TALES FROM EARTH’S END

Lady Grace, Book II of Tales from Earth's End

Lady Grace, Book II of Tales from Earth’s End will be officially launched on May 1, 2012. We at Vilasa Press think you’ll be as pleased with the book as we are.  We’re looking forward to gala launch activities. We’ll be announcing them here. We’re providing more information about the book here. You can also read about it on author Sandy Nathan’s website.

Barry Nathan, publisher, Vilasa Press

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BEYOND THE END OF THE EARTH:

Three stories intertwine:  Earth is devastated by a nuclear holocaust. Technological wizard Jeremy Edgarton and a few of his friends are whisked off planet moments before the disaster by the goldies, a race of super-evolved aliens. They seem too good to be true, and unfortunately, they are. The humans want out.

Jeremy’s mother, Veronica Edgarton, awakens from a cryogenic sleep in a chamber deep beneath the ice. Next to her is her husband, one of the most ruthless and cruel men ever to have lived.

The inhabitants of the gigantic underground bomb shelter Jeremy and others built are preparing to emerge. They were supposed to become a super-race. Regrettably, evolution can work for evil as well as good.

Each of these events is potentially volatile. Combine them and the results are explosive! The players from across time and space are catapulted into a struggle of cosmic scale, challenging them to draw upon every ounce of their physical, intellectual and spiritual strength.

Lady Grace is a thrilling, action-filled adventure wrapped in the embrace of epic love.

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Praise for Lady Grace:

Lady Grace holds its own with the best of today’s sci-fi page-turners while accomplishing much more. Nathan’s second book in the Tales from Earth’s End is just as much a spiritual and psychological exploration as it is science fiction/fantasy thriller. Nathan has created a unique niche that leaves her without rival in the canon of contemporary fiction.

– Nathan Fisher, MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business

A gripping original sci-fi tale that brings politics, spirituality, and personal responsibility into the mix. As in all interesting tales of good versus evil, the path to outcome is not predictable but the trip is super enjoyable and will keep you clicking for the next page.

– Consuelo Saar Baehr, author of Daughters

I LOVED Lady Grace! From the first moments, I could not put it down. Sandy Nathan has done it again. Within her believable, gripping tale of people who have somehow survived a thousand years, Sandy explores instant telepathic teleportation, human-animal relationships, survivalism, personal relationships, social experimentation, dehumanization, and the most of these . . . Love. The twists of
Jeremy’s evolution with Eliana and his mother, Veronica Edgarton, are breathtaking.

– Ilene Dillon, MSW, Host, Full Power Living Internet Radio, www.emotionalpro.com

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An Interview with Author Sandy Nathan: Questions Answered Here––

The following sample interview is provided for the convenience of the media and book groups.

Where did you get the idea for the novel?

About five years ago, my brother died suddenly and tragically. He was my only sibling and adored little brother. I was grieving, with all sorts of thoughts and feelings arising. About three months after his death, I had a dream. In the dream, a shining creature like an angel hovered above me. She was absolutely good, a being of love and light. She appeared to me as light. The light dropped closer and finally merged with me, so that I got to feel what it was like to be that angelic creature.

That was the angel in the first book of the Tales from Earth’s End Series, which my creative process turned into an angelic alien sent to earth on a vitally important mission.  That was The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy.

The rest of the plot of The Angel popped into my brain in the next few days. When I finished writing that book, Lady Grace was rocketing around in my brain. I just wrote it down. Lady Grace is the story of what happens after the radiation clears enough to permit life on earth to continue. None of the survivors knows exactly how much time has passed. When I finished writing Lady Grace, its sequel was front and center in my mind. That sequel is Sam & Emily: A Love Story from the Underground. It will be published in early 2012.

Lady Grace, like the other books in the series, is an action-filled adventure with elements of sci-fi, and fantasy. And it’s a love story of epic proportions. What’s unusual about it––besides pretty near everything––is that two of my characters from the Bloodsong Series’ first book, Numenon: A Tale of Mysticism & Money, “jump ship” and have roles in Lady Grace. This was really fun to write and I hope you enjoy reading it. The idea of having Bud, Wes and Will Duane show up just happened––serendipity. But they solve an important problem.

How did you come up with the title?

The book is about rejuvenation and personal change. It’s about grace and the power of grace. The title is also the name of one of the characters. You’ll see when you read it.

Who is your favorite character?

My favorite character is Lady Grace. I’m not going to spoil things by saying more. I will say that I noticed after writing the book that its major heroes are women. I wrote the story without being aware I’d done it that way.  I guess I’d have to say that my favorites are all of those tough and wonderful women that save the day.

