I
happen to be the sister of a geologist who works, on contract, for the U.S.
Government. Because he has clearance
high on the intelligence scale, I can’t tell you much about his job, but my
research online tells me the following: he’s probably looking for terrorists in
caves (and figuring out how to keep bad guys from finding the good guys hidden
in caves), and he might be sorting through underground facilities to stash vital
people, equipment and munitions, as well as potent products like spent fuels.
My
NATO geologist in BAD LIES http://a.co/0DuYNPn,
researches how the caves and mines in Italy have been used for centuries,
extrapolating how they might be implemented today. ‘Jack Walker’ scans satellite imagery, pours
through geology studies, and consults local geologists. Field trips to the sites? Jack’s favorite part of his job. He tours the terrain, examines rock
structures and explores caves, both man-made and natural.
Want
to spelunk with Jack?
To
give you a flavor of man-made caves, I chose some pictures of caves/mines in
Italy, Orvieto, built originally by the Etruscans, 2500 years ago, used heavily
in WWII. Take a look:
The
grotto I talk about in my novel is a little spookier, a wonder of nature. Here are some pics from Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g194863-d669726-Reviews-Grotta_dello_Smeraldo_Emerald_Grotto-Positano_Amalfi_Coast_Campania.html
Some caves/mines along the Amalfi coast
range for a mile or more, with a maze of offshoots. And dark?
Oh my, yes!
I
ask again, how many of you would enjoy exploring the caves on the coast of
Italy?
Italy’s haunted caves spell danger for an American golfer and a NATO
geologist
****
Sophie
Maxwell is a late-blooming, unorthodox golfer, and mother of a precocious
thirteen year-old. Determined to put divorce, bankruptcy, and a penchant for
gambling in her past, Sophie goes to Italy for a qualifying golf tournament.
Jack Walker
turned his back on a pro golfing career to become a geologist. As a favor to
his ailing father he’ll caddy for Sophie; off hours, he’ll find caves on the
Mediterranean coast, suitable for NATO listening posts for terrorist activity.
Someone is
determined to stop Jack’s underground hunt and ruin Sophie’s chances to win her
tournament.
On a Rome golf
course and in the Amalfi coast’s haunted caves, all the odds are stacked
against Sophie and Jack. In their gamble of a lifetime, who wins?
Seven Suspense Novels Spiked with Romance
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17 comments:
I need at least a week to think about your question (smile!).
Very cool! I would absolutely love to go exploring in those case. Researching details like these is one of my favorite parts about writing; it's also one of the most dangerous because you get drawn into the research and spend too much time on it! It must be great to have an expert in the family you can turn to for technical questions if you need to!
Sounds like a fascinating job your brother has. That being said, i couldn't explore caves if i had to. Give me wide open spaces, like on a golf course. Best of luck with Bad Lies, Hey, is there such a thing as a Good Lie. Oh, wait. Golf wise, right?
Leah, you are the bravest of us so far. As long as I can see light, I'm okay with the exploring. But those dark labyrinths? Nope.
Margo, some golf courses are so pristine, bad lies are few (or you really have to have a bad shot to get into one). Most of my golf courses aren't pristine. In fact, off I go to golf in a tourney at a very bad lie prone course. Wish me luck. I'll come back here this afternoon. Cave talk away!
Your book sounds intriguing and is about as close as I'll get to cave exploration. I'm claustrophobic. I hate it. I would love to explore caves. I didn't know I was claustrophobic until I tried going on a tour of the Oregon Caves years ago. I got quite a ways in and the panic was so overwhelming I turned and ran. My husband ran after me trying to stop me but I couldn't. When I got to the gate it was locked. Tears. He was tasked with trying to relocate the group who had moved on. He did and they radioed outside to release me from my tomb! But I will read you latest and live vicariously.
Those caves are beautiful. I'd love to tour them. Those photos you see of people walking across rickety bridges strung over huge canyons make me feel sick just looking at them. Give me a nice cozy cave anytime! Maybe I was a bear in a past life... Good luck with your book!
When my kids were teenagers, I took them through a series of caves used my Native Americans centuries ago. They loved it. I kept my focus on them and not on the narrow spaces I had to squeeze through at times. We were in there all day, talking and imagining what life would have been like living there. Each of us had a flashlight, so we weren't in complete darkness. That was 30 years ago. A wonderment, really, since I'm barely 39. I'll be eager to read how you describe your caves.
I enjoyed going through caves (on tours) when I was younger--Carlsbad, Merrimac, etc. Some very commercialized and others natural. My sister is so freaked out by caves she couldn't even read about them. If I wasn't on a tour, I'm not sure how I'd do with caves. I don't do utter darkness well. I hope you don't have too many bad lies on the course today.
Where those missiles kept during the Cold War? That always spooked me out, that somewhere in the beautiful west, there were missiles hidden in caves. As for visiting scenic caves, I've been to a few, in National Parks mostly, not my favorite visits. But a good setting for a book, I'd say.
Brenda, I have that claustrophobic feeling in all small spaces. The gigantic caverns might not bother me, but I've never had that experience, either. Stalactites and Stalagmites intrigue me...I plan to see some of those in Sequoia (since I'm writing a novel that takes place there). Do we worry about those 'tites or 'mites spearing us to death? Maybe!
Jannine, you are such a good outdoor person, with a love of all kinds of natural sites...in many ways more constant/understandable than people. Do you know that some people SCUBA in the lakes in caves (in Mexico)? Now I have SCUBA training, but to me, that's a double claustrophobia....sometimes the divers can't turn around and go back... not enough space. Yikes! I'll pass on that one.
That is so cool, Vonnie. Often we're braver when we are 'in the lead,' don't you know? I never got to explore the Amalfi caves, so I hope the pictures and my brother's help do them justice! My brother thinks caves are more fun than anything.
Diane, my golf game today wasn't full of bad lies, but the putting was so challenging. We tied our opponents at net , but they beat us by 3 points on gross. Our opponents got birdies on two holes, but I must say, we held our own. Sunny day at Morro Bay Golf Course, which has gorgeous views of the ocean. Can't complain about that! (P.S. Would love to see Carlsbad!)
Andi, my research on the caves near Lake Garda, Italy, tell me that the Germans were so entrenched there, that they began (I'm not making this up), building space ships, convinced space people were on their way to get 'em. They abandoned lots of munitions and stuff when they lost the war...who know what they left there. I'm amazed at how LONG they occupied Italy!
Angela, you are allowed to pass (even at THINKING about spelunking). I'll bet your bucket list is already overflowing with other things!
That's so awesome! Love the pic, and Bad Lies sounds awesome!
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