Interview with R. E. Robinson, Jr., author of The Perses Effect

Today I welcome R.E. Robinson, Jr., author of The Perses Effect

Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us today.

Q1.  Did you always what to be a writer?

RER:  I loved to write even before my high school days. I don’t know why I didn’t pursue a career in writing earlier than now. If I could travel back in time I would tell the younger version of me to take college courses in writing and focus in that direction for a career.

Q2.  Did/does your family support your efforts in becoming a writer?

RER:  Most definitely, my wife has been a huge supporter of me taking a career move into doing something that I enjoy. I haven’t had one friend or family member say don’t do it or you’re wasting your time.

Q3.  Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?

RRE:  I get influences from all sorts of areas including TV, movies, other books and the news. I watch a lot of Discovery, TLC and other channels like those to gain ideas and knowledge. I have enjoyed gaming throughout my life all the way from role-playing and board games to video games. They have enhanced my already vivid imagination.

Q4.  Did you find anything "hands on" or unusual required when researching to write The Perses Effect?

When working on the battles I would have my friends play out the characters based on them and give me feedback and advice on what they would do in a certain situation. We would use miniatures and Hotwheels cars to flesh out the scenes. So I have them to thank because I couldn’t have written the final battle without their help.

Q5. Do you do anything especially helpful for your world building? (Notebook, Bulletin board, etc?)

RRE:  My friend who I based one of the main characters upon lives outside of Milledgeville, GA where I live. I used a courthouse plot map of his land with notes he gave me on what his ideal property would be like if the world were to break down tomorrow. Things like defenses, etc.

Q6.  Do your characters live with you or haunt your dreams as you write?

RRE:  Almost all of my main characters are based on family and friends so they do live near and with me but they don’t do any haunting thank goodness. At least not right now.

Q7.  Do you have any strange habits when you write?

RRE:  Not really, I just won’t be able to write until everybody has gone to bed and the house is quiet. I need full concentration to write just like I did back in college. My wife got me the Dragon speaking program to aid me but I haven’t even opened the box. The story builds in my head and I don’t think I could tell my computer how to write it down.

Q8.  What are some of the best tips you've received on writing?

RRE:  Early on I got advice that my first drafts looked more like a screenplay than a novel. So I made a few tweaks here and there but when there’s something going on that doesn’t need much description then I won’t pad the pages with unnecessary wording or over explain something. If it doesn’t need many words to describe then it doesn’t get many words to describe said thing.

Q9.  Which authors have influenced you most how?

RRE:  H.P. Lovecraft – In my opinion the father of modern horror. His sentence structure is amazing and the stories suck me in without having to be thousand page novels. J.R.R. Tolkien – In my opinion the father of modern fantasy. Everyone that reads his work can pull something different from it, something personal and relatable. Stan Lee – Is the grand daddy of the comic industry. He and his team made superheroes relatable. They had strengths but also weaknesses like the average person. I could go on and on but I won’t.

Q10. Which words (up to three) would you use to describe yourself and your personality?

RRE:  Quiet, easy-going, detail oriented.

Q11. Which words (up to three) would you use to describe Evan in The Perses Effect?

RRE:  Thoughtful, over-thinker, worrier.

Q12.  If you could have readers answer a question what would it be?

RRE:  You saved the toughest question for last Martha. I never really thought about asking readers a question before. Guess I’ll ask this. With children having been affected so adversely by the Perses virus, is there a cure?

Thank you again.

Martha

RRE:  Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to talk about my book. I really hate that my schedule changed and I was not able to be interviewed but I have to keep my night job until I become a well know author and can continue my passion full time.

Thank you.

Ron

The Perses Effect

By R.E. Robinson Jr

Blurb:

The world has been changed forever. Death and mutation have swept across the planet leaving some of the survivors altered into non-human races and gaining powers that would take time to comprehend. Always thinking ahead Evan Root invited family and friends to live on his farm shortly before the comet that started it all was destroyed.

As the remaining population rebuilds Evan Root and his wife Jordan are producing bio-fuel to use and trade. On a routine trip to the market murmurs of disappearing town’s people span the crowd. While at the market Evan’s group is ambushed and when he finally makes it back to the farm he finds out his wife has been abducted. Evan feels her abduction has everything to do with her power.

Hoping it will lead him to his wife Evan and his companions must discover who or what is behind the disappearances while defending themselves at every turn.

Amazon Amazon Paperback 

Barnes and Noble Hardcover           Nook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Perses-Effect/200288616653927

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10793607-the-perses-effect

 

 

 

 

Bio: 

Ronald E. Robinson Jr. served in the US Army and has a criminal justice degree. He lives in Georgia with his family.

Book Review: The Perses Effect Book 1

This is an imaginative and engaging ride of fantasy creatures, monsters included.

The Perses Effect: Book 1: Root Causation

by R. E. Robinson Jr.

