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Wold Enough and Time (and lots of pictures)
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Well, I've certainly seen enough of the world, and it's high time I got around to another entry here. What have I been up to? After the summer tour, I've been off on a bit of a research trip/vacation to spots in Europe. I was lucky enough to revisit some of the sites featured in The Doomsday Key. I've posted some short videos at these locations and they can be found here:
Here are the four sites covered in those videos:
Akershus Fortress in Oslo where the World Food Summit takes place in The Doomsday Key
The Grand Hotel in Oslo where Painter runs into Senator Gorman...and some assassins:
And a park everyone should visit in Oslo. I knew I wanted to put this place in a book. It's the Vigeland Sculpture Park with its magnificent central Monolith sculpture.
And I visited a site for this site for the first time. In a museum in Arhus, Denmark, where they have one of the most famous peat bog mummies (also features prominently in The Doomsday Key)
To see videos from each of the above locations, check out the link to the Doomsday Videos.
But during this trip, I was also visiting other sites that will appear in upcoming Sigma novels (and a secret project that some of you have figured out, but that I'm going to remain silent about for another month or so). For those who want to perhaps have a sneak peek at what's coming up, here's a few photos that I won't annotate, but they all play a role in upcoming books:
Okay I'll end it there, but I might post more later...just to by cryptic.
Right after I got back from this trip abroad, I hightailed it down to San Diego to do an introductory talk at the annual Clive Cussler convention (what an honor!). During that trip, I was invited, along with Clive, his son Dirk, and a few other participants to tour the active nuclear submarine, the U.S.S Asheville. It was both an honor and quite the eye-opener concer ning life aboard a submarine (who knew they had only one small stackable washer and dryer to serve the whole hundred-plus crew?). Thanks, Barry!
Me posing next to a torpedo tube. I wanted to climb inside, but that was frowned upon.
Separately I was also invited by fellow author W. Craig Reed (who wrote the thriller DNA and has an upcoming nonfiction thriller from HarperCollins in 2010 dealing with submarine espionage) to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Navy SEALs training facility in San Diego. Again it was enlightening trip.
Here's me testing a new toy (and Christmas is coming up for those looking for the perfect gift!):
I also ran into this guy on the grounds of "The Grinder."
And here's a picture of Craig ("BC") Reed and I signing books at the American Legion Hall after the tour (thanks, to Tony Stewart and Ken Greenawald...and his wife Den...for arranging all of this and doing such a great job):
Okay, that's probably long enough of a slide show! Next up will be a great deal of information about this winter's book Altar of Eden. For those following me on Twitter, you've been getting a few bits and pieces, but in a few days, I'm going to post lots more here--including the entire jacket flap copy, cover art, and more!
Until then
No, wait....I forgot, go see Zombieland (loved that movie!)
Jim
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Comments
Name: Shana Simon Date: 2009-10-08
Loved the pics can't wait for the next sigma book right now i'm trying not to reread doomsday key because it will only make the wait longer so instead i'm trying a new hobby ... drawing lol its a work in progress. Love your work.
Name: Amanda Faltysek Date: 2009-10-10
I read anything with your name on the cover, can't wait for your next book! Keep up the great work!
Name: Jalae Ulicki Date: 2009-10-11
Can we expect to see a book come out in 2012 -- perhaps on this topic?? Prof. U http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091011/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_apocalypse2012
Name: Rebecca St Croix Martinez Date: 2009-10-14
Loved the pictures!! The peat bog mummy is incredible!!!! I just went online to check those guys out. So cool!
Name: Jenn Date: 2009-10-14
Upcoming Sigma novels? YAY! My husband was really looking forward to a new Godslayer Chronicle (as am I), but in the meantime, I got him hooked on the Sigma series. Like Amanda posted previously, we read anything with your name on it (often out loud, to each other). Thanks so much for the hours of entertainment!
Name: Anette Date: 2009-10-23
Just finished The Doomsday Key - and absolutely loved it :)Way cool that it's partly set in Norway, and being Norwegian I must say that I'm very impressed with the accurate details in your writing!! Already looking forward to the next Sigma-novel and MORE of Gray Pierce . I just know he's tall and handsome ;))
Name: Jan Petersen Date: 2009-10-23
Love your books.So far I have gotten my son-in-law and brother-in-law hooked. Can't wait till Alter of Eden comes out. When are you coming to Utah to do a book signing?
Name: Derek Date: 2009-10-31
I loved the Doomsday Key and was very happy to hear there are plan for more sigma novels (note the plural). Hope you keep this Gray/Seichan story going, it definately adds to the the experience.
Name: Wallis McGhie Date: 2009-12-07
I am power reading you on my Kindle 2. Powerful books with a lot of science. We worked with Dr. Targ and we know about the 32 amino acids, as we have a product with them and Dr. Targ was doing the research. She and her father did the research at Stanford. So--very impressed with your research. We have a ranch where the six tribes have their gatherings with powerful petroglythys. If you are interested I think the cliffs with caves and the arrowheads where they had a battle would be a great novel. We have something for your cave exploration that the ironmen use. They work for animals also. Goode luck with your tour. We might make it to Roseville in February. Wallis
Name: Ted Trathen Date: 2009-10-07
Read ALL your books. Love the blog and pics. Great to see settings of scenes from your books- makes it more real. Keep tweeting and GO SIGMA!