOYALTY Tour

These days, book tours involve a combination of in-person events, radio segments, and one of my favorite forms of media, podcast interviews. In case you missed these conversations during the weeks when I was promoting the book, here are a few links to get you up to speed on the current state of Mitch Rapp and how Oath of Loyalty came into being. Enjoy!

Video Interviews

The Crew Reviews

“Holy cow!”

“The pacing was phenomenal!”

“I read this faster than anything I’ve read this entire year!”

Who wouldn’t want to spend an hour with such nice guys? Since the Crew are writers too, we also talked a bit about the craft of writing. Character point of view, for instance. In Oath of Loyalty, I went out on a limb and retold the ending of the last book but from Mitch’s perspective. We also chatted about pacing and how to ensure there’s enough conflict to push the story forward. But the best is when the guys pointed out that I did the thing editors say should NEVER be done in a book. Yeah, I went there.

Hugh Hewitt Show

Hugh told me that the hardest thing to do when we talk is to not give away any spoilers, and I think we managed. “Legion is a pretty doggone good villain… It’s so well thought out. The whole backstory….” It was fun to talk about the genesis of what might be the most formidable enemy Mitch has ever faced.

The Professional Noticer

Andy Andrews posed a question I’ve never been asked before: Does fiction have to be more true than nonfiction? Find out about this, the philosophy behind writing Mitch Rapp, and more in this new-to-me podcast.

Break It Down Show

It was great to sit down with Pete Turner, an engaging counterintelligence specialist, to once again talk Mitch, writing, and politics. With his focus on operations, he always comes up with unusual and intriguing questions. But he also wanted to know what Mitch thinks of the world we live in today and will there ever be a spin-off featuring some of the other fascinating characters from the Rappverse?

The Poisoned Pen

Barbara Peters’ famous bookstore is a favorite spot for readers to rub shoulders with authors while picking up the latest bestsellers. The always entertaining Don Bentley joined us for this conversation to compare notes on legacy writing and challenges we both face when writing in someone else’s world. Of course, we also talked a lot about Oath of Loyalty, sacrosanct characters, and Don’s favorite “Mitch Moment” in the book.

Larry O’Connor Book Club

A longtime fan of the series, Larry O’Connor’s depth of knowledge always results in a rich conversation about characters, plot, and motivations. In Oath of Loyalty he really liked what he called the “rogue all-star group of villains,” and said he’s intrigued by Claudia’s circle of frenemies. For me, Mitch’s partner is a writer’s dream because her closet is full of nearly as many skeletons as Mitch’s and she has contacts in the lowest of places. With her I don’t have the parameters I’m bound to with Mitch and, therefore, anything goes.

Freddy's Huge ASK Podcast

“You danced the line rather gracefully when you’re talking about America imploding from within,” Freddy Cruz said during our chat. While our country’s internal problems are perhaps dangerous ground for a novelist, they’re too intriguing not to explore. What appealed most to me is thinking about how I would bring down democracy if I were president. A criminal at heart, I now have my playbook.

 

Audio Interviews

No Limits: The Mitch Rapp Podcast

Hosts Chris and Mike like to go deep into the series, scrutinizing motives, parsing dialogue, and deconstructing characters. This attention to detail makes for good discussions and unique perspectives.

One of my favorite moments of this SPOILER-PACKED interview is when Mike says, “This is your Consent to Kill,” the book widely regarded as Vince’s best. If you like the sort of analysis you’d find among friends at a book club, definitely give this podcast a try.

KOGO At Night With Mark Larson

“It’s scaring the daylights out of me,” Mark said.

I think that’s what Vince did so well, right? He wrote about the threats on the horizon. The ones that you wouldn’t be surprised to see in the newspaper the following day.

We talked about what’s happening in the US right now. Are the things we’re fighting about as important as we think they are? Or is fighting the goal?

Bumper to Bumper with Dan Barreiro

I always kick off my tours in Minneapolis and part of that tradition includes an interview with Dan Barreiro on his afternoon drive-time show. Dan was a close friend of Vince’s and he’s one of my favorite stops when making my promotional rounds. If you don’t live in the Twin Cities area, you can catch the interview here at the 1:10 mark.

The Bruce Ciskie Show

“Highly recommended!” is always my favorite way to start off an interview. This year Bruce was curious about Mitch’s new challenge: dealing with a president who hates him. Leaders in the past were about helping their country but Anthony Cook is rotten to the core. We also talk a bit about what’s next for Mitch.

