The Book That Predicted Election Tampering

It has been 17 years since I began writing The China Conspiracy and 15 years since its release. This summer the cover has been updated and a new Foreword has been added that tells the story of how I conceived of the idea of election tampering.

You see, before I became a full-time writer, I had established two computer companies in the Washington, DC area. The first was oriented toward training in the workplace, and the second involved applications development and cyber tools. My clients included the Secret Service, CIA and the Department of Defense.

But my favorite assignment was working as a contractor to detect Medicare fraud and abuse where I worked with a team of auditors. Together, we dreamed up ways in which criminals could defraud the federal government and then we developed programs that could catch them if they attempted it. Our efforts recovered millions of dollars and sent a few to prison.

One day in late 2000, I was having lunch with my coworkers in Virginia. Everyone’s eyes were riveted on televisions with live streaming of Florida’s recount. As the officials held up pregnant and dimpled chads and debated the voters’ intentions, I mentioned that it was ludicrous to still be using such an antiquated system when technology had advanced so far. But as soon as I said the words, we all looked at one another with the same thought: how easy it would be to rig an election.

As the weeks passed by, we plotted how it would be done and how the government could stop such an attack. We had been trained to think like criminals, from the initial motivation to how the crime would unfold—and the critical ways in which they would almost invariably screw it up so they could be caught. It was astonishingly simple to accomplish; all it needed was access to one voting machine—either remotely or in person—and using the same wireless technology that is used today to update computers, mobile devices and even cable and satellite TV, we could replicate the programming to every other computer. We even knew how to erase the programming afterward so changes to votes would not leave a trail—a trail being the fatal flaw.

We were not the only ones raising awareness, though. Universities including Princeton and Johns Hopkins were also demonstrating how easily voting machines could be manipulated.

Who would be motivated to do such a thing? Anyone that wanted to control government officials. By selecting individuals soft on certain issues or hard on others, the criminal could cherry-pick the ones they wanted in power. I quickly identified who would have the most to gain: China.

When the CIA, FBI, NSA and ODNI concluded that Russia tampered in the 2016 election, I thought I had gotten it wrong. Russia’s military and infrastructure had crumbled compared to the Cold War Era between the Soviet Union and the USA. China was far larger, more populous and had far more to gain than Russia. But when our intelligence agencies testified before Congress, they said that China posed as much if not more of a threat than Russia. CIA Chief Mike Pompeo has said that China has a “much bigger footprint” than Russia to carry out covert activities. And China has steadily been learning about our technology, even manufacturing many critical components used in electronic devices.

But the tampering that occurred by both China and Russia did not begin in 2016. Most likely it began nearly 20 years ago. This was not—is not—something that was simply thrown together like a last-minute prank. This was the result of decades of planning. The United States, for example, declared the Cold War over. The Former Soviet Union never did. To test how well election tampering or hacking performed, they most likely would have started with a much smaller target, such as a local election. Local elections are less likely to have high levels of security, and some have reportedly allowed employees or even volunteers to bring home voting machines in the days before an election. These are considered “soft targets”. All that would be needed is to get to one of those employees—say, someone they could bribe, blackmail or coerce—into providing access—essentially, an inside man (or woman). Another method is to hack into the individual’s wireless network, access the voting machine remotely, infect it, and then spread the virus to all the others when they came online the day of the election.

By selecting smaller targets, the criminals could perfect their methods, growing more emboldened by their success until they were electing governors, senators and representatives. Comparing polling figures from multiple sources, one could easily question how so many could be wrong when the dark horse is elected instead. But it would take years to suspect a foreign government’s interference. Even now, the focus has been on social media and sowing discord among Americans.

While no evidence has been released regarding actual vote alteration, our government has moved forward with more cybersecurity—but progress has been spotty and inconsistent. One reason for this is when a party is in power, they are reluctant to admit that a criminal enterprise might have had something to do with their election. It takes individuals who place America’s security above all else, serving their country and citizens versus establishing their own power. I wrote The China Conspiracy without a political agenda; the antagonist is an Independent, agreeing with the Democrats on some issues and Republicans on others.

The book is a novelized version; Kit Olsen is a veteran CIA programmer-analyst when her son is kidnapped. The ransom: Mandarin computer code covertly intercepted by the CIA. As she tries to get her son back, she must also break the code—which leads to an unimaginable situation and a political bonfire. If you enjoy thrillers that are—especially in this case—realistic plots that will open your eyes to very real possibilities, then you’ll enjoy The China Conspiracy. Best place to buy it is on amazon. Read an excerpt here, and watch the trailer below.

It's the Economy

Think tanks analyzing the results of the 2016 election have come to the conclusion that the overriding factor was the nation’s economy, which was interesting to me considering the theme of one of my recent books, The Pendulum Files.

