Virtual Book Tour of Even Higher Than Everest by George Almond (#Historical Fiction)

 

The Dramatized Story of the First Flight Over the Himalayas

Title: Even Higher Than Everest

Author: George Almond

Pages: 274

Genre: Historical Fiction/Adventure Fiction/Biographical Fiction

 

EVEN HIGHER THAN EVEREST is a vastly entertaining, fact-based, yet dramatized story of a London cockney heiress who, in the 1930s, sent a small fleet of double winger biplanes on a daring and remarkably dangerous mission to fly over Mt. Everest and film the world’s highest and most famous mountain peak.

Author George Almond met the Himalayan heroes (Sherpa Tenzing and Lord Hunt), who explained how the first aerial photographs, taken in 1933, assisted their heroic ascent of Everest in 1953. Captivated by this dazzling and little known tale, the book - Even Higher than Everest - is a dramatized recount of the tenacity of the heiress Lucy Houston and her team of prestigious aviators whose five aircraft flew to the world's highest mountains.  A short 1930s film from footage of Houston’s flight, titled Wings Over Everest, won an Oscar in 1936 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_Over_Everest 

Commenting on his work, author George Almond says: “Inspired by true events of that first flight over Everest, the novel Even Higher Than Everest follows skilled personnel in finance, diplomacy, media, filming, engineering and aviation, all aiming for a shared objective. How these characters blended successfully, overcoming constant setbacks and challenges, was in itself a major accomplishment. I have followed the truth, tweaking just a few elements, in recounting the event.”

PRAISE:

“Yay, George Almond! You DID it! You delivered a fine story- -and a fun story- -with your Higher Than Everest dramatization. I loved many aspects about this book. You had me on the edge of my seat with the actual flights over the Himalayas. I could SEE the mountains in my mind's eye and could feel the tension and the dangers they faced.” - Amazon (Marla Bray)

Even Higher Than Everest is available at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Even-Higher-Than-Everest-Dramatised/dp/1782226249.

 

Book Excerpt

As he ducked back into his cockpit, out of the ripping blast of the slipstream, Blacker became aware of another problem. This, he realized, was not the best of times to be feeling drowsy. He quickly ran a check as a cramping sensation registered in his feet and he felt the lightheaded emptiness that implied a reduced flow of oxygen. Hadn’t they given him a foretaste in the bubble at Farnborough? And this felt alarmingly similar. He immediately scribbled a message to Clydesdale about the problem as the Westland fell into a sweeping downdraft. Lucy bucked up, then down, then up again, jumping like a feather in a gale. Blacker was forced to grab the cockpit coaming with each buck as the biplane floundered insanely.

But recovery came as Clydesdale activated the spare oxygen supply.

Blacker felt the revitalizing rush in his lungs before another fist of wind came charging down from the mountains. This blow punched the Westland, pushing her down several hundred feet in a single second while leaving his stomach far above. Blacker looked towards the front cockpit where Clydesdale sat, calm, stoic and fearless, looking out over the trembling wingtips as he surfed Lucy through each wave of the jet stream.

All the time, the turbo-charger lashed the 650 horse power of the Pegasus compelling it to fire on stubbornly, shoveling air over the wings while they closed on their target some ten miles ahead. But was it ten miles or five? It might have been one or two. Blacker found it difficult to estimate the distance because the terrain was so huge and dominant, so unexpectedly different and daunting at close quarters. He searched around for Mac’s Wallace and thought he saw the flash of wings in the distance.

Up here it looked like a fly lost in the atrium of a West End theatre. Blacker seized the Williamson P14 plate camera and began taking shots of Makalu. The mountain was hewn like a switchblade knife thrust into glacier arteries. He exposed several plates at Everest while the Westland rolled and pitched. He checked his belt and the line that kept him hooked within the cockpit. Bloody hell! Blacker grinned inside his oxygen mask.

This was going to be some ride!

Passing over the monstrous haft of Makalu, Blacker’s heart bypassed several beats. The altimeter was still stuck on 28,000 feet. The snow pip on the summit remained high above and they were closing on the most unforgiving surface imaginable at a groundspeed of 50 miles an hour.

Blacker bent down and heaved open the flaps of a trap door in his cabin floor, allowing more air to scythe up towards his mask and goggles. Now he was looking straight down onto the silvered shoulders and buttresses of the great mountain, all moving this way and that while Lucy danced in the air above. He took several photos and then shut the trapdoor to concentrate on the peak action.