Author Stories Podcast

Hank Garner and I didn’t have a chance to chat last year so in this episode, we discuss both Enemy at the Gates and Oath of Loyalty—something that worked well because it’s really just one long story arc. We talked about a lot of things including where I get ideas, George Orwell’s brilliance, and how the further you get from yourself, the harder it is to inhabit a character you’re writing.

The Self Defense Channel

“I think this is going to be a great screenplay,” Greg Pasden told me before we jumped into a discussion about betrayal at the highest level, writing action scenes, and the bad actors in Oath of Loyalty. This is an episode full of SPOILERS so if you haven’t read the book yet, bookmark it until you do.

 

Print Interviews and Reviews

The Real Book Spy

I always look forward to seeing what the Real Book Spy has to say about my new release each year. “Mitch Rapp is still the genre’s most badass character, and as long as Mills is on board, that doesn’t appear likely to change anytime soon,” he said as he wrapped up his thoughts. That was just what I was hoping to hear. 

Elise Cooper

I caught up with Elise Cooper once again to discuss Rapp and the changing universe he inhabits in Crimespree Magazine, MysteryandSuspense.com, Alternative-Read, Avonna Loves Genres, and Military Press.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: OATH OF LOYALTY Tour Highlights

Book Cover in Chalk, 2022 by street artist David Brown. While I really enjoyed this masterpiece, the world has not yet recognized the depth of his talent.

Oath of Loyalty has been on shelves for almost two months now, and I just recently finished up the last of the tour appearances and the podcast interviews. Next month I’ll share links for all the interviews in case you missed a few segments. While I was on the road promoting the book, I met a lot of interesting people—the very thing that makes these trips fun. 

Bouchercon

My tour always kicks off in Twin Cities, Vince Flynn’s home. This year, I went to Minnesota a week before the Oath of Loyalty launch to participate in Bouchercon, one of the largest writing conferences in the country. There was no lack of talent roaming the halls, and I’m not just talking about all the published writers. I also got to know quite a few people who are in the process of crafting their first novel. It was inspiring to see their passion and fun to remember what it felt like to be in the thick of that process.

While I knew Don Bentley, Simon Gervais, and Mark Greaney from our interactions online, this was the first time I’d met them in person. All are outstanding writers and a blast to hang out with.

: If you were following along on Twitter during Bouchercon week, you’ll likely recognize some of the following photos I borrowed from social media. Todd Wilkins of BestThrillerBooks.com, was one of the roving reporters who captured photos and hard-hitting conference news. David Brown, my publicist and well-known personality in the thriller world, also kept things lively for everyone back home.

I want to give a shout-out to this talented group. Left to right, front row: Connor Sullivan, Jessa Maxwell, Catherine McKenzie, David Brown, Mindy Mejia, Eric Bishop. Back row: Jack Stewart, Ward Larsen, Joe Goldberg, Todd Wilkins, me, Tom Roberts, Jeff Clark.

David Brown stepped in to do my interview for the Vince Flynn Legacy panel when Ryan Steck/The Real Book Spy had to cancel his trip last minute due to a bout of Covid. David was Vince’s publicist from the beginning, so he had a lot of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.

I came away from Bouchercon with some new friends and a reinforced belief that thriller writers are an intriguing bunch. I’m lucky to be part of this community. Left to right: Puja Guha, Jordyn Jacobs, and Todd Wilkins.

Bookstore Events

My first signing on Pub Day was Once Upon A Crime in Minneapolis. Well done Troy Olsen for capturing this image and then outing Brad Thor’s successful attempt to infiltrate my book tour. As always, thanks to this beloved indie bookstore for the invitation.

A huge shout-out to Don Bentley for his entertaining interview at the Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale. And a big thank you to Barbara Peters, book purveyor extraordinaire, for the invite and a fun dinner.

Social Media Antics

As usual, fans got creative to mark the annual return of Mitch and the gang. The Mitch Rapp Ambassador Program ramped up with readers like Kevin Chill going the extra mile to court the decision makers over at VinceFlynn.com.

There were lots of applications and hours stretched into days as fans such as Kevin Chill and Sherri Foster waited to find out if they’d been selected.

