OVERLAND REDUX

Thank you for stopping by to spend a few minutes with the OVERLAND the book blog. Here you can read about various scenarios and paths we take in life and integrate them to certain scenes and points of views with Danny and some of the other characters within OVERLAND.

Some readers of the book might be wondering, what is all the fuss? This book was released last year. It is true, OVERLAND was first published in August 2009....and now re-released in September 2010. Why?

Simply, I had grown to love my characters and couldn't say goodbye. OVERLAND ends with some wonderful closure but left the door open for a certain character and what happens...in the end.

About 6 months after publication last year, I came up with the idea for a sequel, and it was good, really good. I didn't want to wait to write the sequel to see this new part of the story...and so, voila...in the new release of OVERLAND there is an exciting and crucial added element of the storyline and will create a natural path for the sequel.

I loved it how it came out, and now inspired to share this story with you, and looking forward to the path of the OVERLAND re-release and on to write part II.

What do you think about the new cover?

"A RADIANT ROMANCE IN A BREATHTAKING HISTORICAL ADVENTURE!"

Normally I write about various themes of life that tie into Overland, such the characters, or actions, or events. But today's posting is a review I received today by a woman who does nothing but review books. Well, I'm sure she does other things, but this is what she does for a living and I thought you would want to read it. And not so much because it is a great review, but it will give you some keen insights into the story of book, which ultimately, will make you want to read it. And by no means for the sale of the book. My faithful followers here are what I would call my friends and "early adopters"...those that were there for me from the start...and I thank you!

So, before we read on with this review, I want to share some news:

I'm going to start working on Overland, the sequel, Part II. I can keep you up to date along the way, or an announcement at the time of publication. I don't know what is going to happen in Part II...certainly if you have an ideas or what you would like to see, please let me know....

And now, the review:

Mark Stephen Levy takes his traveling adventures and his personal love story as he creates an incredible Masterpiece of war, history, and romance. The main character, Danny Benson is a man who makes the reader turn the pages as fast as the speed of lightning, and has the type of personality that would make your heart melt. As he rides the Magic Bus to Afghanistan in desperate search to find the woman he loves, along with answers to many questions about their relationship, unexpected circumstances changes his life forever. When Danny finds Heather, what else does he find? Did Heather ever find herself, and what else does she find? How did the Soviet invasion, and the bomb blast affect Danny's life? Which direction was Danny in, and was it the same direction Heather was in? Did unexpected events in Danny's life bring him happiness? Why did Danny want to go to Kathmadu?What does the blood stained blue scarf signify? Why was James arrested? What was considered paradise for Danny? Who is Vyasa, and what did he do for Danny? I highly recommend this novel to all fiction, historical fiction, and adventure lovers. The sweet scent of sizzling romance blossoms like a rose as the reader is taken on an interesting journey through the culture and beauty of different countries. Challenges are taken through many twists-and-turns, while war is looming as the pages become covered in drama. The plot is captivating, the story is delightful and the fascinating characters come to life in this unique, emotional roller-coaster ride. The author paints each page with excitement, danger, sorrow, and happiness. A colorful portrait is the result of an unforgettable story that's made for the movie screen. "OVERLAND" is as entertaining as GONE WITH THE WIND, as romantic as JERRY MAGUIRE, and as dramatic as
THE DEER HUNTER with Robert Deniro.
Posted by Author Geri Ahearn

WE ARE WHAT WE WRITE

I can't imagine any writer of fiction and certainly non-fiction that hasn't lived and experienced what he or she writes about. Logic tells me that, that is just a fact.

I wonder what Boris Pasternak lived that he was so inspired to write Dr.Zhivago? I suppose in a few minutes in Wiki Internet search, I would know. Sometimes I think it is better to just wonder about things and leave it at that. And not for the fact of disappointment of what you would find out. It's just that these are the kinds of things that random thoughts and daydreams are made of.

When I wrote OVERLAND for the last year and a half, the experiences I called upon happened some 20 years ago. But these were my travel experiences from which I could write with authority and authenticity without actually traveled to some of the places I wrote about. Of course some good and intensive research made up for that!

What's my point in all this?

We are what we write. I am currently pondering on what to write for my next book. I certainly couldn't write any spa novels, or paranormal romances. Nor westerns. No, my genre is travel/adventure and love stories. This is what I know, this is what I think is exciting...and I would think there's a pretty big audience for travel/adventure love stories!

If not, maybe I need to enlist in the military and get some new experiences in a different genre....yeah right! Like what army would take me? To paraphrase an old line: "I would never join an army that would have me as a soldier".

Yep, we are what we write. I know I want to write the sequel to OVERLAND. I have some pretty interesting ideas for it...can't really talk about it here until enough people have read it, then you'll know what I mean.

Then I would ask my readers what they would like to see...but that is another conversation for another posting another day.

Everybody has lived something. And I would encourage anybody that reads this post to try writing about it. Whether it turns into a book, a blog, some notes to yourself. There are some things that you will feel when done writing it: joy, perhaps even cathartic release. When you get it down on paper, it just seems to be more official, to take on truer meaning.


Does that mean whatever rambles around in our heads isn't official? Well, no. But writing it down could clear your head of what you've written, which frees your mind to think of something else...or even release some old demons or think of nothing. And then you begin to think of something else. And then you think about what you wrote and go back to your writing and write some more to where it gushes and then you'll want to turn it into something.

How exciting the process is....try it!