In the spirit of the holidays, I am hosting a wonderful giveaway for James Blakley, author of The Steal Deal. Details are following my review.
The Steel Deal
by James Blakley
It all started with the horses. Sonny Busco, private eye, aged 55, thought playing the horses would help him make ends meet. Business had dried up and he needed money badly. Living without running water or a telephone was not good for business, or for him.
He figured he’d cash in on the ponies, but as it usually goes, he lost. Enter Gator Grimes, the loan shark.
Sonny borrows $500 and before you know it, it’s $1.500. When he can’t meet the payment deadline, friends of Gator come callin.
Ziggy and Sully don’t get quite the reaction they were expecting from Sonny. He’s more like, can’t we be friends, than scared.
“You’re too chilly,” Sully carped. “You take the fun out of the collection biz.”
Things get worked out and Sonny gets an extension, a costly one. Then, as luck would have it, he gets a client.
Pixy Sage looks like her name. She’s a petite thing with short platinum blonde hair and black, large framed glasses. She looks like a school kid. But her offer is all grown-up.
$2,500 large to retrieve a package and have it in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 24 hours. Doesn’t sound like too big of a deal.
He could pay off Gator and maybe pay for the repairs on his car. The rusty olds still had some life in her, and he didn’t think the sleek black Stealth he was driving was right for spying on people. He kind of stood out from the crowd in it, but when Hub offered to loan it to him, he couldn’t resist.
It brought back memories of Magnum P. I. except Sonny’s a little slower, older and portly.
Sonny retrieves the package easily enough, but before he can even get to his car the men in black appear. And the woman who steps out of his loaner is taking the package even if she has to pry it from his cold dead fingers. What’s a guy to do, he tosses it to her and ducks for cover. The next sound he hears is his car being driven away.
So now he has no car, no package and no idea where they went. The sentient steel in that package must be the real deal.
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tuvnz2W_pc]
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Sentient steel makes me think of the cop in Terminator Two. It’s flexible, lightweight and incredibly strong and it can think and become whatever it chooses.
Now Sonny has a much bigger job and a sleuthing he will go.
I loved this book. The names and expressions the characters use when speaking were reminiscent of the old P.I. shows. I could just see Peter Faulk in Columbo, with his rumpled clothes and cloud of smoke following him, driving that old clunker. His appearance disguised a brilliant deductive mind, just like Sonny’s.
I even liked the bad guys. How could I not. They are so well written. The author makes it hard to guess who is telling the truth and who’s good or bad. He has you spinning like a hamster in his wheel.
A super mystery in a small package. Steel Deal is a very fast story that you’ll want to read to the end once you start. There’s too much fun and action to pick a stopping point.
An International Giveaway
Do I have a giveaway for you. James has been very generous, just check out what you can win!
$25.00 Amazon Gift Card
$15.00 Walmart Gift Card
Two signed Paperback copies of Steel Deal.
There will be four winners.
To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question, “What would you use sentient steel for?”
Contest ends December 18th.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Blakley was educated at Missouri Western State College and Washburn University. While at MWSC, he was a local and national award-winning columnist and co-editor of “The Griffon-News”.
Blakley worked 10 1/2 years as a page and as an Assistant Librarian for the River Bluffs Regional Libraries of St. Joseph, MO. He currently lives in Topeka,KS where he worked for The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library before spending several years in clerical and customer support capacities for international computer companies such as EDS and HP.
For those “inquiring minds who want to know”, I’m almost finished with a screenplay version of “The Steel Deal.” And I’m rough-drafting my next novel (due out in late 2013/early 2014).
You can find James Blakley at Goodreads
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. My opinions are my own.
To purchase Steel Deal, click on the book cover image below.
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I’d make it into Edward Cullen 🙂 or an alien spaceship.
Edward’s cute but the spaceship rocks!
A new car everyday.
heather[dot]coulter[at]gmail[dot]com
So cool!
Sentient steel? I’m a writer damn it, not an engineer. –Stolen from Star Trek. Okay, so he was a doctor and I’m not but what the hey. 🙂
Oops, emaginette AT hotmail DOT com . . . tata for now
Ha! Quick thinking.
I would use it to make a device to disarm nuclear bombs.
