Gerald Greene's Blog, page 4
May 1, 2015
Contemporary Romance Thriller – Venegance Chapter 9 Anjelique
9. – Anjelique
We arrived at Sultana’s at 21:15. We followed our hostess to a large table. Amazed, but pleased, we settled into seats next to the dance floor. We couldn’t have asked for a better view of the belly dancers.
Vengeance at AmazonI said, “Mr. Muhtar mentioned a cousin works here. He must have reserved these seats. We’ll have to thank him.”
Bo said, “We’ve lucky. From the back of the room we wouldn’t see much. We should give Mr. Muhtar thanks and a nice tip.”
The tables were set up banquet style. Each white tablecloth-covered table was long and must seat 50 people. Touristy looking guests occupied most seats. They were busy consuming shish kebab, grilled steak, chicken sauté, and other Turkish delights. Three chairs across from us were empty.
In a few minutes, three ladies rushed in to claim the seats. They were in their early 20’s and speaking Turkish. We couldn’t understand a word, but noticed their appearance. Our interest in young Turkish women soared.
The most attractive of the ladies looked at me, smiled, and then asked in English, “Where are you from?”
I choked on my piece of shish kebab, took a sip of water, and then said, “Chad and I are Americans. My friend Bo is from Hong Kong. He’s the Chinese guy with the funny hair. We all live in Hong Kong.”
The young lady said, “I like it.”
“What? Where we’re from?”
“No, the funny hair style. It’s cute.”
Bo smiled a huge smile and said, “It’s for good luck. My grandfather wore his hair the same way.”
Another lady said, “You’re telling the truth? You copied your grandfather? How nice. You should receive a reward.”
“Reward? What do you have in mind?” Bo licked his lips as he thought of the possibilities.
The first lady said to me, “After the belly dancing show, my girlfriends and I want to go to Anjelique. Perhaps you and your friends will take us.”
I said, “Anjelique? What is that?”
“It’s the hottest club in Istanbul, that’s what. You have to see it. It’s fantastic.”
“We don’t even know your names. Why should we take you to an expensive club?”
“My name is Feyza, this is Binnaz, and this is Rezzen. Now you know our names, how can you say no? Don’t you like rewards and surprises?”
Chad said, “It’s tempting. We’ll think about it. For now, let’s relax and watch the show. We came to see the belly dancers.”
Feyza said, “Take us to Anjelique and we’ll give you a private show. We all belly dance.”
Bo said, “Count me in. If you want to go to Anjelique, I’m all for it.”
Chad said, “Better slow down, Bo. Let’s watch the show. Then we’ll see.”
Chad leaned over and whispered, “Think we’re targeted? This seems too good to be true. Too easy a pickup.”
I whispered back, “Something is weird. They like Bo’s hair. Let’s watch the show and go from there.”
The band started playing. The ladies across the table kept smiling at us. It was too easy. These girls looked like models. They were lovely in every way. We can’t be this lucky.
The first of the belly dancers appeared. The band went into frenzy. The dancer responded. How could any human move like that? It was beautiful and strange, the dance woven together in a series of unnatural undulating moves. Each dancer was better than the last. After the last of five dancers performed, I looked across the table. Feyza noticed and smiled.
She said, “How did you like it?”
“Fantastic. A great show.”
“Now you have to make a choice. You can stay around for a modest amount of instruction in belly dancing, or you can take three friendly ladies to Anjelique.”
“What’s so special about Anjelique?”
Feyza gushed, “It’s the best club in Istanbul. That’s what. You’ll love it.”
We crowded into a taxi and headed for Anjelique. I sat up front with Feyza on my lap. Bo and Chad climbed into the back and put arms around a willing Binnaz and Rezzen. I hadn’t been with a woman since China. That seemed so long ago. It was like another life on another planet.
Feyza was an exotic beauty. Her skin was soft and the color of cocoa butter. Dark silky hair cascaded to her tiny waist. Green eyes sparkled like fine emeralds. Full of life and mischief, they focused on my face, making an appraisal. I felt heat, like I was approved as a newly found lover.
She was exciting. My internal alarm system went on code red. A woman like Feyza didn’t just fall into your lap. There had to be a catch.
By the time we reached Anjelique, I was a horny bastard. Feyza acted like a well-behaved affectionate lady, but adorned in a silk dress and wearing no bra, her every little move increased my sexual tension. I wondered if she was wearing panties. My alarm system was still on, but I no long cared.
Feyza said, “Here we are. Isn’t it a beautiful setting?”
