Can You Keep a Secret

Have you ever had a secret burning a hole in your pocket? It’s like hiding a glowing hot ember. Every time someone discovers that I’m an author they always ask me the same question. “So, what’s your book about?”
 
For most authors, it's an easy question to answer, but in my case the answer is more complicated. You see, my novel holds a secret. Actually, it holds many. So merely describing the story requires a moderate degree of deceit. If I were to just come out and tell you what the book is about, it would destroy the adventure — ruin the mystery. The charm of the novel is in unraveling its secrets. 
 
I’ve always been drawn to stories with plot twists. I love an adventure that takes me places that I never expected to go. In fact, most of my favorite books and movies feature shocking endings I never saw coming. As a writer who immerses himself in fiction, I pay close attention to details. When a story takes me by surprise, I almost always revisit it looking for the things I missed. It is so delightful to discover blatant hints that I simply overlooked. 
 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie were masters at this. They cleverly weaved hidden details into the tapestry of their novels challenging readers to figure out their secrets before they were revealed. Taking their cues from mysteries such as these, many filmmakers have mastered the art of revealing plot twists and grabbing audience's attention.  
 
Of course, it takes more than mystery and surprise to create a great adventure. Memorable characters, suspense, conflict, courage, and hope are just a few of the elements found in a really great novel. But it’s a lot easier to describe those novels when you don’t have to protect the integrity of a secret.
 
So what is my book about? It’s the struggle of four childhood friends separated on opposite sides of the Civil War; a tale of spies filled with deceit and betrayal. It’s an epic adventure littered with secrets and unexpected twists. And, while all of this is entirely true, none of it prepares you for the true adventure that awaits you in Bag of Lies. Nothing is as it seems in this unique Civil War novel. 
 
So, should you decide to pick it up and read it for yourself, there is but one thing that I would ask. Once you discover the secret; once you know what the book is actually about… Keep the secret! Don’t spoil it for others who have yet to discover it. But don’t let them miss out on this delightful adventure either. Simply tell them, “It’s not what you think it is. You just have to read it.” Then smile, because you know the journey that awaits them.