Novel Published at Last

It has been a few months since I posted.  I was busy with final edits to my first published novel, and it came out August 1: title is The Event.  You can access the book at Amazon, and your ordering the book (and if you like it, then posting a positive Amazon review) would be greatly appreciated.  Best way to find it on Amazon is to search under my full name: Stephen M. Honig.

I have been away from this site finishing the book and then spending a few weeks in Paris; but I plan to become active in posting in the Fall. I hope to post some new works, and to advise as to readings and hopefully one or more book launch parties.  I have learned that the easiest part is writing something; getting it into print and then letting people know it is available is much less gratifying but of course it makes no sense to publish and then languish.

Brief tidbits about the book:

The story line

A scientist’s research develops a substance which, when mixed with water, becomes a lethal concoction.  Spies gain an inkling of this and search for information.  The American military, fearful that their secret development of this new weapon will lead to its being banned once the President learns of it, decides to deploy it– use it or lose it.  The result is widespread death in Russian-controlled Ukraine, an international crisis, and — well, you will need to read the book to see what happens next.

The editing

I have had great support from my editor and also my book designer.  I did research on many things, most notably the US military.  Unknown to me, my book designer had a military background, told me that I got a lot right concerning the branches and operations of the military, but that I had not gotten the communications between military folks correct as to formality, tone and the like.  That is not the kind of thing it is easy to research; after discussion, I rewrote those section involving active US military personnel.

It also turns out that for a relatively short novel I had invented a very large number of characters.  To avoid confusion, I inserted prompts when someone reappeared, to make the reader not have to struggle, and also was convinced to insert a list of characters in the back of the book for quick guidance.

Finally, as the book was written as something of a dare, my principal editor suggested that I insert a couple of pages at the end to describe how the novel got written; look for the Afterword.

Hope you enjoy The Event.  Feel free to post your reactions, or email me at :  [email protected]