ELLE ANDREWS PATT

Novelist Cheri Roman's 'Return To Earth' short story, 'Gaia Returning' is FREE today from Kindle! Just hit the title link or cover pic to download.

EAP: Welcome, Cheri. How did you become involved with the Alvarium Experiment and what was the thought process behind evolving 'Return To Earth' as AE's second project?

​CLR: Like so many other things, it came about through networking. Bria Burton and I are both members of the FWA. We had done some manuscript trading and become familiar with each other’s writing through beta reads. I’m not certain who came up with the new premise, but I was honored when Bria invited me to participate in the second project. Then too, the premise was too intriguing to turn down, so, here we are.

EAP: What was your inspiration for this particular story?

CLR: It’s funny how a group of things can come together to produce something altogether different from one’s first intention. In this case, I was struggling with my original concept, trying to focus it tightly while a number of ideas kept fluttering around in my head.

And then, I came home one day to find an empty plastic container on the counter with a note: Recycle!! Apparently my daughter had found it in the regular trash and the event had clearly frustrated her green, earth-loving heart.

Right around that same time I saw a documentary about the really serious issues we have with regards to the Earth and our use (dare I say abuse) of her natural resources. The film nearly broke my heart. And I thought, wow, wouldn’t we be in trouble if Earth were a sentient being? How long would she put up with this mess and what would she do about it? 

All these things swirled together, in and around those original ideas, until it sort of distilled into Gaia Returning.

EAP: Could you share with us either your process or a difficulty you overcame as you wrote Gaia Returning?

CLR: My original notion, and that’s all it was, at first -- a notion, was very close to being nothing more than the original prompt. 

But there were too many threads, too many characters and ideas, all fighting with one another. My writing partners kept looking at my pages and saying, “This is a novel.” And what I really needed for the Alvarium Project was a short story.  A novella at most.  But the truth was, the story that was demanding to be told was bigger than that, bigger even than a stand-alone novel. 

So when my daughter made her request, it triggered something in my head, and what I ended up with was an outline for a four novel series. It wasn’t until I got that outline down and could see where Gaia Returning would fit within it that I was able to write the novelette that eventually resulted.

EAP: What does the next year for you as a writer look like?

CLR: Right now I’m working on the third book in my YA series. I really want to finish that before I go on to anything else, but the Gaia series is poking at me, demanding to be written. And then, of course, people have been asking what’s happening in the world of the Rephaim, the fantasy series I’ve been developing. So there’s always something to be done. 

In an ideal world, I guess I’d finish Ghost Candidate, then do the next one in the Rephaim series, whatever that is, and then start on the Gaia series.  But then, we don’t live in an ideal world, so anything is possible. 

EAP: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

CLR: You can find me on Facebook at or on Twitter @cheri_roman. Or you can visit my blog and sign up for my newsletter for the latest on my new releases, plus some exclusive content! I look forward to seeing you there.

​Author Bio:  C.L. Roman writes fantasy and paranormal young adult. She currently has three series in the works: Rephaim, The Witch of Forsythe High, and The Freestar Chronicles. Most days you can find her on her blog, The Brass Rag, or working on her next novel or short story. Cheri lives in the not-so-wilds of Northeast Florida with her husband and Jack E. Boy, the super Chihuahua.


About Return to Earth 
Return to Earth is the second project of the Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of accomplished and award-winning authors.
The stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story.
Return to Earth stories & authors are: 


"AOB" by Bria Burton. 
Aona, an Alien-Operated Bot (AOB), suffers a malfunction that could jeopardize her mission on Earth and could lead to the extinction of an entire species from another planet. 
Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com 

"The Paradoxical Man" by Bard Constantine. 
Albert Rosen is one of five explorers who vanished on a deep-sea expedition into the Bermuda Triangle. He returns to Earth centuries later, transported across space and time through a mysterious wormhole. However, Earth is not the home he remembers. Humankind has been evacuated, and the survivors lie in hibernation aboard the Locus, an orbiting space station. Rosen is forced to match wits with Deis, an artificial intelligence determined to keep humanity in stasis until he is convinced they are fit to return.
Visit Bard at www.bardwritesbooks.com 

"Children Of The Stars" by Charles A. Cornell. 
In Japan, an American medical researcher discovers the deadly secret behind an eighty-year-old woman's ageless appearance and incredible fertility, and her connection to the bizarre disappearance of the freighter the Ourang Medan in 1948.
Visit Charles at www.charlesacornell.com 

​"Project Bright Star" by Kristin Durfee. 
A once thought failed secret mission to colonize a distant planet, named 0X3B1, is discovered to have been successful when descendants of that mission return to Earth fifty-one years after their grandparents left, much to the surprise, and fear, of the world.
Visit Kristin at www.kristindurfee.com 

"Recovery" by Veronica Helen Hart. 
When a virus threatens the lives of everyone on board a transfer station for intergalactic travel, it's up to Dr. Candace Bertram to retrieve the only known vaccine from Earth. The risky, untested method of transport could mean catastrophic mission failure, and grave danger for Dr. Bertram.
Visit Veronica at www.veronicahhart.com 

"Coming Home" by John Hope. 
Finally achieving his dream of being an astronaut on the Jupiter missions, Jasper's mind is elsewhere, on the recent loss of his stepfather, Bud. But Jasper's space mission is interrupted when he is sucked into a wormhole that transports him to a different time, 30 years in the past. And now, doctors don't believe where he's from. Fortunately, his loving nurse at his side comforts him and a love builds. That is, until he realizes that his nurse's son is Jasper as a young boy.
Visit John at www.johnhopewriting.com 

"Someday Loyal" by Elle Andrews Patt. 
Alien invaders are lobbing fireballs at Peoria, but Grandmama is holding tea. When the military arrives in search of Mrs. Suniol, Alice is drawn into the mystery of Lake Snow, a missing husband, and securing the key to an entire civilization's survival.
Visit Elle at www.elleandrewspatt.com 

​"Under The Whelming Tide" by Ken Pelham. 
The Aethir, space-born descendants of the mythical planet Earth, are returning home at last to fulfill their destiny. But not all believe the great homecoming will be the heaven they have been promised.
Visit Ken at www.kenpelham.com 

