M: Beginning of Chapter 16

Below is the first paragraph of Chapter 16 of my latest science fiction/fantasy novel entitled "M". It's going to be an extremely important chapter in the book.

The nervous tapping of the pencil, to anyone other than the man sitting at the massive wooden desk, would have been insignificant and virtually unnoticeable compared to the voluminous size of the opulent room, the wooden inlaid floor of intricate and beautiful design, the elegant Persian rug, the dark glass-fronted cabinets full of legalities and policies of government, the white and gold embellished and vaulted ceiling, and the extravagant crystalline chandelier that hung just above his head. But to him, the sound and sense of the instrument in his hand as it struck the polished surface over and over and over again, gave voice to his fears, doubts, and uncertainties; and he was a man not used to such. He was the leader of a great and powerful nation and had achieved that role through strength, confidence, and an undying belief in his abilities; but here he sat, immovable and completely at odds with himself. He could find no direction, no choice that would satisfy both his needs and the needs of his country. It was an impossible quandary that required a decision that only he could make.

M: Updated Synopsis Of My Latest Novel

Below is the updated synopsis of my latest novel, "M". I also wanted to let you know that the current title will change when the book is actually published. I just completed the fourteenth chapter and am hoping to finish and have it available sometime during 2018.

Synopsis

The year is 2022, and two seemingly unrelated events will set in motion the narrative of this science fiction/fantasy novel. One is an earthquake whose epicentre is located in the Bristol Channel between Wales and England. The other is a huge explosion at what is thought to be an observatory in the Koryak Mountains in eastern Siberia. Because of these events, two of the most legendary, medieval heroes in Britain's history come back to life, and an international incident begins to hit the newsrooms around the globe.

The story incorporates two plot lines. The first contains the awakening of the two legendary Brits who enter this new and strange world confused and unsure. As they struggle with their identity, they come in contact with people who give them aid. There is Nim who has two young boys and runs the family sheep farm near Carmarthen, her husband, Duncan, a history professor and MP in Parliament, a vicar and his wife in Glastonbury, and a woman named Gwawr who works with the homeless. The second includes two MI6 agents that have secretly entered Russian territory on a hazardous mission, twenty-four black ops from four western countries, Abram Zima, the President of Russia, the heads of four of his agencies, and, most importantly, the people who live in the towns and cities across Russia that are caught up in tragic events inside their own country.

What started in Siberia could not only threaten the lives of the Russian people but all life on earth. And with no solution in sight and virtually all hope lost, the world's future could come down to the revival of the old and ancient magic, some dangerous and delicate diplomacy, and an almost impossible quest that has little to no chance of succeeding.

"M": The Convergence Of Two Plot Lines

In my latest fantasy/science fiction/international intrigue novel, "M", I have two significant plot lines that have been unraveling since the beginning of the book. I just completed chapter 12 and have written a little over 50,000 words. The two plot lines will soon begin to converge.

One of them has been the resurrection of two medieval characters in Wales and England. The second, the development of a major international incident, which has taken place in Russian Siberia.

The final steps bringing these together will occur in chapters 13 and 14. I'm really pleased with the story development at this stage and am very much looking forward to melding the two plot lines into one.

There has been a tremendous amount of research involved in "M", and the two stories within the book have been very unique and different in tone as well as substance and setting. I'm looking forward to completing it, especially considering my style of writing. Before I start a book, I generally know the beginning and end and how I'm going to get there. I know some of the characters as well, but as I write, I see the story in my mind, like a movie, and many times the plot will take twists and turns that I never expected. It makes it a lot more fun to write and allows for the book to evolve as I write it. I like not having everything figured out ahead of time.

I know it's going to take at least another year or so before it's released, but I can hardly wait for you to read it!

New Quote From Chapter 12 of "M"

Below, I have included a recent quote from chapter 12 of my latest fantasy/science fiction/international intrigue novel, "M".

Enjoy!

