Orrin Jason Bradford's Blog, page 9

Babble Preview Chapters

 Start Here

My audiobook narrator,[image error] Meg Price and I have recently submitted the audio files to ACX for their approval, the final step before Babble is released to the world in audiobook form. But you don’t have to wait to join the adventures of Bobbie Cagle and his mother, Angela.

Let’s start with a few Babble preview chapters. Here’s Chapter One:

 

Chapter two & three coming soon! Stay tuned.

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While You’re Here, Why Not Register for the #BabbleAudiobook Contest

The Grand Prize is a:

Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa, 7″ Display, 8 GB Plus




an ebook edition of Babble, and


the brand new audiobook edition of Babble

Plus 5 Consolation prizes of an ebook and audiobook of Babble.

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Plus, everyone who enters will receive a complimentary copy of Fantastic Fables of Foster Flat, my homage anthology to Ray Bradbury and the Twilight Zone.

 

 

Meet Meg  and More

Click Here to listen to the three audio samples that Meg Price, audiobook narrator extraordinaire, created for Babble including the one that won the recent readers’ poll.  On that page, you’ll also have the opportunity to listen to an interview I conducted with Meg.

 

The post Babble Preview Chapters appeared first on W. Bradford Swift Visionary Author.

Enter to Win a Fire 7 Tablet by Helping Us Pick the Best Audiobook Sample

My audiobook narrator,[image error] Meg Price and I are getting closer each day to launching the audiobook edition of Babble into the world. Wooho!  But we could use your help in selecting the audio sample that you feel best captures the essence of the story and would help perspective readers decide to pick up a copy. In case you haven’t yet read the book, (or you’ve read so many books lately you can’t quite remember what Babble is about), here’s a short synopsis.

One young boy is the key to the universe.

Upon the Towers of Babel, the people of the Earth scattered, and silence fell. Now, on the brink of a new age, the human race leaps forward into the evolutionary void and changes the course of human history forever. For young Bobbie Cagle, the normal difficulties of growing up are overshadowed by his unique condition. Bobbie’s inability to communicate normally is misdiagnosed for years as autism, and masks the great part in history he is destined to play.

His unique ability to create beautiful works of art is just the tip of the iceberg. Coveted by those who would use him for their own purpose, Bobbie, and his mother flee their home out of desperation and fear. In the course of their escape, the truth behind Bobbie’s gift and the effects it may have on the planet begin to the reveal themselves, as the future of the humanity hangs in the balance.

Listen and Vote for Your Favorite Audiobook Sample

Audiobook Sample #1:

Audiobook Sample #2:

Audiobook Sample #3:

Every Vote is an Entry into Our #BabbleAudiobook Contest

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There are two ways to enter the Babble Audiobook Contest:

Vote for your favorite audiobook sample by leaving your choice as a comment below.
Enter the #BabbleAudiobook Contest below or by Clicking Here .

And yes, you can increase your chances of winning big by entering both ways! So, what’s the grand prize? So glad you asked. How about a:

Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa, 7″ Display, 8 GB Plus




an ebook edition of Babble, and


the brand new audiobook edition of Babble

Plus 5 Consolation prizes of an ebook and audiobook of Babble.

Meet Meg — Narrator Extraordinaire
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Meg Price: Audiobook Narrator Extraordinaire

My name is Meg Price. I have grown up surrounded by voice-over recording and audio production my entire life. It is a family business for me. And I knew at a young age this was where I wanted to be. I went to a specialty high school (magnet school) for theatre and I also attended college with a major in theatre.

Most of my experience in voice over work is in narration. This is where my true passion lies. I love to make the words come alive and off the page. From a young age, storytelling has been my passion. When I was introduced to audiobooks I knew I had found my home. Other experiences include commercials and telephone prompts.

My passions are my family, my two furbabies, the outdoors, and making the most out of life. If you think we would work well together please feel free to message me about your next project!

Stay Tuned! Here’s What Else is in the Works

Met Meg: a fun way to get to know this incredible voice actor and narrator as she and I talk about how she became a professional narrator and the challenges and rewards of being a narrator. Coming soon!

Preview Chapters of Babble Audiobook: Coming soon!

Check back here often for links to both.

The post Enter to Win a Fire 7 Tablet by Helping Us Pick the Best Audiobook Sample appeared first on W. Bradford Swift Visionary Author.

How to Find Your Perfect Narrator through ACX

I was recently asked by some of my fellow authors on the Writing Accountability [image error]Facebook Group how I used ACX to find Meg Price who is narrating my book, Babble, so I thought I’d share the process here as well. (and yes, Meg is a perfect narrator for me and for Babble as you will learn as I share more about the process here on my blog.  ) 

It starts by signing into ACX using your Amazon Account. Once in, look for “Search” on the upper righthand corner and choose “Producers for Hire.” You should see something like this:

71,956SAMPLES MATCH YOUR SEARCH

Yep, there are a lot of narrators on ACX. So, the search begins with thousands of potential narrators, but you can reduce that number by putting in various filters on the left side of the page. Not sure I remember exactly which filters I used but it was something like this:

Genre: SF/fantasy,
Gender, female,
Language, English
Voice Age: teenager, young adult
Payment: Royalty share 0-$50PFH

Each filter reduces the number of narrators that fit. I think I got the number down to about 700-750 using the filters, then I started listening to the samples of the narrators. 

It helped that Meg’s sample was from Alice in Wonderland since I have scenes in Babble that take place in Wonderland. I loved the voices she used in the sample, but I still ended up listening to a bunch of different female narrators. There were several good ones and a bunch of bad ones, at least to my discerning ears. I also clicked on their names to go to their ACX page to learn more about them.

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Meg Price: Audiobook Narrator Extraordinaire

I clipped and pasted the info of those in the running into my Scrivener file, then wrote up a message introducing myself and the book I wanted narrated and sent them the message out through ACX. Meg responded to my query, then sent me an audition tape which I also loved. (It’s also one of three audio clips we’re considering to use as the audiobook sample. We will soon be launching a poll/contest to have readers vote on which one they like the best so stay tuned!)

I loved the audition tape and Meg liked Babble so we arranged a time to talk by phone to sort out the details. As they say, the rest is history…well, in this case, history as well as the future because we have plans for other audio projects in the near future once we’ve finished making Babble a bestseller audiobook. 

Stay Tuned! Here’s what’s in the works

Met Meg: a fun way to get to know this incredible voice actor and narrator as she and I talk about how she became a professional narrator and our plans for the future.

Help Us Select the Best Audiobook Sample: A combination poll and contest you won’t want to miss. Yes, there will be prizes.

Preview Chapters of Babble Audiobook: Coming soon!

The post How to Find Your Perfect Narrator through ACX appeared first on W. Bradford Swift Visionary Author.

