Spotlight : The Plot to Save Socrates ( Sierra Waters Book 1) by multi award winning author Paul Levinson

A big hello and welcome to all readers! Today Literary Flairs is immensely excited to feature Dr. Paul Levinson, who is a multi award winning author of popular science fiction and non fiction novels and a well known reviewer in addition to being a renowned Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University in NYC. Dr. Levinson's acclaimed novel titled The Plot to Save Socrates is the first of a trilogy (a gripping time travel and historical fiction genre) of the mysterious and action packed Sierra Waters series. We'll learn more about Dr. Levinson and his multiple accomplishments in the fascinating world of storytelling and creative writing in today's special spotlight.

Connect with author Paul Levinson

Get to know author Levinson and his works in his profile at Wikipedia, Follow him on Twitter, Connect with him on Goodreads, his Facebook page, Have a look at his personal Author Webpage

About the author : Paul Levinson, PhD, is Professor of Communication & Media Studies at Fordham University in NYC.  His science fiction novels include The Silk Code (winner of Locus Award for Best First Science Fiction Novel of 1999), Borrowed Tides (2001), The Consciousness Plague (2002), The Pixel Eye (2003), The Plot To Save Socrates (2006), Unburning Alexandria (2013), and Chronica (2014)  - the last three of which are also known as the Sierra Waters trilogy, and are historical fiction as well as science fiction. 

His accomplishments : His stories and novels have been nominated for Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, Edgar, Prometheus, and Audie Awards. His nonfiction books, including The Soft Edge (1997), Digital McLuhan (1999), Realspace (2003), Cellphone (2004), and New New Media (2009; 2nd edition, 2012),  have been translated into twelve languages.  He appears on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News,  the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, the History Channel, NPR, and numerous TV and radio programs.  His 1972 LP, Twice Upon a Rhyme, was re-issued in 2010.  He was President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, 1998-2001.  He reviews television in his InfiniteRegress.tv blog, and was listed in The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Top 10 Academic Twitterers" in 2009.

Watch author Levinson's engaging interview on Youtube : Behind the Plot to Save Socrates

Book Spotlight :The Plot to Save Socrates ( Sierra Waters Book 1)

Book : The Plot to Save Socrates

Author : Paul Levinson

Genre : Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

Available worldwide at : US Amazon, UK Amazon and all other Amazon stores 

Reviews : Read reviews at Author's Blog : Scroll down to "What they're saying about the novel"

                

34 reviews so far and counting at Amazon Kindle stores, mostly 5 stars, read here

Achievements : The Plot to Save Socrates on 10 Perfect Summer Reads Authored by NYU Alumni

Book Summary

In the year 2042, Sierra, a young graduate student in Classics, is shown a new dialog of Socrates, recently discovered, in which a time traveler tries to argue that Socrates might escape death by travel to the future! Thomas, the elderly scholar who has shown her the document, disappears, and Sierra immediately begins to track down the provenance of the manuscript with the help of her classical scholar boyfriend, Max. 

The trail leads her to time machines in gentlemen's clubs in London and in New York, and into the past--and to a time traveler from the future, posing as Heron of Alexandria in 150 AD. Complications, mysteries, travels, and time loops proliferate as Sierra tries to discern who is planning to save the greatest philosopher in human history. Fascinating historical characters from Alcibiades to William Henry Appleton, the great nineteenth-century American publisher, to Hypatia and Socrates himself appear.

Chapter Excerpt

[Athens, 2042 AD]

She ripped the paper in half, then ripped the halves, then ripped what was left, again, into bits and pieces of history that could have been....

Sierra Waters had read once that, years ago, it was thought that men made love for the thrill, while women made love for the sense of connection it gave them. Sierra had always done everything for the thrill. She had no sense of connection, except to her work. Which should have made her an ideal person for this job.

Still ... an ideal person would have followed the plan. It was written on the only substance which could survive decades, maybe longer, without batteries, which required only the light of the sun to be read, or the moon on a good night, or a flickering flame when there was no moon. Paper. A marvelous invention. Thin and durable. And she had just torn it into pieces, opened her palm, and given it to the wind to disperse in irreparable directions.

