REVIEW - NONE OF THE ABOVE BY I.W. GREGORIO

pic and description taken from Goodreads

 

DESCRIPTION:

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex . . . and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned--something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

WOW....I mean WOW.  This story was so heart wrenching.  I don't even really know how to explain the feeling that I have right now regarding this book.  I was so enraged, and sad, and disgusted with human indecency during this book.   I was also totally and fully overwhelmed by the compassion I felt for the MC.  She was so "real" to me in this book.

Being a teenager is hard enough.  I cannot even grasp how hard it would be to find out that you were intersex and that the whole school found out about it.  Why is it when people are so threatened by what they don't know.  Why can't teenagers grasp that when someone finds out something so devastating to them it would be easier to just accept and support them, rather than to discard and ridicule them.  This is where the human indecency was just too much for me to handle sometimes.  

Kristen's whole world was turned upside down.  As if her life hadn't been hard enough loosing her mother to cancer, but then she finds out that she is intersex.  She has some male chromosomes.  Her boyfriends first reaction is to throw her to the curb....Because he thinks it makes HIM looks bad.  Seriously.  That is the first time I cried in this book.  I knew that this girls life was going to be put under a microscope, and torn apart by here peers.  

Thankfully there are a few who stand by her and try to help her though it.  This book made me realize that I hope I am teaching my kids that no matter what people matter.  Their sex, their sexual preference, their color, race, religion anything, doesn't matter.  They are human beings.  A child of  God.  Nothing else should ever matter.  Love is accepting all people no matter their circumstance.  

Kristen's struggle through this book felt so raw, and so real.  My heart ached during this book.  Until a few people...not very many, but a few people finally made Kristen realize she is still loved no matter what.  It helped redeem some of the human indecency in this book.  She wanted to be accepted and loved.  Just like ever other teenager in the world.  I am not saying all teenagers are easy to love...hehe.  Kristen was though.  She had a great heart, was a loyal friend, and just so happened to be dealt a different card than her peers.

Her struggle to accept who she was made my tears flow freely.  I think there are so many great lessons to be learned from this book.  Awareness, being the most important.  When people understand things they fear them a lot less.  Even so,  it is never okay to make another human feel as though they don't belong.  Ever.

I think that every child and parent should read this book.  It does have some language in it, and I never condone teenage sex, so it totally would have been a 6 star book for me if there wasn't, but even with that I think it is an important book to read.  It's a work of fiction, but it doesn't matter.  There is such a gripping message to this story, in my opinion.  Even the authors notes, and suggestions at the end of the book were so fantastic.  Touched me more than I can even explain in words.

Source:  I bought this book for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL feelings about the book.

Content:  There is a little descriptive sex scenes, but not too graphic, and there is language.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

I. W. Gregorio is a practicing surgeon by day, masked avenging YA writer by night. A graduate of the Yale School of Medicine, she studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University. While a surgical resident, she published in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Washington Post. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. NONE OF THE ABOVE (Balzer & Bray / HarperCollins, Fall of 2015) is her first novel. She is represented by Jessica Regel of Foundry + Media.

BOOK BLITZ FOR THE VIOLET HOUR BY BRYNN CHAPMAN

Through Prism Book Tours.

We're celebrating the RELEASE of 

The Violet Hour

By Brynn Chapman

Check out the book and author info, exclusive excerpt, and enter the giveaway below...

The Violet Hour

Brynn Chapman

YA Romantic Historical Fantasy
ebook, 209 Pages

Secrets.

Allegra Teagarden, a musical prodigy, flees her father’s dominance and abuse while touring in pre-civil war Charleston, South Carolina. Plagued by depression over her mother’s suicide during their previous visit, she escapes in an effort to piece together the details behind her mother’s mysterious demise.

Secrets.

Down to her final coin, Allegra happens on Charleston’s Fancy, the first southern amusement park, which is searching for musicians for its orchestra. At first, the park seems her salvation; but she quickly realizes she has traded the dominance of her father, for the even more terrifying madness of the owner, Silas.

And more secrets.

Allegra meets the dashing Brighton LeFroy, Fancy’s engineer and pyrotechnics master. His shabby clothing cannot conceal the brilliant mind beneath. The musician’s whisper he is a witch, is obsessed with storms, and is rumored...to fly. And despite the danger, despite her own misgivings, Allegra is inexplicable drawn to him.

She ventures to his reclusive home on Fire Isle during a thunderstorm and together they seek to unravel an ancient mystery.

