Category Archives: Book Reviews

Review of “Elemental Earth” by Harmony Kent: A Coming of Age Story with a Fantasy Twist

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This coming of age story with a twist had me engaged with the main character, Sarah, from the beginning. She’s fifteen, in the usual identity crisis typical of that difficult age, and her family life is a wreck. Her father left and she doesn’t know exactly why, but from the conversation between her parents she overheard she believes it has something to do with her. Her mother has been depressed, sitting incommunicado in a darkened house, ever since.

Answers begin to come when she meets Imogen, a strange girl whom she initially sees as a “freak.” And then things really start to get even weirder as Sarah is led to a world in another dimension where it turns out she’s an important figure in a prophecy. I don’t want to get into spoiler territory so I will leave it at that and invite you to experience this intriguing story for yourself.

It’s easy to relate to Sarah who lacks confidence and has so many questions about who she is. The author did an excellent job getting inside Sarah’s head and making her very human. There’s a subtle message there about how parents can inadvertently damage a child’s confidence trying to protect him or her, which is a large part of Sarah’s problem. Attempting to deny her prophetic destiny, her mother punishes her at an early age for using her amazing talents, which inhibits her ability to utilize them later when her fate asserts itself and depends on them, regardless of whether or not that’s what she or her parents want.

As a professional astrologer I have a deep appreciation for the “elements” of Earth, Air, Fire and Water of which the author captures the essence nicely via the “elementals” in the story. Indeed, each of us has our own set of “elementals” in the form of talents, propensities and abilities with which we were born as well. Each of us simply needs to discover them and recognize how they can help us.

While this book is definitely in the “Fantasy” category, since it involves a girl steeped in modern times, the language is familiar and comfortable. Thus, those who may not usually be drawn to stories set in ancient eras replete with archaic speaking styles, dragons and swords can easily enjoy this story of a teenaged girl plunged into an entirely different world with a heavy future that everyone seems to know more about than she does. There are plenty of plot twists and turns and various surprises. I was impressed with the clean copy which made the read smooth and pleasant compared to so many Indie books which are loaded with typos and other distracting errors due to poor copy editing. Her knowledge and research were apparent and nicely integrated. Many kudos to the author for that.

The only thing I didn’t like about this story was the abrupt, jaw-dropping ending which left me with the feeling that I’d missed something. While I knew it was a series and would probably lead into the next book, there were too many inconsistencies and questions left unanswered for the ending to be satisfying. Rather it was somewhat confusing and frustrating as “What just happened?” reverberated through my head and drove me to make sure I hadn’t missed a chapter or two. IMHO, the author has a lot of explaining to do in the sequel.

Author Website:  http://harmonykent.co.uk

If You’re a Technophile or Conspiracy Buff, “Esquelle and the Tesla Protocol” is for You!

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esquelle

This skillfully crafted story has it all. Non-stop action, intrigue, dry wit and humor, incredible detail, and a nearly invisible line between science fiction and fact that yielded tremendous credibility. While at least one other reviewer compared it to Clancy, it reminded me more of Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series except in this case it’s a sociopathic NSA director as opposed to the CIA.

The author broke numerous fiction writing conventions yet this contributed to the book’s credibility, originality and appeal. For one thing, numerous readers of this genre are self-admitted techies and nerds who thrive on the technical side. I know because I’m one of them. I saw an article not long ago which as I recall was written by Stephen King who advised authors to keep their research material invisible in their stories. To the contrary, Dacy plastered his extensive research throughout the story like excerpts from a technical paper or dissertation and I loved it. He even included various illustrations, which further added to the story’s imagery, depth and interest. Whether it was the nuts and bolts of advanced technology, covert ops, or the chapter numbers in binary code, it was apparent he knew what he was talking about. Nonetheless, there were sections where his dry wit practically had me rolling on the floor or his ability to build suspense had me perched on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. While it may be considered incorrect to drop into the omniscient viewpoint from time to time, in this case it worked.

The story is about two genius level adult French siblings, Esquelle and her brother, Bernard, who possess a technology that permits communicating across the time barrier. Bernard’s patent application has not only been denied but he’s been told in no uncertain terms that he cannot release it in any manner at home or abroad based on the Tesla Protocol, the means by which the details of Nikola Tesla’s inventions were secreted away roughly a hundred years prior. Of course neither of them plan to listen and thus the chase begins, though neither Esquelle nor Bernard have any idea what they’re in for.

The plot is complex and loaded with characters but unlike some overpopulated stories I didn’t have any trouble keeping them straight. The players were well fleshed-out and believable. The level of detail is outstanding, right down to the clever basis for the heroine’s name, which I’m not about to tell you but as someone who’s done some database programming myself I must say it was great. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next episode.

My only criticism is if, indeed, this novel had a copy editor, the individual should be fired. If it didn’t, which I suspect, then it needs one who can catch the numerous missing words and other minor goofs. The syntax of the French dialog was often incorrect, but the author blamed that on Google, who was credited with the translations. I had French in high school back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth and even after longer than I care to admit I can remember that adjectives follow the noun and the conjugation of verbs is entirely different than English. Thus, word for word translations seldom work.

