The seventh chapter of MP-5 CIA Series – A Containable Incident was released year ago. M.H. Sargent produced another nice book with his personal thriller signature. The best prove is the positive feedback by the readers.
In the times of remembering Iraqi war our guest gave very interesting angle in his most popular book Seven Days From Sunday. Let’ hear from M.H. more in the following interview.


. What is the seventh book of MP-5 CIA Series – A Containable Incident about?
– Is is about Iranian hackers getting into various American banks and draining accounts.
– How did you decide to write the story?
– My brother and I were out to dinner with a group of people and someone asked my brother his opinion about the U.S. debt and deficit problems (he is a securities broker), and he said, “We’ll be fine until we wake up one morning and find out that China has drained all our bank accounts.” Everyone at the table laughed and the conversation went to different things, but I just kept thinking about his comment. So we talked the next day and he said electronic sabotage is the one thing that keeps securities people awake at night — it’s like a freight train that we don’t see it coming and it wipes us out. He suggested I find some experts in bank fraud and I did, truthfully a guy that could hack into a bank and get away with it. Luckily, he’s a good guy, working in the Silicon Valley in California.

– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– My biggest problem was getting my questions answered by my hacker contact since he is extremely busy. But I got in touch with several different people that try to prevent bank hacking and they were extremely helpful too. So between about four guys, I got enough to do the book.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it 100% fiction or it’s close to someone from your real life?
– Well, the MP-5 series deals with four CIA agents, but probably the main character is a guy named Gonz. And he’s 100% fiction, as all the characters are.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– Beginning to end takes usually about nine months time. However, this novel took a bit longer because my father fell ill and then passed away and it is very hard to write when you have family drama in the mix. My father was probably my biggest fan and that’s why I dedicated the book to him.
– Seven Days From Sunday became a huge hit. Did you expect such a nice feedback from the readers?
– I don’t think I had any expectations of anything at the beginning. I was just hoping a few people would find it of interest and read it. Believe me, I’m grateful to the people who take the time to write to me and say how much they enjoy the books.
– How much efforts you put to research the Iraqi’s way of life and their point of view during the war?
– A great deal of research goes into each and every book. Originally with Seven Days, the war had just started and I just kept thinking, what is like to be living your life, then America comes in and bombards you? I thought, first, you’d want your family safe, then your community, etc. I talked with several Iraqi families now living in the states and got a lot of first hand accounts. Most people I talked to were quite optimistic about the fate of their homeland, but others wanted us out of the picture. I also talked to some military guys to get an idea of what it was like for the boots on the ground people.
– Who are you?
– I’m just an avid reader that likes to write the types of books I enjoy reading.
– What are your writing habits?
– I’m usually at my desk early in the morning and work until about 2 or 3 p.m.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of your books?
– Yes, in the sense that I’m pleased that they consistently sell, but I’d love to be on the best seller list, as would any author.
– Do you have plans for your next novel?
– I’m working on the next one now that takes place in Jordan and Iraq and deals with current events concerning ISIS.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your books?
– I just did a paid promotion with BookBub that reallygenerated sales. But truthfully, most of the time, I just focus on writing.
– Your opinion on American sniper book/movie? Do you think it’s realistic enough, according to your experience on that part of the world?
– I haven’t seen the movie yet, or read the book, so I can’t really comment.
– You are living a dream as Los Angeles scriptwriter. How would you describe such life and is it tougher than Californication’s presentation of Hank Moody’s booze and sex routine?
– I only write novels now and that’s another movie I never saw, sorry.

Learn more about M.H. Sargent at his Facebook page

Take a look at his books
Seven Days From Sunday
A Containable Incident
Toward Night’s End
The MP-5 CIA Thriller Series