"Social Experiment" by Tracie Roberts. 
For the past two years Dr. Olivia Tate had led a satisfying life with her alien spouse, Kya Dumont. As a scientist and cancer survivor, Liv is on a mission to discover a cure for the deadly disease. But something equally deadly has put Kya’s people, the Oo’mahn, in danger of extinction. With an order to evacuate Earth, Kya struggles between helping her people and remaining with the woman she loves, especially now that Liv has also fallen ill. Now Kya’s ship is approaching and the couple must not only find a cure for Liv and the Oo’mahn, but also devise a plan to remain together despite the objection of the aliens.
Visit Tracie at www.tracieroberts.com 

"Gaia Returning" by C.L. Roman. 
Pirates steal things. It's what they do... When Captain Irina Demyanov’s first mate disobeys orders and steals the crown jewels of a vengeful alien race, she knows she’s out of options. Desperate to escape, Irina takes her chances on a dangerous vortex leap and lands near an unnamed, yet strangely familiar planet. The gamble may have paid off, but between hostile inhabitants and inevitable discovery by their pursuers, the pirates’ chances of survival appear slim. Can the human remnant find refuge, or will their enemies put a permanent end to the human race?
Visit C.L. at www.brassragpress.com

​For additional info about the stories and authors, visit the website: www.alvariumexperiment.wixsite.com/returntoearth
Facebook Fan Page: The Alvarium Experiment 

​

Welcome, author Tracie Roberts!

Tracie writes in multiple genres including paranormal romance, YA, and New Adult. “Social Experiment” is her first foray into science fiction and it is available for FREE
today through Tuesday on Kindle. Follow link to download while supplies last!

EAP: So, Tracie, you weren’t involved with the first Alvarium project, The Prometheus Saga. How did you happen to join this second project?

TR: I didn’t even know about the first project! But my very good friend, critique partner, and fellow Alvarium author, C.L. Roman, vouched for me with the group and I was invited to join. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with other talented writers and hope to do so again in the future.

EAP: Being a romance author, did you find it difficult writing science fiction?

TR: At first I did. I struggled to find a premise to write about without the story sounding cliché. I mean, as a Star Trek and Star Wars fan myself, I couldn’t think of many sci-fi topics that hadn’t already been covered. Then, as I wrote a basic outline for my story (that ended up being WAY bigger in scope than what I published for the Alvarium Project), I realized that I could write a romance that fit the premise of humans returning to earth. “Social Experiment” is what came of following that rabbit trail. And I would like to expand the story to include the larger scale premise that I originally started with and have more of an alien presence.

EAP: Do you have any news about upcoming projects you’d like to share with the readers?

TR: I do! Though my writing has slowed down some since I returned to my paying job (as an English teacher of all things), I have been working to finish the first book in my new sweet romance series, The Lantana Beach series. In Skimming the Surface, readers are introduced to sassy, strong-willed Savannah Montgomery who speaks her mind but guards her heart especially around Ty Carafello, a former NFL player turned agent who is determined to prove to Savannah that there are still some good men to be found. The story is set in a fictitious northeast FL beach town that many readers will automatically recognize.  
In a few weeks, I’ll be in Orlando as a signing author at Indie Bookfest. I’m excited to meet with readers during the two-day event on October 7-8. Anyone interested can check out the IBF website here.

EAP: If readers want to check out more of your work or more about you, where should they go?

TR: You can find me on Facebook as tracie.roberts13 or on Twitter @tracie_roberts. Or you can visit my blog and sign up for my newsletter for the latest on my new releases, plus some exclusive content! I look forward to seeing you there.


About the Author
Tracie Roberts is a native Floridian who laughs loudest at her own jokes, ODs quite frequently on 80s nostalgia, and eavesdrops on perfect strangers to glean story ideas. She’s been writing for all of four years but has been telling stories since she was old enough to realize she could make people believe her lies.

Find out more about Tracie’s future works at tracieroberts.com or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

​About Return to Earth 
Return to Earth is the second project of the Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of accomplished and award-winning authors.
The stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story.

Return to Earth stories & authors are: 
"AOB" by Bria Burton. Aona, an Alien-Operated Bot (AOB), suffers a malfunction that could jeopardize her mission on Earth and could lead to the extinction of an entire species from another planet. 
Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com 
"The Paradoxical Man" by Bard Constantine. Albert Rosen is one of five explorers who vanished on a deep-sea expedition into the Bermuda Triangle. He returns to Earth centuries later, transported across space and time through a mysterious wormhole. However, Earth is not the home he remembers. Humankind has been evacuated, and the survivors lie in hibernation aboard the Locus, an orbiting space station. Rosen is forced to match wits with Deis, an artificial intelligence determined to keep humanity in stasis until he is convinced they are fit to return.
Visit Bard at www.bardwritesbooks.com 
"Children Of The Stars" by Charles A. Cornell. In Japan, an American medical researcher discovers the deadly secret behind an eighty-year-old woman's ageless appearance and incredible fertility, and her connection to the bizarre disappearance of the freighter the Ourang Medan in 1948.
Visit Charles at www.charlesacornell.com 
"Project Bright Star" by Kristin Durfee. A once thought failed secret mission to colonize a distant planet, named 0X3B1, is discovered to have been successful when descendants of that mission return to Earth fifty-one years after their grandparents left, much to the surprise, and fear, of the world.
Visit Kristin at www.kristindurfee.com 
"Recovery" by Veronica Helen Hart. When a virus threatens the lives of everyone on board a transfer station for intergalactic travel, it's up to Dr. Candace Bertram to retrieve the only known vaccine from Earth. The risky, untested method of transport could mean catastrophic mission failure, and grave danger for Dr. Bertram.
Visit Veronica at www.veronicahhart.com 
"Coming Home" by John Hope. Finally achieving his dream of being an astronaut on the Jupiter missions, Jasper's mind is elsewhere, on the recent loss of his stepfather, Bud. But Jasper's space mission is interrupted when he is sucked into a wormhole that transports him to a different time, 30 years in the past. And now, doctors don't believe where he's from. Fortunately, his loving nurse at his side comforts him and a love builds. That is, until he realizes that his nurse's son is Jasper as a young boy.
Visit John at www.johnhopewriting.com 
"Someday Loyal" by Elle Andrews Patt. Alien invaders are lobbing fireballs at Peoria, but Grandmama is holding tea. When the military arrives in search of Mrs. Suniol, Alice is drawn into the mystery of Lake Snow, a missing husband, and securing the key to an entire civilization's survival.
Visit Elle at www.elleandrewspatt.com 
"Under The Whelming Tide" by Ken Pelham. The Aethir, space-born descendants of the mythical planet Earth, are returning home at last to fulfill their destiny. But not all believe the great homecoming will be the heaven they have been promised.
Visit Ken at www.kenpelham.com 
"Social Experiment" by Tracie Roberts. For the past two years Dr. Olivia Tate had led a satisfying life with her alien spouse, Kya Dumont. As a scientist and cancer survivor, Liv is on a mission to discover a cure for the deadly disease. But something equally deadly has put Kya’s people, the Oo’mahn, in danger of extinction. With an order to evacuate Earth, Kya struggles between helping her people and remaining with the woman she loves, especially now that Liv has also fallen ill. Now Kya’s ship is approaching and the couple must not only find a cure for Liv and the Oo’mahn, but also devise a plan to remain together despite the objection of the aliens.
Visit Tracie at www.tracieroberts.com 
"Gaia Returning" by C.L. Roman. Pirates steal things. It's what they do... When Captain Irina Demyanov’s first mate disobeys orders and steals the crown jewels of a vengeful alien race, she knows she’s out of options. Desperate to escape, Irina takes her chances on a dangerous vortex leap and lands near an unnamed, yet strangely familiar planet. The gamble may have paid off, but between hostile inhabitants and inevitable discovery by their pursuers, the pirates’ chances of survival appear slim. Can the human remnant find refuge, or will their enemies put a permanent end to the human race?
Visit C.L. at www.brassragpress.com
For additional info about the stories and authors, visit the website: www.alvariumexperiment.wixsite.com/returntoearth
Facebook Fan Page: The Alvarium Experiment 

