Secret of the Sands

Thanks so much, Rosalind! Secret of the Sands was so much fun to write, and I still love the story... :)

We're in the process of finishing the sequel, Destiny of the Sands, which we are hoping to have ready for the holiday season.

Cheers,

Rai

Great old school adventure. Great website too. I admire how you put yourself out there. Best of luck with this one!
Backed.
Rosalind Barden
American Witch

This is very raw and could benefit from rewriting and editing but the story definitely has potential.
Backed, and good luck.
Andrea. Breach of Faith.

ARISE, AUTHONOMY GHOST!

Ease those weary, withered limbs from your coffin. Push away the stone from the mouth of the tomb.

You have one last task to perform. One last, sacred shelf to confer.

Whether you were plugger, spammer, gusher or troll, whether you flirted or fought in the forum or beavered away in the shadows, now is the time for your resurrection.

One last time. Marshall your strength, muster the last vestiges of your power and carry out your final Authonomy act:

Back my book, MIRROR IN THE SKY.

Then, only then, you may rest easy in your Authonomy grave.

Nick Poole2 (formerly known as NickP)

Hi Bill,

Thank-you for your feedback. In writing Secret of the Sands, our aim was to pen a tale that was similar in spirit & feel to some of our favorite stories, along the lines of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Star Wars, and yes we always envisioned it for the big screen. There are also similarities to National Treasure & The Da VInci Code, though our story is different in many aspects to both as well. Our target audience is the same as for the above-mentioned stories, ages 12 & up. In many ways it is a fun, action-adventure tale, but as to your comment about the fates of the main characters, no they are not safe, and their future is uncertain and a rocky road lies ahead. As with the stories we love, things that start off happy & innocent, can take a dark turn. We ourselves enjoy epic tales of good & evil, and the ideas for, and story arc of, Secret of the Sands, was simply too big, too much to put into one book, we have a trilogy planned, though each will be a standalone book. The sequel, Destiny of the Sands, and the final installment of this series, grows increasingly darker and more intense. None of the characters have a happy, simple, predictable future ahead of them, which as a writer, is so rewarding. It's the journey that interests us.

Thank-you again for your time.

Rai

I've read the first couple of chapters and this falls far short of some of the excellent fiction I've read elsewhere on Authonomy.

It reminds me of the style of science fiction's "Golden Age", when clean-cut college kids roamed the spaceways and wisecracked their way to the secrets of the universe. Have a look at 1940s Asimov or Pohl, if you're not sure what I mean. I think modern readers demand rather more depth of character. These kids are flawless to the point of being irritating, and I find them quite unsympathetic. Likewise, the villains are standard issue 2D. I do agree with the comparison with Indiana Jones - this is written with hollywood firmly in mind.

If you want to improve this, and catch the more mature readership, then characterisation has got to be thought of. The best characters have flaws. It doesn't need to be anything as extreme as a hunch-back, a divorce or a drink problem. I feel right from the beginning that Alex and Mitch are going to come through whatever dangers the authors throw at them unscathed, will end up happily married / shacked-up and probably insufferably wealthy, and that Dustimaine and Fessel will both get their come-uppance.

As a reader, I need to feel that the author's hand doesn't unduly protect his heroes, that they could die before the end of the book. Or that they could seriously fall out with one another.

I also have my doubts about the archaeological techniques described. I've watched enough "Time Team" to know the meticulous care that is taken on a dig to measure and photograph every step of the way, and our perfect heroes just don't seem to bother. I'm surprised that Dustimane trusts them enough to leave them alone...

Dudes...this is something else. the prologue is massively gripping...the first three chapters....dudes...this is cinematic, frankly speaking this has so much potential in the adenture genre. i am still reading your pdf. will give detailed feed back when i am waist deep in it.
kweku

Here is the link to our YouTube video trailer for those of you who like to visualize what a story is about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1GkYZZTM5w

Cheers,

Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands
www.secretofthesands.com

Hey i love what you have done here...please go to my site, you will find my email addy there and some me a pdf copy. i will love to print it out and read slowly over a bottle of frostly chilled Guiness.
kweku

Here is our official press release that just went out on Aug.18th, 2008:

SECRET OF THE SANDS by Rai Aren and Tavius E.
A never-before-seen twist on ancient Egypt…

In an Egypt before pharaohs and pyramids, a mysterious civilization nearly changed the course of mankind. Now its secrets are about to be unearthed – but is the world ready for the consequences?

Inspired by the best parts of Indiana Jones, The Mummy and National Treasure, Secret of the Sands by co-authors Rai Aren and Tavius E. is a captivating hybrid of historical fiction, science-fiction, and mystery. The story covers a time before what is in the history books, giving authors Rai Aren and Tavius E. the freedom to propose explanations for many of ancient Egypt’s unknowns still shrouded in mystery today.

The most unique aspect of Secret of the Sands is the dual intertwined storylines. Questions asked in the present are revealed as the past unfolds, slowly inching towards the stunning revelation. Who was this civilization really and where did they come from? What went wrong? Will they ever return and finish what they started?

Secret of the Sands is, at its heart, a love letter to ancient Egypt. The authors’ life-long fascination with the subject matter brings the story to life with contagious enthusiasm and genuine respect. Rai Aren was a member of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities (SSEA) for many years before and during her foray into writing, and took two (non-credit) courses in Egyptology at the University of Calgary. Archaeology & Anthropology were hands down her two favorite courses in all of her extensive post-secondary education. The novel has been a repeated Amazon.com Bestseller in the category of “Books, Religion & Spirituality, Fiction”.