Finding Your Perfect Narrator through ACX

I was recently asked by some of my fellow authors on the Writing Accountability [image error]Facebook Group how I used ACX to find Meg Price who is narrating my book, Babble, so I thought I’d share the process here as well. (and yes, Meg is a perfect narrator for me and for Babble as you will learn as I share more about the process here on my blog.  ) 

It starts by signing into ACX using your Amazon Account. Once in, look for “Search” on the upper righthand corner and choose “Producers for Hire.” You should see something like this:

71,956SAMPLES MATCH YOUR SEARCH

Yep, there are a lot of narrators on ACX. So, the search begins with thousands of potential narrators, but you can reduce that number by putting in various filters on the left side of the page. Not sure I remember exactly which filters I used but it was something like this:

Genre: SF/fantasy,
Gender, female,
Language, English
Voice Age: teenager, young adult
Payment: Royalty share 0-$50PFH

Each filter reduces the number of narrators that fit. I think I got the number down to about 700-750 using the filters, then I started listening to the samples of the narrators. 

It helped that Meg’s sample was from Alice in Wonderland since I have scenes in Babble that take place in Wonderland. I loved the voices she used in the sample, but I still ended up listening to a bunch of different female narrators. There were several good ones and a bunch of bad ones, at least to my discerning ears. I also clicked on their names to go to their ACX page to learn more about them.

[image error]

Meg Price: Audiobook Narrator Extraordinaire

I clipped and pasted the info of those in the running into my Scrivener file, then wrote up a message introducing myself and the book I wanted narrated and sent them the message out through ACX. Meg responded to my query, then sent me an audition tape which I also loved. (It’s also one of three audio clips we’re considering to use as the audiobook sample. We will soon be launching a poll/contest to have readers vote on which one they like the best so stay tuned!)

I loved the audition tape and Meg liked Babble so we arranged a time to talk by phone to sort out the details. As they say, the rest is history…well, in this case, history as well as the future because we have plans for other audio projects in the near future once we’ve finished making Babble a bestseller audiobook. 

Stay Tuned! Here’s what’s in the works

Met Meg: a fun way to get to know this incredible voice actor and narrator as she and I talk about how she became a professional narrator and our plans for the future.

Help Us Select the Best Audiobook Sample: A combination poll and contest you won’t want to miss. Yes, there will be prizes.

Preview Chapters of Babble Audiobook: Coming soon!

The post Finding Your Perfect Narrator through ACX appeared first on W. Bradford Swift Visionary Author.

Stars Beckon Call – It’s Launch Week!

It’s finally here! It’s Launch week for Stars Beckon Call !

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While others gamble for their lives, Jason Joval is gambling his away…

Don’t miss the exclusive Stars Beckon Call Book Launch Bonuses in the back of the book–two additional SF thrillers plus a fun contest to win the complete 6-[image error]book series, Saga of the Dandelion Expansion.

In a far future dystopian world where the chips are heavy and the House always wins, citizens of the Mid-Eastern Cone roll the dice for their very lives. Honing his skills in order to extend his lackluster life, Jason hits big and becomes famous overnight as the longest living man in history. But what does a man with no passion for life do with all of that time? What is the point of the chips when they neither have value nor meaning? For one wayward, lost soul, the gambling floor becomes a stage on which his altered state of being plays out for the world to see.

Under the watchful eyes of the shadowy soldiers of the Patriarchy government, Jason retraces the missteps of a man who’s quite unsure if he’s ready to fold. Can a man ever truly win when the cards are stacked against him? Is there any way to escape from the glittering lights of the gambling floor? With a hot hand and an eye for Lady Luck, Jason Joval doubles down on the bet of a lifetime.

Orrin Jason Bradford’s stories have been compared to the early works of Michael Crichton and Dean Koontz. Pick up your copy of this sci-fi thriller today and enter a world where nothing is as it seems.

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Stars Beckon Call Characters

For a limited time, save $2.00 off the regular retail price when purchased during pre-order and launch time (Now through May 6th) PLUS receive two additional books PLUS the chance to win the full six books of the Saga of the Dandelion Expansion.

Early Reviews

Easily a new classic

Normally I either power read through an entire book or read it over a month as a casual read. This story captured me from the first chapter, I had to force myself to stop halfway through it to digest the concepts and story. Upon restarting it the next day I found that I was even re-reading a couple of chapters from before where I left off just to refresh my memory so I did not miss a single nuance of the story.

I loved it!!!

From the concept to your descriptive writing, you had me hooked from the beginning. Yes, space-themed novels appeal to me, but I am sure anyone could find something they love about this book.

The Plot Thickens

I loved the book! The storyline was great. The characters believable. I really liked the characters of Jason, Seattle, and Tinker. Mu-monk was absolutely the best character to me! Can’t wait till the next book. I really hope this is the start of a great series.toryline is very well written and compelling. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi story. It does need punctuation and spelling corrections but overall was a great story.

Remember, for a limited time, save $2.00 off the regular retail price when purchased during pre-order and launch time (Now through May 6th) PLUS receive two additional books PLUS the chance to win the full six books of the Saga of the Dandelion Expansion.

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and

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Stars Beckon Call – Chapter Six (Final Preview before Launch)

Just over a week from now Stars Beckon Call will be launched into the world. Hint: It’s Wednesday, May 2nd. But in the meantime, how about one final preview chapter to whet your appetite along with a couple more early reviews?

dab

A quite enjoyable story, good characters and plot, theres a couple of errors but they didn’t distract from whats a quite enjoyable read, Hope it becomes a series of books, it would be interesting to see how the family manage to bring a recovery about, and there’s still those XXX out there somewhere…

Great Read!

I enjoyed this story immensely. The storyline is very well written and compelling. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi story. It does need punctuation and spelling corrections but overall was a great story.

Be sure to leave a comment at the end of the chapter. Let me know what you think.

 

CHAPTER SIX
Emerald Eyes

Emerald Eyes managed to keep Jason’s head from striking the casino’s floor, but despite slapping him several times across the face, she was unable to revive him. After checking to be sure he was still breathing, she stood up, glaring at Freddie.

“Help me, you idiot. Can’t you see he’s passed out?”

Freddie pointed to the distant wall of numbers. “I’m not allowed to leave my station until the spin has been completed.”

“What?” Emerald Eyes said, glancing at the lever for the first time and noticing it had been pulled. “You can’t count that. He passed out.”

“I’ll admit it was a unique approach, but everyone has their method. It still qualifies.” When Emerald Eyes continued to glare at him, he added, “If he wins, he’ll still receive his full earnings. In the meantime, stay calm. Someone will be here in a minute to help.”