• File Size: 1388 KB
• Print Length: 200 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Xlibris (February 26, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004S2KUSS

Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2011

In August 2012 an amateur astronomer spotted a comet; which was later dubbed Perses, Greek god of destruction. While NASA was tracking its trajectory they discovered it would pass dangerously close to the moon causing Earth’s gravitational field to shift leading to a global catastrophe. The world’s entire nuclear arsenal was launched.

Perses was destroyed and rained down on the unsuspecting world. A dormant alien virus triggered by the nuclear radiation swept across the planet leaving death and mutation in its wake.

Now its time to survive…

Review:

An exploded comet showered down pieces of rock that people snatched up for souvenirs. A dormant virus was just waiting for other medium, like hands, to move into and spread. Once active, the virus caused inexplicable varieties of mutation.  Some humans morphed into elves or orcs; some recieved electrical or chemical powers; and others have telepathic abilities or new magic skills. And lets not forget the monsters. Some mutations are good and some are evil. Though it might be nice to allocate the good with good people that isn’t always how it works.  Sadly, children mutated into little beasties with claws and a thirst for blood.

Evan Root set up a mostly self-contained farm compound in rural Georgia.  Evan lives there with his wife, Jordan, his younger brothers, a few close friends and a few strangers that sought shelter and have stayed.  Evan didn’t choose to be a leader but that is the role he has been placed in.  Each of the members of the ranch contribute to the work with their different skills.  Jordan is able to make bio fuel with a secret formula. Violet can heal with her hands. Lavin, can cast spells and another friend, Richard, can read minds through telepathy.  There are other heightened senses and skills as well.

The Root clan survived the initial dangers of the virus, including giant ants and attacking children.  Now the group trade their bio fuel at the market which is much like an old time medieval market set up for bartering.  But dangers abound and there is a criminal thug in town who is set on building his empire. His primary henchman is a pale, hooded man, who developed a chip that gives him control over others, whether it is the wild children whom he treats like trained dogs, or unsuspecting workers being gathered as a small army.  If that isn’t danger enough, a mad scientist who began experimenting on criminals, has discovered a shadowy darkness and wants to join the team of evil doers.

Evan and his crew fight off a relentless attack by the small army, suffering injuries and casualties before they escape. They return home only to discover that Jordan has been kidnapped by the Pale man. While they want to find a way to rescue her, they face another danger at their end of the community.  It seems a twisted Preacher is using hidden powers to mind control the crowds. He proclaims that all mutants are unrepentant sinners and must be eliminated.

There is non-stop action going on in this book with very intensely described fighting scenes. I really enjoyed the blend of danger with the everyday activities of surviving.  Those aspects made the story very real even with the array of fantasy beings and monsters.  Mr. Robinson uses an interesting mix of present activities with memories of past events to fill in the back history. The story is written in present tense which is a bit unusual but it allowed the flash backs to be easily distinguished.

If you like survival stories with twisted fantasy you should enjoy this read. Be forewarned that you may find yourself deeply involved in the lives of the protagonists just as you run into the “to be continued” ending.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Note on editing: There were a few pov errors and numerous small typographical errors that could easily be cleaned up with a good sharp editing. Don’t let this discourage you from reading this engaging book. Frankly, it seems that many of the books I am reading have typo errors, and that is not limited to ARCs.]

Survival has always been dangerous, but now it’s more deadly than ever with every move they make outside the farm fence a dance with fate. They have to be prepared for anything while they are out, and their training together is cruicial to their mission’s success. Location 1304-5.

I received this book to review as part of Bewitching Book Tour with Author Interview.

Set in Milledgeville, Georgia for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my ARC and New Author lists.

Winners of MBS July 2012 Blogoversary Flash Giveaway

Congratulations to Winners

Giveaway Ended July 31, 2012

MBS July 2012 Blogoversary Flash Giveaway.

Thanks to you great active followers who entered and made pick recommendations from my "summer reading" group!

Winner #1 is Elizabeth L.
Elizabeth recommended I read The Days Of Summer by Jill Barnett.  I have enjoyed several historicals by Ms. Barnett and will be interested to read this contemporary.

Winner #2 is miki

Miki picked  Summer's Crossing (The Iron Fey) as my read which is the book that got the most recommendations at 9.  Oddly the next popular pick was Heating Up the Kitchen: Recipes with Love from Lucky Harbor.  Do you guys really read cookbooks?   

So - I will read Summer's Crossing first because it is short, 51 pages, and I can squeeze it in better. :-)
Then I will read The Days of Summer. 




WINNERS GET TO PICK:
a) Print copy of Days of Summer by Jill Barnett which I have in my book boxes
b) ANY book from my Updated Review and ARC giveaway list! (Subject to reasonable postage.)
OR
c) Choice of the Summer Titles above (if available), in eBook (up to $10.00 value), or print to be sent through The Book Depository.

I may substitute the prize for International winner as $8.00 GC if you don't get delivery from TBD or if the postage on book choice is too high.

Also - Elizabeth gets to pick the next "word" to hunt in my Kindle library for book choices!

Elizabeth and miki please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I'll send out your choices.  Please reply within 72 hours! 

Guest Post by Mary Wine, Author of A Lady Can Never Be too Curious

Good Morning!