This fantastic story deserved a good copy editor. These editorial blemishes, which most readers may not even notice (except, perhaps, other techies like me), detracted from what would otherwise be an incredibly awesome story, which, considering the level of detail otherwise, I find rather sad. Providing the reader with clean copy is as essential as maintaining a consistent plot and accurate research.

I suspect that the author was thinking and keyboarding so fast to get the story down that he inadvertently skipped over various prepositions and articles along the way. It didn’t ruin the story by any means, but it was a distraction which precluded my ability to be entirely absorbed in it. In many ways I long for the days when you could sit down with a good book and get thoroughly lost in it, perhaps finding one or maybe two, if any, such mistakes. I find it especially sad when a story as good or better than many that passed through traditional publishing houses lacks that final bit of polish.

Besides that, this was my kind of book. Quite honestly, I loved it. Nonetheless, even while my techy side ate up his research, technical details, quotes, inside jokes and speculative sci-fi excursions, that same part of me cringed at every missing or misspelled word. Precision is just as important in writing as it is in engineering. If you painted a masterpiece, would you toss it in a $3 plastic frame from Walmart? No. And as a potential masterpiece in so many ways, forgive me when I say yet again that this story deserved a good copy editor.

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Chimera: A Dark, Suspenseful Tale Set Within an Original Sci-Fi Scenario

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“Chimera” is a well-written science fiction tale wrought with tension, suspense and believable characters. Its scenario is original and captivating, i.e. that of a habitable moon elsewhere in the galaxy which serves as a debtors’ prison for Earthlings unable to meet their obligations. These prisoner/colonists are provided with their basic needs via automated exchange ships which bring food and other necessities, then return to Earth with ecomire, a valuable mineral which colonists either mine or retrieve from “the rim.” As the seventh generation of colonists reach adolescence, their debt is considered paid. However, their release from bondage is complicated by the fact that no exchange ships have arrived for a long time, not only jeopardizing the colony’s survival but begging the question regarding what is going on back on Earth?

The richness of this story derives from a variety of original elements. For one thing, the ship which brought them there in the first place, the Chimera, is being renovated in the hopes of returning to Earth but this is complicated by the fact that she has an element of intelligence that no one so far has been able to access. Then there’s the matter of its original navigator, “Stephen,” who had connected with her and ultimately went insane while at the same time spawning some sort of weird religion with him at the core. These details bring the story to life by defining the culture which these exiled individuals developed and demonstrate a deep understanding of human nature on the part of its author, which is actually three individuals who collaborated in a very effective manner to bring this fascinating story to life. It definitely illustrates the concept that “two heads are better than one” when it comes to conceiving and developing a rich, compelling tale.

The adolescent characters come to life within this carefully fabricated world in a convincing and engaging manner. Each has a story of his or her own, an intriguing background that has contributed to who and what they are. In preparation for the return to Earth, “the selection” is in the process of choosing which members of this seventh generation of colonists will be chosen to be the Chimera’s crew, including someone who can awaken her. Personality conflicts, differing motivations and abilities, as well as dealing with a drill sergeant from hell are skillfully embedded in the overall tension of the story’s premise.

While the primary protagonist is a young man named Theo, the other characters’ importance is clear. Among other things, this episode is a coming of age story for Theo and the others as well, particularly Marcus whose seemingly sociopathic tendencies are ultimately at least partially explained and Selena, who has spent her life in a mining ship “on the rim” with her alcoholic father. The only one whom I didn’t connect with was Meghan who was superficial by comparison, perhaps because her background was not sufficiently challenging which left her bland and judgmental.

This is the first volume of an intended series which definitely drags you into the characters and plot with just enough questions left unanswered to make you anxious to get your hands on the next episode which is due sometime in the summer of 2015. The characters have strong, distinct personalities which have already established the promise of conflict when they crew the Chimera. I was provided a copy of this story in return for an honest review and was thoroughly enchanted by this well-crafted tale which holds tremendous promise.

Buy Link:

More about Chimera & the team that comprises N.J. Tanger:

http://www.uebooks.com/

“Collision Force” by C.A. Szarek Delivers Action-packed, Erotic Romantic Suspense

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Book reviews are always subjective. I try to judge each story on its own merits within its genre. Other than that, however, if a book can make me laugh, cry, yell at the characters (as opposed to the author) and pick it up at every idle opportunity then I usually consider that it has earned 5-stars. Thus, even though I’m not usually a fan of romantic suspense, much less erotic fiction, this one definitely earned its rank for me. As a bit of background, I won it in a Facebook “like” push so as a gesture of appreciation to the author plus the fact I had just finished a book and was ready for another, I decided to read it since it promised action. I must confess without naming names or titles that the last romance novel I tried to read is still unfinished after several months because it bogs down. When I’m between reads I still pick it up occasionally because it’s well written and I hate to leave anything unfinished, including a boring book, but quite frankly it reminds me of listening to a whiny friend with a plethora of self-imposed woes and hangups.

