Blog Archives
A Dead Love Interest
Cataclysm: End of Worlds follows Jacob and his AI companion as their discovery of a dead body sets them on an adventure where the fate of worlds hangs in the balance. What inspired the setup to this novella?
I wanted to introduce a love interest for Jacob, and it seems the mystery element injects itself into my stories when I’m not looking. I did not intend to start the story with a dead love interest. The idea came to me as I was writing the first chapter. The death-to-life angle appealed to me, and I thought it would add interest to the story.
What are some challenges that you enjoy taking on when writing novellas?
It’s a challenge to face the unknown. It’s also very scary. It requires faith and gumption, and some degree of insanity. I used to write outlines. Now, I throw down pages of story ideas. It’s more fun this way. It’s also scarier. There is always the lurking fear that what I’m writing will suck. I think the first two books were well received. I’m trying (hoping) not to disappoint in Book 3. It’s certainly a challenge.
What were some ideas that you were excited to explore in this book?
I wanted to deepen the characters, their backgrounds, and their relationships. I believe these factors pushed the plot forward into multi-faceted and unexplored areas. I particularly liked the idea of Amy’s resurrection and Arcon’s evolving consciousness. I liked how, in some ways, the book seemed to be writing itself. That was a new experience.
This is book two in The Silver Sphere series. What can readers expect in book three?
I will be introducing a fourth character to the team. The plot will be more complex. I hope book three will go to at least twenty chapters (parts). I’m working out the middle and the end of the story as we speak. The story may end as a trilogy. We’ll have to see what happens.
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Each book in The Silver Sphere series is “free-standing.” You can read these books in any order. The author provides enough background information in each novella to orient readers to the characters and other relevant details.
Cataclysm: End of Worlds
![Cataclysm: End of Worlds (The Silver Sphere Book 2) by [David Gittlin]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41M1z8t60TL.jpg)
Cataclysm: End of the Worlds is the subsequent novella to David Gittlin’s The Silver Sphere series. Picking up right where the last novella ended, Cataclysm follows Jacob and Arcon after they save the Earth from destruction. Much like its predecessor, this novella too jumps straight into the story. Not long after a very brief recap, we see that Jacob and Arcon spot a body in the ocean. Upon further inspection they discover that the body is a woman who is dead, however, Arcon has different plans and decides to revive her by occupying her body. The duo from the first novella now becomes a trio, with Amy joining Jacob and Arcon on their mission to send a signal to Aneleya, Arcon’s home planet, to finally get rid of the Krondorians.
It is not necessary to read The Silver Sphere in order to understand this story. The author tends to just jump straight into his story with just enough explanation to place things and understand enough to read this story as a stand alone novella.
Cataclysm wastes absolutely no time and dives into a completely new mission. Although I thought the romance between Amy and Jacob needed more development, I think this is mostly due to the novellas short length, I still enjoyed the characters overall and found them equally entertaining on their own.
This story thrusts readers into the middle of a science fiction adventure, which is one of the reasons why I love novellas, but the author seems to understand that there is no room for fluff and keeps prose and action sharp as a tack as we hurdle through this exciting story. I was pleasantly surprised to also find some humor shine through in moments throughout the story.
The previous novella left me wanting more because it was such a short sneak peak into so many possibilities, Cataclysm left me wanting more because of the plot twist at the end. I’m not sure if it’s because of David Gittlin’s engrossing writing or the compelling storyline but these stories just beg to be told in a much larger novel. I can’t wait to see where this story goes and get more of this exciting story in a follow up novella.
Pages: 82 | ASIN: B09H3PZ65F
If The Secret Is Ever Discovered
The Good Book follows the Polish Dragon on a hunt for a missing bible that holds a devastating secret for the Russian Orthodox Church. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
There have been many books and news stories about the Roman Catholic Church and all of its mysteries and accusations of wrongdoing but I had never really seen anything about the Eastern or Russian Orthodox Church. Perhaps the reason is because there is a much smaller following than the Roman Catholic Church. So I thought, why not do a mystery which includes them and a mysterious bible that could bring embarrassment to the church if the secret is ever discovered. I tried to include the similarities and the difference of both churches so the reader could get an idea of how similar they are yet very different.
Do you follow a formula for your mystery novels or do you try to make them all different?