Exclusive Excerpt

     LeFroy stares out the window, his brow creased in thought. He remains statue-still, as he has for the past quarter hour, oblivious to the late afternoon sun that bathes his face in a beautiful golden-amber.
     I stare intently, reveling in the rare opportunity to drink in his features.
     His dark curly hair is in need of a cutting and his thin lips turn down as he absently bites the side of his nail, lost to himself. He is not a classic beauty—but the singularity of his face demand’s attention.
     Not all women would swoon for him. But something about him draws me…makes him utterly irresistible.
     The warmth on my chest again. Almost hot this time. I struggle not to look down my dress to examine what I imagined to be an inevitable rash, but all I see is the Magnolia pattern—the patch on my dress, lovingly sewn by my mother’s hand.
     I banish the thought. I shall not think on her now.
     Brighton clears his throat, driving away my mother’s ghost and I struggle for words. When he regards me, my tongue seems to shrivel in my mouth.
     It is his eyes. They…speak. Sometimes whisper, sometimes shout.
     They now squint, as whatever vexing scenario playing on his mind continues to dominate his demeanor. He doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak.

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

She also writes under the pseudonym R.R. Smythe .

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Release Blitz Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card, ebook of The Violet Hour, and Bracelet with: "Well behaved women seldom make history." - Eleanor Roosevelt 
Open internationally (bracelet to US entrants only)
Ends April 21st

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REVIEW - NORMAL BY GRAEME CAMERON

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

"The truth is I hurt people. It's what I do. It's all I do. It's all I've ever done." 

He lives in your community, in a nice house with a well-tended garden. He shops in your grocery store, bumping shoulders with you and apologizing with a smile. He drives beside you on the highway, politely waving you into the lane ahead of him. 

What you don't know is that he has an elaborate cage built into a secret basement under his garage. And the food that he's carefully shopping for is to feed a young woman he's holding there against her will—one in a string of many, unaware of the fate that awaits her. 

This is how it's been for a long time. It's normal... and it works. Perfectly. 

Then he meets the checkout girl from the 24-hour grocery. And now the plan, the hunts, the room... the others. He doesn't need any of them anymore. He needs only her. But just as he decides to go straight, the police start to close in. He might be able to cover his tracks, except for one small problem—he still has someone trapped in his garage. 

Discovering his humanity couldn't have come at a worse time.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

This book was a total mind trip.  This book kind of reminded me of the show Dexter.  Seemingly a normal guy, and then in his spare time a serial killer.  Unlike Dexter though I didn't find myself rooting for the killer...I know sounds weird, but this guy....Wow...CREEPY.

I think the creepiest thing about this book is that the MC was just the "nice" guy next door.  Yet leading a double life, and secretly torturing women.  

When he finally meets someone that makes him feel different than he ever has, he starts thinking that he may not have to hurt people to survive anymore...

He's a horrible human being.  He does horrible things to women.  It's scary, and my head is still spinning from the book.  I don't even know if I can explain it well enough to do it justice.  

It grabbed me from the very start and kept me interested, and creeped out the whole time.  Although the ending drove me a little crazy.  It doesn't tie up into a nice little bow for me.  When a book doesn't end in a way I think is "perfect", I dream about it.  I have to dream up what the author might have wanted me to get from the ending.  

I am sure I got something totally different than any one else, but still.  I needed a little bit more at the end.  

All in all it was a fantastically, creeptastic book.  Mind twisting....but creeptastic.  The only complaint I have about this book is the language.  The story is fantastic.  The writing is done well.  I could feel how scared his victims were, and sometimes found myself feeling anxious for them.  The author definitely brought a lot of feeling out of me while reading.  This totally would have been a 5 star for me if it weren't for all the language.  

Source:  I bought this book for my self.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from www.graeme-cameron.com

Graeme Cameron is the author of almost three short stories, two country songs and literally dozens of angry emails, including such classics as This Doesn't Taste Like Chicken, The Car You Sold Me Is On Fire, and the hilarious and moving Re: Restraining Order (I'm in your house LOL). 


Graeme lives in Norfolk and has never worked as a police detective, ER doctor, crime reporter or forensic anthropologist.

Spotlight by Madilyn Paige from NBC's The Voice Season 6 Official Music

MADILYN PAIGE 

SPOTLIGHT

I really loved her song IRREPLACEABLE.  It was so so beautiful and has such a great message.  I am so excited for this song as well!  

Please enjoy this video of Madilyn Paige.

Thanks To:

GENTRI 'Dare' Official Music Video -- Featuring Alissa Sizemore 8 year o...

New Group Hits Top 10 on Two Billboard Charts with the Release of First Album

GENTRI’s self-titled, debut album hit No. 5 on Billboard’s Classical Chart and No. 3 on its Classical Crossover Chart.