Welcome to Ken Pelham! Ken is a fellow Alvarium Experiment writer and he's answering questions regarding his new e-book today!

Ken reads and writes in multiple genres and is a member of the Alvarium Experiment, the consortium of award-winning writers reinventing the way readers experience short fiction. His short story, “Under the Whelming Tide” is available FREE today through August 30th on Kindle. Follow link to download while supplies last!




​Q: What was behind the Alvarium Experiment, and how did the group arrive at this second project, Return To Earth?

KP: All genres have their strengths and weaknesses. I’ve always loved short stories in general and science fiction short stories in particular, because the format lets you get quickly to the strength of science fiction. Ideas. I’d been looking around for a couple of years for a good anthology to submit work to, and it occurred to me that with all the explosive advances in online publishing and marketing, heck, I could create my own anthology. I scribbled out a page or two of concepts for how a working group could publish together yet independently around the same concept. I pitched the idea to Charles A. Cornell, a writer I’d met a couple of years before and whom I knew as an outside-the-box kind of guy. I was certain he’d say, “Um, yeah, listen, I gotta go wash my cat. Or something.” But he pounced on the idea and dubbed it “The Alvarium Experiment,” describing a hive of busy bees producing gallons of honey. We bounced ideas back and forth for a couple of weeks until we had the premise for the first project, The Prometheus Saga. We were shooting for an idea with great flexibility and unlimited possibilities, and we had one. We pitched it to writers we respected and soon had browbeaten a group of twelve into signing on. We launched that effort, each of us publishing independently on the same day in January of 2015.

After a year we started kicking around ideas for a second project. Lots of notions were floated and we debated merits of each. Elle Andrews Patt suggested an idea of aliens arriving at Earth, but, lo, the aliens are human. This idea sprouted wheels and gained traction, as it had the same wide-open horizons as the first project. We had new writers join in, and we were off and running. 

Q: What was the inspiration for your Return To Earth story, “Under the Whelming Tide”?

KP: I often come up with ideas by playing the “what if?” game a lot of writers use. I had the prompt from the hive-mind group-think—a return of human beings to Earth. It’s a loaded idea and that’s the great beauty of it. Among the “what-if’s” I came up with was, “What if they’re physically different from us?” That one jumped off the page at me. Okay, so they’re physically different. Why? Because of differing evolutionary paths, of course. What makes different populations of the same species evolve differently? Different environments, of course. So if I took a group of humans off-planet and placed them into a radically different environment for untold generations, they’re going to come out much differently.

Another inspiration behind this story was undoubtedly Robert A. Heinlein’s classic short story, “Universe,” published in 1941. I read it about thirty-five years ago and still think about it. Heinlein presented the idea of a vast spaceship, so long in space that its inhabitants have evolved their own culture, lore, and mythology, oblivious even to the mere existence of anything outside their ship. They don’t even know it’s a ship; it’s their “universe.” In my story, the Aethir are aware of the cosmos around them but live generation after generation in an arrested state of intellectual growth. They have highly advanced technology at their disposal but they don’t truly understand it, as they simply inherited it from its originators.

Q: Could you tell us about a difficulty you overcame as you wrote this particular story? 

KP: After noodling it awhile, I knew that the idea would require a good bit of explanation to make it believable. And explanation is the arch-enemy of fiction. So I had to come up with a scheme to present the explanation while moving the story along and avoiding the dreaded “info dump.” I hit upon the idea of a trial for heresy, in which I could dispense the info while tricking it out with a little suspense. The old courtroom drama ploy. Perry Mason in outer space. 

Q: What does your next year as a writer look like? 

KP: Busy, busy, busy. I’m working on a nonfiction book that kind of grew out of blog posts I wrote about suspense fiction. The book takes a fun look at the evolution of genre fiction, the cross-pollination between genres, and their places in society and literature overall. I’m also working on a short horror story for an anthology. I have a third Carson Grant thriller in the works. Soon as the nonfiction book is complete, that one will take priority. I swear.

The audiobook edition of the 2nd Carson Grant novel, Place of Fear, should be out a little later this year.

Q: How can readers find out more about your work?