Trembling from the numbing cold and hopeful that there were no longer any Russians nearby, Tristan fumbled with the small pack that he still had cradled to his chest and took out a flashlight. He forced his way up through the layers of snow above him as carefully and inobtrusively as he could, and broke free. Once through, he hesitated a moment before standing and scanned the area to make sure the Russians were gone. It seemed they were. He sighed, feeling some relief, and then glanced up at the clear, black sky overhead. It was covered in stars and on any other night would have left him in awe, but he had no time for that now. Once he was exposed to the elements, it was dramatically colder. He checked his watch. With the wind chill, it was about minus fifty degrees Celsius. He knew that he would have to find shelter again, and soon. He readjusted his coat and hood to help keep out the cold as long as possible, brushed away the ice crystals from his face, and clicked on the flashlight that he held in his hand.
    He was standing waste deep in snow, and before attempting to move to open ground, shined the light around him and was relieved to see movement nearby. Several of his friends were either just breaking out of the snow as he had or crawling on all fours onto the flat ground just beyond the perimeter of the collapsed snow cave.

"M": Chapter 12 Challenge

In chapter 12 of my new science fiction/fantasy book "M", I've had a challenge that I've never confronted before. Two very important characters and the events surrounding them will be introduced at the beginning of the chapter, and what happens to them comes at a very crucial moment within the plot. The characters will need to be found credible by the reader, and they and their predicament must be something that the reader can relate to and empathize with in a significant way. The real challenge is that they will never come up in the book again, and I need to do all this inside two short pieces at the beginning of the chapter. I need to say enough without saying too much or too little, and do it in such a way that the reader "gets" why I've done it and is drawn in by it.

I've finished the writing for the first character and have started the second. I'm having fun with this and really enjoying figuring out how to do it.

I think I'm still about a year away from completing the book but am, even now, looking forward to the reader's responses to what I've done. I love this book!

New Quote from Chapter 11 of "M"

Below, I have included a recent quote from chapter 11 of my latest fantasy/science fiction novel, "M".

Enjoy!

   Well before sunrise, people had already begun to gather round the lake at the base of Tor Glastonbury. It was one of those mornings when the air was still and cold, the sky clear, and all but the very top of the tor was enshrouded in thick, heavy fog. A half-moon rested at its apex just above Michael’s Tower, lending a silky glow and a feeling of enchantment to the already otherworldly setting.

   For as far back as anyone could remember, the faithful and the curious had gathered at the tor in the dark to watch the sun come up on the day of the winter solstice, but this year the size of the crowd was much larger. The obvious reason was the dramatic return of the lake. After over a thousand years, the tor was once again circumscribed by water, and many saw it as the return of Avalon - the return of The Isle of Glass.  And as they stood together cloaked in the inky blackness of early morning, the hushed sound of lapping at the shore seemed to carry the thought that was on everyone’s mind, ‘This can’t be a coincidence?’

   Then the crowd's attention was drawn towards the center of the lake. It seemed that there were lights flickering and dancing within the dense fog that hung above the water. The lights became even more agitated in their movements and started to rise. They ascended rapidly and then burst into the open air around Michael’s Tower. This happened just as the sun’s light was touching the horizon, and the birth of a new winter was about to dawn. Once the lights had escaped the fog, the crowd could clearly see eight green and lavender spheres of glittering light, swirling around the base of the tower. A collective gasp could be heard from the gathering, and then someone yelled, “Fata Morgana – the lights of Avalon!” But the vision only lasted a few more moments and was rapidly overtaken by a sunrise unbelievably dramatic and vibrant. Silence reasserted itself, leaving the onlookers staring in awe, wondering, and confused.   

New Quote from M: Dream Sequence

Below, I have included a quote from my latest fantasy/science fiction novel, "M".

This quote is a dream sequence for one of the characters near the end of chapter 10.

Enjoy!

     The opaque, black clouds covered the sun, and lightning bolts were erupting from the rise overlooking the battlefield. The dead on both sides lay strewn about like decaying leaves on dark, bloodstained soil after a great and violent storm. I saw myself lying there amongst my comrades - a sword wound leaking blood from my side, and a young warrior crumpled over a spear nearby. One end of the spear was penetrating his chest, and the other, I was holding in my right hand. I knew I had killed him, and he…he had dealt with me with his sword. I, too, would soon die. Then a voice called to me. I glanced up and saw a saint kneeling over me. His hand was on my shoulder. His white hair and beard created a halo around his face. I could feel his power and thought for a moment that I knew him. He then said my name again and again and shook me as if to call me back from the dead…