The Blood Code by Misty Evans

By Richard Godwin

Misty Evans has a new novel out, THE BLOOD CODE, the fourth novel in her Super Agent Series featuring Ryan Smith, a CIA operative, and Anya Radzoya, a lost Russian princess. Anya Radzoya fled Russia with her grandmother after the suspicious deaths of her parents, but she can’t escape the royal genes that make her one of Russia’s last living princesses. When President Ivanov blackmails her into returning to Moscow in exchange for her grandmother’s life, Anya discovers he’s planning to unleash a nuclear war. With no one else to turn to, she joins forces with CIA operative Ryan Smith.

Tell us about THE BLOOD CODE.

THE BLOOD CODE is the fourth novel in my Super Agent Series featuring Ryan Smith, a CIA operative, and Anya Radzoya, a lost Russian princess. Here’s the blurb:

Fifteen years ago, Anya Radzoya fled Russia with her grandmother after the suspicious deaths of her parents, but she can’t escape the royal genes that make her one of Russia’s last living princesses. When President Ivanov blackmails her into returning to Moscow in exchange for her grandmother’s life, Anya discovers he’s planning to unleash a nuclear war. With no one else to turn to, she joins forces with CIA operative Ryan Smith.

Undercover at the nuclear summit, Ryan recruits Anya to find proof Ivanov is resurrecting the Cold War, but he suspects his new asset is a double agent. Anya is determined to rescue her grandmother with or without his help, however, and Ryan finds himself falling for the beautiful princess before he even trusts her.

Trapped inside the Kremlin with a cunning and ruthless opponent, the two must risk their lives and their hearts to save Anya’s grandmother as well as millions of innocent people.

How much does inheritance play a part in the novel?

Anya’s parents were murdered, and she’s never known why. When she’s blackmailed to return to Moscow and embrace her royal blood, she’s confronted with the dark side of her “inheritance.” She discovers secrets about her grandmother, her parents, and her bloodline that make her a target for the new Russian president. He’s a eugenics-obsessed madman, determined to create a new Imperial bloodline to lead Russia into the next century.

Who are your literary influences?

I’ve been influenced by books since I was old enough to read. My mother introduced me to the public library as a young girl, and I read every book I could get my hands on. I was always fascinated with the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys novels, and read them over and over. Since then, I’ve been inspired by everyone from Harper Lee to Lisa Gardner. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is my favorite book of all time, but I have shelves full of Vince Flynn, Robert B. Parker, John Grisham, Jodi Picoult…the list goes on and on.

What do you think of the role of Echelon today in the UK USA agreement?

So much controversy! It would make for a great suspense plot. NSA Watch claims Echelon may be intercepting up to three billion communications every day from all over the globe. Emails, internet downloads, satellite communications…an estimated ninety-percent of traffic that flows through the internet. Originally, the system and the agreement were established to protect national security, and that continues to be the driving argument, but as we know, with great power and control, comes abuse. Security versus privacy is an ongoing issue when it comes to the government spying on civilians.

What do you make of the ebook revolution?

Ebooks are a wonderful addition to my library, and have opened many doors for me as as author. The convenience of reading on my phone and my Kindle Fire, which I do a lot of when not writing or running my twin sons to ballgames, can’t be beat. Although I still have shelves full of print books, I find digital books fit my busy lifestyle.

As an author, I’m able to reach more readers in a variety of ways, whether they enjoy print or ebooks, and no matter what ereader they use. They can carry my books anywhere and read whenever they have a minute. The digital revolution has also expanded my reach internationally. Readers all over the world can instantly download my latest release, rather than waiting months or even years for a print version to become available in their local area.

Do you think we live in an age of surveillance?

Absolutely. The latest incident with Snowden and the CIA reveals we live in an Orwellian society. The NSA has a long history of spying on us, and by the way, is three times the size of the CIA with a vast international spy network. And our government relies heavily on the corporate sector to assist with surveillance and data management of all that information gathering. The two combined have massive money, power, and control – the building blocks of Big Brother.

In the post Cold War era the biggest threat is Cyber War, how much do you think people are aware of this when they use the internet?

I recently read an article about the US and Russia installing a “cyber-hotline” to prevent an accidental cyber war, but even with the latest NSA revelations, I suspect few Americans are aware of what a cyber war would mean to them. Public and private organizations are dependent on the Internet, just like individuals, for daily operations. An attack on these groups could cripple telecommunications, banking, medical facilities, transportation, you name it. My next Super Agent book deals with cyber bombs and the consequences to political, financial, and transportation sectors. Researching this topic has been an eye-opener for me, and many of the tech experts I’ve talked to believe it’s a very real and timely threat. According to President Obama, cyber intruders have already probed our electrical grids. Imagine if they found a way to get through and shut down sectors of the country. A massive electrical outage could cause massive problems.

What else is on the cards for you this year?

THE PERFECT HOSTAGE, a Super Agent novella, will be out later this year from Entangled Publishing, and I’m writing the next full-length Super Agent novel, SEDUCING THE ENEMY.

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Misty Evans writes the award-winning Super Agent series as well as urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She likes her coffee black, her conspiracy theories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. When her muse lets her on the internet to play, she’s on Facebook and Twitter.

Read more about her stories, please visit her website.