Writer brings military life into debut novel

Jeremy D. Baker is a former US Army counterintelligence agent and combat veteran. He’s served alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan and is a PTSD survivor. Over the past 20 years, his work in national security has focused on intelligence, counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, climate risk and resilience, and cybersecurity.

That experience was an integral part in the writing of his debut novel, “The Guilty Sleep,” out in print, e-book and audiobook this May. Here’s a look at the story:

Afghanistan vet Dexter Grant is broke, reeling from PTSD, and on the verge of divorce when he's approached by his old Army buddies to help rescue their former interpreter, the man who once saved Dex's life. It means ripping off a vicious queenpin's drug proceeds — but not to worry, they have it all worked out. And if anyone can pull it off, it’s Dex’s former team lead, Staff Sgt. Saenz. 

Tempted by an easy score that could make his own problems disappear and imbued with new purpose, Dex agrees to play his part. But just as in combat, the best-laid plans don’t survive first contact with the enemy. When the heist goes off the rails, Dex’s wife and daughter become targets for bloody revenge. Dex must face down his spiraling inner darkness and call on all his strength and training to save his girls. In his quest, he'll learn there was much more to this heist than he ever imagined. 

Jeremy holds nothing back as he talks about how his time in the Army and working with the government helped shape his protagonist and the story itself. He talks about the elements he sought to avoid, so as to keep the story more authentic. He also goes into how writing helped him deal with the challenges he faces today.

His book has received a lot of advance praise, including Lee Child, who called it “A terrific debut—fast, tough and hard, shot through with hard-won authenticity and deep humanity.” Jeremy shares his reaction to this and how, as an author, it feels to receive such high praise.

Jeremy is an avid reader and name-drops quite a bit, which of course leads us to ask about his favorite authors and dream collaborations. He’s a big horror fan and we go into a potential shift to this genre and the type of book he’d like to write. And naturally, we talk about a potential future for Dexter Grant in other stories.