Tag Archives: absolute xpress

A friend dreams a sequel to ‘Pandora’s Box’

A month ago, I was talking with my friend, Laura Brooks, a college freshman from Michigan, who told me she dreamed a sequel to my novel, Pandora’s Box, after reading it. I asked her to write this dream down so I could post it here, calling it a “fanfiction” (you know you’re successful when people write fanfiction related to your stories). What follows is a synopsis of that dream, written much like a story treatment for a movie. Now, believe it or not, I have been mulling over ideas for a sequel for a year, although this bears little resemblance to it. Regardless, this dream is entertaining. Enjoy!

(WARNING: If you haven’t read Pandora’s Box yet, there are some spoilers in this).

Pandora’s Box Dream
by Laura Brooks

It started after Hope went to visit the place she was found. After they had used her blood to discover the cure, she left to join to the armed force her mother was in. After one year of training, she could take down any enemy put in front of her despite the fact that she was just a simple recruit.  She went out with her superior officer on a mission. They were attacked by strange black creatures. They took down the creatures and were amazed by what they saw. They looked like people but had pure black skin, and bloodshot eyes. News struck of another infection.

Her commanding officer said that they needed to return to base immediately.  When they got there, they discovered that the base had been attacked, and everyone had been turned or slaughtered. They saw only one survivor, their general. The general told them to escape, but her commanding officer said he wouldn’t leave him behind. Instead he told Hope to run, but she refused and started fighting. With her blade and fists she knocked down or slashed every creature that tried to kill her. Both of the commanding officer and the general shouted at her for staying and kept trying to get over to her to help. That’s when she came across her best friend from training. She had been turned.

Hope didn’t want to fight her, but knew she had no choice. She charged and took down everyone in her path. Receiving wound after wound she looked to her friend and sadly said, “Goodbye.” She slashed at her friend but received a deep cut in the side as a result. She knew the only way she could survive was to kill her so she did what she had to. She stabbed her friend down. She had no time to cry over her friend for her commanding officer was being overpowered. She rushed over to his side and slashed one of the creatures across the stomach with her blade. But just when everything seemed to be going their way they were surrounded. The general said, “Looks like we’re not getting out of this one.” She responded, “I’m not done yet!” The creatures lunged towards them from all sides.  There was no escape. (This is when I woke up).

Where ‘Pandora’s Box’ can be purchased

After discovering that British internet retailer that was selling my book, I decided I needed to post the places/websites where Pandora’s Box could be purchased and the libraries that have it in their collections. This is something I have been procrastinating on for a while, and for that I apologize.

So, without further delay, here are the places you can buy a copy (or at least have it special ordered):
Amazon.com
Langtoninfo.com
Hyde Bros. Booksellers (in Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Summer’s Stories (in Kendallville, Indiana)
-Ace Hardware (in North Webster, Indiana)

Here are the libraries that have copies:
North Webster Community Public Library (in North Webster, Indiana)
Syracuse Public Library (in Syracuse, Indiana)
Noble County Public Libraries (in Noble County, Indiana)
Warsaw Community Public Library (in Warsaw, Indiana)
Peabody Public Library (in Columbia City, Indiana)

I will add more as they become available, so be sure to check back for updates.

‘Pandora’s Box’ available online–FOR $47!?

Yesterday I downloaded an app for my new iPhone 3GS called RedLaser. Using the phone’s camera, I can scan an item’s UPC code and price check it online. For fun, I used it on the UPC of my novel, Pandora’s Box. I thought it would, at least, bring up its listing on Amazon.Surprisingly, it didn’t, but it did bring up a listing on a different website–where it is being sold for $47.54!

The website is www.langtoninfo.com, a British internet retailer. They promise that they “might not always offer the ‘best deal,’ but we offer a fair deal with an exceptional level of genuine service to match. Even though it means our prices are slightly higher, we don’t pressure our suppliers to reduce royalty payments to authors and other copyright owners.” You can see their listing for Pandora’s Box here.

As nice as that sounds, I am happy to say it retails for $20 on Amazon, and I sell them at a discount at my signings.

NCPL signing rescheduled for March 14

I’ve been meaning to tell everyone this for several weeks, so…

My book signing at the main branch of the Noble County Public Library in Albion, Indiana, has been rescheduled for March 14 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Mark your calendars, and come pay me a visit! Oh, and I’ll be selling and signing copies of Pandora’s Box, too. FYI: The books will be sold at discounted prices!

Readers’ Choice Award update

Unfortunately, my novel, Pandora’s Box,  did not make it into the top ten for the Alberta Readers’ Choice Award. However, Cinco de Mayo by Michael J. Martineck, which was published by Absolute XPress’ main imprint, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy, did make it. He’s also, as far as I can tell, the only American author to make it through. Godspeed to him!

‘Pandora’s Box’ in contention for readers’ choice award!

Cover art by Tomislav Tikulin

I just read on the Absolute XPress blog that my novel, Pandora’s Box, is one of 30 books on the “long list” of nominees for the 2011 Alberta Readers’ Choice Award. According to its website, “The Alberta Readers’ Choice Award (ARC) is an annual award for adult fiction and narrative non-fiction titles. Narrative non-fiction is defined as a work of non-fiction which lends itself to a public reading.” The list of 30 will now be read by librarians throughout Alberta, Canada, and narrowed to 10 nominees. After that, from then until April, “noted Albertans” will read the 10 nominees and whittle them down to five. Then throughout May, online voting will be conducted to pick the winner from those five nominees. The award will be given June 11. The grand prize is $10,000.

Yes, you read that right–I have a one in 30 chance of winning ten-grand!

I will be sure to keep you updated on this.