The debut author of The Amir: The Tora Bora Vendetta sits down with Defiance Press to talk craft, service, and the human side of America’s most elite warriors.
THE WRITER
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When the manuscript was accepted for publication: though I think that’s actually the wrong idea. A friend of mine, who is also a writer, is fond of a quote: “Everyone has a story inside them.”
If you have the will and desire and you sit down and put it on paper, you’re a writer. Whether it’s published or not, you have created something: a unique story. Good or bad, great or terrible, it is something you have written. I think that’s what makes you a writer.
Describe your writing space.
I’ve maintained a home office for several years, alongside my professional career. It’s a proper setup: professional-sized desk, dual monitors, a side table with a printer, and a five-tiered shelf packed with books, Challenge Coins, antique weapons, unit patches, and other paraphernalia.
The walls are covered with military awards, pictures, letters from a couple of presidents, and certificates from various law enforcement trainings. In other words: it’s me. It’s a glimpse of my life. It is quiet, and it is filled with the tools and relics of my previous life that give me inspiration every time I sit down to write.
How do you research your books?
The storyline comes from imagination and real-life experience. But I do research online for technical details to add realism and authenticity: it’s important to get the details right. I also reach out to friends who are subject-matter experts to make sure the information I’m using is accurate.
When I’m writing about a specific location: Germany, Sweden, Iraq: those are places I’ve been to and know personally. Sometimes I can’t remember a street name and I’ll pull up Google Earth to make sure I’m getting it right.
“If you sit down and put it on paper, you’re a writer. Whether it’s published or not: you have created something.”
What does success mean to you?
Interesting question. Many people would say book sales or making money: and that’s a legitimate goal. But for me personally, success comes down to two things:
First: Have I entertained the reader? Did I give them a few hours of enjoyment? Was it a good story? And second: perhaps most importantly: did I do justice to the people I’m writing about? The men and women in uniform. The ones who put it on the line every day. That matters more to me than any sales figure.
THE BOOKS
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
I’m in the process of publishing my first book, The Amir: The Tora Bora Vendetta. I’d have to say this one is my favorite: the two main characters are loosely based on the real careers of two remarkable men I’m lucky enough to call friends.
I’m also currently writing my second book, which will launch a series called The ATLAS Files: centered on a private group of former CIA Special Activities Division operators. And I’m in the middle of a third project, which is a completely different genre: Christian fiction.
Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Who, and what makes them special?
So far, it would have to be John Spencer, the lead character in The Amir. Spencer has a lot of the elements that drive men into the Teams. His character wrestles with things many of us struggle with: loss, emotional turmoil, drinking, self-awareness, healing. He’s not a superhero. He’s human. And I think that’s what makes him compelling.
THE AMIR: THE TORA BORA VENDETTA
What was the inspiration for the story?
The inspiration for the main characters comes from two men I consider close friends. One is a former Navy SEAL and CIA officer. The other is a retired Army ODA member. Both are the real deal.
But the broader inspiration was my desire to humanize people who do the extraordinary every day: not just physically, but mentally. These men perform at levels that professional athletes can’t match. They are the greatest warriors in history, and yet they are someone’s son, brother, uncle, husband, father, friend. They go through the same struggles the rest of us do. I wanted to bring a bit of humanity to these legendary warrior types.
What are the key themes in the book?
Redemption. Self-awareness. Family. Brotherhood. Those four words are really the heart of the story.
“I wanted to humanize people who perform at levels professional athletes can’t. They are legendary warriors: but they are someone’s son, brother, husband, father.”
Will there be a sequel?
I think I’ll leave that up to the readers. It will be fascinating to hear their feedback on the story and the characters: and whether they want more. The response from the audience will drive that decision.
Why did you set the story in Germany?
My first duty station in the Army was in the Bavaria and Franconia region. It’s one of my favorite areas in all of Europe. There’s also a personal connection: my wife is German, though she’s from the north.
There’s one small detail I love: Danny Doyle’s house in the book is based on a real house belonging to a friend: a sergeant from my platoon in Germany. He and his wife still live in the very town featured in the book.
If The Amir were made into a movie, who would you cast?
This question is interesting to me, because as someone who has worked in acting, I try to write from the perspective of a script: asking myself whether the reader can visualize each scene the way they would in a film.
My wife and I actually talked about this recently. My pick for John Spencer would be Josh Brolin. He’s an amazing actor who brings real intensity to every role. There are also some personal parallels between his background growing up and mine: and I think that kind of authenticity would make him uniquely qualified for the character.
WHAT’S NEXT
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the first book in a continuing series called The ATLAS Files. It will follow a private group of former Special Forces and CIA Special Activities Division operators. I’m excited about this series: there’s a lot of story to tell, and the world these characters inhabit is rich and complex.
THE MAN BEHIND THE PAGE
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Traveling the world is something I’ve deliberately built my career around. I’m an adventure junkie. I’ve zip-lined on four continents, eaten with the Bedouins in the desert, been nearly blown up on more than one occasion: both in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I’m not doing something like that, I love riding my motorcycle.
What was your dream job when you were younger?
It was a toss-up between Zorro, James Bond, and cliff diver. I’d say I ended up somewhere in the middle.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
The Amir: The Tora Bora Vendetta
| One of the team guys was originally from Iran and spoke perfect Arabic. His Pashto wasn’t very good, but he could get by. Since Spencer and the other team members couldn’t speak Arabic or Pashto, the plan was to use the two combat interpreters to act as guides for the three Americans, posing as mentally incapacitated tribal members. They would essentially be playing deaf, dumb, and blind: minus the blind part. This was only if they came upon a group of al-Qaeda or the Taliban who got too close or started asking questions. It was an audacious plan, but the only one they could come up with that didn’t involve disclosing they were American, or at least Westerners. Even though they had been in the middle of extremely rugged and dangerous mountain terrain, it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility that you could run into bad guys hiding up there. After about a day and a half of hiking through the Tora Bora mountains, they spotted a group of men along the edge of a mountain which had a large cave entrance and a well-worn dirt and rock path leading up the embankment to where there was a flattened area in front of the cave’s entrance. |
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When former Special Forces operator John Spencer thought his CIA days were behind him, he never imagined a ghost from his past would return with a vengeance. Abu-Sul-Malik, the terrorist mastermind known as “The Amir,” was supposed to be dead—killed by Navy SEAL Team Six years ago. But when a hotel bombing in Germany targets Spencer specifically, he realizes the impossible: the Amir survived, underwent plastic surgery, and has been systematically hunting down everyone involved in Operation Grasshopper, the mission that originally tracked him to his Tora Bora hideout.
Forced out of retirement, Spencer reunites with his former teammates Benham Abbasi and Danny Doyle in a desperate race across Germany to stop the Amir’s revenge plot. As bodies pile up and explosive devices threaten innocent lives, Spencer must confront not only a ruthless enemy but also the personal demons that drove him away from the people he once considered family.
From the streets of Nuremberg to Munich’s central train station, “The Amir” delivers relentless action, authentic military detail, and the brotherhood forged in combat. This gripping thriller explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the true cost of service while delivering the tactical realism that only real-world special operations experience can provide.
Perfect for fans of Tom Clancy and Jack Carr, “The Amir” combines authentic insider knowledge with pulse-pounding suspense in a story that hits close to home for anyone who has served their country.
Follow Dean Davidson at deandavidson-author.com