Ambassadors teased the release online with tantalizing commentary about the plot and the characters. Kris Henrik and Shawn Cross, along with lots of other people who posted photos of their pets with the book, came out in support of this release. We also saw the book in videos like this one from Jeff Clark, beach shots like Eric Reinhold’s, and backdrops featuring just about every place you can imagine. Finally, on September 13, everyone got to find out how Rapp was going to crush his enemies this time around.

Joe Smith and Sherri Foster really classed up this tour by taking the book to a fancy Texas winery and the Department of Justice.

I really enjoyed all the ways creative fans showcased the new book. This beauty is from Rod Gregg, my firearms consultant and man who has never been stumped by a gun question.

What’s a new release without a book cake? Maybe Dawn Alcorn will shoot a time-lapse video one day and show us the method behind her baking madness. Everyone loves her rendition of the book cover every year.

Ben Anderson burst onto the scene a couple of months before Oath of Loyalty hit shelves. His goal: Read the entire Rapp series in time for the new book release. This is the kind of thing writers like to see. It’s motivating to craft a universe that gets readers so fired up.

And speaking of obsessions… Olesen Family decided to reread the entire series before the upcoming 2023 release and broke down every book by number of pages before he jumped in. We now know that there are currently 8,864 pages in the Rappverse. According to his chart, he’ll have to read 24 pages a day to finish in a year.

Let’s Book A Deal returned and the stakes were high. Tom Dooley picked the right package and scored a signed Oath of Loyalty.

Fans often ask: Who would win a showdown between Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath? We finally have an answer courtesy of this heated Roomba Rodeo match.

Debut On The New York Times Bestseller List

Seeing my name at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list was an incredible way to celebrate the first two weeks of the tour. I appreciate all the fans who bought Oath of Loyalty and helped spread the world.

And Finally, Twitter Handles

If you’d like to expand your group of friends on Twitter to include the people mentioned above, here’s where you’ll find them…

Ben Anderson: @TNBlacksmith

BestThillerBooks.com: @BestThrillBooks

Brad Thor: @BradThor

Catherine McKenzie: @CEMcKenzie1

Connor Sullivan: @CSullivanBooks

David Brown: @AtriaMysteryBus

Dawn Alcorn: @dawn_alcorn

Don Bentley: @bentleydonb

Eric Bishop: @EPBAuthor

Eric Reinhold: @usnagrad1988

Jack Stewart: @JackStewartBook

Jeff Clark: @officialJSClark

Jessa Maxwell: @MaxwellJessa

Joe Goldberg: @JoeGoldbergBook

Joe Smith: @eojhtims

Jordyn Jacobs: @WriterJordyn

Kevin Chill: @kbozarth1

Kris Henrik: @KLHDesigns

Mark Greaney: @MarkGreaneyBook

Mindy Mejia: @MejiaWrites

Olesen Family: @FamilyOlesen

Once Upon A Crime: @onceuponacrimebooks (Facebook)

Puja Guha: @GuhaPuja

Rod Gregg: @rodgregg

Ryan Steck/The Real Book Spy: @RyanSteckAuthor/@TheRealBookSpy

Shawn Cross: @ShawnCrossWords

Sherri Foster: @sherrifoster14

Simon Gervais: @GervaisBooks

The Poisoned Pen: @poisonedpen

Todd Wilkins: @zenextremist

Tom Dooley: @Duells06

Tom Roberts: @blackdogbooks1

Troy Olsen: @tolsen5150

VinceFlynn.com: @VinceFlynncom

Ward Larsen: @WardLarsen

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: I Couldn’t Do This Without You

Despite being a writer for more than two decades now, it's hard to articulate the thrill of seeing my name on the New York Times bestseller list. When you consider how many books are published in the country every year, the odds against securing a spot are enormous. The continued enthusiasm of fans of the series is 100 percent responsible for this achievement.

Many of you may have heard me say before that I know the characters in the Rappverse better than I ever knew any of the characters I created for my own brand. I’ve enjoyed maturing Mitch into a complex man who is the sum of his many experiences over the years. We all evolve as we get older and he’s no different. The brash young operative we met in American Assassin has learned a great deal in his twenty years protecting America.

