After working on nine books in the Tom Clancy game universe, the query arrived: would I be interested in collaborating with Mr. Clancy on an original novel? It was a dream job and the opportunity of a lifetime. There were many folks involved besides the writers, most notably Mr. Michael Ovitz, who was Tom's agent and had great input on the books Tom wrote. My editor told me that if we could make Michael happy, we were in good shape. Mr. Ovitz was a tough critic, putting us through several outlines to ensure the book would be as detailed, well-researched, and compelling as possible. The original working title was Cartel, given the behind-the-scenes tour we provide into the world of Mexican drug cartels. When published in 2011, the hardcover debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, a distinction preserved for a small percentage of writers in history. I was honored to have my name listed next to Mr. Clancy's, and Mr. Ovitz wrote me a wonderful email telling me happy he was with the final draft. The media attention the novel garnered was overwhelming, and honestly, I loved every moment of it!