The Catalysts Book III Title Reveal!

by with No Comment CatalystEnvironmentExtraterrestrialsPrecipiceScience StuffThe FieldWriting

Title Reveal!!!

Book III in The Catalysts Series title is…

Precipice!!

It’s an apt title because in the story (and in real life?) humanity is on the precipice of disaster or salvation due to Climate Change and the havoc our activities are wreaking on Earth. Marcie and Eric and their friends are trying to be Catalysts for change with the help of other-worldly beings. I think you’re going to love it!

I’m working with my publisher, Brown Books Publishing, to come up with a release date. It’s still in the revision phase but getting closer to completion. I’ve done five (!) rounds of revisions already and it’s out with Beta-readers at the moment. After this round of revisions, it’ll be off to Brown Books for two to four more passes of revisions and corrections. Whew!

Hopefully, Spring 2023 release!

Signs and Messages from the Universe

I’m reading Signs – The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson. It’s about how our loved ones communicate with us from the other side and how we’re all connected – through the collective consciousness (read about it in my books). My mom passed away 12 years ago and sends me messages all the time. I decided to ask her to send me a sign – a blue hummingbird.

She loved hummingbirds and the color blue. It’s early in the season and we don’t have our hummingbird feeders our yet and haven’t seen any around the house. I was checking out at the dentist later that morning and on the partition between me and the front desk staff was a decal – of a blue hummingbird!

I relayed the story to the staff, and they gave me the decal. It’s on the window of my office now to always remind me of my mom and how she’s still around on the other side helping me and guiding me.

Do you receive signs and messages from the Universe?

Check out The Catalysts series here!

Take care and keep reading!

The Catalysts Series – Book III

by with No Comment CatalystWriting
Book III First VERY Rough Draft

The first draft of Book III in The Catalysts series is done! Over 97,000 words – 340 pages. I’m actually through with the first editing pass thanks to input from the editorial staff at Brown Books. Revising is sooooo much easier than writing from scratch; at least for me. Once I have my world and story built, I can move around in it and make changes. But not right away. I need a second set of eyes to look at it and tell me areas that need work. I just can’t see it right away as I’m too close to the project. Once I get the feedback, though, it becomes obvious to me what I need to do and I’m off to the races. Thank you to Sterling for her stellar input! It’s such a gift to have the support of my team at Brown Books!

Book III is different from the previous two as it’s from both Marcie and Eric’s perspectives. The two storylines are separate but concurrent and connect at points throughout the book. It’s almost like writing two novels. So at about page 310 I realized I was nowhere near being done. I could have gone on for another 300 pages. That means Book III ends in a cliff hanger for both storylines and ideas for Book IV are already percolating in my mind. I’d hoped to get a bit of a break from writing, but the muse is working in my subconscious! I’ll be back at writing on Book IV as soon as revisions on Book III are complete.

Writing for me is a lot like tapping into the flow of consciousness that my characters experience. It’s as though the story is already there and I’m uncovering it like an archaeologist. Not to compare myself to Michaelangelo, but I think he said the statues he created were already present in the marble and he was simply revealing them. I totally understand that.

I also sometimes feel like I’m getting assistance from my mom, who’s on the other side. She was a lover of words and a writer in her own right. Maybe she’s my ‘ghost-writer’? 🙂

Here’s the first page so far – revisions will still happen as the manuscript will go through three or four more editorial passes before it’s complete. What do you think?

I have a couple of ideas for the title but I’m not ready to reveal them just yet. Maybe I’ll do a reader poll.

We’re looking at a Spring 2023 pub date. Fingers crossed!

Traci Harding Endorsement – The Catalysts Series

by with No Comment CatalystScience StuffThe FieldWriting

I’m very excited to share this endorsement for The Catalysts Series (The Field, Book I and Catalyst, Book II) from Traci Harding, Australia’s #1 Sci-Fi Fantasy author!!!

More than just stories, Tracy Richardson weaves quantum theory into the everyday to life altering effect. What may seem a fun tale is a subtle lesson in creating your own reality. Essential reading for young adults who desire to understand and master the skills to pre-pave their own future.

