We’ve all been there: your boss gives you something to do, but then adds, “Oh, and one more thing…” and then hits you with something else, something that makes the first task that much more complicated.
It’s a scenario at the heart of Karna Small Bodman’s new spy novel Protecting Jess (hardcover, Kindle), in which a CIA agent finds his already dangerous assignment becoming even more complicated when his boss says, well, you know.
In the following email interview, Bodman talks about what inspired and influenced this spy story.
To start, what is Protecting Jess about, and when and where does it take place?
Protecting Jess is a gripping tale of wealth, crime, intrigue, and survival that features an undercover CIA Agent, Bill Black. He is sent to Brazil to work with the Brazilian President’s security team because there are rumors of an assassination plot that could take place at an upcoming international conference.
Bill’s cover is his job as the Assistant Chief of Protocol at the State Department, which gives him the perfect excuse to go to Brazil as he can appear to be assisting with protocol arrangements at the conference. However, his handler then says they just learned that a high-level female White House economist, Jessica Tanner, will also be there to give a speech about the U.S. President’s policies, and with all of the street crime and drug dealing down there, Bill should keep an eye on her as well. He’s frustrated because now he has three assignments: protect a president, handle ridiculous chores like seating charts, and now protect some woman.
In addition to high stakes action, there is humor and a romantic twist to this story. Most of the action takes place in exotic locations in Brazil — Rio and Brasilia — with a few scenes in the White House.
Where did you get the idea for Protecting Jess, and how different is the finished story from what you originally conceived?
I served 6 years in the Reagan White House, first as Deputy Press Secretary, later as Senior director of the National Security Council where we dealt with all sorts of threats and international challenges. During August when President Reagan was at his California ranch, the staff could take some time off.
One summer, the State Department asked if I’d like to travel abroad to give speeches to business and student groups about the President’s policies. I jumped at the chance and one summer they sent me to Brazil. Our embassy arranged my talks in the capital, Brasilia, also in Rio, Salvador, and Recife. I was fascinated with the country and wanted to use those settings in a novel.
I also had a good friend who served as Assistant Chief of Protocol for President George H.W. Bush. He would regale us with hilarious stories about demands of visiting queens, and hassles over seating charts and priorities. I figured out that would be a terrific cover for my CIA agent.
Obviously, Jess being someone who works in the White House is important to the story. But is it also important that she’s a White House economist as opposed to a member of the cabinet or some other position?
It’s important that my heroine, Jess, works in the White House, not an outside cabinet agency. I know all of the White House settings and wanted them to be authentic.
I also wanted Jess to talk about economics, tax cuts etc. as I’m familiar with those issues and enjoy promoting free enterprise subjects.
In a similar vein, is there a significance to this story being set in Brazil as opposed to some other nation, either in South America or elsewhere? Aside from you wanting to write about Brazil, as you mentioned.
Yes. As I said earlier, I know about the Brazilian settings and also wanted to set it in 2015-16 to refer to the Brazil Olympics down there.
Protecting Jess is clearly a spy novel. But is it a spy novel in the vein of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, in that it’s action-oriented, or is it more like John Le Carré‘s novels, and is more about espionage and spycraft?
I’d say it’s more in the James Bond category: action oriented with a guy and a girl, with both of them in peril.
Now, Protecting Jess is your seventh novel after the five in your White House National Security series, and your children’s book Wrigley At The White House. Are there any other authors, or specific stories, that had a big influence on Jess but not on anything else you’ve written?
I’ve read just about every book that Nelson DeMille ever wrote. I liked his style (and occasional humor).
I also read all of Charles McCarry’s thrillers; he served in the CIA and was quite an inspiration.
What about non-literary influences? Was Protecting Jess influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games?
Not really.
And what about your experience as the Senior Director of the National Security Council? Aside from knowing where the stairs are located, how else do you think your experience working in the White House influenced this story?
As I said, at the NSC we were briefed and had to deal with national security threats and international “bad guys.” Each one of my thrillers focuses on a different threat to our country — and in Protecting Jess it has to do with notorious drug dealers sending so much to this country that kills our citizens.
I mentioned a moment ago that, prior to Protecting Jess, you wrote five novels in your White House National Security series. Did you ever consider having Samantha Reid — who is the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Homeland Security in the third book, Final Finesse, and the Director of the White House Office of Homeland Security in the fourth and fifth, Castle Bravo and Trust But Verify — be the main character in Jess as well? Or the woman Bill protects?
In this new thriller, I wanted to create some new characters (Samantha Reid wasn’t involved in economics), and I intend to use Jess and Bill Black in future novels.
So then, is Protecting Jess the start of a new series?
Yes, there will be future novels with this duo. One I am researching now involves agents from North Korea — stay tuned.
What about a novel in which Jess and Samantha have to team up to save Wrigley from some, uh, jihadist cats? Wait, are we witnessing the birth of the Bodman Cinematic Universe?
I’m laughing here; you’ve gotta be kidding! Wrigley is a puppy, and a happy one.
Clearly you’ve never seen Spy Dogs. Or Cats & Dogs. Or The Spy With A Cold Nose…
Speaking of movies, do you think Protecting Jess could work as a movie, TV show, or game?
I think Protecting Jess would make a great movie or stand-alone TV show on Netflix perhaps. The settings are incredible, the drug dealing is very real, and audiences do seem to like White House stories.
And if someone wanted to make a movie or TV show based on Protecting Jess, who would you want them to cast as Jessica, Bill, and the other main characters?
For Bill Black, either Chris Pratt [Guardians Of The Galaxy] or Henry Cavill [The Witcher]. For Jessica Tanner, Keira Knightley [Pirates Of The Caribbean]. And for the Brazilian Vice President, either Damian Lewis [Homeland] or Russell Crowe [Man Of Steel].
So, is there anything else you think potential readers need to know about Protecting Jess?
If anyone would like a (free) autographed bookplate to stick inside the book, please send me an email — [email protected] — with the name to be inscribed and where to mail it.
Finally, if someone enjoys Protecting Jess, what spy novel or novella of someone else’s would you suggest they check out while waiting for White House Avengers: Age Of Wrigley to come out, and why that?
I suggest going back to one of Charles McCarry’s original thrillers, Shelley’s Heart — all about political power and intrigue in the White House.
