Search This Blog

Project Moses Guest Post and Book and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

*LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $10 Amazon GIFTCARD AND THIS AWESOME BOOK*

WHAT INSPIRED THE PLOT?

The main crime in Project Moses – aside from the murders of many possible witnesses – has to do with bioterrorism and the use of genetic engineering techniques to cause mischief.  

I’ve long been interested in the technology and implications of various types of genetic engineering and simply understanding what genes do. When I was in law school, one of the requirements to graduate was to write an extensive paper – almost like a dissertation really – about some topic with some significant legal issues. I tackled the implications of the genetic testing of people in terms of health insurance. What happens when employers and insurers can tell through genetic tests whether you are a higher risk for heart attacks or cancer?  

That was really the genesis of the main conspiracy in the book. I just started thinking about what might happen if some bad characters could use this technology. Early in the book, I wanted to have a mysterious murder that would be one of the threads pursued in the beginning. I picked a plant as a key element and that sort of drove the plot toward a plant biology story.

Of course, I set the story mainly in the San Francisco area since that is where I live and have worked for the past 20 years. Also, it’s a place people love and therefore, I think, a nice frame for a story. Having a plot heavy on the high-tech, biotech themes was a natural for the setting.

WHAT CHARACTERS WERE HARD TO PORTRAY?   

This was my first book so, in a sense, they all were a little tough for me, although most readers so far seem to like them which gives me great relief and satisfaction. This was a book that I wrote once and then rewrote parts of several years later before it was published. I’d say the greatest changes I made were to the two main characters – the reporter Enzo Lee and his love interest, Sarah Armstrong, who is the niece of an early murder victim and becomes a target herself.  

The characters stayed pretty consistent, I think, in terms of personality and how they react to things. But, on the second pass through I had them nailed a little better and could describe them with more authority. I also tweaked their back stories a bit. I eliminated some details because I realized perhaps people didn’t need to know every detail and it slowed the narrative somewhat. I also started to feel that I would use the characters again – or at least in the case of Enzo and some lesser characters – so wanted to hold back some background that I could use later and perhaps weave into another tale.

I also found myself reworking dialogue and some of the romantic parts quite a bit. That’s when you find yourself sitting at the table having one side – or both sides – of the conversation. Or, imagine your reaction if you overheard two people having it. I guess the challenge is to make it believable given the situation, who the people are, and their relationship. At the same time, it can’t be boring and needs to advance the story.  

WHAT ABOUT HOLLYWOOD ENDINGS?

I tend to resist them on general principle although if it’s required for a movie, I might not fight it. After all, that would be Hollywood, right?  

REVIEW SOUND BYTES
KIRKUS REVIEW:
PROJECT MOSES
A journalist and a lawyer stumble upon secret experiments and a government conspiracy in Lowe’s debut mystery novel.
Reporter Enzo Lee is keeping a low journalistic profile in San Francisco by specializing in light newspaper features. After he reluctantly tackles a story of a judge found dead in her office, avoiding front-page news becomes the least of Lee’s worries. The judge’s death is associated with a prosecutor—killed by a hit-and-run—another attorney and the judge’s niece, Sarah Armstrong, who’s nearly a victim herself. As more people are murdered, Lee and Sarah learn of a company, AgriGenics, that genetically enhances fruits and vegetables—but the company’s ties to biological weapons put the snooping couple in its scope. Lowe's taut thriller is fronted by a likable protagonist who retains his sense of humor even under a constant threat of death. Lee easily generates sympathy, especially since he doesn’t particularly enjoy his unbearable circumstances—he was content averting controversy with his newspaper features. Both he and Sarah are resourceful characters, and their mutual attraction and ensuing relationship is believable. In the same regard, the two convincingly manage the intrigue: Sarah connects the murders through her prior involvement and Lee, the former hard-hitting reporter, utilizes sources and information as a means to take the offense. The story’s long-reaching conspiracy is elaborate but never overwhelming, so readers can appreciate the stockpiling of secrets, elusive characters and murders committed to preserve those secrets. One of the supporting players, a female detective named Bobbie Connors, who proves an asset to Lee, threatened to steal the spotlight completely if she’d been allowed a more substantial part in the story.
A thriller with an ideal fusion of wile and wit.





AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Robert B. Lowe is a Pulitzer-prize winning author whose fiction is based in San Francisco, his adopted home.

His past experiences – a 12-year career in investigative journalism and a Harvard Law School degree – enable him to write gripping mystery thrillers in both the legal and journalistic fields. Lowe draws his inspiration from John Grisham, Dick Francis and Lee Childs and adds his own San Francisco twist. Readers will enjoy his references to the city’s landmarks such as Chinatown, North Beach and Pacific Heights and the Bay area’s foodie culture.

When Lowe isn’t writing he enjoys a day at the golf course and spending time with his wife and daughters.


LINKS:
http://www.robertblowe.com/
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/RobertBLowe
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5621745.Robert_B_Lowe
https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorRobBLowe


Pick up a copy of the book on Amazon!!!!
   

58 comments:

  1. Alba said...:

    I am seriously seriously curious about the cover...looks SO MUCH like...another book's one :D

    I love the book tittle though :D

    @alba_solorzano

  1. MomJane said...:

    This story sounds like a real thriller. Very exciting.

  1. Rebecca Hipworth said...:

    Thanks for the giveaway. :)

    Becky01x@gmail.com

  1. Thanks for having me on the blog today. This happens to be my first Kindle Free day so anyone can get Project Moses cost-free at http://amzn.to/LqAUor

    I'll reply to comments throughout the day!

  1. Awesome excerpt! I went to Amazon to get it and I got it at no charge! Awesome day for me! Cannot wait to read it!!

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Genetics always seemed like an interesting subject for a book. Looking forward to the San Francisco touches...

