Book Blitz and Giveaway: Crimsy by Michael Martin

Title: Crimsy
Author: Michael Martin

Publisher: Heart Beat Publications
Publication Date: November 9th 2020

Print Length: 387 pages
Genre: New Adult Science Fiction

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A YOUNG SCIENTIST and her research team are thrust into a global battle for control of the greatest discovery in human history: a harmless bacteria that loves frozen saltwater—and lives on Mars.

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After enduring politics, Congress, marsquakes, dust storms, and landslides, PhD-to-be Jen Z and her research team hope their successful, years-long quest to find life on Mars is finally over.

But their biggest fight has just begun.

◆◆◆

“The you-know-what hit the fan when charming but feckless university lawyer Nathaniel Hawthorn showed up in my office. Someone was trying to patent our stupendous find, Crimsococcus halocryophilus.

“A simple microbe I gave a simpler nickname: Crimsy.

“I think it was the trillionaire investors who helped finance our mission, eager to prevent a repeat of the Martian Ground Wars, when every nation on this planet wanted their ‘fair share’ of the Red Planet: the rocks, dust – and fossils – Odysseus brought back. But a foreign space agency, Homeland Security, the Pentagon, even our own NASA might want patent protection, too.

“The patent filings triggered a law we’d never heard of, the Invention Secrecy Act. FBI agents showed up at my apartment, served my research team with cease-and-desist orders. Crimsy was now classified and would stay aboard Deep Space Gateway indefinitely.

“People called us crazy, said we were wasting taxpayer money, refused to believe. But we proved them wrong. And some fantastic developments after MarsMicro brought Crimsy to the space station make studying it on Earth all the more urgent.

“Our money, our jobs, our privacy, our lives. The muckety mucks holding Crimsy hostage control everything.

“But I’m through letting them control me . . . . ” 

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EXCERPT:

I HEARD A NOISE IN the hallway and checked it out. Cute, strange guy, which could mean a few things: a subpoena for Dr. Brando. A reporter who either sneaked into the building or was sent by our guileless Public Information Officer (PIO) on the mistaken notion we were finally ready to talk to the press. Or, as I was about to learn, University of Washington Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property Division.

“Dr. Levitt?” he asked me.

“Uh, no.” Flattery will get you lost around here. “I don’t think she’s in. Can I help you?” 

He handed me a card. “Nathaniel Hawthorn, JD, MBA.” 

I looked at it and smiled. 

“Different spelling,” he said, suggesting he belonged to a club I fancied: The Keepers of Obscure Literary Knowledge. 

“I will get this to her,” I said. “Do you want her to call you?” 

“That’s okay. I may just drop back by.” He looked down at his briefcase. “When is she usually in?” 

“Mornings. Early. You could call or text.” 

He smiled. “Six, seven?” 

“Five.” 

“Five,” he said reluctantly. “Okay.” He started to walk away. “Oh—I never got your name.” 

“Jennifer,” I said. “Dr. Jennifer, some day. But right now, just Jennifer.” 

He smiled, I thought bashfully. So cute.

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