Guy Morris Explores AI, Prophecy and the Thrill of Uncovering Hidden Truths

PHOTO: Guy Morris, author and adventurer, draws from decades of global experience to pen high-stakes thrillers with intellectual and prophetic depth.

From Corporate Power To Literary Provocateur

Guy Morris brings a lifetime of real-world adventure, AI research, and prophetic study to craft intelligent thrillers that challenge perception, provoke thought, and entertain with unforgettable depth and insight.

Guy Morris is not a man who merely dabbles in intrigue—he lives it. With a past as vivid as any fictional character, Morris has navigated a world that stretches from high-stakes boardrooms to remote archaeological sites, from NSA surveillance mysteries to ancient sacred texts. His life reads like an adventure novel, and that energy surges through every page of his work.

With Swarm, he takes readers into the unsettling territory where rogue artificial intelligence collides with geopolitical agendas. In The Last Ark, he threads prophecy through global tension with an almost Newtonian intensity—deeply researched, unflinchingly bold. And The Curse of Cortés plunges into the heart of Mesoamerican history with both reverence and daring, all built on a foundation of meticulous scholarship and real-life peril.

Yet what makes Guy Morris‘s thrillers stand apart is not simply the pulse-pounding action or elaborate conspiracies. It’s the intellect behind the story—the genuine questions about humanity, technology, power, and belief. His writing challenges us to question not only what is real, but what is possible.

There is a sense, in speaking with Morris or reading his work, that we are never far from the precipice—that the truth may not be comfortable, and that fiction can often be the best way to tell it.

Guy Morris is a master of merging real-world complexity with thrilling fiction, delivering stories that both entertain and awaken the mind.

In Swarm, you depict SLVIA as an escaped NSA AI. How did real-world events inspire this storyline?

I stumbled onto a three sentence AP blurb in a technical magazine which said a program had escaped the NSA labs at Sandia. Not lost, stolen or broken. Escaped.

I was instantly hooked. For over a year, I reverse engineered HOW a program could escape the NSA and WHY they would design it that way.

“I stumbled onto a three sentence AP blurb which said a program had escaped the NSA labs. I was instantly hooked.” – Guy Morris

Together, with an indie film friend, we produced a webisode series called Cracks in the Web which won two dozen awards and was optioned by a studio. Until two FBI agents showed up at my door in a bad mood.

That program became the true story inspiration for the fictional AI named SLVIA.

In The Last Ark, you intertwine geopolitics with ancient prophecies. What research did you undertake to blend these elements authentically?

I have studied prophecy for over four decades. An underlying theme of the SNO Chronicles is that SLVIA has decoded prophecy to conclude we will cause our own destruction. A key prophecy for both Jews and Christians is a third temple.

“SLVIA has decoded prophecy to conclude we will cause our own destruction.” – Guy Morris

There are serious obstacles to a temple prophecy, such as the correct location. Even if built, a temple is meaningless without a sacrifice, and a sacrifice is meaningless without the mercy seat of the Ark. For each of these areas, I researched the relevant history, archaeology, Biblical text, maps, architecture, and regional dynamics.

I discovered several incredible mysteries which led to more research, and even more unexpected discoveries. To connect to the present, I asked who would benefit from a temple, and what could go wrong.

Your novels often explore the intersection of AI and biblical prophecy. What draws you to this thematic combination?

Similar to Sir Isaac Newton, who studied prophecy in secret for decades, I spent years trying to unravel the mysterious text. Newton wanted to know when these events would occur. I wanted to know if they were occurring now.

“The FBI visit confirmed my SLVIA research had been correct.” – Guy Morris

I designed a complex-system computer model to answer one question: What is the probability that we live in the end times?

That model blew my mind with a conclusion of 1.4 trillion to one that we live in prophetic times.

Weaving together factual AI-risks with political corruption and ancient prophetic warnings into a fictional narrative is not only entertaining, but deeply thought provoking. Giving the SLVIA AI the ability to decode prophecy was a stroke of fictional inspiration, reflecting my professional concern over an emerging AI powered autocracy.

Having transitioned from a Fortune 100 career to writing thrillers, how has your professional background influenced your storytelling?

A professional background of deal proposals, PowerPoints, white papers and executive briefs was a hinderance to learning character development, plot arcs, themes, and more.

Yet, my career taught me a strong work ethic, research skills, and a unique worldview of experiences. Decades of exotic locations, and working with some of the most powerful and brilliant people on the planet. Not just the characters, but the thought-provoking conversations that shaped my perspectives, and theirs.

In The Curse of Cortés, you delve into Mesoamerican lore. What challenges did you face in weaving historical facts with fiction?

The Curse of Cortés represented unique challenges. The scope of the amazing discoveries across a nearly thirteen-thousand-year span of history. Then to craft only the highlights into a single narrative the reader could not put down.

What started as backstory research transformed into a twelve-year quest involving a dozen books, four trips, a cartel death threat, remote reef dives, Mayan ruins, and shamans. Mountains of research spanning history, archaeology, maps, geology, and mythology. Condensing that into a bone-chilling thriller took over fifty drafts and six more years.

Connecting to the present started with characters the reader will love to follow, and an emotional hook to send the characters on a quest to discover the history. Let them tell the story.

You’ve mentioned an FBI visit due to your research. Can you share how that experience impacted your writing?

I was obnoxiously giddy. The FBI visit confirmed my SLVIA research had been correct. Honestly, their visit super-charged my curiosity and dedication to learn more about how the government is using advanced technology.

As the founder of the Authors Event Network, how has this initiative shaped your engagement with readers and fellow authors?

AEN is a Seattle-Portland association of award-winning, accomplished and popular authors who share booth space at local festivals, fairs and events to sign books. A successful model, the Seattle AEN is booked every weekend from April through October, plus lucrative holiday markets.

We love building a relationship with our readers, who often ask for photos, and return year after year. My most profitable channel, it’s a joy to share time with such an amazing community of authors.

What advice would you offer aspiring authors aiming to craft intelligent and compelling thrillers?

Know your stuff. Pick a set of fields that inspire you and become a voracious consumer until you become an expert. Search for the mysteries, the unexplained, the forgotten, the twists, those off the beaten path elements that spark your curiosity. Then research, research, research to solve the mystery, even if only fictionally.

There are a ton of books on how to weave a page-turning story. The unique voice of each thriller author comes from a deep well of research and expertise, from which they pull hidden secrets.