What happens when reality becomes stranger than fiction? Author Michael Idov sits down with me to explore the fascinating world of spy fiction writing in our increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape.

Michael reveals how his spy thriller "The Collaborators" navigates a middle path between cerebral procedurals and over-the-top action fantasies, creating stories grounded in authentic global politics while still delivering heart-pounding sequences. Drawing from actual events like the 2021 Ryanair incident in Belarus, he demonstrates how truth provides the perfect foundation for compelling fiction.

Michael's journey from journalist to screenwriter to novelist offers valuable insights for creatives navigating multiple storytelling formats.

Whether you're fascinated by espionage, curious about the craft of thriller writing, or interested in how personal experiences shape fiction, this episode illuminates how writers transform cultural understanding into narrative gold.

The Collaborators

A brilliant young intelligence officer and a troubled heiress stumble into a global conspiracy that pits present-day Russia against the CIA in this electrifying, globetrotting spy thriller.

Criss-crossing the globe on the way to this shocking revelation are disaffected millennial CIA officer Ari Falk, thrown into a moral and professional crisis by the death of his best asset, and brash, troubled LA heiress Maya Chou, spiralling after the disappearance of her Russian American billionaire father. The duo’s adventures take us to both classic and surprising locales – from Berlin and Tangier to Latvia, Belarus and a semi-abandoned technopark outside Moscow.

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