 

If you are unfamiliar with The Pendulum Effect, it is a concept in which the pendulum swings so far to one side that it must swing equally far to the opposite side. The plot in The Pendulum Files revolves around a presidential election in which one of the candidates is adamant about bringing jobs back home that in the past two decades have increasingly gone overseas.

 

I remember well the 1992 presidential campaign in which Ross Perot described the problems with competing against other countries for manufacturing. At the time his comment about that “giant sucking sound” was ridiculed but given the issues that many once-thriving towns and cities have faced over the past 24 years, it’s worth listening to this again:

I also remember all too well how George H.W. Bush described Ronald Reagan’s plan of giving tax breaks to the wealthiest 1% as “voodoo economics”.

The theory was known as trickle-down economics and the way it was intended to work was to provide the wealthiest—those who owned stock in the largest corporations—the largest tax cuts so they would have more money to invest in their companies. It was thought that with much more disposable income, they would hire more people and expand their business enterprises. But economists have proven that it didn’t work. Those who received huge tax cuts simply kept more money for themselves. Perhaps they bought more houses or more lavish houses, expensive boats or automobiles or consumables, but what they didn’t do was hire more people. In fact, the wealthiest among us have become increasingly wealthier not only with the Reagan-era tax cuts but also by moving their operations to countries where there is no minimum wage, there are little or no environmental controls, no healthcare or benefits provided, and sometimes even utilize child labor.

 

Writing a book involving presidential politics while intentionally remaining out of a party line is like walking a tightrope. In The Pendulum Files, the reader doesn’t know if the candidate leans Republican or Democrat and often when I write about politics, I intentionally create a candidate that is Independent—one who essentially believes in some of the principles of one party while staying closer to other principles in the opposite party.

 

And when ships carrying cargo from China to the United States are blown up on the high seas, it brings in Dylan Maguire and Vicki Boyd to investigate. Vicki’s character was inspired by the United States’ use of psychic spies—which the government refers to as remote viewers. When Vicki’s Key, the first book featuring Vicki was released, several readers mentioned to me that I had crossed over into science fiction. However, in the past fifty years and most notably in the past twenty, real life has begun to look more and more like science fiction.

 

This morning I read a fascinating account by Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest minds in science, regarding the need to populate other planets with human beings. Only one hundred years ago, that statement would have been preposterous. And yet plans are in place for placing people on Mars with the intention of making that planet into a future home for human beings.

 

Novelists have helped to propel science as many scientists, engineers and astrophysicists have openly spoken of inspiration obtained from reading books by Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and many others. Tablets, smartphones, robotics, space flight, wireless transmission, video calls and much, much more sprang from the minds of novelists and screenwriters long before they became reality.

 

p.m.terrell is the author of more than 20 books, including two award-winning series, Black Swamp Mysteries and Ryan O'Clery Mysteries, the award-winning River Passage and her bestselling book, Songbirds are Free. View book trailers and read excerpts from all her books at www.pmterrell.com. She is also the founder of The Novel Business, turning her individual author mentoring into affordable courses, and the founder of Book 'Em North Carolina.

 

How to Write a Non-Partisan Book on Politics

Turns out, it's possible to write a book on politics so the reader never guesses the author's personal politics.

The China Conspiracy was published a few years ago (14 to be precise) but sales have dramatically increased this past year as a presidential election looms a few months away. The book was written before 9/11, before Afghanistan, before Iraq, before George W. Bush or Barack Obama took office and long before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tossed their hats in a primary.

So why are sales so high this year?

Because the problem that The China Conspiracy is all about still exists.

As recently as 2015, voters in Virginia encountered constant problems with electronic voting machines crashing. They thought the problem was due to the electronic interference made by one of the elections officials, who was streaming music. But when state auditors investigated, they discovered that a smartphone could easily connect to the voting machines' network.

Now, in case you're wondering, once someone with knowledge connects to a network, they are 90% of the way toward the ability to hack their way into the most sensitive data. If they connected to a network counting votes, they could easily shift the numbers so a specific person was elected - and then they could completely obliterate their trail so you would never know the system was hacked.

Take a look at this video by Princeton University, demonstrating their findings:

In The China Conspiracy, a CIA programmer/analyst discovers that the Chinese government has planned to rig the United States elections outcome in order to place their preferred candidates in strategic positions.

The impact would be far-reaching.

It could lead to jobs once held by Americans being shipped overseas - including the manufacture of weapons that at one time were closely guarded secrets.

It could lead to the removal of restrictions that prevent foreign governments from lobbying (today in the U.S., the two largest lobbying groups are China and Mexico, far outdistancing the NRA).

It could also lead to the removal of restrictions against borrowing money from foreign governments (China is the United States' largest creditor).

