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Some Kind Of Angel
Forensic Doctor
Sneetz scrambles for his life, his family and country to bring a terrorist with
an invivcible WMD to justice and save civilization. BUY ONLINE
www.bn.com;www.amazon.com;www.iUniverse.com TELEPHONE 1-800-AUTHORS EMAIL
melvinmharter@gmail.com BOOKSTORES Ask for ISBN 978-0-595-47750-0 WEBSITE &
MOVIE www.somekindofangel.com
Friday, April 11, 2008
Some Kind Of Angel - A Sneetz and
Muldoon Thriller
Sci Fi, Med-Legal Adventure
To View Video Clip
Click on Website Link Below
www.somekindofangel.com
Posted by Some Kind of Angel at 9:49 AM
12 comments:
Erskine
"Rick" Adam said...
Mel.
I just finished your book. I really liked the non-stop action. Good story. Good
characters. I just wish that it was a little longer.
I can’t wait for your next book.
Rick Adam
Some Kind of Angel said...
REVIEW BY NOTHINGBINDING.com
Some Kind of Angel is a book that is most difficult to describe adequately. The
story line is fascinating in that the murder weapon is a brief stage of nuclear
fission initiated by a program inserted into the victim’s computer. When
triggered, it causes a deadly genetic mutation with instantaneous death, but
leaves no traces. The story builds from a few cases in widely dispersed, mostly
remote areas, to a letter to the President of the United States threatening
wide-spread devastation, if demands are not met. These demands are to allow the
acts of the Almighty and nature’s law of survival of the fittest to continue
unabated, instead of interfering. The hero is a brilliant physician who was a
cardiologist and surgeon who lost a thumb and now solves strange murder cases.
Washington recruits him to help find the perpetrator. He is married and his
pregnant wife also becomes threatened.
With respect to the mechanics of the story: bits of basic medical knowledge
pertinent to the story are adequate (the author is a physician). The hero is
vehemently anti-gun but finally is forced by his accomplices to carry one,
supposedly after finally receiving some basic training. Dialogue and action
surrounding their use and availability exhibit the fact that the author
probably has the same sentiments – they do not ring completely true to
knowledgeable persons. From varying small descriptions of the hero and his
wife, it seems impossible to solidify a mental picture of the characters. The publisher
was not particularly diligent with the proofing.
In summary, the mechanical oversights described are annoying, but the story
otherwise is a most interesting read.
John H. Manhold
Some Kind of Angel said...
EDITORIAL REVIEW, iUNIVERSE
The storyline is compelling and keeps the reader interested and engaged. Most
of the main characters are multidimensional and there are several moments of
charm and light comedy, touching scenes of marital tenderness, astute
observations, interesting scientific theories, and exciting chases and
action-adventure sequences to keep the reader moved and entertained. The plot
is unique and memorable.
All in all, Some Kind of Angel is a very enjoyable read.
Some Kind of Angel said...
REVIEW BY JESSICA ROBERTS FOR BOOKPLEASURES.com
Some Kind of Angel is a thriller written by Melvin M. Harter, a retired doctor
with many years of experience in the medical-legal arena. Recently widowed,
Harter has two sons and four grandchildren and lives in Palm Springs,
California where he can be found writing his next book.
This novel tells the tale of mass murders, which leaves the United States
government feeling threatened - especially as they are held to ransom. Help
seems to be at hand when forensic doctor, Gilbert "Sneetz" Schnetele
and journalist, Albert Muldoon, are told to track down and put a stop to the
impending threats.
Yet something about these murdered victims becomes apparent - they appear to be
mummified victims. This seems to be the method the terrorists use in covering
up their crimes and giving no clue as to how these people died. Sneetz is
puzzled and has no clue to many of the questions that are forth-coming.
One thing is becoming clearer however, and that is Sneetz and her companion
Muldoon are in a terrifying race against time to save the country from disaster
as the deadline approaches.
The characters are quite believable and I think from this point of view, Harter
has done a great job. Some authors have characters that are rather like
cardboard cut-outs - wooden and quite fixed. These however are brought to life
and I found myself actually feeling for them.
As for the storyline, I found it in some places very boring. The dialogue
seemed to drag on and not much action happened - or simply not enough for me
anyway. I found most of the story went from Los Angeles and San Francisco, back
and forth back and forth. While I criticize this part of it, I do find Harter
has a lovely way with words.