The setting was magnificent. At the top of a hill, overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, the club had a view to die for. Lights from the far shore, and from a parade of passing ships, sparkled on the dark blue water. We arrived a little before midnight to find the club jammed with young, attractive, smartly dressed, happy partying people.
The DJ was playing music that was hypnotic. I thrived on a vibrant Hong Kong club scene, but Anjelique, by any comparison, was a stand out. The interior was posh, chic, exciting, and a blend of Islamic and contemporary design. Feyza took my hand and pulled me to the bar.
“First we drink. Then we dance. Then you might get lucky. Tonight, I want to celebrate. It’s my birthday. I like you. We’ll have a good time.”
April 29, 2015
Love, Lust, and Greed – Torn Has It All
Torn is offered FREE at Amazon. Torn is the first book of a four book series. The other books are Destroyed, Retribution, and Vengeance. The four books record Jay’s determination to correct his poor decisions, no matter what it takes. They also record his love of beautiful, lively women.
The series follows Jay Gunner as his greed leads to bad decisions. In an effort to make even more money from Foreign Exchange trading he enlists the assistance of a hacker to gain access to U.S. Government websites. The hacker is already under investigation by the FBI as an NSA whistle blower. Jay is soon in a world of trouble.
Jay has major trouble with women. His problem is he loves more than one and tries to please them all. He fills his plate high with trouble and struggles to find a way out.
The troubles multiply as without asking Jay comes into possession of information wanted by cutthroat terrorists. Tragedy strikes. He enlists the help of two mercenaries on a wild chase to track down the terrorist gang leader and take vengeance. This takes them on a journey to Hong Kong, Macau, London, and Isatanbul. The book has humorous sections as the three men try to adapt to local cultures.
The Torn series is a wild ride. Caution: A few chapters in the series have hot love making scenes.
Hemingway App
Writers who wish to write in a bold, clear style will find the Hemingway App useful.
The app is free if used on the Internet, and very reasonably priced if purchased for the desktop. I’ve used the app for a year and pleased with the help it’s been.
The app checks sentence structure and red flags sentences that are overly complex or hard to read for any reason. It also checks on the use of adverbs, use of passive voice, and words and phrases that could be simpler.
FYI the link above is NOT an affiliate link. I’m recommending it because for a reasonable price, free if you use the web version, it offers a real improvement in the way most of us write.
I Write Techno Thrillers Spiced With Romance
Why not! The genre interests me. I suppose it’s because of my military background, first as an Air Force brat, and then as a Navy Seabee. I’ve written several books in the genre. I usually write in a series. For example the Collateral Damage Series has three books. Red Flag, No Remorse, and Field of Fire.
Red Flag is FREE at Amazon Red Flag . The series follows the adventures of Alex and Gloria as they fight to survive in a war zone. Military action is balanced with romance. Love grows as they struggle to survive. The series is based on tensions in the Asian region that could at any time explode into warfare.
The new cover seems well received. What do you think?
Here is a sample of a more edgy book recently finished. The title is Vengeance. I hope you like it.
Chapter 1. FBI Report
Chad and Bo looked worried. More worried than I’d ever seen them.
Chad said, “You finished reading the report?” They’d just arrived and hadn’t even poured a coffee.
“Yeah, I have. For the third time.”
Vengeance EBook Cover
Vengeance eBook coverThe growing knot in my belly didn’t come from a lunch of dim sum and two beers. It came from reading the damn FBI report. It came from fear, pure fear.
I’d never known such fear. Not even when in Macau, Bo, Chad, and I took on that bastard Master Zeng and his men. The fear was there, just from reading the damn report. Crazy. I was safe at home, not mixing it up with bad guys.
I could taste this fear. It tasted metallic, like I was sucking on a silver dollar. I had to hide my feelings. Tough guys, Bo and Chad might not understand. I couldn’t let them know their leader was scared.
“Great view you have here, boss.”
From my condo, Bo looked out to the Hong Kong Island side of the harbor. A majestic skyline of office towers shimmered in the bright September afternoon sun. In the harbor, container ships stacked high with cargo churned though the blue green waters.
“Yeah, it is.”
I never tired of the dramatic view. Was I willing to give up everything to even the score? My desire for vengeance was as strong as ever. I wondered. Was risking my life worth it?
Bo asked, “Sure you want to take the risk?” He examined his long, old-fashioned Chinese pigtail as he spoke. I don’t know what he expected to find. He thought wearing hair in his grandfather’s style would bring him good luck. So far that was true. He was still alive, something many men in his line of work couldn’t say.
I thought for moment, and then said, “I’m not sure.”
Bo let go of his braided hair. With a flick of his head, it cascaded down his back. Then he said, “Better think it through.”