Writers of long-running series need fans who are willing to come along for the ride and I’m lucky to have just those kinds of readers. Thank you for staying loyal to the character and the series and for all the support you’ve given me over the last eight years.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Back In Wyoming And Ready To Tour

It’s hard to find a place more beautiful than Wyoming. PHOTO: Forest Dramis

I love living in Spain, but after a year there I always start to think of my home in Wyoming. It usually unfolds as a simple memory—the heavy scent of evergreen trees, the sudden cold at sunset, watching thunderheads roll in over the mountains. At some point these musings become a distraction that causes me to stop writing mid-sentence whenever a friend sends backcountry photos or a report on his or her latest adventure.

The telltale sign that it’s finally time to head back to the West, however, is when I have an irresistible urge to binge-watch Lonesome Dove. There must be a specific look in my eye because even if I try to sneak an episode on my laptop, my wife seems to be able to tell. The concerned expression is always the same, as is the question. “Are you watching that again?”

So, it’s good to be back, covered in dust and mosquito bites. Wrenching on my mountain bikes and giving my trail-running shoes a workout. I think the moose missed me.

Stay Tuned For My Tour Schedule
After two years of virtual tours, I’m looking forward to hitting the road again. There’s an energy that comes with talking to fans and booksellers face-to-face that can’t be replicated online. On the other hand, virtual tours have been a great way to reach readers who aren’t able to travel to the venues I frequent.

It’s almost time to release Oath of Loyalty into the wild, and I can’t wait. This brings closure to the story arc started in Enemy at the Gates and very much begins where that book leaves off. In fact, the opening of Oath of Loyalty is a retelling of the end of Enemy at the Gates, but from Mitch’s point of view instead of Mike Nash’s. It was a really interesting exercise to see how differently Mitch saw those events.

And so far, so good. I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reviews from the Mitch Rapp Ambassadors who’ve read the prepublication copy. Now the clock is ticking down to the moment everyone can weigh in. Thanks to all the fans for many years of support. I hope to see you in a bookstore along the way!

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Final Trip Update - Greece Island Hopping

While based in Spain this year, I’ve squeezed in a lot of travel between research and writing the next Mitch Rapp saga. I’ve been sharing stories and photos from the road lately, and this will be the last entry. We’re wrapping up our time in Europe and soon I’ll be back at my desk in Wyoming. As fun as it’s been, it’s hard not to eventually start missing the rugged landscapes and open spaces of home.

This time, it’s Greece. The cradle of democracy that became the pattern for the free world many of us are lucky enough to live in today. Lots of people go to Greece for the beaches, but to be honest, I’m not much of a beach guy. I’ll take an old ruin or battlefield over surf and sand every time.

Athens

Most people tolerate Athens’ crowds and the heat for a day until they can get on a ferry to the nearest island paradise. In reality, though, it’s a terrific city with a great vibe, delicious food, and amazing archaeological sites and museums. Our few days there turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip.

Our only regret is that we didn’t stay long enough to see live music at one of several amphitheaters around the city. Amazing that after thousands of years, they’re still in operation.

Hydra

Greece encompasses 6,000 islands, only 227 of which are inhabited. But 200+ islands makes it difficult to decide where to go. Brad Thor recommended Hydra, so that’s where we started our journey. Compared to some of the more high-profile destinations in Greece, it’s relatively unknown to foreigners.

Motorized vehicles are prohibited, creating interesting challenges and a quiet, sleepy atmosphere that we loved. That, and a few excellent hikes to lonely monasteries, made this our favorite stop on the trip.

Paros

Our next ferry took us to Paros, which is much deeper into the Aegean and has the white buildings, blue domed churches, and windmills that many of us associate with Greece.

Paros’ fame comes, in part, from its culinary scene and world-class kite and wind surfing. More touristy than Hydra and with streets packed with people, it was still a relaxing spot to write for a few days. Here, bougainvillea hangs over walls and accordion music drifts in from the street.

Santorini

I will admit that, initially, a stop in Santorini wasn’t appealing in the height of tourist season. Now that I’ve been, though, I’m glad we made the trip. The bright white villages are situated along the top of a volcano crater and steep hillsides plunge into a dark blue sea. The food is terrific and the atmosphere lively. Sometimes a little too lively…

For those who like to recreate on vacation, the caldera hike shouldn’t be missed. It’s nearly 6.5 miles of rolling trail that winds along the edge of the crater, through towns and unpopulated terrain. Even in one of the busiest times of the year, there are very few people on the hike if you start early in the morning.