Special Spotlight : Fiction Writing by author Karleene Morrow

Dear friends,

Today blog Wonderworld is going to feature a very special book on fiction writing skills for authors. This book talks about some extremely valuable suggestions and insights on how to write an interesting and successful fiction novel. The book is titled FICTION WRITING by author Karleene Morrow who is an ace fiction novel author and has quite a few award winning books to her credit. 

Her fiction novel DESTINIES was a semi-finalist in Kindle's Best Indie Books of 2012 and is in competition now in another major contest.
 

From the author's desk (about the book FICTION WRITING) : "This is a no-nonsense, easy-to-read book packed with the nitty-gritty of creative writing; a cut-to-the-chase work that will become your fiction writing bible."

More on the book and the author in this special edition!

                     

        
Fiction Writing - How to write your first novel           Author Karleene Morrow     

Connect with author Karleene Morrow

Author website : http://www.karleenemorrow.com/

Author Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/KarleeneMorrowAuthor 

Follow the author on Twitter : https://twitter.com/KarleeneMorrow

Author Goodreads Page : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5165062.Karleene_Morrow

Author Bio : KARLEENE MORROW is the author of the impressive historical fiction novel, DESTINIES. In that epic tale, Catherine seizes the crown of Russia and a thousand miles away a Rhineland boy’s life changes forever. Ms. Morrow holds a B.S. Honors degree, Sociology and an M.S. in Ed Psychology. She lives at the beach in the Pacific Northwest with her Pomeranian dogs, some of them champions, all of them beloved family companions.

Book Spotlight 

Ebook : FICTION WRITING :  How To Write Your First Novel

Author : Karleene Morrow

Genre : Non fiction,  Creative Writing Techniques

Reviews : multiple 5 stars

Amazon Store (Paperback) : http://www.amazon.com/Fiction-Writing-Write-First-Novel/dp/1480298859
Amazon Store (Kindle) : http://www.amazon.com/Fiction-Writing-Write-First-ebook/dp/B00ANXW1EW

Kobo bookstore : http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Fiction-Writing-How-Write-Your/book-IAJGWf3zYEmkXaQPfAlmXA/page1.html 

This book is also available at Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Sony EReader Store, Apple iTune store and many other online book stores!

Synopsis : Wasting no words, the author quickly takes you to the Secrets of writing your first novel, Prologues, Beginning, Middles and Endings, Developing your Style, Writing Memorable characters, Suspense and Foreshadow, Ending your novel and Dealing with Writers Block. She also offers a few words on Rewriting and Publishing.

Chapter Excerpt 

  

Where to start? When a character appears in a novel, we, as writers, must get into that character’s head. We must become him, at least while he is on stage. If there are twenty characters then we’ll have to slip into the persona of each of them. Be the fiancée while she is in the scene, think like she does, speak as she would. Be the gardener. Be the neighbor. 

When creating the character in your reader’s eye, it will be tempting to write something like, “She was exceptionally tall for a woman, close to six feet. She was thin with long fingers and had red hair. Her eyes were hazel and more oval than round. She had a long slender nose and full lips. She was a cautious, non-trusting type.” Sad to say many writers fall into this easy method of describing a character. A better and more effective way is to flesh out the character as the storyline progresses. Have someone else notice or comment on her height. A waitress could stare at her red hair. The character’s own actions and dialogue can let us know that she does not trust people. Develop her as the story moves forward. 

Remind yourself, too, that less is more. Readers bring their own experiences to a novel. The writer can be minimal in his descriptions of a character. The reader will fill in what the writer leaves out and readers will visualize your story people. Interestingly, they won’t all see her the same.

NAMES

Give your characters tags and traits or at least give them to your major characters. We’ve briefly discussed giving your characters names and they’re all going to need one. Maybe not a shopkeeper referred to briefly in the book as ‘the shopkeeper,’ but the rest of them will. You may not know right off what name is right for a particular character even your protagonist. If you feel you have given him the wrong name, you can refer to him by his role or his temperament, such as “Don’t make it your business,” Grumpy said, or Protagonist said or Builder said. At some point you are either going to feel the right name, your character will tell you his name or you’ll go on a Google search looking for a name that will suit him.

