Thursday, August 14, 2025

Gardening Tips with Dr. Stuart B. Heinrich




I think all off-grid homesteaders who are interested in improving extreme climate resiliency should strongly consider using earth-air tunnels to maintain temperature stability in their greenhouses. 

Start with an insulated perimeter that extends 8+ feet below grade on all sides and open on the bottom, this will transform the inner soil into a large stabilizing thermal mass that naturally wicks temperature from the geothermally stable region. 

Then use an open loop system to cool incoming air in summer, or a closed loop system to warm isolated air during winter. 

Both can be easily powered with a centrifugal blower fan on solar power. 

Although there is a lot of excavation required up front, there’s simply no more efficient and reliable way to maintain a stable temperature for growing.

The Quantum Revelations
Dr. Stuart B. Heinrich

Genre: Scientific Mystery/Thriller, Sci-Fi
Publisher: Endless Tree Books LLC
Date of Publication: 7/31/2025
ISBN: 979-8-9902071-0-3
ASIN: B0F9PXS78S
Number of pages: 474
Word Count: 146,000
Cover Artist: Artem Chebokha

Tagline: What is fiction, and what is reality?

Book Description:

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. 

As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. 

They discover so much more. A mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined...

Reviews

“Heinrich offers an engrossing metaphysical excursion through the quantum realm to discover the meaning of life in this contemplative debut...[His] rich, multilayered backdrop of existential food for thought propel this story to a truly transcendental experience.”

— Publisher's Weekly

 

“Science and faith combine in this nuanced and compelling sci-fi eco thriller... [that] cleverly explores and intertwines the well established science vs religion discourse in a way that, I think, does credit to both sides.”

— LoveReading (featured under "Indie Books We Love")

 

“The Quantum Revelations is a wildly unpredictable narrative with a show stopping climax, pondering the interplay of science, religion, and technology in a way that is as captivating as it is disturbing.”

— Independent Book Review

 

Science and faith combine in this nuanced and compelling Sci-fi eco thriller.

In a world on the brink of climate catastrophe, two scientists continue their confidential work to develop a practical quantum computer, but they get more than they bargained for when their creation calls into question everything they thought to be true about the laws of physics and the world around them. The Quantum Revelations is a multifaceted sci-fi story. First off we have Skylar’s quantum computer experiment, tangentially linked to his interest in “quantum scale physics. He wanted to understand what really makes the universe tick”. )

--Charlotte Walker Goodreads Reviewer

 

About the Author:

Stuart Heinrich is a PhD computer scientist with a passion for studying the fundamental nature of reality and physics. He is known for his unique theories on the Relativity of Existence (ROE), the Maximally Biophilic Principle (MBP) and Quantum Fluid Dynamics (QFD).






Posted by at No comments:

Monday, August 11, 2025

Green Living Tips with Rupert Stanbury #GreekGods #Fantasy #Comedy #GreenLiving


Green Living Tips

I live in a city; admittedly a very large city - Central London. Here are my tips for pragmatic Green living in such an environment. I accept that what I say may not be practical in certain other city environments.

1) Don’t have a car. I have too many friends who have a car just to drive v short distances.

2) For relatively short distances – say, under a mile, WALK wherever possible. 

3) For longer distances, try and take public transport – bus, tube, rail. Do not to take a taxi, uber etc unless necessary.

More general ie non-city tips:

4) Never go out in the evening leaving your home lights on, unless there are specific security issues.

5) When in the house / apartment, only keep the lights on in the rooms in use. Again, too many of my friends just have the lights on in all their rooms for the whole evening. 

6) Regulate the heating in the winter months – never have it on ‘at full blast.’ Also, it’s better to have the thermostat set slightly on the low side and to wear a pullover instead of on the high side and be in a T shirt!

7) Recycle everything. This includes batteries, empty ink cartridges etc, which it’s often easier to throw away in general rubbish instead of taking the trouble to recycle.