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

  1. Looks like an intense read. Thanks for sharing.

    Stephanie27

    drinkshrunkentears at gmail dot com

  1. Love the interview ! Putting this on my tbr list (:

    ejhtan @ gmail . com

  1. Yael said...:

    I would be really interested in reading something that deals with the implications of genetic engineering. Also, it's nice to see an author who doesn't like Hollywood endings.

    yael_itamar (at) live (dot) com

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Love the interview. thanks for the giveaway !
    thivy.lopez@gmail.com

  1. Shadow said...:

    This sounds like a good book! Congrats on your release! Thank you for sharing! Wishing you all the best!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

  1. Just Got My Copy Cant Wait To Read It Great Contest. butterfli262002@yahoo.com

  1. erin said...:

    thanks for a great interview and congrats on the new release!

  1. June M. said...:

    This sounds like an intriquing mystery. Thanks so much for sharing about it.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

  1. Unknown said...:

    This novel sounds like a suspense novel of the highest type. Thank you for sharing, for the interview and the chance to win the awesome giveaway.

  1. I love a good conspiracy thriller! This is a must read for me!

    volta2173 at sbcglobal dot net

  1. Nancy said...:

    This review certainly draws me in. Thanks for the giveaway.

  1. Lynda Del said...:

    I would love to win this! Thanks for the chance!
    lyndadawinda1074 at yahoo dot com

  1. Unknown said...:

    Lovely book I shall check it out! Thanks for the great giveaway!!
    red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1. Autumn said...:

    Bioterriorism is one of my biggest fears!

  1. Munnaza said...:

    Just got this and I can't wait to read it!

    And thank you so much for the giveaway! I'd love to enter!

    infalliblyyours@gmail.com

  1. Gigi said...:

    I love this types of books, conspiracy, mistery plots, they always are a MUST read! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1. "bioterrorism and the use of genetic engineering techniques" and mischief in the same sentence - talk about understating. The story does fascinate.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  1. Suz Reads said...:

    I think bioterrorism is a very scary think and a great subject for a book! I can see why you would be inspired to write about this topic when thinking of someone who might be capable of doing such an awful thing! Thanks for giving us such a great story!

    susanw28 (at) mindspring (dot) com

  1. Unknown said...:

    ...one more amazing giveaway...IMMA ENTER ALL OF EM

  1. Sayomay said...:

    This is going on my TBR list! XD
    xeno_turtle(at)yahoo(dot)com

  1. Thsi looks like a good read- but scary. I don't want people messing with my veggies! LOL

    jill.watkins (at) gmail.com

  1. Unknown said...:

    This book sounds really good. Thanks for the chance!
    amandarwest atgmaildotcom

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Wow, very interesting! Would really love to read this. :)

  1. Tobi said...:

    Thanks for the guest post! I hope I'm not too late. I lost track of Hollywood a while back so I understand.

  1. Ohhh, pretty cover :D And seems like an interesting book ;) Would love to win a copy of it. :) Thank you for sharing and for the chance to win. <3
    Love, Carina

  1. Anonymous said...:

    Bioterrism is real and reading about it can really open our eyes.

  1. Darlene said...:

    Scary topic matter, but it sounds fascinating! Thanks for the chance to win!!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

  1. Carol M said...:

    This sounds good! Thank you for the giveaway!
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

  1. Lisa said...:

    Sounds really cool!

    lhoffpauir at gmail

  1. sounds like an amazing read - scary to think bio-genetic engineering is possible

    scarlettkitty at hotmail dot com

  1. missymyt said...:

    sounds good!

    missymyt (at) hotmail (dot) com

  1. Ning said...:

    I love the concept. Genetic engineering is such a hot and sensitive topic and reading about it is always interesting because of the many possibilities!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    yohinachan2000@gmail.com

  1. Thank you! :)
    holliister at gmail dot com

  1. Emmanuelle said...:

    I would love to win this! I've got nearly 50 books on my wishlist on Amazon!
    frenchcanadienne(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1. I really want to read this- I find genetic engineering fascinating and I love a good crime story!

  1. This book sounds pretty cool. Thanks for sharing about it!
    pixelberrypie@yahoo.com

  1. Unknown said...:

    Sounds interesting, thank you for the chance to win! wendynjason04@gmail.com

  1. Thank you for sharing sounds good. What a great giveaway Thank you very much!
    Latisha D
    tishajean@ charter.net

  1. Jane said...:

    I think my brother would enjoy this one. I'd pass it on to him after I read it!

  1. Ann Fantom said...:

    Project Moses sounds very interesting. I'd like to read it!

    abfantom at yahoo dot com

  1. Thank you so much for the giveaway! the book sounds very interesting!
    Sabrina
    smp0804@hotmail.com

  1. Sena said...:

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    sena.sagani at gmail dot com

  1. Daniel M said...:

    nice interview thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

  1. susan1215 said...:

    Thanks for the post, sounds like a good book

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

  1. slehan said...:

    I always enjoy books with a good sense of place. You can usually tell if the author has really lived there.
    Thanks for the contest.

    slehan at juno dot com

  1. I'm not usually one to read about bioterrorism or genetic testing. Maybe its because its to real. However this year I am trying to broaden my reading horizons and this book looks like a great place to start. Thanks for the insights, its going on my TBR list!

    megnate at telus dot net

  1. I love reading debut novels. So much of the authors personality can be felt while reading a debut.

    dakotagirl16AThotmailDOTcom

  1. This sounds really interesting. Thanks for the giveaway

    dakotagirl16AThotmailDOTcom

  1. Carmen said...:

    Looks seriously interesting!