Polar Deception follows a man living in a time of environmental collapse and geopolitical fractures who steals rare crystals from a remote research center and murders his colleagues to secure himself a lucrative deal. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

It’s interesting that you characterize the story as following Carlos, the antagonist. Carlos represents all that is wrong with the world—the relentless lure of greed and power. While he doesn’t steal the crystals, he hides them to double‑cross his prospective buyer, China. That act underscores his manipulative nature and the destructive choices people in power often make. History and current events remind us that unchecked ambition and exploitation lead to suffering for the many and lasting damage to our only home in the universe. Diana’s struggle against Carlos is symbolic of humanity’s broader fight to resist those forces.

For me, the heart of Polar Deception is Diana’s story—a smart, adventurous woman who has endured profound personal tragedy, from a difficult childhood to the loss of both her mother and husband within just a few years. Her journey is about resilience and finding the courage to stand up to someone like Carlos.

What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?

I especially enjoyed writing Angie. She’s a lively, fun companion for Diana, yet she carries her own inner demons that I hope to explore more fully in the next book.

Carlos, on the other hand, was the most difficult. I envisioned him as a narcissistic sociopath, but early (and even recent) feedback suggested he came across as cartoonishly evil. To balance that, I gave him a more nuanced background shaped by personal tragedies, and even a faint conscience—he avoids harming those he believes “don’t deserve it.” Writing such characters is tricky: while narcissistic sociopaths exist in real life, their behavior can feel unbelievable in fiction. Still, if we are to understand and deal with such sociopaths in reality, at the very least we must be able to acknowledge that they have a role to play in fiction.

I felt there was a clear warning in these pages about the direction Earth is headed. What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The central theme is the butterfly effect—how a single action, whether natural or human, can ripple across the globe for good or ill. The Russian earthquake is one example, echoing the real-life 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami that impacted Antarctica. It’s a reminder that it only takes one event in one corner of the world to reverberate thousands of miles away in mere hours

Another theme is the outsized influence of individuals. History shows us how one person—Hitler being a stark example—can alter humanity’s course through threats or promises of power. Carlos embodies this danger, justifying his actions as serving the “greater good.” But Diana ultimately strips that power from him, at least for now, preserving the fragile balance. 

What will your next novel be about, and what will the whole series encompass?

Without giving too much away, the next book begins with a global event that sends Diana and Angie to Greenland, where a crisis is brewing. Book 2 is set in 2053 and will explore sustainable alternatives to today’s technology—solutions that are based on existing innovations but not considered economically feasible. The series as a whole will continue to examine how humanity’s choices, both large and small, shape our shared future.

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