Author Marie Harbon is touring for her sci-fi SEVEN POINT EIGHT with Tourz de Codex and we are proud to present ourselves as one of the first tour stops of this four day extravaganza.
[THIS IS FREE in the Kindle Store April 16th-19th, click here to go to the Kindle Store] SO WHAT ARE YOU ALL WAITING FOR GO AND BUY IT
About the Author:-Marie Harbon has worked in both the retail and fitness industry. She has a degree in sport and fitness and taught group exercise for several years, delivering aerobics and Pilates classes. For two years, she delivered BTEC Sport courses and has also instructed dance and sport with children.
Aside from writing novels, she is developing her script writing and editorial skills. A busy bee, she is also a self-confessed fabric geek and loves making bags and corsets.
Seven Point Eight:
The most powerful number in the universe.
The number that connects everything.
A long time ago, our ancestors lived in a very different world
from the one we inhabit today. We understood the language of the Earth, the stars, the sky people and we knew of the Number. This was a moment known as The First Time.
But over time, we forgot all of this and the wisdom of the Number was lost too. We walked through life asleep, ignorant of the truth.
Yet we retain a deep and hidden memory of everything that we ever were. There lies within us the hope that one day, we can re-connect with the language of the Earth, the stars, the sky people and the wisdom of the Number. The moment has arrived for The Second Time.
It is time to wake up.
A physicist begins a quest to measure the soul but soon finds himself drawn into the world of the enigmatic Max Richardson, where research is sold to the military at the highest bid. However, he soon discovers another purpose when an extremely talented young psychic enters his life. He devises a project
and builds a team to stretch the frontiers of exploration, only to make a reality-shattering discovery...
The First Chronicle is the beginning of a 5 part epic which
follows the spiritual and emotional journey of five people; their quest to understand the universe and our place within it. Along the way, they address the fundamental questions we all seek answers to:
Why are we here?
What is the purpose of the universe?
Is there a God?
Quantum physics meets spirituality in a tale which begins in the 1940s, unfolds during the 1960s; an era of social and spiritual transformation and reaches its conclusion in the modern age.
It interweaves the human dramas of love, betrayal, bitterness and above all, courage in a world where everyone must face their own dark shadow.
Written in the style of a TV series, this is for those of you who love clever and intriguing story lines 'Lost' and 'Fringe' style.
This is a great read for fans of the paranormal, big
sweeping epics, metaphysics, science fiction, contemporary fantasy, alternate realities and new age/spirituality.
The 2nd edition is scheduled for release in February 2012, which will also make a great YA read for those who like some science with their paranormal. It's available through all common outlets as an ebook and paperback.
An Exclusive Interview with The Author
I’m a UK based author and screenwriter who writes mainly in the science fiction and paranormal genres, although I may break that rule from time to time. Apart from writing, my greatest passions also include fabric and stitching; I create bags, corsets and clothing in the vintage, retro and alternative style.
Q. It is often said that if you can write a short story, you can write anything. How true do you think this is and what have you written that either proves or disproves this POV? Not necessarily. A short story is a brief concept, the pacing, plot and character development differs greatly from a novel, in that the plot is very concise and character development is often quite superficial because there’s no time to present much of a back story. A novel builds the plot and character through a longer series of scenes, and it’s much harder to correctly pace and present each element of the story. There’s so much more to keep a handle of. A screenplay is different yet again, as it has a specific formula, plus, it’s much tighter. It relies on a lot of show as opposed to tell, everything must be styled very visually, using action and dialogue. A stage play or radio script is another matter, something I don’t write.
Q. How do you research for a book before you begin the writing process?
I tend to take notes from the books I’ve read, indicating how it fits in with my story. The details are often researched as I progress through a book, reflecting where I need more detail. It’s also down to the draft stage it’s at; the technical research was the first layer, while the next draft focused on the historical context.
Q. What is the best part of writing for you?
Always the creative process, building events and scenes from scratch and seeing everything play out in a mind movie. Re-drafting has its merits too, for an author can really see the story come together and flesh out. Very often, a first draft can be skeletal, so subsequent revisions can really put the flesh and skin on a story.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your book?
The whole series is a journey, an expedition that draws together fringe science, psychic powers, alternate dimensions, time travel, past lives, miracles, folklore, consciousness, conspiracy and nostalgia, in a soap opera for the soul. Welcome to the new paranormal/science fiction series entitled ‘Seven Point Eight’.
In the first book of the series, a physicist begins a quest to measure the soul but soon founds himself swept into the world of Max Richardson, where research is sold to the military at the highest bid. When the talented psychic, Tahra, walks into his life, they soon embark on a ground-breaking project designed to stretch the frontiers of exploration, only to make a reality shattering discovery….