While writing Destinies, I was well into the character of the ship captain’s daughter but she wasn’t moving along well for me. I figured out that she was wearing the wrong name. When I changed her name she came alive. After that, whenever she was in a scene, she spoke naturally, acted in accordance with who she was. She played her part and I became the scribe, capturing what she did and said.

If a difficult great-aunt is named Jennifer, she isn’t going to feel right to your readers and she won’t feel right to you, either. You probably won’t find her easy to write. But change her name to Hortense or even Cordelia  and watch her start to take on a life. A sweet, scatterbrained great-auntie named Gertie will most likely have you smiling as you allow her to play her part with hands that flutter around blue hair while she gives off the scents of talcum powder and old lace. 

A word of warning: avoid giving your people sound alike names. You don’t want your female characters to be named Betty, Barbara, Beth, Bonnie and Bernadette. If you read The Brothers Karamazov you probably remember, with agony, the challenge of keeping all the characters straight. Think carefully, too, before you tag your characters with names from highly read books, current or past. It’s difficult to give your characters personalities of their own if you use names like Hermione, Hamlet, Scarlet or Spock.

Amazon Reviews (View here) 

Special Spotlight : Heaven Made - a historical romance by award winning author SaraLynn Hoyt

Dear readers,

Today blog Wonderworld is most privileged to present an intriguing, thrilling, supernatural historical romance novel titled HEAVEN MADE by the award winning author SaraLynn Hoyt aka Sheryl Hoyt who has been featured in the December 10th 2012 issue of Time Magazine - Link : http://sherylhoyt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/TIME-Magazine-Sheryl-Hoyt-aka-Saralynn-Hoyt.pdf

HEAVEN MADE will be free for 5 days across Amazon Kindle Stores from Feb 28 till March 4, 2013 !! Get this Free Ebook at http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Made-ebook/dp/B009UH000Y

For avid readers of romance, historical romance, thrillers and drama, intrigue, supernatural and similar genres, there is this perfect opportunity to get this book absolutely free across all Amazon Stores! 

Let's learn something more interesting about HEAVEN MADE and author Saralynn Hoyt in today's special edition.

                               

                      
         Author Saralynn Hoyt                                  Heaven Made     

 

Connect with Author Saralynn Hoyt aka Sheryl Hoyt   

Author website : http://www.sherylhoyt.com or http://www.saralynnhoyt.com

Author Facebook Page :  http://www.facebook.com/saralynnhoyt.5

Author Pinterest Page : http://pinterest.com/saralynnhoyt/

Author Goodreads Page : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6590623.Saralynn_Hoyt

Amazon Author Page : Saralynn Hoyt   

Follow the author on Twitter :  @SaraLynnHoyt 

Author Bio : Award winning author SaraLynn Hoyt aka Sheryl Hoyt as Featured in the December 10th 2012 issue of Time Magazine was born and lives in the Seattle, WA area. She resides in the beautiful Cascade foothills with her high school sweetheart and their cats. A business professional by day, Sheryl has been writing novels in her free time for over 20 years. A lover of all things historical, she enjoys research and travel in order to expand her knowledge and add authenticity to her stories.

Book Spotlight

Ebook : HEAVEN MADE

Author : Saralynn Hoyt

Genre : Historical Romance, Supernatural

Reviews : multiple 4 stars

Amazon Store : FREE DOWNLOAD 5 Days : Feb 28 - March 4, 2013

 http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Made-ebook/dp/B009UH000Y 

Synopsis :

London, 1905

  Desperate and penniless, Sabrina Tremaine must flee her grand home with her daughter before her brother-in-law mistreats them both. Little Alice believes her papa’s ghost is helping the two find a new home. Ford Northcliffe is an absent minded scientist only concerned with his experiments. 