KP: By all means, come set a spell at www.kenpelham.com and on Twitter, @kenpelham. On Facebook, I show up on the Alvarium Experiment page, and on my own page. Also have an author’s page at both Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author
Ken Pelham’s debut novel, Brigands Key, won the 2009 Royal Palm Literary Award, was published in hardcover in 2012, in softcover in 2014, and in audiobook in 2015. The prequel, Place of Fear, a 2012 first-place winner of the Royal Palm, was released in 2013. His nonfiction book, Out of Sight, Out of Mind: A Writer’s Guide to Mastering Viewpoint, was named the RPLA 2015 Published Book of the Year.
Ken grew up in the small South Florida town of Immokalee, and lives with his wife, Laura, in Maitland, Florida. A member of the International Thriller Writers and the Florida Writers Association, writing keeps him off the streets and out of trouble, although he’s sometimes spotted cycling, fishing, or scuba diving, seldom simultaneously.

About Return to Earth 
Return to Earth is the second project of the Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of accomplished and award-winning authors.

The stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story.

​Return to Earth stories & authors are: 

"AOB" by Bria Burton. Aona, an Alien-Operated Bot (AOB), suffers a malfunction that could jeopardize her mission on Earth and could lead to the extinction of an entire species from another planet. 
Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com 

"The Paradoxical Man" by Bard Constantine. Albert Rosen is one of five explorers who vanished on a deep-sea expedition into the Bermuda Triangle. He returns to Earth centuries later, transported across space and time through a mysterious wormhole. However, Earth is not the home he remembers. Humankind has been evacuated, and the survivors lie in hibernation aboard the Locus, an orbiting space station. Rosen is forced to match wits with Deis, an artificial intelligence determined to keep humanity in stasis until he is convinced they are fit to return.
Visit Bard at www.bardwritesbooks.com 

"Children Of The Stars" by Charles A. Cornell. In Japan, an American medical researcher discovers the deadly secret behind an eighty-year-old woman's ageless appearance and incredible fertility, and her connection to the bizarre disappearance of the freighter the Ourang Medan in 1948.
Visit Charles at www.charlesacornell.com 

​"Project Bright Star" by Kristin Durfee. A once thought failed secret mission to colonize a distant planet, named 0X3B1, is discovered to have been successful when descendants of that mission return to Earth fifty-one years after their grandparents left, much to the surprise, and fear, of the world.
Visit Kristin at www.kristindurfee.com 

"Recovery" by Veronica Helen Hart. When a virus threatens the lives of everyone on board a transfer station for intergalactic travel, it's up to Dr. Candace Bertram to retrieve the only known vaccine from Earth. The risky, untested method of transport could mean catastrophic mission failure, and grave danger for Dr. Bertram.
Visit Veronica at www.veronicahhart.com 

"Coming Home" by John Hope. Finally achieving his dream of being an astronaut on the Jupiter missions, Jasper's mind is elsewhere, on the recent loss of his stepfather, Bud. But Jasper's space mission is interrupted when he is sucked into a wormhole that transports him to a different time, 30 years in the past. And now, doctors don't believe where he's from. Fortunately, his loving nurse at his side comforts him and a love builds. That is, until he realizes that his nurse's son is Jasper as a young boy.
Visit John at www.johnhopewriting.com 

"Someday Loyal" by Elle Andrews Patt. Alien invaders are lobbing fireballs at Peoria, but Grandmama is holding tea. When the military arrives in search of Mrs. Suniol, Alice is drawn into the mystery of Lake Snow, a missing husband, and securing the key to an entire civilization's survival.
Visit Elle at www.elleandrewspatt.com 

"Under The Whelming Tide" by Ken Pelham. The Aethir, space-born descendants of the mythical planet Earth, are returning home at last to fulfill their destiny. But not all believe the great homecoming will be the heaven they have been promised.
Visit Ken at www.kenpelham.com 

"Social Experiment" by Tracie Roberts. For the past two years Dr. Olivia Tate had led a satisfying life with her alien spouse, Kya Dumont. As a scientist and cancer survivor, Liv is on a mission to discover a cure for the deadly disease. But something equally deadly has put Kya’s people, the Oo’mahn, in danger of extinction. With an order to evacuate Earth, Kya struggles between helping her people and remaining with the woman she loves, especially now that Liv has also fallen ill. Now Kya’s ship is approaching and the couple must not only find a cure for Liv and the Oo’mahn, but also devise a plan to remain together despite the objection of the aliens.
Visit Tracie at www.tracieroberts.com 

"Gaia Returning" by C.L. Roman. Pirates steal things. It's what they do... When Captain Irina Demyanov’s first mate disobeys orders and steals the crown jewels of a vengeful alien race, she knows she’s out of options. Desperate to escape, Irina takes her chances on a dangerous vortex leap and lands near an unnamed, yet strangely familiar planet. The gamble may have paid off, but between hostile inhabitants and inevitable discovery by their pursuers, the pirates’ chances of survival appear slim. Can the human remnant find refuge, or will their enemies put a permanent end to the human race?
Visit C.L. at www.brassragpress.com

​For additional info about the stories and authors, visit the website: www.alvariumexperiment.wixsite.com/returntoearth
Facebook Fan Page: The Alvarium Experiment

I've been writing like a fiend. Still re-writing on the Beech Mountain fic. I recently got to return to the place I've been calling my "real" home, my heart home, for over sixteen years now. I'll be there again in a couple of weeks. My premise for my Beech mountain story: After failing to save a life, a female veteran searches for solace and finds love in the process. 
       My research has focused on running, training on Beech Mountain, and finding out everything I can about The Bear race on Grandfather Mountain. Scottish clans are involved!  I spoke to a runner on a hill at Lake Coffey on Beech, and to the crew at Beech Mountain Brewing Company. Took a Yoga class at Sky Bar at the top of Ski Beech. Hiked the trails my hero Sami runs. Visited the Beech Mountain Club fitness facility where Sami, Josh, Seamus, and Jackson work out. Went to Boone Mall on Sami's trail to look at running shoes. Paid attention on the drive south to see what she sees as she travels on a short return to Daytona Beach, which also features in her story. 
       In the meantime, my side project has blown up into a mystery novel. Oh, well :headdesk: It's set exclusively in Daytona. Research has involved head injuries, blindness, gambling games, chef's knives, lawful detention in Florida, and probably earmarked my to local law enforcement for asking too many questions about detectives and jail/state correction facility procedures in Daytona. My Charleston, WV fic, paranormal murder mystery Billie Mae, has become a 2016 Finalist for unpublished mystery and is up for a Royal Palm Award. I'm searching out other contests to enter it in. To this point, I haven't been a big contest enthusiast, but I'm still seeking agent representation for Billie Mae, so I guess I'll try harder for award recognition. I've been poking along on the sequel. I have a full outline and it's been building steam and demanding more of my attention as the scenes get layered on. Last week, I got to sit down with a paranormal investigator and I've been invited to a cemetery stake out for a  night in September.
              Most of June and July, I focused on my new Alvarium Experiment novelette,
'Someday Loyal'. I'll be writing more about the story in a later post and also posting interviews from the other writers involved in this second project, called 'Return To Earth'. In the writing of 'Someday Loyal', I managed to write a 14,000 novel treatment/outline for a science fiction novel, Annunaki, set in the same universe as 'Someday Loyal'. Like I needed another open project right now! But I'm excited about it. It was the story I intended to write for 'Return To Earth', but it got out of hand and I put it aside. Research for that included searching for info on vortexes, areas like the Bermuda Triangle, the Sea of Japan, military aircraft, the conditions for habitable planets, energy drives for interstellar flight, satellite communication, SETI, and sail boats- among other things. 
                Photos from Beech Mountain:
​