Romances are typically pretty predictable. Boy gets girl (or vice versa) by the end of the story. Sometime before that they’re going to hop in the sack with just how much you know about that interlude determined by whether it’s a light or erotic romance. This is the kind of story you read to escape. You don’t want to be stressed out, you want to be entertained. Everyone needs love and if you’re not getting much in your own life it’s nice to maintain some level of hope through falling in love vicariously through a character you can relate to. True love never runs smooth, as they say, and thus there’s plenty of fodder to build on before the final page and its implications of “happily ever after.”

Romantic suspense at least throws in some action besides that found in the boudoir. This story is about a woman cop named Andi and a male FBI agent named Cole who are thrown together when they’re working the same case. The sparks fly at first but their attraction to each other is strong. There are various conflicts besides those of a personal nature since getting it on with someone you work with tends to get complicated, particularly if it eventually involves an ugly breakup. Furthermore, all your coworkers are privy to your personal life which is not always favorable, either. So these two have plenty of reasons to resist, which of course they cannot do, and their mutual passion also becomes a distraction to the job at hand.

I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, even though I realize in many ways this is formula fiction and you can pretty much figure out how it ends. But romantic suspense is about the journey, not the destination. I was impressed with how well the author described what her characters were going through. You really got inside their heads, hearts and various other parts of their anatomy. The only thing I thought was a bit glossed over was the Texas small-town culture, where the story took place. I live in Texas and so does the author so I was surprised that about all that turned up in the story was the predominance of pickup trucks and a rodeo, both of which could have received a bit more attention to build a stronger sense of place. It’s a delicate balance to maintain, however, because description can slow things down and I must say that author kept things moving at a rip-roaring pace that kept me glued to the pages.

If you’re a fan of this genre I highly recommend this author. Even if it’s not your usual genre, I still recommend it as a change of pace. I enjoyed it tremendously and am highly likely to pick up more of her books in the future when I need a fast-paced, entertaining story to remind me that love is truly what makes the world go ’round.

“Ganwold’s Child” by Diann Thornley Read: All the elements of outstanding sci-fi explode with extraordinary detail

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This military sci-fi saga is not only extremely well-written but captures what sci-fi fans want most as far as alien cultures, strong heroic characters, and detailed space battles are concerned. Don’t be fooled by the title. This is far from a child’s bedtime story. While it definitely fits the story, it fails to convey the story’s complexity and depth.

The prologue describes how Tristan Serege and his mother, Darcie, become marooned on primitive Ganwold when the spacecraft on which they’re passengers comes under attack by masuk space pirates. Darcie is a medic in the military and her quick thinking allows her and her toddler son to get away in an escape pod which lands on Ganwold. Tristan thus grows up amongst the gan, a primitive but intelligent race with strong cultural traditions, one of which is reverence for one’s mother as well as all females in this matriarchal society. Tristan is accepted as one of their own in spite of being a “flat tooth.” His hunting partner, Pulou, is more like a brother since gan culture dictates a bond between them which is the ultimate in protection, devotion and loyalty up to and including death.

When Tristan’s mother, Darcie, develops a serious illness, Tristan knows it’s his duty to do whatever it takes to save her. This goes far beyond love for his mother; it’s more obsession that defies reason, set in stone by the influence of gan culture. He’s determined to find his father, Lujan, a war hero from a previous galactic battle, whatever it takes, and obtain the medical help Darcie needs to survive.

The only human settlement on Ganwold is a military outpost occupied by Dominion forces, the very ones that his father was key to defeating prior to Tristan’s birth. Nonetheless, it’s the only connection to the technology needed to leave Ganwold and find his father. Naively hoping to stow away onboard a spacecraft, Tristan and Pulou are captured and turned over to Governor Mordan Renier, a man who’s not only his father’s political adversary but a vengeful personal enemy as well. Renier proceeds to use Tristan as a tool to exact revenge on his father, who had long before given up that Tristan and Darcie might still be alive.

As part of his devious intent, Renier “cleans up” Tristan, whose appearance is initially less than civilized. His hair and nails are long, his mannerisms those of the gan even though his mother has taught him as much as she could. Tristan not only undergoes significant culture shock but is brainwashed with regard to who and what his father is as Renier puts on the facade of helping Tristan find his father and assistance for his ailing mother. Nonetheless, Tristan suffers much abuse at Renier’s hands but is fortunate enough that one of the military doctors who tends to his injuries is sympathetic to his situation.

Renier sends troops to capture Darcie as well and notifies Lujan that he’s holding his son hostage. Lujan is caught between saving his family and Renier’s outrageous demands which as a high ranking military officer he cannot ethically meet. He thus sends his own special forces team out to covertly rescue Tristan and Darcie. Peace was already tenuous and the situation escalates back into overt war.

As a military veteran the author does an excellent job with the military side of the story. The characters and their actions, including battle strategies and terminology, put you into the heat of battle. There’s a lot of violence in this story, both in the form of the abuse Tristan suffers as well as battle scenes. There are parts that are downright painful to read as many of the “good guys” don’t survive and sympathy for Tristan and Lujan is strong. Both are flesh and blood characters who are not omnipotent making them individuals with whom the reader can connect strongly. The story captures the heartbreak and internal conflicts of individuals caught in horrific circumstances, in this case against the stark imagery of interstellar war.

