Saturday, April 13, 2013

HISTORY JUST MAY REPEAT ITSELF ...


A paint-worn VW bug sputters it way along LA’s Sunset Blvd. Highly ornate gates intermingle with lush foliage as Joanna passes the final elusive mansion. She turns right into a paved coral driveway. A highly polished gold L reflects from the early morning sun and temporarily blinds her. She rolls down the window and presses the buzzer.

“I’m here,” she says. Her tone less than thrilled.

The gate opens as if an invisible hand brushes the coal, black iron to the side.

She shifts into gear and accelerates. A great fart of smoke blasts out from the tailpipe and she propels forward down a winding drive. Ancient maple trees umbrella overhead and shade the thousands of bright pink New Guinea impatiens, edging the road.

As she pulls up to the three-story coral stone mansion memories of her childhood flash through her mind. Countless holidays she had spent here, forced to entertain the rich. So what if I had talent. I hated every minute of those guitar and voice lessons.

She breaks, and a rusty squeak plays a high C. She steps out, dreading the inevitable, and climbs each stair as more images flood her mind with unpleasant memories. 

Pulling in a deep breath, she presses the glowing ringer. The haunting sound of Westminster chimes echo within the entry. An aged hand fights the heavy oak door, but wins the battle. Smiling, a weathered face with bright, shiny eyes, meet Joanna’s. 

“Good morning, Miss,” he croaks. “It has been too long.”

Joanna fights the urge to wrap her arms around the gentle butler. He had always been kind to her. “Yes, Geoffrey. It has.”

“Eight years now. Is it not?” 

Joanna studies his beaming face. Deeper lines had etched into his skin, adding softness to his angular features. “Yes.” She smiled. “The years have been kind to you.”

“Thank you, Miss. Please follow me. He is waiting for you on the back patio.”

“Thanks, Geoffrey. I know the way. I’ll see you later.” Joanna buttons her lab coat, tucks a loose hair behind her ear, and ever so slowly heads down the a vast hall. 

With each ten or so steps, visuals of the late, great Sean Lyon plasters the white-washed walls. Her stomach lurches as she glances at the final picture. The frame is different than the others.  She cringes at the image of her teenage self holding a vintage guitar embossed with a platinum L. Nice try. You’re losing your touch ... like that’s a going to change my mind. 

She continues down another corridor and through the French doors. She spots a man hiding behind a Rollingstone magazine. As she approaches the silver in his hair is more prominent and overpowers what little black remains. 

Joanna stands tall and clears her throat. The man lowers the magazine and his eyes Ex-ray her from top to bottom. He shakes his head. “Such a waste. A scientist no less. With the blood of Sean Lyon coercing through your veins.”

“Don’t start, uncle. You know I hate everything about the music industry.”

“You have such talent Joanna.”

“It’s your dream ... not mine. What do you want?”

He continues taking in her appearance. His eyes linger on the lab coat and remains silent.

“I was shocked when your secretary called me. You cut me out of you life ages ago. Remember?”

“Such hostility. I had no choice. But ... that’s ancient history. Your obsession with science will be useful to me now.”

“It’s always about you, isn’t it?”

“It’s about our family,” he growled. “And whether you like it or not, Joanna, you are part of this family.” He locks his eyes on hers. “I want to clone Sean Lyon.”

Joanna’s jaw drops ...



Will Joanna take part in her uncle’s lunacy? And if so, what will be the consequences? So many questions ...


SO few answers ...



Until now ...

SANDRA ULBRICH ALMAZON’S, Lyon’s Legacy.


Available as an ebook from Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords; in paperback from Createspace and Amazon; and as an audiobook from Amazon.


Now this is one freakish story. Time travel, cloning, mysterious ancestry. I’m hooked. Aren’t you? Sandra certainly has a compelling premise with this story. I certainly got caught up in the intro, I apologize for it’s length, but for some odd reason I needed to build up this story. I hope you enjoyed my interpretation.

Thanks for stopping by everyone and have a great weekend!


27 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The book surprised me this time! Sandra's was a good choice. So sad she would now hate the music...

Natalie Aguirre said...

Love the cover for this and your "a great fart of smoke" description. You definitely have a way with words.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Thanks for featuring Lyon's Legacy, Michael! The actual opening is different, but I enjoyed seeing what you did with the premise. I particularly liked the house and the uncle.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Again, a marvelous opening. Sad, her death of her love for music. Intriguing premise. :-)

Unknown said...

Captivating beginning
Music/ cloning
science/ fiction

Happy A to Z

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Any story about cloning people gets a little creepy so of course I want to read it.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Wonderful intro, and the stor sounds really good!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Oh Oh another book I read and reviewed! Lyon's Legacy was so good the way Sandra did the whole time travel thing but really it wasn't time travel because it was a different place and how her main character ended up pregnant in the end. So mind-bending.

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

Interesting, might have to pick this one up. Sounds great.

mooderino said...

Sounds cool. A story with a bit of everything.

cleemckenzie said...

I haven't read a story about cloning yet. This might just be the one I'll have to look into.

It kind of creeps me out, even the sheep cloning did, but I'm fascinated with the idea anyway.

Carol Kilgore said...

Lots of interesting stuff going on here. Great job, Michael.

Unknown said...

Wow, there is so much going on in the book. Thanks for the look.

JJ said...

Good intros are so important. This one does the trick!

Stina said...

I'm so glad none of my uncles were like Joanna's. Though they might have been more interesting if they had been. :D

Laura Eno said...

Love the intro, Michael! I'm hooked. That's one spooky-sounding story (and spooky uncle)!

Kimberly Gabriel said...

Ooh - clones. Sounds intriguing! Another great intro! Hope you're enjoying the weekend. ;)

Carrie Butler said...

Dun, dun, dunnnnnnn! ;)

Michelle Wallace said...

You really, really captured my imagination with this one... sounds like it's filled with a variety of elements... something for everybody...

Writer In Transit

Trisha said...

Ooh, sounds like an intriguing plot! Thanks for sharing!

If it's related to music too then that's a bonus for me!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Hi Michael, I really have been been enjoying your enticing cover reveals and summaries, although I don't always comment. The first few I read I thought, 'Hmmm, this doesn't sound like Michael, is he okay?' Until I realized what was going on LOL.

Anonymous said...

I'm always a sucker for time travel stories -- and clones. Another mighty fine intro, Michael!

Julie Flanders said...

Wow, this one sounds totally awesome and is new to me. Thanks for giving me another book to add to my TBR list. :)

Unknown said...

Great story, thanks for sharing

VR Barkowski said...

Whoa, that was the last thing I expected! I love a story that surprises. Very impressive, Michael. Sandra's book sounds marvelous.


~VR Barkowski

Kristen said...

This sounds awesome! I just put it on my wishlist. I got my quota for the month, so I'll have to wait a bit. :)

#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

What a great twist! I'd love to get my hands on this one for sure. :)