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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.
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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