8) Vote for parties which have credible Green policies in elections. Sometimes this may not be for the most Green offering available – you want a party which will actually achieve something instead of one which is guaranteed to fail!

Finally, if you want to have that holiday abroad which involves flying a long distance, take it. The only was we’re going to create a Green world is if we do sensible things (including enjoying life) and not try to go back to the Stone Age!
 



GODS GALORE
Gods Galore Series
Book One
Rupert Stanbury

Genre: Fantasy / Comedy
Publisher: Troubador / Matador
Date of Publication: 28 October 2021
ISBN:878-1800465305
ASIN: B09KM9JV2S
Number of pages: 344
Cover Artist: Dave Hill

Book Description:

The Olympian Gods have made it to the 21st century AD. We may not have heard much about them in the last two thousand years, but they’re still controlling what we humans are up to – or at least they think they are.

The reality is that the Gods are like us – they’ve got problems!

Zeus is still Top God on Mount Olympus, but he’s got issues with many of the younger gods. His brothers, Hades and Poseidon, have issues with themselves – they’re getting too set in their ways ruling the Underworld and the Seas; they probably need a job change.

But help is at hand from an unexpected source – we humans.

It’s surprising what a dose of good common sense can do for even the most powerful of the gods, especially when it comes from a couple of teenagers!




THE FOUR HORSEMEN
Gods Galore Series
Book Two
Rupert Stanbury

Genre: Fantasy / Comedy
Date of Publication: 17 April 2023
ISBN: 979-8366008495
ASIN: B0C2Q4G268
Number of pages: 337
Cover Artist: Tim Stringer

Book Description:

The Four Horsemen is the second book in the Gods Galore series about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century AD.

The gods are still trying to control what we humans are up to. Unfortunately, they’re not being particularly successful. The world is experiencing both plague and famine which Zeus and the Gods’ Council never approved. What’s going on?

Athene’s determined to find out, but before she can get going the God of War initiates an attack on Poseidon’s realm. It’s now all out conflict and the gods are taking sides – one side, in particular.

Wherever there’s a fight, Hebe’s involved. She soon signs up to an army regiment which is full of soldiers even smaller than she is. But war these days involves brains and not just brawn and there’s plenty of both ready to be deployed in this fight!



PIMLICO PEOPLE
Gods Galore Series
Book Three
Rupert Stanbury

Genre:Fantasy / Comedy
Date of Publication: 28 October 2024
ISBN: 979-8338117200
ASIN: B0DL5XTHMH
Number of pages: 339
Cover Artist: Tim Stringer

Book Description:

Pimlico People is the third book in the Gods Galore series about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century AD.

The Goddesses Artemis and Hebe are staying in Central London to obtain a better understanding of the lives of ‘normal’ people.

To their surprise, they soon encounter a plot to blow up a foreign embassy. Add to that a sophisticated operation involving the theft of valuable paintings from a major art gallery, and the two goddesses begin to question what a ‘normal’ life is all about.

Meanwhile, in the Underworld Cerberus encounters another dog who, amazingly, only has one head! How will they get on?


EXTRACT FROM PIMLICO PEOPLE – THE PARK 

The location for this extract from Pimlico People is St James’s Park in Central London.

The reference to Blefuscu and Lilliput are to two islands in Gulliver’s Travels where people are only about six inches tall. The people of these islands are often in conflict with each other.

Both Iris and Hebe are Greek goddesses. Cerberus is a three-headed dog living in the Underworld. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is a Lilliput army regiment; Rach is also from Lilliput. Finally, Slasher and others are swans living in the park.

 

As this small armada was making progress, exciting things were beginning to unfold on West Island where four Blefuscu commandos still remained, together with a couple of swans. None of them knew precisely what their role was, other than to be ‘back-up’, so they just rested on the ground expecting to have a quiet time until their comrades returned. They were therefore surprised to hear a paddling noise from the lake and even more surprised when a large black dog with three heads emerged. All these heads had the same face which bore a remarkable resemblance to the Goddess Iris.

