Environmental Crime Novels Raise Awareness of US Vulnerabilities to Terrorists

July 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Press Release
From Lidia LoPinto

Green Leaf Publications
746 Vivian Court
Baldwin, NY 11510

lidia.lopinto@gmail.com

Call us for interviews at (914)963-3695

July 16, 2013

Availability: Target Alaska and Target: USA are available as a Kindle books and from any retailer. For electronic review copies contact the author.

A series of environmental crime novels has been re released by the authors this year and published by Green Leaf Publications of Baldwin, New York. The objective is to heighten awareness environmental vulnerabilities of our population. The two novels are titled:

Target: Alaska and Target USA

Target Alaska!

Target Alaska is the first of two thrilling books. It starts with an investigation of cruise liners which are polluting Alaskan waters, but it soon escalates into nuclear terrorism case. As with real life agents, the fictional Environmental agents risk their lives to prevent the devastation of our most precious natural resources in Alaska.

How easy is it to build a nuclear bomb and could environmental terrorists use them to devastate our most precious resources?

In their book, “Target: Alaska!," authors and engineers Lidia and Charles LoPinto describe a possible scenario and a process whereby fictional radicals build missiles in a hidden location in US soil. Discovery of their activities only happens as the agents, Juliana Del Rio and Sean Ryan, are investigating an ocean pollution case. "When I first started investigating the technology, I just did research on the Internet, and I was shocked to learn so much in so little time! Given just a modest investment many groups could accomplish this! It seems that many organizations have been warning us for years!”
says Lidia, author of the series and Chemical Engineer with 20 years of experience in process technology.

Reviews:

"Authors Charles LoPinto and Lidia LoPinto tell an exciting story that weaves together the worlds of environmental destruction, blackmail, and politics." Reviewed by Thomas Biblewski, Baker Street Dispatch.

"All the good stuff is here for a thrilling read"- Book Reader.

"I truly enjoyed the fast pace of this exciting story!" - Ann Thomson, Rocky Ford Daily Gazette, Co.

"Poised to be the E-Files of the Environment, within the first few paragraphs the reader is caught up in the story's plot. Not knowing what dangers the pair face next, the reader is held in suspense."- Mason Canyon, Chattanooga Press

"I wondered if this novel could possibly live up to being WORTH the asking price. I'm happy to report that if environmental stories are what you like, this new series is for you: if you are as new to them as I, let these authors make you a fan! A well written 'Cozy' with thought provoking information..." Reviewed by Ottilee Bastgen of Concord, CA for the January issue of Cozies, Capers and Crimes Newsletter (http://www.idsonline.com/userweb/cwilson/ccc.htm).

Target: USA!
The second episode involves a toxic train derailment was inspired by truly devastating railroad accidents that have occurred around the country and more recently in Canada. This episode explores the problems associated with inadequate evacuation plans and the disadvantages poor minority areas may have during such accidents. In this episode, the two agents, Juliana and Sean deal with a Bhopal type accident occurring in a southern town.

Can such a train derailment happen here in New York?

"Train tracks carrying industrial materials exist all over the country. For example in Yonkers, just before reaching the controversial nuclear plant upriver there is a large manufacturing plan in the middle of the city along the Hudson and parallel to commuter trains and an elementary school and daycare! Tracks are also located near Indian Point. The question of adequate evacuation plans, whether it is a train derailment (which happens often in the US) or a less likely event, a nuclear meltdown, is close to our hearts. Like most fearful events, most people try to put these out of mind until it happens and we trust that the authorities are planning adequately, but just like our experience with the super storm Sandy and the reports around the country for similar toxic releases, we are never really prepared. Our novel will engage the reader into a page turning frenzy as our reviewers have told us, while making the aware of these stories were fictionalized from real events.

The story deals with the consequences to a town that wasn't prepared and how in particular minorities are the ones to suffer the largest death toll due to their proximity to the spilled materials and the lack of resources in their neighborhood. Proper evacuation plans is an issue close to the heart of people in Westchester residents worried about Indian Point." says Lidia LoPinto, coauthor of The Case of The Toxic Train Derailment, the second of The Adventures of Juliana Del Rio series. As an engineer, Lidia has written Emergency Preparedness Plans for a number of major municipalities.

Reviews:

“In writing Worst Case Scenario, the LoPintos drew on their combined experience as chemical engineers, knowing the weaknesses of petrochemical processing and transportation of chemicals. They studied at least six incidents, all believed to be “accidents” but no one knows how they happened.... “ Anne Thompson, Rocky Ford Daily Gazette.

I enjoyed both of your books and think that you two have created what could be a marvelous franchise for a film and television property. Sean and Julie are strong characters.  With Sean, you have an archetype that fits nicely into the hero’s journey. He’s a reluctant hero and Julie’s younger character, a feisty Latina, spurs him into action.  There’s nice chemistry between these characters... they would be two meaty films. I thought immediately of Harrison Ford and Jennifer Lopez.” Scott Petri, screenwriter