Do you have plans for sequels? Can you describe them? When will it/they be released?

Yes. I have at least two sequels in the works. The first, Sam & Emily: A Love Story from the Underground, is a breathtaking romance of legendary proportions. It takes place in the underground bomb shelter on the Piermont estate after the nuclear meltdown. I’ve been told it’s the best thing I’ve written. It will be out in Spring 2012.

And, a fourth story in the series is shaping up in my mind and partially written. That follows directly on Lady Grace. This is going to be a few years out. The Bloodsong Series and Tales from Earth’s End are going to touch in a major way.  They may even merge.

Numenon, the first book in the Bloodsong Series, takes place in 1997. When we see Bud and Wes in Lady Grace, it’s 2015.  Eighteen years have elapsed in the world of Numenon’s characters. That’s lots of water over the bridge. We have to see what happens to our billionaire, Will Duane, and his little band of outlaws. We have to see what’s going on in the world. My writing focus is going to be on the Bloodsong Series for the next period of time. Lots happens there––I’ve got drafts for many stories.

How long have you been writing? How often do you write?

I’ve been writing full time since 1995. Before that, I wrote academically and professionally. I write every day. I don’t set a particular time or word goal for myself. I write until I deliver a scene or chapter the way I want it. I quit working when I get a feeling satisfaction with my work. That can take a long time to achieve.

What authors have inspired you?

My favorite writer of all time is the Icelandic Nobel Laureate, Halldor Laxness. His Independent People is a masterpiece. Laxness can write two simple lines about a fish and have me in awe and tears. That’s good writing.

D. H. Lawrence is a favorite. Lady Chatterley’s Lover is one of my favorite books, as is Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

For more popular authors, I love Diana Gabaldon’s work.  I’ve read the entire, massive Outlander Series three times (!), plus the associated Lord John books, and I even have the graphic novel of Outlander.

I also read lots of books by independent authors. Consuelo Saar Baehr is a favorite.

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PRESS RELEASE: AUTHOR SANDY NATHAN REDEFINES VISIONARY AND NEW AGE FICTION WITH HER TALES FROM EARTH’S END SERIES

SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA – Lady Grace is Sandy Nathan’s latest Visionary and New Age novel. With it, Mrs. Nathan continues to redefine the genre. Many think of Visionary and New Age fiction as an uplifting (if perhaps preachy) category that carries a positive message for humanity. The good guys are pretty much assured of winning, or at least their cause is. New Age fiction in Sandy Nathan’s hands is a no-holds-barred war between good and evil where nothing can be taken for granted.

“No one––on a spiritual path or not––is guaranteed a smooth ride through life,” Sandy Nathan says. “Existence has the same end point for all of us. We may be on an upward learning curve and have enlightenment as a goal, but the path is not easy, nor is the outcome assured. That’s reality.

“I like reality. My stories feel like they might have happened, even if they’re totally fantastic. Being real includes the possibility that the bad guys might win. In allowing for any outcome, I want my writing to make the literary quality of New Age fiction stronger. And keep its mystical nature.”

Lady Grace, the second book in the Tales from Earth’s End Series, continues the story line of the first book, The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy.  The Angel ends with a nuclear holocaust destroying almost all life on earth. Lady Grace begins with survivors attempting to create a new society on a planet blasted to a prehistoric state.

As the characters come together, three separate stories emerge and intertwine. Each thread is volatile. Together they are explosive.

The characters of The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy return for new adventures surpassing any you can imagine. New voices come forth, including some surprises. “I borrowed from my other series, the Bloodsong Series, and brought a few characters you’ll recognize if you read my first novel, Numenon. Lady Grace spans time and reality for a mix that’s part sci-fi, part fantasy, and definitely Visionary and New Age,” says Mrs. Nathan.

Sam & Emily: Romance from the Underground

The sequels to The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy are on the way! If you haven’t discovered The Tales from Earth’s End Series, you have a treat in store.

The Tales from Earth’s End Series introduces characters pushed to their greatest extremity––to the end of the planet and their own lives. The people of Earth’s End must cope with nuclear holocaust, survive on a planet reduced to prehistoric standards, and  adjust to life in an underground tomb––the bomb shelter on the Piermont estate. And you were thinking life is rough!

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy shows a group of people attempting to escape a nuclear holocaust in a ruined future world. It’s part teen romance and part coming of age story, with overtones of 1984. It’s won two national awards in visionary fiction, another in new age fiction & still another in fantasy/sci-fi.

