Khalil, an Al Qaeda operative, is held in American captivity after being seized evaluating the location for a possible bombing in London. George, a psychology professor on leave to work as an interrogator, is charged with extracting any information Khalil may know. Mean-while Omar, a graduate student in Los Angeles, is painstakingly planning a series of bombs to detonate across the United States. Khalil was to lead this mission; but his disappearance doesn't slow down the plot. George senses that Khalil is hiding important information but struggles to make him disclose much. Will George break Khalil in time to stop Omar? Can the plot succeed with its mastermind imprisoned? Each man must face his own limitations as they are tested by circumstance and their own past decisions.
My name is Megan Lisa Jones and I'm a sometimes author, former investment banker and now doing online stuff (long story). I live near the beach in Santa Monica, CA and stay sane by jogging/walking on the bike path and yoga classes. I read - a lot. With two children and many ongoing projects I never seem to get as much done as I expect I can.
I was born in California (up north) but grew up all over. Most of my youth was spent in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and my grandparents' farm in Wales. But, my parents also threw in Dallas and Boston. I escaped my ever changing realities by getting lost in books and then writing my own stories.
Both my parents are European immigrants and had dramatic tales of their romantic countries of origin. Wales, my father's homeland, is a rebellious part of Britain, birthplace of Merlin and full of fantasy stories. His town had rolling green hills, winding country roads and fields of animals. We'd go down to the stormy shore for ice cream. Poland, where my mother was born, had a devastating time in the 20th century and my family lived through Hitler, Stalin and then a move to the United States. My great grandparents had actually lived and prospered in the US before returning to Poland just prior to the start of the war. It was a tragic decision. Visiting Poland as an adult I couldn't help but imagine the soldiers my grandfather had known in the dense forests and lovely grassy knolls.
I traveled a lot while younger and those landscapes and lifestyles helped me learn empathy. We all see the world through different lenses. Wandering the streets of Varanasi I almost walked into a burning corpse then stumbled through a spice bazaar in a daze. In Paris I'd wake up each morning to run along the Seine, one of my favorite workouts. Then I'd eat dark chocolate with my coffee as a reward.
Captive is my first book. It reflects my youthful impressions of terrorism as I witnessed many a bomb scare in London on my way to Wales. And it also addresses a new mother's perspective on the wars all countries fight. Watching the US bomb Iraq while I held my new son I wondered at the pain of the children who were witness to such tragedy and how that would impact them. So I turned my thoughts and research into a story about two men. People are shaped by circumstance but how do we each respond to those challenges? How different do men become as a result of very different choices?
The book was featured by BitTorrent in its new artist program and has been downloaded globally. I love hearing from readers their impressions of my novel. Writing has the potential to impact others and I take that responsibility as a blessing.
I'm almost done with the sequel and will continue writing regardless. Recent favorites are Portraits of a Marriage and 11/22/63. I consider candy a food group, love horses and always prefer beach vacations to any others. All input, thoughts and insights are welcome.
