Elizabeth Comer
When asked who I am, "a systems and software engineer" automatically issues from my lips. After forty years of analyzing, appraising, designing, reviewing, revising and generally creating order out of chaos, the tenets of sound engineering practice have become my religion and influence everything I do--personally as well as professionally. In fact, I've become so anal about "doing it right the first time" that I even developed a generic timeline for planning my vacations--never want to forget to get cash from the ATM, bring my passport, or ensure that there's enough food for the cats! But from time to time, I have also been a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a boss and a friend--and now an author.
Although I've long regaled my friends and coworkers with the many amusing escapades of my furry roommates, frequently prompting them to accuse me of "making this stuff up," I never planned to write any children's books. However memorializing the whimsical antics of my favorite feline companions enabled me to gracefully transition from technical writing to more creative endeavors. "Nefie" and "Marigold's Dove" will make you smile as well as break your heart.
"Vengeance Engineered," my first full-length work of fiction, is a dark tale of envy and revenge, involving staff members of ailing turbine-system developer Gentursol. After years as an engineer--and a brief stint with law enforcement--I continue to be amazed at the degree of dysfunction that persists in corporate America and, particularly surprising, in the world of high tech. While several decades of advancing technology have produced a variety of phenomenal new products and services, extravagant rewards and a mentality of superiority have also encouraged a culture of bullies and prima donnas. Progress is not necessarily achieved by the rigorous application of plans and procedures but frequently by accident or brute force--and often at the expense of the workers. Hundred-hour work weeks are not unheard of.
"Vengeance Engineered" is likely keep you awake speculating "who (actually) done it," but I also hope it whets your appetite for the sequel currently in work, "Vengeance Replayed," where more twists and turns, questionable characters, and outrageous behavior await you.