The second sequel, Sam & Emily, is a love story involving two characters from The Angel. It’s an epic romance that takes place in the Piermont Estate’s underground bomb shelter after the nuclear bombs have gone off. Sam & Emily can’t escape a passion that lasts a lifetime. This book sizzles.

All three books have a transcendent, looking-for-a-better-world quality. The protagonists are pitted against horrific difficulties. They’re thrillers and well as visionary fiction.

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

WAA-HOO! The results from the Best Books of 2011 contest (sponsored by USA Book News) are in! The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is an:

• AWARD WINNER the “Fiction: New Age” category of the Best Books of 2011 Awards . 
• The Angel is also a FINALIST in the “Fiction: Fantasy/Sci-Fi” category.

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy has now won four national awards:

* 2011 IPPY (Independent Press) Awards Gold Medal in Visionary Fiction: The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy The oldest and largest contest for independent presses. Almost 4,000 books were entered in the IPPYs this year.

* 2011 National Indie Excellence Award Winner in Visionary Fiction: The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy The Indie Excellence Award looks for a book’s overall excellence. Content, cover design, interior and exterior, and everything that goes into the production of a book are evaluated.

And the new wins noted above:

* Best Books of 2001 sponsored by USA Book News: The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is an AWARD WINNER in the “Fiction: New Age” category.

* Best Books of 2001 sponsored by USA Book News: The Angel is also a FINALIST in the “Fiction: Fantasy/Sci-Fi” category.

THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY  HAS BEEN ENTERED IN THREE CONTESTS. IT HAS WON FOUR AWARDS IN NATIONAL COMPETITION. IT’S WOWED THE JUDGES, CRITICS, AND REVIEWERS: 

Red Adept Reviews gave it FIVE STARS OVERALL.

The Midwest Book Review gave it FIVE STARS!

Check out its Amazon Reviews, too.

If you like Fantasy, Sci-fi, Visionary Fiction or just a good, engaging read, check out The Angel.

Not only is The Angel an incredibly inventive book with a message and a heart, two sequels are in the process of being published. Find out what happens after the world blows up.

Coming very soon:

Lady Grace brings The Angel’s characters back together and puts them in another struggle for existence. This time, they’re fighting against the elements and a degenerate society which the nuclear war has spawned.

Sam & Emily: A Romance from the Underground is The Angel‘s second sequel. Sam & Emily, is a love story involving two characters from The Angel over a span of more than 30 years. It sizzles.

Sam Baahuhd--"Sam" of Sam & Emily. A more masculine man would be hard to find. In the book, Sam has hair and wears clothes.

I’m writing a romance, a first for me. I wanted to give you a run-down of the romance genre and tell you that mine ain’t no ordinary romance.

The romance industry (the major publishers) has rules about romances. They have to go like this: Boy meets girl. (Right away, you see the limitations of the form.) They fall in love, with lots of explicit sex. More than lots. A terrible barrier arises that separates them: She discovers he’s married & has six kids. He discovers she’s got hoof & mouth disease. They part, but struggle to overcome the Awful Barrier. (No sex here.) Then an elephant falls out of the sky. A Really Awful barrier. Boy, they really got problems.

Many romance writers are EXTREMELY CLEVER about getting their hero and heroine out of the pickle they’re in. There’s more explicit sex. (The romance genre does offer some entertaining reading––hot, too––as well as skilled writing. I’ve checked it out.)

The industry has other rules. No one under 18 has sex, explicit or not. And the book has to end happily. As you will recognize from your own life, this is highly realistic.

That’s traditional, major publisher romance.

Which is why we have independent presses. My romance isn’t like that.

My upcoming romance is outside the parameters of the traditional romance genre. That means that a happy ending is not guaranteed. (Though it could be happy.) This is like life. I will guarantee that an elephant will not fall out of the sky, though pretty much anything else might. You won’t see what’s coming next and you can’t second guess the ending.

Emily--"Emily" in Sam & Emily. Not your ordinary gal.

The sex in this romance is steamy, though not particularly explicit. By my standards, anyway. I am writing this book at the express direction of my mother, given years ago. Read this, she’ll tell you, too.

My work is character driven, which means you will want to marry the hero or heroine. (I’m in love with Sam, myself.) If you’d like to know more about Sam––depicted by an artist in the accompanying image––read the attached interview. This comes from his role in The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy, my award winning novel, which is currently available. You can read it now so you’re up to speed when Sam comes out in full glory. (And he is glorious.)

We’re hoping that will be before Christmas. I’ll keep you in the loop.

Oh, yeah! There’s another sequel to The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy.  Lady Grace tells what happens after. Really after The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy. We’re hoping to have it out by Christmas as well.