Then as suddenly as the downdraft had begun, a reverse action set in. A surging up-draft helped Clydesdale coax Lucy’s nose up and up, pushing her towards the final gradients and cliffs of the dominant landmass.

Blacker repositioned his camera as Clydesdale drove the valiant biplane towards the snow-capped crest.

Seconds later, with the engine still thrusting against the elements, Lucy the Westland passed over the snowy peak of the great mountain with only a few hundred feet to spare. Clydesdale turned and raised his gloved hand.

Blacker waved back in unspoken triumph.

They had done it!

– Excerpted from Even Higher Than Everest by George Almond, Paragon Publishing, 2018. Reprinted with permission.

Watch the Trailer

https://youtu.be/DL0q16QHTnc 

About the Author

George Almond, the grandson of a Wyoming horse rancher, enjoys revisiting great adventures. Born in London and educated in France and Oxford University he has ridden horseback 1500 miles across Europe, worked for Calgary Stampede's Champion Chuck Wagon driver,  sailed two oceans with the world's most experienced square-rig sea captain, taken the Flying Scotsman steam train from Boston to Houston where he was hired by Neiman Marcus. These days Almond makes his home in Europe, working on other books, including one about Jack Rackham and his two lady pirates who formerly sailed the Caribbean, preying upon merchant vessels.

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Interview by Hans Peter Bech Author of Tumult in Mecca (#contests- Enter to win a Starbucks Gift Card, #ireadbooktours)

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Tumult in Mecca: From Civil Servant to Global Business Adventurer: Henrik Bertelsen's Unexpected Journey by Hans Peter Bech
Category:  Adult Fiction 18+, 276 pages
Genre:  Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction, World Literature European/Scandinavian, Coming of Age
Publisher:  BOOX 
Release date:   August 2024
Content Rating:  G: There is no language, sex scenes, etc. 

Book Description:

Tumult in Mecca: From Civil Servant to Global Business Adventurer transports readers to 1979, a year of upheaval and change.

Henrik Bertelsen, a Danish civil servant and baby boomer, is dedicated to his stable life in Copenhagen. Alongside his English wife, Sammy, they are building a co-housing community and navigating the complex adoption of a child from Indonesia. Henrik longs for peace and stability to secure his career.

But life takes an unexpected turn when he is offered the chance to renovate hospital kitchens in Saudi Arabia. His adventurer's spirit is awakened, and Henrik plunges into a world far removed from the predictable corridors of Danish bureaucracy.

As the project escalates, Henrik finds himself caught in the Mecca conflict—an armed religious uprising that places him in grave danger. Trapped between rebels and police in one of the holiest cities in the world, he must rely on his instincts to survive.

Escape brings him more than safety—it opens the door to a lucrative job offer from an American tech company, setting his life on an entirely new path. Tumult in Mecca masterfully weaves Henrik’s personal quest for fulfilment with the global turbulence of 1979, capturing the tension between career and adventure, ambition and family, security and risk.

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INTERVIEW:

Question:

The title *Tumult in Mecca* suggests it’s about Islam. Is it a book about religion?

Answer:

Religion plays a significant role in the story. The protagonist, Henrik Bertelsen, is an atheist, while his wife, Samantha, is Catholic. When they apply to adopt a child from Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, the adoption agency advises them to align their religious affiliation, as atheism might not be well-received in the donor country.

Henrik, an economist working for the Danish government, later becomes involved in a business project in Saudi Arabia, a country deeply influenced by religion. There, he has to navigate a culture where the dominant religious values often conflict with his own moral beliefs.

Henrik’s journey reflects a challenge many people face—balancing the pursuit of personal happiness and success while coexisting with others who hold vastly different worldviews. It raises important questions about how much we’re willing to compromise our principles and how flexible we can be in such situations.

Curious and adventurous, Henrik embraces new experiences and approaches these cultural differences with an open mind. In 1979, he finds himself immersed in Saudi Arabia's business environment, a country governed by Sharia law and undergoing a controversial modernization effort, which faces opposition from religious authorities.

Henrik faces a moral dilemma. On one hand, he worries that his work may support a regime that oppresses its citizens, particularly women. On the other hand, he hopes his involvement might help push the country toward a more modern and free society. Although he’s unfamiliar with the Quran and struggles to understand Sharia law, the business opportunities and financial rewards keep him engaged.

Henrik’s story in Saudi Arabia reflects broader dilemmas we all face—balancing personal gain with ethical concerns while navigating different cultures and belief systems.

