Adventure Thrillers FORECASTING ERROR with Michael Grigsby

LIZ CHARMING starts a new job as VP of Analytics at Glass Analytic Consulting. SEBASTIAN GLASS wants her to develop improved predictions because the Analytic Engine GAC uses is flawed. The analysis just provided to a criminal client, the leader of an African revolt, had massive forecasting errors.

Liz’s new Analytic Engine prototype incorporates simultaneous equations and proves to be far more accurate. Sebastian sells the predictions to both legitimate and less-than-legitimate customers, including international terrorists, Mexican drug cartels and NY mob bosses.

Liz discovers that Sebastian used her AE to help optimally target a VX gas attack on manufacturing plants, killing thousands, and then profiting from the manipulated market. So, Liz steals the AE to stop Sebastian from using her work for any other illegal activity.

How can she fight an international corporate giant like Sebastian Glass? He has contacts and resources worldwide and will stop at nothing to get the AE back in time to carry out another attack.

Michael Grigsby recently sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss his latest adventure thriller, FORECASTING ERROR.

Michael Grigsby

When you first created your protagonist for this book, did you see an empty space in crime lit that you wanted to fill? What can you share about the inspiration for that character?

Liz Charming is a statistical analyst, having just started a new job in corporate marketing analytics. She designed and developed a new and sophisticated forecasting scenario tool that was stolen by her boss and, instead of used in corporate marketing, is used by international terrorists, drug cartels, and mafia crime bosses.

Can you pinpoint a moment or incident that sparked the idea for this book?

Re-reading Grisham’s The Firm made me wonder what would happen if a statistical analyst started a new job and her company stole her superior forecasting technology and used it in crimes instead of business marketing. Then she stole it from them and is now on the run.

In addition to a great read, what do you hope readers will take away from this story?

I hope readers will have a greater appreciation for the power and depth of analytics as a tool in forecasting, not just in business but also in police forensics.

What can you share about what you’re working on next?

My next book is planned to be another analytic thriller, this time the antagonist is the analytic genius.