Crimson Scimitar explores the ‘what if’ questions surrounding Osama bin Laden and how things could have turned out differently. I find the setup of the novel entertaining. How did this idea start and develop as you wrote?

I have always been a fan of authors John Grisham and Scott Turow and their legal thrillers and wondered back in 2010, ‘what if’ Osama bin Laden was captured instead of killed? What would his trial under American jurisprudence look like?  In my early draft, the twist, I had him acquitted! Then, I heard on TV bin Laden had been killed.  My manuscript was shelved for 10 years, until I rewrote the concept adding new plot lines like: (1) terrorists who are coming into our Southern border and not being caught and (2) bin Laden in court would be a ‘show trial’ and I took that to the extreme.  I am now challenging lawyers I visit with: how would you have defended your client, bin Laden?  Interesting responses.

Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?  

The American public really knows very little about the intertwined politics of the Middle East or even the culture of Moslem family life. And the War on Terrorism since 2000 is not one act but hundreds of incidents that impact on us which we as normal citizens are unaware.  Instead of portraying all terrorists as ‘animals’ I sought to take one character to analyze their motivation and reveal how different events might mould and change their jihadist perspective.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?  

One theme that may be hard to see within the writing are my nuances on how American social media/television culture gives us a numbing view of reality, of the real world versus those who are dedicated to killing us.  I use the reality television industry to provide a backdrop in the hunt for bin Laden. But do I paint a positive perspective of our culture or a stilted view? Another theme that I have written into several of my books (like Crimson Scimitar and Lafayette) are the machinations of ‘ambition’ and how it drives and/or perverts a character.

What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?  

Their reaction on how they must approach the time to devour a lengthy epic novel (600 pages; which is longer than ‘Moby Dick’, but shorter than ‘Game of Thrones’). But like a thriller with multiple stories to tell, I build with chase & capture scenes, then escape & new chase action, and finally, I must tie all story lines into a crescendo of satisfying ends or teasing with new ‘what ifs?.  My beta readers and my editor enjoyed the reading. But I leave the satisfaction, or not, to the public, for it is they who must be entertained.  (P.S. I believe they will be.)   —spg

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