R e n e e L o u i s e J o h n s o n

Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky

2012-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Crime and Punishment is, well, Crime and Punishment. Brilliant and Depressing! What makes this audiobook so amazing is the reader. George Guidall's performance is indeed a noteworthy accomplishment. His reading of Crime and Punishment likens to a stage play. His rendition is beyond outstanding. Deepening your enjoyment and understanding of the book's characters and underlying meaning, Guidall absolutely sparkles.

Unabridged on 21 CDs, 25.5 hours. $49.95. Borders classics. It gets my highest rating, 5.0.

Atlantis Uncovered

2012-02-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

Copyright Infringement Uncovered

The Discovery Channel's Curiosity television aired a program, Atlantis Uncovered, on September 25, 2011. It was based on my book, Cataclysm in Blue Water. However, I was not involved. The few areas of CBW in which I, as author, took liberties and acted on the fictional nature of my book magically become fact in this television program. It is a clear-cut infringement of my copyright.

In a letter from BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc. to my attorney dated November 29, 2011, they state "The BBC will need to make extensive enquiries in order to properly respond to your letter."

It is February 2, 2012. We are still waiting......

Renee

Crony Capitalism

2012-01-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

I watched and listened with fascination and enlightenment. Bill Moyers interviewed David Stockman recently. The subject "Crony Capitalism."

One idea presented by David Stockman resounded like thunder through my intellect. "If they are too big to fail, they are too big to exist."

If they are too big to fail, they are too big to exist - It captured and defined my overall analysis of the economic woes upon us. As a CPA with an MBA in Financial Planning, and as an average citizen, I agree. Trillions are in the hands of a few.

Listen to what David Stockman has to say on this subject. Give it serious consideration. It affects absolutely each and every one of us.

Renee

2011-12-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

A Definite Five!! I loved this audiobook!! Ken Follett weaves a fabulous story interlinking rich characters across the globe through the First World War and the Russian Revolution. You learn about world history, you can't wait to see what happens next to the characters, you are enriched in every facet.

Not to be overlooked is the reader, John Lee. His talents vastly deepen your appreciation of the text of the novel, the era, and the characters. His accents are thrilling and just plain fun.

Penguin Audio. 2010. 30 1/2 hours. 24 CD's. $59.95.

Worth every minute, every penny.

Enjoy!

Copyright Infringement

2011-12-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

Catafans,

To my complete shock and dismay, Cataclysm in Blue Water, suffered a copyright infringement. In the Fall of 2011, a television program aired that was based on my book without my knowledge or involvement.

The firm of Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts has contacted the offending party. Not cool to take the work of someone else and make it your own!

Stay tuned!

Renee

Audiobook - "Dead or ALive" by Tom Clancy

2011-09-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

I must be missing something here. Up front, I would not give "Dead or Alive" a rating over 4.0.

It's odd, because I am an enormous fan of great detail and knowledge woven into a novel. Along with having a heck of a good time during the read - I thirst to expand my horizons.

It didn't happen here. I didn't have a heck of a good time. I won't question that Clancy knows his stuff - military and political. Yet, my eyes kept glazing over, and my attention wandered as I listened to the 17 hours of this audio book.

Two or three action scenes kept me spellbound. Beyond that...

My favorite part of this listening experience involved the reader, Lou Diamond Phillips. A pleasant surprise for me as he exhibited his skills as the reader of "Dead or Alive," his voice resounded in my ears as seductive and yet vocally crisp.

Brilliance Audio, $39.99. 20 hours, 48 minutes.

Scene of the Crime

2011-07-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

My husband, and co-author of Cataclysm in Blue Water, and I just returned from a tour of France and Italy. He stands beside the scene of the crime in Chapter Three. How many of you who have read the book guessed the identities of the characters in this chapter? That is before the "all is revealed" chapter? Oh, how I take devilish delight in trying to outsmart the best of you reader detectives who love mysteries as much as I!

The Lost Symbol

2011-07-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

My second top audio book rating of 5.0 goes to Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol."

The complexity of the storyline and Dan's ability to create tension in this book towers above most of his and the book's competitors. I actually had goosebumps at intervals and gloried over the finale. Honestly, it proves difficult to startle me with twists and turns, but...SURPRISE... this is an ending you won't see coming!

Paul Michael does not disappoint as the reader. Fourteen discs, seventeen and a half hours, Random House Audio, conspire to keep you begging for more.

Random Acts of Kindness

2011-06-07T06:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I heard a blurb on the radio about the health benefits to those who perform random acts of kindness. It was striking to me because just moments before I pulled my car over to help a woman huddled on the curb in obvious distress.

Want to have some fun? Send me your stories (reneehikes@aol.com) about a good deed you did for a total stranger. Or be creative and perform a new act of kindness (no money involved, just do something nice for someone you don't know.) Pass the baton along to your friends. I will share the most intriguing stories with everyone.

If a country can erupt into revolution over a posting on Facebook - how about blossoming a movement for kindness? Game?

My best,
Renee
PS: I have a page devoted to your responses on my web site (ReneeLouiseJohnson.com)

Codices from the Book of Revelations?

2011-03-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Having just finished "The Templar Salvation" by Raymond Khoury (that did not make my recommended audiobook list) - I have to wonder about a recent story.