Santorini is where the young and beautiful pose for the elaborate photos we’ve all seen on social media. I tried to take a similar shot of my wife, but I might need a little more practice.

Crete

Crete, our last stop before heading home, is the largest of the Greek islands and known around the world for its cuisine. We stayed in the old Venetian port town of Chania where there are narrow alleys and tiny restaurants with outdoor seating tucked into ruins. Here, crumbling walls and a missing roof aren’t a bug, they’re a feature. Combined with the beautiful sunsets and popular beaches, I can see why this destination is high on a lot of people’s lists.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Travel Update - Southwestern Spain Road Trip

I’ve become a barrel aficionado since living in Spain. There’s just something about a makeshift table on a sidewalk that I can’t resist.

Cádiz, Province and City

Even though I spend a lot of time in this part of the world, there are still many places I haven’t visited yet. Each of the provinces has a feel of its own so I enjoy jumping in a car and heading off in a random direction. A few months ago, we drove through the southwestern corner of the country to the city of Cádiz. Strangely, there aren’t a lot of tourists in this part of Spain despite plenty of coastline. Those who do make the trip, though, will find landscapes that stretch from beaches to rugged cliffs, Spain’s famed sherry, and some of the best food I’ve come across while living in my adopted country.

This region is dotted with stunning white villages that make for an interesting stop, be it for a couple of hours or a couple of days. Vejer de la Frontera, one of the prettiest in the area, blew us away with delicious dinners and an endless sea of blocky white buildings that were so bright they were difficult to look at in the sun.

Restaurants like this are a common sight in Andalucía. This one perfectly captured the things the southern Spanish hold dear: cured ham, music, and bullfighting. Regardless of your position on bullfighting, tradition reigns here and the men and women who step into the ring are some of the most revered in the country.

Can you name the musician in the black and white photo over my right shoulder? It’s Paco de Lucía, one of my favorite Spanish classical guitarists. I knew I’d found my people when we stopped here.

Cádiz is said to be the oldest city that’s still standing in western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians in the 12th century. Today it’s a lively spot with flamenco, breezy plazas, and one of the best carnivals in all of Spain.

The Sherry Triangle, a wine region in Cádiz, is the only place in the world where sherry is produced. My advice is to find a sunny table and pair whatever sherry the waiter recommends with some just-off-the-boat seafood.

I always take time to explore the local markets, and Cádiz has some of the most interesting fishmongers in the world. I would have bet good money that you couldn’t make a living by selling just fish faces.

Next time I visit the province of Cádiz, I’m going to take my bike. This region has a series of Via Verdes—designated routes that wind through mountain passes, green landscapes, and tiny villages. I’m convinced that getting out of the car is critical to experiencing the people, traditions, and pueblos that make this part of Spain so special.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Travel Update - Northern France Road Trip

Les Braves, a sculpture on Omaha Beach, honors Allied D-Day troops.

Readers often ask me if I think there are real Mitch Rapps out there and I recently had the honor of going to a place where many of them fought: Normandy, France. It would actually be hard to write some of these soldiers’ stories because they would seem too far-fetched. People climbing cliffs with ropes and grappling hooks to assault massive German bunkers. The defenses and artillery fire that the Allies faced. The incredible rate of casualties that never dampened our troops’ resolve.

D-Day Sites
Many historic locations around Normandy have remained unchanged and are hard to fully grasp without standing in the middle of them. Pointe du Hoc, the elevated site the Germans used to bombard Omaha Beach, is the perfect example of this kind of place. Covered in overgrown bomb craters and bunkers, this spot tells the story of the soldiers who scaled a 100-foot cliff while Germans shot down on them. Despite incredible odds, they managed to accomplish their mission.

Get the enemy’s perspective from a German gun placement. Drive through the countryside and see for yourself why our men got bogged down in the fields. Touch the remains of a Mulberry harbor, a mobile structure for unloading troops and supplies, left behind on Gold Beach. There are also many war museums and other interesting stops in the region, but it was impossible to see them all in one trip. I chose to meander and get an overall flavor with the plan to return for a more in-depth visit in the future.

Cemeteries

The Normandy American Cemetery and Monument at Colleville-sur-Mer is everything I expected it to be—an airy and bright celebration of heroism and sacrifice. It’s hard to imagine what more than 9,300 deaths look like until you walk through the orderly rows of simple white crosses. While I don’t have any relatives buried there, I can imagine what it must feel like for those who do. It’s a powerful place, without doubt.

