Best-selling author James Patterson told Newsmax on Monday that the United States has no shortage of adversaries worldwide—a reality he channeled into his latest military thriller, Rocket’s Red Glare.

Appearing on Ed Henry The Big Take, Patterson said he built the novel around a chilling premise: “What if they attack inside our borders again?” He noted that many Americans share that unease, adding: “A lot of us feel it’s not if, it’s when that somebody will attack”.

The author pointed to a long list of potential threats, naming “Iran and Lebanon, in Iraq, and probably Venezuela, Russia, China”. “We have a lot of enemies around the world,” he said, “we always have, but now they’re mortal enemies”.

To lend the story authenticity, Patterson co-wrote the book with retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Matt Eversmann—”the sergeant who was actually portrayed in that movie ‘Black Hawk Down’”.

Unlike many military thrillers that leave the fate of villains ambiguous, Patterson said this one offers resolution: “With the book ‘Rocket’s Red Glare,’ we get closure, and that’s satisfying”.

He closed with a plea for national unity, saying: “We have to start rowing in the same direction. At least more of us. Otherwise, the boat is just going to keep spinning around and that’s what we’re doing now”.