Blog Archives
The Voice of Reason
Taquoma follows a volcanologist on a perilous mission to prevent a catastrophic eruption in Yellowstone, racing against time to save humanity. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of Taquoma is my fascination with volcanoes and the hazardous job of volcanologists. When Mount St. Helens exploded I was in awe of the sheer power of Mother Earth. While watching a documentary on volcanoes a terrifying thought crossed my mind: what if every major volcano on Earth starting with Yellowstone erupted at once? What would that look like? I set out to explore this intriguing idea. I also explored the idea of how the government might counter Yellowstone by fracking and pumping cold water into the caldera to cool it. I developed a complex plan to engineer that idea, then during my research, I coincidently stumbled across an actual plan by NASA to do almost exactly what I envisioned. It was a wonderful find and helped me fill in the blanks of my original plan.
Yara Del Rey is a woman with strength. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Yara’s inner strength derives from her unconditional love of her daughter, Kalani, and the parents who raised her. She’s traditional and loyal and seeks to do what is right even though she fails miserably at times. What makes her most valuable is her fiery nature and determination to speak the truth, no matter the cost to her personally or professionally. She is the voice of reason in the story that the NASA scientists choose to ignore. She treats people with respect and respects the Earth, holding those values dear to her heart.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
Mainly by integrating character development and plot progression directly into the action sequences. I used the intensity of the moment to reveal key details about the characters and advance the narrative while keeping the writing focused on descriptions to maintain momentum. I set out to make every action scene a critical turning point in the story and ramp up the tension.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am currently working on my first book series called, THE TIMEPIECE SERIES. The first three books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble Nook and I am currently writing the fourth book. Book One, THE TIMEPIECE LEGACY, was recently reviewed by Literary Titan and it earned a Silver Book Award. Book Two is titled THE TIMEPIECE PARADOX, and Book Three is titled THE TEMPUS GLASS. Book Four will be out in early 2025 titled THE TIME TRINITY. You can find all my books and links to purchase on my website AuthorKevinMiller.com.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
At the base of Mount Rainier, twenty-six-year-old Yara Del Rey gathers data for her dissertation in geology. A talented and promising young volcanologist, Yara is alarmed by the recent rumblings of the legendary volcano.
When a team of NASA and USGS scientists kidnaps Yara off the side of Mount Rainier, she is whisked to Wyoming, where a greater threat stirs within the bowels of an ancient caldera. Yara is plunged into the politics and the greed of a multi-billion-dollar NASA plan to pump chilled water into the magma chambers of the Yellowstone volcano—something Yara warns could lead to an apocalyptic catastrophe.
Yara’s warnings go ignored and after she separates from the team of scientists, she hires ex-Navy pilot Clayton Red Sky, to fly her over Yellowstone in a hot-air balloon to assess the condition of the caldera. Before they can depart, disaster strikes and sends Yara and Clay on a desperate journey to escape the oncoming shock wave and billowing clouds of fiery ash.
A scorched earth and a race against time stand in the way of Yara and her six-year-old daughter Kalani, thousands of miles away in Tacoma, Washington.
“Taquoma” is international award-winning author Kevin D. Miller at his finest. His ability to bring a story to life in a cinematic fashion and create characters the reader immediately falls in love with is a hallmark of his writing. “Taquoma” is loaded with tension, thrills, and unexpected twists and turns. It is a unique disaster thriller and a love story that grabs the reader by the throat and sends them on a wild adventure and to the depths of human emotion.
TAQUOMA
Kevin D. Miller’s Taquoma is an electrifying journey through a world on the brink of volcanic catastrophe. It follows Yara Del Rey, a committed volcanologist who finds herself entangled in a perilous mission to prevent a cataclysmic Yellowstone eruption. As the planet’s molten fury threatens to erupt, Yara fights against the clock to protect her daughter—and humanity—from certain devastation.
Miller excels at blending scientific realism with heart-pounding fiction. He paints a scenario so convincing it feels like a genuine threat, making you wonder just how fragile our world is. The characters are rich and relatable, each with their own emotional weight, drawing you deeper into the story. And the suspense? It’s relentless. Miller’s descriptions of volcanic chaos are breathtaking and terrifying, leaving you in awe of nature’s raw power.
The novel isn’t just about action and thrills, though. Beneath the explosive narrative, Miller explores crucial themes like environmental responsibility, the dangers of unchecked human ambition, and the unbreakable bonds of love and perseverance. It’s a fast-paced adventure, but it makes you think, too—about the world we live in and how precariously we treat it.
Taquoma is perfect for anyone who loves a high-stakes disaster thriller or simply enjoys a wild adventure with depth and meaning. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and will leave you on the edge of your seat, rooting for Yara until the very last page. If you’re in the mood for a gripping, explosive read that keeps you invested from start to finish, this one delivers in every way.
Pages: 266 | ASIN : B0BKTSN32S
Killer Bees & Murder Hornets
Bee Conspiracy follows a tenacious detective investigating an odd accident involving bees and teams up with a Wildlife agent who suspects it is, in fact, not an accident. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
One sees in the media, from time to time, sensationalized headlines that include terms like “killer bees” or “murder hornets.” These terms are intended to scare people and create clickbait. I thought it would be interesting to show an expert in the field of insects who would find clues that showed a beehive was planted in a certain position in order to “weaponize” the bees by putting them in a defensive posture.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
A good story has a certain skeletal structure that includes twists but also relies upon a character who is following a journey to achieve a certain goal.
What draws you to the genre of eco-thriller and makes it ripe for you to write such a great conspiracy thriller story in it?
