14th
Jul
Jul
Today I’m excited to participate in the Blog Tour
of ‘Traveler’ by Dennis W. Green. This is an adult science fiction with some
mystery and urban fantasy. ‘Traveler’ was published on October 17th 2013.
For more tour stops and information please visit the tour page.
About the Book:
Blending mystery, police procedural and sci-fi, Traveler
is a thriller in the tradition of Daniel Suarez and Dean Koontz, with just a
dash of Jim Butcher.
is a thriller in the tradition of Daniel Suarez and Dean Koontz, with just a
dash of Jim Butcher.
Police detective Trav Becker can travel between parallel
realities. So can other versions of him. And one is systematically killing
every Trav he can find.
realities. So can other versions of him. And one is systematically killing
every Trav he can find.
Trav must fight to keep the very fabric of time itself
from unwinding as he hunts the most dangerous quarry of all… himself.
from unwinding as he hunts the most dangerous quarry of all… himself.
He must hunt the most dangerous quarry of all… himself.
My Review:
When I started reading ‘Traveler’, I really didn’t know
what I could expect. The book cover didn’t really grab my attention, but the
book description sounded very interesting and I decided to sign-up for the
tour.
what I could expect. The book cover didn’t really grab my attention, but the
book description sounded very interesting and I decided to sign-up for the
tour.
In ‘Traveler’ we meet Trav Becker, a police detective who
made a mess out of his life. Trav doesn’t know what to do with his life anymore
but then his life slowly begins to change. Soon Trav finds out he is able to
travel between different realities. Realities where his life went very
different. This sounds like a fun thing but when Trav finds his own dead body
he wished he never discovered his gift. Now Trav needs to find the killer and
stop him before the whole world changes forever.
made a mess out of his life. Trav doesn’t know what to do with his life anymore
but then his life slowly begins to change. Soon Trav finds out he is able to
travel between different realities. Realities where his life went very
different. This sounds like a fun thing but when Trav finds his own dead body
he wished he never discovered his gift. Now Trav needs to find the killer and
stop him before the whole world changes forever.
This book is definitely different than the last couple of
books I’ve read. This is a book that really needs all your attention. You can’t
read ‘Traveler’ when you’re going to be distracted or only have a short time to
read, because this book is a little complicated at times, and definitely needs
your full attention.
books I’ve read. This is a book that really needs all your attention. You can’t
read ‘Traveler’ when you’re going to be distracted or only have a short time to
read, because this book is a little complicated at times, and definitely needs
your full attention.
Especially in the beginning, it took me sometime to fully
understand everything what was going on. But when I did, I didn’t want to stop
reading and was fascinated by the world Dennis W. Green created.
understand everything what was going on. But when I did, I didn’t want to stop
reading and was fascinated by the world Dennis W. Green created.
I really enjoyed this book. It was so different and
interesting and although it gets a little complicated I could still keep up.
The main character Trav was a guy I could relate to. Especially since the most
things that happened in his life were things he couldn’t control.
interesting and although it gets a little complicated I could still keep up.
The main character Trav was a guy I could relate to. Especially since the most
things that happened in his life were things he couldn’t control.
There were sci- fi elements in this book, but it was very
mild. And I loved that about this book. You know you’re reading a sci- fi book
but it still kind of felt like it could really happen and it made this book an
even more interesting book to me.
mild. And I loved that about this book. You know you’re reading a sci- fi book
but it still kind of felt like it could really happen and it made this book an
even more interesting book to me.
The end of this book was a big surprise for me. I didn’t expect
it at all and I loved that. The author was able to completely steer my mind to
only one possibility and I forget about the other possibilities. At the end of
this book I was so surprised how Dennis W. Green was able to control my thinking
with his writing. Not to mention the way he described a very complicated process
as something I could understand without too much difficulty. For example the
way he described the traveling to different realities part, I can only say
bravo to that!!
it at all and I loved that. The author was able to completely steer my mind to
only one possibility and I forget about the other possibilities. At the end of
this book I was so surprised how Dennis W. Green was able to control my thinking
with his writing. Not to mention the way he described a very complicated process
as something I could understand without too much difficulty. For example the
way he described the traveling to different realities part, I can only say
bravo to that!!
