Picture of The Methuselah Tree and Bonus Excerpt

Hi all,

I created a new page on my website that I hope you get a chance to look at. It’s on the tab entitled Fact Vs Fiction. On it, you can read more about the 2000 year old seeds that Dr. Sallon in Israel was able to grow. You can also see a photo that she sent to me of her holding the tree.

I also included a bonus excerpt of The Samson Effect that’s only available as a link on that page. The Samson Effect deals at the center of its story with the possibility that 3000 year old dormant seeds can still be viable. You can read the bonus excerpt where the main characters—Dr. Thomas Hamilton and Dr. Michael Sieff—banter about the possibility of 3000 year old seeds being viable. Thomas, a biblical archeologist, believes the viability of 3000 year old seeds is possible. Michael is a little skeptical. It’s important in the story because they are searching for seeds responsible for The Samson Effect that were lost to history over three thousand years ago.

I hope you enjoy the new excerpt and the new information on The Methuselah Tree. Remember to add The Samson Effect to your list of Summer reading.

Happy 4^th of July, everyone.

Tony Eldridge

http://www.samsoneffect.com

Author of The Samson Effect

Soon to be a motion picture.

Editor’s Choice, Publisher’s Choice, and Reader’s Choice Action/Adventure novel, The Samson Effect.

The Samson Effect is a “first class thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure.” -Clive Cussler

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

The Samson Effect Newsletter: May 23rd, 2008

The Samson Effect Heads To Hollywood!

Amid rumors and speculations, a press release has been sent officially announcing that a major Los Angeles film producer has acquired the rights to The Samson Effect. Click News Release to read the entire text. It’s a story that even Hollywood would find hard to beat.

Check Out My New Author Friends

Make sure to check out the updates to my Author Friends page. Here is the summary of new entries:

Kat Smith: Author, freelance writer and formerly host of a syndicated morning radio show with ABC, Kat Smith is someone who knows her stuff. And she can share it with you. Check out her site for a list of services for writers and companies. And make sure to check out her latest book, The Naked Author where you will learn the business side of writing and marketing a book. I have read it and is it a must-have for any serious author.

Karen Harrington: Author of Janeology. Its premise? Grieving over his wife’s inexplicable descent into madness, a college professor endeavors to find clues in her family history to explain her sudden violence. Janeolgy explores the question – what role do genetics and family history play in shaping an individual’s impulse control?

Derek Hart: Derek is the prolific author of 15 action and adventure novels, known for their historical accuracy, while still maintaining a high level of entertainment. Romance is also a vital part of Derek’s trademark style and his novels generally appeal to men and women alike. Recently he authored Secret of the Dragon’s Eye, his first novel aimed at the young adult market, which met with instant success and outstanding reviews, followed by Secret of the Dragon’s Breath, the second in a series of 6.

C. L. Vaughn: Here’s another new action/adventure author with hero Owen Ruger in the book, The Man Beneath Lake Union. If you love marine adventures of today’s most entertaining novels, then you’ll want to check out Vaughn’s new micro-adventure book.

If you want to purchase these, or any of my Author Friends books, then visit the new Samson Effect Bookstore where I have them located all at one place for you.

Sequel To The Samson Effect Underway

The next book in the Samson Effect Series is off to a blazing start. You will find more action, more danger and more of what you loved in The Samson Effect as the same cast of characters undertake their biggest adventure yet. It’s too early to tell you much about the story except that it is a big adventure with the same fast pace that readers loved in the first book. And remember, you have a chance to become immortalized in the new story.

That’s right! You can have your name preserved throughout history by having a character in my next book named after you. The winner will also have a signed copy of my book mailed to them as soon as it comes out. All you have to do is click on the Contest Link and fill out the form. Such an easy thing to do for a prize that will outlive us all.

Interesting Sites

Reader’s Circle: If you’ve been looking for a way to connect with local book clubs, this is it! With an international database of in-person groups, users can easily find a club or start one of their own. This is a great way for readers and authors to connect.

Dedicated to our Defenders: What a great site! Dedicated to our Defenders is a group that collects donated books from authors and readers and ships them to our soldiers overseas. Our soldiers put their lives on the line everyday for us, yet they can find themselves with a lot of downtime. This organization helps them pass their downtime by providing free books to them that they can read and then pass along to their fellow soldiers. I am a member author and have donated to them. You can send them books to help with their mission. You can even purchase The Samson Effect and have it mailed to them. They will make sure it gets to the soldiers.

Free 411 Phone Info By Google: How much do you spend on 411 information calls on your phone? $1.00? $2.00? How about making them for free? Google has just launched its new directory assistance with a toll free number and no charge for the service. Not only that, but you can have the service send your cell a text message with the info and you can even have it send a map of the location. How cool is that?

