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Showing posts with label A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor. Show all posts

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Q&A INTERVIEW with Robert G. Pielke, Author of A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor

Please join me to enjoy this fun Interview with author Robert G. Pielke.

Q1. I'm always interested to discover the story behind the story. Where did the inspiration for A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor come from?
  • As is usually the case, the story “tells itself to me” – I “listen” and take it from there. Yup, I’m sort of saying that stories have a life of their own, and I’m not really sure where they come from or where they’re born.
  • It’s not a cop-out. It’s just that there’s no one thing or event I can think of that prompts them. That goes especially for this one – A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor. Some people have called it “the most bizarre thing I’ve ever read,” so that might suggest something bizarre gave rise to it. Nope. It’s obviously comprised of a variety of characters, issues and situations, and they resemble things in my life-history, but what pulled them all together in one story???
  • Beats me!

Q2.  Apparently you have chosen to present this story in a series or trilogy. Did you have each book plotted out before you started the first one or did the subsequent books flow from the first book?
  • I had only the beginning…what is now the first few pages. Once the story had told this to me and I had fully digested it, it told me some more. I’m almost finished the second book in the trilogy as of today, and I kind of know that general “lay of the land” for this and the third book, but there are a lot of little things that always pop up and want to be included.

Q3.  Do your characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
  • The story does – not so much the characters. When talking with my daughter, for example, who is the first editor for all that I write, I often say “I am my book,” because it always seems to be on my mind.

Q4.  What type of research goes into creating one of your novels?  Was there anything special or hands on?
  • A lot!!!
  • I write alternate histories in one way or another, and to be credible at it, the actual history has to be absolutely as accurate as humanly possible. I’m asking my readers to go along with me on a speculative undertaking – a “what if” journey as it were – and if the actual events are not “spot on,” they won’t go with me.

Q5. Do you have any rituals that help you get in the mood to sit down and write?
  • Oh yes! I always start with a couple of games of Solitaire – I’m seeing how many points I can compile. [I’m up to 42,210 so far.] But that doesn’t “get me in the mood” – it’s just ritual.

Q6.  Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?
  • The story is everything. IT determines the “voice” as well as the characters, the issues, the plot points.

Q7.  Can you tell us a little about the next book in the series?
  • Very little! Ha ha ha ha
  • It’s subtitled “the Translator” for a reason. There are some people [linguists and philosophers among them] who believe that communication with aliens would be literally impossible and undesirable as well.
  • Book two challenges this idea.

Q8.  What do you hope your readers get out of your books?
  • Enjoyment! [however they might understand it]
  • Anything else they might get out of it is a bonus.

Q9: What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?
  • Cooking shows on TV
  • Movies
  • Skiing
  • Swimming
  • Rock and Roll [as well as those other two things that usually precede this]  ;-)

Q10.  What are five fun facts about you or this book/series, that readers would find interesting?
  • Hmmmm….I’ll have to think for a minute or two
  • Here goes….
1.     All of the characters in the first two books [except for the main protagonist and the “others” that are from “afar”] are actual historical figures.
2.     There were around three Chinese soldiers who fought for the Union at Gettysburg. I use one in the book, but you wouldn’t know it from his name.
3.     Another well-known figure in the history of the American West is in the book but the name we know him by today is not the name that he used during the time period of the book.
4.     The main protagonist is related to one of the chief villains in American history, and that same villain has actual decedents who are major figures in world politics today.
5.     One of my relatives is mentioned in Book One…which not even this person recognized, although his name is used.
THANK YOU!
If you didn't already check out the book I hope you take a look at my review

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Winners: A New Birth of Freedom; Big Show Stopper & Help Me Pick March Read

Sorry these posts are late - I appreciate patience while I have been going to bed early to help get healthy again. And any winners from last week I will be get caught up on mailing or sending paypal/gc by the end of this week.
Thank you to all who entered these contests. 

