Once again Bookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest Avraham Azrieli.

Avraham is a graduate of Columbia Law School and is also the author of several novels, his most recent being The Plot To Save America.

Avraham grew up in Israel, where he received extensive Talmudic education, served as an intelligence officer and, after attending law school, clerked for the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. Residing primarily in the United States since 1990, he currently lives near Washington DC with his wife and children.

Norm: Good day Avraham and once again thanks for taking part in our interview for bookpleasures.com


Avraham: Thank you for having me.

Norm: How did you become involved with the subject or theme of The Plot To Save America? As a follow up, how did you decide you were ready to write the book?

Avraham: The violent attack on the United States Capitol, whose goal was to stop the proceedings to certify Joe Biden‘s election as president, was a traumatic spectacle.

However, it wasn’t an isolated event. Rather, it was the culmination of a two-months-long campaign by President Trump to reverse his loss in the November elections. 

Watching those events unfold, it was clear to me then, and it has become more and more apparent to the public, that the whole “Stop the Steal” campaign was nothing short of an attempted coup, a well-orchestrated, richly-financed, and massively-concerted attack on American democracy, utilizing demagoguery, inducement, and violence. 

As a creative writer, my mind began to speculate: what if these efforts were successful? What if they burned down the US Capitol building, killed the vice president and many members of Congress, and by doing so, gave Trump the excuse to declare martial law and solidify his authoritarian power?

 Once this imagined reality was populated with interesting characters and a suspenseful plot, I had to write it.

Norm: What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them? 

Avraham: My primary goal with any novel is to tell the story that’s in my head, to share it with my readers in the most interesting and exciting way possible.

In addition, every book must be grounded in realistic facts and locations, which requires a great deal of research and verification.

These concrete elements allow my readers to trust the authenticity of the story and enjoy the journey. With this particular book, my goal was to create a realistic “parallel world,” if you may, of a post-January 6 Trump presidency – which almost came to be.

This novel gives me and my readers a chance to experience living vicariously, through the fictional characters, in a world that could have been (and, one day, might actually be) our world, in which those election-deniers, ultra-nationalistic, white-supremacist, right-wing forces take America by force and rule over us.

Norm: What would you say is the best reason to recommend someone to read the book?

Avraham: As with every novel, the best reason to read would be that it’s a captivating story about interesting people involved in a series of unforgettable events – a story that excites and intrigues and scares and amuses and makes you think.

This particular novel transports the reader to a reality that nearly happened on January 6, 2021: America almost experienced its first successful anti-democratic coup by a sitting president, who refused to accept his loss in the elections.

Had the coup been successful, the ramifications would have been life-changing for every American and, most likely, for every human being on the face of the earth.

Norm: What obstacles did you have in trying to tell your story? 

Avraham: The first obstacle was to make the story about people, not about politics. I think this obstacle was overcome by the main character, the investigator. He is a dedicated, well-intentioned professional, who finds himself engaged dutifully in a case that increasingly challenges his sense of right and wrong.

As the story develops and the facts unfold, he is facing difficult choices that gradually grow more and more difficult until, eventually, he must make a heartbreaking, career-shattering, and possibly life-ending choice.

Norm: How did you develop the plot and characters? Did you use any set formula?

Avraham: My approach to creating suspense is always to trust the reader’s intelligence with a delightful chain of rising complications.

The Plot to Save America is first and foremost a suspenseful mystery. Yes, the surrounding reality is an authoritarian America but, at the same time, the story itself is an exciting puzzle, or a series of intricate riddles, as any good mystery should be: we have good people facing powerful, clever villains, intriguing clues and vexing diversions, shocking revelations and devastating reversals, and the constant danger of further violence.

And humor—never forget our most basic human need for a good laugh!

Norm: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Avraham: This novel presented unique challenges, as the story takes place in a dramatic “what if” reality, set in the near future, and involves intertwined criminal, ethical, and personal conflicts. Writing it was a daring journey, a constant learning experience, but ultimately it was an opportunity to hone my skills in telling a good story that keeps readers turning the pages.

Norm: Did you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things did they say?   

Avraham: The book has only been out for a couple of weeks, but the initial response has been truly positive, both with respect to the suspenseful story and the creative premise of a “successful” January 6 attack on the Capitol and its consequences.

Norm: What will you be doing for promotion of the book and how much of it is your doing?

Avraham: The book has been submitted for reviews and several competitions, but my main hope is that readers enjoy the story, recommend it to their friends and family, and spread the word. Clearly, the subject is important and timely, and there’s a great urgency to help people understand how close we came to losing democracy in America and what it could mean for each and every one of us.

Norm: What do you think up-to-now of the Jan 6th hearings? Were there any revelations that surprised you? Do you believe that it will change any of the minds of Trump supporters?

Avraham: So far, the congressional investigation has exposed many shocking facts that confirm our worst fears. The scope and intensity of those unconscionable efforts to reverse Trump’s loss while destroying American democracy are being exposed in their full mendacity.

Norm: Do you believe that the committee will succeed in telling the story of Trump's failed coup, and use these hearings to combat the ongoing efforts to disenfranchise voters and destabilize future elections?

Avraham: While the committee has been thorough and successful in uncovering the facts and presenting them to the public, the political fracturing of the American media and our information delivery channels continue to divert the truth from reaching everyone.

Millions of people listen only to news channels and commentators telling them only what they want to hear.

Truth and facts are gradually losing their place in public and private discord, replaced by versions of reality pushed by special interests in order to divide and conquer voters.

Add to that the chronic American prevalence of poor education, cynical politicians, ruthless corporations, and the misguided attraction many people have for populist authoritarian strongmen, and it’s obvious that American democracy is in dire peril.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and The Plot to Save America?

Avraham: The book is available on Amazon.com and other book retail channels in E-book and paperback. My WEBSITE

Norm: What is next for Avraham Azrieli?

Avraham: I’m fascinated by the resurgence of the abortion debate in America, which pits two zealous camps against each other, each fully convinced of its own righteousness and the other-side’s malevolence. Such a life-and-death, sexually-charged conflict could be the seed that sprouts a great story, I believe.

Norm: Thanks again and good luck with all of your future endeavors

Avraham: Thank you!

FOLLOW HERE TO READ NORM'S REVIEW OF THE PLOT TO SAVE AMERICA