~ Traci Harding author of “The Ancient Future Series”

Traci and I did an author talk last April and really bonded over the similar themes in our novels. It’s been so exciting to find another author who writes about conscioussness, quantum physics and intention. These are just a few of Traci’s novels – she’s written over 20!!

Traci introduced me to fellow Australian author, A.K. Wilder, (aka Kim Falconer) author of The Path of the Stray, The Road to the Soul and most recently her new YA novels, Crown of Bones and the upcoming Curse of Shadows. Her books also deal with issues of environmental destruction, telepathy and consciousness but in a totally different way the The Catalysts series.

Happy reading everyone!! I know I’ve got a TBR pile a mile high!

Tracy and Traci Virtual Event -Tuesday, 4/13!!

by with No Comment CatalystThe FieldThings That Occur to MeWriting

Tonight’s the night!

Tuesday, April 13th at 7:00pm EST

Join the fun as Australian Sci-fi Fantasy author Traci Harding and I discuss all things sci-fi, fantasy, esoteric and metaphysical. We’ll throw in a little bit about the Zero Point Energy Field, and alternative universes and states of consciousness for good measure! Zoom links below. I’m really looking forward to this and I know you’ll enjoy it.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94872057839

Meeting ID: 948 7205 7839

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,94872057839# US (Houston)

+16699006833,,94872057839# US (San Jose)

Out Of This World Virtual Author Event

by with No Comment CatalystThe FieldWriting

I’m thrilled to announce an Out Of This World Virtual Author Event with me and Traci Harding, Australia’s #1 Sci-Fi Fantasy author!! Join the live conversation as Traci and I discuss our books, writing, where we get our ideas and the similar themes woven throughout the stories we create.

Tuesday, April 13th, 7:00pm EST USA

One of my reviewers from the Catalyst Blog Tour last summer compared my books to Traci’s so I reached out and connected with her on social media. Our books touch on the subjects of time travel, quantum physics, the Universal Energy Field, extraterrestrials, and the esoteric and metaphysical. It was so cool to find another fiction author who writes about the things I’m interested in. An added bonus is we get along great!

Another cool thing is that Traci lives near Brisbane, Australia so when we’re chatting on the evening of Tuesday 4/13 it’ll be 10:00am in the morning on WEDNESDAY the 14th for her! It truly is a small world.

Even though she’s deep into revisions on her next book (she’s written over 22 titles!!), she graciously agreed to do this event with me. I’m extremely excited and know that you are in for a treat when you join the conversation! More details on the Zoom event below.

Want to learn more about Traci and purchase her books? Visit her website at Personally signed books by Traci Harding (allthingstraci.com.au)

There’s even more info on Traci at her publisher’s site: Traci Harding – Australia’s Best Selling Fantasy Author

Want to purchase one of THIS Tracy’s books in The Catalysts series? Click Here!

Here’s the Dirt on Traci Harding!

Traci Harding is a Science/Fantasy Novelist, published through HarperCollins/Voyager Australia and Bolinda Audio.    Her work blends fantasy, fact, esoteric theory, time travel and quantum physics, into adventurous romps through history, alternative dimensions, universes and states of consciousness.

Since its release in 1996, the Ancient Future Trilogy has had over fifty reprints, three editions and was released as an omnibus in 2014. The first book of the series made the ABC’s list of “the Most Loved Books of All Time” (2010) and “Australia’s Top 100 Homegrown Reads” (2013). TThe Ancient Future became an Australian best-seller in its first month of release, and in 2014 the omnibus shot into the Amazon US top 5 Science/Fantasy books. Every Harding novel since the Ancient Future has debuted in the top 10 on the Science/Fantasy best-sellers list soon after publication. Traci has sold in excess of a half a million books in Australia alone.

Here’s the Dirt on Tracy Richardson (that’s me!)

