Book Review

"Congratulations on Serpent Salt. What an exciting and gutsy book. I couldn't put it down. It provided heart pounding excitement during your twisting and turning plot. One virtually lived every moment with the characters. What was most impressive too was how the action blended with your travelogue that provided interesting details about the different countries, villages and terrains. You really did your homework; almost as though you'd been there personally. Who needs a James Bond book when you're putting out the adventures of Dr Mark Altree and his sidekick Dan? People don't realize how interesting geology can be and where it can lead!!!"

Anne Stacey, Adelaide 20 February 2017.

Vivid Publishing

My latest novel "Serpent Salt" is being printed by Vivid Publishing in Fremantle, W.A.  The eBook can be downloaded from Amazon;

https://www.amazon.com.au/Serpent-Salt-Alan-Watchman-ebook/dp/B01ILMZJH2

Back cover

"Russian criminals steal railway freight including the radioactive chemical ‘hex’ disguised as drilling salt and destined for Iran’s secret nuclear enrichment program.  Determined to retrieve the toxic compounds, Iranian agents design a devious plot and kidnap geologists working for gold exploration companies in eastern Turkey to establish their credentials as legitimate buyers of the salt.  Australian friends of one of the geologists, Mark Altree become concerned by his disappearance and collaborate with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to pursue their Iranian captors, free Altree and foil the recovery of the uranium fuel.  The thrilling chase across Georgia and Turkey involves collusion, double agents, murders, explosive action and romance.

Instead of solving murder mysteries in Australia, such as in Yarraman Gold and Solstice at Flinders Cove, Altree’s chance involvement in this recent drama tests his endurance and life saving skills."

My other novels are:

No Time for Tears

Secrets at Hanging Rock

Love in War

Yarraman Gold

Solstice at Flinders Cove

and

Who Killed the Girls? under my pen name Jane Bell.

Murder mystery in gated community

Paperback now available.  Contact me , Vivid Publishing in Western Australia or read it on a device by downloading from Amazon


https://www.amazon.com/Solstice-Flinders-Cove-Alan-Watchman-ebook/dp/B0172ZHV1Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1472852702&sr=1-1&keywords=solstice+at+flinders+cove#nav-subnav

Fatal crash kills my colleague

St-Tite-des-Caps

Deux adultes et un jeune adolescent ont perdu la vie dans une violente collision frontale survenue vers 16h45 face au 450, route 138. La collision a impliqué une camionnette et un véhicule de type VUS. Le conducteur de la camionnette s'est retrouvé dans la voie inverse provoquant ainsi le face à face.

Deux victimes sont décédées sur le coup. La troisième victime, l'enfant, a été conduite au centre hospitalier dans un état critique. Son décès a été constaté au centre hospitalier.

Les victimes sont de la région de Montréal. Il s'agit de Daniel Arsenault, 58 ans, Nadine Desbiens, 45 ans et Jacob Desbiens-Doyle, 11 ans.

(from http://www.zone911.com/actualites/accidents/item/22788-accidents-mortels-a-st-tite-des-caps-et-beauceville-les-identites-sont-connues)

1993 Dan sought my assistance to determine the age of rock paintings at Nisula, near Forestville, Quebec. We collaborated on that project and on other rock art sites in Canada. His knowledge and experience will be surely missed by the international rock art and archaeological communities.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel_Arsenault

Vale Henning

Henning Mankell dead: Swedish crime writer known for Wallander series dies aged 67.

I saw an interview with Henning some time ago and one amazing aspect was that his first five novels were not initially successful.  He did not break into the global readership market until his sixth novel was published and one reviewer wrote a positive commentary.  His 'overnight success' came after many years of writing because it took readers and reviewers a long time to realize what his work offered.  Then, once known, and like everything else the crowd following factor made him internationally famous.  His works were translated into other languages as his popularity soared.

He is not the only writer (artist etc) where success came after publication of numerous works, such is the way people consider new pieces of creativity.  Until somebody says, writes or reports that a new work is terrific people do not regard it highly; a sad indictment of the judgement of individuals and society.  Most of the works published and considered by some literary critics as outstanding are rubbish, poorly written and unreadable.  Well, that's my view of some of the recent award winning novels.  If I am still not reading after ten pages then the author has failed to hold my attention.   Other novels, some self published are far better to read, but these don't catch the marketing focus and so are not considered commercial by mainstream outlets.  These are the pearls in an ocean of mediocrity.  Finding them is a challenge, but dedicated readers will not simply buy the latest so-called best seller just because it bears that title, but will search for a new oyster bed. 

Henning inspired me as did Per Wahlöö and Stieg Larsson.  

Independent Geologist's Report

If you are interested in mineral exploration and I dare say many people are not, especially for uranium, and you want to read my appraisal of tenements held by UXA Resources, then you can find and download my report at the following address:

https://flinders.academia.edu/AlanWatchman

The company is awaiting approval of its Prospectus so it can relist on the ASX and raise capital to fund exploration on two highly prospective tenements in the N.T.


My other academic papers are also listed at the academia website.

New novel

I've begun writing my next novel.  The idea has been developing for many months and I've completed research into the plot, locations and characters.  Formulated on truth I am fictionalizing the characters while maintaining the threads of locations and plot so as to reduce the likelihood of legal action.

A clue to the story line comes from thinking about recent geopolitical events involving the Middle East and negotiations aimed at minimizing the development of nuclear weapons in Iran.  I don't want to say any more at the moment because I am aware the theme will be attractive to other writers.  Advertising the facts now will likely turn my story into ownership by somebody else and I would prefer releasing the sensational facts myself.

I remember watching the movie Argo and thinking how incredible it was keeping the actions and personnel secret for so long.  Wasn't it a sensational film?  The story I am telling is in a similar vein and I am excited by the facts I discovered by accident while undertaking research into another related topic.  I am aiming to complete the first draft by the end of this year unless I am distracted by other interesting things.