The dog raced along the ground towards the commandos. It snarled and growled as it moved at speed, its three mouths spitting out saliva and showing a large number of very sharp teeth. The commandos tried to get up and run, but the dog was on them before they could get away. They were by now all terrified and started to scream.

“Give us a Mars bar or I’ll bite yer bums!” they heard, but it made no difference because the dog decided not to bite their bums; instead, it proceeded to kick them all into the water.

“Help!” screamed one of the commandos. “I cannot make ze swim! Help!”

The two swans were nearby in the lake and, considering themselves pretty tough, didn’t run away, but instead tried to help the commandos. However, the three-headed dog launched itself from the bank and landed on top of one of the swans. It gave the white bird a number of painful bites and used its powerful front paws to thump the swan in all sorts of sensitive places. Eventually, its victim was so battered and bruised the black dog left it floating on the lake.

The other swan by now had decided he wasn’t quite tough enough to take on a manic three-headed dog and had started swimming away. Unfortunately, it was now the next target for the Iris-Cerberus look-alike who, despite being a four-footed canine, could out-swim any of the St James’s Park swans. The dog soon caught up with the fleeing swan, jumped on its back and meted out the same treatment as it had given to its companion. Having left the second swan equally battered and bruised, the dog swam back to the Blefuscu commandos, who were still flailing around in the water. Three sets of jaws each took hold of a commando at the same time and then proceeded to toss them back onto the island. They were soon joined by their final companion as they lay moaning and groaning on the ground. At this stage the three-headed dog turned round and began to swim towards Duck Island.

The next minute a miniature boat arrived at West Island, having travelled along the length of the lake near the north bank. It had a silent motor, specially designed by Rach’s Special Projects team. A number of Argyll and Southern Highlanders disembarked, went over to the four Blefuscu commandos, tied their hands behind their backs while at the same time taping their mouths. They were put into the boat which set off on its return journey, again along the north side of the lake.

xxxxx

Meanwhile back on the lake, the adjutant and his three commandos were rapidly approaching the south-west corner of Duck Island. The commandos had already taken out a number of hand grenades while the adjutant was readying a bomb to create a Big Boom when Slasher became aware of something in the water approaching him at speed. Suddenly he jerked and let out a honk as he realised he was looking at a giant swan, which was at least five times bigger than him with a neck ten feet high. Interestingly, this swan had the Goddess Hebe’s face, although Slasher would not have been aware of that. He didn’t have time to let out another honk because the giant swan’s head swiped his own, knocking him on his side. He managed to right himself only to find that his adversary didn’t just have webbed feet, but also forearms with bright red boxing gloves which started bashing his head and thumping his body. After a short while the boxing gloves went under his belly and then threw him backwards into the air. When Slasher landed back in the water and his head resurfaced, he found he was due another good beating and bashing until he was left in an even worse condition than his two comrades who’d been attacked by the three-headed dog near West Island.

Slasher’s four Blefuscu commandos had fallen into the water shortly after the altercation with the giant swan had begun. Fortunately, they could all swim, but they did a lot of shouting for help. All their bombs and grenades had also fallen into the lake, so they were now useless, but this didn’t seem to matter. Getting to dry land was their key objective now. Creating a Big Boom at the Lilliput Embassy was no longer high on the agenda.

The other four swans and their commandos behind Slasher were soon aware that matters weren’t going to plan. They tried to move away from the giant swan and turned back towards West Island. However, they didn’t get very far because the giant swan hadn’t taken long to deal with Slasher and began chasing after them. It soon caught up with the two in the rear and gave them both the same treatment it had given Slasher. The other two, who were in the lead for a brief while, thought they’d got away, until one of them was hit very hard by a three-headed dog swimming directly at it with the force of a torpedo. As the swan tried to right itself while it’s four commandos were flailing around in the water, the three-headed dog jumped high into the air. It landed on the back of the final swan, again knocking its commandos into the water before starting to rough up the bird.