Discovered in a cave in Jordan, 70 books - leaded metal - are claimed to be the codices mentioned in the book of Revelations. Of course, a controversy exists as to their authenticity. Some of the codices are sealed which tintilates the imagination.

If real - what might they tell or teach us about Christianity? In the book...no, I won't tell.

However, I am contemplating the order of things - which came first? This story or the book?

The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke

2011-03-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Will Patton batted a home run as reader of "The Glass Rainbow." He put more southern flavor into this novel than Emeril puts in his pots. Just listening to Will's accent and navigation through the emotions and twists and turns of this first-rate book proved fabulous pleasure. James Lee Burke created a memorable character in Clete Purcel. Clete's humor and verbal sparring with a young black male was the best! A great mystery with vivid characters to love or hate, tenderness and brutality, make their mark in "The Glass Rainbow." Audioworks, $49.99, 16 hours of running time - get it and savor every drop. My rating is 4.5!

The Coast Moves Eight Feet - The Earth's Axis Shifts

2011-03-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

As the world is flooded with pictures of the unfolding crisis in Japan, I weep along with everyone. Upgraded to 9.0 - no surprise there! The power of a geologic event that can move the coastline 8 feet and shift the axis of the Earth is staggering.

But after years of research of the Bronze-Age disaster in Santorini, Greece - I cannot help but compare the magnitude of this tragedy to one that took place 3,500 years ago. Clusters of earthquakes spanned decades, a volcanic eruption (second greatest in HISTORY) pulverized with the power of millions of atomic bombs, tsunamis eradicated an entire civilization - Tsunamis that raced all the way from the Aegean and bullied their way 30 miles inland in Syria. With today's visual technologies - what would that look like before and after? My husband and I did our best to describe the before and after in "Cataclysm in Blue Water." Still - what would satellite photos tell us if we could travel back in time? A mountain halved and slid into the ocean. An entire island in the bay disappeared beneath the waves. New land masses appeared. The world's climate changed. How did a Bronze-Age world recover from a disaster that vastly overshadows what is happening in Japan today?

At times I wept for the Minoans as I researched and penned my novel. I am anguished over what is happening in Japan. It is all just a reminder that we are but tiny visitors on this powerful planet in a vast universe. The Minoans fevered over how to implement new building techniques to better withstand the earthquakes. We do the same. And history repeats in a planet of plate tectonics and rupture zones and molten lava and vast oceans.

Natural Disaster in Japan

2011-03-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

A cluster of fore shocks, registering up to 7.2, led to the massive quake of today. 8.9!! 100 aftershocks have already hit, each a sizable earthquake in itself; all aftershocks registering between 4.0 and 7.5. The rupture line of this enormous quake along the fault line - in which the Pacific Plate is slipping under Japan - is a whopping 180 miles. The amount of slip is over 40 meters. Massive and powerful.

Now the tsunamis wreak their destructive havoc. As I am currently but 30 miles from Santa Cruz, California, watching boats toss about and a the replay of a dock being pulverized, it makes the Japan quake feel very close and personal.

As I discovered researching my book, "Cataclysm in Blue Water," the Minoan civilization in the Aegean was lost not due to the clusters of earthquakes, or even the massive volcanic eruption, but from the tsunamis. They are powerful!

Prayers to Japan.

True Blue by David Baldacci

2011-02-18T11:48:00.001-08:00

This audiobook review gets a 5!! Fourteen hours, 12 CD's, of pure entertainment. The reader, Ron McLarty, does a enthralling job as reader. He endows the various characters with bone-sucking flavor. A real plus in this audiobook (Hachette Audio) is the special sound effects, a rarity in the world of audiobooks.

David Baldacci brings a freshness and sharp wit to the table in "True Blue." You will love Mason "Mace" Perry as a cop trying to regain her status as a "blue." This is not a tried-and-true formula book for my money. Mucho kudos.

Crescent Dawn

2011-02-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Clive and Dirk Cussler do it again! It is hard to to savor their daring-do's and escapades without begging for more. Penguin Audio and reader Scott Brick exceed doing justice to my third audiobook review - 12 CD's, $39.95.

For a brief interlude, I thought "Don't go the path of a religious revelation that will undermine Christianity as we know it" - there have been a few too many of that genre for my taste over the last decade - but, no, "Crescent Dawn" is a different kind of critter - pure fun, pure adventure, a thrill ride.

I even heard the name of my beloved "Akrotiri" once or twice. As I decided for my own novel, you cannot beat the exotic allure of Istanbul for a setting with its mosques and palaces and the Golden Horn.

My rating? 4.5!

Starfish Under Seige in Egypt

2011-02-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

According to "The Telegraph" - "Looters have destroyed two mummies and smashed artifacts from Cairo museum, which is considered to be one of the most important cultural archives in the world. The group of nine men broke into the Egyptian Museum, which is on the edge of Tahrir Square, the epicentre of protests, searching for gold. They broke into ten cases to take figurines. When they discovered that the figures did not contain gold, they dropped them and the items broke. They then seized two skulls of the 2,000-year old mummies and fled. Dr. Zahi Hawass, the director of the museum, said: "Demonstrators in collaboration with security forces stopped the thieves and returned the relics to the museum...described the smashing of the irreplaceable artifacts as 'devastating.' "

The gold granulated starfish, featured in "Cataclysm in Blue Water," resides in this very museum. I would be devastated to learn of its theft. God bless the good citizens of Cairo who locked arms and stood side by side to protect the museum. Fingers crossed the museum and all its priceless treasures remain safe!

Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell

2011-01-14T15:22:00.001-08:00

My second audiobook review is Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell. With nothing but admiration for Patricia Cornwell and her stellar books, I do have a few issues with Port Mortuary as a novel and an audiobook. With an author of her class and superior writing, any comments made represent minor nitpicking.

The strident tone in her interpersonal relationships becomes a little wearisome to me in Port Mortuary. Secrets and tensions exist between almost all the characters - even between Scarpetta and her husband - almost consistently throughout the book. You get almost no lightheartedness or warmth between characters until the very last of Port Mortuary.

As always, I love the complexities, the details that are so precisely and beautifully described in Cornwell's novels. What intricate tales she weaves!

The audiobook spans eleven CD's. For me, eleven is the minimum number of CD's to make a $39.95 purchase worthwhile. Also, I enjoy staying with the story, the characters, the reader for at least eleven CD's. I feel a little cheated or short-changed on storyline under eleven. Kate Burton, the reader, has a superb crisp voice. However, I don't think Kate makes the male characters as colorful as suits my preference in an audiobook.

Still, as always, this Patricia Cornwell novel by Penguin Audio has been fashioned into a first-rate audiobook. I give it 4.0 stars.

The Foreclosure Crisis - Loan Modification

2011-01-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

Banks and foreclosures and trying to obtain a loan modification - what a mess! Horror stories abound! As I have been gathering information from readers on this subject, and responding to their e-mails, I thought I would share the following on my blog:

Renee's basic truth. Routinely, banks do things that do not make financial sense to the bank itself from the borrower's perspective.

It is indeed costly for a bank to foreclose. A reduction in interest rate (or even principal) to the struggling homeowner would save the bank a great deal of money and time and effort over the majority of foreclosures. The bank knows this to be true. And yet - foreclosure is the high percentage outcome.

There are very very few success stories about obtaining a meaningful loan modification. You can jump through the bank's hoops, play the bank's game and submit tons of paperwork, pretend along with the bank that you have a shot at a positive outcome, but a true loan modification most likely ain't gonna happen. Why?

Attorneys I have spoken with have told me this - "The punitive aspect is more important than the dollars to certain banks." I cannot verify this as truth, however, it most certainly plays out that way to the homeowner in many cases.

I submit to you a variation on this assertion. I speculate that the bank's reasoning behind not granting substantive loan modifications to the homeowner (even when the bank would be dollars ahead in doing so) is that it sends a message to the multitude. Everyone would want a loan modification whether they are in financial distress or not. Is it not better for the bank to take a big loss here or there with a foreclosure than to grant a small modification to a large number of homeowners?

One thing is certain, the banks are extremely powerful. Even people in high places with authority are frustrated trying the regulate the banks in this crisis. Some banks have stepped over the line. They have or are engaging in predatory lending, yet do not or have not faced legal consequences because they are simply too powerful to contain. This is what gets the fur on my back to stand up. Follow the saga of the Dodd-Frank Finance Law.

Best advice based on my research is to stay away from the most "difficult" banks if at all possible. It takes but a little web surfing to obtain that information. Talk to your friends about their experiences with this bank or that bank in making this determination for yourself.

By staying away, I mean - take your checking account business, your savings, your mortgage applications, your credit card business and go elsewhere. Always, always read the fine print and the rules behind any of the above services at any bank. Always, always pay attention to the updates to the bank's account rules. It is shocking what you can find in the fine print! If you don't understand a term in the rules, look it up. Do not keep your checking and/or savings at the same bank that holds a mortgage on your property. Be careful!

If being "difficult" and/or engaging in predatory lending resulted in a loss in overall business and their lion share of the more lucrative services banks have to offer, THAT might get the offending banks' attention and make a difference. For certain banks, being difficult or even predatory must be paying off. What if it didn't pay off?

Washington by Ron Chernow

2011-01-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

My first audiobook recommendation is Washington, A Life by Ron Chernow. This audiobook is perfect for a long road trip as it embraces a whopping 33 CD's. Read by Scott Brick, without question my favorite audiobook reader, Washington wraps you in a world you thought you knew, a time you thought you understood. You are left shaking your head in the amazing reality of the American Revolution and his role within. You are hoping G.W. will not die, and the journey not end by the 33rd CD.

The book is a lesson in life, not just politics. Discard your one-dimensional notions of George, of Martha, of other luminaries of the time. Get a whole new perspective on how George developed into the Father of our Country. He is not without vice or self-interest. He is responsible for military and executive missteps and failures. At the same time, the endurance and admirable qualities of George Washington are way beyond your imaginings.

Did you know? Riding his white horse, visible to everyone, in several battles encompassing more than one war, bullets whizzed all around George, men fell by his side; but an unflinching George Washington miraculously remained unharmed.

Listening to the fine voice and expressiveness of Scott Brick, you experience this story, this journey on a much more personal level. You feel like George is an acquaintance. For 33 hours of entertainment, $59.95 (retail) is but $1.80/hour. Pass it along to your friends. Resell it at a book store. Sell it on e-bay.

