When I managed Mars Missions for NASA, I was often asked, “do you believe in
the face on Mars?” A fellow by the name of Hoglan made lots of money speculating
on the possibility that the face was constructed by aliens. Such imaginings are
not all crazy and have spurred the investigation of canals on the planet for
hundreds of years. People strive to understand their environment and nothing
excites the mind like solving a good mystery. Mankind seeks enlightenment,
answers to the unknown, it is in his nature. No matter if you’re a scientist
trying to understand the universe, a police detective solving a life or death
case or just someone looking for missing car keys, we learn from the process and
recover from our mistakes. So my answer to “do I believe there’s face on Mars”
is, no, better camera resolution shows it to be a mesa covered with rocks, but
then again, what about those microbe fossils in the Allen Hill meteorite and
traces of methane in the atmosphere?
I write historical mystery thrillers set around the world in the first half
of the nineteenth century. The era was interesting and turbulent. Nations
struggled with self-government, having emerged from colonialism or repressive
monarchies. Word of the French and American revolutions spread worldwide.
Tensions flared between traditional royalists and young radicals who promoted
new ideas of democracy to free themselves from repressive social classes. As a
result, conspiracies abounded and murders were common.
Into the mix, are thrust the Darmons, who solve mysteries occurring worldwide
between 1820-1845. William and Elizabeth, her sister Emily and brother-in-law
Charles and youngest sister, Victoria. They’re world traveling aristocrats whose
money provides access, but encounters with other cultures make them truly “fish
out of water.” The six novels are set in England, America, Egypt, Canada,
Brazil, Russia and India.
Finding a publisher for a select audience can take as much time for a new
writer as writing his novel. Research is the key to publishing any historical
book and today's Internet provides a wealth of sources. Publication of my first
book came from shopping it around along with the ten thousand other writers
seeking publication in this country every day. The now defunct PortTown
Publishing Company originally published the first four novels of the Darmon
series. However, they went out of business in 2006. Consequently, Black Rose
Writing began releasing the new series in reverse order, starting with the
previously unpublished Book 6: Without Redemption (2009) set in India and Book
5: Desperate Crossing (2010) set in Russia of the 1840’s. Book 4: Fair Wind to
Bahia set in Brazil and Book 3: Patriote Peril (2011). Book 2: The Forth
Conspiracy came out January of this year.
After publication is secured, marketing began. Prior to a book’s release,
advance work included setting up reviews, writing press releases, scheduling
book signings, and seeking ways to create publicity. Agents and publicists can
help, but chances are one has to work their way up the sales ladder to get
noticed by major catalogs. Once a paperback is published, an author should be
prepared to meet and greet at bookstores over the following year. This can be
fun, as said on the TV show, Pawn Stars: “You never know what is going to come
thru that door.” Recently, a father and two teenaged sons passed by my table. I
asked, “How about a mystery?” to which he responded: “No thanks, I’m here for a
specific book, something like How to Coach Soccer for Dummies”. One of his sons,
looking perplexed, burst out: “So you think we’re dummies?” Another question I
often get is: My son reads everything, is this book appropriate for an 8 year
old?”
In conclusion, let me say that historical events are often ignored when
presented in textbooks. People sometimes think our ancestors were primitive and
uneducated because they lacked today's technology. Unless one experiences the
reality of past circumstances thru historical novels, their true relevance may
be missed. I hope the Darmon series enlightens readers to challenges of the
time.
Price: $16.95
Published: Black Rose Writing
Release Date: February 2013
Inventory Status: Ingram distributor
ISBN 978-1-61296-163-7
Format: Paperback, 221 pages
William Darmon and his wife Elizabeth, owners of Mayfair Hall, fall victim to
rival Forth family who introduce a bill into Parliament called the Writ of
Confiscation. It will repossess the Darmon's ancestral home unless they can find
their missing deed. A late family friend hid the document on a trip to Egypt
decades earlier, leaving a clue to its location only visible in the night sky of
1825. As the Darmons begin to unravel the mystery, a Forth body turns up on
their doorstep.
William and brother-in-law, Charles set off for the Mediterranean only to be
waylaid by Greek independence fighters on the eve of a massive Egyptian
invasion. William's escape finds him stranded in the Sahara far behind Forth
members attempting to destroy his property title.
Historically accurate, non-stop suspense.
Available at
Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Nook,
Amazon, Ingram, Blackrosewriting.com
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