Writing the Codename: Winger books over the past three years has been so much fun. I never expected to write a thriller series but it has been incredibly satisfying. I stressed, however, on how to wrap up the series because it needed to be satisfying (I’m actually writing this post the day after the Game of Thrones finale aired and while I don’t watch GoT I’m very aware that most people felt the finale was lackluster).

Besides tying everything up, Netminder pushes high school hockey player/computer genius/covert agent Theo Reese more than ever. From the beginning he’s on the run and cut off so his stress is high. In the previous books he’s had follow agents, including his parents, for backup and support. I don’t usually put my characters through so much. When I’m writing romance it tends to be low angst/low stress, but in this case I had threw a lot at the young hero.

Truth be told, it actually turned out to be a bit much. My editor and a couple of beta readers advised to dial back a bit since this wasn’t a Jack Bauer-style 24 story. That said, Theo’s still dealing with a lot as he tries to keep himself safe, figure out what’s happened to the agency he works for and, ultimately, how to head off a global crisis.

I’m quite glad for the feedback I got because it made Theo’s journey more nuanced too. Instead of the constant go-go-go he gets to take a moment to digest what’s happened and let the reader more into his emotional health as chaos swirls around him.

Below is a short excerpt from the morning after Theo had to get away from home. It’s a good look at his mental state as he balances being an agent but also being a teenager.

Netminder by Jeff Adams

Series: Codename Winger #4

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Blurb

After a summer that was nothing like he’d planned, teenage secret agent Theo Reese is back to school and to work with Tactical Operational Support’s IT department. His world turns upside down arriving home from hockey practice to a major security breach.

On the run, he soon discovers the TOS network is down and he’s cut off.

As he uses his unique skills to find out what’s happened, Theo discovers the evil agency Blackbird is responsible. A nemesis from Theo’s first field mission is out for him and will stop at nothing to force Theo to help Blackbird realize their goal of taking global control of the internet.

Getting help from some unexpected sources, Theo must stop the internet takeover while trying to keep those closest to him safe.

 

Vibrations on my wrist and the phone in my hand woke me up. Several messages from Mitch were on my watch. He must be in school because normally if he had that much to say he’d call.

Iris had sent messages too, as did others who didn’t have a unique vibration pattern. The notification list filled up with texts from many friends and teammates.

I found the phone on the bed next to me and went to Mitch’s: Where the hell are you? There are clones of the dude that was at your front door at the school. People are looking for you. I told the one the principal made me talk to that I haven’t seen you since I dropped you off last night. Which is true. But where are you? I won’t tell them I just need to know you’re okay.

I had no idea if someone was over Mitch’s shoulder watching as he typed. It was better for him if I said nothing.

Three dots appeared.

Come on man. I know you just read that.

I turned the phone off.

Whether it was TOS or others, looking for me at school was not subtle. Someone was taking extraordinary efforts to get me.

But why? And were other TOS agents being tracked too?

Lying to Mitch rattled me to the core. Hopefully he’d understand if I got through this.

Without warning, a sob choked its way out. Clutching the phone, I wished I could control myself better.

What would Mom and Dad do if they were cut off? We didn’t talk much about scenarios like this. When we’d set up the protocols for having to escape, we assumed that we’d be able to use TOS to reconnect, and that if we weren’t talking directly, we’d be able to pass messages, get to a safe house, something.

I worked through Shield’s calming techniques hoping they’d work better than they had last night. I had work to do. I’d hacked TOS security when I was eleven. I should be able to find a way out this—either to fix the network or track down the people who broke it.

I sat up straight and wiped my sleeve over my face.

If someone had control of the network, I had to disable my tracker chip. I’d also have to assess the security of the rest of my electronics to make sure I stayed out of sight.

The TOS phone required modifications to knockout its tracking. Ditching the phone wasn’t an option, though, because it had functions that didn’t require the network, and I needed all the tools I could get.

I probably should’ve reviewed all of the security measures last night, but I’d kept looking for the network and trying the emergency protocols until I’d been too tired to go on. Given the crazy going on at home, this morning’s priority revolved around becoming as invisible as possible.

Buy Links:

Harmony Ink Press

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Also, if you’re considering starting the series it’s a great time because Tracker Hacker, which is book one, is on sale during June 2019 for 99cents for the ebook. You’ll find that deal at all ebook retailers.

 

Jeff Adams has written stories since he was in middle school and became a published author in 2009 when his first short stories were published. He writes both gay romance and LGBTQ young adult fiction…and there’s usually a hockey player at the center of the story.

Jeff lives in northern California with his husband of more than twenty years, Will. Some of his favorite things include the musicals Rent and [title of show], the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey teams, and the reality TV competition So You Think You Can Dance.

He also loves to read, but there isn’t enough space to list out his favorite books.

Jeff is the co-host of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast, a weekly show devoted to gay romance as well as pop culture. New episodes come out every Monday at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.

Learn more about jeff at JeffAdamsWrites.com.

 

 

 

Tell me your favorite book or movie thriller? Leave a comment before end of the day on June 9. Two commenters, picked from random, will win an ebook copy of a Codename: Winger book of their choice.