This was definitely a very interesting read for me. I
enjoyed it and would really recommend it.
enjoyed it and would really recommend it.
My Rating:
Interview with Dennis W. Green:
Tell us a little more about who Dennis W. Green is?
Ask someone how they know me and you might get any one of
the following: Writer, DJ, actor, sports announcer, MC, swimmer, teacher,
husband, or dad.
the following: Writer, DJ, actor, sports announcer, MC, swimmer, teacher,
husband, or dad.
I’m pretty sure I have raised brand confusion to an art
form.
form.
My training is as a radio personality, and I held down
daily music shifts on the air for more than twenty years. Today, as the general
manager of Iowa’s only jazz radio station, KCCKFM, I still do on air work, as
well as directing three in school jazz education programs. I appear as an MC or
announcer at about thirty five events a year, ranging from concerts and music
festivals to a twelve race triathlon series.
daily music shifts on the air for more than twenty years. Today, as the general
manager of Iowa’s only jazz radio station, KCCKFM, I still do on air work, as
well as directing three in school jazz education programs. I appear as an MC or
announcer at about thirty five events a year, ranging from concerts and music
festivals to a twelve race triathlon series.
Writing has always been a part of the work I do, whether
it was penning a script for a stage event or scribbling jokes for tomorrow’s
show. Just as important as writing has been reading. I’ve had a book in my back
pocket since junior high, and in my most private fantasies, imagined myself as
a novelist. A couple of years ago, I realized that goal with the publication of
Traveler.
it was penning a script for a stage event or scribbling jokes for tomorrow’s
show. Just as important as writing has been reading. I’ve had a book in my back
pocket since junior high, and in my most private fantasies, imagined myself as
a novelist. A couple of years ago, I realized that goal with the publication of
Traveler.
How did you get the idea of writing ‘Traveler’?
One day I’m doing my radio show, and I can’t find a CD. I
was certain I had gotten it from the rack on the wall, but it’s not in the
stack where I thought I put it. I look everywhere. Go through all the CDs,
check back at wall rack, everyplace. And I finally find it in a pile I looked
through at least three times.
was certain I had gotten it from the rack on the wall, but it’s not in the
stack where I thought I put it. I look everywhere. Go through all the CDs,
check back at wall rack, everyplace. And I finally find it in a pile I looked
through at least three times.
I thought to myself, “What
if, in looking for this CD, I moved between two nearly identical parallel
universes, but realities where I had put the CD in different places?”
if, in looking for this CD, I moved between two nearly identical parallel
universes, but realities where I had put the CD in different places?”
That was the genesis of Traveler, that those little
memory lapses and discontinuities where things don’t seem to be where we put
them, or our memories of things differ from others’ recollections, are actually
a result of us moving every day between the permeable walls of adjacent
parallel realities.
memory lapses and discontinuities where things don’t seem to be where we put
them, or our memories of things differ from others’ recollections, are actually
a result of us moving every day between the permeable walls of adjacent
parallel realities.
I laid this idea on the framework of the story of a
police detective, Trav Becker, who discovers he has the ability to control this
motion among parallel “streams.” He finds himself on the trail of another
version of himself who is traveling among the streams, killing every other Trav
Becker he encounters. I thought a story where the protagonist has to hunt himself
would be unique and fun.
police detective, Trav Becker, who discovers he has the ability to control this
motion among parallel “streams.” He finds himself on the trail of another
version of himself who is traveling among the streams, killing every other Trav
Becker he encounters. I thought a story where the protagonist has to hunt himself
would be unique and fun.
I’m a lifelong scifi and fantasy geek, but periodically
I need to take a break, and then I dive into mysteries, hightech thrillers,
and police procedurals. For quite some time, my favorite books have been
stories that could be taking place in our real world; it’s just that we Muggles
don’t see the strange, dangerous, supernatural world lurking beneath our
ordinary one.
I need to take a break, and then I dive into mysteries, hightech thrillers,
and police procedurals. For quite some time, my favorite books have been
stories that could be taking place in our real world; it’s just that we Muggles
don’t see the strange, dangerous, supernatural world lurking beneath our
ordinary one.
