Writers are often told, “write what you know,” and such is the case for Kennett Township native Michael Woodward, whose debut novel, The Handler, was drawn from his experiences as a naval intelligence officer with the U.S. Pacific Command, writes Richard Gaw for the Chester County Press. 

Published by Penguin Random House last month, the 448-page thriller has received critical acclaim for the tale of Meredith Morris-Dale, a former CIA case officer who is being called back to investigate a CIA mole who wants out of his mission of sabotaging Iran in order to prevent it from building a bomb. 

During his military career, Woodward had worked beside the CIA, U.S. Special Forces, and the National Security Agency where he developed scenario moves and countermoves for U.S. war game exercises in the Middle East. 

“I was always fascinated by who writers were and the influence that they had on society,” said Woodward about growing up reading at the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library in Kennett Square. “From a young age, I realized that there was something more important to writing than just providing entertainment.” 

Read more about Michael Woodward in the Chester County Press.