Thank you for the compliment! I have always been interested in insects and how they relate to our ecosystem, and I wanted to explore a character who would see things from the point of view of the insects and how he might be able to use his knowledge to solve crimes. I do enjoy a good thriller and certainly aspire to keep people turning the page to find out what happens next.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am working on a new book set at the modern-day Tower of London, in England. I am also mulling ideas for a sequel to Bee Conspiracy!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
A suspenseful tale featuring a mismatched investigative team reminiscent of X-Files‘ Mulder and Scully…
As concerns over food shortages grow amid massive honeybee die-offs, an LAPD cop and a Special Agent for US Fish and Wildlife investigate a sociopath kindling mass hysteria to profit from the extermination of biological bees.
Bee Conspiracy
In Bee Conspiracy, David Boito crafts a gripping narrative that takes the reader on an investigative journey where finding the culprit is merely the beginning. John Alan “Duke” Wayne, our tenacious detective, isn’t satisfied with just unraveling the how and why of a crime; he’s bent on trapping the orchestrator in an unbreakable web of evidence.
The narrative commences with a seemingly innocuous incident: a man operating a lawnmower inadvertently disrupts a bee nest. The ensuing panic results in a gruesome accident. While Duke, currently on administrative leave for his unyielding demeanor, initially dismisses it as a mere accident, Kelso Bagley’s keen eye spots incongruities. As a Fish and Wildlife agent, Kelso’s expert knowledge leads him to suspect foul play, particularly when he detects unusual aggression pheromones and observes the hive’s unnatural placement.
Without venturing too far into spoiler territory, what begins as a straightforward detective thriller evolves into a multi-layered tale rife with unexpected twists. Boito skillfully plays with classic detective tropes – for instance, the archetypal good cop/bad cop dynamic. Yet, as the narrative unfolds and characters evolve, their roles and relationships are intriguingly subverted. A word of caution: While the initial lawnmower incident is jarringly graphic, it is a standalone scene in terms of its intensity. However, if you harbor a strong aversion to bugs, approach with care.
Rapid-paced chapters make Bee Conspiracy a compelling page-turner. I recommended this conspiracy thriller for those seeking a riveting literary escape.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B0CDKC64X4
Cassandra and the Crystal Cave
Young Cassandra struggles to find her place in the universe a girl on the cusp of womanhood. Considered a misfit, nature-lover Cass often finds herself at odds with her own family about caring for the natural world and the many creatures that inhabit it. But when a grim tragedy strikes, Cassandra is pulled into yet another world. It is in this new world she discovers her hidden powers at the brink of an infinite universe in need of her help. Finding numerous friends and allies, Cassandra must learn to conquer her hidden doubts and rise above the tragedy in order to heal a broken world with the most powerful force in creation.
Cassandra and the Crystal Cave by author Deborah Shining Star is a rich story about overcoming the tragedies of life and discovering each person’s special purpose in our vast, endless universe. Cassandra, finding herself between worlds, encounters many trials and heart-wrenching tragedies in both her “normal” life and the world of the fantastical. Seldom have I encountered a book that weaves together the magical and mundane worlds so skillfully, spinning a complex narrative that pulls the reader into a place where anything is possible. Cassandra fights to understand herself, her family, and the meaning of sacrifice as she learns from many wise elders such as Grandmother Shining Stars. Cassandra encounters mythical beings far and wide, from unicorns to star beings from another galaxy. And in Cassandra’s fabulous journeys, the common themes of love, forgiveness, healing, and hope are present on every page of this beautifully crafted tale. At the end of it, all, balance, harmony, and understanding of our place in the universe may be the key to everything.
Cassandra and the Crystal Cave is an excellent coming-of-age fantasy adventure. This book wraps up nicely and is good as a stand-alone adventure but leaves plenty of potential for other stories in the future. Perfect for all those who love a beautiful fantasy world where not even the sky is the limit.
Pages: 228 | ASIN : B0B3W872RV
The Lambda Factor
The Lambda Factor by Dimple Desai is a heart-pounding medical thriller that will have you on edge. Mere hours before Hurricane Beatrix touches down in Galveston, Texas, patients of Galveston hospital are evacuated. Doctors Danica Diza and Shaka Sen stay behind to tend to the remaining patients. Unfortunately, a highly virulent and deadly hemorrhagic fever virus is loose, forcing many into quarantine. Will they be able to survive the hurricane, the deadly virus, and the shortage of supplies?
Author Dimple Desai has added a little bit of everything you want in a disaster story; high stakes, well-developed characters, and even a bit of romance. The author’s writing is both exciting and terrifying, just knowing that this can possibly happen in real life.
Dr. Desai uses her medical expertise to make the hospital setting feel realistic and describes things in a way that is understandable to a regular person. Likewise, the characters are believable and seem intelligent and down to earth. From the beginning, Shaka and Danica have flirtatious banter, making them a lovely pair, and I was secretly rooting for them to reveal their feelings to one another.
The stakes are high from the start of the story, making this book difficult to put down. The author flawlessly jumps between scenes from Galveston hospital with a countdown of when the hurricane is going to hit the Biocontainment lab where the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever has been discovered. But even with these jumps I found it easy to follow many characters, and I always knew what was going on.
The fear that Dr. Wong feels when he realizes that there may be a deadly virus on the loose is where the tension really builds in the story. Because of the well developed scenes, easy to understand medical lingo, and interesting characters, I was fully immersed in the story and felt like I was in the hospital following the doctors.
The Lambda Factor is a terrifying and intense medical thriller novel. Readers will find it hard to put down as the action and suspense leads them through an alarming situation that, at times, is too close to reality for comfort.
Pages: 350 | ASIN : B095MGRMBC
