Let’s talk about Kuwait. You were inspired to write Ahriman: The Spirit of Destruction while visiting family in Kuwait. You thought about the nuances of the Kuwaiti political system.
- Kuwait is a major oil exporter and historically one of the richest countries in the Middle East.
- Of the 4.8M people living in Kuwait, 1.5M are Kuwaiti citizens; the rest are foreign nationals.
- Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy. The Emir (king) doesn’t have legislative powers while the National Assembly (Parliament) is in session. The Emir can disband the Assembly.
- The monarchy is more moderate than the democratically elected Assembly. The monarchy has enabled progress for women (not requiring burkas; women can drive, vote, and run for office). Women gained the right to vote in 2005. Accused of being puppets of the west.
- Political instability and chronic political deadlock have hampered Kuwait’s economic development and infrastructure. Islamist and liberal factions can’t agree on anything, including how many traffic lights to install on one of the main roads.
In the prologue, we meet Kasem Ismaili and “Lila’s” friend Nurah Bahar. Jamal is sleeping on Kasem’s sofa. Kasem is kidnapped. Puja Guha, how did you decide to the start the novel here?
Petra attends a meeting. “The eight individuals in the room covered as many countries, each with their own unique ethnic and racial backgrounds” (7-8). A secret organization was created to cater to global intelligence needs without being bogged down in political bureaucracy (121). The Agency tackles global threats other intelligence organizations can’t handle. Let’s talk about the Agency.
Let’s talk technology. Message encryptions. Soundproof wall insulation systems. Hourly sweeps for bugs. Agency personnel enter the building through a full-body scanner. And holograms!
The book spans different timelines. We’re in the present day (2021) and go back to 2015-2016.
If Petra doesn’t go back into the field, her Agency career may stall. She speaks English, Farsi, Arabic, Hindi, and French. She’s young and educated. She excels at marksmanship, combat readiness, and psychological integration. She can work anywhere. What keeps her at the Agency?
The Ahriman infiltrates various power brokers at a diwaniya, a reception area near or inside the owner’s house, where men gather to discuss issues such as politics, the economy, and society.
Petra had PTSD from her last field agent work (asset compromised). She learned that field agent cover stories should adhere as closely as possible to the truth, but the more she shares about herself, the more connected she feels to her assets. Talk about the emotional costs of deception.
You’ve written three bestselling novels, THE AHRIMAN LEGACY spy thriller series (AHRIMAN: THE SPIRIT OF DESTRUCTION and ROAD TO REDEMPTION) and the family drama THE CONFLUENCE.
Puja Guha, talk about your writing process. How has that process changed over the years? Talk about NaNoWriMo and the discipline required to write 50,000 words in 30 days.
In the dedication to the book, you write, “For my father, who helped give me the vision. For my mother, who helped give me the discipline. For my husband, who gave me the motivation to begin.”
You’ve lived all over the world in Kuwait, Toronto, Paris, London, New York, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. How did you get the travel bug? How did you make it to Denver?
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the London School of Economics. CIO of The Sol Group (developing and operating renewable energy power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa). Puja Guha, in what ways have your education and global experiences weaved their way into your stories?
Are people surprised to learn you write spy fiction? Where are some places you’ve traveled? You’re able to expose readers to different countries and cultures. Are you secretly a spy?
What authors or books have influenced you? When did you start reading spy fiction?
What are you working on next?
Puja Guha, how can our listeners find you?