Sentences seemed to pop out at me and flowed at a nice pace. One of my
favourites is: “The sea sucked up the city’s daylight in exchange for chilly
shadows of fog. The dank mist smelled as musty as a cellar”. This author
certainly has a keen eye for detail. I think if you’ve not read many forensic
thrillers or even go for them, this one could be worth reading.
I wouldn’t so much say this is a “cliff-hanging pursuit” as the blurb promises,
but it still might be worth a shot or two.
To Purchase Some Kind of Angel (A Sneetz and Muldoon Thriller) www.Amazon.com
or any online bookstore. Telephone 1-800-AUTHORS
Some Kind of Angel said...
REVIEW FOR BLOGGER NEWS NETWORK BY SIMON BARRETT
It is that time of year where you want to stock up on some books to read while
on your summer vacation. Some Kind Of Angel might be one to put on your list.
Melvin Harter is a retired doctor and Some Kind Of Angel is his debut into the
wild world of books. In this book we get acquainted with his main characters
Sneetz and Muldoon, and I suspect that we are going to see more of this duo in
future books.
Gilbert ‘Sneetz’ Schnetele is a retired heart surgeon, retired due to a DIY
home improvement problem that involved a power saw lopping off a valuable
digit. Unable to wield a scalpel he has become a legal/medical consultant
evaluating ‘on the job’ injuries.
Albert Muldoon is an aging weather worn journalist who has seen it all. Young
enough to have faced the wrath of McCarthyism, old enough to have survived and
thrived. Thrived to the extent that now retired he officially just writes
books, unofficially he is part of the Presidents inner circle.
A series of multiple killing across the globe occur, there seems to be no
connection, but all share some strange similarities, there are no signs of a
struggle, the bodies are in perfect, almost mummified condition, and death
seems to have been instantaneous.
The mystery deepens and takes a much more sinister turn when the President
receives what is tantamount to a ransom demand, pull out of Iraq, and
everywhere else there is a US armed forces presence, or face mass murder close
to home in Washington DC.
With no idea what the weapon of mass destruction is, or how it has been
delivered, they are in a quandary.
Sneetz meanwhile has been retained to look at a death on the job case, a young
janitor at a remote Air Force research lab is dead, yet there seems to be no
reason for the death. It is by his poking around that he comes to the attention
of the US government, and in particular Muldoon. Sneetz is brought into the
very close knit family fighting the unknown terrorist group.
What will they find? How will they defeat an unknown adversary?
Well, you can find out by getting your own copy from Amazon, or by checking out
Melvin Harter’s web site.
At 160 pages this is a very quick read, it certainly moves right along though,
and there is action on every page. If I had a criticism, it likely would be the
length, the plot line is rich, and I think the book could have been another 100
pages longer, in order to explore some of the subplots in greater detail. Book
length is a really hard call to make, it is so dependent on the richness of the
plot, but this book has that! Some authors on the other hand waffle on until
you are ready to disembowel yourself with a plastic butter knife, Tom Clancy is
probably the worst offender with his absolutely unreadable Executive Orders, it
could have been written in 250 pages and been a fun read, instead he produced a
1000 pages of boring techno yawn.
I am looking forward to more Melvin Harter, he has his feet wet now, and I
think the future looks bright. As the Shania Twain song says “Up, Up, Up”.
Simon Barrett
http://zzsimonb.blogspot.com
Some Kind of Angel said...
FROM BLOGGERNEWS.NET
Book Review: Some Kind Of Angel by Melvin M. Harter
A thriller that's a perfect summertime read and a promising writing debut that
introduces us to two protagonists, Sneetz and Muldoon, who must track down a
terrorist before he unleashes his fury on Washington, D.C.
Some Kind of Angel said...
From blogfgernews.net
Book Review: Some Kind Of Angel by Melvin M. Harter — A thriller that's a
perfect summertime read and a promising writing debut that introduces us to two
protagonists, Sneetz and Muldoon, who must track down a terrorist before he
unleashes his fury on Washington, D.C
Some Kind of Angel said...
FROm jumpcut.net
Some Kind of Angel is a past-paced story of how a man's heroism is revealed
when, under tremendous personal pressure, he makes choices and takes actions
contrary to his own avowed values.
Some Kind of Angel said...
FROM zango.com
Some Kind of Angel is a fast-paced story of how a mans heroism is revealed
when, under tremendous personal pressure, he makes choices and takes actions
contrary to his own avowed values.
Some Kind of Angel said...