The number is 800-GOOG-411 or 800-466-4411

Click the link above to watch a demo of how it works or just dial to try it yourself.

Megalith–Books That Rocks–Reviews The Samson Effect

Megalith is a book review site that focuses on action/adventure books. Click the above link to read the entire review of The Samson Effect and see why Megalith says,

“The Samson Effect is an exciting mystery-thriller… Eldridge spins an intriguing tale.
The pacing is good, if a little frenetic at times.”

If you have read The Samson Effect and you want to let the world know how great it is, I would appreciate it of you could visit Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com and write a review for it. Don’t underestimate how much your review can help me win new readers.

Well, that’s it for this edition of The Samson Effect Newsletter. If you have yet to purchase The Samson Effect, then you can do so by clicking any of the following links:

Amazon.com Paperback

Amazon.com Hardcover

Thanks again for all your help and support. And please forward this newsletter on to anyone you think may enjoy The Samson Effect.

Best Wishes,

Tony Eldridge

Author of iUniverse’s Editor’s Choice & Publisher’s Choice– and now, Reader’s Choice Action/Adventure novel, The Samson Effect.

The Samson Effect is a “first class thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure.” -Clive Cussler

Details at http://www.samsoneffect.com

Los Angeles Producer Acquires Film Rights For The Samson Effect

DALLAS, TX (May 12, 2008)– Producer Tony Eldridge has acquired the film right to The Samson Effect, the first in a series of action adventure novels by…….Tony Eldridge. No, that’s not a typo just an amazing coincidence and fortuitous turn of events.

“I started getting emails congratulating me on my soon to be published first novel, interesting only because I hadn’t written one,” said Los Angeles based film producer Tony Eldridge. By doing some research, he discovered there was a Texas based writer also named Tony Eldridge. The premise of his upcoming book and some pre-publication reviews (one by best-selling author Clive Cussler) sounded interesting so the producer contact the author and requested a copy .

He was amazed by how good the story was. “I couldn’t put it down, read it cover to cover in one evening and the next morning made a deal for the film rights. Finding great material is what it’s all about. It’s like panning for gold, you just never know when you’re going to get lucky or where that nugget is going to come from.”

How close did these two Tony Eldridges come to passing each other as two ships in the night? Author Tony Eldridge said, “When the time came to put my name on the book, I had it narrowed to three: Tony Eldridge, Robert Eldridge {Robert is his first name}, or the pen name of Benjamin Rytin.”

Had the author chosen to go with Benjamin Rytin or Robert Eldridge instead of Tony Eldridge, it is unlikely that the producer Tony Eldridge would have ever come across The Samson Effect.

This isn’t the first time that producer Eldridge has hit the Mother Load. He is currently producing the feature films, The Equalizer, with Mace Neufled, Harvey Weinstein and Michael Sloan, Patient Number One with Zucker Productions for HBO Pictures as well as The War Magician, Just Desserts and Old Dicks for his Lonetree Entertainment shingle.

Tony Eldridge, author, grew up in Westfield, IN and now lives in Forney, TX. The Samson Effect is currently available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or at any bookstore.

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News Update- May 13th

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1. After a long lull, we have a lot of news to catch up on. First, the biggie: Amid rumors speculation, a press release has been sent officially announcing that a major Los Angeles film producer has acquired the right to The Samson Effect. Click the News Release Tab to read the entire text. It’s a story that even Hollywood would be hard to beat.

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2. Author Friends Updates: Make sure to check out the updates to my Author Friends page. Karen Harrington has her debut novel, Janeology highlighted. And you will find Derek Hart’s prolific library of books listed. Finally, I have a link to newcomer C.L. Vaughn as another action/adventure author enters the market.

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3. New Review In: Check out the Praise Tab on my site to see the latest review from Megalith, a site the specialized in reviewing action/adventure novels. There, you will find the link that will show you why see why Megalith says, “The Samson Effect is an exciting mystery-thriller… Eldridge spins an intriguing tale. The pacing is good, if a little frenetic at times.”

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4. Check out the NEW Samson Effect Book Store: I have added an Amazon.com bookstore that lists only the books from authors on my author’s lists. I’ve done this to make it easier for you to find and purchase their books. So, click on the Book Store Tab and follow the link. Amazon.com makes it easy to lists books in one place.

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That will about catch you up on the news for today. Thanks again for your interest in The Samson Effect, and remember, you can continue to help me make news by telling your friends, neighbors, family and coworkers about The Samson Effect. As always, I sincerely appreciate your effort in helping me spread the word.