Arts & Entertainment

Spy Master

Bestselling novelist Daniel Silva comes to Birmingham to discuss

his new thriller — once again featuring Israeli secret agent Gabriel Allon.

Suzanne Chessler

"

Special to the Jewish News

K

eeping a daring Israeli secret
agent at the center of more
than one book was not Daniel
Silva's intent, but it has given the author
international success through eight
thrillers.
The ninth, The Defector (G.P. Putnam's
Sons; $26.95), the sequel to 2008's No.1
Nev' York Times bestseller Moscow Rules,
is hitting bookstores this summer and
so is the writer. He will talk to local
readers about the fictitious triumphs of
Gabriel Allon 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at
Borders in Birmingham.
Silva, who lived in Kalamazoo until
he turned 7 and was a newsman before
becoming a novelist, is ready to answer
questions about the intrigue the agent
faces while searching across countries
for both his wife and friend, abducted
separately by Russian arms dealers led
by Ivan Kharkov.
"The book is a withering look at con-
temporary Russia, a piece of pure enter-
tainment and a love story," says Silva, 48,
who has been publishing a book a year
for some 12 years. "It happens to be a bit
more violent than my previous novels
just because of the subject matter.
"I had to be talked into turning Allon
into a continuing character because
I thought there was too much anti-
Israelism in the world and far too much
anti-Semitism, to ever allow an Israeli
continuing character to be truly palat-
able to a mass-market audience.

Daniel
;S ilva

"No one is more surprised
by the success of the series
than I am."
Silva, who converted to
Judaism after marrying NBC
Today show national corre-
spondent Jamie Gangel, was
pursuing a master's degree in
international relations at San
Francisco State University
when he was hired by United
Press International.
As a journalist, he worked
his way into becoming chief
Middle East correspondent
in Egypt and the Persian
Gulf and met Gangel while
covering the Iran-Iraq War.
Silva next joined CNN to become
executive producer of talk shows,
including Crossfire, Capital Gang and
Reliable Sources. After finding success
writing his debut novel, The Unlikely
Spy as a part-time commitment, he
turned to fiction full time.
"The transition from fact to fiction
was not difficult for me," says Silva, who
lives in the Washington, D.C., area and
serves on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Museum Council. "The hardest part was
making a commitment to turn my back
on journalism, to which I had devoted
so many years.
"Writing books and being an author
is a very tough business. I dithered for
a long time about whether I should
really quit my day job. It's what I always
wanted to do, but when the opportunity
presented itself, it was very scary."
Silva keeps to a strict writing rou-

Daniel Silva on The Defector: "First
and foremost, I want readers to be
entertained. At the same time, I
want them to understand that the
more things change, the more they
stay the same, and that we'll need to
keep one eye focused on Russia as we
move forward in the years ahead."

tine, starting early in the morning and
continuing late into the evening when
deadlines are tight. In the process, he
has found a family benefit.
The son of two teachers working
outside the home as he grew up in
California, the novelist is glad to have
more time close to his children, 14-year-
old twins Lily and Nicholas.
"Being an at-home dad is the greatest
blessing of my career," he says. "I pick
up the children every day from school.
I take my manuscript and sit on the
carpool line, and I'm home in the after-
noon."
lArhether at the computer, doing
research in a library or traveling to
places spotlighted in one of his books,
Silva has no secret lust for experiencing
the dangers he devises.
"I've met lots of spies and have spies
among my closest friends, but I don't
try to put their lives
on paper," he says. "I
"I'm especially excited about The Defector
have created my own
because it's not only a thriller but a love story," characters.
"I think spies are,
for
better or worse,
says the author. "I've discovered that many
naturally deceptive,
of my female readers have a bit of a crush on clever, streetwise
Depending on
Gabriel Allon. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised by people.
their level of cover,
they have to be very
this. He's moody, clinically shy and prone to
compartmentalized
periods of melancholia. But he's also a very
with the ability to lead
two very separate lives
intriguing and attractive character."
or three separate lives

or four separate lives and keep them all
distinct.
"It takes a very unique kind of per-
son to be able to do that, and I've done
little things to make sure that Gabriel
is not just an Israeli character. He has
a strong connection to the CIA, British
Intelligence and the Vatican."
In The Defector, Allon compartmen-
talizes his life by taking on important
assignments as an art restorer.
Silva, who does cycling each day for
exercise, was attracted to intrigue novels
because of their endless possibilities. He
considers crafting them a great way to
learn more about the world and exotic
places.
The writer also makes discoveries by
connecting with his readers.
"What I like about book signings is
listening to what readers have to say,"
explains Silva, already developing his
next thriller. "I like to hear their com-
ments and listen to their questions.
"I learn so much at my signings,
particularly during the question-and-
answer period. I try to speak as little
as possible and then open the floor to
questions as quickly as possible. That's
when I think the evening gets into
gear."

Daniel Silva appears 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 3, at Borders, 34300
Woodward, in Birmingham.
(248) 203-0005.

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