Where is the Source of the Nile - Part 2

Interesting history about Control over the Nile:

The Exploration of what is today known as the White Nile and Lake Victoria,

and the Blue Nile flowing down from the Ethiopian Highlands.

Today, we know that 80% of the water flowing into Egypt comes from the Blue Nile out of Lake Tana in Ethiopia. At the end of this tape, the Egyptians still feel safe and proclaim that "there are no project at this time to dam the Blue Nile...."

They have been proven wrong. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (said to go online in 2017) in south-western Ethiopia, close to the Sudanese border, is a rude awakening for downstream countries as it will drastically decrease the flow of the Blue Nile for Sudan and Egypt.

Struggle Over the Nile - Part 1

The Nile Conspiracy

Book 5 of the Legends of the Winged Scarab

This new novel takes the struggle between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Blue Nile waters

as its basis for more action and adventure

to be overcome by Naunet and Jonathan Wilkins.

Available January 6th from Amazon

An Unexpected Award

We all love receiving an award. It is, however, especially thrilling to get one unexpectedly from a much respected and successful colleague.

This morning, I woke up to The Crystal Curse having been chosen for Christoph Fischer's roster as

"Best Dystopian Novel of 2015."

And I feel good crowing about it!

Check out Christoph's blog

for more great books - 

including his own highly acclaimed novels

https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/christoph-fischer-awards-for-romance-poetry-ya-fiction-dystopian-fiction-and-anthology-2015/

Christoph Fischer delves into Another War

A New Novel from Christoph Fischer

Ludwika:

A Polish Woman’s Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany

now available for pre-order
and will be released on Dec 14th

It’s World War II and Ludwika Gierz, a young Polish woman, is forced to leave her family and go to Nazi Germany to work for an SS officer. There, she must walk a tightrope, learning to live as a second-class citizen in a world where one wrong word could spell disaster and every day could be her last. Based on real events, this is a story of hope amid despair, of love amid loss . . . ultimately, it’s one woman’s story of survival.

Available Now in Print Format at the CreateSpace eStore: 
https://www.createspace.com/5897536

Reblogged from Mr. Fischer's own blog - writerchristophfischer
Read the fascinating background for this story in his own words.

What a Treat!

ENDANGERED EDENS - 
Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,
Costa Rica, the Everglades,
and Puerto Rico
by

Marty Essen

On Pre-Order from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/Endangered Edens

The other day, I received a pre-publication paperback copy of

Endangered Edens by Marty Essen.

The tactile and visual presentation alone of his new book with its 180 stunning color photographs is a treat indeed.

Dr. M. Sanjayan, Senior Scientist at Conservation International, describes it as:

 “A magical, fun journey through some of the world’s hidden and not so hidden Edens…”

Having read Marty’s first book,

“Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents” 

another amazing journey into the leaf litter world of the tiniest—and often deadly—creatures), I was already familiar with Marty’s fluid and humorous writing; and he lived up to my expectations.

Of course, from this new title, I knew he would also rattle my lethargic cage (as he fully intends, always without being preachy) as to what travesties Man keeps inflicting on this precious Earth of ours.

While Marty and Deb Essen possess the courage and conviction “to do something,” they allowed me (a mere armchair traveler these days) to journey with them from the Arctic to Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico.

It reawakened a sense of wonder for our world in me, as well as a sense of renewed responsibility to leave a smaller footprint.

Thank you, Marty Essen, for your beautiful second book.

Endangered Edens is scheduled to be released on January 8, 2016 – 

However, it can be pre-ordered from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/Endangered Edens

In the meantime, watch the stunningly beautiful Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/UpOWWAcybBA

and do check out Marty Essen’s entertaining Blog:

http://marty-essen.com/

Cover Reveal: The Nile Conspiracy

The Nile Conspiracy
Book 5 - Legends of the Winged Scarab

What is this new novel about - other than the obvious?

    Imagine the mighty Nile running dry. Not because of climate change, but due to human interference. Impossible? One day soon, this very threat will become a devastating reality.