It could cause inspectors to look the other way while toys with lead paint or dog treats laced with poison make their way into the hands of our children or the mouths of our pets.

Think about it.

This book actually got me banned from visiting China, a fact I found out from a government agency who investigated my knowledge of some of the facts in the book. (I was in good company, as it turns out; Tom Clancy was questioned in much greater depth for his book, The Hunt for Red October.) It turns out that Chinese officials learned of the book when Voice of America aired some segments about it, which was broadcast in their country.

Here's a one-minute video about the book:

The China Conspiracy is available in all eBook formats (Kindle, iBooks, Nook, etc.) and the paperback is available in all fine book stores. If you don't see it on the shelf, ask for it. Or follow this link to purchase it on amazon - $6.99 for Kindle and $14.95 for the printed book.

Visit my website at www.pmterrell.com and click on "Books" to download a sample chapter and read GoodReads reviews - and more!

WIP Wednesday - On Political Thrillers

I am putting the finishing touches on The Pendulum Files, the fifth book in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, before it leaves my hands for the editor's. The book is a political thriller and as I've seen events play out with the government shut-down in America, I am reminded once more of how polarized our country has become and how important it is to resist the temptation to convert fans to a particular point of view.

For the record, I am an Independent. I thoroughly research each candidate I vote for, whether they are local or national. I look at their past voting record, the bills they've sponsored or blocked, and I look for candidates who I believe will place America on the best track. I often vote for both Republicans and Democrats in the same election (for different posts, of course) and I do not believe in partisan politics.

When I write my political thrillers, I am very much aware of the divide in this country. I know if I made the bad guy either Republican or Democrat, I would lose half my fans in either case. I don't believe readers have come to my books to learn of my political leanings or affiliations, so I check them at the door. What I believe does not matter within the pages of my books.

When writing political thrillers, I am careful not to mention party affiliations for either the good or the bad characters. I stay away from polarizing topics in which readers can guess which party the characters follow. I look at democracy as a whole and those things we as Americans hold dear - and also those things we fear.

But I have to admit, I long for the old days when politicians would reach across the aisle and compromise for the good of the nation. We need to stop identifying ourselves as this party or the other. We just need to be Americans and learn to work together.

Thursday Thoughts - Beware of Politics

I remember reading that Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart, who were the best of friends, got into a fist fight one day because they had begun discussing politics. Once the fight was over, they agreed to remain friends - but vowed never to discuss politics again.

I have friends and family at opposite ends of the political spectrum. And if you look at all of the voting figures from our most recent election, it's obvious that no one political ideology or party has a vast majority of followers. At best, you could easily make the statement that the country is almost evenly divided.

So are our fans.

Some of my books are considered political thrillers. In The China Conspiracy, for example, I delve into how easily our elections could be rigged through voting touch-screen technology. However, I make the dirty politician an Independent.

Why?

The reason is simple: if I had made the bad guy a Republican or a Democrat, I would have instantly lost half my fan base.

There is a reason why I never discuss religion or politics. It's been my experience that those who insist on talking about it are trying to persuade others to think exactly as they do. This works well as long as they're preaching to the proverbial choir. But when they find someone who thinks differently, it very quickly gets evil.

When someone is in the public eye, it becomes even more important to keep religion and politics to oneself. Not only can it lose friends but it can also lose fans. And is there any writer out there who can afford to lose one half of their readership?

Please visit me today at VBT Cafe, where I start my next blog tour - filled with interviews, guest blogs and more. And I won't be discussing politics!

The Power of Sound

Few people think about sound when they think about the act of writing or reading. Yet sound can be a powerful force through the entire process of developing each scene... to reading someone else’s writing.

Consider when a book is made into a movie, how the scenes are enhanced through music. The pages of a book cannot convey that music (though who knows what enhancements eBooks will bring) but it can alter the way in which the writer constructs the story.

I know a man who has television sets in every room and each one is set to the same station with back-to-back coverage of politics. For every news story, there are hours of pundits and their predictions. Over the years, I’ve seen this individual become very narrow-minded, extremely negative and downright unhappy. The same thing has played out with another man I know who listens to back-to-back political radio programs throughout every waking hour.

The shows in the background might be considered simply “white noise” to them, something to keep them from feeling completely alone. But the words seep into the mind, deep into the consciousness and affect what they think and feel.

If you don’t think sound can alter your emotions, consider some of the most compelling movie scores. Listen to the music below. Close your eyes and see what your inner mind sees.



Now listen to this music. Compare the varied emotions:



If you are a writer, what are you listening to and how does it affect what you write? If you are a reader, do you read in silence or listen to music? What music might you hear in your mind as you read various scenes?

Vicki’s Key, p.m.terrell’s 13th release, can now be pre-ordered through www.pmterrell.com. Official release date is March 17, 2012—St. Patrick’s Day!