There are numerous analogies to the world today from the primitive wisdom of the gan, reminiscent of that depicted in the movie “Avatar,” to the savage brutality of the masuk which reflects “business as usual” in the Middle East. Star Wars/Star Trek fans won’t be disappointed by this complex story with its vivid imagery, strong characters, numerous subplots and nail-biting suspense. Better yet, its the first volume of a trilogy so fans don’t have to bid the characters a fond farewell as this story concludes.

http://www.amazon.com/Ganwolds-Child-Sergey-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B009SS3GM4/

Final Book in Science Fiction Series Due March 4

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This hard sci-fi series delivers a bonus, a palatable taste of real science. Its physicist author, who has over 20 years NASA experience, demonstrates that science and engineering are not only exciting but essential to maintain a viable lifestyle.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00004]Author, Marcha Fox, credits science fiction with inspiring her to obtain a physics degree and pursue a career at NASA, something she hopes to do for today’s readers. The Star Trails Tetralogy series was written to that end, to encourage youth in the junior and senior high school range to pursue studies in space exploration, math, engineering and science.

The previous three novels in this hard science fiction adventure series have received rave reviews with this one following in their footsteps with pre-release praise from authors such as Ceri London, Elle Klass and John Reinhard Dizon.

The fourth and final volume entitled “Refractions of Frozen Time,” will be officially released March 4, 2015 via Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RWKN6MA) and Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512160).

A stickler for detail, Fox’s pet peeve remains scientific inaccuracies in media such as movies which depict noisy explosions in outerspace.

“Years ago I saw the movie ‘Armageddon’ with a friend who was in the oil business. Between the two of us we ripped it apart. My daughter told us to lighten up, it was only a movie, but all I could think of was that young viewers would take it as fact and how hard would it be for the producers to be more accurate? One of the reasons I got a bachelor’s degree in physics was so my stories would be based on fact and teach correct scientific principles that wouldn’t have to be unlearned later.”

The series chronicles a family who loses everything on one planet and is forced into survival mode on another amid hostile weather extremes and political forces. The stories incorporate the excitement of space travel and exploration with family dynamics, self-sufficiency and dealing with difficult circumstances, themes not unlike what some families face today in an unstable economy and topsy-turvy environment.

Previous books in the series entitled “Beyond the Hidden Sky,” “A Dark of Endless Days,” and “A Psilent Place Below” as well as new release, “Refractions of Frozen Time,” can be found in electronic and print copy format through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and most online retailers. For wholesale or bulk orders as well as regarding school, library and quantity discounts, contact the publisher at info@kallioperisingpress.com. Visit the series website www.StarTrailsSaga.com for additional information about the books, their setting, a glossary of terms and definitions, and a section for parents and educators who wish to use the books as a means to launch scientific discussions.

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Amazon Link to STAR TRAILS TETRALOGY (All books):

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=star+trails+tetralogy

Barnes & Noble Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/star-trails-tetralogy?store=allproducts&keyword=star+trails+tetralogy

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Marcha-Fox/e/B0074RV16O/

Author Blog Page: https://marcha2014.wordpress.com/

Series Website: http://www.StarTrailsSaga.com

KEYWORDS

Science Fiction, YA Sci-fi, Star Trails Tetralogy, Marcha Fox, educational sci-fi, sci-fi series, Brightstar Saga

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Contact:

Kalliope Rising Press

P.O. Box 23

Burnet, TX 78611

512-755-2175

info@kallioperisingpress.com

Free Electronic Review copy for bloggers and reviewers available from the author:

Marcha Fox

marcha@kallioperisingpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchafoxauthor

Elle Klass’ Latest Hit: Baby Girl 4 – “Bite the Big Apple”

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Baby Girl 4 cover

The 4th and concluding episode to Elle Klass’ popular “Baby Girl” series, “Bite the Big Apple,” is out at last and fans will undoubtedly eat it up as they have the preceding three. For those familiar with the series, a rundown and excerpt is directly below. If you’re new to Cleo’s story, skip to the end of this post where you’ll find my review which provides a bit more background for this suspenseful saga.

SYNOPSIS

Cleo was abandoned at 12 and left to fend for herself. Now grown and coming full circle in book 4, she finds answers to the questions that have haunted and plagued her existence.

Masquerading as Shanna, she is hot on the trail of finally learning her identity. After spending a lifetime living lies she now finds her biological family, and learns the truth about her birth including why she was kidnapped at the hands of Perdy and why Slug hunted her down; killing her one true love.

Excerpt:

“Did you know my son?” The voice startled me out of my thoughts of Einstein. I looked up from my solace to see who I assumed was his mother. Her hair was blond like Einstein’s only she had streaks of white. The skin around her gentle eyes bore webs in the creases. She too was tall and thin. He looked much like her.

“No, I didn’t know him, but have heard what happened. I think it… is heartbreaking… what happened. I had a friend who… I just wanted to visit and pay my respects.” I wanted to tell her ‘yes, I loved your son’ but couldn’t bring myself to. Instead, I made up yet another story.

“My son was a very special young man. He wanted to do incredible things.” He did do something incredible. He loved and took care of me, but I didn’t say that to her.