Realizing that further discussion was futile, Emerald Eyes directed her attention back to her friend while everyone else focused on the circulating light that had begun to slow. After a minute, she noticed, out of the corner of one eye, a small band of uniformed officers pushing their way through the crowd. Their black armbands identified them as Sleep Station agents. No doubt someone from the casino had called to let them know that a customer was playing the Big Sleep as it was called when someone’s last life-credits were on the line.

She’d been around the Gambling Zone long enough to know that all casinos were required to make such a call, but it still turned her stomach to know that Casey or someone else had snitched on her friend. As she watched the guards approach, a croupier from a neighboring game table stepped forward to speak to the head of the security team. Pointing in her direction, he whispered something to the guard, who promptly signaled for his men to stop. They then turned their attention to the far wall where Jason’s number forty-seven was located.

As the light slowly moved around the room, the crowd picked up the chant for the number that had been selected by the person playing for the Big Sleep. For a moment, Emerald Eyes felt the uncomfortable sensation of déjà vu. Gazing down, she saw not the face of a thirty-two-year old man, but the innocent smile of a sixteen-year-old boy. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering their first meeting. When she reopened them, the boy was gone.

Meanwhile, the chanting grew in intensity as the light nudged itself slowly forward. She could hear people making side bets on whether the light would settle on forty-seven and was surprised to hear that the odds were three to two in Jason’s favor. How could that be? Surely most of the people in the casino knew the extraordinary odds against such a result. Then she realized what must be happening. No doubt many of the regular gamers on the floor were placing their bets to show their support for Jason–a sort of vote of confidence. They wanted Jason to buck the odds one more time with a win, and they were willing to put some of their own life-credits on the line for it. The realization brought tears to her eyes.

As the light continued its final circuit around the room, Emerald Eyes checked Jason one last time before standing up so she could get a better view of the far wall with the number forty-seven. She tried to close her eyes so she could better concentrate on praying, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the moving light. It seemed to her that the light was moving too slowly to ever make it to Jason’s number, but she couldn’t be sure. She rarely watched the Wheel. It remained something in the background most nights, and she refused to ever play it even if one of her dates requested it.

On the few times she’d been in the casino when someone had chosen the Wheel to play the Big Sleep, the crowd would have built themselves into a frenzy by this time, but for some reason, they appeared much more subdued on this occasion. Emerald Eyes suspected that most people realized what was at stake and were not looking forward to Jason losing his bet, and the attendants then moving in to haul his still form away to the Sleep Station.

As the light slowly nudged its way across the wall like a snail moving across a rock, the crowd cheered each time a number blinked off and the next one blinked on. With only three numbers remaining between the light and number forty-seven, the crowd came alive as they realized Jason actually had a chance to win once more. With each click, the emotions built and the crowd cheered louder.

It isn’t possible, Emerald Eyes thought as she watched in fascination. No one could be so lucky as to win twice in a row on the Wheel with the same number, even though it had been sixteen years between the two attempts. And if I have anything to do with it, he’ll never play it again, Emerald Eyes vowed.

Only one number remained between the light and forty-seven. The crowd continued to shout for it to move just two more squares. Two more squares. The light clicked over to the next square and then…

All the lights throughout the casino winked out. Casey’s casino remained in total darkness for at least twenty seconds before the emergency lighting finally cut on. For the first few minutes after the emergency lighting came on, an all out riot seemed inevitable. Everyone pushed and shouted in anger and fear. Someone stepped on Emerald Eyes’ foot. She retaliated by elbowing him in the ribs. Thinking it had been the man beside him who’d struck him, he turned and punched the other man. The second man, who was a good six inches taller and thirty pounds heavier, decked his assailant. Within seconds, a dozen similar scuffles broke out around the room, threatening to escalate into an all-out riot before a high-pitched blast from the overhead speakers, sounding like a mixture of electronic feedback and someone running their nails across a chalkboard, stopped everyone in their tracks.

Everyone covered their ears and cowered towards the floor in an attempt to get away from the ear-splitting noise. The sound continued to build in volume for ten seconds as hundreds winced in pain, many falling to the floor. Then, as suddenly as the noise began, it stopped. Seconds later, the lights flickered back on. Slowly, people rose from where they’d been crouching and looked around as the much softer sound of Casey’s smooth, tenor voice came across the air.

“Loyal patrons, please excuse the brief interruption. We humbly apologize for the temporary loss of power. It appears there was a power outage across the entire Zone. We are attempting to get word on its cause and will keep you posted. In the meantime, I realize the interruption occurred at a sensitive time in the play of the Wheel of Fortune.

“It is the policy of Casey’s Casino to never allow any outside circumstances to interfere with the enjoyment of our patrons. On the rare occasions of such an occurrence, we are authorized by the Gaming Board to give our players the benefit of the doubt. Therefore, anyone who had a bet on the Wheel of Fortune at the time of the power outage is declared a winner. All numbers played will be honored.”

“Holy shit,” Emerald Eyes murmured as the crowd broke out in a cheer. “If you aren’t the luckiest bastard I’ve ever seen.” She caught Freddie’s attention. “Would you get a couple guys to help me get Jason to my quarters?”

Freddie nodded as he closed down the Wheel to give her a hand.

Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment below. How are you liking the story so far?

Stars Beckon Call – Chapter Five

It won’t be long before Launch Day for Stars Beckon Call. Hint: It’s Wednesday, May 2nd. But in the meantime, how about one more chapter to whet your appetite along with a couple more early reviews?

Human spirit at its best

I Loved this book! It showed that people can persevere and survive. It had endearing moments, excitement and sadness. It also had some twists and turns that weren’t expected! Quite enjoyed reading it. It does need a bit of editing but did not affect the reading much.

Kept me wanting more!

I truly enjoyed this book. It kept me coming back to it, every chance I got. I am hoping it has more coming in the future.

Be sure to leave a comment at the end of the chapter. Let me know what you think.

 

Part Two: 2141

 

CHAPTER FIVE
Worst Night Ever

Jason Joval stared at the blue chips through blurry eyes as he attempted to count them for the third time, finally deducing that, indeed, he had only five chips remaining. He could just make out the holographic numeral one that hovered in space on the uppermost chip indicating its value–one year of life. Of course, even as drunk as Jason was, he knew instinctively its value since only blue chips were allowed at the rumbuc tables he frequented and that had become his favorite pastime for the past sixteen years.

Picking up his glass, he found someone had replaced it with a new drink, the blue liquid surrounding the fresh ice, a lighter blue haze suspended just above the surface. As he sipped on the drink, he considered his situation. How many chips did he have left? He counted them again. Yes, that’s right. Five chips. That means I have five years left. All I need to do is get up from this table, go home, nurse what would undoubtedly be a horrible hangover, then come back on another day to play at one of the lesser tables until I slowly rebuild my stash of life-chips. That would be the wise move to make–the safe approach. But when had he ever bowed to the god of safety? That simply wasn’t his style.