Question:

You’re a Danish author. Are your books relevant to an American audience?

Answer:

Most of my books sell well in the USA, which is by far my largest market. However, those books are nonfiction, covering topics like international business development in the

software industry. I also wrote a business biography about Navision, Microsoft’s first billion-dollar acquisition outside the USA.

As for *The Henrik Bertelsen Saga*, of which *Tumult in Mecca* is the first book, it likely appeals most to Americans interested in business, international affairs, and exploring different cultures.

Henrik is a husband, father of two adopted children, a musician in a rock band, and an international businessman in the rapidly changing computer industry. Balancing these roles is challenging, especially with external events constantly disrupting his plans.

Having worked with American companies, travelled extensively in the U.S., and having relatives in several states, I believe many Americans can relate to Henrik and his wife, Samantha. The pursuit of happiness and well-being is never straightforward, and finding peace of mind in a constantly changing world is a challenge most people face, especially those striving to reach the top of Maslow’s pyramid.

Question:

Your nonfiction writing has been successful. Why did you start writing fiction?

Answer:

I have stories to tell, and I love telling them. Plus, I’m good at it.

Writing books allows me to create rich, nuanced stories. Readers expect to spend hours immersing themselves in the world I unfold, and I enjoy fulfilling that expectation.

I’m also at a point in my life where I want to control my own time and destiny. Being an author and publisher offers me the ultimate freedom. I can write what I want, when I want, and wherever I want. It fits perfectly with my love of travel.

That said, I don’t write just for myself. I’m ambitious about reaching a broad audience, which is why I do interviews like this.

Question:

Do your books convey messages, and if so, what are they?

Answer:

Indirectly, yes, they carry several messages.

Henrik and Samantha both pursue full-time careers while raising two adopted children. Anyone with kids will recognize the challenges of managing that balance. They make some fundamental life choices that make it possible—you’ll have to read the book to find out what those are!

Henrik takes significant financial risks, and many of his ventures fail. But living in Denmark, these failures never threaten the family’s well-being. The Scandinavian

model, with its universal healthcare, free education, and strong social security, helps him bounce back.

A key message throughout the books is that taking responsibility for your failures is crucial to learning and personal growth. This idea aligns with Stoicism, a philosophy I strongly support.

I also designed Samantha as Henrik’s wife and life coach. At the same time, Henrik encourages Samantha to pursue her professional potential, even when they could afford for her not to work. He does this partly for selfish reasons—he wants a life partner who shares as many of his experiences as possible, including work-related ones.

Question:

There are countless books out there. What makes yours stand out?

Answer:

“The Henrik Bertelsen Saga” is unique. “Tumult in Mecca” and the seven books that follow are the only novels written by me, so they naturally stand out in that sense!

More seriously, I believe they’re different because the universe I create touches on many aspects of life.

Initially, I referred to them as business novels because they focus on Henrik’s professional life. I’ve since stopped using that label because it confused people—some thought they were textbooks!

Publishers often categorize books in ways that don’t resonate with readers. I prefer to compare my work to that of well-known authors with similar themes. If you enjoy Ken Follett, Jan Guillou, Jeffrey Archer, Ken Kesey, or Wilbur Smith, you’ll likely enjoy *Tumult in Mecca*. It’s also a good fit for fans of biographies and contemporary history.

And yes, it’s based on a true story—as they say.

Question:

“Tumult in Mecca” was originally written in Danish, and much of it takes place in Denmark. How does the English version differ from the Danish?

Answer:

I had to rewrite certain parts for an international audience. Coming from a small country, there are places, institutions, and historical references that only locals would understand. Other than that, the foreign language versions are essentially identical.

Question:

The story in “Tumult in Mecca” feels very realistic. Is it autobiographical?

Answer:

The short answer is no.

The book falls under the genre of autofiction. This means it’s based on autobiographical elements, but the events, institutions, and characters may be fictional.

Readers will find the historical framework to be as accurate as possible, but within that framework, the characters move through fictional events. Still, nothing in the book is beyond the realm of possibility.

Question:

Can you give a brief summary of the book?

Answer:

“Tumult in Mecca” takes place in the second half of 1979.

The protagonist, Henrik Bertelsen, is a civil servant in the Ministry of Labour in Copenhagen, dealing with Denmark’s major economic issues. During a slow summer period, Henrik gets involved in a business venture in Saudi Arabia with his older brother, Jakob. They’re mistakenly invited to bid on a project to renovate and run five hospital kitchens near Mecca for 10 years.

