Interview with Alessandro Nardone, The Predestined

by Debra Chang

Alessandro Nardone I was blown away. Yeah, because when he told me that she was working on his new book, I was expecting-and as It hink many – if not the result it self, something verysimilar to his first novel, the bestselling I hate to die. Instead I found my self in his hands a political fiction thriller set in the United States. I admit, at first I was a bit ‘hesitant, but it was enough to read the first few lines to transform the initial skepticism in the desire to devour the book I hadin my hands. In short, get out of the head of the stereotypical thriller heavy and cumbersome: The Predestined is a story paced, full of twists and turns, but also fun and – fundamental aspect – written in a style that makes it readable by anyone. Having said that we are the author, asking him directly to tell us about his latest creation.

So Alessandro, notice the pleasantries and the usual questions, there is one thing I want to ask: anyone, he did not know that it was written by an Italian, would assume that this is the bag of flourby an American author. Explain to me how you did it to be so realistic?

Well, first of all it’s places where I was and that I love, like California and Aruba. But then, since I’ve never lived, I had to document, spending hour sand hours studying. From this point of view was the book more difficult to write as well as on locations, I had to do research on the CIA, the FBI, the National Security Agency scandal… because the fact that it is a novel,and then fiction, does not mean you can write nonsense.

Now, since you’ve talked about National Security Agency scandaland intelligence, I would ask you to delve into the plot.

Certainly. The Predestined is the story of Alex Anderson, a young Republican representativeto the U.S. Congress that suddenly becomes the target of Chuck Dillinger, a former CIA agent who betrayed his country by disseminating dozens of secret documents relating to the activities of the National Security Agency. For his membership in Skull and Bones, Anderson is united to Bush and considered the emblem of the system to break down. The link between the two is the mysterious Maggie Jones.

As for the plot, I would say to stop there, because inside every page hides a surprise that it isfair to leave to the readers. But let meask you how you taken the spring to make up a story like that. In the preface speaks of a mysterious American woman known in Switzerland, on a train to Zurich…

Yeah, she was the spark to ignite the fateful attacking button and speaking to the National Security Agency scandalin-depth manner so as to encourage me to think it was something more than a well-informed American citizen. But mine are just mere conjecture, of course. As for the story, then, I must say that, as it happened I hate to die, in a sense, I felt that it was already written. The first draft took about six months during which time, writing exclusively at night, I slept very little.

So it’sn really all up?

Absolutely. As I wrote in the preface, while inspired bycurrent events, The Predestined is a novel: who wants to read an essay on National Security Agency scandal, Wikileaks, Edward Snowden, or conspiracy theories or was looking for answers on these topics, has hundreds of other books to choose from.

Listen Alessandro, now we come to the publication. You can not just say that you are a newcomer, indeed. Can you explain, then,what prompted youto choose the path of selfpublishing rather than that of a traditional publisher?

Thank you for the question, because it is avery importantchoice for me. First of all,a premise: For me, writing is a passion, not a job. That said, since I hate to die entered the charts, there have been various publishing houses that have contacted me, but once received thefirst contract, the enthusiasm was soon cooled down: let’s say that times and conditions were not exactly than I expected. So, after I compared with Irene, I decided that it was right to choose a different path, and I contacted Alessandro De Giorgi, CEO of  Youcanprint.it, a platform for selfpublishing really cutting edge. Thanks to their partnership with Fastbook ThePredestinedis available in 4000 bookstores and in all digital stores.

Now I want to propose a game: being able to dream, who would you like them to be interpreted by the protagonists of your book?

I admit I have succumbed to thistemptation. So, since by the time it comes to dreams, then you might as well dream big: the role of Alex would see well Leonardo Di Caprio, Matthew Mccounaghey for Matt, Cate Blanchett for Veronica, Al Pacino would be a stellar Frank Da Silva. Then the great Sylvester Stallone as John Bennett and, for the part of the villain, the stainless Mickey Rourke.

And director?

Martin Scorsese, of course!

Reading the reviews collected over two hundred iBooks from I hate youso much, I’ve noticed that many readers shared by your style to that of the French writer Guillaume Musso, there you please review?

I’m abig fan of his, obvious that the combination flatters me but, to quote a football metaphor, he is a World Champion, while I am one who enjoys playing in theplaygrounds of the suburbs.

As I wroteat the beginning, many of you were expecting a result of I hate you to death, or at least another love story set in the province, why this change?

By nature I do not like clichés and, if I wrote something just a function of the success of I hate youso much, I would have probably failed miserably. Let’s say that I tried to invent the story that I wanted to read it myself.

And so have you back in the game. By now you’re on your third book, which lens you place, in terms of numbers, The Predestined?

Making predictions is impossible for the great writers, let alone me. Of course I’ll do everything to make the book successful, but always keeping your feet firmly on the ground. The thing that matters to me, and to tell you the cost of being rhetorical, that is, they are few or many, readers of Predestined to come to the last line and think: “Why, is already finished?”. Yeah, I mean, you feel surrounded by the thinveil of melancholy tha thits you when you realize you’vefinished reading a book that you liked and that, therefore,you will need to.