Riveting adventure and international intrigue find Naunet and Jonathan Wilkins back in Egypt where the construction of The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam portends a catastrophe of biblical proportions.

    Amidst their archaeological struggle to save ancient artifacts, the couple is caught up in a dangerous conspiracy. Along with Jabari El-Masri, their scientific research becomes a death trap when the desperate Egyptians decide to turn a secret underground maze into an emergency reservoir and further, to eliminate the source of their threatening nightmare.

    If the Ethiopian monster dam is allowed to be brought online, Egypt may cease to exist. Will a daring conspiracy save these ancient lands from another of Man’s folly? Or will it explode in warfare and annihilation?

* * * *

Cover Image Excerpted from an Original Photograph by

Jim Bennett
(with Permission from the Photographer)
* * * * *

I always had my eye on Jim Bennett's fabulous photo and
dreamed of using it for one of my covers.
Check out the original photo on his website -
because I may not be doing it justice.
http://jim-bennett.ca/

Jim Bennett is the Author of a thought-provoking five-book Poetry Series.
The depth and visualizations in his poems are awe inspiring.

Jim Bennett Poetry

Watch my Author Pages for the Publication of
The Nile Conspiracy:
Amazon-US and Amazon-UK

This announcement should give you time to read the preceding volumes.
(While each novel can stand alone, you'd be missing a lot of the story though.)

A Reviewer's 1000th Review

While one of Amazon's top reviewers has taken on to review my

"Legends of the Winged Scarab" series,

After the Cataclysm

was chosen as his 

1000th Review

Thank You for Your Support of Writers

* * *

Please, click on my "Reader Reviews" Page for more.

Armchair Sailor

I just completed a great Blog Hop initiated by the inimitable Helen Hollick. Through it, I came to know that many of their ladies were aboard ship at one time or another, loving a rogue pirate, or trying to regain a tropical inheritance.

(In case you missed those delightful glimpses into their fascinating books, check them out a couple of posts back under "Shining Light On Our Ladies").

Because of all those stories, I'd like to post this little tribute to the many courageous sailors out there.

Armchair Sailor

Don’t be like me!

Don’t waste your life in wishful fantasy!

Last night, I met the sailor

who dared to live my dream.

This Don Giovanni of the Sea,

having beguiled a hundred women

and who would love a dozen more,

has sailed the Seven Oceans, instead of me.

He’s listened to the tenor of his rigging,

and matched the joyous basso-buffo

of his anchor chain,

while harmonizing with his latest curvy mate

in the duets of love.

Quaintly sequestered coves on lushly verdant isles

replenished his bruised sailor’s soul.

Forgetting Neptune’s battering, it was

replaced by new-inspired quest for yet another goal.

He’s haggled with a multitude of tongues

and laughed with many-peopled hosts.

Traversing fatal shipping lanes and lame conventions,

he’s fended off the beckoning of unforgiving water ghosts.

He stole my dream!

I had to stay behind, on land.

How could I do otherwise?

He has a boat. He has no ties.

He also has the courage.

* * *

 (Excerpted from my "Moments of the Heart")

"SHADOW LOVE" Needs Some Love

It is just a novella but, boy, is it giving me headaches – and I do so like my Monika Lenz as she struggles to find herself (and that hunky pilot she’s fantasizing about).

It's an interesting story (if I say so myself) but somehow, readers are not giving it the love it deserves.

I've tried several titles, several covers. So, once again, here is the latest:

     The idea for this novella has rattled around my head for so many years, that my now long-departed mother once cried aloud: "Oh, child. This is you!" It was an assumption I fervently denied. Granted, the protagonist is Austrian (like me), she is attractive and successful (no problem there). However, she does drink a little—and that's where I drew the line. But in order for the story to work, I had to burden the lady with a grip on the nip.

     There is also a connection to my other novels—the charming Edward, Con Extraordinaire-although in Shadow Love, he appears only in Monika Lenz's regretting memory.

