My novel, The Usurper and September 11

I posted this last year, but I thought I would re-post it again.

In my novel, The Usurper, I explore terrorism as part of the novel and who in this fictional universe is actually responsible for starting it/financing it against the United States and everyone else in the world when it begins in the late 1960′s. I decided to have the KGB train various terrorist groups to undermine the western powers, no matter which side they were on, right wing, left wing, or religious terrorism, that way the Soviet Union thinks they can win against their main enemy, the United States.

Eventually, when the Soviet Union collapses in the novel, Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden takes up the training of their own terrorists, but are financed by a trillionare who can’t stand the Americans. I have the World Trade Center attacked in 1993 like they were originally, nothing changes in that regard. Then, I have Tim McVeigh attack the Murrah Building and I explain that he tries to side with Al Qaeda(in the novel), but because he was an American they wouldn’t help him.

On September 11, 2001, I do have the exact same thing happen to the WTC and the Pentagon, but, in my novel I have United Flight 93 turn out differently. The passengers(who have different names in this universe) on board take back control and land in Pittsburgh. Eventually, the President is blamed for the attacks and is accused of making up Osama bin Laden, so that the Department of Homeland Security can be created, and he can have his way. Eventually, that President is executed by forces of the new President. A few chapters later, one of the men who helped take back control of Flight 93, helps leads the resistance against the man who sides with Al Qaeda and is trying to turn the United States into a communist utopia.

In real life, it’s the now 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th. We should remember who our enemies are and not eat each other(Americans) alive because of some stupid disagreements. Instead of attacking each other, we should be focused on defeating the enemy, and we all know who that is.

Featured on Excuse Me, Miss blog

I am featured on the Excuse Me Miss website, and it has a scene from the novel, The Usurper. I have a bunch of scenes I could’ve used, but I went with this one:

Scene: The one aircraft that everyone was searching for was still in the air, and flying over Pennsylvania. Some of the passengers called their relatives from the jetliner, while the hijackers were still trying to turn Flight 93 around, so that the hijackers could fly into either the Capital, or the White House, the passengers on board were doing their best to take back the airplane with the help of the remaining flight crew. One of the men managed to get through to his wife in New Jersey, and said to her, “Hey, Diane, this is Jeff. Our plane has been hijacked; do you know what’s going on?”

“Thank God you’re all right. We had two terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and one on the Pentagon. There are reports that your plane is missing. What’s happening up there?”
“Some Arabic men killed the pilot and co-pilot, and then took over flying the plane. Those of us on board have decided to rush them, and try to wrestle control of the aircraft back from them. Can you call the City, or the State, to tell them what we’re doing and they can inform the Feds. Hopefully, the Air Force won’t shoot us down if they’re looking for us.”

“Ok, I can do that. I’ll pray for you. I love you. Good luck, Jeff.”

“Love you too.”

Jeff hung up his cell phone, and saw that the other men on board the plane were ready to take on the terrorists. They snuck up on the three that were guarding some of the passengers, smashed them on the head hard enough for the terrorists to pass out, and the three flight attendants helped to tie up, and gag the terrorists. Jeff and the others stormed the cabin. They began beating on the terrorists, pulling them out of their seats, while one of the Americans sat down in the pilot’s seat, and started flying the jet. Once they got the terrorists tied up, and gagged, Jeff sat in the co-pilot’s seat, and said to the new pilot while shaking his hand, “I’m glad that’s over with. My name is Jeff Harper by the way.”

“Nice to meet you too, Jeff. I’m Frank Childress, retired Air Force fighter jock. I have never actually flown a commercial airliner before, but, I’m certainly going to try. I turned the transponder back on, and Jeff, do you think you can work the radio?”

Jeff put on the earphones, and heard one of the control towers at one of the airports trying to contact them. He keyed the mike, and said, “This is United Flight 93. We have a situation here, over,”

“Flight 93? It’s good to hear your voice. This is Pittsburgh International Airport; I believe you’re just east of us. Is this the Captain?”

“No, this is Jeff Harper, I’m a passenger, and Frank Childress is currently flying the plane, but, he isn’t the pilot. We had some terrorists try to hijack this aircraft, but, we overpowered them, and now we’re in control. We’d like some instructions.”

“We were afraid that you guys had crashed. Have you heard about the terrorist attacks in New York and in Washington?”

“Yes, we have. Most of us called our loved ones before we took control of the airplane, and they told us. Are there any other hijacked airplanes out there we should know about?” asked Jeff.

“That’s a negative, Flight 93, all commercial aircraft in US airspace has been grounded. There are Air Force jets that are looking for you, and we’ll inform them that you’ve been found. We can guide you in for a landing here, there isn’t any airborne traffic now, so you’ll be able to land immediately. In ten minutes, you should be safely on the ground. We’ll have the FBI, Police, and whatever else we need, get here as fast as they can. Let me talk to Mr. Childress, so we can guide him in.”

