The Chinese Spymaster discussion

Following up on the giveaway of my recent book, I am starting this discussion topic for anyone who wishes to comment or ask about any aspect of the book or the writing thereof.

For instance, what was the very first scene I thought up? It was a scene that appears almost at the end of the book in which the British spy-mistress asks Wang "how is your Russian?" and he responds with "how is your Chinese?" Then they both laugh and agree that they should be studying Persian or Arabic next.

Hoping to keep this going, let's ask Who are the Pashtuns? A spy novel that features the Chinese is a somewhat outlandish concept so I thought something equally outlandish--but believable--should be the "hook."

Perhaps some people do not care that the Pashtuns are trying to get a nuclear device. But I think that those who read or otherwise pay some attention to the news might. Wouldn't they also like to know a bit more about the Pashtuns as opposed to those people in Afghanistan or Pakistan? Would they wonder why the Russians and the British have been there since a couple of centuries ago?

To my delight one reviewer actually complained that there was not enough about them in the book! On the other hand a Pashtun to whom I showed those early chapters--well that is another story.

The Pashtuns are the "hook" to this spy novel. At first, I thought they would make up more of the story. But as I wrote, I was drawn more to the Spymaster, his character and that of his helpers and adversaries.

Hence I re-titled the book; from Operation Kashgar, its working title, to The Chinese Spymaster. In particular, I found myself writing about the Spymaster's self-discovery as he investigates a senior Party member who is on a vendetta against him, as he interrogates the N. Korean arms-dealer and as he responds to the efforts to "make him a match."