I think Traveler asks some interesting
questions about the consequences of our choices, and how those choices can
create fundamental changes not just in our circumstances, but our very
identity.
questions about the consequences of our choices, and how those choices can
create fundamental changes not just in our circumstances, but our very
identity.
What did you like the most about writing your own book?
In the same way that the things Trav learns on one stream
can help (or harm) what he does on another, the most fun thing for me about
writing is how I can change and remold the story from draft to draft. I love
going back and planting little clues and Easter Eggs for major plot reveals that
occur to me as the story unfolds. And it really tickles me when I unknowingly
set something up early that is useful later.
can help (or harm) what he does on another, the most fun thing for me about
writing is how I can change and remold the story from draft to draft. I love
going back and planting little clues and Easter Eggs for major plot reveals that
occur to me as the story unfolds. And it really tickles me when I unknowingly
set something up early that is useful later.
Here’s an example: In Traveler, I blew up a building. In
the sequel, Prisoner, I needed an old building that had since been rehabbed,
and realized the building I had blown up still existed on the stream Trav was
currently inhabiting. It created a fun callback to the first book.
the sequel, Prisoner, I needed an old building that had since been rehabbed,
and realized the building I had blown up still existed on the stream Trav was
currently inhabiting. It created a fun callback to the first book.
Where do you go to write your books? And where do you get
the inspiration?
the inspiration?
I sit at a desk all day,
so the last thing I want to do is then go to an office to write. Most of my
writing is done in our living room, on the couch or love seat. It’s a room with
a lot of natural light, and just seems to unlock my creativity. The only issue
is the everpresent risk of a cat deciding to sit on the laptop (see
LaptopSam,jpg Cat picture).
so the last thing I want to do is then go to an office to write. Most of my
writing is done in our living room, on the couch or love seat. It’s a room with
a lot of natural light, and just seems to unlock my creativity. The only issue
is the everpresent risk of a cat deciding to sit on the laptop (see
LaptopSam,jpg Cat picture).
Which one of your characters has stayed with you the
most? And why?
most? And why?
I had the most fun writing
Morgan Foster, a psychic who becomes a very important part of Trav’s life. She
wasn’t even in the first draft, but I needed a good witness to a crime, someone
with great observational abilities, and it occurred to me a psychic would be
just that kind of person. Eventually, she grew to become one of the three main
characters of the books. She sort of plays the McCoy part, a counterpoint to
Sam, Trav’s physicist friend, who is Spock. Each time Morgan walks onstage, she
surprises and delights me. She’s no damsel in distress. She kicks some serious
ass in both books.
Morgan Foster, a psychic who becomes a very important part of Trav’s life. She
wasn’t even in the first draft, but I needed a good witness to a crime, someone
with great observational abilities, and it occurred to me a psychic would be
just that kind of person. Eventually, she grew to become one of the three main
characters of the books. She sort of plays the McCoy part, a counterpoint to
Sam, Trav’s physicist friend, who is Spock. Each time Morgan walks onstage, she
surprises and delights me. She’s no damsel in distress. She kicks some serious
ass in both books.
What are your favorite books?
The Traveler trilogy is most informed by Roger Zelazny’s
Amber books, a series I go back to again and again. I recently bought the audio
books, read by Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta from Battlestar Galactica). Highly
recommended. He may be the finest voice actor I’ve ever heard. Other favorites
include James P. Hogan’s “Giants” books, and pretty much the entire Heinlein
canon.
Amber books, a series I go back to again and again. I recently bought the audio
books, read by Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta from Battlestar Galactica). Highly
recommended. He may be the finest voice actor I’ve ever heard. Other favorites
include James P. Hogan’s “Giants” books, and pretty much the entire Heinlein
canon.
Outside of scifi and fantasy, I admire Max Allan
Collins, who most people know from “Road to Perdition,” although Nate Heller,
his detective who investigates all the great crimes of the Twentieth Century,
is my favorite. Harlan Coben writes mystery and suspense better than just about
anyone, particularly the Myron Bolitar books.
Collins, who most people know from “Road to Perdition,” although Nate Heller,
his detective who investigates all the great crimes of the Twentieth Century,
is my favorite. Harlan Coben writes mystery and suspense better than just about
anyone, particularly the Myron Bolitar books.
What are your future plans in writing?
