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One of the more interesting places Quantum Time takes you is down under! From Botany Bay to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Uluru, the adventure traverses the continent. Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is an anomaly. After you fly across the arid red center of the Northern Territory, there it is. The giant sandstone monolith looks like it fell from space and landed in the middle of the desert. It is twenty-four meters taller than the Eiffel Tower and goes at least two and a half kilometers underground. Some say it might extend as deep as six kilometers. Its brilliant red hues, caused by a high amount of surface iron oxidation, are amplified by the setting sun. Tourists stand in the desert with netting hanging down from their hats to protect their faces from the biting desert flies. They drink a champagne toast as the sunset splashes across the rock and reflects the rays with a red grandeur. Back at the coast, the Bondi lifeguards watch over the swimmers. The beach makes a graceful arch and is home to the the famous Bondi Iceberg saltwater pool, where the crashing waves created a melody capable of soothing even the most frenzied of nerves. The Harbour Bridge in Sydney provides a perfect vantage point to view the stunning Sydney Opera House. I've attached some of my personal photos of the locations! Join the adventure and read Quantum Time! Greg   
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One of the trademarks of my novels are real world locations, most of which I have been to before. For the next few weeks I'll be highlighting some interesting sites from Quantum Time. This week, I'd like to start with something more personal instead of exotic. In Quantum Time, we visit Cincinnati. Cincinnati has been my home for the last 24 years! We're going to look at two key places in Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and Skyline Chili! Both have a feature in the book. IThe Cincinnati Museum Center is an extravagant art déco passenger train station built between 1929 and 1933 and has carvings of the Greek God Mercury on each side of its immense arched facade. It was the inspiration of the Hall of Justice in the DC comic universe! In addition, its dramatic ceiling over the rotunda lobby is awe-inspiring. The gold and orange rings above the Winold Reiss glass tile mosaics are stunning. The half dome entrance is one hundred and six feet tall and one hundred and eighty feet wide, the second largest in the world, behind only the Sydney Opera House. Pictures of both the exterior and interior are included below. The second location I'm highlighting this week is Skyline Chili! Skyline is a staple in Cincinnati. Known as "Cincinnati Chili" it is a unique dish, The “three-way” is a well-loved, unusual concoction of spaghetti noodles with a layer of secretly spiced chili, topped by a mountainous pile of finely shredded cheddar cheese. 4 and 5 way editions are available with the addition of onions or beans or both. The cheese coney is another classic, featuring a mini hotdog with their secret chili sauce and more of that finely cheddar cheese. Mustard and onions are optional. No pictures of Skyline, you'll just need to experience it for yourself. Next time we'll look at Oxford University, the location of Cassie's lab, the Continuum.   Google's NotebookLLM created a 12 minute podcast about the new book.... here's the first three minutes... Are you ready to read Quantum Time yet? Click to cover image to go to Amazon to purchase the book today.  Jack and Sarah are back! The ebook and paperback come out May 10th, (ebook is on pre-sale now, and some early release copies of the paperback may appear before launch!)! Join the adventure as Jack and Sarah and the gang set out to save the world again! Click the cover to go to Amazon and get your copy now!  It's been years since we ran around the world with Jack, Sarah and Kara. Well, now is the time to rejoin our friends on a new adventure. Picking up where we left off, come explore the world of Quotient in the new novel, Quantum Time. It's another globe trotting adventure. The novel will be available exclusively on Amazon, with Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook formats available for your enjoyment! (and this time, I narrate the audiobook myself,) Your feedback and comments are always welcome. I appreciate you joining me on these adventures! Greg Here's a review from Reader's Favorite's: "Lovers of time travel, sci-fi, and espionage thrillers will not be able to peel their eyes off this action-packed, fast-paced page-turner -- Gregory expertly unfolded the storyline with a double timeline -- The spell-binding plot twists and subtle tone had me on the edge of my seat. -- This is the type of story that has you holding your breath as the protagonists face invincible villains, all the while treating you to brilliant adventure, drama, thrills, and romance." - Keith Mbuya, Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars  Google just released an experimental notebook tool called Notebooklm. One of its best features is the ability to create a podcast on the content you put in your notebook. Of course, I fed it The Quantum Contingent. Take a listen to the fully AI-generated podcast google created, it's startlingly good! Greg Listen here!If you are old enough to remember Zork, or the original Adventure, then I have a treat for you! I am launching Quotient, the Game! It's a tongue-in-cheek interactive fiction adventure featuring the characters of The Quantum Contingent and Quantum Time. You wander around the world by typing commands like "north"... and solve puzzles and collect treasures along the way. You earn points and ranks based on how many points you have. You can give it a try right now, just click the button to open the game in another window. (it's hosted on GitHub)  I've put together a photo gallery of personal photos representing many of the places in my second novel, Quantum Time. Hovering over the image will show a caption, or you can click on the image to see the full photo and caption. Here's a link to the page: www.simpsong00.com/QT_photos.html Enjoy! Greg  Quantum Time is almost here! Thank you for your patience in waiting for the follow-up to The Quantum Contingent. The book is written and the audiobook is recorded.
