Ten years after a mysterious plague wiped out most of the world, America is still struggling out of the worst recession ever known. Two thirds of the world's resources lay abandoned and inaccessible, resources that would not just heal America's economy, but make it the most powerful nation in the world and make a lot of people very rich in the process. It's time to bring the survivors back into the 21st century, whether they want it or not.On the other side of the Atlantic, Paul and Trish have problems of their own. The rescued children have grown up and have families of their own. More people have come to the village, which is now a thriving community. Josh and Bobby are growing up and Bobby has her eyes on Trish's son, then something appears that no-one has seen for over ten years. Chris Devine is a project manager implementing high performance computing systems to universities and research establishments throughout the UK. He has devoured science fiction novels for as long as he can remember: from E. C. Eliott and Hugh Walters as a child, to Larry Niven, Robert Heinlein, A E van Vogt and Isaac Asimov as a teenager and Elizabeth Moon and so many others as an adult.He published his first novel, The Archer's Paradox, in 2014 although the germ of the idea was born in a daydream decades before when he was eleven years old. What started as a short story to fill the evenings on a long contract away from home, took on a life of its own and became the Travis Fletcher Chronicles which eventually spanned five books. It still provides embryonic ideas for spin offs and sequels.Although science fiction is his first love, he believes in letting the story take him where it needs to go, rather than pulling it in a direction you want to go, just like real life. Sometimes you end up on a different path to the one you thought you were on. Petra's Story, therefore sits more in the mystery / psychological thriller section of the bookshelf, although there is still a sci-fi element. As with Travis Fletcher, Petra Connell is flawed, out of her depth and afraid of failing, and there is always Chris' dark sense of humour lurking in the background.Writing a book is a daunting prospect, daring to publish it is just scary. If Chris' literary ramblings persuades one more person that they have a story that needs telling, then he will consider that a success.Chris is a father and grandfather and lives in rural East Yorkshire in the UK with his wife, Julie.