Great review. The Steel Deal sounds intriguing. It went on my TBR list. As always, Laura, another great recommendation. Thanks for sharing.
janna@jannashay.com
I wish I’d thought of that:)
This book is a fast, really fun read. I loved how well James develpoed his characters in a shorter novel.
I would use it to have a new car everyday
Now there is two of you with that idea. It would be great to have that new car smell all the time!
I would use it to have a fantastic new sports car!!!
Which one?
New car (s) without a doubt!
I like the plural!
I would use it to build a jet that could change shape to match an enemies jet as it was flying over enemy territory. 🙂 awesome review! Can’t wait to take a look at it!
dutchess7200@gmail.com
A true warrior!
Become a law enforcement person and help do good.
Cherry Mischievous
cherrymischif-spamme [at] yahoo [dot] com
We could use more of that:)
I read this book when James sent me a review copy it was great. I think a new car would be in order.
I’d use it to make a dragon sculpture…. I’m obsessed!
Oops! I forgot to add my email: kyhaara [a]t gmail [dot] com
You could make that dragon live too!
And armor!!! So I could be a hero and save the world… or at least some of the cities. (who wouldn’t want to be a hero?)
clanamoc [a]t gmail [dot] com
It would be cool. Gotta have wings too!
A spaceship! Why not?
chick.library.cat@gmail.com
For sure! I’d love to travel in space. Just hope the aliens are friendlies!
To place my valuables in.
reviewing.shelf@gmail.com
No one would be able to get them, that’s for sure:)
The first think that popped in my mind was a bad ass sword with intricate mystical engravings that enchanted the sword into something even more powerful. It could shrink to pocket size until I hauled it out to wield it against paranormal creatures 🙂
penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
I could use one like that!
I’d use it to make a table.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Now I’m curious.
I’d use it to make a super cool samurai sword thingy that could slice through anything!I loved The Last Samurai movie! 😀
Thanks for the giveaway!
nbookaholic(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Nuzaifa @ Say It With Books
I loved that movie too!
hmmm Sentient means aware, knowing (like extraterrestrial sentience). If reusable, I would make myself a vehicle and a robot driver, have it drive me to the mountains, and turn into a cabin. Steel cabin? oops.:)
That’s very creative. Make sure the cabin comes with a cook!
I’m not 100% sure of the limitations… I like the idea of having a robot bodyguard (although I don’t have any particular need of one).
You’d look cool having him follow you around. Maybe everyone will think you’re famous!
Hello everyone! I’m James Blakley, author of THE STEEL DEAL. Great responses so far! And great job of facilitating the conversation, ‘fuonlyknew’ (I won’t blow your cover). Thanks for your participation.
And don’t worry, I’m not eligible to win my own contest prizes!
Readers of THE STEEL DEAL often ask if sentient steel could really exist. Well, it’s not as far-fetched or as far-off as most people think. Here are a few articles that show we’re on the path to something similar to, if not exactly like, sentient steel.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=computational-origami-robot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_metal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmable_matter
And for all of you who would use sentient steel to continually create cars for yourselves, checkout this Youtube video of a programmable matter car!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqHfHIi2sRQ
That clip is just unbelievable. He actually held it in his hands. I don’t know whether to be thrilled with this technology or terrified!
That was on my mind the entire time I was reading Steel Deal. What if? and should we?
I would use sentinel steel to trade my mini van in for a sports car. 😀
I’d like the sports car too. Traded mine in when I got pregnant. There wasn’t even room for the child seat!
TheFourHorsemenSeries@hotmail I would use it to create something useful that could be used to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, house the homeless. Something that would enable those who need help to obtain the help they need.
Wonderful answer Pam. Wish I’d thought of that:)
If icould us sentinrl steel for anything id use it for whatevervi needed at the time, 1sports cars, no doubt,the new camaro. I’m totally obsessed since my 1st one ilost to a tragic accident , imiss it dearly.but after that I’d use it in any emergency to what if i have to fight a beast i need a sword poof their it is..you no. Possibliities are limitless.
Lori529@comcast.net
The contingency plan! Good one!