All the best,

Sandy Nathan
Winner of twenty-one national awards! Yep, Best Books of 2011 (USA BOOK NEWS) just announced their winners, bringing the total number of awards my books have won to twenty-one. The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy WON New Age Fiction! It was a FINALIST in Fiction Fantasy/SciFi. It’s now won in every contest in which it’s been entered. Want a good read? Three panels of judges picked The Angel above the competition.

Sandy’s  books are: (Click link for more information. All links below go to Kindle editions.)
The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy
Numenon: A Tale of Mysticism & Money
Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could
Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice

Two sequels to The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy are in production with an early 2012 release date planned. If you liked  The Angel you’ll love Lady Grace and Sam & Emily.

Sam Baahuhd, Headman at Piermont Manor, c. 2199

Ever met a character from a book? I did an imaginary interview with Sam Baahuhd, the village headman at Piermont Manor, the ancestral home of Jeremy Edgarton, the hero of THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY. Sam plays a relatively minor, but impactful, role in THE ANGEL. He’s the hero of his own book in SAM & EMILY, the upcoming sequel to THE ANGEL.

THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY is the winner of the 2011 Gold Medal in Visionary Fiction in the IPPY (Independent Press) Awards. It also won the Visionary Fiction category in the 2011 National Indie Excellence Awards.

Here’s a two sentence synopsis of the book: Tomorrow morning, a nuclear holocaust will destroy the planet. Two people carry the keys to survival: a teenage boy and an intergalactic traveler.

The following “interview” turns into a short story. Sam’s being interviewed by a TV station of his time. The people doing the interview have their own stories. The year is 2199.

Here’s what the station’s advertising says about the interview:

WNYC’S STAR REPORTER MEREDITH CARLISLE INTERVIEWS VILLAGE HEADMAN SAM BAAHUHD.

Join Meredith at Piermont Manor in the Hamptons! Our favorite investigator visits one of the poorest areas in America and one the USA’s greatest and oldest stately homes. Tune in at 3 PM for a view of life in the 22nd century.

WNYC––NEW YORK CITY’S ONLY NETWORK

Now we’re at the shoot on the estate:

“Meredith, I don’t like it here,” my stylist says, backcombing my hair furiously. I sit at my dressing table on the estate’s lawn. I’m Meredith Carlisle. But everyone knows that.

“Did you see all the trees driving out here? Weird,” he whispers.

“It was very weird.” I turn to the rest of the crew. “Everyone: This is the country. They have trees in the country. We’ll do the show and get back to New York.”

“They don’t have that in the country,” Alfred, the director, points at the stone mansion stretching as far as we can see.  “I’ve been trying to figure out how to get it all on camera.”

I stare at the enormous structure. The mansion is like a wedding cake made of granite. Breathtaking. “We’re at Piermont Manor. It was constructed in the 1800s, four hundred years ago. Nobody gets in here. We had to agree to interview this idiot to be allowed in. Who is he? Sam who?”

My crew edges toward the van. They’re freaked out by the acres of lawn and all the trees. The lack of skyscrapers. I take control.

“Alfred, where is the man we’re supposed to interview?”

“I asked those guys over there,” Alfred points to a group of very large men standing on the other side of the lawn. He cowers a bit.

“What did they say?” My crew’s undue nervousness is irritating.

The whites of Alfred’s eyes glint in the sunlight. “I don’t know what they said. They speak a foreign language.”

“Great. Why didn’t anyone find that out? Alyssa, you’re the production manager. Do we have a translator?”

“No, Meredith. I’ll try to find one.” Alyssa looks around helplessly.

“Oh, wait. Someone’s coming.” My jaw drops. I can’t stop looking at him. He’s the same as the mansion. Breathtaking. A huge man. Shoulders like forever. That chest. He strides out forcefully. Something wafts from him. Manliness.

My jaw drops farther as he gets closer. Also, my nostrils twitch. He’s dirty. It’s real dirt, not something applied by the makeup department. He appears to be sweating copiously. He takes off his hat. His graying hair is matted where the hat’s brow band pressed it tight.

“Hello there?” I extend my hand, despite my disgust at his grimy paw. “You must be Mr. . . “ I search for Alyssa and she mouths the pronunciation. “Baaaaah-huuhd.”

“Mr. Baaaaah-huuuhd.” I smile broadly.

“Ma name i’ Sam Baahuhd. A’m th’ headm’n o’ th’ vil’ an’ o’ersee’er o’ th’ big house.” He nods at the mansion.

“Oh,” I say. “Who?”

He repeats what he said.

