Writing Virus and Pandemic Plots in the age of COVID-19

   Meet John Liebe a South African author who is finishing up a manuscript depicting a virus as a weapon.

    Fiona - Hi John, can you take a moment to introduce yourself to ThrillWriting and tell us about your writing life? 

John - Hello ThrillWriters, I started writing short stories as a kid, the perfect escape for a nerd. I found it a good way to make friends, so I started writing about them. This collection of stories grew into a sort of underground book that my friends loved (goths and nerds are quite aligned, mainly the shoes are different). This book grew into more books, and now I write semi-professionally.

I'm in love with the psychological side of all writing... the real human motive behind action. I try to explore as many genres as possible with this investigation into the human condition. I'm now working on a spy novel set in the 70s with the rather untimely theme of viral warfare.

Fiona - And that is exactly why I invited you to ThrillWriting. Let's start with your blurb. Can you tell us about your newest novel?

John - Our heroine, codenamed Agent Red, is new to the spy game. It's taking a heavy burden on her soul.
A rogue agent has taken it upon himself to wage war against the world for his own political ideals, and Red's agency, Prism, has sent Red and her partner Agent Blue out to find and decolor this agent.

There is a war on in Vietnam which complicates matters, and Red and Blue track down Orange to a small town in Haiphong, where he is planning to attack Los Angeles using a deadly virus.

I don't have a full title yet, but it's tentatively titled Better Red than dead, a twist on a political slogan from the McCarthy Era. As there are Russian and Chinese agents involved in capturing Vietnam, Red begins to question her own mission and her role in the war.

Fiona - Hahaha I have a group of CIA agents (Color Code) code named Red, Black, White, Green... no blue. Obviously, you started this long before COVID 19 was on the scene. First, you're writing out of South Africa, how are things there? 

(This interview was conducted 3.25.2020)

John - South Africa is challenging. There is less sophisticated infrastructure than the US, but a lot of creativity. Already our rate of infection is skyrocketing, and we're going in to full lockdown on Friday.

The book has been under the pen for about 2 years

Fiona - Are you ready for full lockdown? Did your plot arc inform how you prepared?

John - I'm more or less a hermit as it is, so lockdown won't affect me at all. In [the novel] BRTD, the government does not inform the public about the full extent of what is going on, so it's up to the agents to do their job silently (silent wars with quiet weapons).

I did learn about filters and some procedures, including the military authority some countries have to squash a pandemic.

We have a delicate human rights history [in South Africa], so our system is sensitive to limiting human movement.

Fiona - That makes for an interesting story line. Your novel was due out in the next little bit. Would you tell us about your release thought process? Since this subject matter might hit close to home...

John - I will probably delay the book until, hopefully, things blow over with COVID-19. I think some readers will understand that the book is written over some years, and I am not trying to capitalize on the current situation. I have seen several books get taken down that hit too close to home. 

If the global pandemic does not subside soon, I will re-adjust some plotlines. The last thing I want is to cause readers distress with an insensitive subject matter.

 Fiona - Here is my thought, COVID 19 is the enemy. If you had the good guys winning over the virus, it might give people a sense of hope. Conversely, if the bad guy is manipulating a virus to cause disruption, then that might feed some people's conspiracy theories. Do you think it was a good idea for the authors to take down their books?John - It's tricky, especially when dealing with algorithms that don't get the subtlety. I don't think most of the authors wanted to take down their books, they were taken down by the publishing platforms. Likely to stop the spread of misinformation or using it as a political platform. I'm sure the books will return to the shelves eventually. p.s. Over 1 million books were removed! Many claiming to have cures for the virus. Fiona - Wait, Amazon is taking down novels without the authors' consent because they have virus themes? Do you have an article or something about this I can read?John - Amazon Quietly Removes Some Dubious Coronavirus Books The company touts its efforts to remove misleading and overpriced supplies related to the pandemic but has been more reluctant to comment on books. wired.com

Fiona - Since I brought up misinformation earlier, you do research for your books, you're not just making it up out of whole cloth, how is your plot holding up to the reality. Did you write in crazy politicians who say sacrifice the grandmas, so we can go shopping like we have here in Texas USA?

John - I do a HUGE amount of research. 

When I wrote Eternal, about a witch (rather volvelle), who sailed ships, I learned to sail, tie knots, navigate. 

A book is a journey, not a destination, and I want to sail along with my characters.

While the books are fiction, there are metaphors and allegories for greater events. 

In BRTD, Agent Orange can be seen as a metaphor for human meddling in human genetics, and the agents Red and Blue (and Brown) the antibodies tasked to expel the virus. There are a few crazy characters. In a psychological thriller there will always be characters skating close to the edge of sanity. Certainly, the powers that be 'leading from behind' have less empathy than those holding the guns. 

Fiona - One of the things I always ask is: Can you tell us the story behind your favorite scar?

John - I have three scars on my brow. When I was very young I ran through a glass window at full speed. I did this again twice. That's me.

Fiona - Thank you, John, for sharing your thoughts and your works. My very best wishes to you.

And indeed, to all of you reading this. My wish for you - whether you are reading in the midst of the pandemic or are reading this in retrospect -is that you stay safe and well. 

You can catch up with John @JohnLiebe on Twitter.