From Opera to Espionage: Kay Sparling shares her inspiration behind Mission THAW and the power of independent publishing

Kay Sparling’s Mission THAW is a gripping spy thriller that blends high-stakes espionage with the world of opera. Drawing from her own journey from an Iowa farm to performing in Vienna, Sparling brings authenticity and depth to her protagonist, Kaitlyn Stewart. In this interview, she shares how her personal experiences shaped the novel, the challenges of tackling dark themes, and why she chose the independent publishing route. From the elegance of the Viennese opera scene to the pulse-pounding dangers, Mission THAW delivers action and adventure.

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Kaitlyn Stewart’s journey from a farm in Iowa to an opera star in Vienna is unique. What inspired you to create such an ambitious character? 

Well, those are actual facts about my own life. I grew up in Midwest farmland surrounded by soybean and corn fields, and went to a small school in the nearest tiny town twenty miles away.  I left to go to college and voice training at the age of 17 and ended up in Europe as an opera singer 12 years later. When I was in middle school, my dad bought me a map of NYC. I put it up on my bedroom wall and pinned the location of all the famous Broadway theatres and the Metropolitan Opera. I guess you could say I was a goal-driven kid.

Vienna plays a central role in the story. How does the city’s cultural heritage and high society influence the narrative and Kaitlyn’s journey?

Since Kaitlyn is an opera singer, the Wien Staatsoper is a perfect venue to set the story. Viennese culture eats and breathes opera and classical music. The famous cafes lend a spark of romance for the opera aficionados to meet and gossip about the latest diva debut and hope that they get a glimpse of her sitting with a famous maestro. One persistent possible stumbling block for Kaitlyn is to always keep up with all the high-society manners and traditions. A high demand for an American farm girl. But, in order to infiltrate the trafficking cartel, she must be convincing that she is one of them. Kaitlyn is always relieved to come home at the end of the day, kick off her shoes, and eat a BLT. The upper-class nonsense makes her teeth itch.