The Stepping Maze
Page 23
The same is true for Denzel. We got some of his background in The Girl in the Mayan Tomb, learning the origin of his claustrophobia (which, apparently, was one of the subconscious things I borrowed from Robert Langdon). As these books go on, I expect we’ll learn more about Denzel, as well as other characters.
Including Dr. Liz Ludlum.
I’m most excited about Ludlum. Because she represents an opportunity to write a female protagonist who isn’t the cliché, not-really-strong, only-there-to-be-rescued heroine we usually see. She’s also not the over-the-top, overly masculine female protagonist that Hollywood seems to think is “good enough.” Ludlum is smart—maybe even smarter than Kotler, but at least on par with him. And she’s tough, but without losing her femininity. She’s not a man with breasts, in other words. She’s a woman. And what a woman.
I admit, I’m a tiny bit in love with Liz Ludlum. She’s the female protagonist I’ve longed to see.
I plan to avoid more clichés with this character, but you can count on some classic male-female relationship stuff making an appearance. Mostly because I want to explore some of that in these books, as well.
What effect does having someone stable and good and caring in his life have on Dan Kotler? How does that change the character? When we first met Kotler, he was pretty adamant that he didn’t want to be tied down. Has that changed? Or will it? And what about the trauma he suffered in his relationship with Gail McCarthy? What impact does that have on his relationships?
Lots of gold to mine there.
For now, however, we’ve reached the end of another tale. I’m going to admit, this one is my new favorite. I think this is the best book I’ve written to date. And I know, I say that with every book, and I always mean it. But this one does feel special. I think it has nuances and levels that I’ve never included in my other works. I love it.
It’s not up to me, of course. You’ll have to let me know if you love it or hate it. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a review, if you loved it. And you can also email me at kevin@tumlinson.net. I love getting those emails, and I try to answer every one of them. Send away.
Until then, and until the next book, I wish you well and pray for your health and happiness. God bless you and thank you for your support.
Happy reading.
Kevin Tumlinson
Sugar Land, Texas
December 20, 2018
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help of some amazing and wonderful people, including Geoff Symon, a Federal Forensic Investigator and the author of an amazing set of books called Forensics for Fiction. Whether you have any desire to write for a living or you just have an interest in how forensics works, these books are amazingly informative and very accessible. Read them. Then criticize Hollywood at length for getting almost everything wrong, all the time.
I’d also like to thank Patrick O’Donnell, police officer and author, and an aficionado of good cigars. He’s been a great purveyor of insight into police procedure, even if I’ve been very poor at putting his suggestions to work in my books. I’ll get better.
And finally, I owe a great debt of appreciation to Michael Anderle and Craig Martelle, who set up the 20 Books to 50K conference in Vegas (among other things). It was at this conference that I got a much-needed burst of inspiration, leading me to leap back into these books with renewed gusto.
There are many more names that rightfully belong on this list, and I’m terrible for not spending a proper amount of time thanking them. But I love them all just the same.
Here’s how to help me reach more readers
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(1) REVIEW THIS BOOK
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Word of mouth is still the best marketing there is, so I would greatly appreciate it if you’d tell your friends and family about this book, and the others I’ve written.
You can find a comprehensive list of all of my books at http://kevintumlinson.com/books.
Thanks so much for your help. And thanks for reading.
About the Author
Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning and bestselling novelist, living in Texas and working in random coffee shops, cafés, and hotel lobbies worldwide. His debut thriller, The Coelho Medallion, was a 2016 Shelf Notable Indie award winner.
Kevin grew up in Wild Peach, Texas, where he was raised by his grandparents and given a healthy respect for story telling. He often found himself in trouble in school for writing stories instead of doing his actual assignments.
Kevin’s love for history, archaeology, and science has been a tremendous source of material for his writing, feeding his fiction and giving him just the excuse he needs to read the next article, biography, or research paper.
Connect with Kevin:
kevintumlinson.com
kevin@tumlinson.net
Also by Kevin Tumlinson
Dan Kotler
The Coelho Medallion
The Atlantis Riddle
The Devil's Interval
The Girl in the Mayan Tomb
The Antarctic Forgery
The Stepping Maze
The God Extinction
Dan Kotler Short Fiction
The Brass Hall - A Dan Kotler Story
The Jani Sigil - FREE short story from BookHip.com/DBXDHP
Citadel
Citadel: First Colony
Citadel: Paths in Darkness
Citadel: Children of Light
Citadel: The Value of War
Colony Girl: A Citadel Universe Story
Sawyer Jackson
Sawyer Jackson and the Long Land
Sawyer Jackson and the Shadow Strait
Sawyer Jackson and the White Room
Think Tank
Karner Blue
Zero Tolerance
Nomad
The Lucid — Co-authored with Nick Thacker
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Standalone
Evergreen
Shorts & Novellas
Getting Gone
Teresa's Monster
The Three Reasons to Avoid Being Punched in the Face
Tin Man
Two Blocks East
Edge
Zero
Collections
Citadel: Omnibus
Uncanny Divide — With Nick Thacker & Will Flora
Light Years — The Complete Science Fiction Library
YA & Middle Grade
Secret of the Diamond Sword — An Alex Kotler Mystery
Wordslinger (Non-Fiction)
30-Day Author: Develop a Daily Writing Habit and Write Your Book In 30 Days (Or Less)
Watch for more at kevintumlinson.com/books
Keep the Adventure Going!
The story of The Brass Hall continues in The God Extinction!
WHAT IF THE GODS WERE REAL?
That's the question Dr. Dan Kotler—Archaeologist and FBI Consultant—finds himself struggling to answer after a Druidic tomb is unearthed in the mountains of Egypt.
Why did the Druids build a site in Egypt, thousands of years ago?
And what implications does this site have for human history?
Kotler's not the only one looking
for answers.
The Alihat Iadida—the New Gods—is a powerful cult that wants control of the site, and of the bronze sword that Kotler himself helped to discover, twenty years earlier. That sword could be the key to unlocking the Otherworld—the realm of the gods, and a source of world-dominating power.
Dr. Kotler and Agent Roland Denzel once again find themselves facing threats and dangers, fighting for their lives in the mountains of Egypt.
And this time, they may face the gods themselves.
Picking up where his novella, "The Brass Hall," left off, Kevin Tumlinson takes readers on another thrilling ride through misplaced history, with stakes that could change the world.
THE GOD EXTINCTION IS THE SEVENTH NOVEL IN KEVIN TUMLINSON'S DAN KOTLER ARCHAEOLOGICAL THRILLERS.
START READING THE GOD EXTINCTION
books2read.com/godextinction