I’m so pleased to announce we have a first-time guest on The Write Stuff today, and what a guest she is, too! Some of you may have met her on other blogs, but for those who haven’t, please welcome Lisa Burton, Craig Boyack’s personal assistant and spokesmodel. (Oh, and I should probably mention Lisa is a robot, in case you’ve never run into any personal assistants who have that distinction.)
Lisa, we are delighted to have you join us, so step right up. You have the floor!
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Wow, Marcia, it’s such an honor to finally meet you. I haven’t been to Florida in ages, and hope to do some poking around when we’re finished. Maybe we can go hug one of those cute manatees or something.
Craig sent me here to plug his new book, Grinders, and I’m kind of excited about it. Robot girls love science fiction, and as a cyberpunk story it scratches that itch. There are even robots in the story, but that isn’t my topic today.
My assignment is to talk about the antagonist in the story, which I usually don’t do. This guy is kind of quirky and it’s hard not to feel the pressure he’s under. His name is Leonard, but he goes by Nootropic. It’s a nickname based upon a kind of drug he abuses. These are performance enhancing drugs for brain power, and he’s going to need all he can get. He also lives off something called 48-hour energy drinks, because in the future five-hours is old school.
Needless to say, he doesn’t get much sleep. He is a grinder himself, but it’s mostly the research and development of new techniques. He discovers new ways to implant humans with small bits of technology and they’re willing to pay big bucks. As one example, he has these spiral coils implanted in the back of his hands. They function like the inner ear, and he can detect vibrations just like you or I might hear something. Makes him kind of hard to sneak up on.
He’s under a mountain of pressure, because his wife is dying. She’s kept alive in a tube full of perfluorocarbon, which humans can actually breathe in. Of course he needs to keep filtering it and maintaining it.
See, she needs a new liver or she’s going to die. Since they are both wanted by the police, he isn’t willing to turn her over to modern medicine. Back when he held a real job, he developed a technique for growing a new liver for a pharmaceutical company, but they rejected it based upon profit and loss statements. It’s basically abandoned intellectual property, but could save his wife’s life.
He hatches this scheme to steal the notes, and perform the procedure himself. There is another problem though. His name is Georgie, and he’s a toddler. While working himself to death, Nootropic has been neglecting Georgie something awful. In his mind, Georgie will get over it after he saves his mother and reunites the family.
Nootropic is dealing with this ticking time-bomb, because his wife will die if his scheme doesn’t work. They’ll both go to jail if he takes her to the hospital, and Georgie will wind up as a foster child somewhere. Like I said, some real pressure. Then again, despite the nootropic drugs and 48-hour energy drinks, he has to sleep some time.
Without knowing it, the heroes in this story are closing in on him the whole time. Might not give him any added stress, but the readers will understand.
Nootropic Faber isn’t a particularly nice guy, but there are times when you feel for him. I think that makes him kind of cool.
On my visits, I always bring around a poster to share. This is me posing as Nootropic’s wife, floating in her tube. Some people collect the posters, and it’s fine if they want it as a phone screen or anything like that.
Funny story about this poster: robot girls don’t have to breathe. We used Kool Aid in the tube because it was cheaper than perfluorocarbon. We also don’t float, so I had to keep propping my butt up with a glass roasting pan until Sean could make his sketches.
Hope your fans enjoy the poster, and that some of them check out Grinders.
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Thank you so much, Lisa! I’m so glad I finally had a chance to meet you in … erm … person, and it has been a delight to have you with us today! You’re always welcome here on The Write Stuff, and we look forward to your next visit!
BLURB:
Jimi Cabot made one mistake as a starving college student. When she went to work for the San Francisco Police Department, it nearly cost her the job. The union stepped in and they had to reinstate her. They did so by assigning her to the duty nobody wants, Grinder Squad.
Grinders are people who use back room surgeries to enhance their bodies with computer chips, and various kinds of hardware. Jimi is sure that if she can just bust one grind shop, it will be her ticket back.
Paired with veteran cop, she soon learns that Grinder Squad is a cash-cow for the department. They are nothing more than glorified patrol cops, and generally get the worst assignments.
Matchless is the most wanted grinder of all time. He disappeared years ago, leaving only the evidence of those he enhanced during his career. With these pieces, Jimi picks up the cold trail to try working her way back to more respectable duty.
Grinders is a cyberpunk story set in a world where global warming has eroded coastlines, and society has solved many of our current problems by replacing them with new ones. There are cyber shut-ins, cyber-currency skimming schemes, and more in this futuristic tale.
This book also takes the opportunity to poke a stick at current issues that seem to have lasted into the future. Entitled people, helicopter moms, overzealous homeowner associations, and lack of decent jobs are all present. Never preachy, these issues make up the day to day work of a patrol officer.
I hope you enjoy Grinders as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.
Buy Grinders HERE
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Great to see Grinders and Lisa and Craig here today, Marcia.
I’m looking forward to reading this one 🙂
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Thank you, Harmony.
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I’m about halfway through it, Harmony, and loving it! I predict you will, too! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by this morning. 😀 ❤
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Thanks for inviting Lisa over today. She was starting to get a bit snippy, something about cabin fever. I hope your readers enjoy learning about Nootropic, and enjoy Lisa’s new poster.
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It was absolutely my pleasure to have Lisa stop by today, Craig! It was fun finally meeting her and learning more about Grinders, even though I’m almost at the halfway point, myself. Lisa always has a unique way of looking at things, and I’m hoping she’ll be a frequent visitor here on The Write Stuff! So happy to be sharing about this wildly imaginative and entertaining book, and I hope you sell a million copies!! 😀
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I try to send her on the road a couple of times for each new book. I’ll keep you in mind when the next one comes along.