While the giant swan and the three-headed dog were having fun beating up Slasher, Spike, Spanka, Scorcher and Smog, the pelicans had stopped chanting “Oggy, Oggy, Oggy” from the lakeside. They got into the water and started looking for the commandos who were splashing around. When they found them, they gently picked the small men up in their beaks and carried them to Duck Island. They were joined by more miniature boats manned by members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as well as the Lilliput Embassy’s security staff. Rach was also hovering overhead on her scooter, shining a powerful torchlight on the lake and calling out whenever she found one of the flailing commandos.

 

 Author Intro Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=33RW970lp04


About the Author:

Rupert Stanbury is a Cambridge University graduate. He was born in Manchester in the North of England but has lived most of his adult life in Central London.

He has always been an avid reader and in recent years decided to take up writing himself. His books have one overriding objective which is TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH!

His first book, Gods Galore, was published in November 2021 and this was followed by The Four Horsemen, in April 2023. His latest novel, Pimlico People, was published in October 2024. All three books are a mixture of fantasy and comedy about the Olympian Gods in the 21st Century.










Posted by at No comments:

Monday, August 4, 2025

Shadowed Skies by Haley Cavanagh


Writing with Kids: Finding Creative Flow in the Chaos

Guest Post by Haley Cavanagh, Author of Shadowed Skies

Writing while raising kids is a bit like trying to bake a soufflé during a thunderstorm. There are beautiful moments of rise and rhythm, followed by sudden collapses when someone needs a Band-Aid, a snack, or just…you. All of you.

As a mom, veteran, and full-time author, I’ve learned that writing with kids isn’t about finding perfect balance—it’s about finding pockets of possibility in the everyday.

Here are some hard-earned lessons and tips that help me keep the words flowing—even when life feels like it’s operating at full volume:

1. Embrace the Season You're In

There were times when I could write 3,000 words a day and times when 300 was a miracle. And that’s okay. Writing is a long game. Some seasons are fertile. Some are about surviving. Give yourself grace.

2. Turn “Mom Moments” into Micro-Writing

While waiting in the school pickup line or during a cartoon marathon, I jot down dialogue snippets, plot ideas, or emotional beats on my phone. Sometimes I’ll even dictate it to get the words down smoother. Those small moments add up and keep me connected to my characters.

3. Set Boundaries—With Flexibility

I have “writing hours,” but I also have a child who sometimes needs extra care. I aim for consistency, but I don’t punish myself when plans change. I just pivot and start again. The work waits. My child’s heart doesn’t.

4. Make It a Family Affair

My daughters sometimes help name characters or choose titles (they have strong opinions!). Letting the kids into the creative process helps her feel part of what I do—and gives me fresh perspective.

5. Protect Your Creative Energy

Even when I can't write, I refill my well. I read. I listen to music. I stare at the stars. Resting is part of writing. It keeps my inner storyteller awake, even when the outside world is exhausting.

6. Celebrate the Small Wins

Wrote a sentence? That’s a win. Opened the manuscript despite exhaustion? Win. Hit publish after five stolen minutes a day for six months? Giant win. You’re doing it. Your way. And that’s worth honoring.

Final Thought:

Writing with kids in the mix is unpredictable, loud, and imperfect—and also incredibly rich. My daughter inspires my stories with her resilience, curiosity, and wild imagination. She reminds me why I write in the first place: to give voice to the fierce, brave girls of tomorrow.

If you’re writing in the margins of family life, you’re not alone. You’re part of a quiet revolution. And your story matters—messy, magical, and entirely your own.

