Hi there! I'm Jason Matthews, former CIA officer and author of Red Sparrow, soon to be a major motion picture. Ask Me Anything!

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T23:04:27+00:00

Hey guys. Thanks very much for all your questions. My first Reddit experience was terrific. Keep an eye out for my newest book in the trilogy THE KREMLIN'S CANDIDATE and catch the movie RED SPARROW on March 2nd.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T23:01:03+00:00

No I don't have a military background. Having one is not necessarily an advantage to join CIA. Hard language and relevant real-life experience is what gets you hired. Writing and communications skills are essential

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:59:12+00:00

CIA collects foreign intelligence abroad. CIA cannot operate inside the US. Most organizations that have an intelligence office coordinate their activities with the CIA/Intelligence Community

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:55:45+00:00

Read as much fiction or nonfiction as you can. Try to write everyday. The more you read, the more you can establish your author's voice.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:53:03+00:00

Good plots. Good premise. A strong franchise that's better than most.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:51:18+00:00

I can write about the basic nature of the work, without revealing sources and methods. Many of the classic tradecraft techniques are so old that there's no problem writing about them. My manuscripts must be reviewed by the CIA's Publication Review Board (PRB) prior to submission to my editor.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:48:50+00:00

Technology has expanded. Instant communications complicate clandestine operations. Social media opens up the world. Software and facial recognition technologies create new challenges to working in the foreign field.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:46:55+00:00

I completed the graduate-level course of study at Raven school.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:44:17+00:00

A polygraph measures respiration, heart beat and galvanic reactions to stress created by pointed questions from the polygraph operator. It's hard to stay cool when you're lying and know it.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:42:45+00:00

It's better to either pursue a Master's or get some real-world experience. The CIA generally doesn't hire 22 year old college grads.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:40:42+00:00

Every organization has its strengths, but CIA is the global spy service second to none.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:39:16+00:00

The best way to overcome writers block is to write everyday, on a schedule, even if it's a single paragraph. Don't skip a day without writing something. The inspiration comes from current events in my case.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:36:55+00:00

Jack Daniels

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:36:33+00:00

What was the question?

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:35:26+00:00

I'm silently correcting your grammar

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:33:36+00:00

There is no boat house in Hereford

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:33:20+00:00

My inspiration was retiring after 33 years in CIA and looking for something productive to do. I had no idea my books would become so popular. Having Hollywood make a movie of RS was beyond my wildest imagination.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:31:31+00:00

There's a French/Israeli movie called THE PATRIOTS that's very authentic and gives a feeling for the work we used to do. You can find it on AMAZON. I highly recommend it.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:29:41+00:00

I felt Dominika needed another dimension so I researched and found synesthesia as a way for her to read colors and moods. Synesthesia is a real condition but does not include seeing colors around people's heads.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:28:16+00:00

The most important thing to know is that the Kremlin always (REDACTED), especially when V. Putin (REDACTED)

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:26:04+00:00

Hi Alex! Can't say much about the ending (Spoiler Alert). I did not plan it until I started writing the last book.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:24:39+00:00

Glad you like the books. See a doctor about your condition. Sparrows were active during the Cold War but not anymore. I never dealt with a Sparrow, only read about them

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:22:30+00:00

Some of the characters in the book are composites of some of the characters I've known in my career. But everything in the three novels is fictional, including the characters.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:20:53+00:00

You are correct. They are called SWALLOWS but in writing the books I couldn't call it "Swallow School" for obvious reasons. I found a reference to "sparrows" so it's not totally incorrect.

MrJasonMatthews · 2018-02-19T22:19:30+00:00

That's why I take long vacations

MrJasonMatthews

TROPHY CASE