BrightStar Book Announcement
I’m happy to announce the release of my newest novel, “BrightStar.” It’s an action-rich political thriller that starts with a powerful opening and ends with stunning conclusion that already has early readers clamoring for a follow-on book. Along the way, the story weaves its way through the Russia-Ukraine conflict and introduces an innovative technology that helps turn the tide of the war while changing global geopolitics. Check it out—it’s a fast-paced, wild ride of a story with a cast of tight-knit characters who quickly become reader favorites. BONUS: The book’s surprise ending already has readers begging for a sequel. In fact, the story is so controversial (apparently) that Amazon won’t allow me to market the book, because part of the story takes place in Russia. Go figure!
What’s Behind BrightStar?
Imagine a technology that can instantly deploy a high-speed, wireless communications network that cannot be disrupted. Designed for disaster scenarios, but, as readers soon discover, it also serves as a powerful weapon against political disaster—namely, a totalitarian regime that depends on its ability to suppress the media and free press as a way to control the message.
In 1987, my friend and mentor, Tom Vairetta, and I were sitting at a table together in Pacific Bell’s headquarters building in San Ramon, California, drinking coffee and plotting global revolution, or whatever telephone company geeks and bit weenies did when drinking coffee in the company cafeteria. Even then, I was an author, cranking out articles for local magazines and book concepts—although my first published book was still ten years away. One day, Tom and I had a conversation that started with the phrase,’ what if…’ That was in 1986; 36 years later, I released BrightStar.
BrightStar revolves around a fictitious technology that makes it possible to rapidly deploy a high-speed communications network that cannot be disrupted. It’s designed for use in disaster scenarios, but, as readers soon discover, it also serves as a powerful weapon against political disaster—namely, a totalitarian regime that depends on its ability to suppress the media and free press as a way to control the message.
It’s a well-established truth that revolutionaries go out of their way to first control the public media when fomenting revolution. But what if a technology came along that made that impossible, a technology that, when deployed, could instantly establish a wide-area, high-speed network, with zero dependence on ground-based infrastructure? That’s the idea behind BrightStar.
I’ve worked in the telecommunications industry since 1981, and have written more than 30 books about the technologies that underlie our fixed and mobile networks. Somewhere along the way, I came to a realization. These technologies just work—period. And what they really do, what we usually forget they do, is connect people to people, people to opportunity, people to hope, people to their competitive advantage. That’s what matters: who cares how fast a network is; who really cares that I can download an 8K, feature length film in 1.5 seconds? What I really care about is this: If I deploy this technology, how will it create greater human potential? How will it create economic growth? How will it strengthen the power of a free press? How will it make education and healthcare more effective and efficient? How will it empower organizations to achieve competitive advantage? And how will it create more transparent government?
In my two most recent novels, The Nation We Knew and BrightStar, technology plays a key role. Check them out—I guarantee a wild ride! And if you like those, check out my other novel, Inca Gold, Spanish Blood. It’s a great adventure built around SCUBA diving, salvage, treasure hunting, and life-threatening treachery. And, it’s all true.
By the way–I’ll be making an announcement soon about a free book you can get that explains, in detail, the tech behind the BrightStar ecosystem!
Want to Know More About the BrightStar Story?
Jason and Nicky Hardin are brothers, and they’re thick as thieves. Growing up in a household with an abusive military father and a caring mother who tries in vain to shield them from their father’s demons, the boys learn to depend on each other for everything. When Nicky disappears, Jason is devastated. He was Nicky’s protector; Nicky was his world.
Years pass. Regime change is underway in Russia, and Jason’s company has created the most powerful technological ally to freedom and one of the greatest threats to totalitarianism the world has ever seen. The challenger to the brutal Russian regime sees it as the lever he needs to win. It becomes Jason’s job to deploy the technology—in the face of a ruthless government with its back to the wall that will do anything to stop him.
The book ends with a shattering conclusion that makes readers beg for a sequel.
Steven Shepard 