Shadowed Skies
Haley Cavanagh

Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy Romance | YA Science Fiction |
Publisher: Our Street Books
Date of Publication: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 978-1803417721
ASIN: B0DV31JXS2
Number of pages: 208
Word Count: 60,000
Cover Artist: Lapiz Digital Services

Tagline: Hunted for their blood. Fighting for their future.

Book Description:

In the shadowed aftermath of global destruction, humanity’s hope takes flight on the wings of the Evol-humans. River Shaw, secluded in his high-altitude sanctuary, seeks solace after a life scarred by loss. His quiet existence is disrupted when Delene Fairborne, fleeing captivity and a dark past, crashes into his world. 

Together, they find strength in their unique abilities, resisting the sinister forces that hunt them for a cure only their blood can provide. As love blossoms amidst the chaos, they face a ruthless scientist hell-bent on harnessing their power. Shadowed Skies is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and soaring hope, where two souls, bound by destiny, fight for a world on the brink. Dive into a world where love flies against insurmountable odds.


Excerpt:

I wake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings casting unnerving shadows. Intelligent dark eyes scrutinize me from his smooth, brown face framed by cropped black hair and raven quills. He’s been around the block.

My guard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from the climb. “Your nest, huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”

“It’s carved right over there.” He points past me to the rockface. My eyes travel over the stone, where he’d etched River in craggy letters. The carved name is so tiny I didn’t notice.

“Now you’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this goes.”

I blink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I–– ow,” I scrape against the wall and suck air through my teeth. I clamp my eyes shut.

“Are you okay?”

I shrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely near my shoulder. River’s eyebrows lower, and he comes closer.

“Let me look.”

He stows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands, and crouches to examine my injury. “Relax. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see the damage.” He’s gentle, avoiding the wound and handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches the bandage.

“Dr. Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and lab where the humans imprison and experiment on our kind. His men hunted me down and shot me with a crossbow as I tried

to escape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage earlier, but without a spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off my pants to re-dress it.”

“Hmm.” He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an exit wound.”

“Yeah, I pulled it out.”

“Well, that was stupid of you. You could have died if those goons pierced a blood feather.”

My temper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather take my chances, thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m grateful for his help. I still don’t know who he is or what he wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.

River sits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes.

“Doesn’t look good. How long have you been here, kid? A day or so?”

“I’m no kid. I’m seventeen.”

“Well, I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”

“By what, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid free-climbed in the pitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get here, I guess I’m a kid.”

After examining the wound, he says, “The damage looks fixable. Let’s clean this well to prevent infection.”

“I’ve cleaned the wound.”

“Clean deeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but I’ll try to get some. Or at least honey. Honey heals.”

He hesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from his pouch and soaks the cloth. With the knife still in hand, he comes closer.

“Look … You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate solo. You have a target with a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for you. I do. But you know how it is with our kind.” He gives me a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.

“Gee, I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”

He rubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of drones. And they’ve got at least a dozen soldiers combing the forest.”

“I’m sorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any of this.”

“None of us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here.

I’m screwed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the night. Then after that, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere else to hide.”

The night might be all I need. “Thank you.”


About the Author:

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is a multiple award-winning and best-selling author and the two-time recipient of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award in 2020 and 2024. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.







 



Posted by at 1 comment:

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

In the Garden with Author GG Collins - Skinwalker Medium #Mystery #Thriller #UrbanFantasy


The Southwest is dry so the emphasis is on growing drought tolerate plants. A tip from the Ancient Puebloans is to build little walls around plants. They look like a short square fence made of soil. Inside, place lava pieces. They hold water and release it when the plants need a drink. 

The ancients grew what they referred to as the Three Sisters: corn, beans and squash. And they planted them together. The corn stalk acted as a pole the beans could climb and the squash spread out on the ground shading the roots of all of them.

In dry areas like New Mexico, xeriscaping is king. That’s why you’ll see what appear to be gravel yards with native plants lovingly placed. The effect is beautiful and natural to the area. Plants might include chamisa, cholla (but mind the thorns!), asters and cosmos. Add a little buffalo grass and you have a lovely yard that almost takes care of itself. 