Tracy Richardson is the author of the young adult series The Catalysts, including Book I, The Field, and Book II, Catalyst. The Field won the Eric Hoffer award for young adult literature and was a Bronze Medalist for the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Catalyst was a Finalist in the American Fiction Awards Young Adult category and won first place in the New Age category. Tracy has a degree in biology and her science background plays a significant role in her writing through her incorporation of both true science and science fiction. Her books are set in real Earth time with both a science fiction/paranormal theme and an environmental theme. There is no second planet.

Join Zoom Meeting – Tuesday, April 13th, 7:00pm EST USA

https://zoom.us/j/94872057839

Meeting ID: 948 7205 7839

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,94872057839# US (Houston)

+16699006833,,94872057839# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 948 7205 7839

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/auHtAHFhc

Toucan Tuesdays

Indiana Center for The Book

by with No Comment CatalystThe FieldThings That Occur to MeWriting

Last summer I was interviewed by Sammy the Toucan for the Indiana State Library’s Indiana Center for the Book. The interview just aired on January 26th so I can share it with you now. After my boyfriend saw it, his comment was “Are you being interviewed by a puppet?” Yes. Yes, I am. 🙂 And Sammy, the puppet that is, asked some great questions! See for yourself.

Check out more videos of me talking about my books, the environment, the Universal Energy Field and writing on my YouTube Channel!

Virtual Author Event News

I’m working on several Virtual Author Events for this spring which I’m REALLY excited about. With the pandemic I haven’t been able to get out and meet with readers in person, so virtual events are the next best thing. I’m partnering with another sci-fi/fantasy author who will interview me and we’ll chat about writing and our books. You’re going to want to sign up!! She’s super cool! Stay-tuned for more details to come.

Writing News – Book III

I’m hard at work on Marcie and Eric’s next adventure. As I’m writing it from both perspectives it’s almost like writing two separate books. So far I’ve written about 170 pages and I think I have 200 more to go. Writing during the time of quarentine went well for me at first and then in the Fall I got sick (not with COVID) and had a little stretch of feeling down and discouraged. I think all of us have phased through that at some point in 2020. Fortunately I was able to pull through and got my mojo back and am back to writing. Excited to see what happens next in the story!! I write with a general outline, but once I get started, the story just flows and ideas percolate, so I never know exactly how things will play out.

How have you been coping this past year? Really looking forward to connecting in person in 2021!

CATALYST Wins American Book Fest Award!!

by with 2 Comments CatalystWriting

I’m pleased and honored to share that Catalyst has been selected as the Winner of the New Age Fiction category of the American Book Fest Best Books Awards!

Winner – New Age Fiction

Catalyst was also recognized as a Finalist in the Young Adult category by American Book Fest in August.

Book News

Receiving an award like this really helps get me motivated to work on Book III of The Catalysts series. I’m about 150 pages in with probably 200 to 250 to go. As I’m writing it from both Marcie and Eric’s perspectives it is essentially like writing two complete books and weaving them together. I’m having a LOT of fun with it. Still hoping to do a research trip to France when we can travel again!!

Virtual Book Tour

My publisher, Brown Books, and I are working on a Virtual Book Tour starting in January, 2021. We’re putting together a fun interview and Q&A format. I can’t wait to connect with readers again!! More news on dates and how to register as the schedule gets firmed up.

I hope that you are safe and well and that you can find many things to be thankful for during these challenging times.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and those you love.

Order your copy of Catalyst! Ebook and paperback available now! 

Amazon | Books-a-Million | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Brown Books Publishing

Browning Mountain – Stonehenge in Southern Indiana II

by with No Comment CatalystScience StuffThings That Occur to MeWriting

To celebrate the release of CATALYST, Book II in The Catalysts Series, on September 22nd, I’m doing a blog series on some of the research I did to create the story. I LOVE research – anything for a road trip!!

In CATALYST, Lorraine and Zeke, the two mysterious graduate students on the Angel Mounds archaeological dig, take Marcie, Eric, Leo and Renee to Greystone Mountain in Southern Indiana. There they tell the teens about their mission to save Earth and demonstrate some incredible abilities while surrounded by the dozens of huge, rectangular stones for which the mountain is named

I didn’t create Greystone Mountain entirely from my imagination. As often happens in fiction, I took an actual place, in this case, Browning Mountain in Brown County, Indiana, and morphed it into a site in my story.