No, instead, it was time to change the game. So what if his rumbuc luck had run out? Casey’s Casino offered dozens of different games of chance. Over the years, Jason had tried them all with varying degrees of success, finally settling on rumbuc as his game of choice.

He leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his already rumpled chocolate brown hair that had become part of his signature casual-on-the-border-of-disheveled appearance. Even though most experts placed him in the top tier of successful and wealthy life-chip gamblers, he always looked like he needed a haircut and a new set of clothes. What most people didn’t know was that he spent quite a bit of money at a salon to maintain the shaggy look. People would have been amazed at how much his casual style of clothes in need of a good ironing actually cost. On numerous occasions, his friends had tried to convince him to upgrade his wardrobe but he stubbornly refused. What they didn’t realize was that the rumpled hairstyle and casual clothes were all part of his strategy to throw the other gamblers off their game just a bit–to underestimate Jason’s abilities.

As the lady croupier, dressed in the standard black sequined gown that revealed just the right amount of alluring cleavage, began to deal the next set of rumbuc discs, Jason felt a firm grip on his shoulder. He glanced over to the long fingers, each one meticulously painted with iridescent green nail polish. His gaze meandered from the woman’s hand to the gold-adorned wrist, lost focus for a moment before moving up the slender arm to the bare shoulder, then on to the lovely neck, before finally refocusing on the matching green lips, upturned nose and striking green eyes.

“Hey therrree, Emerald Eyes,” Jason slurred. “Whattt’sss up?”

“Not much, J. J.. What’s up with you?” she asked, pointing to the empty glass still cradled in his hand.

“Oh, just playing a bit of rumbuc.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear and almost fell out of the chair. Righting himself, he tried again with more success. “I’m not doing so hot.”

“Well, what say you come over to the bar and let me buy you a double espresso,” she said as she moved behind him and, without waiting for an answer, started to pull him out of the chair. “How about dealing our J. J. here out?” she asked, nodding to the croupier, who nodded back. Was that a sigh of relief he heard?

“Sure thing. Thanks.” The croupier turned to Jason. “I’m sure Lady Luck will return to your side on another night, Mr. Joval. You take good care of yourself.”

Jason nodded as he pushed away from the table and started to stand, the room reeling for a moment until Emerald Eyes steadied him.

The two of them made their way to the bar, Jason stumbling from time to time, bumping into people as he went. The bright lights and gaudy decorations made it difficult for his eyes to focus. He glanced down to find a drink in his left hand. How had that gotten there? It didn’t matter. He drained its contents and set it down on the edge of a table as he passed by. A moment later, he heard the shattering of glass as it crashed to the floor. Oops, missed. He twirled around to see what had happened and once again bumped into someone.

“Whoa there, baby, hold on to me,” Emerald Eyes said as she silently apologized to the other patron.

“Where you been all night?” Jason asked.

“I was tied up with another guest,” Emerald Eyes replied. “I heard from one of the other girls that you were having a difficult night.”

“Nah, not really,” Jason started to lie, but then thought better of it. “Well, maybe, but I’m sure my luck will change.”

“Why don’t you let me take you home where you can sleep it off and try again on another night?” Emerald Eyes asked.

“What about my double espresso you promised me?”

“It’s waiting for you at home,” she said as she grasped him around the waist and started leading him towards the exit.

They were almost there when he heard someone call Emerald Eyes’ name.

“Wait right here,” she said as she sat him down in one of the sofas that lined the wall close to the exit. “I’ll be right back.”

Jason nodded as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Bad move, he thought, as a wave of nausea crashed over him. He sat up, flinging his eyes open in an effort to stop the spinning. Better walk around a bit to clear my head, he thought. He looked over to where Emerald Eyes was engaged in conversation with another man. No problem. She can find me later.

As he stood up, he wavered slightly then caught his balance and headed off in a random direction, wandering around the room, returning salutations from those who called out to him. One foot kept drifting in front of the other one, tripping him, but he persevered until he found himself standing in front of the betting table of the Sucker’s Wheel, where a group of novice players gathered around. Most were young kids out for a fast night trying to win a year or two of life with small bets of a quarter or half year.

“Good evening, Mr. Joval. Care to try your hand this evening?” a young croupier Jason didn’t recognize asked.

Jason stood there trying to focus on the man, rocking back and forth, finally giving up trying to get the double image to merge into one. He shrugged.

“Sure, why not? What’s the hot number tonight?”

The croupier smiled. “I’m sure any number you play will be hot, Mr. Joval.”

Jason nodded as he dug into his pocket for the small stash of chips, finally finding them in his back pocket. As he did so, he tried to remember the number he’d played so many years ago, the only other time he’d ever played the Wheel.

“Placing a bet, Mr. Joval?” the croupier nudged lightly.

“Sure, I said I was,” Jason replied a little defensively. What was the number?

He stared at the numbers on the betting table trying to locate the one he’d played on that memorable day. Finally, he took the small stack of chips in his hand and waved it over the board. He started to place the chips on thirty-seven, but at the last moment stopped. It didn’t feel right.

Vaguely, in the background, he heard someone calling his name but ignored them as he continued to look for his number. The voice grew louder. Trying to disrupt my concentration, Jason thought. But it won’t work. I’m going to find it.

Forty-five. That’s it, Jason thought as he placed the five chips on the number, his hand resting heavily on top of them.

“Is that your bet, sir?” the croupier asked when Jason failed to lift his hand.

Jason glared at him but kept his hand on the chips. “Don’t rush me, sonny boy. As you can see, my hand is still on the bet.” The shouting behind him grew louder and more disruptive to his train of thought. Glancing at the board, he suddenly realized his mistake. He slid his hand with the chips over two spaces to number forty-seven, then lifted his hand off the chips just as Emerald Eyes grabbed him by the arm and jerked him away.

“What the hell are you doing, you fool? Take those chips back. Are you an idiot?”

Jason turned in her direction and leaned back in an effort to focus his eyes on her. He pointed with one unsteady hand at the board. “That’s my number. I’m sure of it.”

“You don’t understand, Jason,” Emerald Eyes shouted, a distressed look on her face. “No number is your number tonight.”

“That’s not my number?” he asked, sounding like a little kid.

Emerald Eyes sighed and shook her head, taking his hand in her own. “No, sweetheart. That’s not your number. Now take the chips…”

“I’m sorry, but you know I can’t let him take his bet back,” the croupier interrupted. “All bets are final once the player removes his hand from the chips.”

“Damn it, Freddie, can’t you see he’s drunk? He’s not himself. You can tell he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

“There’s no rule against a drunk playing the Wheel,” Freddie replied. “But there is a strict rule against taking back bets. You know that Emerald Eyes.”