The Usurper on Amazon

The perfect blurb for The Usurper

I’ve been struggling with coming up with the perfect blurb for The Usurper. My other two novels, since they were science fiction, were fairly easy to come up with a description. I’ve gone through 4, maybe 5 different product descriptions/blurbs for this novel, mainly because I’m not really happy with any of them. I’m posting the ones I’ve put up, and if anyone who reads this has a suggestion, or a favorite blurb, then please leave a comment.

First Blurb, which has had three different variations of this, but is essentially the same as this one below:
Ever wonder what would happen if our worst fears were realized and we elected someone who was willing to destroy the USA, even if he was destroyed himself? The Usurper is that novel.

The Usurper is a fictional account of what would happen if the Soviet Union and KGB were given the chance to take down the United States from within. They use the American political system, education system, terrorism, and commit environmental disasters to achieve these goals.

The Soviet Union and the KGB refuse to let the purging of communists in the United States government by Senator Joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee deter them. Soviet Premier Khrushchev authorizes the KGB to embark on an ambitious, decades long plan to destroy the United States from within through the corruption of American politicians, the American education system, terrorism, and environmental disasters.

Gary Jackson, the main character, is the fulfillment of the KGB plan to destroy the United States from within. They raise him from birth to hate everything about the United States, indoctrinate him, and introduce him to terrorists across the world, where the KGB dictates all terrorist attacks. When Gary is a teenager, he is sent to the United States, with his fake birth certificate, to assimilate and begin his mission. Nothing will deter his goals of completely and utterly destroying the United States. When the Soviet Union dissolves, he is given a choice, and he decides to continue with the mission. A terrorist organization ends up filling in the gap left by the absent KGB, and they, together with Gary, conspire to destroy everyone in the United States who doesn’t agree with them.

2nd Blurb, which was done by http://www.conservativemonitor.com/blog/?p=220
A new novel by Cliff Ball, The Usurper has an interesting premise. What if the Soviet KGB had been undermining American society for years by destroying our education system, creating environmental disasters, and corrupting our politicians?

Sounds like communist conspiracy theory? Well, it does make good fiction. It is interesting that fiction, in order to hold our interest must have a viable, tangible plot that relates well with reality. It is kind of like the old saw that a good joke must contain a grain of truth.

Cliff Ball’s premise contains a whole lot of possibility for conjecture. There is little doubt that the Soviets were actively working for years to affect U.S. politics. Perhaps they succeeded better than they knew. Exporting communist ideology has definitely had a negative effect on Western society, undermining the work ethic and destroying free markets – resulting in a decline in prosperity for the majority. It is like the Rush used to say, the best way to defeat our economic enemies is to export liberalism to them. The Soviets did that to us.

Yes, the Soviets were defeated by the U.S. economic juggernaut. However, the old Soviets may get the last laugh yet.

3rd blurb:
The KGB and the USSR embarks on a plan to take down the US from within through the use of terrorism. No matter what the terrorists believe, as long as they have a problem with the Western powers and the United States, the KGB backs them, along with a super rich Spaniard who can’t stand the USA. Once the Soviet Union dissolves, Al Qaeda fills in that power vacuum and the inside man that the KGB has who will eventually bring down the US, sides with them, and the US ends up never being the same again. A small group of resistance fighters, led by one of the passengers of United Flight 93(who survive in this novel), aim to take down the now President of the United States.

4th blurb, and the most current version:
The USSR embarks on a plan to destroy the US through the use of terrorism, by backing anyone who has a beef with the USA. Eventually, Al Qaeda fills the power vacuum left by the disappearance of the USSR, and they help the Soviets’ inside man to completely destroy the US. A small group of resistance, led by a survivor of Flight 93, tries to bring down the now terrorist backed President of the US.

What do you think? Which one is the best? Any good suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Goodreads Book Giveaway Winners and other info

The contest has finally ended for readers to win one of two copies of The Usurper on Goodreads.com. I had it go for a month, and ended up with 646 people signing up for the contest. Thank you to everyone who participated, it exceeded my expectations.

The winners that were chosen were: Dan Halperin and Lynnda Ell. I sent out the two copies this morning.

For everyone else, I’m offering a coupon to download the novel for $1, using coupon code FG36V, it’s good until September 4th. Just go here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18734

The paperback edition, now priced at $8.99, but, with coupon code JKJLG2YW, the paperback can be bought for $3.99, since it’s $5 off. Please visit: https://www.createspace.com/3469577

Also check out the group for me on Goodreads

Thanks!

The Usurper, my newest novel

Gary Jackson is the fulfillment of the KGB plan to destroy the United States from within. They raise him from birth to hate everything about the United States, indoctrinate him, and introduce him to terrorists across the world, where the KGB dictates all terrorist attacks. When Gary is a teenager, he is sent to the United States to assimilate and begin his mission. Nothing will deter his goals of completely and utterly destroying the United States. When the Soviet Union dissolves, he is given a choice, and he decides to continue with the mission.

Find out what happens next, as a select few try to stop Gary Jackson.

Paperback, $5 off of $9.99. Use code JKJLG2YW

E-book on Smashwords, 57% off of $3.99, use coupon code SWS75

Kindle for $3.99