Hello again, everyone. This’s James Blakley, author of THE STEEL DEAL. Just checking in to deliver some more food for thought. Although this latest morsel isn’t ice, it is sure is cool! It’s the latest development in nanotechnology–a branch of scientific engineering which plays a key role in THE STEEL DEAL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx3Tn_51NEU
Too bad we’ll probably never see it used to save us, the consumers, money. I’d love a car that didn’t break down or wear out! Really cool James!
Can I say that I’d like to turn sentient steel into a money printing press? Get new wads of $$$ everyday. LOL You have the best giveaways Laura. And you find the most interesting books too!
Oh man. Wish I’d thought of that. That has got to be the number one answer! Too cool. Great to hear from you Ritesh. You’ve been missed.
Hey Laura! I’m around. Have been reading books and following your blog. But I am not getting any time to write reviews or blog. 🙁
Hello again, everyone! This’s James Blakley, author of THE STEEL DEAL.
Ritesh, you can say that you’d like a sentient steel money printing press. Just make sure, to paraphrase the old Gary Cooper line, you smile when you say it! : ) Especially, if you say it to a guy who looks like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MiB.svg#filelinks
The mysterious Men In Black figure prominently in THE STEEL DEAL. And I even liberated its ranks by adding a Woman In Black! Read more about who and what ‘they’ might be (in fiction and in real life) here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_in_Black
Oops. My email ID – mastbrat@gmail.com
Happy holiday weekend, everyone! It’s James Blakley, author of THE STEEL DEAL…again.
So, you want to be a private eye, huh (like the main character of THE STEEL DEAL, Sonny Busco)? Well, I tried not to glamorize the job, and kept Sonny performing some of its average tasks. Though to keep things entertaining, I hyped some of the situations Sonny finds himself in.
For a real look at the life of a P.I., ‘investigate’ the job requirements, work environments, and pay scale through the sites below:
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4781255_becoming-private-eye.html
http://bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Private-detectives-and-investigators.htm#tab-4
I wanted to be a P.I. at one time. After checking into it, I realized I wasn’t cut out for it.
jaideepkhanduja@gmail.com
I would use it to build a factory
Great idea. Lots of people need a job!
Hello again, everyone. This’s James Blakley, author of THE STEEL DEAL.
I’d like to take this opportunity to again thank Laura for designing such a visually striking blog and for fostering an inviting atmosphere; to everyone for entering the contest; and for all your enthusiastic responses to the question.
Well, what would the featured author use sentient steel for, right? After much thought, I would have to use it to first build up the U.S.’s sagging infrastructure. To build near-indestructible bridges (with sentient steel girders and beams that adjust to weather and pressure changes); to insert it into roads and highways (so that potholes and fissures seal and repair themselves); and to aid in the construction of more durable and longer-lasting buildings, dams, and airports. Also, this technology would greatly improve the survivability of structures and the populations located in earthquake, tornado, and tsunami prone parts of the country (since sentient steel could repair an almost infinte level of damage done to it and be used to quickly repair damaged traditional structures).
Of course, this (and many other seemingly good intentions) always come with risks–namely, that of causing perhaps irreparable damage to the world economy and basic social structure. Many new inventions–the car, electricity, and computers, for example–caused the destruction of other inventions, which caused downsizing, unemployment, and the obselescence of certain technology. Of course, not all of this came overnight. But some couldn’t adjust to the change, no matter the rate. And with something like sentient steel, crime rates would likely increase immediately (as our modern media would likely hype it to irresistible, gotta-have-it levels). What would self-repairing roads, bridges, and dams do to the ‘human’ element of the construction industry? And on a social scale, the gap between the sentient steel ‘haves’ and the sentient steel ‘have-nots’ would create another form of class envy…and perhaps worse, literal warfare.
As I’ve shown (with a couple of mainstream Youtube clips) some form of sentient steel is obviously being developed. But I think its practicality is wisely being underplayed; and its mass utility, delayed–so the powers-that-be can gague exactly what impact it will have on society (before formally placing it on the market for mass production, distribution, and consumption).
So while sentient steel would appear to be a heaven-sent answer to humanity’s problems, I’m reminded of two sayings: 1.) “Be careful what you wish for; you might get it”; and 2.) “Out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
Thanks again, everyone. And all the best!
James Blakley
Hmmm does using it for a sheild make sense? I think perhaps so.
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