It’s great to be blogging today and doubly so because I’m really excited about ‘A Lady Can Never be too Curious’. When I first began to tinker with the idea of writing a Steam Punk, I found myself diving into history. 

History is full of odd and often curious things. After all, we humans have always enjoyed being entertained, so it stands to reason that many of our ancestors had crazy ideas of how to blow off steam. In the Victorian era, science was advancing, providing living comforts such as gas lights and violas. Today, with our iPods, a record player which needs to be hand cranked might seem like very small comfort but if you’ve ever been out camping without anything but the wind, you’ll understand that having music at your fingertips was just as wonderful to the Victorians as an iPod to our teenagers.

I love my iPod too.

But constructing a book from research is a little more complicated. I am still a romance author and needed a great story. Steam Punk is a fiction and yet, oddly based in a bit of fact. There were people who believed steam powered engines were the future. Gasoline was a byproduct and proved to be far less expensive.

Still, I was fascinated by the idea of creating a portion of society that tinkered with steam powered machines. In a way, a bit like the Masons. A society, within the Victorian society, with secret rules and an oath of allegiance. Let’s add to that a very curious young lady, brought up among the rules of Victorian society. Part of me wanted to give her a place to go where her gender didn’t prevent her from following her dreams wherever they might take her.

My Illuminist are people of science. I say people because gender isn’t considered. Anyone may join, so long as they can pass the entrance exam. But just like in Victorian society, you are either one thing or another and once you accept the lapel pin of the Illuminist Order, upper society will shun you.

I hear a lot of readers asking just what Steam Punk is and the short definition is ‘Victorian Sci-fi’.  At its core, A Lady Can Never be too Curious, is still a great historical read and a wonderful romance. I hope you’ll consider giving it a try. Pop over to my website, MaryWine.com, for an excerpt.

Cheers!

Mary Wine

MaryWine.com

MaryWine_author   Twitter

Book Review: A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious by Mary Wine

I really enjoyed the premise of this story but I felt it got overwhelmed with the intimate encounters. 

A Lady Can Never be Too Curious

by Mary Wine

• File Size: 985 KB
• Print Length: 321 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1402264801
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (August 7, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008B8A7C4

Genre:  Steampunk, Paranormal, Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2012

Beneath the Surface of Victorian Life Lies a Very Different World...

Hated and feared by the upper classes, the Illuminists guard their secrets with their lives. Janette Aston's insatiable quest for answers brings her to their locked golden doors, where she encounters the most formidable man she's ever met.

Darius Lawley's job is to eliminate would–be infiltrators, but even he may be no match for Janette's cunning and charm...

Review: 

Janette has an insatiable desire for learning instilled, somewhat secretly, by her mother.  Her society conscious father insists that she be prim and proper and that she have nothing to due with the Illuminists, an organization of scientists.  Janette sneaks into the Illuminist compound and slips into a lecture.  There it is discovered that she has certain unique skills that make her valuable to the Illuminists and their enemies, the Helikeians.

Darius is the head of the Illluminist Guard and he finds himself reluctantly attracted to Janette. He doesn’t believe she could ever leave her privileged society to become part of the Illuminists. Then Janette’s father sends her to a mental doctor to straighten her out and remove her interest in the Illuminists. Darius and his friend rescue her and he sets himself as her personal protector even if she does threaten his control.

Janette is glad to have Darius’ help but isn’t so happy that he wants to make decisions for her and tell her what to do. She is thrilled to pass the Illuminist exam and be allowed to train. She is to study as a novice for a year before taking the oath. There is trouble in the ranks though when certain authorities show up insisting that her skills be put to use before her year is up.

I really enjoyed the underlying story of the battle for the crystal energy source and I loved the steampunk elements with all of the inventions used by the Illuminists in the 1843 setting.  There is also an interesting view on the fine line of male and female equality. Janette is a wonderfully strong character seeking independence and willing to explore the free love attitude of the Illuminists. Darius is brooding and resistant but also dedicated, loyal and a grand protector. There seemed to be some experience in his past that made him distrust Janette but I never quite figured out what that was.  There are other characters who have some conflict and may be paired off in the further books.

Unfortunately, the plot of this story was overshadowed by bantering, resisting ‘foreplay’ between Janette and Darius that soon moved into rather graphic sexual encounters. It got to a point where another intimate scene would begin and I would say “Come on! Get on with the story.”

There are numerous traitors in the Illuminists organization and it seemed that the guard was doing little to discover their identities. Several actions near the end didn’t quite make sense and there are loose threads which I hope will get resolved in the next book.  Having two thirds of the book as love scenes, no matter how creative, is more than I want to wade through.  If you like your stories with strong characters, a mysterious and interesting ‘good versus evil’ plot and steamy romance you should like this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darius has lots of warnings for Janette:

You long for something you know comes with consequences. Reaching for it will cost you the security of the position you currently occupy. Location 334

The ride will be intense, but it will have to end eventually. Reality will be waiting, I assure you. Location 3127.

Thank you to Sourcebooks who provided this book from NetGalley.