Q. What is your guiltiest pleasure that few know about?
Sad TV programmes, like America’s Next Top Model and Jerry Springer; I get drawn into them if the TV’s on, but I don’t go out of my way to watch them.
Q. In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of writing for a living?
Best – the creative process itself, writing from scratch and re-drafting for depth.
Worst – the final proof edits, messing around with the fiddly bits. You get sick to death of a novel at that point!
9. The cover of the book is really awesome. Did you have any inputs on it?
I didn’t visualise the design of it, but I gave the artist plenty of information so that he knew how to present it. He showed me some ideas and I chose one to work with, indicating what other details I required. It took three drafts to produce the cover. For the second book in the series, I have a much clearer idea of what I want.
Q. What’s next after this?
Seven Point Eight: The Second Chronicle is due for full release in August this year, with the ARC available in July. I’m also planning a stand alone for release just before Christmas, which will either be a suspense novella or a dystopian YA book. The TV pilot screenplay also requires a second draft, so I can start pitching it.
Q. If your book got turned into a movie, then who would you select as your actors?
Seven Point Eight is written in the style of a TV series, with the complex and epic plot, full of numerous story threads. If I had rich pickings, I’d cast Michael Fassbender as Dr Paul Eldridge, Henry Cavill as Max Richardson (with a bit of age added), Dianna Agron as Ava and Nicholas Hoult as Sam. The cover girl for The First Chronicle is New Mexico actress, Monique Candelaria, and I’d love her to take the role.
Q. Any advice you would want to give aspiring writers?
Study both the craft of writing and the world of publishing, whether that be traditional or indie. Understand the market and what makes readers tick. Observe people and relationships. Join writing groups and find yourself a critique partner. Organise a good editor. Build a social networking platform – blog, Facebook, Twitter etc… And finally, persevere.
A Special Treat for you all : Book Excerpt
Ava gave him a lingering glance, feeling a sense of sadness regarding his predicament. What a waste of human life.
They passed another character, a blonde haired woman with an intense and seething look on her face. This time, she wasn’t restrained although she crouched on her bed, bearing a menacing expression on her face. When she saw Ava, she snarled.
“What’s wrong with her, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Her escort acquiesced to her questioning again.
“Schizophrenia… she hears voices, which she claims instruct her to do evil. She enjoys inflicting pain on others, so we have to isolate her.”
Ava was touched deeply this time.
“Like Maria’s original diagnosis?”
Her escort tried to smile sympathetically, although she said nothing. Ava made eye contact with the intense character behind the door, which sent a chill down her spine.
“She reminds me of the girl from The Exorcist,” she commented.
They turned the corridor, and there were two more people that Ava felt drawn to; a black man and woman, who resided in the same room. They appeared to be actors in a play of their own making.
“Lost in their own little world, aren’t they?” she said.
“We call them The Time Travellers, as they always insist they’ve travelled to the past and future. Most of the time they’re locked in an imagery scenario, living some other reality. We keep them together, as their behaviour is more manageable if we do so.”
The final curiosity that Ava had to ask about was a man with fair hair, who could often be seen punching at the walls, or shouting for books. He was oblivious to their presence and Ava’s gaze. On this day, he was standing in front of a wall, reaching out to touch it with his fingers.
“What is he doing?” Ava asked.
“He believes he can walk through walls,” her escort explained. “My, we’ve had some bruises over the years. I don’t know what’s worse, his wall or book obsession.”
They passed through some double doors, which required a security code to gain entry into the next corridor. There, they soon found room 104 and Ava paused outside.
“Has there been any change in her condition since I last visited?”
Her escort shook her head, sadly.
“She’s still in a persistent vegetative state, exactly the same as the day she arrived.”
Ava accepted the situation with reluctance.
“She’s the only living relative I know of,” she explained. “I was hoping one day I’d discover where we came from, who our parents are and if our father is still alive. Did you recover the file from the facility she transferred from?”
“I’m sorry, it’s still missing.”
Undeterred, Ava pressed further.
“Does anybody else visit her? They may be able to offer some clues to her history… why she ended up in this condition, when and why she cut her wrists...”
“I can’t disclose that information, it’s confidential I’m afraid.”
Her escort opened the door and Ava entered, determined to present a face of hope to Maria, her sister.
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If only I had a Kindle, though even now I'm too late. This looks really excellent. I'm really drawn in by the premise and the cover. It looks like it's going to be a truly excellent read. The author herself is also a bit of a trip!
ReplyDeleteRebecca @ Vicariously!