Brittany Butler didn’t have to look far for inspiration for her new spy novel, The Syndicate Spy, which is scheduled for release on March 21. As a former CIA agent, she had plenty of first-hand experience to draw from when crafting this sharp-edged, provocative novel about the murky waters of international intelligence agencies. What’s more, she doesn’t limit her behind-the-scenes point of view to the pages of her book—she’ll also share insights into the world of subterfuge with us over coffee on Wednesday, April 12, at 10:30am.
Join us to hear more about the book—reportedly the first in a planned series—as well as her real world experience as a woman in the CIA.
This event is free and open to the public, with RSVP.
About the Book:
The future: Earth’s oil reserves are depleted. Nations race against terrorists for control over alternative energy sources, and the Syndicate—a conglomerate of allied intelligence agencies—must put an end to the global energy war. Syndicate spy, Juliet Arroway, and her best friend, Mariam, a Saudi princess, are tasked to hunt down energy terrorists. When the Syndicate begins to suspect that Mariam’s family is somehow involved, tensions build and the carnage multiplies. Juliet’s long-time boyfriend, Jean-Marc, is targeted and killed. In her quest to seek revenge and end the war, Juliet is paired with Graham—a dashing, yet arrogant FBI agent with whom she ultimately falls madly in love—to infiltrate Mariam’s family to prevent further attacks. When peace means a stunning betrayal, Juliet must decide if her mission is worth risking her own life as well as the lives of those she loves.
About the Author:
But after 9/11, her career goals were shaped by the fear that followed. Determined to do her part, she joined the US intelligence community straight out of college and worked on counterterrorism operations in the Middle East. But what she quickly learned was that as soon as one cadre of extremist leaders was taken out, a more lethal one waited to take its place. And over the years, as she witnessed the tremendous personal sacrifice and lives lost, she started to question whether this was a war we could win, and even if we could, at what cost?
Becoming a mother further humbled that perspective. And after ten years of working on counterterrorism operations in the Middle East, she decided that the greatest impact she could have would be at home with her three sons. While cleaning up destroyed LEGO ships and breaking up light saber battles came with its own unique set of challenges, she kept coming back to the war that had been part of her life for so long.
In 2016, she volunteered for a human rights organization that promoted women’s rights in the Middle East, and finally obtained the answer she had sought for so many years. There, she met courageous Arab women who put their lives on the line to promote peace, inclusion, and modernization. They taught her that she could have the greatest impact by empowering those resilient women whose voices had been silenced by the extremist narrative. Through their marginalized perspective, she came to understand that this was not a war that could be simply won with more drones or bombs, it was a war of ideas. Today, Brittany volunteers within her local community to help Afghan refugees resettle and thrive.
And so, the idea behind The Syndicate Spy was conceived, inspired by brave female spies and courageous Arab women, still working together today to take a stand against marginalization. Theirs is a story that is seldom heard and yet has a profound impact on how our world will be shaped in the coming years.