His house in chaos since his mother’s death, he desperately needs a fine lady to run things. The employment agency that brought them together is in cahoots with a local psychic, Madame Lou. The medium is under strict instructions from the spirit world to make a match of these two regardless of the obstacles they face, including a deathbed vow and murder most foul. 

With the help of the mystical matchmaker, the two have fallen into the trap of a forbidden passion and a consuming love that neither can deny. But there are insurmountable obstacles in the way of their happiness and it will be up to the spirits of the dead to guide their destiny.

    

Amazon Reviews (View here)

 

Book Spotlight : Rakesh's Story (Scattered Ashes Book 1) by author Malika Gandhi

Dear readers,

Today blog Wonderworld is most privileged to present you a very special spotlight about a unique, intriguing, action packed historical fiction novel titled RAKESH'S STORY- Book One of the Scattered Ashes (Epic Saga) written by the exceptionally talented author Malika Gandhi. 

Author Malika Gandhi is also a book reviewer. To request a review contact her at : http://unicornsreviews.wordpress.com/

What's this Ebook about? 

In the words of the author - This intriguing , thrilling and action packed novel is about a Freedom Fighter's wish to see his country free, a son and a brother's wish for justice.

In this post you will come to know about chapter excerpts from this book, its purchase and review links and about author Malika Gandhi.

DETAILS

Ebook : RAKESH'S STORY (Scattered Ashes Book 1)

Genre : Historical Fiction, Action, Thriller

Author : Malika Gandhi

Publication Date : Just published - Jan 10, 2013

Purchase Links : US Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AZWR8D0

UK Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AZWR8D0

Reviews : 5stars 

Author's blog : http://malikagandhi.wordpress.com/  

Author's Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/malika.gandhi and https://www.facebook.com/unicorn1976?ref=hl

Author's Twitter Handle : https://twitter.com/MalikaGandhi

Synopsis : A son, a brother, a friend and a Freedom Fighter.

Mohandas Gandhi has called for the British to Quit India. He has called for supporters; he wants a non-violent transition of power to the Indian man.

When Rakesh heard the call, he wanted in. Joining his fellow comrades in this “war” against the British Raj, Rakesh becomes a Freedom Fighter. Little did he know the pain he would cause his Ma, Babuji (father) and his younger brother, Dev when he chose to go on that march.

This is Rakesh’s story; his struggle against the power of the Raj, his anguish and love for his family but his determination and strength to want to see India win her independence.

Scattered Ashes is a five part series of the struggles five individuals go through from diverse relationships and tears, to finding love and accepting the fate bestowed upon them.

Amazon Reviews (View here) 

CHAPTER EXCERPT

His eyes flickered to the armed guards, worry etched on his face. The guards adjusted their hold on their rifles, ready to fire on command.

‘Please, be reasonable,’ shouted the officer once more. ‘No decision can be made like this! I can arrange—’ his voice was drowned as the group went into another chant. 

KARENGE YA MARENGE! GO AWAY BRITISH RULE, INDIA WANTS FREEDOM! INDIA WANTS FREEDOM! NO BRITISH RULE! NO BRITISH GOVERNMENT! 

The sound of a gun fire silenced the men.

‘That’s more like it.’ The officer walked back into the building with the guards following.

The shot had attracted a few locals who stood outside the gates, trying to get a look in. The guard was having a hard time telling them to go away. He gave up and sat down on his stool again, popping another betel leaf into his mouth.

‘Now what shall we do?’ said Manoj. ‘Should we chant again?’

‘No, let’s wait,’ said Dilip.

A few minutes later, a car horn hooted and everyone turned to their direction of the gates. A white car stopped outside and the guard immediately began conversing with the man inside. He then opened the gates and the car drove through parking right outside the building. The officer came out to greet the man who was dressed in a khaki-coloured uniform, crisp and neat. His body manner indicated this could only be the General. Did Dilip have it wrong? He was positive that today the General would not be out of his office.

‘The General was not away,’ said Dilip erasing any doubts. ‘This is some kind of ploy.’

The officer and the General spoke in low voices; the officer pointed to the group.

‘Good afternoon gentleman. I am General William Forester.’ The General came to stand a few feet from the men. ‘My officer tells me you have come here, on this fine day to speak to me.’