SALT LAKE CITY (Apr. 8, 2015) – GENTRI, aka The Gentlemen Trio, earned their first spot on the Billboard Charts as their debut, self-titled album hit No. 5 on the Classical Chart and No. 3 on the Classical Crossover Chart. GENTRI also debuted at No. 45 on the Current Contemporary Christian Chart.

The seven-song EP  features five original songs, including their first single, “DARE,” and two covers. Each song features GENTRI’s powerful three-part harmony and is accompanied by a rich, cinematic backing score arranged and produced under the direction of producer Stephen Nelson. The songs range from epic dramatic pieces to tender ballads and focus on inspirational and uplifting messaging.

Bart Olson, Director of Artists and Repertoire at Shadow Mountain Records, expressed his excitement about the young project’s success.

“This EP is a reflection of the quality of their work which is truly world-class songwriting, production and vocal ability,” he said. “These gents have brought all their talent to this project and the public is responding.”

The group is composed of Casey Elliott, Brad Robins and Bradley Quinn Lever – three highly trained and experienced male tenors.

The trio performed together in a sell out run of  Les Miserables prior to founding GENTRI in June 2014. After building a following from their many live performances, they officially united to create a new sound that combines inspirational anthems with a classical underpinning.

“GENTRI” is available for purchase at Deseret Book, Amazon, and Itunes.

Debut music video of “DARE” which has received wide praise and reviews can be seen on GENTRI’s YouTube channel.

###

GENTRI is a talented group of three highly trained male vocalists with a symphonically epic sound. The group consists of members Casey Elliott, Brad Robins, and Bradley Quinn Lever. 

Shadow Mountain Records is the music label for Deseret Book.

BOOK BLITZ FOR CAUGHT IN CRIMSON BY HEATHER HAMILTON-SENTER

Caught In Crimson: 
Book Two of the Sword of Elements

by Heather Hamilton-Senter

Release Date: 04/13/15

Summary from Goodreads:

CAUGHT IN CRIMSON, the long awaited sequel to the Amazon Bestseller BOUND IN BLUE:

Rhi’s ability to see magic as color, and her hunger to consume it, have brought her to Las Vegas to seek out the bard Taliesin’s help in understanding the true nature of what she is—a Leannan Sidhe, a kind of vampire. Armed with Excalibur, she’s torn between the factions looking to control the destiny of the earth. When an ancient artifact of the earth magic calls to her, filling her with fire, Rhi must decide whether to follow her heart or the path to power before her father Merlin decides she’s outlived her usefulness and destroys her mind.

The choices caught up in color and magic are never black and white.

EXCERPT:

In the darkness, out of sight of mankind and godkind, I let emotion fill me—rage at the mother who’d abandoned me, the foster mother who’d denied me the truth of my existence, the father who only wanted me as his puppet—it erupted from every pore. Back arched and gasping, I was a column of fire reaching for the sky.

I was a question framed in flame.

And I was answered. Red magic surged into me from unknown beings, some as close as the neighborhood behind, others as far as the edges of the state. I wanted to keep it all, but it passed through me leaving tantalizing glimpses of the wondrous, terrible things it could make me capable of. Then the magic was gone and only my hot anger remained. Sick with hunger for that ecstasy of power, I didn’t care if it meant stealing it from other beings somewhere out there in the dark. In that moment, I would have killed to have it back.

Agony sliced through my temples. Falling to my knees, I called on Viviane’s binding spell to block the pain. For one terrifying moment I didn’t think it would work, but then cool, blue relief replaced the red of rage. I huddled in the sand, naked and cold, guessing that I’d probably done new damage to myself. I didn’t care.

Weeping at the loss of magic both darker and brighter than anyone should ever possess, I knew I was a monster.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

An interview with Heather Hamilton-Senter, author of the Amazon bestseller Bound In Blue: Book One of the Sword of Elements and it sequel Caught In Crimson.

1.       Tell us a bit more about your books. Who designed the covers?

Actually, I design all my own covers and also covers for other authors through my business Book Cover Artistry (www.bookcoverartistry.com). I come from a long line of artists, but while I started out drawing and painting, I’m firmly digital now and loving it.

2.       Who is your favorite character from your books and why?

Hands down my favorite character is Thomas Redcap. In Bound In Blue, the first book in the series, I started out intending to write a monster who would threaten the heroine Rhi—and if you know anything of the fairy lore concerning redcaps, you’ll know just how incredibly scary they are—but instead, he became this charming, dangerous, sexy guy. It was who he wanted to be and I seemed to have no control over it!

