"Noah Zarc: Cataclysm" by D. Robert Pease

Some of you may remember that I read D. Robert Pease's Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble.  Well Noah is back, this time in Noah Zarc: Cataclysm!   This time around, Noah ends up grounded (quite literally) and can only wait helplessly when his parents and the ARC get attacked.  But does he sit around and wait for answers?  Of course not!  That sets him on a whirlwind adventure that leaves him working with Haon, his nemesis from the first novel.  If the two can set aside their differences, maybe they can stop whatever it was that happened that made the planet Earth inhabitable. 

I have to say, I enjoyed this book even more than the first one.  I powered through it in only a few hours, just wanting to know what was going to happen next (it also helped that I had a Kindle version this time around.  I think back on the days where I sat a computer reading .pdfs of books and cringe.  I love the Kindle!!).  If I had to find something I didn't like about this book (and this is me being nit-picky here), was that Adina wasn't featured as heavily as I would have liked.  I am always glad when non-girl oriented books feature a strong female character.  So even though her somewhat lacking presence made sense as a part of the story, I was a little sad to see less of her.  I'm hopeful she'll have a bigger role in the next book. 

I really did enjoy this book.  I certainly think that it will appeal to middle school readers, especially boys.  I think it will appeal to those that are fans of science fiction and (somewhat) history- though that isn't as big of an influence in this novel.  I'm anxious to read the next book and hope to see it soon (congrats to Pease on completing NaNoWriMo!).

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Noah Zarc: Cataclysm, the second book in the Noah Zarc series, is about a boy named, surprisingly enough, Noah Zarc. If you haven’t read the first book, Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble, then you probably want to start there. But if you are well-versed in all things Zarc, then take a gander at the description of the next book below. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
OVERVIEW
Thirteen-year-old Noah Zarc rockets to Venus in a quest to learn more about his past. He refuses to believe his father is really the monster everyone says he is. Could there be valid reasons for everything he’s done, including abandoning Noah at birth?

While searching for answers to secrets no one wants to talk about, even those that have remained hidden for over a thousand years, Noah becomes embroiled in a mission which could cause the greatest cataclysm in the history of the solar system. And the name, Noah Zarc, might be forever linked to the most devastating crime in humanity's existence, all because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com (available in paperback or as an eBook.) Other online retailers listed below.

CASH and PRIZES
Guess what? You could win a $50 Amazon gift card as part of this special release party. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $50 too by having the most comments. So tell your friends to stop by and comment on this post too! You have until the end of December to comment.
Also, we will be giving away one pair of signed books (Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble, and Noah Zarc: Cataclysm) to one winner as well.

THE AUTHOR
D. Robert Pease has been interested in creating worlds since childhood. From building in the sandbox behind his house, to drawing fantastical worlds with paper and pencil, there has hardly been a time he hasn't been off on some adventure in his mind, to the dismay of parents and teachers alike. Also, since the moment he could read, books have consumed vast swaths of his life. From The Mouse and the Motorcycle, to The Lord of the Rings, worlds just beyond reality have called to him like Homer's Sirens. It's not surprising then he chose to write stories of his own. Each filled with worlds just beyond reach, but close enough we can all catch a glimpse of ourselves in the characters.

Discover ways to connect with the author by visiting his site at www.drobertpease.com


THANK YOU! for visiting. And don't forget to comment below for that chance to win the $50 Amazon gift card. And of course head on over to your favorite online book store and buy a copy of Noah Zarc: Cataclysm, for you or for the kids in your life.

Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble Nook | Kobo | Amazon UK

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Happy Reading!
-Melly

NaNoWriMo Day #2

So far so good!  I set a goal of 5000 total words today and called it quits for the night at 5064 words!  I'd do a happy dance, but I'm a bit too tired.  Thank goodness for coffee and generic Mountain Dew!  I almost changed  my story this morning.  I took my two characters (college age) and re-wrote a scene where they were about third grade age.  It was amusing but I realized that I didn't have anywhere for the story to go.  I think that I will hold onto the piece however, it was fun to write and I think it would be fun to develop these characters into a book for young readers, or at least a short story!  Either way, both pieces will involve a scene featuring pancakes.  Chocolate chip pancakes!





"All great art comes from a sense of outrage."
-Glenn Close

As I've been writing, I'm realizing how much certain people in my life have influenced this story.  I'm still not sure where it is going, but I have begun to develop a plot line that addresses some drama that was in my life this past year.  I am very curious to see where this will take my characters!


Are there any other NaNoWriMo-ers out there?  How are your progressing?  Any of you just writing whatever comes to mind or have you plotted out your story (I haven't plotted mine).  Feel free to add me as a writing buddy!


Happy Writing!
-Melly

NaNoWriMo Day #1

I'm well on my way with my first NaNoWriMo attempt.  I'm currently at 2300 words (over my personal goal of 1700 words for today) and still going.  If you were to take a peak in my window (which I would find very creepy, just saying) you would see an extremely tired twenty-something girl in leopard print pj bottoms and a Bedrocks City Rocks sweatshirt consuming soda to help me stay awake while I try to find a stopping place so that I can go to bed (work tomorrow).  I may very easily up my goal to 2000 words per day with a higher goal for weekends/days I don't have to work.  Considering I'll have a few days off for Thanksgiving, I feel like this may really be possible.  And I might even get a book review or two done in the midst of this.

I am extremely happy that I have the support of my awesome boyfriend for this.  I think I would have done the same thing as in the past; had too many doubts about the project and lack of ideas and end up quitting before I even started if it weren't for his encouragement.  However, I am already questioning my story and have a feeling that the audience I am writing for will change-therefore changing the entire story, but I am okay with that.  Even if I just get some solid plot and character ideas out of this, I will be happy.

Sorry if this blog rambles and doesn't quite make sense.  NaNoWriMo will do that to a girl.

Happy Writing!
-Melly