Behind the Scenes: Writing "Breaking the Line"

Sometimes reality hands you the perfect plot.

While brainstorming the second book in the Dave Anderson series, I couldn't ignore the headlines about soaring utility prices and Europe's energy vulnerability. The more I researched, the more I realized how fragile our energy infrastructure really is. A coordinated attack on key pipelines could bring Europe to its knees – and most people wouldn't even know it was happening until it was too late.

The story practically wrote itself: Dave and his team racing against time, hopping from the Maghreb pipeline to Erzurum, trying to prevent a silent catastrophe. But here's the thing about writing – your characters have a way of hijacking your carefully laid plans.

Enter Grigory Ivanovich.

I originally envisioned him as a one-off antagonist, the mastermind behind the pipeline attacks. But as I wrote him, he grew into something more complex, more compelling. His calculated ruthlessness and strategic mind made him the perfect dark mirror to Dave's growing powers. By the time I finished the book, I knew we hadn't seen the last of Grigory.

Speaking of Dave – this book took him to some unexpectedly dark places. We saw a side of Dave that surprised even me. There's something unsettling about writing a character, discovering just how much damage they can inflict. Every broken bone, every crushed limb, raised questions about power and restraint that would echo through the rest of the series.

It's funny how fiction works sometimes. You start with a straightforward premise – protect the pipelines, save Europe – and end up exploring much deeper waters. How much violence is too much, even in a good cause? What happens to someone when they realize they're capable of terrible things?

The team dynamic shifted too. Nothing bonds people quite like shared trauma, and after Mei's rescue, the relationships between team members evolved beyond mere professional courtesy. Trust forged in fire, as they say.

Looking back, what began as a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller became something more significant for the series. It gave us Grigory, whose shadow would loom large in future books. It pushed Dave toward a darker understanding of his abilities. And it transformed a group of skilled operatives into something closer to family.

Not bad for a story that started with a utility bill.