The road to hell is paved with good intentions. That's what kept coming up for me as I charged through Freezing Point (
In Freezing Point, environmentalist and engineer Ben Maki hits on the idea of tapping into a mountain-sized iceberg in order to provide fresh, clean drinking water for millions of people. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and before long Maki is made to see how flawed his plan really was. Dionne explains that "his lack of understanding of the polar environment coupled with corporate greed creates an even bigger problem that ultimately threatens the entire planet." In a Romantic Times top pick review, the publication said that Freezing Point's "ingenious plot, genuine characters, superlative writing and nail-biting suspense will change the way you look at a bottle of water."
Readers who find themselves breathless at the relentless pace of Freezing Point will be unsurprised to learn that Dionne has a very real affection for the work of Michael Crichton and that her "all-time favorite novels" are The Andromeda Strain and
"So when I began writing," Dionne says, "it was only natural that I ended up with a science thriller." This despite the fact that the author does not have a science background herself. "The fact that I'm not a scientist puts me in a unique position," says Dionne. "Because I don't know the scientific reality, I can conceive a story that a scientist might think outlandish, and then learn enough of the science in the fields that interest me to tell the story plausibly."
Lacking the hard science background, however, Dionne knew going in that research was going to be especially important. "I consulted with microwave experts, explosives experts, and medical experts in the fields that are touched on in my book."
Dionne offers immense props to doctor, scientist, author and fellow
Dionne was born in
Meanwhile, Dionne is enjoying every second of being a new author and is exploring different ways of letting people know about Freezing Point. For example, at press time, she hopes that the clever online launch party she's created will drive interest.
The "party" includes video commentary about Freezing Point from thriller luminaries David Morrell, Gayle Lynds, James Rollins and Douglas Preston. "When I first asked these authors to record a video clip for the party, I was thinking only that it would make the site interesting and fun. But when the first clip came in from Doug Preston, I was floored. Seeing and hearing him endorse my novel is very powerful."
Contributing editor Linda L. Richards is also the editor of January Magazine and a contributor to The Rap Sheet. Her fifth novel, DEATH WAS IN THE PICTURE, will be published St. Martin's Minotaur/Thomas Dunne January 2009.