I try to follow the plan that something happens that the police or law enforcement can’t really deal with or the statute of limitations has run out and the only recourse is to hire the Polish Dragon P. I. to help solve the case. Although on occasion it is necessary for law enforcement to be involved and the Polish Dragon must learn to sidestep those investigations so as not to interfere and at the same time use some former contacts to aid his investigation. And as I am sure that my books are read by many age groups I try to limit the profanity and the sexual overtones.
What are is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer and how have you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I face is how to make my stories longer and get them to a full novel. I have taken several courses and spoken with several well-known authors on how I can do that. Hopefully my books will begin to get longer and I can finally get to the point of publishing a full novel rather than novellas. The other challenge is marketing, as I am a self-published author, all of that falls on my shoulders. So I am taking classes and workshops on how to maneuver that aspect of publishing my books.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m working on another Polish Dragon mystery that deals with the Native American so called Voluntary Relocation Program by the Bureau of Indian Affair back in the 1950s. It will involve a missing person and conspiracy to defraud the government and Native Americans.
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Dio in the Dark
![Dio in the Dark by [Rizwan Asad]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fkhjQkOTL.jpg)
In this modern take on classic Greek mythology, Rizwan Asad creates a world poisoned by darkness in this short novella, Dio in the Dark. Dionysus, “Dio,” is over thousands of years old, and yet, in the twentieth century, he has chosen to play the role of a young adult. Sadly, over the years, he has become moody and depressed; constantly at odds with his father, Zeus. Night after night he explores the city of Toronto going from one party to the next in a haze of alcohol-induced numbness and crowded by sweaty, dancing bodies. One night, after partying and drinking, Dio spots a woman tied to a bridge. He rescues the woman fated to be sacrificed to the darkness only to discover that without her sacrifice the world would be destroyed. With his father missing, it is up to Dio to save the world from an unknown entity.
The author’s passion and creativity are shown through his vivid, descriptive writing. Asad creates an air of humanity around the gods, displaying the worse and the best parts of people. For some minor characters, Asad stays true to their original depiction in Greek mythologies and does it well. Asad changed some of the stories and information from the original mythologies to conform to his story making this an intriguing twist. For example, Semele, the princess of Thebes was not tricked by Nyx (Goddess of the Night) but Hera (Queen of the Gods) when Hera discovered Zeus’ infidelity. Though, true to the mythology, after Zeus killed Semele, he sowed Dionysus into his thigh and gave birth to him. In Dio in the Dark, Hades is portrayed as one of many antagonists. His role in the story was a little confusing. It is hard to tell if it is Hades who kidnaps Zeus for the sake of a bargain he made with Apollo, or if it was Nyx, to prevent him from stopping the end of the world.
The structure of the story is similar to a murder mystery, revealing pieces of the story bit by bit making the reader want to read more. Asad has creatively recreated these stories and the reader can tell a lot of hard work and love was put into this novella. There’s no definitive antagonist and protagonist, though Dionysus is a strong contender for the role of protagonist. I would’ve liked for the story to have been longer so I could’ve learned more about the characters.
Dio in the Dark is a great short story that takes the reader on a mythical adventure.
Pages: 170 | ASIN: B09FFR4M6D
Polish Dragon P. I. (The Good Book)
Polish Dragon P.I.: The Good Book follows Suzie and Tom, a pair of investigators who are attempting to track down a Bible that was stolen from Andy, Suzie’s friend. What starts as a typical crime/mystery story quickly turns fantastic and thrilling when the investigators discover that Andy’s father was killed by someone looking for the book. A mysterious caller who is seemingly following Tom’s every step also adds to the intrigue. Can the investigators find this book and protect the rest of Andy’s family before it’s too late, or will the power players involved get their way? Most importantly, what is this book holding that has the attention of so many?
This book is a quick but no less thrilling read. It is smooth from cover to cover, which speaks to the quality of writing. This is a straightforward cozy mystery, but the entertainment value and revelation of information will keep readers engaged throughout the story. While the mystery at the heart of the story is uncomplicated, the story is well-structured, so you will be able to turn pages easily.
Where the story really excels is the escalation of the stakes. I don’t want to ruin anything, but there is much more than a simple bible at the crux of the plot, and the way that the author reveals the rising tension is masterful. As those pages turn, you will feel the rising tension in your chest, hoping that the characters are successful by the end.