“But those are his last life-chips,” Emerald Eyes screamed. “You can’t let him throw his life away on the Sucker’s Wheel.”

“It’s not my job to make those kinds of decisions,” Freddie replied as though reading straight from a training manual, then his voice softened. “I’m sorry, Emerald Eyes. I like Mr. Joval. He’s one of our most valued clients, but this is straight from above.” He nodded towards the mirrored spheres located in the ceiling above him.

“Where’s Casey? I want to speak to him,” Emerald Eyes continued to shout, turning around looking for the owner.

“He’s upstairs,” Freddie replied. “My orders came straight from him.”

“You’re kidding.” Emerald Eyes’ shoulders slumped in defeat at the news.

Freddie shook his head and whispered, “It’s his life, his bet, and his number.”

The croupier turned to Jason who’d been standing next to Emerald Eyes ignoring the conversation, staring intently at the small stack of chips.

“You’re the big bet, Mr. Joval. Would you care to pull the lever?”

“Sure, why not?” Jason replied then burped. “Pardon me.” Jason stepped up to the lever as Freddie started the numbers flashing around the room.

The argument between Freddie and Emerald Eyes had drawn the attention of many of the other gamblers, and as the numbers began to flash around the room, word sped quickly that Jason Joval, the famous rumbuc player, was at the Sucker’s Wheel…with his last five life-chips. The entire salon grew quiet with only the sound of people whispering as they asked the people beside them what number he had bet on. By the time the flashing lights had passed the point anyone could keep up with them, everyone knew the answer.

Forty-seven.

Jason leaned against the table in front of him, his left hand resting a few inches from the lever, his eyes all but closed. The flashing light was no more than a blur by now but still, he waited. From the corner of his eye, he could just make out Emerald Eyes’ face, a concerned look on it. She took a step forward, placing her hand with its many rings lightly on his arm.

He ignored her touch. As the light streaked around the casino, the murmurs from the crowd grew with each rotation. Through the thick alcohol-induced fog, Jason heard a voice whispering to him to clear his thoughts. Relax, be random, clear your mind, it said. It didn’t make much sense to him, but he decided to follow it anyway. He closed his eyes all the way and started repeating the number forty-seven to himself. Somewhere in the midst of the chanting, his hand slipped forward and pulled the lever. He continued to chant forty-seven as he drifted into unconsciousness. It would be some time before he felt the effects of crashing hard on the casino’s floor.

More to come. Stay Tuned.

Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment below. How are you liking the story so far?

Stars Beckon Call – Chapters Three & Four

Just when I thought it was safe to jump back into life, I awoke during the night with some kind of intestinal bug so I’ll keep today’s introduction short. Speaking of short, today you’ll find two short chapters as Jason Stoval’s story continues to unfold. But first, here are a couple more review from readers who enjoyed Stars Beckon Call while it was on Inkitt.com.

Woah

I wasn’t expecting that! This is an awesome story that is more than it seems.The twist and turns made for an interesting read.I liked the characters and due to the ending I hope this is multi book series.

I Loved It

Wow! What a great story. I thought the plot was very unique. The beginning captured my attention, but it just keeps getting better and better. The writing style is very easy and pleasant to read. I thought the characters were interesting and well developed. It is a complete book but I think it would lend well to a sequel.

Be sure to leave a comment at the end of the chapter. Let me know what you think.

Here are the links to the first chapter and the second one just in case you missed them previously.

CHAPTER THREE
Interrogation

As it turned out, it was early evening before Jason finally slipped away from Casey’s, his time filled with interview after interview, mostly from various shows of the Patriarchy Network. Later in the day, officials who identified themselves from different branches of the Patriarchy asked him an endless stream of ridiculous questions to determine how Jason had gamed the system. Knowing his own innocence, the questions didn’t bother him at first, but as the interrogations grew in length and intensity, he began to wonder if his innocence really mattered. Everyone knew how corrupt the Patriarchy had grown over the years. If they considered him a threat to the status quo, it wouldn’t be all that hard for him to suddenly disappear. It had happened to others that had fallen on the wrong side of the government.

The last agent dressed in a dark suit with matching sunglasses took the most direct and brutal approach of all. After an hour of questioning, Jason felt his shell of confidence and detachment begin to crack. Maybe he really had done something wrong even though he couldn’t imagine what.

The agent, who’d identified himself simply as McCurry, leaned across the table that separated the two in a private office Casey had provided. “Are you absolutely sure you have no connections with any employees of Lottery Central?”

“As I’ve told you and several of your colleagues for the past four hours, I know no one, absolutely no one,” Jason replied feeling his ire mounting despite his best effort to remain calm. Hold it together, fella, he told himself. Getting angry at an agent of the Patriarchy could land him in jail.

McCurry chewed on his lower lip and was about to ask another question when he paused for a moment, raising his left hand to the side of his head. He nodded then leaned back in his chair.

“Okay, you can go now.”

His sudden change in disposition shocked Jason who stared at him in surprise. “That’s it?” he finally asked.

“Yep, you’re free to go,” McCurry replied. “Of course, we know where to find you if we have any further questions.” He stood up to leave but as he approached the door, turned. “Hey, kid. Do yourself a favor and keep your nose clean, and for your own sake, stay away from the Wheel. That was the dumbest move I’ve ever witnessed.” And with that, he turned around and left.

Jason sat there in stunned silence for several seconds. What had just happened? Clearly, someone had been in touch with the agent through some kind of comm-link. Had they finally believed his answers, or was this just a ploy to keep him off balance in the hopes he’d do something stupid.

After McCurry had left, Jason crossed his arms on the table and nestled his head on them. He felt a dull headache pounding behind his eyes and a wave of fatigue washed over him, the glow from earlier in the day completely drained away. Obviously, there had been a few contingencies he hadn’t considered in his original plan but wasn’t that always the way with even the best-laid plans.

Wait a minute, he thought. None of this mattered. He hadn’t done anything wrong despite their effort to convince him otherwise. Screw them if they didn’t like his good fortune. It was time to get on with his life.

He sat up and was about to stand when Casey entered, smiling consolingly. “You may want to go out the back way, just in case any of your adoring fans are still hanging around out front.”

“Thanks. I’ll do that.”

“And don’t worry. Within a day or two, something else will grab the news cycle, and you’ll be able to walk around without interference. People today do everything possible to avoid eye contact, so even though your face has been broadcast throughout the MED, you’ll be surprised how short a memory span the public has. I’ve seen it before. Just hang low for a few days. You’ll see.”

Jason nodded. “That’s good to know. One more thing I hadn’t considered.”

