History In The Details

"Presidential" thriller entangles
characters in a web of deception.

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Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News

B

Q: What inspired the idea?
A: A few years ago, President George
H.W. Bush wrote me a note to say he
liked one of my thrillers and invited
me to spend nearly a week in Houston.
He told me how hard it is for presi-
dents to talk in the White House —
how hard it is to keep secrets. As I
looked back through history, I realized
that the problem of keeping secrets
dated back to George Washington,
who devised a secret group of regu-
lar citizens that would serve just the
president. Washington called them the
Culper Ring. Who says all that doesn't
exist today?

rad Meltzer has another
thriller to introduce and, as
usual, is making a stop in
Michigan to talk
about it. The visit
feels natural for
the University of
Michigan gradu-
ate, who inevitably
includes area refer-
ences in his page-
turners.
Brad Meltzer
The Inner Circle
(Grand Central
Publishing; $26.99), a novel that
Q: Did you plan Jewish connections
follows the dangers in a startling
in theme, plot or character?
presidential discovery at the National A: Someone once asked me which of
Archives, will be the center of dis-
my characters were Jewish. I stopped
cussion 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at
for a second and realized all of them.
Borders in Birmingham.
Plus, there's that same sense of humor
Meltzer, 40, a history major and
and sensibility that I'll forever [trace
English minor at U-M, began the first to] my mother.
of his eight novels
while studying law at
Q: Were there any
)11.11M, All't Witt
NVA1trRR 17t1tS 111,
Columbia University
special intellectual
in New York. His inter-
goals with this book?
est in writing about
A: This book is about
legal issues quickly
history, and we need to
surpassed his interest
remember that history
in practicing law.
is a selection process.
Besides develop-
Some think it chooses
ing the children's
people and moments
book Heroes for My
and puts them togeth-
Son and the comic
er, but history chooses
books Identity Crisis
each of us every single
and Justice League of
day. The only question
America, the author
has to do with hearing
was co-creator of the
the call.
television series Jack
& Bobby and is host and executive
Q: Did you want readers to think
producer of the series Brad Meltzer's
about the presidency in a fresh
Decoded that premiered this season
way?
on the History Channel.
A: What they'll see is a true view
Meltzer, whose family is part of a
inside the White House, from how
Conservative congregation in Florida, they live there to how they eat there. I
discussed the background of The
hope readers see the White House in a
Inner Circle with the Jewish News:
new way.

Q: What distinguishes this book
from your previous thrillers?
A: It's the first time I'm writing true
series characters. The characters you
meet in The Inner Circle will be back
again. I like them too much to leave
them alone.

Brad Meltzer introduces The
Inner Circle and signs copies
7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at
Borders, 34300 Woodward, in
Birmingham. (248) 203-0005.

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