LOCAL DALLAS FANTASY AUTHOR KEVIN MCGILL LAUNCHES BOOK INTO SPACE
FRIDAY, APRIL 20th, 2012
(DALLAS, TX) On April 20th, local Dallas author Kevin McGill launched his teen fantasy, Nikolas and Company: The Merman and The Moon Forgotten, into space. As part of his April 14th publication, Kevin built a high altitude balloon system equipped with a HD GoPro camera and a mount for the book. He sent it into near space, which is 100,000 feet into the air.
A video of the high altitude flight can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZQX6Er5Zi8
A downloadable video file can be found here: http://kevinmcgill.wordpress.com/space-launch-media-page/
Images for download can be found here: http://kevinmcgill.wordpress.com/space-launch-media-page/
First two chapters of The Merman and The Moon Forgotten can be downloaded here:
https://www.box.com/s/908356eb87f94f695adf
Entire book can be downloaded here:
Kevin explains his motivation for this fun launch:
"In the near future, the fourteen-year-old hero, Nikolas, discovers that our moon is the cradle of all magical civilization. In order to travel there, Nikolas and company have to launch and ride a shuttle to Moon. Launching my book into near space seemed like a no-brainer, and frankly, fun."
Kevin McGill will release further books in the Nikolas & Company series throughout 2012. The first book, The Merman and the Moon Forgotten, will be commemorated with its launch into space attached to a weather balloon. The National Weather Service Office under NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) notes on its website: "The balloon flights last for around 2 hours, can drift as far as 125 miles away, and rise up to over 100,000 ft. (almost 20 miles) into the atmosphere."
A contest encourages people to estimate the book's total distance traveled from launch to landing, and the winner will receive a Kindle Fire. The contest may be entered at this website, http://nikolasandcoepisode2free.weebly.com/space-book-launch-contest.html.
McGill was inspired to write at a young age. A voracious reader, he was always on the hunt for dynamic storytelling. "I was looking for greater imagery and better storytelling," he explained. "The best books capture and drive a reader's imagination and their ability to visualize the story firsthand." With automaton-legged mermen and winged, fire-breathing lions, Nikolas & Company delivers fantastic settings, creatures, and possibilities. The cover design by graphic artist Carlyle McCullough is a great representation of the Nikolas & Company's world-building.
McGill co-founded a podcast called Guys Can Read (GCR) two years ago when he and former college roommate, Luke Navarro, were discussing books they loved. McGill said, "We realized there wasn't a podcast at that time where men were discussing books--so we decided to start one." The program is a weekly book discussion and podcast from a guy's perspective. The GCR website features recently read books and recommended books, as well as best-selling authors such as R. A. Salvatore and Daniel H. Wilson.
Kevin McGill grew up in Merced, California and graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2001. He resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife.
WHO Dallas author Kevin McGill
WHAT Book launch into space via weather balloon.
Book title:
Nikolas & Company: The Merman and the Moon Forgotten
WHY
1. Launch into space of fantasy book about 14 year-old boy-hero who leads his friends on a journey through space.
2. To promote literacy through promotion of the book release and the author's work with weekly podcasts at Guys Can Read (GuysCanRead.com)
WHERE 3404 West Lawther, Dallas, Texas 75214
White Rock Lake
WHEN 2:00 PM, Friday, April 20, 2012
Post a Comment