Casey reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a plastic card the same color as his jacket and handed it to Jason. “This pass will get you in anytime you like–front or back door. Your choice. You’re now one of our most valued patrons.”

“Thanks again,” Jason said as he placed the card in the back pocket of his jeans. “Oh, one more thing. Who was that woman in the green dress who played the same number as me?”

“I don’t know her real name. Everyone calls her Emerald Eyes for obvious reasons.”

“Does she work here?” Jason asked.

“No, not officially; she’s not on the payroll or anything. I offered her a job when she first started coming around a few years ago, but she declined. She said she liked her independence or something like that. Let’s just say she’s one of several young women that enjoyed keeping our upper echelon clients entertained. As you can probably tell from the bet she placed, she’s quite good at her job.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Any idea how old she is?” Jason persisted.

Casey stared at him for a moment, a smile slowly forming. “I’d say, twenty, maybe twenty-two. Why?”

“Oh, no reason. Just my natural curiosity,” Jason said, suddenly embarrassed. “Thanks again for the card. I’ll see you around.”

 

CHAPTER FOUR
Celeste

As Jason left Casey’s that night, a young girl dressed in a black, hooded cloak and habit of the Universal Life Church stepped out from the shadows of the alleyway. Had she been lurking there in wait for him? Jason wondered.

Even in the subdued lighting, Jason could see the blond hair too long to be confined by the hood as it cascaded down her shoulders in wavy ringlets. He could also make out the large G A lettering on the front of her smock that identified her as one of the ULC’s Guardian Angels. According to the church’s official position, Guardian Angels dedicated their lives to the divinely inspired mission of bestowing blessings to the masses in the form of prayers and devotional sayings in exchange for a contribution from those so blessed.

No one knew for certain how much money the ULC raised from their flock in this way, but rumors floated around that is was in the millions of value-credits every year. Still, it had been a memorable day filled with good fortune despite the hours of interviews and interrogations so Jason decided to play along rather than brush her off as many people tried to do. Not that it was all that easy. The Guardian Angels were known for their persuasive and tenacious abilities to fundraise for the ULC.

“You have had a long day,” the girl said before Jason had an opportunity to speak. As she approached him, he realized she was younger than he’d first thought. Probably no more than twelve or thirteen, he guessed. He also noticed a pleasant fragrance that reminded him vaguely of his mother’s cologne from many years ago.

“Yes, that’s right,” Jason replied, “but how did you know?”

“Because I’ve had a long day waiting for you, Jason Joval,” she replied with a demure smile, one hand disappearing into her robe.

“You know who I am?” Jason asked, surprised to be called by name.

She nodded. “Yes, of course. Everyone knows who you are now. I have been sent by Holy Mother Church to bless you and to remind you how well God took care of you today…” She left the sentence hanging as she pulled her hand out from the robe and extended the begging bowl in his direction.

“I thought you were supposed to give me a blessing or something like that before asking for a donation.”

“I’ve been praying for hours on your behalf,” she replied without hesitation. “And since the Patriarchy’s agent didn’t haul you away in handcuffs, it obviously worked, so…” She held the bowl out farther.

Jason chuckled as he reached into his pocket, being careful not to take out his credit disc. Everyone knew better than to let a Guardian Angel get access to their disc. The chances of them withdrawing only the agreed to amount from the account were less than you would get from playing the Wheel.

He pulled out a quarter year chip, placed it in the palm of his right hand as was the custom and held it out to her. She leaned closer to get a better look at the denomination, then laughed.

“Dig a little deeper.”

You’ve got to be kidding, Jason thought, but as she continued to smile at him with a look of determination, he dug into his other pocket where he found several other chips. He hid them in his hand as he pulled it out, reversing the lining of the pocket.

“Sorry. I don’t carry much on me. Maybe next time.”

He started to put his hand back in the pocket, but before he could do so, she grabbed his wrist in a viselike grip. Their eyes met, his filled with shock, hers filled with determination and just a touch of anger.

“Well, look what we’ve found,” she said as she pulled his hand out and deftly opened it to reveal three, one-year chips.

“Whoa, wait just a minute,” Jason blurted. “That’s three years of life.”

“You can afford it,” she countered, then still holding his hand firmly in her own, continued. “Besides, a smarty like you will be able to make that back quickly, right?”

Jason hesitated, taken aback by the comment.

“Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll make sure you aren’t hassled for the next two weeks. Just imagine, two weeks of complete freedom from our dear Mother Church.”

Jason cocked his head to one side. “You can do that?”

“Sure, no problem. I’m not just any Guardian. I’m an AGA. The other Guardians will follow my orders.”

“What’s an AGA?”

“It’s an Assigned Guardian Angel. I’ve been appointed your personal G A. All top dogs get their own. I’ll make sure you’re left alone.” She tapped the begging bowl against the side of his hand, then held it below until he dropped the chips in it.

“Funny, this doesn’t feel much like a donation. More like a shakedown to me,” Jason said.

“Call it what you like. I’ll continue to pray for you in either case. See you around. “As she turned to leave, she called over her shoulder. “By the way, my name’s Celeste.

Jason stood there with his mouth agape long after she had disappeared into the shadows.

 

More to come. Stay Tuned.

Stars Beckon Call – Chapter Two

Are you ready to find out what new trouble Jason Joval gets himself into in chapter two of Stars Beckon Call? But first, here are a couple more early reviews of the rough draft.

(Missed the first chapter? Find it HERE.)

Stars Beckon Call

This book is set in a dystopian future where all is not what it seems. Jason lives in a world where the length of your life is chosen by a game of chance. Jason’s luck leads him to a successful life as a gambler, but that leaves him unfulfilled. One night he loses his way, but what he finds may change his world’s future. This is a complex story filled with unexpected twists. I hope this isn’t the end of their story. Teresa Eick

The Plot Thickens

I loved the book! The storyline was great. The characters believable. I really liked the characters of Jason, Seattle, and Tinker. Mu-monk was absolutely the best character to me! Can’t wait till the next book. I really hope this is the start of a great series. Rhonda Stroud

Be sure to leave a comment at the end of the chapter. Let me know what you think.

CHAPTER TWO
Casey’s Casino

The squad of security guards dressed in gray uniforms with navy blue piping formed a wedge with Scarface at the head. They pushed their way through the crowd of mostly admiring teenagers, exited LC, crossing the street to Casey’s. The building reportedly was the oldest standing structure in the Gambling Zone, but recent innovations overseen by Casey himself had managed to keep its original charm while bringing it more in alignment with the surrounding buildings.

While the casinos were among the few places you could go to avoid the constant drone of the vid-viewers and holo screens, Casey had interrupted play at the hundred-plus gaming tables to announce Jason’s win at the Number Wall. As Jason and his entourage of hangers-on reached Casey’s front door, the officials of LC announced that Jason Joval had picked the highest number of lifetime credits in the Lottery’s history. By the time Jason entered the luxurious decor of the casino’s main gambling parlor, the red carpet awaited.