One of the projects I mentioned last update has come to fruition. The Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of accomplished and award-winning writers who collaborate on writing projects, has launched Return To Earth. Return To Earth is ten stories based on the premise that aliens have come to Earth...and they are us.  

My Return To Earth story is a novelette. Someday Loyal: Alien invaders are lobbing fireballs at Peoria, but Grandmama is holding tea. When the military arrives in search of Mrs. Suniol, Alice is drawn into the mystery of Lake Snow, a missing husband, and securing the key to an entire civilization's survival. 

​Return to Earth is the second project of the Alvarium Experiment (FB page), a consortium of accomplished and award-winning authors. Like the first project, The Prometheus Saga, the stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story.

​Return to Earth stories & authors are:
"AOB" by Bria Burton. Aona, an Alien-Operated Bot (AOB), suffers a malfunction that could jeopardize her mission on Earth and could lead to the extinction of an entire species from another planet.
Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com
"The Paradoxical Man" by Bard Constantine. Albert Rosen is one of five explorers who vanished on a deep-sea expedition into the Bermuda Triangle. He returns to Earth centuries later, transported across space and time through a mysterious wormhole. However, Earth is not the home he remembers. Humankind has been evacuated, and the survivors lie in hibernation aboard the Locus, an orbiting space station. Rosen is forced to match wits with Deis, an artificial intelligence determined to keep humanity in stasis until he is convinced they are fit to return.
Visit Bard at www.bardwritesbooks.com
"Children Of The Stars" by Charles A. Cornell. In Japan, an American medical researcher discovers the deadly secret behind an eighty-year-old woman's ageless appearance and incredible fertility, and her connection to the bizarre disappearance of the freighter the Ourang Medan in 1948.
Visit Charles at www.charlesacornell.com
"Project Bright Star" by Kristin Durfee. A once thought failed secret mission to colonize a distant planet, named 0X3B1, is discovered to have been successful when descendants of that mission return to Earth fifty-one years after their grandparents left, much to the surprise, and fear, of the world.
Visit Kristin at www.kristindurfee.com
"Recovery" by Veronica Helen Hart. When a virus threatens the lives of everyone on board a transfer station for intergalactic travel, it's up to Dr. Candace Bertram to retrieve the only known vaccine from Earth. The risky, untested method of transport could mean catastrophic mission failure, and grave danger for Dr. Bertram.
Visit Veronica at www.veronicahhart.com
"Coming Home" by John Hope. Finally achieving his dream of being an astronaut on the Jupiter missions, Jasper's mind is elsewhere, on the recent loss of his stepfather, Bud. But Jasper's space mission is interrupted when he is sucked into a wormhole that transports him to a different time, 30 years in the past. And now, doctors don't believe where he's from. Fortunately, his loving nurse at his side comforts him and a love builds. That is, until he realizes that his nurse's son is Jasper as a young boy.
Visit John at www.johnhopewriting.com
"Someday Loyal" by Elle Andrews Patt. Alien invaders are lobbing fireballs at Peoria, but Grandmama is holding tea. When the military arrives in search of Mrs. Suniol, Alice is drawn into the mystery of Lake Snow, a missing husband, and securing the key to an entire civilization's survival.
Visit Elle at www.elleandrewspatt.com
"Under The Whelming Tide" by Ken Pelham. The Aethir, space-born descendants of the mythical planet Earth, are returning home at last to fulfill their destiny. But not all believe the great homecoming will be the heaven they have been promised.
Visit Ken at www.kenpelham.com
"Social Experiment" by Tracie Roberts. For the past two years Dr. Olivia Tate had led a satisfying life with her alien spouse, Kya Dumont. As a scientist and cancer survivor, Liv is on a mission to discover a cure for the deadly disease. But something equally deadly has put Kya’s people, the Oo’mahn, in danger of extinction. With an order to evacuate Earth, Kya struggles between helping her people and remaining with the woman she loves, especially now that Liv has also fallen ill. Now Kya’s ship is approaching and the couple must not only find a cure for Liv and the Oo’mahn, but also devise a plan to remain together despite the objection of the aliens.
Visit Tracie at www.tracieroberts.com
"Gaia Returning" by C.L. Roman. Pirates steal things. It's what they do... When Captain Irina Demyanov’s first mate disobeys orders and steals the crown jewels of a vengeful alien race, she knows she’s out of options. Desperate to escape, Irina takes her chances on a dangerous vortex leap and lands near an unnamed, yet strangely familiar planet. The gamble may have paid off, but between hostile inhabitants and inevitable discovery by their pursuers, the pirates’ chances of survival appear slim. Can the human remnant find refuge, or will their enemies put a permanent end to the human race?
Visit C.L. at www.brassragpress.com
For additional info about the stories and authors, visit the website: www.alvariumexperiment.wixsite.com/returntoearth
Facebook Fan Page: The Alvarium Experiment

Still writing on my 100 Day Challenge. No takers on joining me, though, so I've signed up for a 100-in-100 Challenge at my favorite Live Journal site, one_million_ words to help me stay accountable. A friend convinced me sharing my 100 Day Challenge as I write would not go over well in future unless I decide in advance to self-publish and since that challenge project is aimed at a small publisher that takes direct submissions, I guess I'll hold off for now. I can tell you it's a mystery set in Daytona Beach featuring  a female detective with DBPD, a former intelligence agent, and the greyhound track. 

