A. L. Kaplan

Tag: Day of Reckoning

  • The Day of Reckoning Has Arrived

    View the Star Touched Book Trailer Here

    For those of you who are really into the science in science fiction, here is what happened. If those kinds of details don’t interest you, just skip the rest of this paragraph. The meteor that hit earth in Star Touched was smaller than the nearly six-mile-wide meteor that scientist believe caused the dinosaur’s extinction, but not by much. Hitting in the Atlantic near the conjunction of three tectonic plates, this impact triggered massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Basically, it really shook things up in nearly the worst possible way. All those earthquakes caused numerous tsunamis, one of which smacked into the eastern America. Volcanic eruptions spewed tons of junk into the atmosphere.

    The Day of Reckoning and the days following devastated earth’s population, changed the coastline, and altered the climate. Were it not for clear sky day, it is unlikely life would have continued as we know it. It also created the star-touched, people capable of accessing incredible power.

    https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/11/dinosaurs-extinction-asteroid-chicxulub-soot-earth-science/

    https://www.psi.edu/epo/ktimpact/ktimpact.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicxulub_crater

    https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39922998

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 2 Days – Survival of The Apocalypse

    20170805_200501(0)

    If the unimaginable were to happen, are you prepared?

    It’s time to start packing.

    What 5 items would you definitely want to have to survive a cataclysm?

    If you want to bring a copy of STAR TOUCHED,

    you can pack a 6th item!

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 3 Days – An Interview of Tatiana from Star Touched

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    Here is an interview of Tatiana, the main character in Star Touched, that The Wolf did a while back.

    Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Tatiana. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

    Tatiana: Thank you, Wolf. I’d love to be a bird. That way I could fly anywhere I wanted, feel the wind in my feathers as I soared through the air. I’d be free, with no worries.

    Wolf: That sounds nice. Any particular kind of bird?

    Tatiana: Swallows are pretty and graceful. I love the way they glide.

    Wolf: Sweet. Swallows are cool to watch. Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

    Tatiana: I love all animals, but I suppose I’m partial to dogs right now. Fifi is very important to me.

    Wolf: You mean that tiny poodle you’re bonded to?

    Tatiana: I’d rather not talk about her. Please ask a different question.

    Wolf: Sure. While walking through the woods you come upon…

    Tatiana: Wild blueberries, a whole field of them. There are also wild carrots, dandelions, cat tails, and all sorts of other yummy foods.

    Wolf: That sounds more like a grocery store. What is the strangest food you ever had?

    Tatiana: Food is food these days. Although I did see someone else eat, well… something I really don’t want to talk about. I mean I’ll eat almost anything, but not…that. I’d rather starve. Not that I would. I’m pretty good at finding food in the wild.

    Wolf: I’m not sure you really answered that one. Let’s try another. What do you do for fun?

    Tatiana: Surviving is very time consuming, so I don’t have much free time, but when I do, I love to read. Doesn’t matter what. Fiction, history, science… I just love books. When I read I can be anyone and go anywhere. It’s a wonderful escape and I learn things.

    Wolf: I agree. Books are pretty awesome. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

    Tatiana: That’s a tough one. I don’t like the idea of staying in one place. My roots would need to be movable. More like legs.

    Wolf: A walking plant?

    Tatiana: Yes. With a forest green stem and bright-green heart-shaped leaves with a splash of blue. They could be made into a tea that would cure any disease. I’d also grow clusters of tasty and nutritious berries. Each would be enough to fill your belly for a day.

    Wolf: That sounds fantastic. Aren’t you worried people would hunt you down for those berries and leaves?

    Tatiana: Oh. I didn’t think of that. Can I change my answer to a small inedible red flower with no useful purpose?

    Wolf: Sorry. No take backs. There is a door at the end of a dark damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    Tatiana: Open the door and try to fix whatever machine is malfunctioning.

    Wolf: Are you a mechanic?

    Tatiana: No, but I’ve read lots of books on fixing things.

    Wolf: If you could choose any weapon, what would it be?

    Tatiana: Knowledge. I don’t like weapons or fighting.

    Wolf: If you could pick any super power, what would it be and why?

    Tatiana: None!

    Wolf: Really?

    Tatiana: I don’t want ANY special powers. I just want to be a normal person. I need to go now.

    Wolf: Wow, Tatiana ran out of here fast. If you want to know more about her, you’ll have to read Star Touched.

