Fact and Fiction Collide: 2000 Year Old Seed Germinates

When I wrote The Samson Effect, I did a lot of research on the viability of dormant seeds. At that time, Lotus seeds found in a dry river bed in Manchuria which dated to be about 1300 hundred years old were found, and successfully grown. This was one of the pieces of research I included in The Samson Effect as the main characters searched for seeds that were supposedly 3000 years old. In fact, those of you who read The Samson Effect may remember the verbal sparring that Thomas and Michael engaged in when Thomas tried to convince Michael that 3000 year old dormant, but viable, seeds could exist. His strongest argument was that of the 1300 year old Lotus seeds that germinated.

Well, last week there was a news article about a scientist who successfully grew a tree dubbed The Methuselah Tree from 2000 year old seeds found in Masada by Dr. Sarah Sallon. You can read the news article, entitled, Tree From 2000-Year-Old Seed Is Doing Well, by clicking the article title. You can also read the press release that Dr. Sallon’s organization, The Louis L. Borick Natural Medicine Research Center, issued about the tree.

It’s always interesting for an author who creates fiction based in elements of fact to later find that science has actually taken a step toward his or her fiction. Now, this Methuselah Tree is living proof that the basis of my story is not far off from the realm of possibility. Who knows, maybe we are around the corner from finding dormant seeds that are 3000 years old.

That said, and as exciting as this is for me, I still stand by my preface in stating that what I wrote in The Samson Effect is simply fiction. Though I worked hard to superimpose my fiction over the Old Testament documents, I personally don’t believe that this is the way things really happened. I just wanted to write an exciting story featuring the way it could have happened. Dr. Sallon just gave me stronger evidence that the way I played out my fiction is, indeed, viable.

BTW, I am in contact with Dr. Sallon now and I am looking forward to learning more from her and to get her feedback on The Samson Effect.

Pretty Cool…

The Great Equalizer Is Now Posted

Hey all,

This is the last posting of the week I wanted to share with you, especially if you are a reader or writer of books. I comment on what I call The Great Equalizer that affects everyone who loves books. Some may argue that it’s a good thing, others argue it’s a bad thing. As for me, I think it’s great.

The good people of FreshFiction.com asked me to be a guest blogger on their site and have supported my posting of The Great Equalizer. If you get a chance, click on over and take a read. Then, whether you agree or not, I would welcome your comments.

While you’re there, click around their site. FreshFiction.com is a paradise for readers and authors alike.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Tony

Characters in The Samson Effect Give First Interview

Hey all,

Okay, now the characters in my book, The Samson Effect, are starting to get into the interviewing mode. I just found out that Thomas, Michael, and Delia have given an interview on The Plot. Just click on the link to read what they have to say, and feel free to leave a comment.

Have a great week.

Tony

Author Interview on Blog Critics Magazine

I wanted to share an interview that Mayra Calvani did with me on Blog Critics Magazine. In it, you can read about some of my quirky writing habits, why blue ink can put me in a foul mood, and how I deal with writer’s block. She also touches on authors’ fragile egos and asks how I handle negative criticism.

All that and more can be found at:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/13/122329.php

I hope you enjoy the interview.

Tony Eldridge

Slapstick Is Funny Except…

Something just happened to me tonight that’s a scene right out of a B comedy movie. I went into the half-bathroom to check out the commode. It has been acting up lately and the tank doesn’t fill half the time. But, I figured out that if you jiggle the plastic bulb in back, then it starts to fill. It’s usually fine for a few days after that.

Now, the smart thing to do would be to replace the piece in the tank so that it’s permanently fixed, right? Not me. Every time it starts working after I jiggle it, I think to myself, “I bet this time it’ll stay fixed.” I have been saying this for a couple of months.

Well, tonight I reached in a did my jiggling because the tank didn’t fill. Only instead of doing what it was supposed to do, the thingamajig in the tank broke and water gushed straight up like Old Faithful. I immediately stuck my thumb over the stream, which stopped the water. I stood there, soaking wet, looking at the steaks of water running down the walls.

I reached down with my free hand to turn off the water to the commode, but my reach wasn’t long enough because of the position I was standing in. My thumb slipped off and water started shooting up to the ceiling again. By now, a small pond was forming on the floor.

Out of instinct, I placed the same thumb over the stream. Had I used my other hand, I could have reached the valve to shut the water off. I took a few breaths to take stock of my situation, and the water pressure on my thumb started burning. I shifted my thumb slightly to relieve the burning, but the dam broke and my thumb managed to direct the stream right in my face.

I called for Emily, my wife, to come down. She heard the screaming and later told me she thought I had cut off my toe or something by the way I was screaming for her. By the time she found me, I had switched thumbs and could finally reach the valve. She walked into the bathroom to see me drenched, water dripping from the ceiling and the walls, and a puddle covering the floor.

My wife started laughing and told me where the towels were. With that, she went back upstairs to leave me with the clean-up.

I am heading to the hardware store tomorrow to replace the thingamajig.

New Author Friends Added

In an attempt to bring you new ideas for books to read and to introduce you to new authors I know, I add new writers to the list often. Today, I have three more for you to meet.

NEW! Janie Pendleton- An emotionally charged romance suspense novel, The Gates to Love and War brings you a breathtaking story of three courageous American soldiers and their heroic service to their country, which in return leaves them each haunted by the ghost of war.

NEW! Doug Cummings- Do you like those good ‘ol whodunit mysteries? If so, check out Doug’s site for his current book, Deader By The Lake. While there, make sure you read about his upcoming release, Every Secret Crime.

NEW! Joyce Spizer Foy- Here’s a treat for your aspiring authors. Joyce is a prolific author on a variety of subjects including novels and nonfiction. The book recommended to me was well worth the purchase. It was her classic, Power Marketing Your Novel. No matter what your interest are, you will be glad you checked out her site.

Remember, you can see the whole list of my author friends at http://www.samsoneffect.com/AuthorFriends.html