That comment made me wonder. Why should I risk my sweet life? Nothing I could do would bring Joy back. Then there was Amanda. I no longer knew her. She’d become brainwashed and a drug addict.
Her trail led to the Dream Hotel and Casino penthouse in Macau. How could I help her? She no longer remembered me. I missed my girlfriends and old life. My life was shattered. With them gone, nothing would ever be the same.
Chad said, “Sorry about the girls. I know you miss Amanda and Joy. We can grieve for Joy, or grieve and seek revenge. It’s your call. If you want vengeance, we’re with you all the way.”
“Thanks Chad. That means a lot. I need a little time to sort things out.”
When necessary, Chad was a cold blooded killer, but one with a good heart. That is, if you’re on the same side. You didn’t want Chad as an enemy. The strength in his six foot three, 228-pound muscular body could instantly crush most men.
How did I come to this sorry state? I’m a wealthy 29-year-old expatriate living it up in an exciting city. I’m on VIP lists for parties and theater events. I receive backstage passes for music concerts. My favorite nightclubs treat me like a rock star. There are plenty of women to chase after. And yet, here I sit depressed.
With Joy’s death, I’m considering becoming a man hunter. Mom would be disappointed in me. Killing the bastards that gunned down Joy wouldn’t bring her back. Did revenge mean so much I’d risk my life?
Chad and Bo must worry about my mental state. They expected some comment on the report. I’d buy a little time and ask them first.
I said, “You’ve had time to study it?”
They nodded their heads in unison.
“And your opinion?”
Chad spoke first. “We knew the killers were badass motherfuckers, but jeez, these guys are beyond belief. They chop off heads for sport. Then, they kick them around like soccer balls. These guys are bad news all the way. Can’t say I like our odds.”
“What’s your take, Bo?”
“My friend at the FBI asked me a good question. Why in hell would I want info on Abdul Haqq Hussein? I said I’d heard a $5,000,000 bounty was on his head. He gave me a look like I was a lunatic. Said going after this guy was pretty dumb. Likely to get me killed.”
“Maybe so. But your friend still made a copy of the report. Guess he’s in to helping the dumb.”
Bo grinned and then said, “Yeah, he’s a good buddy. We go back a long way. Help each other out whenever we can. He wished me lots of luck. Said he’d see me at my funeral. Told me not to worry. I’d look better without my ugly head.“
“Think we have a chance?”
Chad looked at Bo. Bo looked at Chad. My tough, hard ass, mercenaries hesitated.
Bo said, “A poor chance. We could get lucky. We’ll split the $5,000,000 bounty?”
“We will.” What the fuck? I’m talking like I’ve made up my mind. How stupid can I be?
Chad asked, “Same as Macau? You’ll pick up the expenses? Pay us in cash?”
“The same as Macau.” Shit fire. It’s a go. Must be the dumbest decision I’ve ever made.
Chad gazed at his latest tattoo, a souvenir of Macau. A fierce dragon in red, yellow, green, and orange ink covered his right arm. I wondered if Chad was losing his mind. He was talking to the dragon.
I guess he got some advice and said, “I’m in, with conditions. I’m not traveling to Iraq or Syria. If this guy heads for base camp, count me out.”
Bo said, “I’m a dumb fuck, but don’t want to let you down. I’m in, but with the same conditions. I don’t mind taking a risk, that’s part of the job. But boss, no thanks to insane suicide missions.”
“Ok guys. The report says our guy is somewhere in Europe. Iraq and Syria will be off limits. Let’s go for it. When we earn the bounty, we’ll split it three ways.” I’m a fool. But I want vengeance. I have nightmares about seeing Joy’s beautiful head explode like it was a ripe watermelon. Those killers deserve to die.
Chad noticed my far away look and pale clammy skin. “Sure, you’re up to it?”
When I saw the FBI report, I felt a wave of fear. Blood drained from my face and palms sweated. I still felt unsteady. Those ISIS devils didn’t seem human.
I said, “I’ll find a way to cope. A little fear is a good thing.”
Chad said, “We’d be crazy not to fear those motherfuckers. Anyone that values life would fear them.”
“I know what you mean. Killing comes easy to those animals. We won’t be reckless. We won’t take unnecessary risks. We’ll stick together and cover each other’s back. Ok, I’ve decided. How about it? You guys all in?”
============================================
I’ll introduce more books as I go along. Thanks for reading.
