I generally unwind by having dinner with close friends.
I thought to myself, what is everyone's worst fear? Nuclear terrorism in America.
I try to end every chapter with an air of suspense. I try to leave the reader wanting to turn the page.
It's good to stay as close to real life as you can, and then kind of dress it up.
I used the pen name because I knew I wanted to write better novels under my own name someday.
Chemical and biological attacks are scary and will kill a lot of people but dont rise to the level of nuclear.