5 Questions with James Stone, author of the spy novel, CRYPTO

Dr. Stone has a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering, and numerous international certifications in computer security. He has worked at NSA, NASA, and the Department of Defense in various capacities, as well as having been a professor of engineering at a major university. He recently retired from engineering and plans to devote himself to writing. His first novel is CRYPTO, published by Twilight Times Books.

Q: Congratulations on the release of your novel! Tell us, what’s inside the mind of an espionage author?

A: I can’t speak for others, but I want to tell a good story. My next book is not even in the espionage genre. The third will be. It happens espionage, treason, and various other forms of misbehaviour are displayed prominently on the current world stage, making it easy to be relevant.

Q: Tell us why readers should buy CRYPTO.

A: First, it’s a really good story written by an author immersed for decades in the security world. I’ve tried to be very accurate in the background materials, and give a sense of what it’s like, while not compromising anything that might be sensitive. Incidentally, I actually personally knew a prominent spy who got caught.

Q: What makes a good espionage novel?

A: Let’s start with the basic rules: interesting people, doing interesting things, in interesting places: Have strong central characters, run them up a tree, and let the reader struggle with them to get down. Espionage stories should be obscure mysteries simply involving politics, plots, and treason.

Q: What espionage authors do you admire or recommend?

A: Eric Ambler, Richard Condon, Len Deighton, Ian Fleming, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Jack Higgins, John LeCarre (a bit dark), Robert Ludlum, Helen MacInnes, Daniel Silva, and many more. Unfortunately, I took a speed reading course some years ago and keep running out of books by favourite authors. Fortunately, I also like ‘space opera (Cherryh, Weber, Bujold), serial killer novels (Deaver, Sandford), and even some classic Regency Romance (Austen, Heyer). I like to read.

Q: What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book?

A: Making sure the details are all correct. For instance, I wanted a stream of Zil limos entering the Lubyanka in Moscow. I’ve never been there, so didn’t know where a door might be. Google Street View shows the only such portal off an alley at the back. I was amazed.

Q: How did you celebrate the completion of CRYPTO?

A: I started my next book, My Every Thought, a near-future Sci-Fi/Thriller about human-realistic robots and ‘Monsters from the ID.’