“Do you mind me asking…? Do you know why he ran?” The questions ran out of my mouth like water from a hose. I kicked myself mentally for being so insensitive.

“I don’t feel that is your business.” The pain in her eyes was evident, although she didn’t ask me to leave. Maybe she needed to talk about it, wanted to talk about it. I needed to talk about it and didn’t want her running off so I continued.

“I’m sorry. I had a friend who ran and I don’t know why. Why kids leave a good home. You seem like such a nice woman, a good mother. My friend also had a good family but still he ran.”

I breathed a silent sigh of relief when she continued. “It seems ridiculous now. I can’t seem to forgive myself. We didn’t always see eye to eye with Burke.” For a long time we just stood there, saying nothing, each of us deep in our own sorrow for this lost young man.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Amazon.co.uk

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

iBooks

Google Play

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Elle’s Social Media Links:

Website- https://elleklass.weebly.com

Blog- https://thetroubledoyster.blogspot.com

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7216745.Elle_Klass

Cleo’s Pinterest Page- http://www.pinterest.com/elleklass/cleos-favorites/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/Elleklass

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ElleKlass

My Review

Fans of the “Baby Girl” series can now enjoy the long-awaited conclusion of this suspenseful saga about Cleo, a girl virtually orphaned at the age of twelve who not only has to survive on her own but elude someone who is trying to kill her. Cleo’s travels have taken her near and far, partly to escape from whoever is pursuing her with evil intent, but also in search of her true identity since the woman she knew as her mother clearly wasn’t her biological parent. This missing piece leaves a gaping hole within herself which she’s desperate to fill with the truth.

As Cleo follows additional leads toward the answers she has sought for years, she finds herself in New York where she finally succeeds in finding her biological roots. I don’t want this review to be a spoiler so won’t go into it any more than to say it’s a surprising yet very satisfying ending which answers all the questions presented in previous episodes. I do suggest, however, that readers might want to refresh their memories of how Baby Girl 3: “City by the Bay” ended because this one picks up at that point without fanfare. In fact, if you haven’t followed Cleo throughout her quest you should read all previous episodes first to fully appreciate this great conclusion.

There is plenty of food for thought in this volume as Cleo synthesizes some important lessons. One is that a person’s biological family is often not the desired source of nurturing and love you might expect. Orphans and adopted children tend to fill this painful gap in their background with an idealized version of who their parents are, which is seldom accurate. At some point it becomes apparent that parental surrogates and role models who have been there when you needed them as well as friends who have accepted, helped and loved you for who you are, even when you didn’t know yourself, are your true family as opposed to blood relatives. Often when people think they’re bereft of anyone who loves them it’s simply because they have not yet learned to know and love themselves.

Throughout this series Cleo has assumed various personas such as Justine when she was in Paris and Shanna in San Francisco as she attempted to hide from her unknown enemies. These were never entirely comfortable for her because she knew they didn’t represent who she really was. When she eventually discovers the identity of her biological family and finally answers the question which has haunted her most of her life, she realizes that it doesn’t change as much as she expected. She’s still the same person she’s always been and is actually better for her experiences than she probably would have been if she’d been raised by her biological family. This knowledge frees her at last just to be Cleo, who she’s been all along.

A Glimpse into the Science Fiction/Techno-Thriller World of Author, Ceri London

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cerilondon Shimmer2books

As a science fiction fan and author myself I absolutely love Ceri London’s work. Her characters are convincing, exciting and charismatic which, combined with her ability to create a complex mix of science, technology, government intrigue, the military mindset and esoteric subjects, results in a masterful blend of high-powered science fiction. Her “Shimmer in the Dark” series possesses all the suspense and intrigue of my old-time favorite author, Michael Crighton, clearly the stuff that best sellers are made of.

Ceri has recently released “Destiny Nexus,” the sequel to “Rogue Genesis.” I am grateful to have had the privilege of interviewing this up and coming author whose well-thought-out responses provide a glimpse into the mind behind these outstanding novels.

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MF: The “Shimmer in the Dark” series is a masterful blend of high tech, esoteric knowledge, paranormal phenomena, and government conspiracies along with a generous dose of Erich von Däniken’s “ancient alien” theory. What originally inspired you to tie these together into a novel?

CL: A crazy blend of various ideas collected over many years! Shimmer in the Dark dates back at least twelve years to a story I wrote where the antagonist crossed timeflows to his advantage. I thought how amazing it would be to live an entire fantastical life in a blink of an eye where that split moment is part of a more normal life in a slower timeflow. Around the same time I read a book by Francis Hitching called The World Atlas of Mysteries detailing curious, unexplained or connected events over the course of Earth’s history and researching some of these ideas led me to the Sedona magnetic anomalies.

A vortex of energy sounded fun and I came across an article discussing the brain’s EM output and how that magnetic output increased over the central nervous system, and I then researched the medical use of SQUID magnetometers for measuring the body’s bio-magnetic energy field. I also love all the Star**** films and TV serials, anything where huge distances can be shortcut – stargates, wormholes, portals crossing space-time, or jumping to alternate dimensions and universes. So when I picked up this research again years later, I incorporated all these different aspects into the ideas I’d explored in my practice writing. The result was the first draft of Rogue Genesis, a story I originally called The Boat People in reference to the Vietnamese refugees being taken in by countries across the world.