I wouldn’t say that I think a lot about graveyards. That is until I visited La Cambe, the German war cemetery that is only a few miles from Omaha Beach. The experience was jarring as the clouds rolled in and the atmosphere turned heavy on the out-of-the-way plot of land. Passing through the entrance couldn’t have been more different than what I’d just experienced on American soil an hour earlier. The dark carved stone crosses are used sparingly, and simple flat stones mark the graves of more than 21,000 German soldiers. They surround a large central mound topped with an ominous sculpture that seems designed as a counterpoint to draw a stark line between good and evil.

Architecture and Food

Normandy is easily one of the most beautiful regions I’ve driven through in France. Green rolling hills meet seaside towns and the buildings feel old and aristocratic. Half-timbered houses made of lumber and stone are also a common sight here and create endless variety.

I’d read that the most popular cuisine in Normandy can be summed up with the four Cs: cider, Camembert, cream sauces, and Calvados. After the first day, we realized that one of the hardest parts of this trip would be to not gain thirty pounds.

Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is a UNESCO-listed medieval town and ancient abbey perched high on an island in the bay between Normandy and Brittany. Depending on the tide, it may or may not be surrounded by water when you’re there, but either way, it was a beautiful last look at France’s northern coast before we headed back to Spain. Photo credit: WikiCommons Hans Hillewaert

Random Discoveries

Bayeux, a town close to Omaha Beach, is a popular and convenient base for exploring the WWII sites. Visitors also come to see the Bayeux Tapestry, a UNESCO-recognized embroidered cloth that’s nearly 230 feet long. It depicts the duke of Normandy’s conquest of England in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. From what I’ve read, this medieval masterpiece will be loaned to the UK at some point in the near future.

Rouen, another of my favorite stops, has an interesting claim to fame. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake there. La Couronne, France’s oldest restaurant founded in 1345, is located close by.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Travel Update - Portugal Road Trip

It’s been nearly a year now that I’ve been back in Spain and I’ve been using my time here as an opportunity to scout some interesting settings for future books. The past eleven months have been a whirlwind—in between all that travel, I had to write Oath Of Loyalty and now I’m starting work on Mitch’s twenty-second adventure.

I know a lot of people haven’t been able to start traveling again, so I thought I’d whet your appetite by sharing some photos and thoughts from a couple of road trips I’ve done this year. Up first is Portugal—an affordable, interesting, and delicious destination. If you haven’t visited yet, consider it for your first post-COVID international outing.

I will admit that traveling during the pandemic required a lot of flexibility and tolerance for complexity and the unknown. On the other hand, the chance to experience a destination in prime season without the crowds has been an opportunity that likely won’t be repeated. It reminded me a little of a trip I did years ago to Egypt after a major terrorist attack. Standing alone in King Tut’s tomb is something I’ll never forget.

Why Portugal?

To be fair, one reason is that it’s only a few hours’ drive from my home in southern Spain. Having said that, Portugal has become one of my favorites places and I plan to continue exploring until I’ve covered it all. Most people start with Lisbon or a sun-drenched beach. Either is a great place to jump in and get your feet wet (pun intended.) But there’s a lot more to experience if you really want to begin to understand this ancient place.

Lagos, which is in the Algarve on the southern coast of Portugal, is laid back and inviting. 1980s American music was always blasting at cocktail hour and the town’s gleaming white buildings and terracotta tiles couldn’t be more appealing in the setting sun. Depending on where you go in the Algarve and what type of environment you’re looking for, you can find party towns, traditional fishing villages, spectacular beaches, and wild landscapes.

The food scene in Portugal is worth the visit alone. Along the coast as well as elsewhere in the country, you’ll see lots of traditional restaurants like this one. There are meat dishes, stews, and loads of seafood that’s preserved in salt, conserved in tins, and, of course, just off the boat. And while they might not be on Mitch’s training diet, you shouldn’t miss the pastéis de nata: Portugal’s famous custard tart.

I wouldn’t say that I seek out sardines, but in Portugal they’re impossible to avoid. These fat little fish are typical lunch fare and when they’re in season, they’re delicious (according to my wife, anyway) when salted and just off the grill. In addition to finding them on practically every menu, you’ll see them featured on street art, ceramics, and preserved in colorful tins—really anywhere you look.

