'Minstrel's Alley Feels Public Recognizes Chinese Threat to...

Minstrel’s Alley has seen a recent sales increase for author, Gordon Basichis’ novel, The Guys Who Spied for China. The publisher attributes the recent sales to growing concerns about China’s advancing global threat to American preeminence. A variety of governmental officials and corporate executes have issued increased warnings about China’s military projection and its aggressive espionage policy to gain global dominance. Once such article was published recently by the editorial board of the Washington Post, entitled, “The U.S. Must Take Action to Stop Chinese Industrial Espionage.”

“There have been any number of warnings about Chinese Espionage and China’s global projections,” said author, Gordon Basichis. “Estimates by such groups as The Alliance for American Manufacturing put the cost to American businesses resulting from Chinese Espionage at some $300 Billion, annually.

“It seems now, finally, that both government officials, corporate executives, and the American public are catching on in a big way to the threat and cost of Chinese Espionage practices,” said Basichis. “When I first wrote The Guys Who Spied for China, based on my own experiences, fewer souls were receptive to both the short time threat and the longer term ramifications. Too many had their eye on the short money. It was like they would rather make a few bucks in the present while risking the loss of American dominance in the longer term. As a country, we have never been much known for our long term planning. Where with China, planning for 100 years is nothing.”

Basichis described The Guys Who Spied for China is a roman a clef, and that it was a Quarter Finalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Fiction Awards. It is partially Basichis’ true experiences, helping to expose Chinese Espionage Networks operating the United States during the eighties and nineties.

“The novel depicts my often offbeat experiences working through fate and circumstance with a consummate Cold Warrior who was determined to uncover Chinese Espionage networks in the United States. His efforts help trigger the headlines in the eighties and nineties. The book tells how it all began, how American assets with a Maoist bent were first used to establish the networks. It is not your typical spy book. To be honest, some didn’t like it and called it incredible. Others have called it everything from darkly humorous to quirky and engaging. Take your choice.

Basichis pointed out he by no means the first person to warn against China and its espionage practices. He noted there have been dozens of others, and often their warnings were largely ignored.

“Now dozens on a regular basis issuing the clarion cry of alarm,” said Basichis. “And well they should. The technological gap is closing, as is the gap in advanced weaponry and global influence. If this is not the time to get on the stick I don’t know what is. I am glad for my increase in book sales. But I would be further gratified if more people took the threat from China far more seriously.”

Background: Minstrel’s Alley is a Los Angeles based independent publisher that seeks to bring adventure back into the publishing industry by publishing books that have popular appeal but with more complexity than the standard mainstream fare. The new publishing group distributes its books through Amazon, Kindle, and assorted Internet outlets as well as through bookstores around the country.    You can view Minstrel’s Alley at http://www.minstrelsalley.com