The debonair man waiting for Jason at the end of the carpet was the fifth person to manage the establishment. No one knew if Casey was the owner’s first name or last, but each man who’d come before him had also been known as Casey, so it was more of a title than a name. Like those before him, this Casey wore the signature burgundy sports coat over a black silk shirt and black pants with sharply pressed creases. In his right hand, he held a glass filled with ice and a light blue liquid, another trademark of the establishment. Everyone knew that as long as you were gambling at one of Casey’s tables, the drinks were on the house.

Casey stepped forward as Jason approached. “Welcome to my humble abode and congratulations on your recent good fortune across the street. Perhaps you’ve heard about our signature Ambrosia. Many of our most successful players swear by its ability to bestow good luck on those who partake.” He held the drink out to Jason.

Jason studied the man’s smooth face for a moment, surprised how young the successful entrepreneur looked. Of course, it was hard to tell most people’s ages these days, especially those who hung out in the Gambling Zone where vanity was an acceptable, even desirable trait. Jason had heard that owners could take part of their salaries as life-chips along with the accompanying medical care to help maintain the body. While this was all conjecture and rumor, nothing Jason observed about the man standing before him led him to believe otherwise.

Even though Jason had heard about Ambrosia for years and looked forward to trying it, he felt an inner alarm go off. At the last moment, he withdrew his hand and shook his head.

“Thank you, but can I have a raincheck on that? I’d like to take a shot at one of your games, and I have a cardinal rule to never drink while gambling. Perhaps another day.”

Casey looked confused for a moment, then nodded and shrugged. “No doubt a wise rule, but please don’t share it with others.” He leaned in closer. “It could be devastating to my business,” he whispered.

He looked at the drink for a moment. “Well, it’s a shame for it to go to waste, so bottoms up.” He lifted the glass to his lips and drained its contents before passing the glass to one of the attractive women servers standing on either side of him. Casey’s Girls, as they were affectionately called, also wore burgundy coats cut much shorter. Also, their black silk blouses were cut low in the front, and their tight fitting shorts covered little more than the essentials.

His hand now free of the glass, Casey pirouetted around, one arm waving in the air. “What’s your pleasure, Mr. Joval?”

“Please, Jason is fine. I suspect, if all goes well this morning, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.” He gazed around at the plush interior with the dark burgundy carpet that matched the coats of the employees’ outfits.

“I think you will find that, although we aren’t the largest casino in the Zone, we offer one of the finest selections of games of chance, and we make every effort to go beyond the norm when it comes to service to our clients. If there’s anything you need that you don’t find here, please do not hesitate to call on me.”

Jason nodded as he continued to study his surroundings, his gaze finally focusing on the line of flashing lights that circled around the outer perimeter of the casino. Unlike the Wall, only one number was lit at any given time. The object of the game was simple. Place your bet on the number you believe would remain lit once a lever was pulled to activate the spin. The general public called it the Wheel of Fortune, but those who frequented the Gambling Zone knew it for what it was–the Sucker’s Wheel, for the simple reason that the odds of winning were so weighted against the players.

“Today’s visit will be brief, Mr. Casey,” Jason said as he pointed to the line of numbers. “I’d like to try my luck with the Wheel.”

“Please, just Casey. Right this way and may Lady Luck continue to shine her blessings on you.” He guided Jason in the direction of the Wheel’s betting table where a small group had already gathered.

At the mention of the Wheel, the crowd which had already more than doubled in size, murmured:

“He’s playing the Wheel…the fool…impossible…that’s crazy…pushing his luck…someone tell him the odds…he’s going to blow it if he’s not careful….”

Jason strolled towards the betting table where the numbers of the Wheel were replicated for gamblers to place their bets. A few bets had already been placed on various numbers, most of them small value-chip wagers of people trying to leverage their meager monthly earnings so they could provide more than the customary subsistence lifestyle. Most of them would lose, but at least they wouldn’t have shortened their lives, just their household budget.

Nodding to the croupier as he approached the table, Jason relaxed his facial expression once again. He realized that maintaining a poker face would make no more difference in playing the Wheel than it had with the Number Wall, but he figured it was all good practice for the future. The dozen or so other players at the Wheel started to step aside as Jason approached, but he stopped them. “No, please, play along with me.”

Several more placed their bets, a few digging into their pockets for life-chips, apparently inspired by Jason’s presence. These chips were in low denominations, mostly in the form of a few weeks or a couple of months. No real professional life-chip gamblers here this early in the morning, Jason thought as he turned to the croupier.

“I’d like to convert my life-credits into chips, please,” Jason said, holding out the holo-disc he’d been given at LC.

“Certainly, sir, and how many would you care to convert?”

“All of them,” Jason replied. A hush fell over the gathering crowd.

“What did he say?” one man asked the woman standing next to him.

As the croupier hesitated, Jason repeated, “All forty-seven of them, please, and place them all on…” He looked over the board. “…on number forty-seven.”

The man standing behind Jason turned to the woman. “Is he frigging crazy?”

She nodded. “Yes, I think he must be,” she whispered back, but as she did so, she stepped forward and placed a small wager on her own lucky number.

The croupier flashed a quick glance to Casey, who nodded.

“To verify, sir, you are placing forty-seven life-credits on the number forty-seven. Is that correct?”

Jason nodded, then remembered the croupier needed a verbal reply for bets over ten credits, which would be recorded as his acceptance of the bet. “Yes, that’s correct.”

The croupier entered the bet then turned his attention to the crowd. “Any further bets?” At first, no one responded, then at the last moment as the croupier was about to close the betting, a young woman dressed in an emerald green dress that highlighted her brilliantly green eyes stepped forward.

“I’d like to bet seven life-credits, please.” She turned and flashed Jason a smile. “If I may…on forty-seven also–for good luck.”

Jason returned the smile, feeling a warm sensation growing in his chest. He nodded his approval.

“Okay, bets are now closed,” the croupier said as he flipped a switch that activated the acceleration of the Wheel’s numbers. He turned back to Jason. As was customary for larger bets, he offered Jason the opportunity to step forward to a large lever that would start the deceleration of the numbers upon being pulled.

Without hesitation, Jason stepped up to the lever and once more began to clear his mind. Another game of pure randomness. No real skill involved although plenty had been written through the years on how to increase one’s chances at the Wheel. None of the systems or strategies made much sense to Jason.

As the illuminated numbers continued to pick up speed, Jason closed his eyes and waited. The seconds ticked by as the lights continued around the room. Soon, they were flashing by too fast to keep up with. A few of the people who’d been drinking from the night before found themselves dizzy from the attempt to keep up with the numbers. A man began to retch from the effort and was quickly escorted away by one of the waitresses.