I wanted to write a fantastical story but to let it evolve from a scientific foundation of electro-magnetic forces, dark energy, and the exploration of how the geomagnetic field can interact with the human body. I’m convinced much of “paranormal activity” is due to the human brain interacting with and interpreting its surroundings the best way it can, whether that means tapping into realms beyond the physical, or simply reacting to physical forces we can’t explain from the senses we know and understand. I love hearing from readers who tell me the story felt so real they quite happily swallowed the more speculative and fantastical aspects of Rogue Genesis.

Some of my inspiration stems from Celtic history, druids and legends. Merlin! Uathach, Miach, Niall, Etlinn, Kean, Succellos, and Macha are all names chosen for a reason that I intend to incorporate into the later sequels, if my brain can pull it off. In the end, once I started writing, all these ideas and previous stories drove the characters forward. The characters get to influence the path there – they have a habit of taking over – but they are still headed in the general direction.

coversRG-DNMF: Your protagonist in “Rogue Genesis” and “Destiny Nexus,” Niall Kearey, is a badass Special Forces type who possesses tremendous abilities. It seems the majority of super heroes hail from more ordinary professions. Was there a specific reason that you chose a warrior as opposed to some other government employee such as an IRS agent or Post Office worker?

CL: I have a passion for a good old fashioned kick-ass hero willing to put their life at risk for others. Niall does develop some outrageous abilities, but he’s not invincible and he’s resistant to his unique heritage. His emerging powers don’t confer on him an ability to cope with difficult and dangerous situations; instead they complement a pre-existing skillset. However, his commission as a US Air Force officer constrains his freedom to do what he pleases and I wanted him to feel at home in the military so it’s all the more of a wrench when he has to fight the restrictions and expectations of his chain of command.

By making him Special Forces specialising in rescue Niall has the training and mind-set to deal with the enemy when he needs to, plus he possesses an innate and human competence for e.g. medical situations, weapons, helicopters, rappelling, and skydiving. Rescue has been his life’s purpose for many years, but the urgency of his mission often falls in conflict with his unquestioning love for his wife and children. Time and time again, he’s torn between duty and family. Niall would say his family comes first, and yet, once more in Destiny Nexus, he’s out there putting his duty first, and although the two aren’t mutually exclusive, it can feel that way. Niall is a natural hero and his need to rescue people influences the decisions he takes, first in his career and later on as he discovers his capabilities.

MF: Your stories incorporate a wide variety of plots and subplots which touch upon several genres outside of science fiction such as suspense, techno-thriller, fantasy, and military action. Have you written any stories in other genres?

DNtitleonlyCL: I enjoy the convoluted plot so the bulk of my work falls in to the Sci-Fi / Fantasy Thriller sub genre. I haven’t written anything pure fantasy, nor would I write a strictly military action novel (as I simply don’t have the background). All my stories tend to involve suspense, thriller, and action, even my more romantic stories. I’ve had a number of reviews from Shimmer readers who reveal they don’t normally read science-fiction. I think the drama and suspense carries them along and the sci-fi becomes this interesting backdrop.

MF: Was there a specific moment when you decided you wanted to be a novelist or was it something you always knew you wanted to do?

CL: I did a creative writing course in my twenties and I’ve written on and off for many years, usually focused on sci-fi suspense. Some fan-fiction ten years ago provided me with the practice I needed. Then after I finished a long stint of voluntary work, I picked up writing again with another writing course and set to on Shimmer in the Dark, pulling together all those ideas from previous stories. That’s when I decided to test the water with Rogue Genesis.

MF: There’s a tremendous amount of research involved in your stories. About how much time do you spend gathering information versus the actual writing?

CL: I think for Rogue Genesis it was 30% research, 70% writing and editing. Researching a scene often takes considerably longer than writing it, but I then spend months and months editing the story, which skews the breakdown. Once I’d established the rules in my Shimmer world the need for research reduced considerably. I tend to research as I need the information, and I often read a paragraph many months later and wonder, how did I know that, is that correct? Then I do the research again.

MF: Keeping track of research data is a job in itself. Does your IT background help you keep it organized electronically or do you maintain paper files? Do you have any advice for others for maintaining an efficient filing system?

CL: I’m terrible for filing, but I do bookmark websites. I definitely need to retain my research in a more coherent manner. I can take a while to hunt down an original source of information and have taken to popping references on an Inspiration page on my website. I bought Scrivener to help me with this and hope to use it properly for the next novel.

MF: Do you work from an outline when you’re writing a novel or does it come to you along the way?

CL: To date, I have the outline in my head, and I write towards that. It’s written down in that the premise for the whole series is already written but with totally different characters. So the plot is fairly well laid out in my mind, but these new characters evolve and develop the plot as I write.

MF: What do you think is the best part about writing a novel?