Another element that immediately signals Portugal is the country’s incredible mosaic stone sidewalks. They are predominantly black and white, hand shaped, and arranged both with or without patterns. And an interesting detail—they’re kind of slick. Something I’ll consider if Mitch ever needs to chase someone through the winding streets.

One of the things that sets Portugal apart from most other places in the world is its rich tradition of tiles. Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best spots to see examples of this style of artwork. Some of the buildings have repeating patterns on their facades, while others depict scenes. The city is experiencing a revival of many of its historical buildings. How to prevent the loss of these treasured tiles in the renovation process is an ongoing problem that some preservation groups are trying to solve.

Porto is also revered because it is the center of the country’s port industry. At tasting rooms around the city, you can try a range of this fortified wine from internationally known brands like Sandeman and Graham’s as well as from the smaller producers. I’m having a hard time picturing Mitch whiling away his time with a tawny in the harbor, but I like it.

Are you up for a death-defying adventure and want to see where port originates? Drive around the Douro Valley. The secondary roads that weave through the rugged countryside are ridiculously narrow and bordered by terrifying cliffs. Worse, I’m pretty sure there isn’t even a Portuguese word for guardrail. Full disclosure: At times, Google Maps had a loose definition of “road.”

If you have the luxury of time, get off the beaten path. Part of the appeal of Portugal is that there are so many intriguing towns to explore. I’ve walked along the tops of castles with tiny towns tumbling down the hills around me, through ancient churches, and along rocky coasts. It never gets old.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Learning To Predict The Future

In the last few years, my crystal ball has been working overtime. Lethal Agent, a story about a weaponized coronavirus, was released shortly before the COVID-19 outbreak. A year later, Total Power’s warnings about the vulnerability of America’s power infrastructure were confirmed by the Texas blackout. Enemy at the Gates was intended to begin a three-book arc about the collapse of America’s democracy, but all the talk of stolen elections and the Capitol insurrection were so close to my story line that I had to change it. And now, a few years after the publication of Red War, the Russian aggression that I wrote about has come to pass.

I’ve been getting a lot of email from fans asking how I’ve been so successful with my predictions lately. It’s an interesting topic.

Be Curious. Be Skeptical.
Psychologists have done research into people’s ability to predict the future and found that a select few—dubbed superforecasters—are surprisingly good at it. These people tend not to be experts in any particular field and aren’t even necessarily abnormally intelligent. The main things they have in common are an endless curiosity about the world and a kernel of doubt about everything they believe.

I was struck by that research because those are a couple of my defining personality traits. From a young age, I felt compelled to know how things work. Why do tortoises live so long? Where does that dirt road lead? How do you rebuild a car engine? The subject matter has never made all that much difference. I just want to understand.

Further, I’m always questioning my positions. Mark Twain once said “It’s not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” I live by that adage and have an odd (some would say disconcerting) ability to change my beliefs when presented with credible evidence that they’re wrong.

Get Out Of The Bubble
The second—and just as important—component to accurate predictions is simple but increasingly rare: Get your information from a wide variety of sources. The Internet has turned out to be a two-edged sword. It puts the entire world at our fingertips, but also allows us to filter information that doesn’t confirm our existing biases. Of course, my news feeds include such mainstays as Fox and the New York Times, but also Al Jazeera, Spanish Euronews, and even the Russian propaganda reported by RT. And then there are the more specialized outlets that cover economics, science, and the emerging technologies that increasingly propel our society.

Keep An Open Mind (But Not So Open That Your Brain Falls Out)
I take all those perspectives and let them percolate in the back of my mind. After a few weeks, months, and sometimes even years, I’m able to make my model of the world just a little more accurate.

Admittedly, it’s not for everyone. Sacred cows have to be slaughtered, facts have to be meticulously checked, and people you admire have to be met with the same skepticism as ones you despise. Done correctly, this will eventually compel you to discard one of your core beliefs. I can tell you from experience that it’s a pretty harrowing moment. But also, a strangely liberating one.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Stranger Than Fiction 2022 Part 2

I’m back this month with another look at how real news stories parallel some of the scenarios I’ve created in my novels. I’ve had a good run over the last couple of years. Releasing Lethal Agent, a book about a coronavirus, just a few months before a global pandemic takes the top spot, but 2021 was rich with interesting comparisons, too.