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Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
Lisa Burton is visiting with Marcia today. Her topic is the antagonist from Grinders. She’s also handing out one of her new posters, so you might want to check it out. While you’re there, Marcia has a great blog worth following, and a few novels you might want to check out.
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Thanks for sharing, Craig! 🙂
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So nice to see Lisa here! Great job hosting, Marcia.
Craig, wishing you all the best with Grinders. It’s a wonderfully inventive story. I couldn’t put it down.
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Thanks for stopping by today, Staci! I agree about Grinders, and I’m very happy to have Lisa visit us today. Hope she’ll drop in often! 🙂 ❤
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She’s always an entertaining guest.
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Appreciate the positive remarks.
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🙂
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Always good to see Lisa out promoting. Have this one waiting for me!
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I predict you’ll love this one, Teri! Super imaginative world-building and fun characters! Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks, Teri. Hope you enjoy it.
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What a cool look a Nootropic. He is an unusual antagonist, which is a perfect fit for the book. I’m about 40% through, and even though I had a sneak peek and know what a great story it is, I’m thoroughly enthralled. I want an electric forest and the potted ferns you shake that spring to life 🙂
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You can always count on me for unusual. Glad you’re taking another turn through it. I have a couple I need to “officially” read. I’m going to have to earmark special time and get it done.
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Super post, Marcia. I think Lisa did a terrific job with the antagonist description. It sounds like a great read.
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Thanks, John. A known antagonist is kind of different for me. Hope everyone enjoys him.
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I’m sure they will.
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Glad you enjoyed it, John. I’m reading the book now, and it’s an amazingly imaginative and story, so far. Craig’s done a great job on it, for sure! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂
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This is a great post, Marcia. I love the idea behind this book. Lisa, I’ll tell you a secret, I sometimes have to use tricks like your roasting pan one to make my fondant art work. We girls stick together.
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Ha ha! That’s awesome. People like learning things like that about us.
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😀 😀 😀 I love it, Robbie. And I won’t tell a soul. Honest. 😉 Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂 ❤
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I’m 70% through GRINDERS, and I have to say, I feel pretty sorry for Nootropic. He tries to spend time with Georgie when he’s so weighed down with trying to save his wife. Heck, I’m even hoping the rat and the muskrat make it through everything and back safely:) Our grandson’s here right now, so I’m not getting any reading time, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the end plays out. I don’t really want Nootropic or his wife to go to jail, so I can’t decide what Jimi and Lou will do when they find him.
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I hope it resolveS satisfactorily for you. Family first, though.
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I’m about halfway through, Judi, and I must say, I’m already feeling the same way. I want this to turn out okay for Nootropic and floaty lady, and especially for Georgie. Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂 ❤
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I enjoyed Lisa’s insight to the character. I know he’s a bad guy but I feel for his motives. Looking forward to reading this.
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Well, I have to say so far, he may be a shady character in some ways, but I’m seeing another side of him that is making me feel conflicted about what should or should not happen to him. I can’t wait to see how Craig resolves all of this. Thanks for stopping by, Denise! 🙂 ❤
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I was hoping some people would feel for him. I doubt many will appreciate his logic, but we can relate to his problems.
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Well, I feel for him. Can’t say that what he’s doing seems very bright, but I think he’s doing it for the right reasons. So far. 🙂 And he’s might darn patient. With RATS, anyway. 😀
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Awesome guest post! 🙂 Thanks, Lisa and Marcia… Must share!
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Thanks, Bette, and thanks for stopping by and for sharing, too! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks for all your help, Bette
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger for all Genres as well as craft books and commented:
I applaud! Great guest post!
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Thanks so much, Traci, and thanks for sharing, as well. It’s very much appreciated! 🙂 ❤
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You’re welcome, Marcia!
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Thanks for the reblog, Traci. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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You’re welcome, Craig! It sure was an incentive, I think, for folks to buy!
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Fingers crossed.
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I love when Lisa get out and about to promote Craig and his work. He’s lucky to have such a faithful assistant. 🙂
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Me, too, Rachel! I’ve enjoyed seeing her here and there, but this was the first time she’s joined us on The Write Stuff. I hope it won’t be the last! 🙂
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Great to hear this entertaining interview with Lisa, Marcia. I am a huge fan of Lisa’s, and you did a great job of highlighting her wild charm. I think she’s so funny. Using a roasting pan to prop up her butt in the tube. Many thanks to all of you: Marcia, Craig and of course Lisa.
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So glad you enjoyed Lisa’s visit with us today, Jet. She’s pretty funny, all right! 😀 It was my pleasure to have her visit, and do hope she’ll grace us with her presence more often now. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks, Jet. Glad you enjoyed hearing from Lisa this time around.
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Finally getting around to visit. You already know how my week has been. Anyhow, I love Grinders and it’s good to see Lisa (and Craig) visiting here.
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Thanks, Joan. I hope you’re getting some time to unwind over the weekend.
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I am, Craig. Don’t think I could handle every week being like the last one.
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It was fun having Lisa stop by, Joan, and I’m hoping she’ll visit often in the future. 😀 Thanks for stopping by. Sorry I missed this, but I know you understand this has been a rough week or two for me. 🙂 ❤
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Looking forward to this one!
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Thank you. Hope you enjoy it.
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I predict you’ll enjoy it as much as I did! Sorry to be slow in responding while I’ve been under the weather, but I’m happy you stopped by! Thanks! 🙂
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