Secret of the Sands educates while it entertains, and the work-in-progress sequels will introduce a deeper message and new theories when many aspects of Egypt’s past, our own past and certain mysteries of the universe are tied together.


About The Book:


SECRET OF THE SANDS by Rai Aren and Tavius E.
Exclusive Kindle edition available on www.Amazon.com and in multiple eBook formats on www.Mobipocket.com

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: RFS Publications; 1st edition (September 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419675524
• ISBN-13: 978-1419675522
• ISBN-eBook: 978-0-9817464-5-6



About The Authors:

RAI AREN
Rai loves the stories of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones (her first kitty cat is named Indiana, Indy for short), The Mummy trilogy, The National Treasure movies, and The Matrix trilogy (take the red pill!), to name a few. She loves getting lost in these enchanting worlds and studying their underlying philosophies. Ancient Egypt has held a particular fascination for her since childhood. She feels right at home surrounded by Egyptian art and books.

Rai feels that novels have the ability to take us on magic carpet rides, allowing us to escape into fascinating and engaging worlds, where the stories become real to us. Some of her favorite authors include J.R.R. Tolkien, David Eddings, Dan Brown, James Rollins, J.K. Rowling, Anne Rice, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Thomas Greanias, and Matthew Reilly. Storytelling is an ancient, timeless practice and is an integral part of who we are. For Rai, writing a novel is a similar, but far more intense experience and she is thrilled to be a part of such an honored tradition. She believes that these stories are out there, waiting and wanting to be told - that they travel the universe in search of the door, the conduit, to the soul who is meant to tell their tale. She hopes you enjoy the worlds she & Tavius have opened the doors to…


TAVIUS E.
Tavius E. (pen name) grew up and currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He attended Mount Royal College and Athabasca University, majoring in Business and Accounting. Movies such as The Lord of the Rings and The Star Wars trilogies have ignited his imagination. Authors such as David Eddings and Dan Brown have inspired him to write.

He enjoys learning about ancient Egypt and archaeology. He sometimes looks up at the stars in the skies and wonder about all the amazing stories that have never been told. As a result, he and his college friend, Rai Aren, are pursuing their shared interests of being successful storytellers.


Contact Information:

E-mail: rai-tavius@secretofthesands.com; rai.aren@yahoo.com
For more information, please visit the profile at AllTheseBooks.com
Written and distributed by:
Marius Menzel for http://AllTheseBooks.com and http://BookHuntersBlog.com
Webmaster@BookHuntersBlog.com
910-625-1372

*******

Secret of the Sands
Official Website: http://www.secretofthesands.com

Books On Amazon:
Secret of the Sands (mystery/speculative sci-fi) Trade Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419675524/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp

Amazon.com kindle edition, published by Bristlecone Pine Press:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EQ60WQ/

eBook on Mobipocket.com, courtesy of Bristlecone Pine Press:
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=101818&Origine=4065

eBook on Books on Board, published by Bristlecone Pine Press:
http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=278234

Amazon Profile Page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2VTUTUTT5SO0Z

Book Marketing Network: http://bookmarket.ning.com/profile/RaiAren

Secret of the Sands Video Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1GkYZZTM5w

Should anyone be interested in reading the full manuscript, I would be happy to send a review copy of the book to you in pdf format. I can be contacted at either rai-tavius@secretofthesands.com, and rai.aren@yahoo.com.

In addition, I have included links to our MySpace & Facebook pages below.

Sincerely,

Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands
www.secretofthesands.com

MySpace link:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=310050637&MyToken=3cfc6c6b-5ea9-43a9-9dfa-a74924a197a0

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rai-Aren/22602068086

Facebook profile for Rai Aren:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Rai-Aren/22602068086#/profile.php?id=1439310264

Secret of the Sands is a repeated Amazon.com Bestseller in a number of categories. For the trade paperback version, it has appeared numerous times as a BESTSELLER in the category of "Books, Religion & Spirituality, Fiction". Its Amazon.com Kindle edition has been a BESTSELLER in a number of categories, including "Kindle, Fiction, Action & Adventure". It has also received numerous 5-star reviews.

We are hoping to secure a traditional publishing deal for the novel as a mass-market paperback edition as we are confident it has a wide appeal. We have already outsold 99% of all other published books, according to the following statistics:

...in 2006, 99% of the books published sold less than 1,000 copies, 95% less than 500 copies...

We sincerely hope that the potential of our story will be recognized, so we can reach an even bigger audience :)
We are actively promoting the book on MySpace, Facebook, AuthorsDen, The Book Marketing Network, and through book signings (all of these links can be found on our website). We have done a number of book signings at a local Chapters bookstore, and have been invited back due to the success of our previous events. We will be appearing at the store throughout the fall & into the holiday season.

Here are a couple of endorsements the book has received:

"A deep probing mystery riddled with prophecy and danger, Secret of the Sands uses Egypt and her mythology as a backdrop to delve into the meanings of life and religion." -McNally Robinson

"Rai Aren and Tavius E. have crafted a fast-paced, exciting novel overflowing with mystery and intrigue. The tension is constant. The characters fully developed. And the plot gripping. Ancient history and present day relevance are so expertly intertwined, that you might forget you are reading a work of fiction." -- Thomas Phillips, author of The Molech Prophecy

We thank you for your time & interest & hope that our book will be recommended to HarpersCollins editors.

Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands
www.secretofthesands.com

May you have life, health & prosperity, like Ra, forever….
- Egyptian prayer