About the author

Hi, I’m Dave Levitt!

I’ve spent more than forty‑five years in the software development world, having had line and leadership roles as a programmer, tester, systems analyst, and delivery manager. Note that I didn’t include being a website designer. So if this website feels a little handmade, that’s because it is. Consider it part of the charm of a first‑time novelist finding his way.

In addition to being a practitioner, I have more than two decades teaching computer science and software engineering at the undergraduate and graduate levels. My career has been rooted in understanding how complex systems behave — and how they fail.

Technology has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives. Much of that change has been for the better. But the same algorithms that connect us can also distort reality. Today, social media platforms have the power to amplify outrage, reward falsehoods, and drown out the steady voices of truth. Left unchecked, the spread of disinformation poses a profound threat to our democracy.

Many thoughtful authors have explored this issue, and I reference several of them elsewhere on this site. What I hoped to contribute is something a little different: a work of fiction that blends real‑world issues with a podcast‑style narrative, wrapped in the tension and momentum of a political thriller. It’s a story meant to entertain — but also to spark reflection.

I never expected to write a novel in my semi‑retirement. The spark came from my cousin Nina, whose own book, Dickie’s Promise, I highly recommend. When I pitched her an idea for a sequel, she encouraged me to write it myself. The next morning, over coffee, I decided to take the leap.

Yogi Berra once said, “If you see a fork in the road, take it.” This book is the result of taking mine.

Writing this book has been a joy. I hope reading it brings you the same sense of purpose, curiosity, and energy that fueled its creation.