“Do you have anyone who speaks English? I don’t speak your language.” He’s very appealing close up, if filthy.  My heart flutters.

“Ah fergot tha’ yer not o’ th’ Hamptons. Been out here s’ long, we got our own way o’ talkin’. Ah’ll pretend yer th’ hooch man out at Jamayuh. Ah always speak proper English when ah’m w’ him. Canna make a deal otherwise. Can ye understand me?”

“Yes, Mr. . . .”

“Baahuhd. Ye say i’ like this, with th’ air comin’ from here.” He presses my belly, forcing the breath out of me. I feel faint. Something comes off of him, like a force. It’s wonderful.

“Baahuhd. I see. Well, we’re set up for the interview,” I indicate a couple of club chairs set on the mansion’s front terrace. “Any chance of us getting a peek inside?”

“Nah. Jeremy’s got ‘er wired up. Get any closer ‘n’ ye are an’ ye’ll nah go nowhere again.” He smiles, showing surprisingly white teeth.

“It’s electrified?”

“Yeah. An’ more. D’ ye know Jeremy Egerton?” I shake my head. “He’s the lady’s son, Mrs. Veronica Egerton. Ye know of her?”

“Oh, yes. Veronica Edgarton is famous. And rich. And beautiful. She’s the general’s . . .”

“Aye. She owns th’ big house an’ the village an’ all th’ rest around here. An’ me, too.”

“She owns you?”

“Might as well. Ye know why yer here t’day?”

“Yes. To interview you.” My cheeks tremble from smiling so much.

“Nah. Yer here because Jeremy Egerton sent word to let ye in.” He looks me in the eye. It’s terrifying, though thrilling.  “If Jeremy hadn’t tol’ me to let ye in, ye woulda been chased back to th’ city th’ minute you set foot on this place. That was three hours ago, out on th’ road. Jus’ so we get straight on it.”

“Certainly, Mr. Baah . . .”

“Baahuhd.” He walks to one of the chairs and sits down. “OK. Le’s get this goin.’ Ah got work to do. What ‘er yer questions?”

“I thought that the natives of the Hamptons didn’t like to be asked questions.”

“We don’. Usually, we shoot before we get t’ askin’ questions. But ah figured this was a chance t’ say some things we don’ get t’ say.”

“And what’s that?”

“That we’re not animals. We’re in th’ Hamptons because we was born here, jus’ like ye were born in th’ city. Weren’t our fault. Weren’t our fault that we don’ have schools an’ have to work like we do. Weren’t our fault that we got nothin’.

“We risk our lives seein’ that the lady keeps that,” he tosses his head toward the mansion. “An’ we get very little thanks fer our trouble.”

“You risk your lives?”

“Yeah, lass. Th’ Hamptons is a dangerous place. We get th’ people who run away from th’ cities. Th’ people escape from th’ torture camps––there’s one o’er at Jamayuh, th’ next town down. We got the hooch runners an’ them that deal in the weed and mushrooms. An’ th feds. All of them is dangerous, an all of them want this place.” He smiles. “Coupla times a year, they come t’ get it.” The smile broadens. “Ain’t got it yet.”

“You fight to keep the estate for Mrs. Edgarton?” I’m shocked, but I shouldn’t be. The Hamptons are like the Wild West once was.

“I got plugged three times so far. Not countin’ the nicks.” He rubs his chest where he’s been shot. “Ah’m scarred up lak an ol’ bear. It’s war out here. Jus’ like in the cities.”

“We don’t have war. What are you talking about?”

“Whad’ya think th’ smoke runnin’ along the horizon is? There’s a war.”

“There’s no war. If there were, the government would have told us about it. President Charles says everything is fine.”

He nods his head and smirks. “When ye drove in, did ye happen t’ see big round bowls cut out o’ th’ ground,” he uses his hands to indicate large depressions, “all lined with cement? An’ wi’ long pointy things stickin’ out of ‘em, aimed at the sky?”

“Yes. They’re all over the place. President Charles said they’re satellite dishes to help our screen reception.”

“No, lass. They’re atomics. An’ they’re set to go off t’morrow morning. Early. All over th’ world.” He’s looking at me steadily. He’s so magnetic I almost believe . . .

No! I can’t believe what he’s suggesting. The president would lie? There’s going to be an atomic war? That’s treasonous. We’re in the Great Peace. Everyone knows that. A niggling thought about my daughter’s third grade teacher disappearing comes up. No, she took a leave of absence.

“I’m not going to listen to this.” I turn to Alfred. “Pack up, we’re going back.”