For me, there has to be Talavera. My deck and patio are covered in Talavera pots, vessels and critters of the desert. If I have nothing to grow in one, I use the empty pot as another colorful piece. 

And then there are the garden lights. During the day the flowers provide the color. 

At night, the lights are far more than landscape enhancement. They bring a magical quality to my gardens in all shapes and colors. 

Even if you don’t live in the Southwest, lights and garden flags add a festive touch to your outdoor living space. 


Skinwalker Medium
A Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mystery 
Book Five
GG Collins
 
Genre:  Indigenous Paranormal Thriller
Publisher: Chamisa Canyon Publishing
Date of Publication:  March 19, 2025
ISBN: 978-1735428246   
ASIN: B0F1ZGSYJK
Number of pages:  259
Word Count: 66,235
 Cover Artist:  Tatiana Vila, Vila Design
 
Tagline:  It’s the season of the witch. Are you ready?

Book Description: 

Rachel’s interview subjects are turning up dead, but only those linked to a certain story: the Santa Fe Penitentiary riot of 1980. 

It’s beginning to look like something malevolent is involved and it’s threatening everyone connected with the story. 

Rachel, the Reluctant Medium, must learn the Navajo ways to prevent another horrific skinwalker death – maybe even her own.

Amazon

 

Reviewed by Publisher's Weekly

Nominated for the New Mexico Book Award

The Strand Magazine Reading List.

Fellowship & Award-Winning Writer

SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) Awards




Excerpt:

A stroll along the river usually calmed her. Still, Albuquerque’s crime rate had made national headlines so she tried to be alert to any threats.

After a few minutes, Olivia could tell her pulse had evened out and she was beginning to notice the birds and trees instead of her bothersome feelings. But something else concerned her. There was a fetid odor in this area. She dismissed it as a dead animal but it disturbed her enough that she dug in her coat pocket for her pollen and arrowhead. They weren’t there! Hadn’t she placed them in her pocket while talking with the reporter? When Blackstone cautioned about the others she had interviewed who had died or been scared, she remembered taking the bag out and showing her the contents. She checked the other pocket that held her fob and cell. Olivia could feel the panic rising in her throat, so she took out the phone. It made her more confident. Help was a phone call away.

She quickly turned. Behind her was nothing but an empty trail and the beginnings of another spectacular sunset. Ahead, a biker disappeared around a corner. The Rio Grande flowed to her left and there was no one exploring the banks or kayaking on the river. That left the treed area to her right. A few trees still held onto their autumn leaves, but most had turned brown and fallen to the ground. There was nothing apparent, but the feeling of trepidation would not go away. How could she have left her amulet and bag of pollen? And where did she leave them? It didn’t matter now. The only thing that mattered: something was stalking her and she couldn’t yet see it. She held her phone tightly.

A hawk flew overhead as she looked upward. The hawk didn’t worry her. These birds of prey were only a threat to a small mammal, with the occasional insect or lizard for variety.

It circled languidly. This time, it swooped down at her as a bird parent might defend a fledgling against a passing cat. The intent was obvious: to bully her. It was working. Olivia wanted to go. She no longer wanted to be outside and felt vulnerable, was vulnerable. Retracing her steps to the parking lot, she heard a sound behind her.

She kept walking, hoping it would go away. But the fear in her chest was fierce. It was difficult to breathe. She tried to control the shivering and her pounding heart. Her options had run out. Olivia knew she was no longer in charge of the situation. She had to turn around and face whatever was there.

After casually glancing about to appear unafraid, she came face to face with an evil witch. Its eyes held her, and she couldn’t look away. The elders always cautioned against staring directly at the eyes so the witch could not control thoughts. But it was too late. The red and glowing eyes allowed her to see only the beast.