‘Yes, we have come to voice our views and requests – we want to see changes in our village,’ said Dilip.

‘You were informed, were you not, that an invitation is needed to be permitted entry. I am a very busy man, Mr...’

‘Dilip.’

 ‘Right. The basic fact is that you need to write to my administration team for an appointment. We can then meet properly, have a chat, maybe some chai (Indian tea)?’ The General chuckled at his own joke. ‘You can tell me about your fears then but today I am not available as I have a meeting to attend in a few minutes. So please gentlemen, do excuse me.’

He turned on his heel and walked into the building. The officer followed. It didn’t seem like he wanted to stay in the present company, Rakesh smiled wryly.

‘Cowards!’ Dilip’s eyes blazed. ‘Brothers, begin chanting. We will not go until they hear what we have to say!’

They didn’t need telling twice and once again the chant began. It wasn’t long before the harassed looking officer came out, this time onto the balcony of the General’s office. He waved the chanting down.

‘The General and I have discussed your requirements and he has agreed to grant you an appointment. If you write a short letter to us first, noting your reason for the meeting and our administration team will respond with a suitable date.’

‘Liar!’ Namdev shouted which provoked more angry outbursts. Lighted torches swung above their heads; voices getting angrier and higher. Rakesh felt his heart beat fast; something awful was about to happen.

The officer went back inside and came out with a megaphone. ‘If you don’t leave now, we will have no choice but to call the police. You will be arrested and thrown in jail. This will lead to prosecution, for some of you...’ his eyes rested on Dilip. ‘It could mean something else.’

An ominous silence followed and determination replaced anger. An understanding spread amongst the men. Setting their torches aside, they sat on the hard ground and linked arms.

‘Hold your head up and do not give in!’ Dilip commanded.

‘Gentlemen, this is your last warning. Remove yourselves from the premises,’ said the officer.

No one moved.

‘You leave us no choice,’ he sighed.

Within a few minutes the iron gates opened. Police entered the forecourt; with batons in their hands ready. They circled the group like angry vultures and waited for the signal. The men tightened their hold.

 ‘Will you or will you not leave? This is your last chance,’ the officer said, like he was offering one last request before their execution. No one moved and the officer signaled.

Things began to speed up; to Rakesh, it all moved in slow motion. The police charged, pulling the men’s arms away from their neighbours and half dragged, half threw them away from each other. The batons came down thick and fast; there was no time to run. Bones crunched as the batons cracked on hips, legs and arms. Some fell whilst others fought.

‘Get your filthy arms off me, traitor!’ one of the men shouted.

‘Aagh! Leave me, in the name of God!’ another screamed.

Someone grabbed Rakesh’s arms and twisted them behind his back. The baton crushed his torso and he fell sideways twisting his leg the wrong way. Rakesh screamed. Clutching his leg, he closed his eyes and waited for another blow but it didn’t come. Breathing in and out he controlled the pain...it became very quiet and Rakesh opened his eyes.

Everyone was still and staring in shock at something on the ground. Rakesh tried to follow but couldn’t see, his view was obscured. Spasms crippled him. Gritting his teeth, Rakesh dragged himself closer to the front of the crowd...his breath caught, his heart turned cold. 

There he was, a few yards away from him, his brother and his friend. Dilip lay on the ground, his eyes glazed over and mouth open in a silent scream.

Something snapped inside. He dragged himself closer and grabbed Dilip’s shirt.

AUTHOR BIO 

  

Author Malika Gandhi lives with her husband and two sons in the East Midlands, UK. She is a homemaker and in between caring for her family, she writes her books and dabbles in a little painting too. She loves to experiment with different mediums, such as oils, acrylic and watercolour. 

Malika was born in India but moved to London when she was two, where her father was already settled. She travelled with her mother and brother. 

Malika has lived in London, studied in Southampton and moved to Leicester after her marriage, which is where her husband and his family live. A girl moves in with her in-laws after marriage, at least for a short time.

Malika loves to watch movies, visits art and history museums and is curious about the universe.