I haven't made my thousand words a day quota! It's been harder than I thought to circumvent real life for just an extra thousand words a day beyond my set writing commitments. My little, no-down-time very necessary surgery to correct a cancer reconstruction issue suffered a complication of its own, naturally. And my long-time writing companion, kitty Silverleaf, succumbed on March 1 to kidney disease after four and a half years of modified diet and supplements. My dog, only six, has vision issues and has decided aggressive is better in all things that approach her. Cue attack on neighborhood bulldog. I'm learning a lot about actual, foundational dog training as we work with a professional now, something I've never had a need for in the past. Between my horse training, behavioral modification education, and plain old good luck with past dogs I've always had nice, obedient pups without formal instruction. 

A year ago we were at our lowest medical point with my oldest in her eighteen month fight against new-onset vasculitis. Now she has improved to the point of applying for re-admission to her university and planning a move back there to begin summer courses. I'm thrilled! And scared. And revising my schedule every day to try to work in more words daily since helping her accomplish this new goal is going to cut into...wait for it...my writing time (but who cares since YAY! THRILLED!). We thought she'd wait until the fall but as I stole more time for my work this spring and left her to her own devices—a necessary benign neglect in parenting a child recovering from long illness—she naturally started looking further ahead. And hey! This means more writing time once summer arrives!

My current projects by priority are: 1) Re-writing lit novel set on Beech Mountain 2) Continue writing second Andrea Kelley mystery 3) New Alvarium Project sci-fi novella 4) 100 Day Challenge mystery with indie publisher 5) various writing prompts to juice my creativity- I issued one at Twitter today (@LAndrewsPatt) if you'd like to play- Five choices your character regretted and one choice he/she will never regret. Blog challenge: Post as five-time fic! Leave me a link in a comment here or at Twitter if you accept the challenge :-)

TODAY is the first day of my 100 Day Challenge. I want to add a fourth project to my writing agenda and finally decided I could do it if I wrote a thousand words a day on that one project and then put it away. With some room for days where that doesn't work and planning days, I came up with 100 days. That'll give me a rough draft of 90,000 words. Turns out 100 Day Challenges are a THING. I had no idea! That's just one site of many. I did planning today- the start of an outline. I'm going to give myself five days to get the story line settled and start writing on February 20. I think every few days I'll share my work here, with links at Facebook and Twitter, as a first draft in all its ugly, mistake filled, whoops wrote-off-into-the-woods, writer's block restarts and brain-revving prompts glory. I will actually kind of punctuate as I go, something I forgo normally if I'm writing for speed. If anyone wants to write along with me on their own project, that'd be great, please share that you're doing so :-) 

Get my Prometheus Saga novelette, 'Manteo', for FREE for the next FIVE days! ‘Manteo’ follows the historical events of the second English colonization of Roanoke through the viewpoint of Manteo and Prometheus up until the departure from Roanoke of Governor John White. After his leave taking, the story becomes pure speculation and allows Prometheus compassionate action, a consequence of his constantly developing humanity. It gave me a chance to write my take on why the colonists abandoned Roanoke and when, with a direction for their future provided by current real-life investigation.



WHAT IS THE PROMETHEUS SAGA??

M.J. Carlson introduced me to Ken Pelham and their joint enthusiasm for the writing experiment they wanted to try made me really interested in the project. They were proposing the collaboration of, ultimately, thirteen accomplished and award-winning writers in a fiction writing and marketing plan to be called The Alvarium Experiment. The first project, the Prometheus Saga, would involve each of us writing science fiction stories of 5-10,000 words. Each story would in some way include an alien probe named Prometheus, who has been sent to observe the human race from its beginnings to current day. The very thoughtful and thorough details of both the Prometheus character specifications and business plan that Ken and Charles Cornell had drawn up inspired me to jump up and down yelling, “I’m in, if you’ll have me! Pick me!”

One of the challenges of writing a Prometheus Saga story is that you are writing into an existing framework with a character that has set boundaries. I love a structure challenge when writing story. The Prometheus specs gave me just one character out of my control, which provides just enough boundaries to make writing the story a puzzle challenge. How do I fit this particular character with these particular traits into a story completely my own? I also chose to write within the historical boundaries of a real life mystery because I’m a structure masochist that way. The benefit of having such boundaries is that it allows the time you would’ve spent world-building to be spent instead on strengthening the smaller details of your story through research and craft and concentrate on putting your reader right there in the story.

In this case, Prometheus inspired me to try a version of the Roanoke story I’ve been wanting to write for years. Like many Americans, I’ve been completed fascinated by the mystery of the lost colony since I learned about it in history class. I wrote a novel-length fanfic for the show ‘Bones’ several years ago that revolved around the possession of Virginia Dare’s remains. My research taught me a lot about the Lumbee tribe in North Carolina. I had intended to write about Virginia Dare as a character for the Prometheus story, placing her among the ancestors of the Lumbee, but then I found Manteo and couldn’t resist writing the historical realty of Roanoke in the framework of the Prometheus project. 

In Prometheus, I had a great ‘outsider’ viewpoint to exploit to give a wider perspective than I might have otherwise managed. It also let me share the historical events while being respective of the real people involved and the fact that we don’t really know their personal motivations for their actions. I let Prometheus become the scope through which we view the events. I also wanted a more visceral point of view. The real person I chose for that second viewpoint became Manteo once I discovered he was one of two people who were present for the entire history of the colonization of Roanoke, involved in all the major events that led to its demise, and that he had no voice in the historical record. I also liked that as a Native American he knew both sides of the occupation, since he also took the initiative to learn English, travel to London, and learn about the English vision for America. It seemed to me that Prometheus would be drawn to observe such a man.

The process for this story was quite a bit different from my current process, but very similar to writing fanfic, which I did quite a bit of when I was sharpening my writing skills after a long hiatus (and still do on occasion!). My personal life at the time of writing this story was very difficult and harkened back to the years of writing in fifteen minute bursts when my kids were little. It was nice to have the set framework, which freed me up to write the details. 

Go HERE for links to all the Prometheus Saga stories and HERE for author info.

The Saga spans the range of the existence of Homo sapiens. The stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story.