A gripping political thriller, with a brilliant plot which fans
of the genre will love.
Review By Midwest Book Review., August 13, 2008
Genocide on a wide scale throughout the planet, and a blackmailed president.
"Some Kind of Angel: A Sneetz and Muldoon Thriller" follow a forensic
doctor and investigative journalist as they try to solve the mystery of why
millions of people have been dropping dead. They must also disarm the weapon
that the terrorists hold over the president of the United States before it's
too late! A deadline from the terrorists quickly approaches and Sneetz and
Muldoon must find a way to save their beloved nation and liberty from going the
way of the dodo. "Some Kind of Angel" is a gripping political
thriller, with a brilliant plot which fans of the genre will love
Some Kind of Angel said...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to
have as our guest, Melvin M. Harter who is a retired physician and author of
Some Kind of Angel.
Mel specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and
disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel.
Good day Melvin and thanks for participating in our interview
Mel:
Good day, Norm. Thanks for asking me. And, oh. Please call me “MEL." I
reserve Melvin for business because it’s my true given legal name AND for my
mother because she seemed to like it.
Norm:
I believe this is your first published novel, what inspired you to write your
first book and what did you like most about writing the book?
Mel:
Some Kind of Angel is my first published novel, not the first book I’ve
written. There is a children’s fantasy and a full-length screen play about
cults and there was an illustrated audiotape program informing patients about
surgery they were advised to have; a kind of informed consent tool while I was
still practicing medicine. There were also self help manuals I gave to my
patients.
What inspired me to write Some Kind of Angel? Working many years evaluating
disability mostly within the California Workers’ Compensation system, I
first-hand witnessed fraud and greed on all sides: plaintiff and defendants. I
fought it as I could with truth as I saw it, So there are good stories to be
written about corrupted and greedy employees (working folks,) employers from
mom and pop candy stores to giant corporations and government. There are potentially
bigger thrillers yet to be written than we ever read or saw at the movies and
on TV. Talk about fudging; I didn’t mention the insurance companies that pay
all the bills with collected premiums.) And some job descriptions would make
your stomach pull toffee.
Norm:
Could you briefly tell our readers something about Some Kind of Angel?
Mel:
Forensic Doctor Sneetz scrambles against the clock for his life, family and
country to bring a home-grown terrorist with an invincible WMD to justice and
save civilization from anarchy. By making choices contrary to his fundamental
belief system, while under harrowing pressure, he becomes a true hero.
Norm:
Where did you get your information and ideas for your novel?
Mel:
As I said earlier, working for years as a specialist in the field of Workers’
Compensation evaluating cause and percentage of disability working people
sustained on the job, I grew to know my main characters very well and they
demanded of me thrilling events that could only be accomplished in broad
stroked fiction; in a kind of fantasy sci-fi setting.. So lots of the ideas
really came out of my imagination – a kind of comic book approach.
Norm:
What was your main focus when you created your protagonist?
Mel:
I wanted to recreate myself as a younger, smarter, nicer, kinder doctor, a good
man, good citizen and true patriot.
Norm:
How did you come up with the title Some Kind of Angel?
Mel:
It’s a play on the name on one of the important characters. I wanted it short,
relevant and a bit baffling.
Norm:
What do you see as the influences on your writing?
Mel:
I’m very much influenced the corrupt and greedy world I live in. And the worst
greed and corruption emanate from the high government and corporate leaders.
There’s also genocide, terrorism, Jihads, Crusades and Inquisitions. Torture,
in any hands makes me sick.
Norm:
Did you learn anything from writing your first novel and what was it? If you
had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your first novel?
Mel:
1. Research is always required, even in fantasy.
2. Editing is very hard work that is never finished.
3. Self discipline, a must
4. Describe places and people well without a lot of narration, lectures or
chronicles. “SHOW, DON’T TELL!
5. Action grabs readers and there should be action relevant to the theme and
plot in every scene.
If I had it to do again, I’d put back some terrific back story I took out. I’d
expand on description. I’d probably bring in the villain earlier in the story.
Norm:
What do you think makes a good story?
Mel:
A good story must hook a drag the reader. The reader must care about the
protagonist and the antagonist, either positively or negatively. The reader must
feel satisfied that she has had a worthwhile emotional experience she can
relate to. If she learns something useful, that’s a bonus. Gratuitous sex and
violence may sell books, bur the more there is, the worse the story. On the
other hand, Meaningful sex and violence presented seriously, artistically can
enhance the story a lot.