“No,” Sam says just a little bit louder than normal. Everyone freezes and looks at him. “Yer gonna get ev’ry thing ah say, an’ yer gonna play it on the tellie today. Tha’s why Jeremy let ye’ come out here. You gotta tell the people wha’t happenin’.”

“A nuclear war starting tomorrow? The government would have told us.” I’m shaken. For some crazy reason, I believe him and know that I’ll do what he says. “What will we do? Where can we go?”

“Yer gonna go back an’ show ‘er on th’ tellie,” he says to the others. Then he turns that million volt gaze on me. “Fer ye, there may be a way out. Yer a pretty thing. Ye could be one ‘a’ ma wives.” His smile is mesmerizing.

“Wives?” The idea seems worth considering.

“Ah got four. Ye’d be ma fifth, but we gotta big house. The stable, yon.” He points to a barn.

Fifth wife to  . . . His dirty hands make up my mind. “No. I’ve already got one ex-husband. I don’t need to be married.” I regret the words as I say them. There’s something about him.

“OK. Ye’ll take th’ camera back t’ the city an’ play ‘er today. Ye need t’ tell the people to . . . to run. Or t’ stand. They’ll die, either way. But they d’serve a warnin’. Tis only fair.

“Tha’s what ah got t’ say. Now git. Ah’m done wi’ ye.”

I watch his back as he heads toward the stable. Broad shoulders. Easy gait. Powerful.

I feel drawn to him. No. I made the right choice. We have to get out of here.

“We’ve got the van packed, Meredith.” I hop in as it pulls away from the mansion.

“You know we can’t play what we got,” Alfred says as we jolt down the rutted road. “It’s treasonous. Everyone knows that the Great Peace is baloney. We’re in a war. But it’s covered up. This will blow the cover. The feds will kill us.”

“Yes, we can. Sam said to,” I’ll do what Sam told me to do no matter what. “We have to give people a warning.”

“Why, Meredith? There aren’t enough bomb shelters in the world to save everyone. We’re going to die.”

And then it sinks in. If what Sam said is true, we’ll die tomorrow.

I should have taken his offer. He wasn’t scared about what’s coming. He must have a shelter or something. “Turn around! We need to get back to the Piermont estate.”

The van shudders to a stop.

“What’s that?” There’s something in front of us. A vehicle across the road. Another vehicle pulls up behind us. Black figures are moving toward our van.

“What is it, Alfred?”

“They’re feds.”

“Open the door,” a black-clad commando yells. “Give me the cameras.” We give them to him.

“I’m Meredith Carlisle of WNYC. Those cameras are the property . . .”

“I don’t care who you are.” He uses some very rude language, and tosses something in the van, slamming the door. It clatters on the floor. I see a digital timer counting down.

“No!”

After the explosion, the commandos gather near the flaming remains of the van. “We got the treasonous materials. Should we look at them?”

“Nah. The president said everything is all right. That’s good enough for me.”

All the best,

Sandy Nathan
Winner of twenty-one national awards

Sandy’s  books are: (Click link for more information. All links below go to Kindle editions.)
The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy
Numenon: A Tale of Mysticism & Money
Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could
Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice

Two sequels to The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy are in production with an early 2012 release date planned. If you liked  The Angel you’ll love Lady Grace and Sam & Emily.

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

Red Adept Reviews gave The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy an Overall 5 STARS!

Red Adept reviewer Jim Chambers read The Angel and said, “I have to say that The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is probably the most original story that I’ve read in quite some time. . . . The story was ultimately a fascinating and gripping tale about survival and the desperate measures that some—on earth and elsewhere—would take to ensure their survival.” I invite you to read the entire review.

The Angel is available on Amazon as a trade paperback and Kindle. It’s also available as a Nook, Sony book and iBook. The ebooks are only 99 cents each! Buy here.
In addition to its terrific Red Adept review, THE ANGEL & THE BROWN-EYED BOY HAS WON TWO NATIONAL AWARDS:

2011 IPPY (Independent Press) AWARDS, Gold Medal Winner in Visionary Fiction. More than 3,900 books were entered in this contest.

2011 Indie Excellence Awards, Winner (1st place) of the Visionary Fiction Category.

And it has an average review of almost 5 stars on Amazon!

WHAT IS THE ANGEL ABOUT?

Tomorrow morning, a nuclear holocaust will destroy the planet. Two people carry the keys to survival: A teenage boy and an an intergalactic traveler. 

A FUTURE WORLD ONLY HEARTBEATS FROM OUR OWN:

By the late 22nd century, the Great Recession of the early 2000s has lead to a worldwide police state. A ruined United States barely functions. Government control masks chaos, dissenters are sent to camps, and technology is outlawed. War rages while the authorities proclaim the Great Peace.

