Lance Morcan's Blog, page 106
October 15, 2012
The Orphan Factory rises on Amazon’s Top Rated list for Technothrillers
Our coming-of-age spy thriller The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy, #2) continues its rise on Amazon’s Top Rated list for Technothrillers.
The Orphan Factory is currently #27 on the list as per this link – http://www.amazon.com/gp/top-rated/digital-text/157324011/ref=zg_tr_nav_kstore_6_157319011#2 as at 15 October 2012 PST. Ratings are based on readers’ reviews; our novel has a review rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
In the late 1970’s, in Chicago, Illinois, the secretive Omega Agency initiates the Pedemont Project – a radical experiment utilizing genetic engineering technologies – to create twenty three orphan babies with the plan to turn them into the world’s most effective assassins.
One of the prodigies will rebel: meet Number Nine, an orphan with a mind of his own.
In 1998, when Nine reaches adulthood and graduates with honors from the Pedemont Orphanage, he is already an adept of the deadly espionage arts. Ordered by his Omega masters to assassinate a survivor of the Jonestown tragedy in Guyana’s Amazon rainforest, Nine is forced to draw upon all of his advanced training just to stay alive.
October 11, 2012
This reviewer totally gets The Ninth Orphan (The Orphan Trilogy, #1)
Reblogged from Morcan Books & Films:
If you’re a fan of international conspiracy thrillers in the vein of James Bond and James Bourne – and you like your action fast and furious – this latest offering from father and son writing team, James and Lance Morcan, is guaranteed not to disappoint.
The first of a trilogy, The Ninth Orphan follows the fate of Sebastian George Hannar, the ninth orphan of Chicago’s Pedemont Orphanage.
The Orphan Factory tops yet another Goodreads’ list
Our coming-of-age spy thriller The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy, #2) has topped Goodreads’ list for books with highest reader/reviewer ratings.
Here’s the link to that list: http://www.goodreads.com/list/user_vote/1220327
And here’s the Top 3 on that same list as at 11 October 2012 PST:
1
The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy, #2)
by James Morcan
4.60 avg rating — 35 ratings Sterling rated it 5 starssee review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: read
2
Apart From Love
by Uvi Poznansky (Goodreads Author) 4.76 avg rating — 42 ratings Sterling added it to to-read
see review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: to-read ( 11th 
)
3
Miami Spy Games
by Armand Rosamilia (Goodreads Author) 4.81 avg rating — 16 ratings
My rating:
The Ninth Orphan tops Goodreads’ list for Thrillers You Must Read
Our international thriller The Ninth Orphan (The Orphan Trilogy, #1) has topped another Goodreads’ list – this time for ‘Thrillers You Must Read’.
Here’s the link to that list. It makes for interesting reading and you’ll find some more great books: http://www.goodreads.com/list/user_vote/1515728
Here’s the Top 5 on that same list as at 11 October 2012 PST:
1
The Ninth Orphan (The Orphan Trilogy, #1)
by James Morcan
4.21 avg rating — 101 ratings Sterling rated it 5 starssee review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: read
2
The Bourne Ultimatum (Jason Bourne, #3)
by Robert Ludlum
3.91 avg rating — 17,185 ratings Sterling rated it 4 stars
see review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: read
3
A for Argonaut
by Michael J. Stedman (Goodreads Author) 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings Sterling added it to to-read
see review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: to-read ( 16th )
4
Night of the Assassin
by Russell Blake (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 117 ratings Sterling rated it 4 stars
see review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: read
5
Bangkok Burn
by Simon Royle (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 35 ratings Sterling rated it 4 stars
see review
My rating:
edit my review
shelf: read
Fiji: A Novel enters Goodreads’ list for Best Humorous Books
Our swashbuckling historical novel has snuck into Goodreads’ list for ‘Best Humorous Books!
