As a relatively new author, my books include an espionage thriller and children’s book. What a combination you might think. That’s the same thought I had. I never imagined that I would write a children’s book. What led to that was a personal struggle one of my children went through a few years back. While giving some fatherly advice to help them with their struggle, I was inspired to write a children’s book based upon what I said to them. The espionage thriller, on the other hand, was an idea that came to me back in 2015. From a career working in counterintelligence and counter-terrorism, I was able to pull from my experiences and some of the interesting people I met along the way, to come up with a suspenseful and realistic thriller. Having grown up reading authors such as Tom Clancy, John le Carré and Robert Ludlum, my goal was to write a fast-paced page-turner in the spirit of these great writers and also bring depth to the characters by having the reader immersed in the personal struggles faced by each of them.
In The Last Regret, the U.S. Secretary of State and the Iranian Foreign Minister are in Istanbul negotiating the future of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program when the unimaginable happens. Suddenly the entire Middle East is thrown into chaos and uncertainty. Those responsible are convinced that their foolproof plan will keep their true intentions and identities concealed, but something goes wrong and the conspiracy is compromised, putting everything at risk. Meanwhile, old friends and former intelligence associates are unexpectedly drawn back together after many years as a result. Realizing that they are the only ones who can unveil the identity of conspirators and try to stop their evil plot before millions die, they must come to terms with their past as the face seemingly insurmountable odds. Willing to risk everything, even their lives, they go up against international power brokers and their own governments as they are plunged into a labyrinth of deceit, lies and misdirection while ruthless individuals try to stop them. Each of them must search deep inside themselves and come to terms with their past if they are to make it through the darkness to the other side. Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers in paperback, on Amazon for Kindle, and via other online booksellers in EPub.
My other book, Sir Richard’s Amazing Kingdom, is an illustrated children’s book that is an allegory along the lines of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. It takes place in the make believe kingdom of Sir Richard. The mystical Sir Richard, realizing that there are children without parents scattered throughout towns and the countryside, builds a special place for them to live temporarily until they are ready to come live in his kingdom. Not everyone is happy about that. Lawrence, one of Sir Richard’s servants, attempts to throw a monkey wrench into Sir Richard’s plan and suddenly chaos breaks out all over. But Sir Richard has another plan for how to deal with Lawrence. With the help of his son Thomas, along with Andy and Ellie, the table is turned on Lawrence.
I am very grateful to Vasso Psaraki, a well established children’s book author and illustrator from Greece, for illustrating Sir Richard’s Amazing Kingdom. Her beautiful and imaginative illustrations really bring the story to life. It is available in hardcover (standard edition) and Kindle through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online and brick & mortar book sellers. A special edition with an illustrated map of Sir Richard’s kingdom on both the inside covers, a deluxe hardcover with stitched binding and thicker pages (with no barcode on the outside back cover), is available through my website and select independent bookstores.
I hope all who read my books find them thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking. Thank you for your support. Anthony Sideris.
Anthony Sideris 