I give this one 4.5 stars!

Audiobooks

2010-12-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

To share my passion for audiobooks with my friends and followers, I am adding an exciting new feature to my blog. Starting in January, I will review my favorites with all of you.

Having listened to countless numbers of audiobooks, I have come to appreciate the difference between readers and the quality of the production. The audiobook form can enhance or detract from the manuscript itself.

If you don't love audiobooks now, I'll bet I can make you a convert.

First up will be George Washington by Ron Chernow. Watch for it!

GREAT NEWS!!

2010-11-21T17:26:00.001-08:00

Akrotiri to Reopen!!

What cried out as hopeless is now a rising Phoenix. After the fatal and horrific roof collapse of September 2005, the archaeological site bustles with activity. The Minoan ruins of Akrotiri in Santorini are staged to burst forth to allow visitors to gape in wonder once again.

Cranes grind in a fever. A Briton and a Swiss triumph over the project. Professor of Archaeology Ch. Doumas labors over the final schematics hoping high winds do not hinder a timely completion.

Please pack your copy of "Cataclysm in Blue Water" to reread and utilize for reference and GO to Santorini to SEE the ruins in person. You will not be disappointed in either the book or the ruins. This I solemnly promise.

State of the Art

2010-11-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

Attention Fans, Friends, Fellow Enthusiasts

Do you share my passions?

THE SECOND GREATEST VOLCANIC ERUPTION

IN HISTORY

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS - THE MINOANS (Duh)

MAGNIFICENT GOLD GRANULATED JEWELRY DISCOVERED IN AN EGYPTIAN ROYAL TOMB

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS

HISTORICAL MYSTERIES WITH

ANCIENT AND MODERN-DAY CHARACTERS

INEXPLICABLY INTERWOVEN

C a t a c l y s m

I n

B l u e

W a t e r

Help me redesign my web site using state of the art technology to maximize your enjoyment.

What do you want to see on my web site, ReneeLouiseJohnson.com? More information? More pictures? Videos? More Links? Tidbits about the book itself? Let me know!

Let's have dig and explore together!

Predatory Lending

2010-09-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

I am writing a nonfiction book

about unfair business practices

and predatory lending

by the major U.S. Banks.

If you have a story to share,

please contact me.

PLEASE do not give me any account numbers

or any other type of protected financial data.

This is to protect us both.

I do need to verify your story for accuracy

if I wish to incorporate it into my book.

Your name will be kept confidential.

Thanks.

2010 National Indie Excellence Awards

2010-05-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

I received a congratulatory e-mail this morning from the

National Indie Excellence Awards

"Cataclysm in Blue Water"

is a 2010 finalist in the category of Historical Fiction.

I am absolutely thrilled!

Thank you, Indie, thank you

"The Economist" Comparison to Santorini

2010-05-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

Eyjafjallajokull - Iceland

"But the eruption of Oraefajokull, in the south-east of the island, in 1362 is thought by some to have eclipsed that of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. It may have been the biggest bang in Europe since the eruption in the 17th century BC of Santorini, which devastated the Minoan civilisation on nearby Crete."

The Economist - April 24th, 2010

Iceland Rocks

2010-04-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

While airline travel suffers and the inconvenience mounts in Europe, it's time to step back and analyze the underlying cause of the volcanic ash. Mother Nature is reminding us once again that we are only visitors to her planet.

Iceland is a geologist's dream. Truly fascinating to those with an interest in Earth Sciences, this part of the world provides endless entertainment.

The North American and Eurasian Plates are drifting apart in Iceland (unlike the Pacific and North American plates which are colliding on the Pacific West Coast of the U.S.) Iceland's Pingvellir rift valley is one of only two places on Earth where this dramatic splitting phenomenon is visible to man.

Lying atop the Mid Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is perched with molten lava only 5-20 km below as it moves in a northwesterly direction over a hot spot. One hundred volcanoes populate the area more than willing to accommodate the explosive lava below.

This recent grounding of planes is most unusual. However, the widespread area of volcanic ash is a mild display in the annals of history. The power of nature will always dazzle me. Nevertheless, I do send my best wishes to those affected adversely by this latest event.

Coming April 2010

2010-03-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

"The Barbary Pirates" by William Dietrich is coming in hardcover April 2010 from Harper.

Following is an excerpt:

"Smith was a bone hunter, too, and theories were rife about what kinds of ancient calamities might have wiped out ancient animals. Flood or fire? Cold or heat? Cuvier was also intrigued by my mention of the word "Thira," which I'd read on medieval gold foil unearthed during my North American adventure. A particularly evil woman named Aurora Somerset had seemed to think the scroll had some importance, and Cuvier told me Thira, also known as Santorini, was a Greek island of great interest to European mineralogists because it might be the remains of an ancient volcano."

"Might be the remains of an ancient volcano"...? Is the remains of an ancient volcano! After you finish reading "Cataclysm in Blue Water," continue the fun with picking up a copy of "The Barbary Pirates."

Will It Ever Reopen?

2010-03-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Will tourists ever again gaze in wonder at the Bronze-Age ruins of Akrotiri? Will they see the staircase cracked by the power of one of many earthquakes in the swarm that preceded the second greatest volcanic eruption in history?