It was sans clothing with fur covering its body and the neck heavy with jewelry. Its face and arms were grey. For a moment she thought it might be female, but never had she known of a female witch becoming malevolent. She knew this was imminent danger of the fatal kind. Without her arrowhead, she didn’t know how to defend herself. It could run faster, jump higher and climb better than she could. Her chances of harming it were slim. The body of a skinwalker was tough, maybe impenetrable. With only the useless cell in her hand she stood silently, because who could she call to intervene?

 

About the Author:

G.G. Collins loves the American Southwest where many of her stories are located. She can be found hiking through ruins of the ancient ones and enjoying New Mexican cuisine. When not traipsing about, she makes up stories with great friendships, quirky characters and, oh yeah, dead bodies. She has worked for a book publisher and as a journalist; publishing is in her blood. In real life she shares her time with a man, several neurotic – and psychic – cats and the ongoing struggle to grow a garden.
 
 







a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posted by at 1 comment:

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Interview- Electric Titan by C.R. Reardon #YASciFi #SciFi #DisabilityLit


Welcome to Creatively Green. Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

It's about Rosa Viviani, a seventeen-year-old girl living in the utopian colony of Civigem on Saturn’s moon Titan. In a society where disability has been eradicated through genetic engineering, she becomes one of the few individuals who navigates life in a hoverchair. A meteor emerges from the depths of space, hurtling toward Titan with the potential to destroy everything.

Amidst the chaos, her connection to Wicca awakens within her a mystical power that could save Civigem from the impending catastrophe. Guided by the wisdom of goddesses and unwavering support from her parents and girlfriend, she confronts her fears and insecurities while learning to harness her newfound abilities. Can she save the colony that patronizes her?

Have you ever based your book or characters on actual events or people from your own life?

Not entire characters, but elements of my life for sure. My first brain surgery was on December 20th—when Rosa had her procedure.

Is there a theme or message in your work that you would like readers to connect to?

We really have to reshape how we as humans think: disability is not something that you yearn for, but it is also not something to fear because it does not lessen a life at all.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a poet, and I just released my fourth book of poetry, Disablé.

When you’re not writing what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?

I’m a huge cinephile. I like any genre of movie/show as long as it is well–made. Sports have been in my life forever, so I follow them like my wheelchair’s tire against pavement. I love poker, too. 

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?

I don’t know. I kinda already have a prequel of linked short stories. I have some plot elements for sequels, too.


 `
Electric Titan
C.R. Reardon

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Disability
Publisher: C.R.  Reardon
Date of Publication: 6/13/1986
ISBN: 979-8-9920346-0-8
ASIN: B0F44JVWL9
Number of pages: 225
Word Count: 64,117 
Cover Artist: Sofia Sanz

Tagline: 17-year-old Rosa Viviani grapples with her newfound disability, a meteor emerges from the depths of space, hurtling toward Titan with the potential to destroy everything.

Book Description:

Rosa Viviani, a seventeen-year-old girl living in the utopian colony of Civigem on Saturn’s moon Titan, faces a series of life-altering events. In a society where disability has been eradicated through genetic engineering, Rosa becomes one of the few individuals who must navigate life with a hoverchair. As she grapples with her newfound disability, a meteor emerges from the depths of space, hurtling toward Titan with the potential to destroy everything.

Amidst the chaos, Rosa's connection to an ancient Earth religion awakens within her a mystical power that could save Civigem from the impending catastrophe. Guided by the wisdom of goddesses and unwavering support from her parents and girlfriend, Rosa embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting her fears and insecurities while learning to harness her newfound abilities. As the meteor's impact looms closer, Rosa must confront the limitations of her powers, the fragility of life, and the complexities of love in a society that has long forgotten the meaning of community.

In a race against time, Rosa's journey becomes a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the power of love, and the importance of embracing life's uncertainties. As she confronts the impending apocalypse, Rosa's story challenges the utopian ideals of Civigem, exposing the deep-seated prejudices and the hidden costs of a society that has long suppressed the natural diversity of human existence.

