Ancient History, Modern Operator: How Alex Dekker Fuses History and Mystery with High Adventure in Desert Heist

Episode 181 features Army Special Forces veteran, Alex Dekker, debut author of Desert Heist, a high-adventure thriller in the vein of Indiana Jones and National Treasure. Desert Heist smashes a lot of things together in a really fun way that feels both familiar and fresh because Alex spent twenty years in special operations, including time in the Middle East, and he brings that experience to the page. But Desert Heist isn’t just a military thriller. It’s a high-adventure story about a former Green Beret named Nate Wilde — a skeptic by nature and by training — who gets pulled into the mystery of the Lost City of Ubar also known as the Atlantis of the Sands. Alex and I talk about the power of fiction, how stories shape us when we’re young, what it’s like to take real experiences and put them into a fictional world, and why sometimes the best thing a writer can do is tell the kind of story we already love — and tell it really, really well. Topics include: The power of fiction and why the stories we love as kids stay with us Writing a fictional adventure story from real special operations experience The Lost City of Ubar and the hidden-history rabbit holes behind Desert Heist Nate Wilde as a skeptical Green Beret who wants to believe — but needs proof Why the book feels like a throwback in the best possible way Building a team dynamic that feels real to veterans and non-veterans alike Transitioning out of the military and into a completely new creative world The author community, ThrillerFest, blurbs, publishing, and learning a new industry Why former operators reconnecting can feel like finding home again What it means to tell the kind of story we already love — and tell it really, really well Episode Sponsors: VM Merch Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order. BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order. True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order. Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order. Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order. Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9. SOCIALS: https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/ https://www.instagram.com/alxdekker/