IT’S NEW YORK CITY ON THE EVE OF NUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON.

Tomorrow morning at 7:35 AM, a nuclear holocaust will destroy the planet. Two people carry the keys to survival: Jeremy Edgarton, a 16 year old, tech genius and revolutionary; and Eliana, the angelic, off-world traveler sent to Earth on a mission to prevent her planet’s death.

Join Eliana and Jeremy as they begin a quest to save two doomed planets … and find each other.

ISN’T IT TIME YOU HAD A DATE WITH AN ANGEL?
The Angel’s sequels, Lady Grace and Sam & Emily are in  production. All the books in Tales from Earth’s End are free-standing––you don’t have to read the whole series to get a complete story. But, if you fall in love with the Angel and her friends, you won’t have to wait long for the next book.

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

THE ANGEL IS FLYING! Fans of Tales from Earth’s End will be glad to know that Sandy Nathan has just won the the 2011 IPPY (Independent Publisher) GOLD MEDAL FOR VISIONARY FICTION for her sci-fi /fantasy / visionary fiction novel, The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy. The IPPY Award Contest is one of the largest and oldest competitions for independent presses––in fact, it may be the oldest and largest.

Sandy says, “Winning this award feels very good. It marks almost four years of work by myself and my publishing team at Vilasa Press. I want to thank my content editor, Melanie Rigney; my book designer, Lewis Agell; and Kathy Grow and Kathryn Agrell for copy editing and proofreading assistance. Many thanks also to my husband, Barry Nathan for keeping Vilasa Press organized and moving forward.”

This is the fourteenth national award Sandy Nathan has won with her four books. She has won two Silver Nautilus Awards, and a Bronze and Silver IPPY Award in previous contests. She was a Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist, and has won several Indie Excellence and Best Book (USA Book News) Awards. “It feels good every time. A pat on the back for work well done.”

The Angel is the first book of Tales from Earth’s End, a series of books about people literally at the end of the earth. In the case of The Angel, that “end” was a nuclear holocaust coming the next day. Later books explore new definitions for earth’s extremity. You can find the first chapter of The Angel, videos and other information about the series here at its official blog.  Please feel free to leave us a comment!

The award came at a particularly difficult time. The day before being notified of her win, Ms. Nathan’s horse, Tecolote, had to be euthanized. “I have been grieving deeply the last few weeks. My horse’s heart was failing and  the veterinarians couldn’t stop it. When I lost that beautiful buckskin horse, I thought my heart would fail. Here’s his story, Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could. Teco’s story has already won a the 2011 Silver Nautilus Award for Children’s Nonfiction (grade 1-6) in its own right.

“The very next day, I won a national award. I guess that God’s just telling me that it’s not over until it’s over. And that happiness and sadness can exist together.

“If you haven’t read The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy, I invite you to do so. It’s available in a number of formats.”

AMAZON:
Trade Paperback
Kindle 99 cents. Such a deal!

BARNES & NOBLE.COM
Trade Paperback
Nook Book 99 cents. Such a deal!

SONY READER BOOK
I’m told by my distributor that the book is available for the Sony reader, but I couldn’t find it on their store. Please keep checking. It should be 99 cents.

iBook
iBook store for the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad  99 cents. Yet another great deal for an award-winning book!

Here’s some information about The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy, if the book is new to you:

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is Sandy Nathan’s new science fiction/fantasy novel. Of the special genre of books and films that include 1984, A Brave New World, and The Prisoner Series,  The Angel takes the reader to a dark future world that’s not so different from our own. In the late 22^nd century, people are continually watched, disappearing off the streets and from their homes. A shadowy but all-powerful government calls the shots; war rages while the authorities proclaim the Great Peace.

All is not bad in this fictional realm, for the angelic extraterrestrial, Eliana, appears on the streets on New York City on a mission to save her planet.  As radiant and pure as the world around her is tarnished, Eliana must find the Golden Boy. He turns out to be Jeremy Edgarton, a tech genius on a planet where technology is outlawed, a revolutionary, and the FBI’s most wanted. They find themselves caught up in an explosive adventure when Jeremy decodes new transmissions and discovers that a nuclear holocaust will take place the next morning.

