Mystery and suspense on Mars, in "Red Desert"

I can’t help but add mystery and suspense to my stories, even when I write science fiction.

The first book in the Red Desert series, “Point of No Return”, is about Anna’s journey in the Martian desert. But during this journey she recalls events from the past that brought her to be part of the Isis mission. She remembers what she did before leaving Earth, who she left. And about a big secret she’s carrying with her.

That’s about the past. But the present is full of mystery as well. We don’t know why Anna left Station Alpha. We learn some people of the crew have died. But we don’t have a clear idea of what happened in the over 1,000 sols of her staying on the Red Planet. She is there for 1,000 sols now, Martian days, the equivalent of almost 3 Earth years. Already a long time.

But most of all we don’t know what she is looking for. Is she escaping from something or looking for something? Or both?

Well, I can’t say more. You have to read it to find out.

I can just say the novella ends with a cliffhanger, that’s also why I’m publishing the second book so early (1 September). I don’t want the readers to wait too much. Well, readers in Italy had waited more than five months between these two books, so English-speaking ones are luckier.

The second book, “People of Mars”, will give an answer to many of these questions, but also raise more. It’s a novel, so it’s much longer than the first book, and will take you to the heart of the story, filling some holes in your knowledge of the past events, but also showing you what happens next.

Mars will also play a bigger role in the story.

“Red Desert - Point of No Return” is on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, Barnes & Noble (also Nook UK), Google Play, and Smashwords at only $0.99. You can also read it on Oyster and Scribd.

“Red Desert - People of Mars” is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and iTunes at only $1.99. It will also be available for pre-order on Kobo and Nook UK in a few days, while you’ll find it on Smashwords, Oyster, and Scribd starting from 1 September 2014.

The prices are referred to Amazon.com; they can be slightly different in the other Amazon stores according with the local currencies and taxes.