3.       Who is your least favorite character?

Taliesin is one of the good guys and always was intended to be, but I discovered that just like Rhi, I admired but didn’t like him very much. I think her reaction to someone who is essentially a great hero has added complexity to the story.

4.       What was your inspiration for the Sword of Elements Series?

My mom is from Belfast and I visited Ireland and Europe a lot growing up. I remember once one of her cousins dragging me around the Irish countryside looking for a fairy well whose water was supposed to cure blindness. The line between myth and reality always seemed narrower there. As a child, my very first books were beautifully illustrated fairy tale and Arthurian mythology books – there was no Dr. Seuss in my house!

5.       What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

I love being able to work from home and be there when my children get back from school.

6.       What do you enjoy least about being a writer?

Being disciplined. There’s no boss standing over me making sure I’m writing and not surfing the net!

7.       Fantasy is obvious from your background, but why Young Adult?

I think my books ride the line between YA and regular fantasy, but part of why I love YA is that it tends to move fairly quickly. I started reading YA as a mother with young children because the quicker pace made them easier to get back into after any interruptions.

8.       What inspires you in general?

I’m an information magpie. I’m constantly gathering strange bits of history or mythology, even archaeology, looking for a way to weave them into a book. I’m also strangely attracted to forgotten things – odd buildings on the side of a country road that no one remembers the purpose of, historical plaques in out of the way places, the remnants of old bridges and roads . . .

9.       Other talents or hobbies?

I’m a classically trained singer and a member of Canadian Actors’ Equity. I was a wedding photography for a few years and still sell photography online.

10.   Favorite TV shows?

Everything genre! Buffy, Supernatural, The X-files, Star Trek, Walking Dead . . . I’m a geek!

11.   Favorite books?

Lord of the Rings, The Dark Is Rising Series by Susan Cooper, A Wrinkle In Time, Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle Trilogy, The Hunger Games, The Riddle-Master trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip, the Dragonriders of Pern books by Anne McCaffrey, the Witchworld novels by Andre Norton. I’m kind of old-school.

12.   Any advice for other writers wanting to be published?

Don’t be afraid to walk your own path, but make sure you know what path you’re walking on! Whether you’re thinking of traditional or indie, learn your craft and do your homework. I’ve had an amazing ride this last year, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the years before it learning and studying, attending conferences and taking classes. Once you’ve made your choice, you then have to accept that you can’t control what agents, publishers, or buyers will do, but you can be happy and satisfied with the work you’ve produced.

13.   The first in your series, Bound In Blue, has consistently been #1 in several categories of Fantasy on Amazon since it was published June 2014. What would you say has been the biggest contributor to that success?

Other than luck—which is perhaps the biggest factor for any author or artist—I’d say it’s a combination of branding and studying the industry. I recommend the Writer’s Café on www.kboards.com as the best place to get up to the second information on writing, promotion, and the state of publishing in general, and indie publishing in particular.

14.   Where can readers find Caught In Crimson and your other books?

I’m currently exclusive to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Heather-Hamilton-Senter/e/B00L00K234

Pre-Order Links:

Book One:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Buy Links:

About the Author

Heather grew up in a family where books of myth and legend were used to teach the ABCs and Irish uncles still believed in fairies. Raised with tall tales, she has always told stories too- first as an actor and singer, then as a photographer, and now as a writer. 

Heather lives in rural Ontario, Canada happily raising three children ranging in age from 6 to 18 with her biggest fan, her husband Steve.

Author Links:

   

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BOOK BLITZ FOR HALF BREED QEEEN BY L.A. HENDRICKS

Half Breed Queen 
(Skatia Narratives, #1)

by L.A. Hendricks 

Release Date: March 2015

322 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Devastating tragedy puts 14-year-old high school freshman Marla Owens, on a fast-paced journey of survival, revival and coming of age. Driven by a force she can't begin to understand and a burning need to find out the truth, she heads toward her mother's home in North Dakota. She soon learns more about herself and her family than she could have ever imagined — her mother was royal heir to the powerful Skatian throne! And now the Skatian people need her to protect their world from those who wish to conquer it.

In a classic tale of good versus evil, set on Earth and beyond, a young girl fights to survive to become a young woman—and the reluctant queen of Skatia. Who can she trust? Will she be able to control her own immense abilities and justified anger to do what's right? One thing's for sure: Marla's not in Texas anymore!

EXCERPT:

“Dad! Dad, we have to get home. There's something wrong with mom.”

“Marla, baby, what's the matter? Did something happen?”