CL: Writing that big scene you’ve been steadily working towards. In Rogue Genesis, that first scene was a meeting at the Pentagon when Niall’s world drops out from under him. The next big scene was when Niall creates a full bridge from Earth to Astereal for the first time and it goes very badly for him. Another was a fight with his best friend. It’s best to just let go and enjoy the writing. Edit it to death later. I also love those moments when a new twist pops into your head and you can’t get it down fast enough, or when a theme threading through the book links together and introduces an exciting nuance you hadn’t planned for beforehand.

MF: What do you think is the most difficult part?

CL: Marketing the book afterwards. The initial feedback after the first draft is hard-going, too. I’m bouncing. It’s amazing. Everyone’s bound to love it. Then the first feedback arrives. I’m lucky. My closest critique partners do enjoy my work, but they also want my book to be the best it can and they jump on any aspect that doesn’t ring true and never let me off the hook. That’s when I realise how much work there is still to be done. A writer needs to be ruthless ripping out work it took hours to create, but once it’s gone there’s a sense of relief. What’s left is cleaner, better paced, and truer to the characters. You let go of where the story was, because now you love what it’s become. I believe you have to love what you write or it would be the most pointless, thankless task in the world.

MF: Have you started working on the sequel to “Destiny Nexus” yet or can readers expect something new in the “Shimmer in the Dark” series?

CL: I have an outline building! Everything will be new for Niall in Galacticus Elecion. There will be a host of new characters and he can throw off old constraints although he will discover new ones. Niall has outgrown Earth in many ways, but as his playground gets bigger, the fight gets tougher. The villains in the first two books have nothing on the baddies in the next two. The Formorri are cruel, ruthless, vicious and very alien. Niall needs to make some friends fast or he won’t survive. There is no easy route back to where readers of this series will want him to go. He needs to makes some hard decisions and he will discover the hell predicted for him in Destiny Nexus. This series needs to get considerably darker before any light appears, but there will be a lot of uplifting excitement along the way to balance some of the lows.

I’m also writing a spin off story set in the future with links to the main Shimmer series and characters. It’s dark, tragic, and inspiring.

Book Blurbs & Synopses of “Destiny Nexus” and “Rogue Genesis”

DNbigcoverTitle: Destiny Nexus

Series: Shimmer In The Dark

Volume: 2

Author: Ceri London

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

Publisher: Self Published

1st Edition: eBook

“This man isn’t the exclusive property of the US any longer. He is answerable to the world.”

Major Niall Kearey is the only man capable of bridging space-time to create portals across the known universe. His government and the US military exploit his abilities, a secret society incites global unease in a bid to control him, and the alien refugees he smuggled to Earth revere him as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

Under threat of exposure, a potential one-man weapon of mass destruction, Niall and his family are forced back into hiding. Struggling to protect his wife and children, honor his oath to God and country, Kearey discovers he’s attracted the attention of a devourer of worlds – the legendary Balor – an enemy so powerful it enslaves or destroys everyone in its path.

The world needs Niall Kearey and his abilities, but the shady politics and dirty maneuverings of Earth’s power-brokers have tied his hands. Shackled by the unceasing suspicion and assaults on his liberty, Niall desperately seeks a means to protect planet Earth against the ancient predator hunting him down. Whether Balor’s purpose is Apocalypse or invasion, the threat escalates as Niall realizes the answer to the future lies in the past—his past.

How far can one man travel to preserve a world that has turned on him? Niall must accept his destiny as the nexus – a magnet for destructive forces and possibly mankind’s last hope for salvation.

An exploration of love and betrayal with the high-octane pace of military thriller, Destiny Nexus stretches a man’s moral fiber to breaking point and changes him forever. This action-packed sequel continues the epic space opera saga introduced in Rogue Genesis.

Book Links

Amazon

Smashwords

RGbigcoverDestiny Nexus is the sequel to Rogue Genesis. Rogue Genesis is the first book in Ceri London’s Shimmer In The Dark series and can be read as a standalone novel.

“I’ve loved developing the characters from Rogue Genesis and have introduced a few more as Niall discovers his heritage and unravels the threat of an alien predator hunting him across the cosmos. I’m now looking forward to developing a cast of new alien characters in Galacticus Elecion, the third book in the series.” Ceri London.

Rogue Genesis Blurb/Synopsis:

One man. Two worlds separated by a universe. Space-time warped by black holes. In the passing of seconds on Earth, Major Niall Kearey has witnessed the birth and death of generations on Astereal. His mind shortcuts light years to visit a fantastical world of floating sky cities populated by telepaths.

Astereal is in decline, the dueling forces of black holes threaten extinction. Ancient prophecy predicts their interstellar visitor brings salvation. As Niall faces the staggering truth – that his alien dream world is real – he and his family are targeted by secret societies, scheming politicians, and the US military.

Time is running out as Astereal races towards annihilation and temporal alignment with Earth. Power brokers vie for control of his capabilities. Niall must act, balancing the needs of Earth, his family, and the alien civilization he has come to know and love. The fate of two worlds rests on Niall Kearey’s shoulders.

Available at Amazon

About Ceri London

Ceri London (pen name) is an author of science fiction / fantasy who has just published the second volume in her Shimmer In The Dark series. She is a member of ASMSG, a league of international writers.