     (As an aside, Edward turns out not quite so charming anymore in the modern-day adventure/thriller sequels to Khamsin, The Devil Wind of the Nile. We meet him first in Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea, where he turns slightly murderous. Then, in After the Cataclysm, things seem to go from bad to worse for our protagonists. And you'll just have to read what goes on in The Crystal Curse.)

* * *

     What did I learn while writing this novella? Well, for one thing, you can't drink and write. The only road to success (whenever that may come, if at all) is a little bit of talent, an excellent grasp of a language, good research, an even better imagination and, above all, tenacity. Keeping at it until your fingers bleed, your brain goes foggy, and your eyes cross, is a given. And then: EDIT, EDIT, EDIT.

     And if you must, don't be too lazy to republish; even one detected typo after the book has been foisted onto your readers is worth the effort.

     What else did I learn from all my books? That this writing-thing has turned into an all-consuming passion.

     The reward is when readers do that they do best: Reading my stories. Second best is, when they leave reviews letting us writers know how our stories affected them. Of course, if they liked them, that's pure gravy.

Buy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3B9A5E

Excerpt

Men! She was glad that she had decided to be through with them. At least for a while. Monika stretched. It was going to be a long trip and already her back felt stiff.

Muori dannato! Tosca sobbed through the stereo speakers. After stabbing her powerful tormentor, she wills him to die. E morto. A wronged woman’s vendetta justly meted out. At least, according to Puccini.

Monika grimaced. “Damn,” she said through her teeth. “Fifty, and giving up on life. And sex. Bummer.” She glanced at the rock-jumbled hills, their wasted slopes echoing her impassive heart.

After doggedly pressing on for several more hours, Route 203 finally led her toward Mammoth Lakes.

“Almost there, Bandito.” She stuck her finger into the carrier again and scratched her cat’s velvety nose. He may be just a cat but Monika knew having him there with her could mean the difference between sanity and despair.

“Let’s just hope you don’t live up to your name,” she smiled.

* * *

Loving our Bad Boys

In the midst of a multi-author blog hop:

#ShiningLightOnOurLadies

where I highlighted my leading lady

Nefret, from Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile,

I started thinking about some of the Bad Boys in my novels.

What fascinates us so about them? What makes us even root for them? More often than not, they aren’t the main protagonist but his nemesis.

It keeps happening to me. These sideliners weasel themselves into the action when I simply needed someone for a scene. Then, later on—holla!--there they are again, sprouting up like a weed.

Of course, Ebu al-Saqqara, the vile vizier in Khamsin is – well, vile without redemption. I didn’t like him one bit.

However, I did take to Saad, King Aha’s royal steward (see him, on the left, all humble and servile) until he turned on me and my sweet girl, the Princess Nefret.
I was so mad I wanted to kill him. Oh, yeah…

Five-thousand years later, there is the ubiquitous Edward, the dapper conman—destined for a mere dalliance with Naunet in Sirocco, Storm over Land and Sea.
Suddenly, he turns kidnapper and an accomplice to murder. Still, I couldn't quite bring myself to killing him off, so he remains my leading lady’s nemesis throughout the series.
He was one charming devil. While I don’t like him any longer, his ability to “go with the flow” still astounds me.

-- A small history of him in Edward, Con Extraordinaire, is free for the next five days; just saying … http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BQZ1JY

And then, there is Vergil, Jonathan’s seemingly dimwitted guard on the M/S Bucanero in
After the Cataclysm. 

To my surprise (!), Vergil turns out to be a wily modern-day pirate who’s also rather handy with a handheld rocket launcher in

The Crystal Curse.

I wonder what mischief he’ll be up to in Book 5?

Take a guess...

The subject of Bad Boys begs the question (perhaps evoking long-buried memories?): Why are real women drawn to them?
Nope, not going there...

Instead, I’ll concentrate on Book 5 of the Legends of the Winged Scarab to be published later this fall. It's got a great cover and I am planning to reveal it soon.