“I saw her, I saw mom. Somebody had her tied up and they were cutting her. We have to get home.”

Marla took off running toward the parking lot. George took off after her, trying to get her to stop running.

“Marla, talk to me! You're scaring me.”

“We can talk in the car, but we have to go now!”

They finally made it to the car, but George was so shaken that he found it difficult for his hands to function. He took a deep breath to compose himself. He got into the car and started it. Marla jumped in beside him, impatient for him to get moving. He mashed on the gas, backing the car out of the parking space and headed for home.

“Now, will you please tell me what is going on?”

“The fortune-teller… she looked just like mom. And she said that I would find out what made me special today, but it would be too late to save my family. Then I felt this awful pain in my stomach and I could see mom being tortured. I don't know what it means, but I swear I can feel mom's pain somehow.”

George knew enough about his wife's history not to question what Marla saw and felt, but he had no idea how to explain it to his daughter. Andi's life before they met was still largely a mystery to him. Long ago, Andi had given him a message to give to their daughter in the event that anything should happen to her. Marla had not yet shown any extraordinary ability, but that didn't mean that others may not think that she had them.

“Marla, what do you know about your mom's family?” He carefully laid the question out there to see what she knew, but he fully understood that in her frantic state, he would need to tread lightly.

Marla heaved forward again, crying out in pain and clutching her stomach desperately. George knew this was not the right time for a history lesson, but if what he thought was going on in his home was indeed happening, his daughter needed to know as much as possible as soon as possible.

Marla moaned a bit then croaked out, “Mom told me that she came from up north. She wasn't specific. I mean, I just figured that something bad had happened, since she doesn't talk to anyone in her family anymore.”

Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

About the Author

LA Hendricks is an IT project manager by day and science fiction/fantasy novelist by night. A longtime lover of words, she reads science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romance novels regularly (when there is time). When not reading, writing or working, LA can most often be found watching football or basketball with her adorable cat, Mona.

Author Links:

   

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AUDIO BOOK REVIEW FOR - LOST CITY - BY CLIVE CUSSLER WITH PAUL KEMPRECOS

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Lost City The discovery of a body frozen for ninety years in a glacier high in the French Alps seems of unlikely concern to Kurt Austin and the NUMA Special Projects team. But when those on site are trapped in alpine tunnels flooding with glacial meltwater, Austin can hardly ignore a cry for help. And this near tragedy proves to be no mere accident. 

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I had this audio book in my car to listen to while I drove around running errands.  Like in CD form...so old school ;).  I love to have a book to listen to.  This was one I could leave in my car and now have to remember to take my ipod every time I left the house.

I didn't realize it was a series, and just happened to see it at my mothers house, and took it to listen to.  If I missed anything from it being  #5 in a series, then I didn't know it.  It worked well as a stand alone in my opinion.  Although I can see where the next book will be taking me.

This was an enjoyable listen.  It was a pretty exciting book.  Kurt Austin is like 007.  He is good at everything, and can escape any situation ;).  

This story is about greed, money, and a buried body.  Yup buried body.  In ice!  I thought the book would all be about Atlantis because of the name.  Atlantis is mentioned but that isn't what this part of the story was about in particular.  

When out on a mission for NUMA in the French Alps, during one of his dives he finds something that looks like a airplane in the ice.  Meanwhile at the power plant where another team was doing some research they found a body in the ice.  They freed the helmet that the man in the ice must have been wearing and a box holding some papers.

When the discovery was found a team of reporters was called in to witness this wonderful discovery.  During the filming of what the team had found a man walks in with a gun and takes the box away from them and floods the tunnels.

Now it is a fight for survival.  You would think that is where the action stops but no.  There is more going on, on the surface that goes along with the discovery this team had made.

One of the women on the research team was able to conceal the helmet they found and took it to antique dealer to see if he could help her find out the age of the helmet, and exactly what it was made of.

This is where Kurt and his gal encounter problem, after life threatening problem.

The story moves well, and the narrator was awesome.  There were many twists and turns, but I felt like it ended well.  I can see where the next Kurt Austen adventure will take us.  It was exciting to listen to, and sometimes when I got home I would just sit in my car for just one more chapter ;).    I had never heard of this series before until I saw it lying on my moms counter.  I think I will have to look into getting the rest on audio book....or maybe even CD...I know going old school again ;).

I am glad I picked it up because I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end.  I hope the narrator is the same for the other books, because I really liked him.

Source:  I borrowed this from my mother.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed. 

Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea. 

In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization. (www.numa.net). 

In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration. 

Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt r Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul). 

Clive Cussler lives in Arizona.