OFF THE GRID follows a World War I veteran, journalist, skilled sailor, and boat builder who leaves New York in search of a quieter life aboard his cutter but finds himself working as an off-the-record agent. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I found when I started writing novels that after you are inspired with this wonderful fantasy you created, what really makes it work becomes autobiographic. I found that with my first two novels, “Forgery by Deception,” and Everything We Try to Hold.” So, for “OFF THE GRID,” I am a WWII history buff. I read accounts of German submarines operating in the Florida Keys during WWII, as well as WWI. I have been sailing alone since the early 80’s, enjoying that quieter life. Started scuba diving in 1970, and became a diver master in 1984. I live 20minutes from the Florida Keys, and have been sailing, diving, and kayaking there for many years. I am also a veteran, who during my service was a radio telegraph, telephone, with a secret clearance.

What makes Frank different from the traditional fictional spy?

By making Frank an ordinary WWI vet, and not a trained intelligence operative, he is tasked with solving finding and exposing a Nazi spy ring, without specialized training. Every situation he encounters has to be delt with his own intelligence, and more importantly, his own emotions.

What challenges did you face in balancing historical accuracy with the demands of fiction?

A great deal. There was a tremendous amount of research involved. First, you had the war history, from WWI, and WWII. Then I had to merge that with the history of the keys in 1935 to 1941. When I was writing the introductory part of the book, about one quarter, and realized, how I wanted the story to finish, was not going to work the way I had envisioned because of the actual dates. So, I went back to beginning, and revised what I had written. It took time to sort all that out.

If you could spend one day aboard the Frieda-Ann with Frank, where would you want him to take you—and why?

The place is the Dry Tortugas, where the book finally ends. Fort Jefferson, a Civil War Fort that is 70 miles west, from Key West. Isolated from humanity, the only way to visit now is by seaplane, or boat. A perfect place to relax, dive, write, and drink rum.

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