On the front lines of The Bomb Quest with David Kent

We sat down with David Kent, author of The Bomb Quest, to talk about the inspiration for the historical fiction work and more.

DAP: What inspired the central premise of The Bomb Quest—that a hydrogen bomb was dropped on Tokyo in 1945 but never detonated? Was it based on a historical “what if,” or did it emerge entirely from your imagination?
DK: The inspiration for The Bomb Quest came from a dream vision I had about 20 years ago. In it, my favorite uncle tells me to go find an atomic bomb that was intended to be dropped on the Emperor’s palace but didn’t explode and was buried in the rubble of Tokyo over which a street was built. So it emerged entirely from my subconscious, and I somehow knew that writing it would be my quest—and in a way, my destiny.

DAP: Joshua Meister is a compelling protagonist—a linguist, former CIA analyst, and accidental adventurer. How did you develop his character? Was he inspired by anyone in real life?
DK: Joshua is in a lot of ways who I was and who I wanted to be. I attended the University of Michigan, thought about working for the CIA, always up for an adventure—but barely fluent in Spanish. His character and all the others flowed out of my subconscious. As I was writing, I could and still do see them in my mind’s eye.

DAP:The novel spans international intrigue, personal legacy, and moral conflict. How did you approach balancing historical speculation with thriller elements?
DK: Balancing historical speculation with the thriller elements was a challenge. I researched the development and deployment of atomic weapons, and a trip to Japan cemented the splashdown in Tokyo Bay, which is huge. I went to the Emperor’s palace and various shrines to feel the essence of Japan. That’s when I knew Nathaniel was right not to kill more of the kind and gentle people of Japan. The thriller aspect was influenced by John LeCarré novels and the Bourne movie trilogy.

DAP: Colonel Nathaniel Meister’s moral decision not to arm the bomb is a pivotal moment. What do you hope readers take away from his inner conflict and ultimate choice?
DK: He really was tortured about what to do because duty was his highest calling—but the weight of a million souls forced him to drop the bomb early. I hope readers feel and appreciate his angst in choosing between his duty as a soldier and the moral consequences of dropping the bomb.

DAP: There’s an undercurrent of generational inheritance and duty in Joshua’s journey. What drew you to explore the idea of legacy in this way?
DK: My family has a history of military service going back to the French and Indian wars in Louisiana, which is where my family hails from. My oldest brother served in Vietnam, my cousin in Korea, my father and his brothers in World War II, and my grandfather in the Spanish-American War.

DAP: From Tokyo’s cherry blossoms to CIA backchannels, the novel paints vivid scenes. Did you travel for research, or how did you build such immersive settings?
DK: Yes, I researched all the historical aspects—B-29s, post-war Japan, why Pearl Harbor was attacked. I visited the U.S.S. Arizona memorial in Hawaii. I also studied the bomb design, flight patterns, and the CIA’s surveillance capabilities. I see and hear all the characters and scenes in my mind, and I did my best to paint them into words that readers can see and feel too. That was my goal.

DAP: Joshua’s multilingualism and cultural knowledge play a key role in the story. Why was it important to you to emphasize language and cross-cultural navigation in his quest?
DK: Joshua being a linguist came about because, while at Michigan in the early '70s, I often visited the language lab. I was always looking for opportunities to talk to women—ostensibly to practice Spanish, though I had ulterior motives, much like Joshua. His speaking Mandarin fit perfectly with the Chinese heroine’s entrance into the story. His Arabic aligned with why the CIA would have hired him.

DAP: There’s both humor and high-stakes tension throughout the book. How did you maintain that balance in your writing process?
DK: I approach life with humor as a necessary counterbalance to stress. I’ve been in dangerous situations—once a group of bikers thought I was a narc. I defused it with humor, comparing myself to what a narc would actually look like. It worked. In writing, I like to switch gears; you can’t always have your foot on the gas. Like in conversation, sometimes you have to shift subjects to keep the experience human.

DAP: Mei Lei’s character adds emotional complexity to Joshua’s past. Can you speak to the role love and longing play amid the novel’s larger geopolitical stakes?
DK: Mei Lei is as important a character as Joshua. I’ve had love, lost love, and longed for it to return. Mei Lei helps the love of her life—and father of her child—out of duty and lingering love. Joshua reaches out to her from desperation and unrequited love, because she’s the only one who could possibly help. That dual motivation adds emotional complexity and some spice.

DAP: If The Bomb Quest were to be adapted into a film or series, who would you envision playing Joshua—and why?
DK: I very much hope this book makes it to the big screen. I imagine someone who looks like the cover—6’2”, 180 pounds, body of a swimmer, competitive, smart, empathetic. Probably an actor in his 20s with the strength, presence, and sensitivity of Joshua—along with his Gen Z mentality and vulnerabilities.

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About The Bomb Quest by David Kent

Joshua Meister’s life is on the line as he embarks on a perilous mission to locate a lost hydrogen bomb, dropped on Tokyo during World War II. Unsure if the bomb even exists, Joshua faces relentless danger from a bloodthirsty Pakistani assassin and the ever-vigilant CIA, both determined to thwart him. Along the way, Joshua must decide if he can trust his former girlfriend from Hong Kong, whose loyalty remains in question. In this pulse-pounding adventure, Joshua's survival depends on his ability to outwit enemies, navigate treacherous obstacles, and find the bomb before time runs out. Will he succeed, or will this quest spell his doom?

The Bomb Quest releases Tuesday, Sept. 2 and is currently available to order. Click here to get your copy.