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Unexpected Events
Through the Raging Storm follows a general store owner and his friends in a small town who investigate a mysterious object that is found after a violent thunderstorm. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Hearing about the NASA Explorer on Mars made me realize it was reasonable for an alien species on another planet to send something similar here. That started me thinking about what they might do. Certainly, orbiting Earth would be a start. A technologically advanced society would have AI to learn and translate our language. And they would want to observe undetected. That’s why I chose to have the lander come down partially obscured by a lightning storm.
Vanderpool is a small community west of San Antonio set in the picturesque region of Lost Maples. Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrop for your story?
I researched several alternatives that would are remote, rural locations. I liked the fact that Vanderpool is not too far from San Antonio and Austin. And it’s a scenic part of the country with rugged and unoccupied areas. I wanted to make the location details in the story as accurate as possible and used Google Maps to drive the roads. If you visit you can go to the Winery and the Motorcycle Museum. You can eat where Joe and his friends ate.
The people in the town and the outsiders are all drawn to this discovery, wanting to know more and to claim it for themselves. What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition and desire to understand the unknown that you think make for great fiction?
I have always been intrigued by how ordinary people are able to respond to unexpected events. In my first book, Will Normal Return, a possible but unexpected event happened and affected people in a small mountain community. I think stories that show the reader how others deal with events that disrupt their lives can have a message that goes beyond the story. In Through The Raging Storm Joe’s curiosity leads to the involvement of his friends. What they discover and conflict with outsiders changes their lives. There is interaction between friends, the decisions they make, their personalities and personal interests. It changes Joe’s relationship with Martha for the rest of their lives
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be published?
My next book will be pure science fiction. It’s called Escape From Tridon and involves a desperate attempt by aliens seeking a new planetary home. Their scientists have identified Earth as the best fit for their species. It is planned for release in November.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
“Through the Raging Storm” takes readers on an ambitious science fiction adventure that will spark both curiosity and wonder. After Joe and his friends make their out of this world discovery, they are hooked. They embark on a quest that only leads to more surprises and a possibility too impossible to accept. Complication builds and the outsiders are doing more than just asking questions. Join Joe and his buddies as they cope with the mystery of a lifetime. The only thing he knows for sure, is that his life has been changed forever.
Through the Raging Storm
Through the Raging Storm by Ben Kilgore invites readers into the enigmatic world of Vanderpool, Texas, where the aftermath of a tempestuous storm ushers in more than just fallen branches. When a peculiar, unidentified object becomes the talk of the town, the narrative thrusts us into an intriguing adventure led by Joe Garner, Vanderpool’s diligent general store owner. As Garner and his curious band of friends delve into eyewitness accounts, a mosaic of clues unfurls, and suspense subtly intensifies, especially when mysterious outsiders make an appearance, seemingly in pursuit of the enigmatic object.
The consistent third-person perspective amplifies the story’s atmosphere. Though the mystery occasionally tiptoed on the precipice of predictability, it soon morphed into a gripping tale I found challenging to set aside. Vanderpool’s authentic small-town ambiance is palpably crafted, and Kilgore’s characters, especially the pragmatic Joe Garner, are intricately sculpted, providing depth even if some remain at the periphery of the central narrative.
While the story’s start might test the patience of some, its deliberate pacing seems a conscious choice to lay a robust foundation. Minor linguistic hiccups, like misused expressions, barely detract from the overall experience. Kilgore skillfully escalates the tempo, crafting a crescendo of events that captivates.
Through the Raging Storm is recommended for fans of mystery and readers with an inclination toward paranormal fiction. Embark on this journey, and you might find yourself ensnared in its tantalizing enigma.
Pages: 350 | ASIN : B09HR5KHN1
LITERARY TITAN 