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The Destruction Of Their Market
Bottled Lightning follows an elite technology lawyer who finds himself entangled in a web of corporate espionage deep in the heart of bustling Tokyo. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I practiced law, we advised renewable and nuclear energy clients on their cross-border transactions. I started wondering what would happen if someone invented an energy technology that would replace every other type of energy, including oil, existing renewables and nuclear. How would powerful entrenched industry players react to the destruction of their market share? I decided on lightning-on-demand technology after experiencing the power of lightning firsthand in the Florida Everglades while lying on the bottom of a skiff with thunderbolts exploding all around us.
The male international lawyer character arose out of my own experience as an attorney practicing in New York and Japan and the experiences of my son, whose mother is Japanese and who has lived in both the US and Japan. I created the female inventor character based on a composite of very smart technology company founders I’ve worked with over the years, including a woman client with a PhD in chemical engineering.
What is it about Tokyo that made it the perfect setting for your novel?
Tokyo has Blade Runner and Neuromancer vibes, particularly at night. It is also an exotically beautiful modern city with a wonderful skyline. And it’s the perfect city for the urban motorcycle scenes in the book.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
Completely organically. I pantsed it, i.e., wrote it by the seat of my pants. It started with the desire to write a thriller with an international lawyer character. Then I needed to decide who the client would be and what her invention was. Then I needed to determine the conflict and inciting incident. Etc. Etc. I struggled with each step in the process. For example, I changed the beginning chapter three times. The first chapter I ever wrote didn’t even make it into the published novel. As many successful authors have said, writing is rewriting and the first draft is for the author whereas editing is for the benefit of the readers.
And since I’m a lawyer by trade and Bottled Lightning is my debut novel, in many ways I had to unlearn my legal writing skills to learn how to write fiction. For example, there is a lot of passive writing in corporate legal writing and that is death in fiction. The general rule is that you must write with an active voice, although there are exceptions. Also, in legal writing, I don’t want to be triggering an emotional response in my clients: Kind of like the old TV show, Dragnet – “Just the facts, ma’am,” if you will. In fiction, by contrast, you want to trigger an emotional response in the reader on every page! And in legal writing, you want to give the client the answer or conclusion up front. You don’t want to make a paying customer wade through pages of discussion to find your advice. In fiction, however, you want to hide the ball all the way to the end, while at the same time leaving breadcrumbs along the way.
What is the next novel that you are working on, and when will that be available?
A novel about tarpon tournament fly fishing in a fantasyland based on the Florida Keys. The working title is Poontown, based on the nickname (poon) guides and anglers use for tarpon, the best fly rod gamefish in the world, bar none. I’m shooting for the first half of 2026.
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Top global technology lawyer Tornait “Torn” Sagara knows he shouldn’t get involved with his beautiful client, Saya Brooks, whose revolutionary lightning-on-demand invention will solve climate change and render all other energy sources obsolete. But their shared connection as hafu (half Japanese, half American) draws them irresistibly together.
Saya’s technology could save the world, but what’s good for the planet is bad news for those who profit from the status quo. Now, someone wants to stop Saya from commercializing her invention and will go to any lengths—even murder—to do so. When Torn takes Saya for a spin on his motorcycle, they are viciously attacked. That death-defying battle on a crowded Tokyo expressway is only the start of Torn’s wild ride.
As the violence escalates, Torn discovers that everything he values—his reputation, his family, and even his life—is on the line. Racing from the boardrooms of Tokyo to the wilds of Russia in a desperate search for the truth, Torn is forced to face his own flaws and discover what really matters most.
Bottled Lightning
Bottled Lightning, by L.M. Weeks, is a gripping legal thriller that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology, global intrigue, and relentless action. Set in the bustling, vivid streets of Tokyo, the story introduces Tornait “Torn” Sagara, an elite technology lawyer who becomes ensnared in a deadly web of corporate espionage. Torn’s client, Saya Brooks, is a brilliant inventor whose revolutionary lightning-on-demand technology could transform the world by eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels. Yet, its disruptive potential makes her a target for powerful forces willing to stop at nothing—murder included.
The novel wastes no time plunging readers into chaos. An exhilarating motorcycle ride through Tokyo turns violent as Torn and Saya come under attack, thrusting them into a ruthless fight for survival. With assassins in pursuit and conspiracies unraveling, Torn races across borders—from Japan’s neon-lit streets to Russia’s unforgiving terrain. Along the way, he battles not only external enemies but his own inner demons, all while grappling with complicated feelings for Saya. The danger mounts. The stakes rise. And Torn’s entire existence—career, relationships, and life itself—hangs by a thread.
Weeks crafts a story that moves at breakneck speed but never sacrifices depth. The novel’s premise is both timely and compelling: Saya’s groundbreaking invention collides with the dark underbelly of corporate greed and energy politics. The result is a sharp exploration of technology’s promise and the forces determined to suppress it. Saya emerges as an engaging, multidimensional character—brilliant and ambitious, yet vulnerable enough to resonate with readers. Torn, by contrast, is a fascinating study of contrasts: a flawed lawyer wrestling with duty, desire, and the weight of his past. His personal struggles—his fractured moral compass and complex relationships—infuse the narrative with emotional heft.
Weeks offers a masterful portrayal of Tokyo’s culture, the nuances of Japanese legal systems, and the intricacies of advanced technology. These elements ground the story, giving it a realism often lacking in thrillers. Equally compelling is the emotional layer underpinning Torn’s journey. His growing bond with Saya, paired with his internal conflicts, adds depth to a plot that brims with action and suspense.
Fans of thrillers that deliver high-stakes espionage, electrifying twists, and a dash of romance will find Bottled Lightning impossible to put down. The pacing is relentless, the tension unrelenting, and the narrative rich with surprises. Torn’s evolution—both as a lawyer and as a man—provides an engrossing anchor for the story’s pulse-pounding momentum. Weeks doesn’t merely deliver thrills; he offers thought-provoking commentary on technology’s transformative power and its unintended consequences. Bottled Lightning stands as a remarkable entry in the legal thriller genre. Combining dynamic action with layered characters and an intelligent premise, it’s a story that captivates, challenges, and leaves readers hungry for more. This is more than a thriller—it’s a standout experience.
Pages: 312 | ASIN : B0B31JFHH2
LITERARY TITAN 