The Prometheus Saga stories & authors are:

“The Pisces Affair” by Daco Auffenorde. CIA operative Jordan Jakes meets Prometheus when the Secretary of State becomes the target of a terrorist attack at a head-of-state dinner in Dubai. Visit Daco at www.authordaco.com.

“On Both Sides” by Bria Burton. When a mysterious woman vanishes during the American Revolution, young Robby Freeman searches for answers from a cryptic sharpshooter who deserted Washington’s Continental Army. Visit Bria at www.briaburton.com.

“Ever After” by M.J. Carlson. Two mysterious women convey the same Cinderella story to Giambattista Basile in 1594 and Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in 1811. How different cultures retell this story reveals humanity’s soul to those who listen. Visit M.J. at www.mjcarlson.com.

“The Blurred Man” by Bard Constantine. FBI agent Dylan Plumm's investigation of a mill explosion puts her on the trail of the Blurred Man, a mysterious individual who may have been on Earth for centuries. The case turns deadlier at every turn, placing Dylan in the crosshairs of shadowy antagonists even as she unravels a centuries-old mystery. Visit Bard at www.bardwritesbooks.com

“Crystal Night” by Charles A. Cornell. Berlin, 1938. On the eve of one of history’s darkest moments, a Swedish bartender working in Nazi Germany accidentally uncovers a woman’s hidden past. Can he avoid becoming an accomplice as the Holocaust accelerates? Visit Charles at www.charlesacornell.com.

“Marathon” by Doug Dandridge. Prometheus, posing as a citizen of Athens, participates in the battle of Marathon alongside the playwright Aeschylus. Visit Doug at www.dougdandridge.net.

“The Strange Case of Lord Byron’s Lover” by Parker Francis. Writing in her journal, Mary Shelley recounts a series of perplexing events during her visit with Lord Byron—a visit that resulted in the creation of her famous Frankenstein novel, but also uncovered a remarkable mystery. Visit Parker at www.parkerfrancis.com.

“Strangers on a Plane” by Kay Kendall. In 1969 during a flight across North America, a young mother traveling with her infant meets an elderly woman who displays unusual powers. But when a catastrophe threatens, are those powers strong enough to avert disaster? This short story folds into Kay’s mystery series featuring the young woman, amateur sleuth Austin Starr. Visit Kay at www.kaykendallauthor.com.

“East of the Sun” by Jade Kerrion. Through a mysterious map depicting far-flung lands, a Chinese sailor in 1424 and a Portuguese cartographer in 1519 share a vision of an Earth far greater than the reality they know. Visit Jade at www.jadekerrion.com.
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“Manteo” by Elle Andrews Patt. In 1587, Croatan native Manteo returns from London to Roanoke Island, Virginia. Can he reconcile his strong loyalty to the untamed land and people of his home with his desire for the benefits the colonizing English bring with them before one of them destroys the other? Visit Elle at www.elleandrewspatt.com.

“First World War” by Ken Pelham. 40,000 BC: As the last remaining species of hominid, Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis, fight a desperate battle for ownership of the future, the outcasts of both sides find themselves caught in middle. Visit Ken at www.kenpelham.com.

“Lilith” by Antonio Simon, Jr. In this retelling of the Adam & Eve story, a hermit’s life is turned upside-down by the arrival of a mysterious woman in his camp. As the story of their portentous meeting carries forward through the millennia, only time will tell if Lilith is a heroine, a victim, or a monster. Visit Antonio at www.DarkwaterSyndicate.com.

“Fifteen Dollars’ Guilt” by Antonio Simon, Jr. 1881: After a close brush with death in a steamship disaster, Prometheus encounters another survivor who gripes about how aimless his life has become. Prometheus helps him find his calling, inadvertently setting in motion the assassination of President Garfield. Visit Antonio at www.DarkwaterSyndicate.com.

My featured author today is Jade Kerrion, author of "East of the Sun" , a short story in The Prometheus Saga. "East of the Sun"  is available for FREE on Kindle TODAY!

Q: Welcome, Jade. What inspired you to launch / join The Alvarium Experiment?

JK: Late last year, Charles A. Cornell reached out to me to ask if I'd be interested in joining a unique collaboration of authors writing short stories around a central premise. I'd engaged in many author collaborations previously, especially on anthologies, but Charles' project was unique and piqued my interest. How were a dozen or more creative people (likely with more than one voice in their heads) ever going to come to agreement long enough to make a project like The Alvarium Experiment happen? With an equal mix of eager enthusiasm and morbid curiosity, I signed up!

Q: What are some of the benefits and challenges of writing “into” an existing framework for Prometheus as a character? How did that shape your creative process for your story? Is it different from your usual writing process?

JK: I didn't think the existing framework for Prometheus hindered my creative process. All writing, in fact, is constrained by the "rules of the world," be it physics in ours, or magic in Middle Earth. As long as the rules are clearly articulated and understood, there's frequently lots of room for play within the rules (and of course writers are brilliant at finding loopholes and pushing the boundaries.) I started with the question of "What defining event in human history do people know very little about and what role could a being like Prometheus possibly play in shaping it?" and found my inspiration very quickly. This short story gave me an opportunity to dabble with a first person POV, which is not my POV of choice, so I truly appreciated the learning experience.

Q: Tell me more about your other works.

JK: This is the kind of question that just gets more complicated each year as my bibliography grows. In general, I write science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. My debut novel, Perfection Unleashed, won six awards, including the gold medal in science fiction for Readers Favorites, and kicked off the Double Helix series. The series is now complete at four books, but it has spawned several spin-offs, including a YA novel and several thrillers. Earth-Sim, one of my favorite novels, is a standalone book that asks, "What if Earth were a simulation, and the two people managing the planet were college kids with major communication issues and management style conflicts?" It's a hilariously fun romp through human history, incorporating geology, geography, history, mythology, and popular culture. Finally, I launched a contemporary romance novella series last year called Life Shocks Romances, and it's gaining traction quickly. You can find my novels HERE. 

Q: Tell me more about your short story in The Prometheus Saga. Why did you pick that episode in history?