    Don’t forget to get your copy of Star Touched so you can learn more about Tatiana an her friends.

    The story continues in HUMMINGBIRD.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 4 Days – Perseid Meteor Shower

    stars2There are several meteor showers throughout the year, but the Perseid meteor shower is one of my favorites. It’s one of the reasons I used is as a base for some of the events in my novel, Star Touched. This annual show is caused by the dust and debris left behind by the 1992 passing of the Swift-Tuttle Comet. It’s going on now, but peak is between August 11-13th, where you could see as many as 60-70 meteors an hour. That’s a lot of space junk. The little crescent moon will set before the shower starts after midnight.

    Look north toward the Perseus constellation. (just below Cassiopeia)

    Pull out a chair.

    Slather on some bug spray.

    Camp out under the night sky.

    Enjoy the show.

    While you’re there, keep an eye out for Mars and Saturn. Both will be visible.

    But don’t worry, none of the meteors are big enough to cause a cataclysm.

    Here are some links for more information:

    https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html

    https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html?hc_location=ufi

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 2 Days – Survival of The Apocalypse

    20170805_200501(0)

    If the unimaginable were to happen, are you prepared?

    It’s time to start packing.

    What 5 items would you definitely want to have to survive a cataclysm?

     

    If you want to bring a copy of STAR TOUCHED,

    you can pack a 6th item!

    Startouched front cover2

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her

    star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 6 Days – Vegetable Oil Engine

    20180804_155019

    When petroleum isn’t available, what do you use to fuel your engine? Why vegetable oil, of course. In the post cataclysmic world of Star Touched, there are no oil refineries and gasoline is hard to come by. That’s why Marty the Merchant has a custom bus that runs on a combination of old vegetable oil, rendered fat, and alcohol. The old fast food places may not be serving up food any longer, but they’re a great source of fuel for Marty. So, next time you smell French fries, take a look around for an old bus. It just might be Marty.

    If you don’t think it’s possible, check out these links.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEX1YFXYTdI

    http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html

    https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a20651/grease-car-vegetable-oil/

    https://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-convert-your-diesel-to-run-on-vegetable-oil

    Want to know what happens? Get your copy of Star Touched now.

    STAR TOUCHED

    Startouched front cover2

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 8 Days – Map of Atherton, Kentucky

    A lot of planning went into creating the town of Atherton for my novel, STAR TOUCHED. I had to figure out how large of a population could be supported on the farmland available. The map also helped visualize several scenes.20180803_155750

    Have you picked up your copy of STAR TOUCHED?

    Startouched front cover2

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 10 Days – The Wonder of Volcanoes

    IMG_20180801_0004Did you know there were 169 potentially active volcanoes in the Continental United States? Surprise. https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/index.html  has a cool interactive map of them. At least three of them have erupted since our country was formed.

    Volcanic eruptions happen all the time, but not all volcanoes are the same. The four basic types are cinder cones, composite volcanoes, shield volcanoes, and lava domes.

    Cinder Cones:IMG_20180801_0001

    When congealed lava and other partials are blown out of a single vent, they fall back to the ground as cinders. Picture an anthill on the beach. I got to climb a cinder cone in Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. It’s like climbing a giant sand dune made up of pebbles. Very tiring.IMG_20180801_0003 (2)_LI

     

     

    Composite Volcanoes:

    These steep-sided volcanoes are formed when alternating layers of ash, lava, and cinders build up. The lava flows over the ash and cinders holding it together like glue. All that layering makes for a strong structure. Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier in Washington state are both composite volcanoes.

    Sometimes the top of a volcano collapses in forming an indention called a caldera. Crater Lake in Oregon is a caldera that filled with water.

     

    Shield Volcanoes:

    Shield volcanoes are created almost entirely from flowing lava. The lava often come out of fissures in a slow steady stream. This is the kind of eruption you often see pictures of where people are standing nearby taking pictures. Kilauea, in Hawaii has been in the news a bunch lately.

     

    Lava domes:

    These are formed when thick goopy lava squishes up like a partially dried tube of glue. Lava domes have been known to explode dramatically. When the dome at Mont Pelée formed in 1902, an entire town on the coast was wiped out.

     

    For more information check out these sites:

    https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/types.html

    https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-active-volcanoes-are-there-earth?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

    http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/volcanoes/vlocation.html

    And don’t forget to pick up your copy of STAR TOUCHED.

