Author of The Z Affair, Chris Brown reflects on his 21-year career in banking, where he progressed from filing to becoming a commercial manager. He discusses the shift in the banking industry and how it prompted him to leave in 1998 to pursue his passion for music and start his own business. Chris shares his experiences of writing a book inspired by a mix of espionage and historical events, emphasising the evolution of his character, Philip Trent. He also touches on creating compelling villains, like the assassin Zed, while blending elements of nostalgia into his storytelling.

Key Takeaways

After leaving banking in 1998, Chris transitioned to starting his own commercial finance brokerage. He emphasises the challenges of entrepreneurship, including securing clients and navigating economic downturns, which affected his business during the banking collapse of 2008.

Chris highlights his approach to character creation in his writing, often starting with physical descriptions that reflect their inner personalities. He mentions the significance of backstories for his characters, particularly focusing on the antagonist, Zed, whose physical scars symbolise his evil nature and dark history.

Chris discusses themes of espionage and patriotism through his protagonist, Philip Trent, who navigates complex situations without fitting the traditional spy mould.

Key Moments

"His job is that he (Philip Trent) is sent out to look at situations or events that might jeopardise the country... his view of the old-fashioned patriotism that was instilled in him through his family and his background... is very much dented."

"Zed, the assassin, has a really evil background. He was involved in the German concentration camps, then worked for Russians and various mercenary operations around the world. His face is all scarred, which gives him the nickname of the zombie, hence Zed. His face becomes really evil, reflecting his inner personality, and he will just kill anyone for money—a total mercenary."

About Chris Brown

C.K. Brown has had a varied career including music and finance. During this time, he has written songs, poetry, short stories, and newspaper articles. This is his first novel and was mainly written in lockdown. Recently retired, Chris then completed this novel. It is a spy thriller with romance underpinning the story, set in 1971, but with some modern themes. Chris lives in South Staffordshire with his wife, Carole.

Connect with Chris Brown: https://linktr.ee/ckbrownauthor

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