Traveler is the first book in a trilogy. Book Two of the
Traveler Chronicles, “Prisoner,” is done and will be released August 1. The third
book, “Hunter,” will come out late in 2016 or early 2017. After that, I think
my next project will be a humorous thriller about the director of a broke
theatre company who accidentally becomes a secret agent.
Traveler Chronicles, “Prisoner,” is done and will be released August 1. The third
book, “Hunter,” will come out late in 2016 or early 2017. After that, I think
my next project will be a humorous thriller about the director of a broke
theatre company who accidentally becomes a secret agent.
What would your advice be for inspiring writers?
Read, read, read. Read in the genre you want to write in.
Read outside of it. Read great books because that’s what you aspire to. Read
bad books so you can learn what not to do, and also to feel superior. 🙂
Read outside of it. Read great books because that’s what you aspire to. Read
bad books so you can learn what not to do, and also to feel superior. 🙂
Every writer should read mysteries, because at its most
basic, every book is a mystery, revealing clues along the way as the characters
work to solve a problem, right a wrong, or just learn more about themselves.
Every writer needs to learn how to leave clues to the big reveal in such a way
that the reader is surprised by the callback, but also feels like you dealt
fairly with them.
basic, every book is a mystery, revealing clues along the way as the characters
work to solve a problem, right a wrong, or just learn more about themselves.
Every writer needs to learn how to leave clues to the big reveal in such a way
that the reader is surprised by the callback, but also feels like you dealt
fairly with them.
Plus, I think that by reading voraciously, you absorb
good grammar and sentence construction automatically, whether you actually ever
take a writing course or not.
good grammar and sentence construction automatically, whether you actually ever
take a writing course or not.
About the Author:
Ask someone how they know Dennis Green and you might getany one of the following: Writer, DJ, actor, MC, swimmer, teacher, reporter,
tech geek, husband, or dad. So it’s little wonder his favorite expression is
the above quote by Robert Heinlein’s spacefaring immortal, Lazarus Long.A
popular radio personality in his native Iowa, Dennis’s adventures as a DJ were
covered by newspapers from Anchorage to Los Angeles. He has also worked on the
stage, TV, and independent film. He is one of the Midwest’s most popular MC’s,
hosting dozens of events each year.
Dennis’s first novel, the sci-fi detective thriller,
Traveler, ranked in the Top Ten in the 2014 Ben Franklin Independent Publishing
awards, and has a 4.9 review average on Amazon.. Prisoner is the second volume
of the Traveler Chronicles, and will be out in the summer of 2015. Trav
Becker’s saga concludes in the final volume of the trilogy, Hunter, which is
due in 2016.
Traveler, ranked in the Top Ten in the 2014 Ben Franklin Independent Publishing
awards, and has a 4.9 review average on Amazon.. Prisoner is the second volume
of the Traveler Chronicles, and will be out in the summer of 2015. Trav
Becker’s saga concludes in the final volume of the trilogy, Hunter, which is
due in 2016.
Dennis’s writing has appeared in the anthology Sadistic
Shorts, magazines including Grift and Romance and Beyond, as well as his own
blog at denniswgreen.com. He also writes for and edits the triathlon news site
heartofamericatri.com.
Shorts, magazines including Grift and Romance and Beyond, as well as his own
blog at denniswgreen.com. He also writes for and edits the triathlon news site
heartofamericatri.com.
By day, he is the general manager of Iowa’s only jazz
radio station, KCCK-FM. And if it’s 5:30 am, you can probably find him in the
pool, working out with the Milky Way Masters swim club.
radio station, KCCK-FM. And if it’s 5:30 am, you can probably find him in the
pool, working out with the Milky Way Masters swim club.
For more information about Dennis W. Green and his book
please visit his Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
please visit his Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Giveaway:
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Fabulous review and interview! Thank you so much for giving this a try and reviewing it for the blog tour!
Thanks. 😀 I really enjoyed it and I'm very glad I've been able to read and review it.
Maureen, thank you so much for the enthusiastic review! The greatest compliment a writer can be paid is that the book was hard to put down. I am pleased and honored that you enjoyed Traveler. Thanks for reading it and for hosting a stop on the tour!
You're very welcome. I meant every word. 😉
Thanks for stopping by!