Amazon      BN     Kobo     Apple     GooglePlay

Excerpt: Day 1

When I first used my hoverchair, nobody told me about the unexpectedness. I didn’t know I’d be the only young woman on Titan using one. When I’d run my last Convalor, climb my last staircase to a house. Traverse a ravine’s rocks. I wish I could have readied myself for things like my last walk with my dad along the lakeshore, but life doesn’t always give us time to prepare.

Dark brown clouds slit the dusky morning sky. I lay in bed reading Village Sisters on my tabicus, trying to learn what life would be like for me in a hoverchair. The Village Sisters was written on Earth about the bond between an African-Japanese beauty queen and her best friend, who broke her spine in a tsunami.

An empty frame hung in front of my bed next to the window. I didn’t want to see me standing with my friends at Lucky’s Tavern. The obligatory smiles and people I barely knew now felt like a past life. The picture was only a year old, but still.

I always kept sunflowers on the table beside my bed to brighten my mood. Next to the sunflowers, my elegant ballerina motivated me to strive for grace and good posture. The best thing I ever got from the Keller Aviary was a fluffy, stuffed butterfly that I named Ms. Monarch and rested on my bed. Like many times since the incident, I embraced her and squeezed tight.

Then, just before the announcement, a tingling shot down my right arm. Was I numb from squeezing Ms. Monarch too hard? Was it a side effect of the surgery? It felt like hot wax on my skin–but somehow empowering?

My body jerked upright. My arm swung like a directional arrow. I had no control of it.

My hand and arm lined up with a Faberge egg on my dresser. It was a family heirloom passed down to my dad’s disabled relative. This, in part, is why I believe our lives are echoes of our ancestors. We’re the same stars, just moving through different galaxies.

The heirloom navigated our solar system aboard the U.S.S. Freedom. The maroon and gold Faberge egg rattled out of its four pure white supports, fell to the floor, and shattered.

I thought someone might’ve bumped into my dresser the night before. Maybe they nudged it off its axis, and that’s why it toppled over this morning.

The pneumonia rains started, and I was content watching them splatter the bubble and cascade down, but we all know what happens now.

The Urgent News banner appeared on my tabicus. I turned the volume up. Remember that image? The mayor drooped like a geranium.

“Fellow citizens, I come to you today with the heaviest of hearts. I sincerely hope that every individual heed this news with the understanding that the best course of action for every life was attempted.” Her shoulders rose and fell like the Magic Islands. “Several weeks ago, a volcano on Jupiter’s moon Io dispelled lava that somehow escaped its gravitational pull and froze, hurtling it into space. This is the meteor I’m sure many of you have heard about on the news. The meteor is one point-six kilometers in diameter and travels at a speed of thirty-six kilometers per second. I regret to inform you that it is headed directly for Titan, and it’s too late to stop it.

“The meteor will make an impact with Titan in six days and destroy everything, including our beloved–” I felt so bad for her when her voice cracked, and she began to tear up. “Civigem.”

 

About the Author:

A brain tumor survivor since the age of 8, and handicapped since the age of 10, C.R. Reardon is now 39 years old. He fell in love with creative writing after writing a poem about these hardships in the 7th grade. Since then, he has self-published four books of poetry: Disablé  (2025), Born on Friday the 13th (2018), Torghatten (2016), and Hard Polish (2013). After 2 years at The University of Arizona, C.R. graduated from Stonehill College in 2009 and earned his Master's degree in English from Salem State University in 2011.

His screenplay Lagom (the Swedish word for 'just the right amount') was a finalist for best screenplay at the 2017 Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, as well as the 2015 Catalina Film Festival.  In 2016 my screenplay Spawning Neon was a semi-finalist at the 16th annual Awareness Film Festival.









Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)