Joan M Kop has published a new spy thriller
JOAN M KOP, who grew up in Cottonwood, has come out with a new book—a spy thriller called, THE SPY FROM BEIJING, a fast-paced novel full of contemporary relevance and intrigue.  When asked to describe her book, Joan points to the description on the back cover. In a world where loyalty is tested, Jenny, a Chinese-American FBI agent, uncovers a chilling plot. Her Beijing counterpart, Yìchén, is a double agent, blackmailing and poisoning to steal critical DNA for China’s dominance. But when Jenny discovers she’s Yìchén’s biological twin, everything changes. Torn between family ties and duty to her country, she must navigate a treacherous game of espionage that spans Seattle to Beijing. Can she protect her nation while confronting the shocking truth of her past? Dive into "The Spy from Beijing," where trust is fleeting, and betrayal lurks at every turn. You might be wondering how a young nineteen-year-old girl from Cottonwood ended up working for the CIA. Joan met a CIA recruiter while attending secretarial school at Kinman Business University in Spokane. “I was hired as an Admin Assistant in the early 70s during the Nixon Administration. Because I worked for them for five years, I always need to have my books vetted by the CIA Publications Review Board before I publish to determine whether I’ve used any sources or methods or whether it contains classified information. It didn’t.” You might also wonder how she came up with the idea for this book. “My initial idea was to write a book like The Great Earth by Pearl S. Buck, but after researching my topic, I knew my book would be way different. I wanted my novel to be centered around the Chinese trying to steal information about DNA testing. I have Chinese relatives and a sister-in-law who found out at age 30 that she was adopted from a DNA test, so that became part of my plot.” One recent reviewer wrote the following: “I found this an exciting espionage thriller for several reasons. Most spy novels focus on Russia, and this was one of the first I read that set its sights on China and the threat it poses to the US. Also, the possible theft of a DNA database by the Chinese double agent was a fascinating new twist, but probably a very real danger as the Chinese government wishes to control every aspect of people’s lives. All these things made this an exciting read!” Some authors pivot in their writing career. Joan was no exception. “I actually have a business degree from Gonzaga University and worked for a financial planner for most of my career, but I met Jack Hashian, who wrote spy thrillers, in my 30s and wanted to be a bestselling author like he was. I’ve never given up on that dream. “I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I, as a small-town girl from Cottonwood, Idaho, would be a novelist one day, especially because I got mostly Bs in my English classes in high school. I got hooked on writing in my freshman English college course and have studied the craft hard since. I published my first book (The Kopczynski Family History) in 1992 and have been writing professionally now for over thirty-three years. Just goes to show how much persistence pays off.” Joan’s book received high praise from some notable people, including a judge and a New York Times bestselling author as well as a former Green Beret and CIA case officer. “Written by one of America's few, successful female CIA insiders, The Spy from Beijing is the ultimate combination of excitement, intrigue, love, lies, and all the impossible dilemmas faced by today's undercover operatives.”– The Honorable Mary Beth Long, former Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and CIA case officer, current entrepreneur. “Based on the world’s obsession with DNA testing, Joan M Kop crafts a thrilling spy tale about China’s attempt to steal Americans’ personal data and combines it with China’s other nefarious spy practices. Kop keeps you on the edge of your seat as she ratchets up the tension and provides several wild twists in this thought-provoking story about what is more important—family or patriotism?” – Robert Dugoni, NYT bestselling author of My Sister’s Grave and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell “Joan M Kop’s debut espionage novel, The Spy from Beijing, is an unconventional and thoroughly engrossing read.” – James Stejskal, author of Dead Hand, the latest of The Snake Eater Chronicles. In closing, Joan would like to thank the people of Cottonwood for buying and reading her books over the past years, which included her memoir, Spies, Lies & Psychosis, and The Freedom Chaser, a finalist in PNWA’s 2020 Pearl Book Award.  The front cover of Joan M Kop's new book along with information on where to find it on Amazon.com. |
 |