With the fatal collapse of the newly-remodeled roof structure on September 23, 2005, more than one death and six injured tourists struck a real-life Greek tragedy.

The world may never know the physical extent of the Minoan village waiting to be excavated, the treasures these ancient structures might yield, and perhaps the truth about the fate of the indigenous population. A magnificent and advanced civilization was lost 4000 years ago due to geologic madness. Now greater truth about their daily lives and final movements are lost as well at the hands of an expensive, but poorly-designed roof structure.

The Greek economy is in havoc. A good design for a new roof eludes the experts.

Will Akrotiri Ever Reopen?

Reader Review

2010-02-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

Barbara M. from Santa Barbara, California writes:

"Just finished your book. It is incredible!! Excellent writing, research and story. A must read. Congratulations!

The ending is fascinating. I remained connected to the characters, wondering what happened next. It is an ideal mix of captivating writing, mystery and history. Will there be more?"

To Barbara - Thank you and YES!
Renee

3-D

2010-02-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

Check out www.integrativeink.com - the cover section.

Cataclysm in Blue Water is featured.

The starfish will have dimension when the cover is converted to 3-D.

How much fun is that?

Building Bridges to Better Tomorrows

2010-01-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to

The 2010 San Francisco Writers Conference

Building Bridges to Better Tomorrows

February 12-14-2010

Just In Time For Christmas

2009-12-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

"Cataclysm in Blue Water" is now available on Amazon.com in Kindle format. I just got my first Kindle, and it is an amazing device. Surprise someone special with a Kindle (or treat yourself), and don't forget to preload it with "Cataclysm in Blue Water."

Fun Factoids

2009-12-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

In developing my modern-day heroine, Krista, Kristen Bell was always in my mind's eye

Krista's mother, Cynthia? Candace Bergen was the obvious choice.

Two wonderful actresses! Do you think if Hollywood came knocking, they would play these roles?

2012

2009-11-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

I asked my book's "Technical Adviser" to comment on the movie. (I found 2012 to be extremely enjoyable, and loved the special effects.) Here is his response:

Several people have asked me what I thought of some of the scenes about volcanoes (I won't say much so as to not ruin it for you) and geologic "civilization killers."

The Bronze-Age eruption in Santorini was from a still active, super volcano such as the one at Yellowstone. It indeed "killed" the Minoan civilization. Had this not happened, we might be reflecting on the Minoan classics, mythology and art rather than those of the Greeks. 2012 was great fun, short on facts/logic, and a long stretch to reality. Some of the basic premises on which it is based are not implausible nonetheless.

Kindle

2009-11-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that, due to reader demand, Cataclysm in Blue Water is being formatted for Kindle. Details to follow.

National Indie Excellence Awards

2009-11-13T18:39:00.000-08:00

Submission to the National Indie Excellence Awards 2010 was confirmed today. Cataclysm in Blue Water is entered in two categories - Historical Fiction and Mystery. Wish me luck!

Reader Review

2009-10-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

I received this wonderful e-mail today:

"I spent the past week visiting my mom, and was able to read your book. As I was reading, I kept thinking, there is no way she is going to be able to tie this complicated story line together, and YOU DID IT! With the help of your character Jonathan, there has to be a sequel somewhere in the back of your mind. Your book was not only a page turner, but an education."

Your comments are very appreciated, dear reader. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts,

Renee

Seaburn Bookstore Event

2009-10-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

Renee and contributing author/technical advisor, Doug Pitts, will be at the Seaburn Bookstore on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Seaburn Bookstore is located in Astoria, New York. (718) 267-7929. Please visit the seaburn.com web site in the coming days for full details. Would love to see you there!

Watery Devastation

2009-10-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

Following the news and updates from Samoa and Indonesia, I cannot help but reflect on the subject matter of Cataclysm in Blue Water, and draw a comparison. Earthquakes and the eruption did not wipe out an entire civilization, the tsunamis did. Think of a Bronze-Age civilization, the Minoans, coping with devastating walls of water that make the current disaster pale in comparison.

