Mark Sullivan: Triple Cross
Book Club Discussion
June 16, 2009. Mark Sullivan and Queenie D disect the truth behind his novel,
Triple Cross.
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
Where
did you get the idea for a "third regime" to attack our capitalistic way of life?
During
the anti-Globalist riots in Seattle in 200x, I heard the terms Third Way and Third Position used and it stayed in the back of my mind until I came
up with the idea for Triple Cross. That idea was planted when I was allowed to ski in the Yellowstone Club, a ski resort for the super-rich
in Montana. The skiing was great, but knowing the wealth and power that was gathering inside the club, my suspense writer brain asked, "What happens
if this place gets attacked?" My second question was why, and the answer seemed obvious: an anti-capitalist terror group.
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
More
specifically, how were you able to come up with so many "sins" committed by the rich men? Did you base any on real events?
Some
of them are based on real events, or at least events combined. It's not secret that people who are involved in leveraged buyouts or predatory capitalism
ruin companies in favor of shareholder value. It's also no secret that hedge funds operate without regulation and have done their fair share of
shady deals as a result. I had friends on Wall Street who told me stories. I read up on various investment scams and corporate debacles. Sadly, it
was not difficult to find the sort of capitalist crimes I was interested in describing in the book.
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
I
don't want to give away too much but must comment on the "Court of Public Opinion." Again, another creative idea – to put these men up for crimes
against humanity and have the world vote via the internet. What was your inspiration for this part of the story?
The
idea of a voice of the people came from "Network," one of my favorite films. The idea of putting the trials on the Internet seemed obvious to me.
We have Judge Judy on TV, why not Judge Truth on the Internet? When I put the two together it seemed like a strong weapon that the Third Position
Army could use to influence public opinion and the stock markets.
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
I
really fell for Mickey! I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, feeling as if he would turn out to be bad in some way. I was delighted to find
that our hero was truly worthy of the title. How did Mick's character, including his sordid past, come to be?
Mickey
was based on several Federal agents I've known over the years, including FBI, DIA, and Diplomatic Security. His sordid past came from other friends
I've had who have slipped and managed to recover their lives later on. Knowing what they went through to hold onto their sobriety was helpful when
I was developing his character. Glad you liked him!
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
An
underlying theme in this novel is corruption. Do you feel that the corporate world, or perhaps just the rich guys, are morally corrupt?
No,
not at all. I've got no problem with people setting out to building something and make money in the process. That is the American way, and I like
to think I'm part of that entrepreneurial spirit that the nation rightly values. But in the past thirty years, due to the constant erosion of regulation,
too many people in business got the idea that whatever profited them was morally fine. That self-centered arrogance in turn bred the real scandals
we've seen exposed in the wake of last year's economic meltdown.
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
Another
theme I felt strongly running through many storylines was the idea of second chances. Whether it was Mickey with the triplets, or the lack of a second
chance for any of the billionaires to turn their bad deeds into good, this novel is a commentary on forgiveness. How far can someone go before
they lose their shot at a second chance?
F.
Scott Fitzgerald was fascinated by just that question. Many of his characters get second chances and prove themselves unworthy of them. I, on the
other hand, believe in the idea of redemption, that it is possible to turn your life around. That moment can come at any time in a life. It does
not mean that you are relieved of responsibility for your past actions, but you can change for the better.
Book Club Discussion: Interview with Mark Sullivan
Can
you tell us anything about your current projects? I think Triple Cross has all the makings of a great Hollywood Blockbuster! Any designs
on a script?
We've
had a few phone calls about Triple Cross being a movie, but no deal yet. I finished the first draft of my next novel, THE EIGHTEENTH RULE,
about a master thief for the CIA who turns rogue and goes Robin Hood, robbing from the bad guys and giving to the poor. And in a completely different
direction, I'm writing a non-fiction book called NORTH OF MILAN, that tells the last great untold story of World War II.
BCQ: Thank you for your time!
Mark: And your interest!
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