Background on Helius Legacy locations

A friend asked me how/why I chose the locales in the book where key action scenes occur, e.g., the helo assault on John Caine’s remote cabin in the San Bernardino mountains; the introduction of Paquin (the ruthless head of Helius Energy’s corporate security) through the scene in Douala, Cameroon; and chase scenes involving protagonists Andrea Marenna (the Texas lawyer) and John Caine in or around Austin, Texas. In the case of the San Bernadino mountain scene, I’ve hiked (or more appropriately I was dragooned into enduring these nine hour slogs by two good buddies who enjoy watching me in pain) Mt. Baldy, Mt. San Bernardino, Mt. San Gorgonio, and Mt. San Jacinto (Cactus-to-the-clouds – but only to the tram – almost died). The location offered the kind of wilderness venue that seemed perfect for the scene. In the case of Cameroon, I worked for a company years ago (law clerk) that discovered an oil reserve off the coast so I knew about the oil nexus. Insofar as Austin is concerned, I liked the place when I visited (although some of the more specific locations therein – the restaurants, etc., are fictional).