Chapters - Cataclysm in Blue Water

2009-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Prologue: Egypt, 1886-1693 B.C.
Chapter One: Akrotiri, October 30, 1974, The Devil’s Claw
Chapter Two: Menarthos, Spring 1692 B.C., A Thief Returns
Chapter Three: Paris, October 29, 1974, Foot Fault
Chapter Four: Weston, April 21, 1994, The Eyes of Satan
Chapter Five: Menarthos, Fall 1692, An Egyptian Monkey
Chapter Six: Weston, April 25, 1994, Continental Drift
Chapter Seven: Seismic Activity in Santorini and the Aegean by Ellen Harris, Professor Emeritus. First in a lecture series
Chapter Eight: Menarthos, Winter 1692 B.C., The Birth of a Legend
Chapter Nine: Istanbul, May 8, 1994, Following the Detonation
Chapter Ten: Menarthos, 1691-1669 B.C., A Grudge
Chapter Eleven: Ephesus, May 9, 1994, The Lost Son
Chapter Twelve: Menarthos, 1669–1658 B.C., Mysterious Disappearance
Chapter Thirteen: Kusadasi, May 9, 1994, The Lure of Gold
Chapter Fourteen: Menarthos, 1653-1640 B.C., A Warning
Chapter Fifteen: Sailing to Marmaris, May 9, 1994, Bare Feat
Chapter Sixteen: Geologic Forces at Work in Santorini by Ellen Harris. Second in a Lecture Series
Chapter Seventeen: Menarthos, 1638 B.C., Death in Sacred Cove
Chapter Eighteen: Marmaris, May 10, 1994, The Heel
Chapter Nineteen: Menarthos, 1637 B.C., A Family Torn
Chapter Twenty: Santorini, May 11, 1994, Minus Minos
Chapter Twenty-One, Menarthos, 1636 B.C., A Death Shroud
Chapter Twenty-Two: Delos, May 12, 1994, A Mother’s Fear
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Bronze-Age Eruption of Santorini by Ellen Harris. Third in a Lecture series
Chapter Twenty-Four: Incomprehensible Destruction
Chapter Twenty-Five: Weston, May 20, 1994, A Shocking Revelation
Chapter Twenty-Six: Weston, May 21, 1994, Exposed
Chapter Twenty-Seven: One Year Later, The Petros M. Nomikos Conference Centre, Fira, Santorini

Front and Back Cover of CBW

2009-09-02T08:20:00.001-07:00

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Minoan Hair

2009-07-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

In the frescoes of Thera, a blue scalp (similar to the above) is often associated with youth. Did the girl in this fresco shave her head and paint it blue? Or did this girl cut her hair short and dye it blue? Did this girl really even look like this in the flesh? Was she even a real person or a product of the artist's imagination? Experts in the field can only speculate.

I tend to believe she was real. Look at the piece by her ear. Look at the lines of black within the blue. That type of detail seems unusual for artistic invention to me. Some experts believe the black lines indicate some level of hair under the blue pigment negating the idea that her scalp had been cleanly shaven.

In any case, it appears the depiction of hair by Minoan artists had meaning. Was it age or social status or a matter of ritual?

The hair is just another mystery left behind by a culture lost to the second most horrific volcanic eruption in history.

Beautiful girl!

Kolumbo Submarine Crater

2009-07-01T13:00:00.001-07:00

Five kilometers from Thera, volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson and oceanographer Robert Ballard explored the Kolumbo volcano discovering hydrothermal vents. Temperatures reached 220 degrees centigrade amidst the gases and fluids.

The Bronze-Age eruption, subject of Cataclysm in Blue Water, is now believed to be the second largest in human history. Deposits of volcanic pumice and ash spread 20-30 kilometers in all directions from Santorini. Now known to be 10-80 meters thick, these deposits revised estimates to 60 cubic kilometers of ejected volcanic material. Only Mount Tambora tops this massive eruption.

The high temperatures of the vents tell scientists that this volcano is very much alive. Magma is close to the surface. Let's hope we don't see a repeat performance of what killed an entire civilization anytime soon!

Biscutella Didyma

2009-06-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

This intriguing plant flourished in Bronze-Age Santorini. A member of the "cabbage tribe," I wonder what role the Biscutella didyma played in the lives of the Minoans. The circular paired seed pods -not to mention the four-petaled yellow flowers - beg for attention from a culture wholly dependant on the fruits of nature for food, medicine, and the simple pleasures of sight and smell.

Sorema

2009-05-28T14:03:00.001-07:00

High Priestess Sorema spits venom in Cataclysm in Blue Water. I based Sorema on the fresco at right. Found in room 3 in a building known as Xeste 3 (Akrotiri), a Minoan mansion, this painting is part of a mural above an adyton (a place for offerings.) This goddess is perched on an elevated, tripartite platform. She is surrounded by a monkey and a griffin who appear to be her attendants.

If asked to cast Cataclysm in Blue Water for a film, I would court Teri Hatcher as Sorema. Perfect!

A Minoan Toast

2009-05-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

A seated marble figurine raises a glass to make a toast. The glass is imprinted with a vine leaf on the base. The production of wine in the Aegean goes back at least to the time of "the cup-bearer, " which has been dated to the early cycladic II period (2800-2300 BC.)

Four and a half thousand years later...cheers to you, my fine friend!

N.P. Goulandris Foundation - Museum of Cycladic Art, No. 286

The Captain's Table

2009-05-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Commander of the Stella Maris II issues a welcome invitation in 1994.

Our alloted one day in Santorini ended with cocktails and dinner at the Captain's table.

Fiteen years of research and writing later: Cataclysm in Blue Water.

Stella Maris II

2009-05-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

The MV Stella Maris II, then owned by Sun Line Cruises, cruised her way through the Aegean in 1994 with Doug and I on board. It was the birth of "Cataclysm in Blue Water."

Built for Argo Reederei, launched on April 2, 1960, this German-built ship was christened the MV Bremerhaven. In 1965, the ship suffered an accident and partially sank.

Enter Mr. Charalambos Keusseoglou, founder of the Greek Sun Line, who rebuilt the superstructure and turned the MV Bremerhaven into a luxury cruise ship. Part of the charm of the now Stella Maris II was that she was able to enter smaller ports (such as Delos) and provide a more intimate setting for her passengers. After a merger, Royal Olympic Cruises surfaced. ROC was an economic disaster. In 1998, ROC sold the Stella Maris II to ShatiekSHPG SA.