CONGRATULATIONS
to the Winner of
 by Robert G. Pielke
 A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor
mamabunny13

***********

CONGRATULATIONS
to the Winner of
by Ken Dalton
The Big Show Stopper
Vicki

***********
CONGRATULATIONS
to the Winners of
Based on the votes my first read was Taste Me; the second was Late Harvest
then The Linen Queen; now a couple of scheduled books for next week.

US/Canadian winner is Heidi
International winner is Llehn

I may not get to email anyone until tomorrow so if you see your name here please feel free to email me at mesreadsATgmail.com with your info for mailing. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Book Review: A New Birth of Freedom

This is a MUST READ if you like the idea of time travel and civil war meets creatures from The War of the Worlds!
A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor by Robert G. Pielke
  • Paperback: 226 pages
  • Publisher: Altered Dimensions (August 15, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1936021234
  • ISBN-13: 978-1936021239
Price:  Print:  $11.66
Genre:  Science Fantasy, Alternate History
My Rating: 5.0

It has taken centuries to recognize that all humans possess certain unalienable rights. There will come a time when we have to consider whether others deserve those rights as well.
That time will come on July 4, 1863.


Review: This was unexpected and a wonderful read.
This story starts in March 1849 with Edwin Blair visiting a young Abraham Lincoln on a train ride as he travels home from Congress to Illinois.  Blair is dressed in strange clothing including Levi jeans and Nike shoes. These create an ice breaker and the beginning of a memorable meeting. Blair asks Lincoln to accept a retainer to provide counsel in the future and then he sets an appointment to meet again on July 27, 1863. Right before exiting the train Blair does one more thing to make sure Lincoln will remember him.


Sure enough they meet again on July 27, 1863.  Lincoln is 14 years older but Blair is exactly the same as though their previous meeting had been the day before! That is only the first “impossible” surprise that Lincoln and his staff are presented with. Blair has to get them to accept that he has traveled through time in order to get Lincoln’s aid to allow him to go to the front lines and meet with the Union AND Confederate Generals.


Blair is a history professor from the future with expertise in details of the Civil War.  He is counting on knowing the thoughts and actions of General Meade and General Lee so he can convince them to cooperate with him.  Blair believes he will need the combined forces of the armies for a surprise attack against an alien force that will otherwise decimate the countryside if not quickly and completely destroyed. It will take just the right words and demonstrations to convince the necessary leaders to stop in the middle of a crucial battle and to work together against a different enemy that Blair calls the Pests.


To Blair’s horror and shock the Army soldiers capture some of the Pests and slowly they begin to communicate. Blair worries about loose Pests while he and some new friends try to determine what the prisoner Pests want.


I happen to really enjoy Civil War stories - a favorite is Killer Angels. I also like sci fi stories such as War of the Worlds and Independence Day. Add to these likes, I love time travel books. So this was an absolute joy for me to read.  The historical detail is accurate and presented from the interesting perspective of a historian from the future.  The characters, other than the historical ones, are rather quirky. Blair himself is sometimes frustrating and not always reasonable.


The writing is clean and easy. It moves very quickly, especially because you want to know what will happen. The only problem I had was the story is ended after another surprising revelation. It is to be continued! I have no idea how the interference of Blair and the Pests have impacted the world as we know it. I am anxious to find out and I hope the sequel will be out sooner than later.

Blog Tour web site:
http://anewbirthoffreedom-thevisitor.blogspot.com/


Robert G. Pielke's web site:
http://www.robertgpielke.com/


Robert G. Pielke's blog:
http://www.bobpielke.com/


Robert G. Pielke's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/robert.pielke

Altered Dimensions Press web site:
http://www.sciencefictionpaperbackbooks.com/a-birth-of-new-freedom




I received this book for review as part of a blog tour coordinated by Tribute Books
I am giving away my review copy...although part of me doesn't want to give it away!
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1.   Visit the author's website and tell me something you note of interest. Please leave your email address.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!
* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 4, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
CymLowell

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