“Strap on your helmet and buckle your seat belt. Your wild ride at the Pentagon officially begins now.” –From THE HEART OF WAR
THE HEART OF WAR
Misadventures in the Pentagon
A Novel
By Kathleen J. McInnis
Working in Washington, D.C.’s national security bubble, International Security Specialist Kathleen McInnis understands what it is like to be a young woman making her way in the Pentagon. The experience can be hard, both professionally and personally—which is why she decided to write about the unique challenges women face in the national security community in her humorous and entertaining new novel THE HEART OF WAR: Misadventures in the Pentagon (Post Hill Press; Release Date September 25th, 2018; ISBN 9781682616512; $16.00 paperback).
In THE HEART OF WAR, Dr. Heather Reilly is an academic peacenik living in San Diego, swamped with debt from her and her pacifist fiancé’s crushing student loans. Since her brother was killed fighting the Taliban, she’s been an anti-war activist. But when a fellowship in the Pentagon comes along with the chance to work on a peace plan for Afghanistan and pay down her debt at the same time, Heather agrees to move east and work in the “puzzle palace.” When she arrives in the Pentagon, however, she discovers her position has been eliminated in the Department of Defense’s latest “reorg”. Instead, she’s placed into the war-fighting office focusing on Russian aggression under the terrifying management of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Ariane Fletcher, also known as the Wicked Witch of the Pentagon.
With a brother killed in combat and a sister-in-law who is still in mourning, Heather is deeply conflicted about her new position—not to mention, she has no experience in U.S.—Russia relations. But thanks to Air Force Colonel Tom Voight, a staffer she joins forces with, Heather learns to navigate the job and carves herself a place in the Pentagon, despite its insane bureaucracy, petty power struggles, and endless militarized rules. But Voight hasn’t prepared her for how to deal with people like Fletcher, who is out for Heather’s blood; Adam Royle, a lieutenant who continuously throws Heather under the bus; Derek Odem, an advisor for the National Security Advisor who hijacks their plans; and her own fiancé, Ryan, who claims that Heather is selling out and has “become just as bad as one of the terrorists.”
In a novel that belongs on the shelves with The Devil Wears Prada, The Taliban Shuffle, Sammy’s Hill, The Hopefuls, and Catch-22, Heather must learn the hard way that success will come at the expense of her personal life—and that even the smallest of mistakes can have major consequences at the Department of Defense.
Based on the author’s experiences in foreign policy, THE HEART OF WAR is the story of a woman’s humorous and challenging journey from anti-war activist to national security hawk as she learns to understand her true calling to national service.
About the Author
Kathleen J. McInnis is a national security policy specialist who has worked in the Pentagon, the UK Parliament, and think tanks on both sides of the Atlantic. Having earned her doctorate at King’s College London, she currently analyzes international security and defense issues for the United States Congress. Kathleen lives in Annapolis, Maryland.
About the Publisher
Founded in 2013 by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and book industry professionals, Post Hill Press has successfully published a wide spectrum of books, with a focus on the categories of pop culture, business, self-help, health, and current events. Post Hill Press books have appeared on The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. A number of Post Hill Press authors have appeared on national media such as CNN, Fox News, The Doctors, and many others, as well as national radio and print outlets. They are distributed by Simon & Schuster.
THE HEART OF WAR | Misadventures in the Pentagon | By Kathleen McInnis | Published by Post Hill Press | September 25th, 2018 | ISBN 9781682616512 | Paperback / E-Book | Price: $16.00 | 272 Pages
###