This is a fantastic installment that fans of author Steve Zimcosky will surely enjoy. Polish Dragon P.I.: The Good Book is quick and fun entertainment that is easily consumed. I really enjoyed the strong, straightforward writing style.
Pages: 221 | ASIN: B09DN3QPG5
World-Ending Scenario
The Silver Sphere follows a writer who finds a derelict AI which is the beginning of a wild intergalactic adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The novella began with a wisp of an idea for a short story on my blog. I’ve done this before. In every case, the story stayed short. I presented it as a single blog post. For some reason, The Silver Sphere refused to be relegated to a single post. It grew into a seven-part novella.
This is a riveting novella that is just under 50 pages. What inspired you to break this story up into seven parts?
The story grew to five continuing blog posts. After the fifth post, I said to myself, “Wait a minute. Only your wife and daughter plus a few friends are going to keep up with the story. Why not make it into a book?” So, I did.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I’d say friendships and emotional connections. I believe the world-ending scenario had to come, at least in part, from the threats of COVID and extremism prevalent and lurking in today’s world.
What can readers expect in the next story in the series?
The next book contains fourteen episodes. It’s twice as long as the first. I’m introducing a third main character. I have a bigger canvas that allows for more character development. It seems many of the reviews I read asked for these enhancements. The new book is titled, “Cataclysm–End of Worlds.” I expect to release it in early October 2021. I’m being deliberately coy about including more details.
PS–The Silver Sphere episodes are no longer available for free on my blog (www.davidgittlin.com).
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The Silver Sphere is a seven part story illustrated with colorful photos.
Stretched My Imagination To The Max
Micromium follows a team of astronauts and specialists to investigate a mining accident on Mars, but they uncover some startling secrets along the way. What were some sources that informed this novella’s development?
I’m not a scientist nor do I have scientific training. Therefore, I had to read several books about the red planet. I also watched a few NASA video documentaries about Mars.
What challenges did you set for yourself as a writer with this book?
The real challenge lay in imagining the backdrop of the story on Mars. The research I did on the planet helped to fill in the blanks. Writing the novel definitely stretched my imagination to the max.
Where did you get the idea for Micromium?
The idea came to me in a dream. I remember seeing a glowing piece of ore in a cut-away view of an asteroid. I had read something about mineral mining on asteroids, the Moon, and Mars.
What do you enjoy the most about writing novellas?
Novellas are what’s happening for me lately. Currently, I’m writing a novella series that will contain at least three books. The three books together will comprise a good-sized novel, but they will also be separate stand-alone stories that readers can enjoy in any order.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Micromium
![Micromium: Clean Energy from Mars by [David Gittlin]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51t12pE12nL.jpg)
This science fiction novella is set in the not to distant future where the earth is on the verge of apocalypse and living conditions are worse than we could have ever imagined. Global warming and pollution are destroying everything at a rapid pace. A team has been funded to explore Mars in attempts to obtain resources to make the living conditions on Earth sustainable. Micromium is powerful enough (with only a small amount) to give the entire planet clean energy for the foreseeable future. While looking for Micromium on Mars several people die and a task force is created to get to the bottom of the disaster. The investigation uncovers information that endangers several key players.
David Gittlin has written a thrilling dystopian novel that is both evocative and a chilling omen to our potential future if we don’t take measures to curb the affects of global warming. While the novel is reflective of modern issues, it tells a science fiction story that is driven by compelling and relatable characters. This is a short book, and after the first few chapters the novella really picks up the pace once the mystery is setup. There is also a romantic component to the story, which gives this story a surprising dimension, where Logan and a coworker have a short fling. There is a lot of potential for character development, and with the use of some imagination, any gaps in the novella can easily be filled.
While I highly recommend this book to science fiction fans I personally enjoyed the mystery component the most. There is an enthralling investigation into the death of the miners and throughout the investigation several surprising discoveries are made. The discoveries revolve around corruption and ethical conflicts, making the reader think about what they would do in the situations.
Micromium is a thought-provoking science fiction story that throws readers into the middle of a riveting mystery on the red planet.
Pages: 258 | ASIN: B07B8WPK62
LITERARY TITAN 