January 21, 2014
No Remorse – Book Two of Collateral Damage Series | Diaoyu Islands
No Remorse will be released in Feb. 2014. Here is Chapter One – Diaoyu Islands
East China Sea – Diaoyu Islands Group – January 8, 2021 1300 Hours-– Chinese Lieutenant Junior Grade (Zhong Wei) Liu Jiang
The dispute over the Diaoyu Islands group was nerve racking and could not end well. We declared an exclusion zone in 2013 but had trouble enforcing it. At that time our air force and navy didn’t have sufficient capability to monitor the remote islands 24/7. To complicate things the damn Americans backed Japan’s claim to the Islands. The islands became embroiled in a permanent state of near war.
As a show of force Americans occasionally flew B-52 and B-2 bombers into our exclusion zone. Just often enough to piss us off. America made clear the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan remained in force and would be honored. China’s leaders decided they would flex new muscle and test that resolve.
American missions over the Diaoyu Islands were like giving us the finger. We protested but the American government claimed we had no right to declare the zone. They claimed the Diaoyu Islands group belonged to Japan. American politicians were foolish to think we would back down. By 2021 we had the means to enforce our claim. Even against America.
It wasn’t that China or Japan had much use for the islands. They were uninviting uninhabited hunks of rock protruding from the East China Sea. The dispute was fueled by what surrounds the islands. Rich fishing grounds brought competing Chinese and Japanese boats into the waters. Both nations declared sovereignty and were uncompromising with their claims.
Chinese and Japanese patrol boats defended their citizen’s rights to the same fishing grounds. Occasionally shots would be fired. It’s a miracle opposing patrol boats and aircraft didn’t long ago engage in conflict leading to outright war.
The dispute simmered for years; occasionally boiling over into brief violent encounters. It wasn’t only the fishing grounds that kept ownership of the islands hotly contested. The overriding issue was the prospect of rich oil and gas reserves. Japan was desperate for access to oil and gas.
After the 2011 Fukushima disaster the shutdown of nuclear power plants began transforming Japan. The once mighty industrial nation was sinking toward becoming a medieval society. The importation of nearly all energy producing raw materials was bankrupting Japan. The energy starved nation was not about to forfeit its East China Sea claim on oil and gas reserves. Japan became increasingly desperate to gain energy supplies and renew growth.
China was in the same sinking boat. Continued rapid expansion of the economy needed increasing amounts of energy to keep things rolling. I knew all of this as before joining the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) I graduated from university as a modern Chinese history major. As a student I followed the Diaoyu Islands dispute. I even wrote a term paper about it never dreaming I would soon get a firsthand look.
After graduation I was required to give two years of service to my country. I had a choice; army or navy. I always liked being on water so it was navy. I thought I made the right decision. Things started out fine. The navy served better chow and I liked fast patrol boats. One of my first assignments as a Lieutenant Junior Grade was to command a patrol boat defending the Diaoyu Islands.
Initially it was routine boring duty occasionally spiced by close contact with Japanese war ships. Now hostile Japanese warships race so heart pounding close we feared being cut in two. A 40 foot patrol boat doesn’t match up very well against a 495 foot long Takanami-class destroyer.
At times the destroyers would nearly swamp us. Approaching at high speed, 30 knots or more, they would come right at us; veering away at the last moment, pushing a wall of water our way. Even much smaller Japanese patrol boats became super aggressive coming so close barrels of .50 caliber deck guns aimed at our boat looked as large as cannons.
Duty in the Diaoyu Islands became anything but routine. There were frequent close encounters that left us drenched in nervous sweat. On nearly every patrol we feared for our lives. When off duty my crew and I began to drink a lot.
We had one incident that nearly started a war. Not between the Japanese fleet and our Chinese fleet but a shootout between two opposing patrol boats. The crazy Japanese bastards ignored proper marine protocol and cut dangerously close to our boat. My gunner was pissed; firing a warning burst across their bow.
The Japanese returned fire so close to his head the gunner hit the deck. I stopped the dangerous confrontation by speeding away. My action may have looked cowardly but it likely saved a few lives. I didn’t want to die in the Diaoyu Islands over some minor incident. Hell I was still young and had an amazing girlfriend. I didn’t want to die at all.
After the live fire incident every patrol brought tensions to near the breaking point. Live rounds coming at you makes you realize you’re not playing some video game. A minor incident could quickly escalate into being on the receiving end of deadly fire.
Today was more of the frightening same. We’re patrolling extra close to Huangwei Yu in the Diaoyu Island group. What appeared to be a Japanese fishing boat was visible on our port side. We approached to take a closer look. Sometimes “fishing boats” carried armed troops and were full of military electronic spying equipment. I was about to pull alongside and demand they leave the area when a dazzling bright light caught my eye.