Total Power
In 2019, I spent a terrifying year researching Total Power. There are a surprising number of disturbing articles out there about the state of our power grid and how easily it could fail. The worst part, though, was discovering that chaos would ensue after just a few days without electricity. Stretch that into weeks or months and we’d have a serious body count.

I took some flak from people who claimed I was being overly dramatic for the sake of creating an exciting story. After the early 2021 Texas power outage, articles like this one made it clear that the state had been on the thin edge. Interestingly, a number of my critics emailed me to apologize.

A ransomware attack was the weapon of choice for Total Power’s villain when he took down the US grid. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who wanted to exploit this security weakness. Last spring, a hacker successfully shut down a pipeline in the US that delivers 45% of the fuel to the East Coast. Energy and electricity companies are increasingly reliant on computer networks and that makes them more and more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

In fall 2021 it was revealed that security agencies had discovered a drone that was attempting to disrupt operations by creating a short circuit at a power substation in Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the drone crashed onto a neighboring building before it could complete its mission. At the time this article was written, its operator had yet to be found. It’s the first known instance of an unmanned aircraft attempting to damage US electrical infrastructure.

Experts warn that attacks to our grid likely won’t let up and America is simply not moving quickly enough to protect it. This realization was the most frustrating part of my research. We know what the threat is and how to defend against it, but the political will is lacking.

Enemy Of The State
On September 11, 2021, upon executive order by the president, the FBI released the first of what it expected would be several classified documents related to the suspected Saudi support of the al-Qaeda hijackers.

The 9/11 Commission reported in 2004 that it had found no evidence of Saudi support. Since then, some commission members have admitted that there wasn’t an exhaustive investigation of all of the evidence.

So, the question remains: Were Saudi officials involved in 9/11 and did the American government cover it up? Enemy of the State was born from that possibility. Let’s hope we eventually find out.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Kyle Mills: Stranger Than Fiction 2022 Part 1

My favorite segment of the year is here once again. Since the calendar turned over to 2022, I’ve been sifting through all the news stories I’ve collected in the past twelve months to see how they stack up with the plotlines and characters in books I’ve written. I’ve got a couple of good ones for you this time.

Enemy At The Gates

I really love to think about technology and the way it can be used for good as well as evil. In Enemy at the Gates, isolating location data that’s associated with a burner phone—a pay-as-you-go phone that most people believe is untraceable—gives Rapp some hard evidence to advance his mole hunt.

For those who still think they can slink around in the shadows of today’s world, think again. It’s been repeatedly shown that “anonymous” data can be linked to an individual’s home or office. You can’t disappear if you use a smartphone. Period.

If you’ve read Enemy at the Gates and listened to any of the interviews I did during my tour, you know that I’m fascinated by the megawealthy and their increasing influence around the globe. In the book, CIA Director Irene Kennedy becomes entangled with the world’s richest man when they discover that their spheres of influence are mutually beneficial. It turns out that Gina Haspel, the woman who used to run the CIA in real life, has decided to do something similar.

And finally, a story about a man who boarded a plane dressed as his wife in order to take a flight after he tested positive for COVID-19 felt strangely familiar. Apparently, Mitch Rapp isn’t the only one who has experienced the concealing power of Islamic women’s clothing.

Red War

In Red War, I created a scenario in which Russia threatened Ukraine with a buildup of troops. It wasn’t really about security concerns, but instead the fictional Russian president’s desire to maintain his grip on power.

While America’s State Department doesn’t seem to take my view, a few analysts are starting to come around. This aggressive action is entirely about Putin giving his people what they want—the illusion that they’re still a Soviet-level world power.

I know this article should be listed in next year’s predictions post, but I’m going to include it here since we’re on the topic of the Russians making trouble. Recently, Ukraine suffered a massive cyberattack likely carried out by Russian hackers. For Red War fans out there, this recent move comes as no surprise. In the book, Krupin’s minions knocked out government communications, power, and more to weaken the targets of their invasion. Let’s hope Putin is not gearing up for a fight.

If you’re not following Kyle, connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or his website.

Vincent J. Flynn: 1966 - 2013

Vince Flynn, the bestselling author of the Mitch Rapp thriller series died in 2013 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 47.  The fifth of seven children, Vince Flynn was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 6, 1966.