The Inspiration
Behind the Cover of 23 Minutes Past 1 A.M.
On April 26th,
1986, Reactor Four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant suffered a
massive explosion, shooting millions of radioactive isotopes into the early
morning sky. 23 Minutes Past 1 A.M.
is a work of fiction based on factual events that occurred before, during and
after the blast.
The weekend of April 26th was supposed to be a
weekend of celebration for the Kharmalov family but instead a horrific accident
set them on a grueling tale of deceit, revenge and loss.
I am Robert J. Dornan and I wrote 23 Minutes Past 1 A.M after writing a same-titled song lyric. I had
written and edited other books but never anything that required extensive
research so 23 Minutes became a learning experience on many different levels.
The Motherland Calls
is a monument in Volgograd, Russia
that commemorates the Battle of Stalingrad.
The Arc De Triomphe in France
and the Statue of Liberty in New
York are two more examples of landmarks or monuments
that symbolize an event or a philosophy.
The first day of May in the Soviet Union
was a day of celebration of military power and Soviet unity. In the nuclear
city of Pripyat, the day would
include the opening of an amusement park that included bumper cars and a Ferris
wheel. Most of the research I studied
claimed that the amusement park never sold a solitary ticket yet I did find a
few articles that stated otherwise, saying that the park was opened the day of
the explosion in order to calm the populace. Either or, the Ferris wheel to me,
represents the death of the city of Pripyat. A death caused by inexcusable ineptitude and
the incalculable destructive power of nuclear energy. The word Chernobyl
incites memories of failure and danger. The Ferris wheel incites memories of a
loss of innocence and hope.
I found and purchased the book cover image from the web and
two designers, Melissa Tovar and Cheryl Perez put the finishing touches to the
book cover. It took five revisions to
final product.
Thanks for inviting me to your unique blog and with any
luck, you’ll invite me back. I do wish
to add that if any of your readers wish to contact me about 23 Minutes Past 1 A.M. or environmental solutions, I can be
reached at jackcityguy@gmail.com
About the Author
Robert J Dornan is someone who wishes to leave a better
world to his children. He realizes that the odds are slim but he will do
whatever he can to increase the probability of success. He is always open to discuss new and
innovative ideas and hopes someday to see the building of a functional solar
city as well as a fair and community-driven compensation system.
Robert’s latest book is the historical fiction, 23
Minutes Past 1 A.M.
For More Information
About the Book:
In the early morning of her sister's wedding day, Mila
Kharmalov stared in stunned silence at the coloured sparks streaming from
Reactor Four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant.
At that very moment, her life and the lives of everyone she knew changed
forever.
Years later and on another continent, Adam Byrd was writing
biographies for everyday people looking to leave their legacy in book form.
When the woman he loved phoned from Kiev
offering him the chance to write the story of a lifetime, he jumped at the opportunity
not realizing that his voyage would be a bumpy ride through a nations dark
underbelly. With the help of his friend's quirky cousin, Adam is nudged into a
fascinating adventure of love, greed, power and psychotic revenge, culminating
with a shocking finale.
23 Minutes Past 1
A.M. is a work of fiction based on factual events from Chernobyl
and villages throughout Ukraine.
No comments:
Post a Comment