“Chief Wong. What the hell is that?” I pointed toward a bright as the sun brilliant yellow, red, and glowing white flash of light and rapidly expanding uneven rings of white smoke far above Huangwei Yu. Seconds later an ear splitting boom assaulted our ears.
“Don’t know Sir. Must be at 10,000 meters or more. Doesn’t look good.”
We watched as smoke trails plummeted gracefully through the clear winter sky. As they drew closer we made out hundreds of ominous smoking objects plunging toward us as if our boat was being targeted. As debris hit the surface white plumes of water violently rose then gracefully arched back to sea.
I yelled. “Fuck! What the hell!”
As splashes surrounded us we became frightened. With increasing horror we realized some of the objects were bodies. In a near panic I didn’t know where to maneuver the boat. Still smoking pieces of debris and what we feared were body parts fell all around us.
I heard Chief Wong exclaim. “Sir I believe it was an airplane. One must have exploded.”
Near the rocky shoreline of Huangwei Yu I saw something shiny sticking out of the water. I maneuvered through debris filled waters to take a closer look. Using binoculars I saw a tail section with the letters ANA painted in white with blue background. I nearly dropped the binoculars. What a tragedy. Even though a Japanese airliner I pitied the poor souls who lost their lives that terrible day.
I wondered where the ANA flight was headed and how many were onboard. I knew the airline flew 787’s close to the Diaoyu Islands as flights traveled between Tokyo Narita Airport and Guangzhou. I believed fully loaded 787’s carry 250 passengers plus crew. I wondered how many lost their lives on that doomed flight.
I noticed my men looked stunned. The event was so surreal they froze. They weren’t sure what they should be doing. I shouted. “Be alert men. Look for survivors.”
Seconds later I realized the order was foolish. Who could survive such a plunge? I didn’t expect we would find anyone alive but thought searching was the decent thing to do. I should have said look for bodies. Perhaps we could retrieve a few before sharks turned up.
As we slowly moved through and searched the debris littered sea we were horrified. The stench of burned flesh mixed with traces of jet fuel and oil was nauseating. We covered our noses with handkerchiefs but it was of little use. Even with ocean breezes the sickening smell was everywhere and fouled everything.
Chief Wong saw a child’s doll floating on the surface its plastic face blackened and distorted from heat. It was missing an eye. As he fished the doll out the Chief saw what remained of a little girl, probably five or six years old. She was horribly burned. A charred leg hung to body by a sliver of tendon.
Next to her was the scorched torso of what must have been a young woman. That was it. A torso only. Chief Wong leaned over the rail and lost his lunch. That caused a chain reaction. None of us were spared. Vomit added to the stench of the horribly polluted sea around us.
We were all unnerved. Debris of all sorts surrounded us. Part of a wing floated on the surface. We bumped into a row of three seats with bodies secured by seat belts. One woman was decapitated. Two others had faces with horrible expressions. Faces frozen with fear as in the last moment of life they knew it was all over. I’m sure they didn’t even have time for prayers.
When off duty my gunner liked to fish. Now his fishing net was put to grisly use. An older gentleman strangely wearing a pin striped suit with cold open black eyes peering through intact thick glasses was pulled in. He looked ready for a business meeting until brought to deck. Then we saw missing feet. They just weren’t there; sheared off above ankles. Bloody nubs stuck out of torn pants legs. Part of the way down the poor guy was probably still alive.
In the same cast of the net a charred leather briefcase was retrieved. It wasn’t locked so we opened it. Waterlogged documents were inside along with a photo album and business cards. The papers and photos were burned at the edges but otherwise in good shape. The photos were heartbreaking.
They were of the same family. In one three young kids were standing next to a 30s something woman wearing a kimono. Standing at the front door of a Japanese restaurant all were smiling broadly. Another photo was of the same women hugging a handsome Japanese man. They looked so happy together. I knew I must somehow locate the women and return the album. The father would probably never be found. Certainly not all of him. I prayed he was traveling alone.
“Sir we’re running low on fuel.” Chief Petty Officer Wong’s announcement was hardly necessary as the gauge was directly in front of me. Judging from his ashen sickly appearance the announcement was to encourage a speedy return to base.
“Chief we’ll search for a few more minutes. We can’t help the dead but perhaps can aid the living by saving some mementos; something the relatives would cherish.”
A woman’s carryon bag bobbed on the surface. The gunner retrieved it in his net. The “Hello Kitty” design brought renewed grief to the entire crew. The bag probably belonged to a schoolgirl. A young woman whose dreams would never be realized. I’ll never forget that tragic day. So many dead people falling from the sky.
