We’ve all been there. An unforeseen event takes us in a direction we never dreamed of. Sometimes the disruption is welcome and other times it’s not. But one thing’s certain: The universe has a way of keeping you guessing.
The roots of my life today stretch back twenty years to when I’d started writing a manuscript about an ex-SEAL called Fade. In that era, I was known for creating plots that had enormous stakes for both the characters and society. It was a terrifying departure to write an anti-hero whose struggles and charisma were the primary drivers of the story. But what the hell? I did it anyway.
When my editor sent the initial book layout, it included the following quote:
“Kyle Mills is a master of the page-turner. His attention to detail and his smooth style will keep you reading well into the night.”
That blurb was from the one and only Vince Flynn. Vince and I started our writing careers around the same time and despite having mutual friends, we never met. At one time, we had a tentative plan to get together in Utah, but our schedules never synced. It’s a missed opportunity I still regret.
After Vince passed, I had one of those weird small-world moments—a call about continuing the Mitch Rapp series. A decade after receiving his blurb for Fade, our worlds once again aligned and would be forevermore intertwined.
As I was penning my last entries into the Rappverse, it seemed that geopolitics were spiraling more and more out of control. The universe had another surprise: In that messiness, a door had swung wide open for me to resurrect Fade—a character that neither I nor many of my fans could completely shake.
Unlike Mitch, Fade isn’t always the master of his universe. He can be dragged along in the same currents as everyone else—struggling with runaway technology, political instability, and the breakneck speed of change that we all feel so keenly in 2025. He’s a pop philosopher with a dark sense of humor and a gift for killing people that helps make sense of a world that seems to have gone a little off the rails.
While didn’t see this fork in the road coming, I’m happy to be along for the ride. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to understand the importance of saying yes to new challenges and reinvention. It can be terrifying to close your eyes and leap into the unknown, but also a thrilling opportunity to learn new things and seek new perspectives.
It’s hard to believe that June 1 will mark twenty years since I created Fade. I’ll be raising a glass of top-shelf tequila to toast him and this next phase that we’ll all be embarking on together.
Fade will return in Fade In, the start of my new series, on July 29, 2025. Check out the plot and the story behind the book.