Interview with Jack Brown, author of Prophets of War

Author Interview with Jack Brown, author of Prophets of War.  

Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?

For me, the writing process starts with having something meaningful to say. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, I need to feel deeply connected to the core idea—the plot in fiction or the subject in nonfiction. I’ve spent years reading at least an hour a day, mostly nonfiction, which helps me stay curious and engaged with the world. I think you have to be interested to be interesting.

The idea for Prophets of War came from a mix of real-world events and academic research. While writing my thesis for my Master’s in Government, I studied the origins of national debt and how, even a thousand years ago, European monarchs borrowed money to wage profitable wars. That idea collided with current geopolitical conflicts and sparked the foundation for the novel.Once I had the concept, I spent about a year with the story in my head. But it wasn’t until I read The Wolf of Wall Street that I understood the tone I wanted—a raw, darkly humorous voice that didn’t shy away from excess or imperfection. That book helped shape Alex’s arc: his ambition, his addictions, his paranoia, and his mental health challenges.

So while I didn’t outline or follow a strict plan, I had two guiding forces: a clear plot concept and a defined narrative voice. From there, I just wrote—letting it flow organically. The structure came together during editing.

What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you’re still working on a book? Do you chase the squirrel or stay focused?

For me, commitment is everything. I don’t write just to write—I write when I feel I have something important to say. Prophets of War wasn’t born from chasing an idea; it came from a deep need to explore a moral and geopolitical truth I saw in the world. We’re living in an era of rising global conflict, nuclear tension, and a culture that often prioritizes profit over principle. That felt urgent enough to stay with.

I don’t believe profit is inherently bad—I’ve invested in real estate, traded stocks, and built businesses. But I do think there’s a line where the pursuit of profit crosses into moral failure.

That tension is what inspired the novel’s core: a war-for-profit scheme that forces the characters—and hopefully the reader—to reckon with the cost of unchecked ambition.

Have I had other ideas along the way? Absolutely. I’ve considered writing about value investing or the U.S. national debt, which I studied for my Master’s thesis. But nothing pulled at me the way this story did. So I stayed the course.
If new ideas keep pulling you away from your project, I think it’s worth asking: Do I really believe in what I’m writing? Do I think it matters? Can it change someone’s mind or perspective? If the answer is yes, then that’s the one to stay with.

Do you identify with your main character, or did you create a character that is your opposite?

Alex is definitely inspired by me—but he’s not a copy of me. He’s more like an exaggerated version of the thoughts, questions, and struggles I’ve wrestled with. I took everything to the extreme with him. His addiction? I’ve had moments where I questioned my relationship with alcohol—and I think many people have. His mental health? It’s hard not to feel a bit paranoid in today’s world, especially with everything going on. His ambition? Most people want to succeed in what they do. His conscience? We all have beliefs about what’s right and wrong—and Alex draws a hard line when it comes to war-for-profit.

In a way, Alex is both a reflection of me and a mirror for the reader. I wrote him to explore questions I’ve had—but also to tap into a broader unease I think a lot of people are feeling right now. He’s not a hero or a villain. He’s human.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m a bit of a finance and history junkie—and I think that comes through in Prophets of War. I’ve always been drawn to investing strategies, historical business empires, and the intersection of politics and power. But when I’m not buried in books or research, I love traveling to the Caribbean—where part of the novel is set—and getting out on the water to sail or scuba dive. I’m also an avid golfer and a diehard Red Sox fan. I try to make it up to Fenway a couple of times a year. For me, the best ideas often come when I’m away from the desk and out in the world.

Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?

I hope readers are both entertained and left questioning the systems we’ve inherited. That, to me, is what the best stories do—they pull you in, keep you turning pages, and then leave you thinking long after you’ve finished. Prophets of War was written not just to entertain, but to challenge assumptions about power, profit, and the moral cost of modern conflict.

Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Just go for it. Writing is an art, and if you do it well, it can change people. Don’t force it—but don’t wait forever either. Focus on pacing. Make sure the reader is hooked early and feels like they have to finish your book. I always aim for that feeling in the first page or chapter.

Michael Lewis once said a writer should give off the attitude of “I know something you don’t know, but don’t worry—I’ll tell you.” I’ve always liked that. So, be curious. Become an authority on something. Read constantly. Then you’ll have the tools—and the urgency—to tell a story that matters, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.

Who is your favorite character to write, and why? If choosing a favorite feels like picking a favorite child, which character demanded the most attention and detail?

Alex was definitely my favorite to write. As the narrator and protagonist, he’s brilliant but haunted—a rare and compelling combination. That tension made him come alive on the page. But I have to admit, Devil Bill was the most fun. I wrote him like Satan in human form—someone who genuinely doesn’t care if the world burns, as long as he profits from the fire. Twisting history to justify his worldview, manipulating people with charm and cold logic—it was disturbing, but almost entertaining to write. And unfortunately, I think characters like him exist in real life. That’s part of what made him so demanding—and so essential to get right.

What if war wasn’t a tragedy, but a business model?

That’s the question debut author Jack Brown asks in his high-stakes geopolitical thriller Prophets of War (Morgan House Press, Sept. 15).

Prophets of War

by Jack Brown

Blurb: 
When Alex Morgan, a rising star in wealth management, stumbles onto a series of cryptic financial clues, he doesn’t just uncover corruption — he unmasks a global conspiracy. Behind the headlines of the war in Ukraine lies something far more chilling: a private empire of shell companies, black-market trades, and political operatives who are turning global conflict into personal profit. The deeper Alex digs, the more terrifying the truth becomes. His own father may be at the center of the scheme. His mentors may be funding both sides of the battlefield. And the woman he trusts most might be the key to it all — or the final betrayal.

From Caribbean tax havens to Wall Street boardrooms to shadowy Zoom calls between oligarchs and ex-presidents, Prophets of War is a pulse-pounding political thriller that tears into the machinery of modern power. Inspired by real systems, real tactics, and real moral failures, it asks a question no one wants answered: What if the next world war is already on the balance sheet?

About the Author

Jack Brown is a writer, investor, and thinker drawn to the places where power hides in plain sight. A lifelong student of history, finance, and politics, he believes stories can expose the systems that shape our world. Prophets of War is his debut novel, exploring the intersection of ambition, ideology, war, and capital. Brown splits his time between Connecticut and Tortola.

 

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