Wherever the plane was going people waiting for the arrival of family and friends would be first told the flight was delayed. Then as TV news reporters learn of the tragedy the awful truth would come out. Three years ago my older brother was killed in an airplane crash. I knew the drill; the growing gnawing anxiety as one waited for news of delayed loved ones. The way news was managed and dribbled out only prolonged the agony.
We pulled in another body. Judging from the pin on his sweatshirt he was a college student. He had no legs. His hair and ears were completely burned off. We laid the unlucky young man on the deck and used a poncho to cover the body. That was all we could do for him.
I cried on the way to base. So did my crew. Most of the victims were Japanese. That made no difference. They were humans who had done us no harm. People who had families. People with plans for a better life. It was confusing. I hated the Japanese soldiers and sailors I confronted almost daily on our patrols but was crying over dead Japanese strangers. What kind of warrior am I? What kind of man?
A few hours later I learned the ANA airliner collided with one of our fighter jets. I felt even more depressed. Retaliation and more death were sure to follow. Our patrols would become even more dangerous.
January 13, 2014
No Remorse – Collateral Damage Book II
I’m about to finish No Remorse – Collateral Damage book II of the Collateral Damage series. I’m at 37500 words and ready to wrap it up and send the manuscript off the proof reader. It’s amazing how typos and errors of all sorts remain undetected to ones own set of eyes. A good proofreader will correct those nagging little errors that can be so distracting to readers.
The second book in the series has Alex and Gloria adjusting to life in communist controlled Taiwan. The transition goes smoothly until the conflict between China and Japan heats up. Dispute of ownership of a group of islands in the East China Sea leads to outright war. The love story continues and becomes stronger than ever as Alex and Gloria help each other survive. Gloria finds the warrior inside her as she is forced to fight and has no remorse.
America Has Little Choice And Sides With Japan. With No Remorse Japan Attacks Taiwan
Alex worries his American passport will put him in danger. Gloria and Alex start on an epic adventure to avoid Chinese communists. Their journey takes them to Taiwan’s Central Mountains.
US Aircraft Carrier
in the Western Pacific
A secondary story in No Remorse is about a US Navy career officers tale of serving on the USS Gerald R.Ford, a nuclear powered super aircraft carrier. Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles now threaten the fleet.The plot thickens as forces of China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and the United States all operate in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan.
No Remorse is a Complex War Story and Simple Love Story
Those who love techno thriller action will not be disappointed. Those who enjoy a good romance story leading to a love story will want more. And they shall have it. Book three will be packed with military and romantic action and will be released Summer 2014.
December 7, 2013
Collateral Damage – Red Flag (Alex Swift Novella)
Chance Brought Them Together – War Forged Their Love.
Collateral Damage – Red Flag is fast-moving and tense. Recent UCLA graduates Gloria Wang and Alex Swift travel to Taiwan to attend a wedding and unexpectedly have to deal with being trapped in a war zone.They become collateral damage as China launches an attack on Taiwan.
Collateral Damage Becomes More Than a Term When It Happens to You
What’s it like to suddenly find yourself in a war zone? Alex and Gloria find how fast life can change. They develop a deepened relationship as they struggle to adapt to the uncertainly of war.
Beth and Gary Smart are a U.S. Navy couple who were teen age sweethearts. Their marriage is troubled by a fleet officer’s frequent deployments. Lieutenant Smart loves his wife and loves a demanding mistress the sea.He has difficulty knowing which he loves more.
Collateral Damage – Red Flag is set in 2020 as China makes good on its long time threat and invades Taiwan. China refines its aircraft carrier killer DR-21D anti-ship ballistic missile which acts as a sea denial weapon even for mighty US warships.
The techno thriller war action is balanced with two relationships forever changed by war.Funny at times and brutal at others this novella delivers a lot of action.
Released on Amazon December 6, 2013.
About the Author -
Gerald Greene is a Vietnam War veteran having served with the Navy Seebees near Da Nang,Vietnam.His squad was tasked to work on a Marine fire base near Hoi An. This brought him in close contact with 155mm and 105mm artillery batteries, B-52 rolling thunder bombing runs,F-4 airstrikes, and puff the magic dragon gunships, which helped keep the VC at bay. Vivid descriptions of combat situations in Greene’s novels come from these experiences.
Greene has lived and worked overseas in Thailand,Taiwan,Japan, Hong Kong, Pakistan, the Philippines, France,Germany and Vietnam and traveled through China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and most of Europe.
Greene’s interest in international travel and events are reflected in his novels.
