George K. Mehok is the author of the new novel Going Dark, the first in his Liberty Unit series. He is also a technologist and entrepreneur.
Q: What inspired you to write Going Dark, and how did you create your character Paul Knox?
A: My love for reading and learning has been a constant throughout my life, and much of that comes from my late father. His passion for books, storytelling, and being a lifelong learner profoundly impacted me and ultimately inspired me to become a writer.
He loved smart, fast-paced thrillers with bold, clever characters—authors like Stephen Hunter, Tom Clancy, and Steve Berry were regulars in our conversations. We’d read their books, devouring the entire series, and then spend hours discussing the characters, plots, and action.
Characters like “Bob the Nailer” from Hunter’s Bobby Lee Swagger series and Jack Ryan from Clancy’s Red Storm Rising fascinated us, and these characters brought us closer together.
Going Dark was born out of that influence, my passion for American history, and my career in technology, where I’ve built advanced software and analytics systems.
This combination resulted in a dual-timeline thriller. The modern-day storyline follows Paul Knox, a former Air Force captain and NSA cyber forensics expert, who is forced to "go dark" when he exposes the perpetrators behind a massive terrorist attack on Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, which triggers the next major international conflict.
As the plot unfolds, Paul must race to protect his daughter, a brilliant MIT computer scientist whose work on next-generation internet technology is what the terrorists need to complete their mission to weaken our military defenses and wreak havoc on America.
Interwoven with Paul Knox’s story is the historical narrative of the first Liberty Unit Guardsmen, a small Revolutionary War Virginia militia group. In 1781, during the war's final year, they journeyed north from Charlottesville to West Point, New York, to deliver an encrypted message that would protect the life of a future president and possibly end the war.
The connection between these timelines runs deep, as Paul discovers that his father was a member of the Liberty Unit—a secret society dedicated to protecting America's future. This legacy has passed down through generations, preparing Paul for his role, even though he was unaware of it.
Paul Knox’s character is heavily inspired by my father, a decorated Air Force veteran who served in Japan during the Korean War, and his older brother, Paul, who served in the Navy during World War II.
I combined their love for family, sacrifice, and dedication to their country with influences from characters like Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone and Gregg Hurwitz’s Evan Smoak.
However, Paul’s deeper influence came from the attack on 9/11. Like many in my generation, I vividly remember where I was when the towers fell, and that event also shaped Paul’s trajectory. He was in his final year at MIT, studying computer science, and the attack altered the course of his life.
And what Paul didn’t realize is that his father, had been relentless in preparing him throughout his teenage years, shaping him for a much bigger purpose—as a future Guardsman, ready to carry on the legacy.
Q: The writer Ryan Steck said of the book, “With its gripping blend of cyber intrigue and historical drama, Going Dark is more than just a thriller—it's a testament to the enduring power of loyalty, legacy, and the unbreakable bond between a father and his daughter.” What do you think of that description?
A: Ryan Steck is not only an amazing author but also the founder and editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy, so he really knows his stuff when it comes to thriller novels and the authors who write them. It was humbling that he took the time to read my book and write such a thoughtful blurb. And honestly, he nailed it.
Sure, Going Dark is a cyber-thriller intertwined with historical fiction. Still, at its core, it’s about the character Paul Knox and his love for his family, especially his daughter, Emma.
As a father of daughters, I relate deeply to the relationship between a father and his daughter—it’s incredibly special and, in most cases, unbreakable.
However, in some, and particularly in Paul’s case, that bond was severed when his wife, Sara, passed away after a devastating battle with cancer. Paul’s grief was overwhelming, and it caused him to push everyone away and erect walls around himself emotionally, and that included Emma.
Over the years, their relationship became more distant, and they rarely spoke or visited. But when the attacks on the country began and Paul realized that Emma could be in danger, his protective fatherly instincts, fortified by his 9/11 and military experience, he knew exactly what to do and what his late wife Sara would expect: to find their daughter and protect her at all costs.
Ryan, being the great writer he is, managed to capture the essence of the novel—the motivations that drive the characters to extraordinary lengths. For Paul, it’s all about overcoming grief and his love for Emma, and that love becomes the driving force to do everything he must to protect her.
Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: Not exactly. I had a general sense of where the story was headed—Paul would find Emma and save her because that’s what he had to do and was trained to do. But the details and specifics evolved as the plot developed.
For me, writing is a way to explore and be creative. Unlike outlining detailed designs or flow charts when developing software, I enjoy allowing the characters to guide me as they encounter obstacles on their journey to where they are destined to go.
For instance, in the historical timeline, Jack’s mission was clear -- to stop the British from capturing or killing General Washington, but I wasn’t sure exactly how he would accomplish it.
As I wrote, the climactic scene took shape organically, and Jack became real and showed me how he would ultimately succeed. That journey came together as I learned more about Jack, his character and how he would overcome the many challenges he faced.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: First and foremost, I sincerely hope readers find Going Dark as entertaining to read as it was for me to write.
Beyond that, I’d like readers to use this book as a reference point to remember we cannot take our freedom and security for granted. We owe so much to those who have fought and sacrificed to create this great country and who protect us today—whether they are police officers, firefighters, nurses, or servicemen and women. Their courage and dedication should always be appreciated.
Lastly, I want to emphasize the importance of being diligent. The scenarios in the book, while fiction, are very possible. There are ways to protect yourself from cyber threats like ransomware. Bad guys are constantly evolving their techniques as technology advances. Be aware of your digital surroundings and keep what is important safe.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now, I’m focused on the audiobook production for Going Dark, which has been an incredible experience. John Marshall Media is producing it, with the talented voice actor Fleet Cooper bringing the story to life. It will be available on the book’s publication day, 11/12/2024.
In addition, I’m writing the second book in the Going Dark - Liberty Unit Series. This time, Paul’s brilliant daughter, Emma, takes center stage as she goes "dark" and on a mission to uncover a plot to sabotage NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX efforts to develop a multi-planetary space program.
It’s a race against time to stop a foreign adversary’s sleeper spy who has been embedded in the space program since the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I’m a masters swimmer and have met so many great friends who love to swim. If any of your readers enjoy swimming, U.S. Masters Swimming is a great way to get to know other swimmers…
And…Going Dark was published on Nov. 12, 2024. If your readers would like to check out the new book trailer or learn more “How to prevent a hacker from stealing your data,” visit www.georgemehok.com or email me at gmehok@gmail.com.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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