Norm:
What has been your overall experience as a published author?
Mel:
From editing your book to promotion of yourself and your product, it’s hard
work. The competition is fierce. I feel like I’m running a hardware store but
have no inventory other than one size of nail.
To become recognized as a good author, associate with good authors.
People treat me like a celebrity. That part’s fun!
Norm:
What made you decide to use a video book trailer in the promotion of your book
and how effective has it been? As a follow up, could you tell us more about the
process of creating a video trailer for your book?
Mel:
My marketing/PR consultants strongly recommended a one minute video clip for my
website and to disseminate across the internet. They had connections with one
or two firms that do videos. I opted to have my nephew, Charles Schrewsbury,
whom I think has the skill, talent and the necessary equipment, do the visuals
according to a script I wrote for such use..I think it came out pretty good and
is now on YouTube, MySpace and other sites as well as my website
www.somekindofangel.com I don’t know how much it contributed to sales. Early
figures are just beginning to come in., but Charles and I have had many
compliments.
Norm:
How can our readers find out more about you and your book and what is next for
Melvin Harter?
Mel:
Check out my blog, melvinmharter.blogspot.com. There are a few nice reviews
there. My website and the book jacket have short biographical sketches. Since
we started promoting Some Kind of Angel, lots of information has been showing
up on a Google or Yahoo search of my name and the book title.
I will respond to specific questions if anyone wants to email me at
melvinmharter@gmail.com .
I’ve had a pretty full, satisfying and rich life, received the usual honors:
Diplomat, Am. Board of Internal Med.; Fellow, Am College of Physicians;
President of local American Heart Chapter; Am. Geriatric Soc.;. California
Association of Industrial Physician and Surgeons and Medical School teaching
appointments at Chicago Medical School, Northwestern University Medical School,
the Veteran’s Administration and UCLA. I served with honor as a medical officer
in the U.S. Navy.
Greatest achievement: I raised two boys to be absolute stars (Wife helped.)
Next? A sequel to Some Kind of Angel. I have two great plots in mind for Sneetz
and Muldoon to deal with and I plan to start very soon. I’m writing a musical
comedy, held up by Sneetz’s need for me right now. I’m doing an anthology of
poems and a few memoirs.
Norm:
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.
Some Kind of Angel said...
FROM CHARLOTTE GUSAY LITERARY AGENCY:
I thought your book was extremely creative and engaging from the very start. It
is smart and obviously well researched. Your characters are carefully drawn and
almost jump from the page, which is impressive. I'll get right out in the mail.
I would definitely encourage you to continue to look for an agent, as I feel
the
book has incredible potential. I would like nothing more than for you to find
representation, even if it's not with us.
Very sincerely,
Sarah Carter
Editorial Assistant,
The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency
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About Me
Melvin M. Harter
I am so happy and blessed to have a second career that I love,
writing.
View my complete profile
Mel, It's
the most gripping story I've read in years--a masterpiece of its kind. Chapter
11 was one of my favorites, and in Chapter 31, when Peetie was having her baby,
I discovered my eyes brimming with tears. What kind of wizard are you?
Blessings! Rita P.S. Great figures of speech, too.
P.S. What a suspenseful movie it could be!
Posted by Some Kind of Angel at 12:06 PM
1 comments:
Some Kind of Angel said...
Email Message From a Fan, Dorothy Hunter,London, England:
"...after reading it I feel I must congratulate you, indeed you have a new
career. The book did move at a great pace and was a bit worrying, hope
computers are not really that suspect!"
Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
About Me
Melvin M. Harter
I am so happy and blessed to have a second career that I love,
writing.
View my complete profile
Mel, It's
the most gripping story I've read in years--a masterpiece of its kind. Chapter
11 was one of my favorites, and in Chapter 31, when Peetie was having her baby,
I discovered my eyes brimming with tears. What kind of wizard are you?
Blessings! Rita P.S. Great figures of speech, too.
P.S. What a suspenseful movie it could be!
Posted by Some Kind of Angel at 12:06 PM
1 comments:
Some
Kind of Angel said...
Email Message From a Fan, Dorothy Hunter,London, England:
"...after reading it I feel I must congratulate you, indeed you have a new
career. The book did move at a great pace and was a bit worrying, hope
computers are not really that suspect!"
Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
About Me
Melvin M. Harter
I am so happy and blessed to have a second career that I love,
writing.