JK: Western history books (not surprisingly) lack both focus and detail on topics relating to the richness and depth of the history and impact of eastern cultures, like China. I wanted to bring one such example of China's contribution to light, and in this case, it was the remarkable journeys of admiral Zheng He's armada which was believed to have reached North America before Christopher Columbus. Did the Chinese armada in fact reach North America, and if so, what was the impact on Ferdinand Magellan, who is believed to have possessed the first world map and successfully circumnavigated the globe? "East of the Sun" explores this remarkable "what if" possibility.

Q: What are your writing plans for 2015? What does the new year hold in store for you?

JK: I'll be releasing four contemporary romance novellas this year as well as taking part in six romance anthologies, ranging from contemporary, to paranormal, to romantic thrillers. I'll be releasing Carnival Tricks, a spin-off thriller in the world of the Double Helix, focusing on a genetically modified virus run amok. In addition, I'll be releasing two novels in my Double Helix Women series, shining the spotlight on the unpredictable assassin, Zara Itani, who can wreak more havoc with love than most people can with hate, and the brilliant clone, Xin, who is behind just about every major world event (read: disaster), either precipitating it or trying to stop it for reasons that are entirely her own.

JADE KERRION is the author of the Double Helix series, which has won eight science fiction awards, including the Gold Medal, Readers Favorites 2013. She writes speculative fiction and contemporary romance novels that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time.

“The Double Helix is the kind of series you’d expect to see with a movie deal. I loved, loved, LOVED it.”—Full Time Reader, Amazon Reviewer
“I wish I could award more than 5 stars. This phenomenal series continues to astonish and delight.”— Hillel Kaminsky, Amazon Reviewer

For a free electronic copy of Perfection Unleashed, visit www.doublehelixbooks.com.
All Jade’s books are on Amazon at HERE. www.amazon.com/author/jadekerrion</a> and you can visit Jade at www.jadekerrion.com for her latest publishing news, events, promotions, and giveaways.

The Prometheus Saga is the premier project of the Alvarium Experiment, a consortium of accomplished and award-winning authors. The Prometheus Saga spans the range of the existence of Homo sapiens. The stories do not need to be read in any particular order; each story is an entry point into the overall story. Click HERE for links to ALL the stories.


Check out my own Prometheus Saga novella, Manteo.

Get Charles A Cornell's "Crystal Night" free today from Kindle! Charles Cornell and Ken Pelham founded the Alvarium Experiment, a group of like-minded authors who are working together to discover new ways of presenting and marketing new fiction. The Prometheus Saga is their first project and consists of science-fiction stories which all involve in some way 'Prometheus', the same alien character threaded into each unique story. In this interview, Charles discusses his work and his process. I'm always curious to know how other writers go about laying out their framework for a story :-)

Q: How does your work differ from others in its genre?

CAC: In my thriller, Tiger Paw, I definitely channeled my 'inner Edgar Allan Poe'. Woven into the intrigue and suspense are elements of the macabre and the occult. This portrayal of the dark side of human nature can also be found in my sci-fi/fantasy novel, DragonFly in the character of Nazi wizard, Reichsfuhrer Morax. My novels unabashedly contain a strong 'good vs evil' theme as the main protagonists are in an 'against all odds' journey to triumph over the worst mankind has to offer. I like to think out of the box regarding the plot, embed a twist or two, and definitely want my work to be unique. Why write what others have already written?

Q: Why do you write what you write?

CAC: Why? Simply, to make people think. My novels have a lot of historical and social messages embedded in them. I view my work as having three layers, like peeling back an onion. The outer layer is entertainment. My thrillers thrill, and my sci-fi creates wonder as it should. The next layer is information. My references to history or descriptions of locations are intended to make the reader curious to find out more. Underlying all of that is meaning. In Tiger Paw, set on Wall Street, how much money & power is enough, and how much is too much? In DragonFly, can a woman succeed in a man's World War? The answer is yes, spectacularly!

Q: How does your writing process work?

CAC: I'm an outliner or plotter. I need to know my story's ending ahead of time. This is especially important when writing a mystery or thriller in order to seed clues into the narrative. I outline using old fashioned paper index cards laid on a big table so I can glance at the whole structure at once. The process is usually accompanied by a glass of wine. Once the forty chapters or so are roughed with a sentence or two on each card that captures the scene, I transfer them to my iPad into a writing app called Storyist. There I can change their order and rearrange to my heart's content. I write the draft on the iPad in Storyist and export it to Word on my desktop when I think I've done enough self-editing. I send that out to professional editors, do their recommended revisions when it comes back, and then self-publish.

Q: Tell me more about your short story in the Prometheus Saga. Why did you pick that episode in history?

CAC: I have an affinity for World War Two history. Both my parents served in the British Royal Air Force during the war. My mother was a 'grease monkey', a mechanic on Spitfires and Mustangs. My father retired in the fifties with the rank of Squadron Leader. Both my parents have passed away and the survivors, both military and civilian, from those war years are passing at an incredible rate. At some point soon we may hear that the last WW2 veteran is gone and we will only have books and videos to understand those turbulent times.

One of the things I'm trying to do is find ways to connect the lessons of WW2 to a younger generation. I thought, what about science fiction? So I wrote DragonFly, a sci-fi fantasy about a female British pilot fighting Nazi wizards and monsters in an experimental fighter plane, the DragonFly, which is fueled by water. When we came up with the premise for The Prometheus Saga, my mind immediately gravitated to WW2 and in particular the Holocaust. What would an alien have thought about how people treated each other inside the Third Reich?

Q: What are your writing plans for 2015? What does the new year hold in store for you?

CAC: Last year I launched DragonFly, a collision of science fiction & fantasy in the dieselpunk genre. I'm working on its sequel, 'Spies in Manhattan' as well as some short companion fiction to the DragonFly world. I have a crazy number of projects in the concept and outlining stage. There will be a third DragonFly novel called 'The Machine That Changed The World'.

I'm really excited about starting a five-novel futuristic science fiction series I've planned and have begun outlining. That may be the next world I build after the DragonFly books. But I promised my readers I would write the second and third book in my FBI thriller series, Tiger Paw. Did I also mention steampunk & dystopian? Yes, I have novel concepts underway in both of those genres too. I reckon I have at least ten years of writing ahead of me to completely write everything I've imagined , and that doesn't count anything else I might dream up in the future.

To learn more about Charles A. Cornell, visit him at charlesacornell.com .
For more information and links to all the other Prometheus Saga fics, go here.