Continuing the saga, Viking Cruises renamed the Stella Maris II. Now the Viking Bordeaux, she crossed the Atlantic, docked in South America and the Falkland Islands, and languished in Eemshaven in 2004 under the name of Boudreaux.

New operators Indian Ocean Cruises gave the ship a major facelift, and she sailed as the MV Madagascar in 2005. This was short-lived. In 2007, as the MV Razzmatazz, she remained in Durban under the auspices of another South African company. This venture failed. Sold in auction on April 15, 2008, the ship was later broken up and demolished by Indian breakers at Alang.

Thanks for the memories! For me, this ship will always be the Stella Maris II sailing into Santorini.

Visit to Akrotiri in 1994

2009-04-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Bronze-Age Minoan

Archeological Site

Akrotiri, Thera

May 11, 1994

Explosion in the Grand Bazaar

2009-04-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Cataclysm in Blue Water will be available late summer 2009. Following is an excerpt -

Chapter Nine

Istanbul, May 8, 1994

Following the Detonation

Popping noises rose above the cacophony. Fireworks? No, too loud. The crashing of dishes, copper, and ceramics resounded like a giant cymbal announcing the King of Siam. The covered market jumbled into a madhouse of screams and thuds. Flashes of light ricocheted off glass windows. Nostrils flared as smoke filled the air. Coughing ensued. Shopkeepers scrambled. Masses of people looked to flee and exit in any direction available. A kaleidoscope of virtual insanity, Krista saw it all in slow motion, her first view almost distant and dispassionate. Her intellect retreated to a corner of her mind to allow itself the process of comprehension.

Available in Paperback

2009-04-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Cataclysm in Blue Water is available in

Paperback (ISBN 0615294820)

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What A Life!

2009-04-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Is it any wonder the Minoans evacuated and rebuilt their homes on ancient Santorini (Thera) many times over? Earthquake destruction alone could not deter their desire to continue life on this island. It took the precursor (light ash fall) to the second most powerful eruption of all time to convince them their island was lost.

Enjoying relative wealth through a vast trading empire, enjoying a somewhat peaceful existence undefined by aggressive warring or ongoing defense of their shores, dining on an amazing seafood array - parrot fish, damsel fish, boque, common pandora, shark, grouper, and dolphinfish to mention a few -, baking barley bread, and producing olive oil and wine to consume and trade.

Ashlar blocks, quarried locally, outlined their windows in homes of earthy clay. These homes overlooked the dazzling blue Aegean.

I could eat like that! I could live like that!

Italy and Santorini

2009-04-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Left: Stromboli, Italy - Measures 924 meters above sea level/but 3,200 meters from sea floor.

What is happening in L'Aquila, Italy? How does it relate to Santorini? Italy has a line of active volcanoes that run the length of the peninsula west of the recent L'Aquila earthquake. The geologic instability in Italy is characteristic of the Northeastern Mediterranean and the plate tectonics that caused the Santorini eruption. The continental Eurasian and African plates continue to collide with Africa losing as the subducting plate. These two plates also smash against the micro-Aegean plate (Greece and Western Turkey) in the Adriatic Sea east of L'Aquila, again with Africa subducting. The subduction of the African plate with the Aegean plate in the Aegean Sea south of Santorini is widely believed to have caused the geologic instability and the volcanic arc in that region.

Volcano Lightning

2009-04-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Top Stories

AOL (04-09-09.) A picture and article entitled "Volcano's Lightning Captured in Photo" is fascinating. The article begins "For the first time, scientists have been able to see and trace lightning inside a plume of ash spewing from an actively erupting volcano."

The picture in the article was taken on Mount Redoubt, Alaska, on March 22. Paul Krehbiel of New Mexico Tech is quoted in the article.

Check it out!

Violent Rampage of the Gods

2009-04-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

In Cataclysm in Blue Water, Nassor (an Egyptian antiquities dealer) reads to his fellow passengers as their cruise ship approaches the bay of Santorini:

"To cultures or individuals so inclined, an unseen god or goddess wreaked havoc during a violent rampage 3600 years ago, the island of Santorini contorting, twisting, wrenching, and burning. This deity of fury cared not if the Earth stopped spinning while inflicting brutal hammer blows that bounced and rang through the whole of the planet.

A thunderous sound unleashed terror on the unsuspecting Minoan culture. The horrified populace shrieked as spewing gas and enormous clouds of ash blotted the sky in a thick, ominous gray plume that soon traveled far beyond the boundaries of ancient Santorini. The bowels of the earth fired beneath Santorini as hot breath flared out of two blazing nostrils. Violent hot lava spat upwards to enormous heights. With powerful arms rotating, giant rock bombs cratered the region and splashed large holes in the sea.

The mountain island in the middle of the bay shuddered and disappeared into the sea with one blow of the fist. A mountain on Thera divided in half with yet another, half of this mountain then shoved into the Aegean with the back of one hand. Giant waves of destruction rose as commanded and traveled miles and miles.

Yet this apparently did not satisfy the deity because the devastation continued long after in places far from Santorini."