The themes of The Angel read like pure sci-fi, but author Sandy Nathan explains, “I’m a former economist. While the love story between Jeremy and Eliana enchants, the back-story––the hideous world around them––is the product of my economist’s mind interacting with current events. We’re in the worst economic melt-down since the 1930’s, with no end in sight. Some events in  The Angel are based directly upon history. For instance, Germany’s economic distress during the Great Depression is one factor contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler. Could a totalitarian government arise from our current conditions? Maybe.  The Angel’s world is just a heartbeat from our own. In writing  The Angel, I wanted to entertain my readers and challenge them to discover solutions.”

So the book has a vision, a powerful vision, and a dark vision. And it’s also got a love story that will melt your heart. The sequel is well into production. Something to look forward to.

All the best,
Sandy Nathan

Ridin’ high!

January 2011 marks the official launch of Sandy Nathan’s new book, The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy. Sandy’s publisher, Vilasa Press, is planning lots of launch events, so check back here to find out what’s up. For now, two new videos about The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy.

Want to feel what the world of The Angel is like? This video takes you there:

Ever wonder what the characters of a book look like? Here’s author Sandy Nathan’s ideas for the people of The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy.

Buy from Amazon as a Kindle: $2.99

Buy from Amazon as a Trade Paperback $12.95 retail (Amazon discounts this price)

Straight from the designer, we have two videos on The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy. The top one lays out the characters and plot of the story: It’s a “regular video.” This is the first of several videos we’ll be producing. Welcome to the Angel’s world!

The second video gives author Sandy Nathan’s take on what the characters and places of The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy are like. Ever want to try your hand at casting? This is Sandy’s shot at it. Read the book. You’ll probably see the characters differently. But this video is fun.

Buy from Amazon: The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

Buy from Amazon as a Kindle: $2.99

Buy from Amazon as a Trade Paperback $12.95 retail (Amazon may discount this price)

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy

The Angel & the Brown-eyed Boy is available! What are readers saying?

“The most splendid part of the day just happened… and I am sad and happy… I just finished reading your novel. It was such a wild ride… so clever and perfectly timed. I am astonished by your imagination. It worked so well… and it was so out there!

“When can I get my hands on the sequel?”
A reader from California

Sandy Nathan is a talented writer with a gift for creating multi-layered characters and putting them in do-or-die situations. In The Angel & The Brown-Eyed Boy, Ms. Nathan introduces us to a dark Earth of the future where humans have surrendered all freedoms to total government control in order to live in peace. Now a secret from the past threatens to annihilate all life on the planet. Survival–of a sort–can come only from an extraterrestrial “angel” and the boy she has loves. But only if they can act in time. Captivating from the first page onward, this entertaining tale will draw readers in and keep them riveted. Highly recommended.
L.C. Evans, author of Talented Horsewoman

A good book elicits an emotional response while being read; Nathan’s book haunts the reader long after the final page is turned.  In  The Angel & The Brown-Eyed Boy, two dying worlds fight for survival, their futures dependent on a revolutionary and an angelic otherworldly dancer.  Nathan shows us a future Earth whose indifferent citizens and uneducated politicians have allowed their fears to rule them believing everything they are told even in the face of the reality around them.  It is world not that many heartbeats away from our own, making the premise chilling.

Hope lies in the few who stand and fight for their beliefs, but they must do so in secrecy.  Clandestine operatives in the government are ever watchful of the citizenry, quashing dissension immediately; people literally disappear in the middle of the night never to be heard from again.

The Angel explores a number of themes crossing political and cultural boundaries.  Should one put their faith solely in their leadership?  What about following orders—are there lines that should never be crossed even in support of one’s country?  When does one stop trying to change the system from within and instead become a revolutionary?  And what of family—what does one do when one’s own family members believe in something diametrically opposed to one’s own beliefs?  How far does a person go to save themselves, their friends, their family, and their world?

This future world is dark and disturbing a pre apocalyptic malaise covering the Earth similar to the movie Children of Men.  Is there hope?  Yes, Jeremy and Eliana are the key.  But to what end?  Future volumes of the tale will tell.
TODD A. FONSECA, award winning author of The Time Cavern

Sandy Nathan is an outstanding story teller!  She uses her many loves, such as architecture, horses, magic, and science fiction to enrich a story that is already rich with the conduct of world-wide war, skullduggery, extreme separation of classes, and even human extinction.

Set in an unkind future, The Angel & The Brown-Eyed Boy, is the most engaging story of an intergalactic traveler and an angry young man, both of whom have surprising hidden aspects that are not fully revealed until the very end of this enticing saga.  If you like science fiction, you’re going to love The Angel & The Brown-Eyed Boy,!
Ilene Dillon MSW, host Full Power Living

Buy from Amazon as a Kindle: $2.99

Buy from Amazon as a Trade Paperback $12.95 retail (Amazon discounts this price)