A Chip In Time - First Review

Five-Star Review

Thrilling Detective Fiction, February 6, 2012

By

Mr. Aman S. Anand - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Chip In Time (Danny DeVille - Detective) (Kindle Edition)

This thrilling science fiction murder mystery opens with a terrific opening line: `The thing about cheating is that it's just plain stupid'. This charming, no-nonsense opening salvo sets the tone for a thoroughly riveting read. I took this book with me on holiday, and it was so intriguing that I found myself looking forward to returning to my hotel just so I could read A Chip In Time.

Danny DeVille, the book's protagonist and narrator, in his own words, works hard and works smart, and immediately endears the reader to himself with his acutely perceptive skills and general attitude.

I do not wish to give too much of the pulsating plot away, but Danny soon teams up with Olivia Harris, a Special Agent from the future, and together they work one of the most interesting mysteries I have encountered in any genre. That would be enough for most writers, but the dynamic between our protagonists is terrific and adds another layer to an already brilliant book.

A Chip In Time is one of those rare books that fully realises its dramatic potential. A must read for any fans of detective fiction.

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Wow! Thanks to Mr. Anand for his kind words. It is gratifying to know that the writing is actually enjoyable to some people. Many of us independent authors and publishers struggle with the writing, promoting, and constant waiting for reviews, good or bad. Not a lot of readers appreciate the energy and creativity that goes into a novel and few -- unless they have actually been through the writing wringer -- can understand the anticipation factor an author goes through waiting to see what others think of the work.

 

One review like this one makes it all worth while. Now I must get back to the writing, giving my arm a chance to heal after all the self-inflicted back-patting.

 

Getting Back To Work

Well, it's been a good month, haven't written anything other than emails and blog posts. I sorta like the idea of taking off the entire month of December. It gives me the chance to sort out old business, plot and plan new works for the coming year, and catch up on the things happening around the world. December is great for recaps, all of the media outlets blasting at me with their "important events" of the past year.

Which gives me a chance to reflect on my own year, and point out a few things: in 2011 I published four novels totalling 452,000 words. Maybe not in the same category as some of my more prolific fellow writers, but, for me, that's an all-time high. Lots of writing going on this year and more planned for 2012. I am getting the rights back for my first novel and expect a second edition of A Chip In Time to become available as an eBook around the first of February. Next on my list of things to do will be the fourth installment in The Belt Loop series, look for that to be done on April 1st. Then the third installment in the Danny DeVille future Las Vegas series (working title: The G.O.D. Machine) should hit around June and The Belt Loop (Book Five) is planned for an August release. Rounding out 2012 will be the sixth Belt Loop book, maybe by November 1st. Then it's the month of December 2012 to relax and let my fingers heal.

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Detail of Mind Over Matter © 1983 R. Jones

Having set my course for next year, all I have to do now is stick with it. Make my MIND up to get it done, spend all of the available productive hours in the day on writing and more writing. Now, if I can only get the MATTER to cooperate.

Next post: A Chip In Time update.

The Plot Thickens

What drives me to write? What drives the plot? One simple answer. Imagination.

I started reading sci-fi back in the 1950's and once I got hooked on Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, Clarke, and the like, I have always wondered, What's Really Out There?

During my stint in the Air Force, where I served as a Chinese Linguist, I had a close encounter. It was in February of 1967 out in the desert south of San Angelo, Texas. I started writing that experience once I got out of the service (didn't want to jeopardize my TS clearance while I was in) and the unfinished manuscript still languishes in my desk drawer. I cannot complete it for some reason, probably a mental block, probably the inability to string the right words together to make it acceptable reading material for folks of all ages.

Back in the day, when Project Blue Book was hot, I wondered just what was hidden behind those chain-links up in Area 51. I wondered what those lights in the sky over my childhood home in Washington, DC, in the 1950's really were. I wondered about the Drake Equation, I wondered about the universe at large.

In trying to square that circle of mysteries, I decided to write one of my own. Partially inspired by "By His Bootstraps" (Heinlein writing as Anson MacDonald, I think) I presented a time-travel, Area 51, multiple universe, alien technology sci-fi thriller of my own. A Chip In Time.

Tomorrow: Inspiration and attitude.