View my complete profile
Hi Mel,
Thanks for a great interview! The feature is live on our site. Here
are the links:
Review: http://www.book-club-queen.com/book-club-suggestion-2.html
Interview: http://www.book-club-queen.com/reading-group-guides.html
Feature Box: http://www.book-club-queen.com/book-club-ideas.html
Please email me back with the URL where I can find at least one of these links
permanently placed from your website to ours.
It's been a pleasure working with you and take care!
Desiree
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 7:10 PM, Mel Harter <melharter@cox.net>
wrote:
Some Kind of Angel Interview with Melvin Harter
1. The back of your book states that you are "a retired doctor
with years of experience in the medical-legal arena." How closely
related to your own life is Sneetz's story?
Sneetz is a younger version of me. He was obliged
to seek another career after the tragic loss of his thumb forced him out of a
brilliant profession in surgery. I was not "forced" out of my private
practice of Internal Medicine. I sold my practice to my very eager young
partner at a time it became more difficult to practice freely (without
insurance company interference) that caused higher overhead expense as fee
collections fell. Also I had been "on call" (24 hour availability) an
average of every third day and every third weekend for decades. I was
introduced to disability evaluation and rating by a retired LAPD Police Board
Officer turned private lawyer who had liked my reports of retirement
evaluations of policemen which I had done for many years. He referred twelve
policemen with toxic injuries sustained working at huge chemical warehouse
fire. I loved learning the new "trade." Incidentally, this
incident set up the plot of my next "Sneetz and Muldoon
Thriller," a work in progress.
2. How much truth is there to "RXT-2 gene abnormalities" and
"death by inability of red blood cells to carry oxygen?" Would
this really leave a person mummified?
Some Kind of Angel is science-fiction! It is meant to be thrilling, not
factual. I see this book as broad-stroked depiction of comic book proportions.
The only yes is death by blocking oxygen transportation by red blood
cells as in Carbon Monoxide poisoning. As for the rest, Buck Rogers rode rocket
ships long before the development of space exploration and Captain Nemo sailed
deeply underwater before submarines came to be. So, who knows? Maybe the future
will make me a soothsayer.
3. Terrorism is a huge fear in the heart of all the World's citizens
in this day and age. Does the idea of a weapon of mass destruction
attacking through a computer have much ground in reality?
I refer you to my response to question 2, above.
4. Here's an offhand but definitely curious question, why does Sneetz
say "cheezola?" What is the significance of that phrase?
I wanted my hero to have some odd trait so people
would remember him and the book. The word itself is a childish, comic book
deformation of the exclamation "Oh, Jesus!"
5. I assume Sneetz is somewhere in his early 40s. He seems, from
life experience and from some of his personality traits, to be much
older. How did his character develop?
I refer you to my reply to your first question. He
is distinctly above average in just about everything—except operating a power
saw.
6. This book obviously lends itself to a series with Sneetz and Muldoon as
the stars. Where can we expect to see them in the future? Can you share
with us any information about your current projects?
One Hollywood movie maker
who reviewed my novel suggested it is made for a cable TV series and suggested
some producers. He said he'd love to cast my characters.
My current projects?
· Sequel to Angel.
· A very much fun musical comedy.
· Love poems.
· Coping with recent move from hot, hot desert to
perfect climated Santa Barbara.
· Coping with loss of a fabulous spouse who
simply can't be replaced as I wander about in search of a new companion. (No
applications, please! The process is coming along just fine, about right on
schedule.
Thank you Melvin!
Working to promote sales of Angel feels like
operating a hardware store that carries only one sized nail.
I prefer to be called Mel.
Melvin M.Harter
Author of Terrorist Thriller
SOME KIND OF ANGEL
click link for
website, movie, and blog
www.somekindofangel.com
From: Book Club Queen [mailto:bookclubqueen@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:51 PM
To: melharter@cox.net
Cc: Paula Krapf
Subject: From Book Club Queen, Interview
for Some Kind of Angel
Hi Melvin,
Happy New Year! Let me first say thank you for your patience as we've
worked hard over the past month to catch up on our December schedule. I
hope you had a wonderful holiday season!
Attached please find the interview for Some Kind of Angel. I've sent it
in an MS Word document. Please feel free to answer with as much detail as
you like (no answer is too long!) and also to add any appropriate follow up
Q/As if you feel necessary.
I look forward to your responses!
--
Desiree, aka Queenie D
www.book-club-queen.com