Still, Jason waited, his left hand resting lightly on the switch. There was no hurry. These might be the last seconds of his life. Why not immerse himself in them? Then, with a flick of his wrist so quick that only the people standing closest to him noticed, Jason pulled the lever and the lights began to decelerate, imperceptibly at first, then slower and slower. Almost a minute had passed before it became apparent to the crowd that Jason had pulled the lever. That’s when they began to chant.

“Forty-seven…forty-seven…forty-seven….”

As the lights continued to slow, the chanting picked up speed. Jason continued to stand with his hand now resting beside the lever, his eyes still closed, breathing slowly in and out. He could feel a slight, almost imperceptible twitching of his left eyelid. Got to work on that, he thought.

He finally opened his eyes and looked around. Most everyone in the crowd had their attention focused either on the circulating lights of the Wheel or on the unlit number forty-seven. Everyone but Casey and the young lady who’d placed her bet with Jason. They both stared intently at him. He smiled and shrugged. It wouldn’t be long now.

In the final thirty seconds, the crowd stopped chanting and began to voice their opinions. “It’ll never make it…he’s a goner…it’s almost there…oh no, it’s going to go by…no, it’s too slow….”

Pandemonium threatened to erupt as the slowly changing numbers crept across the right wall about a quarter of the way from the number forty-seven. Jason closed his eyes again, his mind now focused on only one thing: number forty-seven.

The light was now only three numbers away but had slowed to a crawl. Was it still moving? The crowd gasped as the light flicked to the next number. Only two numbers to go. Would it make it? Or would it continue by forty-seven? As though on cue, the crowd of over two thousand people suddenly grew quiet, everyone unconsciously holding their breath…waiting…and waiting.

Forty-seven lit up.

Would it last or would it taunt the crowd before moving on? Time passed. People began to shout, “It’s stopped…by damn, he’s done it again…could it be?”

As more and more people became convinced the light had stopped, they joined in the shouting until one of the experienced gamblers shouted, “It still needs to turn red.” Then and only then would the results be final. The crowd grew silent again and waited.

Forty-seven turned red.

The crowd flew into a frenzy, shouting and screaming wildly. People laughed while others cried for no apparent reason other than having been caught up in the moment. Everyone pressed towards Jason, who finally opened his eyes and smiled a sheepish grin.

Almost magically, the team of security guards was once more by Jason’s side, this time with their stunwands out to help push the crowd away from the newly crowned celebrity. Scarface, standing once more by Jason’s side, let only one person through–the lady with the emerald eyes who’d placed her bet with Jason. She flung her arms around Jason’s neck and planted a wet kiss, first on each cheek, then full on the mouth. Jason’s face reddened but despite his embarrassment, he found the sensation pleasant. He reached one arm around her waist and gave her a hug.

As they made their way slowly through the crowd, he began to calculate his winnings. Looks like I’m going to grow to be a very old man, he thought. He turned to the crowd and waved, immediately sending a shockwave of cheers through the casino.

Jason waved again and tightened his grip around Emerald Eyes’ waist. He had definitely found his new home.

More to come. Stay Tuned.

Sudan’s Passing: Last Male Northern White Rhino Died March 19, 2018

I first heard about Sudan on CBS Sunday Morning, followed by an online article from Wired a day or two later. The story struck a [image error]chord for a couple of reasons. First, I’m a long time animal lover. It’s what had me decide at the age of seven to pursue my first career as a small animal veterinarian. Second, I’ve been pondering for some time what I might write about on this blog that my readers would find interesting. One recurring theme of many of my stories has been “genetic engineering gone bad.” Just check out FreeForm and the other books of the Saga of the Dandelion Expansion. Such a theme makes for some pretty interesting storylines, right? But does that make all genetic engineering efforts bad?

Sudan’s story suggests otherwise. Sudan was the last male northern white rhinoceros, the world’s rarest large mammal. He was put down on March 19th at the ripe old age of forty-five. So, that’s the end of another species, right? Not necessarily, not if Thomas Hildebrandt and his small team of researchers have their way. Prof Hildebrandt is head of reproduction management at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in the eastern suburbs of Berlin. You see, for the past fifteen years, he and his colleagues have been collecting semen samples that are being kept frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196C. The plan is to use IVF (in vitro fertilization) to “make” new rhino babies with the help of the last two remaining members of Sudan’s species, Fatu and Najin, his 28-year-old daughter and 18-year-old granddaughter.

But this miracle of science in the making doesn’t stop there. As the Wired article points out:

Even if Hildebrandt and his team manage to produce a lot of offspring from the two females using IVF with the frozen semen they have, they will be unable to achieve the necessary biological variety to create a long-term sustainable population.

That’s where genetic engineering steps in, but I’ll let you read the Wired article for those details. I want to focus on two other points instead. First, why does it matter? After all, this is just one more species going extinct. Isn’t that just part of the process of evolution? Maybe, maybe not. Let’s remember one important point; why this species is on the brink of extinction to begin with. We, humans, are to blame, pure and simple. When the species was first discovered in 1908 by British geologist Richard Lydekker in 1908, there were hundreds of thousands of the animals. Since then they’ve been relentlessly hunted by poachers for their horns.

According to SavetheRhino.com,

Rhino poaching has escalated in recent years and is being driven by the demand for rhino horn in asian countries, particularly Vietnam. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine but more and more commonly now it is used as a status symbol to display someone’s success and wealth. (my emphasis)

So, don’t we have a responsibility to do what we can to rectify our mistake, especially if we can learn from it?[image error]

Second point. The efforts of Prof. Hildebrandt and others is not some well-funded government project (or plot to take over the world). In fact, according to Hildebrandt, “Every-thing would have been a little faster had we had solid financing. “We’re not running out of money, the truth is we never had any money for this.”

And this is where you and I can help make a difference. There’s a GoFundMe campaign underway started by olpejetaconservancy.org (“Ol Pejeta is the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa.” It was also Sudan’s home from 2009 until his death last week.):

Today we are asking you to donate in Sudan’s honour. With your help he can leave a legacy. A donation to support the IVF research will help to ensure that one day in the future, northern white rhinos will once again roam freely in their natural habitat.

What say we do our part to make sure Sudan’s species doesn’t go the way of the Dodo bird. Won’t you join me in investing a little green energy into making sure our children and grandchildren will continue to live in a world where such incredible beasts can cohabitate?

Other articles you may find of interest:

Why Does a Rhino Horn Cost $300,000? Because Vietnam Thinks It Cures Cancer and Hangovers

On the potentially darker side of G.E.: Mouse egg cells made entirely in the lab give rise to healthy offspring