MEGheads, Cove Dwellers, and the rest of my wonderful readers:

As most of you know, I’ve been working for almost three years on The LOCH: Heaven’s Lake – the third book in The Loch Ness Monster series. In book 1, The LOCH we meet Zachary Wallace – a marine biologist born and raised in the Scottish Highlands who is haunted by a near-drowning incident that took place in Loch Ness on his ninth birthday. We meet our reluctant hero twenty years later aboard a three-man sub in the Sargasso Sea testing a new model of an old invention (an acoustic lure) when the vessel is attacked by a mysterious predatory species known to sonar techs only as “Bloops.” This second near-death experience releases long-dormant memories from the first attack, leaving him with night terrors and fears that end his career. An unknown step-brother finds Zach on skid row and escorts him back to the Scottish Highlands to support their father Angus – a violent alcoholic on trial for murder. When Angus blames the death of his cheating business partner on the “real” Loch Ness monster and sets his estranged son up in court as his star witness, Zach is forced to face his own demons as he attempts to track down a very real predator that for reasons unknown, has now added humans to its diet.

With a Loch movie in development, I often find myself referencing Book I. Conversely, it has been many years since I had written or read the sequel: Vostok. Because the plot of Heaven’s Lake more closely parallels book one, I hadn’t taken the time to go back and read the entire Vostok novel, only the first three chapters.

Big mistake. In trying to cut corners, I spent months struggling with the first ten chapters of Heaven’s Lake and the introduction of the story’s antagonist (you’ll love her and all her “personalities”). At one point I took a needed break to work on SeaMonsterCove.com and its TV series. Taking time off refreshed me and I quickly solidified the middle and ending beats of the story, but I was still not satisfied with the opening third of the book. And then on one particularly frustrating afternoon, I found myself in need of a reference from Vostok, opened the file to chapter 3… and started reading.

Wow. I thought I remembered the beats of the story but I had missed quite a few key elements as well as the wonderful details I had forgotten… plus the characters’ humor and the intricate science simplified into digestible bites – geez…did I actually write this? How had I compiled and woven all this vital information into such compelling text?

Vostok is comprised of two distinct trajectories; the first is the hero’s call to action and journey into this very real 15 million year old glacial lake in Antarctica, the second targets the mysterious object in the lake that is generating gobs of power (which is how it was first discovered). I realize there are Loch fans that would have preferred I simply confine the story to “monsters in a lake” but as the author I can’t simply ignore the elephant in the living room. I am so glad I didn’t because this is where the story takes off and I couldn’t read it fast enough. And when I finished, I went back and read the last 70 pages again – not wanting it to end – my imagination fully recharged. With the missing pieces of the puzzle finally in my possession, I was able to rewrite the opening 100+ pages of Heaven’s Lake the way I wanted to.

Books must be pre-ordered at www.SteveAlten.com as these signed limited edition hardbacks (all will be signed) will not be sold in stores or on amazon.

I still have at least 2-3 more months of writing, then the novel must be edited… then we need to check our printer’s schedule. Book orders will be processed in the order they were placed (if you ordered several copies at different dates we’ll try to send them all at once). If you really want to enjoy Heaven’s Lake, take my advice and use this time to go back and read the series from the beginning – especially Vostok – you won’t regret it.

Enjoy the rest of your newsletter… and have a safe and wonderful THANKSGIVING.

--Steve Alten, Ed. D.

DATE: November 14 at 3pm est. On our last ZOOM, we did a table reading of MINTZ MEATS, a new updated version of a rom-com that finished as a finalist in a Philadelphia scriptwriting contest… it was a lot of fun.

If you want to join us, contact my assistant Kelly at kellyrollyson2020@gmail.com

Oh... it’s right here - a fun short story by friend, MEGhead, and reporter Allen Foster.

You can read the story free at: https://us.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B09K4H5H8D  

After you read it, please show the man some love and post a review.

As I am sure you know, the COVID pandemic has not only taken lives, it has affected the world economy in major ways, creating huge shortages and price increases. I won’t know exactly how much this will affect the print run of The LOCH: Heaven’s Lake until December when we may have to raise the price of the book.

So, if you were thinking about ordering additional copies to sell when The LOCH movie starts filming (best guess – late 2022 – early 2023) you may want to place the order in the next 30 days. Same thing for MEG: Purgatory packages. MEG-2: The TRENCH starts filming in January 2022!

Sunday November 14, 2021 at 3pm:

Zoom with Steve Alten and special guest… ??

If you wish to be on the ZOOM, reserve a spot with Kelly at kellyrollyson2020@gmail.com

I know… I know, I’ve been promising this amazing video game for months. Unfortunately, our programming genius, Paul had to have serious eye surgery. Thankfully he’s back and recovering and we’re hoping for a November launch.

 

Coming in December: Holiday membership gift certificates! 

 

Coming in early 2022: The next wave of cage dives and thrills, plus updates on our original TV series Where Sea Monsters Roam. It will be bloody good fun. 

Check us out at www.SeaMonsterCove.com Monthly memberships are only $4.95 for the entire household. Lock down the guaranteed lowest fee before it goes up in 2022.

This month, Adopt-An-Author and www.SeaMonsterCove.com will launch our long awaited Enhanced Visual Education program pioneered by Barbara Becker, myself, and teachers and educators in the Adopt-An-Author teen reading program. After more than twenty years of success, we have discovered that the more visual the assigned reading material, the more positive the reading experience – especially among reluctant readers. E.V.E. has been designed to be used in both Virtual settings and real classrooms. Each E.V.E. novel is a self-contained downloadable PDF file of a Steve Alten original thriller, with these added features:

If you are a high school English, Reading, or Science teacher interested in Beta testing the program, contact Barbara Becker at barbara@seamonstercove.com

Simple and motivating… a mantra to start your day.

“Hey baby…there ain’t no easy way out,

Hey, I’ll stand my ground… and I won’t back down.

Cooking spray

2 (4 ounce) links spicy pork breakfast sausage

3 large eggs

2 tablespoons milk

Directions: Spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-low heat. Add sausages and cook, turning often, until cooked through and browned, 12 to 16 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Remove sausages from the skillet and chop when cool enough to handle. Step 2 : Beat eggs in a small bowl with milk. Step 3 : Spray a small skillet with cooking spray and set over low heat. Add the beaten eggs, green onions, salt, and pepper; cook until edges are set, then gently turn with a spatula until scrambled, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove eggs to a plate and wipe out the skillet with a paper towel. Step 4 : Place 1 tortilla in the skillet over low heat. Top with 1/2 of the nacho cheese sauce, 1/2 of the chopped sausage, and 1/2 of the scrambled eggs. Top with another tortilla and cook, carefully turning once, just until lightly browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate and repeat to cook remaining quesadilla.

*IF YOU HAVE A RECIPE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please e-mail to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put RECIPE in the subject line.

If you get these texts, delete them immediately

Click On The Picture Below for more information

If you’ve never watched Ticked off Vic, you are in for a PG-17 treat. This one is for middle-to-older farts like me (all true).

IF YOU HAVE A JOKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, please e-mail to me at MEG82159@aol.com Put JOKE in the subject line.

Your monthly dose of the Three Stooges. In this 2 minute excerpt, Curly will teach you how to properly stuff the perfect Thanksgiving Day turkey.

Stay safe… and please get vaccinated with the REAL COVID vaccines. This is not a political issue; it is a matter of life and death… although at times it looks like a competition for the Darwin Awards. Laugh at the Stooges, don’t take advice from one. Remember… if something sounds incredibly stupid – it probably is!

Steve Alten, Ed.D.

Steve Alten's Books