Twinkle
by SJ Parkinson
Genre: Science Fiction
160,000 words
The richest man in the world wants to celebrate the July 4th holiday as never before. In a bid to get into the record books, a global fireworks show is staged from orbit. Satellites drop pyrotechnics into the atmosphere, thrilling everyone from the Arctic to the Antarctic with their rich colors and massive explosions in every time zone.
The next day, people around the globe begin to lose their sight. Governments crumble, society degenerates, and infrastructure falls into chaos. Humanity finds itself stumbling in the dark and losing all hope.
A few fortunate individuals retain their vision. Attempting to deal with the growing despair around them, they come together to discover the true purpose and origin of the affliction. They race to find a cure before the world is subjugated under an invading power.
Twinkle is available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon UK.
SJ, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
Twinkle has a dual meaning. It describes the fireworks from space that blind the world while also representing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise desperate situation. I needed a title that was simple, yet had multiple facets. Naming a novel is certainly one of the harder jobs a writer has.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The first character you meet in Twinkle is Sir Marcus Brandon. He’s the richest man in the world yet he has an empty life. His need for adventure and setting world records masks someone who can never get enough attention. That weakness is exploited and billions of people pay the price.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
There are a series of moral questions asked throughout and they form the backdrop of the story. One character with a possible cure goes through several horrific experiences and asks whether mankind deserves to be healed. Some use the situation for their own selfish ends, while others give selflessly.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
SJ Parkinson’s Twinkle begins as a series of seemingly chaotic threads that come together over time to form a tightly woven plot. The interactions of diverse characters against that backdrop create a plausible and entirely believable world. The amount of research evident in this fictional novel is both rare and remarkable taking Twinkle to new heights.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“There’s a little bit of something for everyone in this book, it has science fiction, mystery, thriller, and even some romance. The author has done an AMAZING job of making this book truly believable, and the ending really rocked.”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
http://sjparkinson.com/