Although neither knows much about hospital kitchens, they successfully complete the project, impressing the Saudis and getting invited to work on more ventures. Drawn by the money and adventure, they continue, but soon realize that the cultural and business conditions in Saudi Arabia are very different from Denmark. With their full-time jobs back home, they decide to step back from the projects—but it’s not that simple.

Meanwhile, as Denmark prepares for an election, Henrik is offered a job at a major American computer company. The role doesn’t fit his career plans, but the salary increase is tempting, especially as he and his wife, Samantha, are in the process of adopting a child from Indonesia.

On a later trip to Saudi Arabia, Henrik and Jakob are invited to bid on a project at the University of Mecca. However, as non-Muslims, they’re not allowed to enter the city. After some negotiations, this issue is resolved, and on an early November morning in 1979, just before sunrise, they stand on a hill outside the Grand Mosque, waiting for the morning prayer to begin. It’s the first day of the 14th century in the Muslim calendar, and excitement is in the air.

Then, all hell breaks loose.

I won’t say what then happens, but it’s quite an adventure!

Meet the Author:

Hans Peter Bech is a bestselling author and a frequent blogger on how to make information technology companies global market leaders. He has produced numerous books, papers, podcasts and videos on business development in the software industry. Hans Peter is also a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and an advisor for governments and companies. He holds an M.Sc. in macroeconomics and political science from the University of Copenhagen.
Connect with the author:  website ~ X/Twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

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Tumult in Mecca: by Hans Peter Bech Book Tour Giveaway

Book Blitz of Things I Wish I Said by Gracie Graham (#Contests- Enter to win Book Swags)

Things I Wish I Said
Gracie Graham
Publication date: November 7th 2024
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

 

Lung cancer patient Ryleigh Sinclair wants a boyfriend for the summer.

And my mother wants me to be the one to make her wish come true.

Me. The eternal pessimist. The guy who no longer believes in happy endings after my dad died of pancreatic cancer and my girlfriend dumped me in the same month.

But after weeks of spending time with Ryleigh, she somehow does the impossible. She fills the gaping hole of my father’s absence until I’m the one hoping for a miracle.

I’ve learned my lesson about wishes.

Happily ever afters are a lie.

Yet I’m the one wishing like hell for another outcome for Ryleigh.

I lost my father to cancer; I can’t lose her too.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“You make me happy.”

I swallow, afraid to move and the break the spell we’re under. “No, I don’t,” I say, my throat raw.

“You do. This last month, I’ve laughed more than I have since I lost him. You make me forget to be so damn sad all the time.” His other hand rises, and he drags his thumb over my lower lip while my heart crashes into my ribs.

“Grayson . . .”

“You asked me why I kissed you.”

I nod, my resolve to keep him at arm’s length crumbling.

“I kissed you because I couldn’t stand another second of pretending I didn’t want to. Because watching you flirt with Cameron drove me fucking crazy. Because when I touch you, everything else fades away. All the shit in my life feels bearable. Like I can move forward as long as I have you. Simply put, life is just better with you in it.”

A sob escapes the back of my throat, and then his mouth is on mine, and he’s kissing me like his life depends on it. Like we’re the last two people on the face of the planet and the world’s existence depends on us. Like he is the Earth and I am the moon, just caught up in his orbit.

Butterflies take flight in my chest.

My toes curl.

The pulse drumming inside my ears reaches an ear-splitting decibel.

His mouth slants, his tongue brushing against mine as his hand tightens around my waist, and I’m hit with the scent of leather and cinnamon, bringing me back to his bedroom the other night when I sat there and promised myself I’d help him.

Losing his father nearly broke him. I’d hate to think of what losing me only a year later would do.

I place a hand on his chest and push him away.

The breath rasps in and out of my lungs as I come back down to earth, staring into gunmetal gray. “I thought you didn’t believe in love and happy endings?”

“I believe in you.”

Author Bio:

Gracie Graham is a contemporary young adult author who loves romance and writing fictional characters. She thrives on bringing angst and emotion to her books, and her greatest goal in life is to give readers a book hangover. When she's not busy telling lies for a living, she's likely wrangling her three kids, cooking subpar meals, over-caffeinating, and procrastinating. Feel free to reach out to her on social media.

 

 

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Guest Post and Spotlight of Sunny Gale: A Novel by Jamie Lisa Forbes (#iReadBookTours)