Author Biff Mitchell Enters Olympic Level Triathlon to Research Novel
Biff Mitchell swims, bikes and runs to research the sequel to his novel “The War Bug”.
(PRWEB) June 8, 2005 -- “If I survive the training, then I just might finish
the triathlon,” said author Biff Mitchell, who hopes to complete an Olympic
level triathlon to research a chapter in the sequel to his best selling ebook
“The War Bug”, which is hitting bookstores in paperback this October.
The
event Mitchell entered is the Duncan Hadley Triathlon to be held at Killarney
Lake in New Brunswick, Canada, on July 10, one month after his fifty-eighth
birthday. “It’s a 1500 meter swim,” said Mitchell. “Followed by a 40 kilometer
bike ride and a 10 kilometer run. I don’t plan to break any records. I’ll be
happy to finish, alive.”
Mitchell has been training daily for the event.
“I usually swim 2 to 3 kilometers a couple times a week,” he said. “But I only
started running and biking again a few weeks ago. My legs are just beginning to
get used to the training, so I suppose my chances of living through this are
improving every day.”
Mitchell’s novel “The War Bug” (ISBN:
1-55404-248-8), originally scheduled for release in June, has been postponed at
the author’s request till October 2005 after research revealed that the summer
months are the worst of the year for book sales. “I had visions of sitting in an
empty bookstore ready to sign books while everyone was at the beach,” said
Mitchell.
Set 200 years in the future, the “The War Bug” revolves around
Abner Hayes, who has just hours to save his virtual family from death at the
hands of a ruthless kidnapper. His only ally is a deadly computer virus
responsible for a virtual war that's killed millions and threatens to destroy
the Internet from Earth to Jupiter.
“The sequel takes place 100 years
after the first novel,” said Mitchell. “And it’s a reversal of the original
plot. Hayes daughter, Cassie, has to save her father with help from the same
computer virus that aided her father.”
One of the key scenes in the novel
is an online triathlon that pits humans against virtual athletes. “I plan to
develop the themes of humanness and intelligent programs that I touched on in
‘The War Bug’,” said Mitchell. “And what better way to do it than with an event
that tests your mind, body and spirit.”
“I want this scene to be as
realistic as possible,” said Mitchell. “And the best way to do that is
experience an actual triathlon, training and all.”
Mitchell’s training
regimen begins at 7:00 AM each morning with various combinations of running,
swimming, biking, stretching and strength-building exercises. “Last Saturday, I
biked 40 kilometers and ran five,” said Mitchell. “The next day, I was going to
run 10 kilometers, but my legs had other ideas. I ran five.”
Deron
Douglas from Double Dragon Publishing – Mitchell’s publisher – said, “We don’t
normally ask our writers to risk their lives selling their books, but after
looking at Biff’s sales figures for this month, we’ve given him the green
light.”
“I love publishers with a sense of humor,” said Mitchell. “I
think that’s why I prefer the independents.”
Mitchell is guarded about
the name of his sequel. “It’s the perfect name for this particular novel and I’m
afraid that if I even say it out loud, some other writer will pick up on it and
use it.”
This October, the trade paperback version of "The War Bug" will
premiere throughout North America. In the United States, bookstores and
libraries can order the title from Ingram or Baker & Taylor, or in Canada
from Double Dragon Publishing. Mitchell plans to finish the sequel sometime in
2006.
Details on the triathlon, along with pictures of the route, will be
posted at www.biffmitchell.com over the next few weeks. He’s also begun
posting daily training entries on his blog at http://biffmitchelldotblog.blogspot.com.
About Biff
Mitchell
Biff Mitchell is the author of the world’s first laundromance,
"Heavy Load" (biffmitchell.com). His second novel, "Team Player" (coming from
Double Dragon Publishing in 2006), is a spoof on the IT industry, based largely
on his own work experience. He has two novellas, "The Baton" and "Smoke Break,"
published as Dollar Downloads by Echelon Press.
Contact
Information:
Thom Glen
Email: e-mail protected from spam bots
506-455-3678
Web Site: www.biffmitchell.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb248662.htm