Here's the draft blurb. (It still needs some work!) Jack and Sarah, sibling spies for Quotient–a global independent spy agency–are back. Vacation is cut short as they work to save President O’Connor and other world leaders from a wind of death. They must race against time in this globe-trotting, techno-spy thriller to save today and tomorrow. Set in two different timelines, the near future of 2028 as well as the far future of 2050, our team is stretched trying to stop multiple threats at once. Quantum Time is an exciting glimpse of the future with richly detailed locations and today’s technologies extrapolated for tomorrow. With its own Spotify playlist and an action-packed story, this is one read you won’t want to miss. Your comments on the blurb are appreciated! (and of course there is a Spotify Playlist. Here's the link: https://spoti.fi/48CGz7i Talk soon! Greg I made a custom GPT using the PDF of The Quantum Contingent. It had some interesting things to say about the book. Do you have any questions you want to ask ChatGPT about The Quantum Contingent? Let me know in the comments and I'll post its response.
Greg What is your impression of Kara? Kara is a complex and multi-layered character in "The Quantum Contingent." Here's a vibrant picture of her based on the information from the book: Interventionist and Protective: Kara demonstrates a protective nature, especially towards Jack. For instance, she intervenes when a guard is about to hit Jack, asserting her authority and showing care for him. Torn Between Ideals and Love: Kara struggles internally with her allegiance to the mission of the Contingent and her past relationship with Jack. She is torn between her attraction to immortality and her belief in Jack's honorable intentions. Mysterious and Enigmatic: Her actions and true intentions often leave others, including Jack, questioning whether she is genuinely seeking an exit from her current path or if it's all a ploy. Strategist: She is seen planning and strategizing, for example, when she knows she needs to get Jack and Sarah away from Hank quickly and does so without hesitation. Playful and Manipulative: Kara displays a playful side, indulging in role-play, but this also hints at her manipulative abilities. Reflective and Doubtful: There are moments when Kara questions her own beliefs and the path she has taken, indicating a depth of character and a capacity for self-reflection. Fashionable and Charismatic: Kara is depicted as a charismatic figure, with a keen sense of style, which she uses to her advantage in different situations. A Source of Light and Passion: She was once a significant source of joy and passion in Jack's life, indicating a warm and lively personality. Assertive and Commanding: Kara often takes charge of situations, commanding respect and obedience, as seen in various interactions with others. Complicated Relationship with Jack: Her relationship with Jack is a central theme, filled with nostalgia, unresolved feelings, and a deep connection that influences many of her actions. Involved in High-Stakes Scenarios: Kara often finds herself in high-stakes, action-packed scenarios, indicating her central role in the overarching plot of the book. In summary, Kara is a character of depth and contradiction, balancing protective instincts, a struggle with her ideals, and a complex relationship with Jack, all while being embroiled in the high-stakes world of "The Quantum Contingent." Give a quick character summary of each protagonist. "The Quantum Contingent" features a dynamic duo of protagonists, Jack and Sarah, who are siblings with a knack for espionage and high-stakes adventure. Here's a quick summary of each: Jack: A brilliant mind with a deep understanding of quantum mechanics, Jack is the analytical and cautious half of the sibling team. His background and expertise in quantum computing make him an invaluable asset in dealing with the complex challenges posed by the Quantum Contingent. Jack's thoughtful and methodical approach often complements his sister's more instinctive style. Sarah: Sarah is a fearless, quick-thinking spy with a penchant for action. She's resourceful and exceptionally skilled in languages and physical combat, making her a formidable field agent. Sarah's spontaneous and daring nature often leads her into challenging situations, but her quick wit and agility always seem to help her navigate through. Her deep bond and teamwork with Jack are central to their success. Together, Jack and Sarah form a compelling and complementary team, combining intellectual prowess and physical agility to tackle the threats posed by the Quantum Contingent. Their sibling dynamic adds a unique and engaging layer to their adventures, as they rely on each other's strengths to overcome the various challenges they face. |
The BlogGreg's blog will cover some of the things he learned as well as some of the tech and locations he used in novels, The Quantum Contingent, and Quantum Time. Archives
June 2025
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