Here’s the link to that list. It makes for interesting reading and you’ll find some great books: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/312.Best_Humorous_Books
Fiji: A Novel currently sits at #91 (yay!) – and here’s the Top 5 on that same list as at 11 October 2012 PST:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker’s Guide, #1)
by Douglas Adams
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
by Terry Pratchett
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal
by Christopher Moore
Me Talk Pretty One Day
by David Sedaris
The Princess Bride
by William Goldman
And let’s not forget #91…
While we didn’t set out to be humorous when writing this novel, we found the period (early 1800′s) and the setting (Fiji/South Pacific) and the genre (historical romance/action-adventure) certainly allow for humor. They were bawdy, lusty days and we wanted to capture that in our writing.
As at today, I note our novel remains at #1 in Goodreads’ list for ‘Great Romance Novels’. One reviewer called it “a bodice-ripper”, but I think she exagerates… “A Fifty Shades of Grey” it ain’t!
-Lance
October 9, 2012
SILENT FEAR our latest feature film to go into development
Reblogged from Morcan Books & Films:
When you can’t hear…death comes silently.
That’s the tagline for SILENT FEAR, a unique and chilling New Zealand thriller screenplay penned by James and myself, and now in development as a Film Shock Productions-Morcan Motion Pictures production.
Inspired by a true story, it’s set in a university for the deaf in Auckland.
Here’s the logline -
Detective Valerie Crowther is assigned to investigate the murder of a student at Auckland’s Wandsworth University, an international institution for the deaf.
October 8, 2012
Orphan books top Goodreads’ list for Best Spy Novels
Our first two books in The Orphan Trilogy, The Ninth Orphan and The Orphan Factory, are at #1 and #3 respectively on Goodreads’ list for Best Spy Novels of the 20th and 21st Centuries!
Here’s the link to that list. You’ll see we are keeping company with some great writers! http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8887.Best_Spy_Novels_
And here’s the Top 10 spy novels on that same list at 9 October 2012 PST:
1
The Ninth Orphan (The Orphan Trilogy, #1)
by James Morcan
4.21 avg rating — 101 ratingsscore: 3,091, and 31 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
2
The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #4)
by Tom Clancy
3.79 avg rating — 162,099 ratings
score: 2,425, and 25 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
3
The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy, #2)
by James Morcan4.60 avg rating — 35 ratings
score: 2,280, and 23 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
4
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (George Smiley, #5)
by John le Carré3.97 avg rating — 13,630 ratings
score: 2,269, and 23 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
5
The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1)
by Robert Ludlum3.81 avg rating — 182,071 ratings
score: 2,223, and 23 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
6
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (George Smiley #3)
by John le Carré3.92 avg rating — 12,506 ratings
score: 2,159, and 22 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
7
The Day of the Jackal
by Frederick Forsyth4.17 avg rating — 23,707 ratings
score: 2,114, and 22 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
8
Smiley’s People (George Smiley, #7)
by John le Carré4.13 avg rating — 7,141 ratings
score: 1,348, and 14 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
9
Eye of the Needle
by Ken Follett4.06 avg rating — 27,881 ratings
score: 1,328, and 14 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
10
The Faithful Spy (John Wells, #1)
by Alex Berenson (Goodreads Author)3.88 avg rating — 2,487 ratings
score: 1,173, and 12 people voted
My rating:
Fiji: A Novel tops Goodreads’ list for Great Romance Novels
Our historical adventure-romance is currently top of Goodreads’ list for Great Romance Novels!
Here’s the link to that list. It makes for interesting reading and you’ll find some great books: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/17225.Great_Romance_Novels
And here’s the Top 10 on that same list as at 9 October 2012 PST:
1
Fiji: A Novel
by Lance Morcan
4.00 avg rating — 95 ratingsscore: 698, and 7 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
2
Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers, #1)
by Tara Sivec (Goodreads Author)4.53 avg rating — 3,473 ratings
score: 675, and 7 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
3
Point of Retreat (Slammed, #2)
by Colleen Hoover (Goodreads Author)4.40 avg rating — 15,296 ratings
score: 564, and 6 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
4
Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)
by E.L. James (Goodreads Author)3.61 avg rating — 257,700 ratings
score: 432, and 5 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
5
Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding, #1)
by K.A. Linde (Goodreads Author)4.18 avg rating — 3,744 ratings
score: 423, and 5 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
6
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen4.23 avg rating — 761,722 ratings
score: 395, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
7
Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, #2)
by E.L. James (Goodreads Author)3.97 avg rating — 153,733 ratings
score: 344, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
8
Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)
by E.L. James (Goodreads Author)3.93 avg rating — 131,090 ratings
score: 340, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
9
Slammed (Slammed, #1)
by Colleen Hoover (Goodreads Author)4.39 avg rating — 18,158 ratings
score: 289, and 3 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
10
The Bronze Horseman
by Paullina Simons4.39 avg rating — 9,821 ratings
score: 283, and 3 people voted
My rating:
The Ninth Orphan tops Goodreads’ Best Technothrillers Ever list
Our first novel in The Orphan Trilogy is top of Goodreads’ Best Technothrillers Ever list!