September 24, 2013
Novella Love Lies Secrets Set in Hong Kong
Jay Steele had it all. Jay was a highly successful foreign exchange trader working for a famous Hong Kong Chinese trading company. He owned a luxury waterfront condominium with a tremendous view of Hong Kong harbor, a new BMW 750i Sedan, had a smart and attractive Chinese female trading assistant, and a fabulous Chinese girlfriend who showered him with love and affection. Life in the fast lane was good.
Greed overcomes judgment as Jay risks his jet set life and enters into a risky deal with Jason Snow, a former NSA computer hacking expert. His drive for even more success leads to unexpected consequences as he gets involved with US national security secrets.
The ending will surprise you as Jay attempts to protect himself from illegal activities and finds himself trapped in events he can no longer control.
December 17, 2012
E-book Sales Surge at Christmas | e-books
E-Books catch on even with long time print book fans. E-books are sold internationally with ease.
Carolyn McCosh says she has loved “real books, the printed-on-paper kind,” ever since she got her St. Louis Public Library card in first grade. The 45-year-old had little interest in e-books — until Christmas.
E-book Sales Surge at Christmas
E-Books and the Kindle
Along with millions of others, she unwrapped a Kindle Fire, a gift from her boyfriend and “a huge defining moment for me.” Since then, she has bought $100 worth of e-books — from histories to mysteries — and wonders, “Am I a traitor to printed books?”
McCosh is part of an unprecedented surge in e-book sales that’s changing publishing and challenging traditional bookstores.
E-Books Hit Best Sellers List
It’s reflected on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list, which tracks combined sales of e-book and print editions. The latest list, based on sales data from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, shows a remarkable burst of digital book sales after e-readers were unwrapped as gifts — for 42 of the top 50 titles, the e-book editions were the most popular format. The previous high, in July, was 25 of the top 50.Christmas
E-Book Sales Explode During Two Weeks After Christmas
For e-books, “the two weeks after Christmas is what the two weeks before Halloween is to pumpkins,” says Michael Norris, an analyst with Simba Information, a market research firm. After the post-holiday surge, he predicts, e-books will increase in “short bursts and slow trickles” the rest of the year.
Norris estimates that one in five U.S. adults are reading e-books on a variety of devices, from dedicated e-readers to tablets (like the Kindle Fire) that can be used to download movies, music, video games and more.
Forrester Research estimates that Amazon has sold 5 million Kindle Fires, priced at $199 each, since the device was released Nov. 14. Archrival Barnes & Noble has sold an estimated 2 million Nook Tablets ($249), released Nov. 17.
Both devices are designed, in part, to compete with Apple’s iPad (the latest versions are priced from $500 to $830), which sold about 40 million units last year.
But even as the sales of e-books doubled from 10% of the overall market to 20% in 2011, print books still account for about 80% of the market.
E-Books Offer Great Time for Readers
Michael Cader, founder of Publishers Lunch, an influential digital newsletter, says it’s premature to call e-books a “game-changer” for publishing: “Lots of things are changing, but the game is still a lot like it was.”
But the question for publishers and booksellers, including more than 350 independent stores that sell e-books in partnership with Google, is how fast changes are coming.
Without being specific, Russ Grandinetti, a vice president at online retailer Amazon (which dominates the markets for both e-readers and e-books), says its print and digital sales are both up, but “digital is growing significantly faster.”
E-Books Expand Readers Choices
Downplaying print-vs.-digital questions, he adds, “For anyone who cares about books, it’s never been a better time to be a reader. The choices have never been greater — what to read, when to read it, and how to integrate books into your daily life.”
Barnes & Noble hopes its “Nook Boutiques” in its stores (703, down from 717 a year ago) can help sell its digital products with giveaways and instructions. Last week, it reported that Nook Tablet sales “exceeded expectations” but that it “over-anticipated” demand for its $99 Nook Simple Touch.
The chain’s holiday sales of print books rose 4%, “the first increase in five years,” says James Iannone, president of digital products. In part, he attributes that to the collapse of Borders, which went out of business last year, closing 600 stores. But he also says, “A lot of people still love physical books.”
E-Books Still Face Stiff Competition
That was evident this holiday season, retailers’ make-or-break time. In the weeks before Christmas, the number of titles on USA TODAY’s best-seller list where the e-book outsold the hardcover or paperback edition declined — from 12 in the top 50 in early November to three the week before Christmas. Although there are gift cards for e-books, most people seem to like to wrap and inscribe books they give.
Sharing is hard. Now, millions of digital converts are exploring their new reading devices:
•Steve Woods, 60, a St. Louis-based software consultant, says his Nook Tablet “has got me back into reading on the road. I like to read three or four books at the same time — going back and forth.” (His current reading includes two titles near the top of USA TODAY’s list: Walter Isaacson’s biography Steve Jobs and Suzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games.)