Back on Earth, life is very normal. Ceri lives in the UK, is married, a mother of two girls, and a piano tutor following a fifteen year career in IT within the international financial industry. She holds a BSc Honours degree in Chemistry & Computer Science, but acknowledges that in no way provides her any authority with regards to the science in her fiction writing, relying on research and drawing on the experience of others far more qualified.

Looking forward, Ceri is committed to completing her Shimmer In The Dark series and developing a range of related short stories and spin off novels.

Author Links

 Amazon Author Page

Smashwords Author Page

Website

Facebook Page

Goodreads

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Twitter

Author Email: cerlondon@yahoo.com

 

5-Star Review of M. Pax’s “The Backworlds” Book 1

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Craze is a Verkinn, a stocky race which can control their ear holes and have living hair that can braid itself.  He’s a big guy with a good heart who wears life-support overalls which help keep him out of hibernation when he gets in low oxygen environments.  His family has betrayed him and undeservedly labeled him a leecher so he’s on the run, determined to live out the old adage “The best revenge is to live well.”  During his quest he encounters a variety of other characters and they share numerous adventures along the way.

The author did an absolutely tremendous job describing alien races and different worlds in this well-written and entertaining story.  I found Craze endearing; for some reason he reminded me of Shrek without the green skin.  The imagery is vivid, the characters original as well as convincing, and the worlds fascinating.  If you’re looking for an entertaining escape into a scifi-fantasy world this is a great place to start with numerous sequels available so you won’t have to look anywhere besides Elstwhere, a place in the Backworlds, anytime soon.  What better place to visit than a world that reveres chocolate as one of the most valuable substances around?

5-Star Review of Martha Fawcett’s “Together” (Book II of the Janaforma Trilogy)

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Jane Hibernia Smith lives in Toledo, Ohio, sometime around the 26th century where far too many suffer from FSP, i.e. Fundamental SocioPsychic breakdown, an attitude that spawns the attitude “Some messes are too big to clean up.” Earth is but one of many worlds in the Orion Spur and not that much different from the 21st Century world we live in, making it easy to relate to Jane and her funk. For a variety of reasons she’s bummed out, including health issues combined with the fact she’s a “casual,” i.e. a genetic “mongrel,” born without the benefit of genetic engineering.

Thus, she decides to take a break. Her plan is to visit Wonder World, but her trip reservations are messed up (showing some things never change) and she misses the shuttle taking her to the next leg of her journey. She winds up in a space taxi to deliver her to a rendezvous point, but the vehicle malfunctions, Jane passes out as environmental systems fail, and the next thing she knows she waking up in the presence of two magnificent beings. And this is where the reader is escorted from a world that may be a bit too familiar into the essence of true science fiction.

Jane, who has decided to go with her Hibernia persona, has encountered two genetically engineered wonders known as Janaforma. . Both are beautiful as well as handsome, possessing an intriguing albeit confusing combination of masculine and feminine traits. As it turns out, their sexuality is entirely different than that of humans, requiring three to achieve reproduction as opposed to the usual duo. There are lifebearers, lifegivers and consorts. In human terms, lifebearers would be those who give birth while a lifegiver’s sperm only works in the presence of a consort. Needless to say this makes for an interesting concept of a genetically orchestrated ménage à trois. On the literary side alone it necessitates the use of an entirely new set of pronouns as opposed to the he/she, his/her with which humans are familiar. While lifebearers retain the feminine side, lifegivers are referred to as le or lis while consorts are ce or cis.

Hibernia becomes part of this triad and is thus absorbed into an alien world of intrigue. In spite of the near perfection of Janaforma, they nonetheless must interact with lesser cultures and humanoids which comprise an intergalactic society. One of these is the superstitious and small-minded Tyrowsians, who deny the existence of the past, and represent a brutal, unevolved species. The plot is saturated with a variety of moral dilemmas and culture clashes as the community-minded Janaforma are subjected to the narrow-minded and unyielding opinions of those incapable of understanding a more advanced view of life.

The beauty of this story lies not only in its incredible originality but in its rich, descriptive prose. Martha Fawcett’s literary style and plot complexity is nothing short of delicious. I was effortlessly sucked into the story and characters then absorbed into the drama inherent to this mixture of worldviews and beings besides the Janaforma. The author has not only created vivid and credible intelligent alien species but enriched it further with other languages (such as the new pronouns noted earlier) and cultural details which bring everything further to life.

Nonetheless, while definitely alien, there is rich symbolism operating as well. It was easy to see how the vast philosophies present on Earth today could compare to a human caught between the diverse cultures of the Janaforma and Tyrowsians.

The story’s intensity reaches a nail-biting peak making it all the more interesting to see how it’s resolved in Book III of this trilogy (entitled simply “One” while the title of its predecessor is “Alone.”)

This book is not for the faint-hearted or closed-minded. The multitude of metaphors often reflect elements of today’s culture we choose to ignore, whether it pertains to sexuality, cultural bias, or religious intolerance, all of which prevent us from reaching a higher plane of existence. As Albert Einstein is credited with saying, no problem can be solved from the same level at which it was created. If you allow it to, this book will open your mind to new vistas of possibility and bring you to a close examination of your own beliefs, which is what landmark science fiction is all about.