Ancient Plumbing

2009-04-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

The photograph is from the ruins of Akrotiri in Santorini. This section of the city sewer was underneath Telchines Road.

An advanced civilization covered in volcanic ash, is it any wonder Santorini is linked to the Lost City of Atlantis?

Discovered in an Egyptian Royal Tomb

2009-03-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

Granulated jewelry from the tomb of Princess Khnumet from Dahshur.

Unique within the collection of exquisite jewelry recovered from the tomb, the above pieces have an Aegean influence. The starfish on my blog (home page on left) is a recreation of this 4000-year-old granulation in 22 karat gold. The process is still done by hand. It takes great skill and craftsmanship. In the prologue of Cataclysm in Blue Water, Mirkolous (half-Egyptian half-Minoan ) makes a third starfish while fashioning the above necklace. He attempts to smuggle it out of the royal workshop to honor his Minoan mother.

Phenomena in Panama

2009-03-02T05:36:00.001-08:00

The rainbow completely encircles the sun. This picture was taken from the deck of the Celebrity Mercury in February 2009. The ship was navigating the Panama Canal. The sight so stunning and surreal, everyone grabbed their cameras and shielded their eyes for a better look.

Boxing Twins

2009-01-26T06:43:00.000-08:00

This fresco, recovered from the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri, depicts two ancient characters I incorporated into Cataclysm in Blue Water. In the novel, they are the twin boys of Eura and Alexion. On the left is Arikrates. On the right is Mykai. Arikrates is the more sinister of the two. Can you see it in his eyes? Without these frescoes, the world would have little idea of the physical appearance of this culture.

Eura

2008-12-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

Eura is my favorite Minoan character. She first appears in Chapter 8 of Cataclysm in Blue Water. "Filonides' second child, another daughter, Eura, touched the ewer containing the starfish with wonder. She was barely able to see even the outline of the container on the day of her birth. Eura would always treasure this gift from her father." I based the character Eura on this fresco. I think the woman in the ancient wall painting is stunningly beautiful.

Breasted Ewer

2008-12-02T10:33:00.001-08:00

In Chapter One of Cataclysm in Blue Water, Professor Vassos Stamatopoulous makes an amazing discovery in the archaeological digs of Akrotiri (Minoan site on the island of Santorini) in an ancient breasted ewer. "Eureka! Something was there! Something was within the thickness of clay. And it looked for all the world to be made of..."

"Gold!"

Minoan Barbeque

2008-12-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

In Chapter 8 of Cataclysm in Blue Water, Kepkles wanders the streets of Aglaperios (the ancient Minoan village in Santorini known today as Akrotiri) happily announcing the birth of his son, Alexion, to everyone he encounters. One woman looks up from her clay barbeque (pictured below.) "Kepkles inhaled the enticing aroma, savoring the mixture of smoke and pork in his notrils."

Rising From the Ashes

2008-11-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Blonde and beautiful Krista, the heroine of Cataclysm in Blue Water, visits the Minoan archeological ruins of Akrotiri, Santorini. As Krista retraces the last known movements of the mysteriously deceased Professor Vassos, she scuffles through volcanic ash. This deadly ash, belched from one of history's most horrific volcanic eruptions, buried the Bronze-Age Minoan village. At the same time, the volcanic ash preserved the ancient frescoes. This gave the modern world a singular glimpse at a civilization lost. Siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement (Pozzolana) from Santorini was used in the construction of the Suez Canal in the mid 1800's. What was lethal to the Minoans benefited future generations.

Collapse of Shelter Roof

2008-11-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

On September 23, 2005, a Welsh tourist was killed in Akrotiri on the Island of Santorini. Six others were injured. The roof of the newly-remodeled structure protecting the archeological site collapsed. The level of volcanic soil on the roof was thicker by 11.5 centimeters than per construction plans. With the added weight of water for vegetation, a portion of the roof collapsed resulting in this fatal calamity. Pending a new roof design, Akrotiri is closed indefinitely.

My book, Cataclysm in Blue Water, was staged in 1974. The reader is transported back in time to the original tin-canopy shelter of the archeological site (above.)

Wizards of Words

2008-10-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

I attended the Wizards of Words Writers Conference in October. The speakers and workshops were top notch. Next year the conference will be in Las Vegas, October 16-18, 2009. I'll be there! Check out their web site. http://www.wizardsofwords.org/

Simple and Scrumptuous

2008-10-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

This is a sure-fire winner of an appetizer. Do this the night before: Marinate 1/2 pound large shrimp (26-30 per lb., shelled, deveined, and blotted dry) in a mixture of 2 1/4 teaspoons sugar, l teaspoon salt, 5 tablespoons lime juice, and 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves. That's it! Serve it plain or with cocktail sauce. Tip: Be sure to let the shrimp to marinate long enough for those fabulous flavors to penetrate! Your guests will be impressed.

Gorgeous Gold Granulation

2008-10-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

For thousands of years, gold granulation has been crafted by hand. In Egyptian times, molten gold was slowly dripped into a wooden bowl from three feet above. This was followed by continuous stirring. The goldsmiths of today have more sophisticated equipment. The results are stunning!

Beautiful and Nature-Loving

2008-10-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

The Minoans displayed a love of nature.

Fresco from Akrotiri is at right.