One thing he doesn’t like: “It’s not as easy or straightforward to lend e-books as with physical books.” (Limits and restrictions on e-book lending are aimed at preventing piracy.)
•Kathleen Lattea, 50, a Baltimore therapist, credits her Kindle Touch for prompting her to read “more broadly and more often” — from free classics, such as The Complete Sherlock Holmes, to “unknown” novelists, such as Joel Goldman, whose Motion to Kill she bought for 99 cents.
One complaint: It’s hard to share her Kindle and e-books with her 24-year-old daughter. “She wants to read the latest Hunger Games while I am reading The Help when, of course, we can sit in the same room and read free library books. We’re frugal and not duplicating devices or book purchases.”
Each has advantages:
•Laurie Ousley, 52, a naturopathic doctor in Kokomo, Ind., is enjoying her new Nook Tablet but has yet to read a book on it: “I’ve been too busy figuring out how to load music and use it for Facebook and e-mail.” She’s planning to download an e-book from her local library (although most major publishers have begun to restrict library lending of new e-books) and is “looking forward to having my books with me whenever and wherever I want them.”
•Denis Davis, 32, a radio program director in Florence, S.C., says his Nook Tablet’s built-in speaker and “Read to Me” feature renewed his interest in reading with his 3-year-old son. With books such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, its recorded narrator “reads the words,” Davis says, as “one turns the page. It is pretty cool at bedtime.”
•Theresa Foster, 24, a librarian in Barnegat, N.J., loves shifting formats, from audiobooks while driving, to physical books while working or studying, to her new back-lit iPad in bed at night, when “my husband doesn’t have to hear the rustle of pages while he is trying to fall asleep.”
At the library, Foster says one-third of last week’s reference questions were about downloading e-books. Most of her teen patrons don’t have their own e-readers, but she sees growing interest in e-books, “only an app away for many of them who already have iPods and smartphones.”
At the same time, she worries if print books could go the way of CDs. She notes that “not everyone can afford e-readers or even a computer.”
Norris, the market research analyst, doubts if e-books will “hit a true tipping point like music did. Music content has always required an electronic interface, be it a gramophone or an iPod,” which is not the case with books.
Among questions facing publishers is how much e-books will cannibalize print. Cader says overall print sales dropped about 9% in 2011.
Read More By Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY
E-books sales surge after holidays
December 10, 2012
Gerald Greene Releases Fifth Published Book Force Valor Revenge
Gerald Greene has released in December, 2012 his fifth techno thriller book titled Force Valor Revenge.
The new book, titled “Force Valor Revenge”, is written by Gerald Greene. Mr. Greene has been working since May, 2012 preparing the first book in the Force Valor series for publication. Today, it can be purchased by the public in digital form for an introductory price of $3.99.
“The book Force Valor Revenge focuses on a new threat to modern civilization”, said Greene. “For years malicious freelancer hackers or those working in groups such as Anonymous have used the Internet and devices such as thumb drives to spread viruses and computer worms to computer networks. Now we must learn to deal with an age of cyber warfare and cyber terrorism where state-sponsored hackers and computer scientists cause alterations to software programs that control computer operations. Malicious altering of software can damage or destroy computers and networks with catastrophic results. Infrastructure such as electric power generating plants and oil refineries can be crippled.”
In his new book, Mr. Greene demonstrates his firsthand knowledge of living conditions and cultures in South Asia and South East Asia to write a techno thriller novel in realistic docudrama style. Greene is a Vietnam War veteran and draws upon his military experience and interest in military affairs as well as research for the 2011 and 2012 On the Brink – War with Iran series of books to add rich detail to Force Valor.
Mr. Greene draws upon twelve years of experience of living and working in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Pakistan. Notes of conversations with mercenaries and US Marines fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan while they were on R&R leave adds realistic dialogue and accounts of hardship and courage to the book.
Greene explains, “There is nothing like actually living in a country as a local to gain an understanding of foreign cultures. A vacation trip of a week or two doesn’t cut it. Staying in a nation long enough to make good friends with locals and to share food, drink, and conversation in their homes makes a huge difference in understanding.” Greene adds that characters in the Force Valor series are modeled after friends and acquaintances met while living overseas.
Gerald Greene’s book, “ Force Valor Revenge” is now available for sale through Amazon. In January,2013 distribution will be expanded through Smashwords. Gerald is available for interview requests and to send review copies to media personnel.
To contact Gerald Greene please use the contact form at the Force Valor Revenge website.
For ordering information visit the Force Valor website
or go directly to Force Valor Revenge on Amazon.
