Please welcome Morgan Mandel to the blog today as she shares an excerpt from her latest book, as well as some background on the Fountain of Youth.Today is my day to post on The Blood Red Pencil, where I blogged about mystery book awards.
This excerpt is from Chapter Five – From the heroine, Dorrie Donato’s point of view, as she listens to Roman Remington’s spiel.
“This time, ladies and gentlemen, I’ve discovered something far more valuable than anything I’ve offered in the past. What I have in my possession, which I’m willing to share, will make every health aid obsolete. Forget about growing old, with all its debilitations. From now on, you can possess the power to regain your lost youth and become whatever age you desire. Not only that, you’ll retain that age and never grow old.
“You may ask, ‘How is that possible?”
He paused for effect, then whispered, “Because I’ve discovered an age-reversing drug, a veritable Fountain of Youth.”
As his words sank in, whispers began. Did the audience believe him or doubt his sanity? She’d not thought such a miracle possible either, but her own body proved otherwise.
The Fountain of Youth Myth
The Fountain of Youth is such a popular concept I couldn’t help including it in my thriller, FOREVER YOUNG: Blessing or Curse. Although Wikipedia says such a fountain had been popular for thousands of years, I’d only heard of it in history class years ago, not quite a thousand, though sometimes it feels like it could have been.
It’s said that the Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon went in search of the fabled Fountain of Youth to partake of its restorative powers. In his travels, he ended up in St. Augustine, Florida, where now the Fountain of Youth National Archeological Park commemorates his landing. The park actually contains a fountain and tourists actually drink from it. Apparently nothing magical has happened there so far by way of turning back the participants’ aging clocks. Otherwise, I’d surmise bottles of such miracle water would have been on the market by now, selling for more than the highest priced prescription.
Although my story takes place in Arizona and not Florida, the concept is the same: using a magical means to regain lost youth. The older I get, the more I wonder what it would be like to be young again, yet benefit from my past experience. Aging is such a universal dilemma, I can’t be the only one who envisions turning back the clock. My imagination has taken me far afield, so far I had to write a book about it.
I invite you to follow along with my heroine, Dorrie Donato, and see how she adjusts to life again at twenty-four, instead of her actual age of fifty-five.
We all know life isn’t perfect, even in the best of circumstances. Though Dorrie may have gotten her wish to be young again, she’s still haunted by past happenings, along with threats to her present survival.
If you’re curious about Dorrie’s adventures, FOREVER YOUNG: Blessing or Curse is available on Kindle, Nook, Smashwords, and other electronic venues.
To see them all, visit http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com, where you can find every known link to this book, as well as those of my other three novels.
Look for print versions of all four books on Amazon soon.
Thanks for hosting me at your blog, Maryann.
Morgan Mandel
Facebook: http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel – Twitter: http://twitter.com/morganmandel
Thanks for sharing your blog place with me today, Maryann.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
That’s a catchy excerpt, Morgan! I think most of us are enthralled by the concepts of eternal youth and immortality. Your book sounds like a great read. I downloaded the first chapter in Kindle but haven’t had the chance to look at it yet. I hope to do so soon!
think I’d be willing to try a fountain of youth!
Great post. I enjoyed this book. It was a unique twist on a popular myth.
Wishing you the best,
Cheryl
http://ccmalandrinos.com
Too bad it’s only a myth!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
If I was at a lecutre and someone said that I’d think they were nuts:-). Then I’d stand in line to find out more information, like if I took the drug could I ever retire or would I have to work for an eternity.
Love this excerpt, Morgan! I would love to go to FLA and just see what all the fuss was about. If nothing else, the water would probably taste darn good in that heat, lol.
Yikes, Linda, working for eternity would be the pits!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
I wonder how good that water tastes, too.
Morgan Mandel
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com
Sounds like a fun read. A life do-over. Not sure I’d always like to stay the same age, though.
Good point, Carol. I wonder if I’d like to stay the same age. It might be kind of like having the same weather over and over again. Not as much variety.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
When I was in Florida a few years ago, my dh and I went to a tourist spot that said it was the place where the legend began. I think I’d be happy to drink from the Fountain…but then I wonder what the side effects would be 🙂
Sounds like a great book, Morgan.
I also wonder about side effects from that fountain in Florida. How many germs are in there!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
They say healthy living is the key to a long life, but what fun is that? It’d be nice, though, to revert to an age where you didn’t have aches and pain. But then there would need to be a way to kill off people so the world didn’t get way over crowded. There’s always some problem!
Yes, being without aches and pains would be very nice!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
Glad to have you here, Morgan. The storms finally quit here, so I am back online.
I’m still undecided about whether I would like to stay the exact same age forever. I think it would get boring after the first 100 years or so. LOL
It’s fun to explore the idea in fiction, but I’m not sure I would ever go for it in reality. Helen made a good point about what would we do will all those folks who simply won’t die. Do I feel another story coming on?
I’ve read the book – the suspense was excellent, widening the circle of unknowns as the story developed. I’m looking forward to the sequel to Dorrie’s story, and the anthology of the others’. I’m just starting Killer Career now.
I just finished “Forever Young” and loved it.
It’s an intriguing concept. I’m not sure I would like to go back and be young again. Are there things I’d like to do differently? Sure. But the ‘growing up’ part is what forms us and makes us who we are. Things are meant to unfold and happen for a reason. Even to keep the experience and be younger again…I think I’ll just live life as it comes!
(But it made a fabulous concept for a book!)
DebraStJohn
Maryann, You’ll get two more stories. One about the other subjects, the other about the further adventures of Dorrie
Terry, I’m glad you went back to get another of my books. The more I think of Killer Career, the more I realize it must have been born from my subconscious mind of wanting to escape where I’d been working so many years. Fortunately, I got laid off and it’s the best thing that could have happened to me!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
Debra,
I’m glad you enjoyed Forever Young: Blessing or Curse. You’re right about the fact we’re all the sum total of our experiences. Every age brings on new ones.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
The fountain of youth is in Florida? Who knew?
Some people think that’s where it is, Alex. As far as I know it hasn’t worked on anyone yet!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
It was great having you here today, Morgan. So glad that so many people are enjoying your book.
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Thanks again, for letting me share here, Maryann.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
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