Browning Mountain has been called the Stonehenge of southern Indiana because resting at the hill’s summit are several dozen huge rectangular stones – many the size of a compact car – and no one knows how they got there.

Scientists say that the type of rock comprising these stones is not from the region. There are plenty of quarries in southern Indiana where it could have originated, but it didn’t. So the question is – what is it? Is it man made or naturally occurring?

Having seen the stones myself, they are so precisely rectangular, even given the effects of time, and arranged in such regular patterns, that I can’t imagine they are anything but man made.

Could the indiginous people of the area from thousands of years ago have erected a stone circle of the likes of Stonehenge in southern Indiana? I think the answer is yes. The other question, though, is how did the stones get on top of the mountain? It is a pretty tough two hour climb to the top going steadily up hill. Did they have some kind of technolgy that has been lost over the ages? I think it would be easy to simply say that the stones are naturally occuring since we don’t have the answers to these questions, but I’m not sure that we would be correct.

Ancient cultures may not have been as advanced as we are technologically, but they may have had a wisdom about the energies of the earth and the Universe that we have lost. It is definitely food for thought. What do you think?

The Catalysts Series

by with No Comment CatalystEnvironmentIndian SummerScience StuffThe FieldWriting

Catalyst

First some updates on Catalyst. Due to Physical Distancing and Social Connections (as I prefer to call it) the paperback release date has been pushed back to September 22nd. However…

the Ebook release date is still June 2nd!!!

Less than two weeks away! Order your copy today!!

I hope to do a Book Tour for Catalyst this Fall. Check out my Events Page for details later this summer.

The Catalysts Series

The Catalysts Series will consist of four books.

The Field – Book I

Catalyst – Book II

Indian Summer ­– prequel

and the untitled Book III that I’m working on now (80 pages in!!).

Book III is the only true sequel (to Catalyst). The other three books can be read as stand-alone books although many of the same characters appear throughout. I’ve included an environmental theme in all of the books.

The Field is about Eric Holton, a high-school soccer goalkeeper with a super-natural ability to know where the ball is going to go before it gets there. He’s connecting to the Universal Energy Field. The environmental theme compares burning coal to other clean renewable energy sources like wind and solar and also the idea of extracting energy from the Universal Energy field in the air around us. And he’s having the high school experience of trying to get the starting goalkeeper spot, deal with friends being jerks, and trying to get the girl.

In Catalyst, Eric’s younger sister, Marcie, is the protagonist, but Eric and his girlfriend Renee are also featured characters. Eric has just graduated high school and Marcie is a junior.

Marcie, Eric and Renee are spending the summer working at an archaeological dig site in southern Indiana. Things immediately shift into the paranormal when Lorraine and Zeke, two mysterious dig assistants who claim to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds, assert that Earth and its resources are in grave danger. Marcie must decide if she’s brave enough to do her part to save the planet. The environmental theme in Catalyst is the dangers of fracking.

In the first book I wrote, Indian Summer, Marcie is in middle school and is spending the summer at her grandparents’ lake cottage. She discovers that a wealthy property owner is secretly trying to develop an old-growth forest into an exclusive gated community. In her quest to thwart his efforts, Marcie connects with the spirit of a Native American girl. Indian Summer has been completely revised and will be re-released in 2021 as a prequel to The Field and Catalyst.

Book III is in the works right now! I’m writing it from both Marcie and Eric’s point of view. There are two concurrent story lines. Eric and Renee are in France and Marcie is in Washington DC. There is some interaction between the two threads and everything will come together at the end.

During this Great Pause we are having I hope you’ve been able to consider how you might chose to change your behavior going forward. Have you re-evaluated your priorities? Will you focus more on what’s important to you and let other, non-important things go by the wayside?

Protecting the environment and saving planet Earth is very important to me and I think essential for our quality of life going forward. I hope my books make you think and consider what you can do to be a Catalyst for change.

Take care and be well, my friends.