Here’s the Goodreads.com link to the Top 100 list of technothrillers: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/24177.Best_Technothrillers_Ever#12257650
And here’s the Top 10 on the list as at 9 October 2012 PST:
1
The Ninth Orphan (The Orphan Trilogy, #1)
by James Morcan
4.21 avg rating — 101 ratingsscore: 1,199, and 12 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
2
Closed Doors, a Trilogy
by Rich Weatherly (Goodreads Author)4.91 avg rating — 11 ratings
score: 1,100, and 11 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
3
Miami Spy Games
by Armand Rosamilia (Goodreads Author)4.81 avg rating — 16 ratings
score: 800, and 8 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
4
Virtually True
by Adam L. Penenberg4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings
score: 489, and 5 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
5
Eye of the Storm (Black Eagle Force, #1)
by Buck Stienke4.74 avg rating — 31 ratings
score: 399, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
6
Sacred Mountain (Black Eagle Force, #2)
by Buck Stienke4.65 avg rating — 17 ratings
score: 397, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
7
The Andromeda Strain
by Michael Crichton3.73 avg rating — 63,186 ratings
score: 366, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
8
The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #4)
by Tom Clancy3.79 avg rating — 162,099 ratings
score: 337, and 4 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
9
Metallic Dreams
by Mark Rice (Goodreads Author)4.34 avg rating — 32 ratings
score: 294, and 3 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
10
Relic (Pendergast, #1)
by Douglas Preston3.95 avg rating — 23,901 ratings
score: 286, and 3 people voted
My rating:
NOTE: Technothrillers are a hybrid genre, drawing subject matter generally from science fiction, thrillers, spy, action and war. The inner workings of technology and the mechanics of various disciplines (espionage, martial arts, politics) are thoroughly explored, and the plot often turns on the particulars of that exploration.
“The Orphan Factory” tops list for ‘Great coming-of-age books’
Goodreads.com - the world’s leading site for books, readers and reviewers - has some amazing lists.
Here’s its Top 100 list for ‘Great coming-of-age books’: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3713.Great_Coming_Of_Age_Books#
And here’s the Top 10 (below) as at 9 October 2012 PST:
1
The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy, #2)
by James Morcan
4.60 avg rating — 35 ratingsscore: 1,498, and 15 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
2
The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger3.75 avg rating — 883,250 ratings
score: 1,436, and 15 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
3
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee4.21 avg rating — 1,194,930 ratings
score: 1,345, and 14 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
4
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens3.64 avg rating — 177,415 ratings
score: 850, and 9 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
5
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë4.05 avg rating — 517,486 ratings
score: 752, and 8 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
6
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain3.75 avg rating — 605,412 ratings
score: 720, and 8 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
7
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
by Judy Blume3.86 avg rating — 72,491 ratings
score: 589, and 7 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
8
Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)
by L.M. Montgomery4.21 avg rating — 200,602 ratings
score: 542, and 6 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
9
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott3.95 avg rating — 605,241 ratings
score: 535, and 6 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
10
Harriet the Spy
by Louise Fitzhugh3.97 avg rating — 33,541 ratings
score: 493, and 5 people voted
My rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
(Points are based on the ranking of the book on each list and the number of people have voted for it. A book’s “score” is the total).
