Otello’s Oil follows a Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service who is investigating the murder of the Kuwait Oil Minister and trying to find out if he was the target or if the Secretary of State was the real target. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Several things inspired this story. First, many years ago, I appeared as a supernumerary in two operas at the Kennedy Center: Otello and Aida. Both “grand operas” by Verdi. Indeed, in Otello, I had the same “role” as the Egyptian assassin who poisoned the Kuwaiti oil minister and murdered Emilia (“Emmy”) Treadwell on stage at the center. Second, I am a lawyer. I have practiced international law all over the world for the better part of the past 40 years. I worked on Capitol Hill and in the administration. I know about global oil markets and international diplomacy, and I have spent time at many of the places featured in the book (e.g., the US Mission in Geneva, the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, the Ritz Carlton Reserve in Bali). Thus, I won’t say it was “easy” to write Otello’s Oil, but I certainly wrote about what I know.

I found Elliot Jones to be an intriguing character with a unique backstory. What was your inspiration for this character?

Honestly, no particular inspiration. Although, I did like the fact that my protagonist was affiliated with a national security service that most people have never heard of: the US Diplomatic Security Service. And if I may, allow me to digress for a minute. I dislike books and movies that are far-fetched and just plain unrealistic (e.g., the vice-president conspires with the president’s secret service detail to assassinate the president at Camp David). I want my books to be “real.” My plots to be plausible. In the sequel to Otello’s Oil, the reader will, among other things, learn more about Jones and his backstory. They will also learn much more about Secretary Farnsworth’s Qatari lover and her reasons for helping Qatar win some of the oil auctions conducted by Iraq.

What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

Although i often wrote about what i know, i still conducted seemingly endless research about every place and every scene in Otello’s Oil (e.g., the navy seals in suriname).  Again, I want my books to be accurate. Realistic. Thus, when i write, i tend to have two laptops in front of me:  one with the manuscript on it and one that i can conduct research on.

Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?

I am really excited about the sequel to Otello’s Oil — “St. Crispin’s Eulogy.” The first four chapters are complete. Not sure when it will be finished.  If i had to guess, i’d say late summer 2025.

In St. Crispin’s eulogy, readers will learn why Secretary Farnsworth helped Qatar win oil leases awarded by Iraq and what she intended to do with the “commission” paid to her by Qatar. They will also learn that the false flag operation in Kuwait was not the only plan the white house had for trying to avoid catastrophic gas prices in the US right before the presidential election in 2032.  Finally, they will learn that Kuwait’s oil minister was not the only person killed on October 25, st. Crispin’s day.

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