    Startouched front cover2

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Bobby Sue Thompson

    081Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

    Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Bobby Sue. Why don’t you start by telling me about yourself?

    Bobby Sue: Thank you, Wolf. I’m really tickled you asked. You sure have big teeth.

    Wolf: You do know that I’m a wolf, don’t you?

    Bobby Sue: As sure as my mom’s pecan pie. Just kiddin’ with you. I grew up in south central Kentucky, not far from Tennessee. The rest of my family is in Oklahoma. At least I hope they’re still there. Haven’t heard a peep from out there since the Day of Reckonin’. Sure hope they’re okay.

    Wolf: What’s the Day of Reckoning?Startouched front cover2

    Bobby Sue: That’s the League of the Stars’ name for the Cataclysm. You know, the day all heck broke loose. Meteors, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions. Anyway, my folks and I were vacationin’ in Ohio during the Day of Reckoning. Well, I was vacationing, seein’ the sight and all. There was a big old conference for psychology professors that they couldn’t pass up on. The building collapsed. They didn’t make it.

    Wolf: That’s horrible. So sorry for your loss.

    Bobby Sue: Thank you. You’re sweet. I miss them horribly, but I’m doing okay. They wouldn’t want me to keep mopin’ about. Life has to go on. Got a great job working for Gareth here in Atherton. He runs a store and tavern. Real nice fella. He’s kinda like a substitute dad to all of us workin’ there, but that woman he has in charge, she’s a mean piece of work. Although, she does show the occasional bit of honey when Gareth is near.

    Wolf: Interesting. I’ll steer clear of her. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

    Bobby Sue: I’d love to be a scissor-tailed flycatcher. That’s the Oklahoma state bird. I found this sweet little hairclip at the market the other day. I don’t often buy stuff, but this one just called to me. Someday I’ll make it back there and find out for sure who survived.

    Wolf: That’s beautiful and it looks fantastic in your red hair.

    Bobby Sue: Why thank you. I swear, your fur is almost as soft as Fifi’s.

    Wolf: Thanks, but I’d rather not be pet…. On second thought, as long as you’re there, I do have an itch behind my left ear. Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

    Bobby Sue:  I love all critters, but they don’t all love me. The only one who can get near that crazy rooster of Gareth’s is Tatiana. Animals just seem to take to her like a fish to water. Would you like to meet her? I could introduce you.

    Wolf: Thanks, but we’ve already met. I interviewed her last December. Today is Clear Sky Day. What can you tell me about that?

    Bobby Sue: The Day of Reckonin’ spewed all sorts of ash an’ junk into the sky. Then one day we all woke up and it was gone. Boom. Just like that. Sky was clear. Sun was shinin’. Things finally started warmin’ up. It was the first sign of hope we’d had since the disaster. You should come to our annual ceremony and celebration in the town square. It’ll be a lot of fun.

    Wolf: I think I’ll pass. People might freak out if I showed up.

    Bobby Sue: Oh. You’re probably right.

    Wolf: What can you tell me about the star-touched? Where’d they get their powers?

    Bobby Sue:  That’s a tough one. I mean, it’s only been eight years since they came into their powers. And before you ask, I don’t know where they got them or how they got picked. The league has been tryin’ to figure it out since the first star-touched showed up. They don’t know, the star-touched don’t know, nobody does. Maybe we’ll figure it out some day, but gosh, give it some time.

    Wolf: I guess you’re right. If you could choose any weapon, what would it be?

    Bobby Sue: Weapons aren’t my thing. I prefer to talk to people. If the world hadn’t turned upside-down, I would have been a social worker so I could help folks.

    Wolf: And if talk doesn’t work?

    Bobby Sue: A big old stick to knock some sense into them.

    Wolf: Remind me not to make you angry. If you could pick any super power, what would it be and why?

    Bobby Sue:  Not sure I’d want any kind of super power. They’re a lot of responsibility. People could get hurt if you’re not careful. And some folks get jittery around people with powers. I’d hate to see more riots like we had a few years back. But I suppose if I had to pick, it would be the ability to help fix what’s hurt inside a person’s mind. Psychologically speaking, not the physical stuff.

    Wolf: That would be a great gift. Thanks for stopping by. To learn more about Bobby Sue and the star-touched, grab a copy of Star Touched.