{"id":4345,"date":"2017-09-26T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-09-26T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/?page_id=4345"},"modified":"2018-07-28T14:55:33","modified_gmt":"2018-07-28T18:55:33","slug":"mark-laporta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/personal-pages\/mark-laporta\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Laporta"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5578 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Laporta-Author-4-250x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Laporta-Author-4-250x250.jpg 250w, https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Laporta-Author-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Laporta-Author-4-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Laporta-Author-4-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Laporta-Author-4-1440x1440.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Mark Laporta<\/strong> (marklaporta!@gmail.com) is a New York-based science fiction writer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Against the Glare of Darkness<br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em>Probability Shadow<\/em>, the first novel in my new series, &#8220;Against the Glare of Darkness,&#8221; leads you into a new universe, where a critical mineral shortage pits imperious humans against every major political power. As their battles rage, the Quishiks re-emerge, an ancient evil with unprecedented control over timand space \u2014 which foretells the end of all sentient life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5580 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/probability-Shadow-1-169x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/probability-Shadow-1-169x250.jpg 169w, https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/probability-Shadow-1.jpg 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/>To stop this onslaught, Ambassador Ungent Draaf of Grashard must forge an unlikely alliance of misfits fro<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">m across the galaxy\u2019s entire political spectrum \u2014 a force of humans, symbiotes, mutants, androids and the ghostly remnants of a vanished civilization \u2014 and unite them in one seemingly impossible goal: to drive the conquering Quishiks back to their Launchesmultidimensional prison and restore order to the galaxy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">In a univer<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0em;\">se dominated by great powers on the verge of collapse, and as the mistakes of the past become the legacy of the future, one question remains: will sentient life ever rise above the specter of evil?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Launches October 1, 2018. Available for pre-order at Amazon or your local bookstore.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Changing Hearts of Ixdahan Daherek<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">My Young Adult trilogy, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Changing-Hearts-Ixdahan-Daherek-Complete-ebook\/dp\/B072BF3J4D\/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8\">The Changing Hearts of Ixdahan Daherek<\/a>,\u201d is a mix of sci-fi action, humor, social satire and a quiet love story. The trilogy consists of:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Heart-CHANGING-HEARTS-IXDAHAN-DAHEREK-ebook\/dp\/B00DD0BC38\/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Heart of Earth<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Heart-Mystery-Changing-Ixdahan-Daherek\/dp\/0692372466\/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Heart of Mystery<br \/>\n<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">\u2022\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mirror-Heart-Time-Changing-Ixdahan\/dp\/0991327489\/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mirror at the Heart of Time<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The series traces the journey of a teenage alien, Ixdahan Daherek, from arrogance to compassion. In Book 1, he sells state secrets to a dangerous enemy and receives the worst punishment in the universe: Live on Earth as a Human Teenager. Published by <a href=\"http:\/\/chickadeeprince.com\/\">Chickadee Prince Books<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Series Summary<\/strong><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4367 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/complete-trilogy-cover-ch-157x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"157\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/complete-trilogy-cover-ch-157x250.jpg 157w, https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/complete-trilogy-cover-ch.jpg 314w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 157px) 100vw, 157px\" \/><\/strong><br \/>\nFrom the moment the arrogant son of a Snaldrialooran aristocrat is exiled to Earth, he begins a journey that takes him to the boundaries of the settled universe and the limits of consciousness.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Having seen the consequences of his crime visited on innocent humans, Ixdahan&#8217;s heart swells with empathy for the first time. With the help of an unlikely band of friends, he stops the brutal invasion of Earth by Vrukaari warlords. Yet his only reward is a new life sentence that sends him deeper into the heart of danger.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Months later, on Vrukaar Prime, Ixdahan uncovers a plan to dominate the universe with an unspeakable weapon. Rallying old friends and new allies, he still only defeats the Vrukaari with a startling act of bravery, appearing to make the ultimate sacrifice.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Rescued at the last minute by an unseen force, Ixdahan resolves to wander the universe alone, until an old friend persuades him to join the fight against a society dominated by dangerous fanatics. Weakened by temptation and guilt, Ixdahan nearly fails \u2014 until the power of love pulls him back from the brink of despair. With the latest evil routed, Ixdahan departs on a spirit quest, seeking to balance the conflicting sides of his nature with the wisdom of the ages.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Throughout his struggles, Ixdahan\u2019s heart turns on Lena Gabrilowicz, the Earth girl who befriended him during his exile \u2014 and the only person in eight galaxies who\u2019s ever known what planet he&#8217;s on. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ff0000;\"> Available now at <a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mark-Laporta\/e\/B00OF3W9NY\/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon<\/a> or your local bookstore. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> <strong>Reviews<br \/>\n<\/strong>Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/mark-laporta2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/mark-laporta2<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/mark-laporta3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/mark-laporta3<\/a> to find out what the critics are saying about the series (scroll down for Editorial Reviews)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> <strong>Critical Highlights:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Heart of Earth<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> &#8220;An alien criminal exiled to Earth with dire &#8211; and hilarious &#8211; consequences. An irresistible blend of wonky science and heartfelt storytelling. Holding it all together is Laporta&#8217;s spot-on portrayal of life as a teen. [A] fabulous read!&#8221; \u2014 Kirkus Reviews<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> &#8220;This fun YA sci-fi novel &#8211; with well-rounded characters, interesting premise, and lighthearted dialogue &#8211; will delight readers of every age. The sci-fi aspects are entertaining and fun, and the character growth will keep the attention of those who don&#8217;t typically read the genre.&#8221;<br \/>\n\u2014 Paige Van De Winkle, Foreword Reviews <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> <strong>Heart of Mystery<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> &#8220;The second volume in Laporta&#8217;s YA series about a young alien defending Earth from galactic conquerors&#8230;. [A]n expanding space opera, which proves to be a feast of intriguing concepts. Newcomers to the genre and adult fans of classic sci-fi novels, such as David Brin&#8217;s Startide Rising (1984), will love hearing whales talk and adventuring in a galaxy where humanoids are rare. Once again, Laporta opts for a dire, high-stakes finale, maximizing the emotional thrust of his narrative. An engrossing YA sci-fi sequel, in which ideas share the stage with the cast.&#8221; \u2014 Kirkus Reviews<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> <strong>Mirror at the Heart of Time<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> &#8220;It contains teen drama, political intrigue, and neat sci-fi stuff with space-time and the multiverse. It&#8217;s light-hearted and sweet, and contains an optimism that many SF writers forget about or are not interested in. &#8230; This collection contains all three of the books in the series, which is great for readers who misplace books easily. You don&#8217;t have to keep track of all three, they&#8217;re right here! So convenient.&#8221;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u2014 Joe Crowe, Revolution Science Fiction<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> <strong>The Trilogy<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> &#8220;[A]n excellent read &#8230; if you enjoy world building and inventive science fiction that shows the wonders of the universe[.] &#8230; Elements will appeal to adults and younger readers alike, and the characters within the pages will stay with you after the last pages are turned.&#8221;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u2014 Jodi Scaife, Fanbase Press\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u00a0&#8220;Both the writing, the narrative part, and [the] dialogue are really perfectly done &#8230; It is really a wonderful, wonderful read &#8230;very, very beautifully written. Readers must be sorry that it&#8217;s a trilogy because it&#8217;s really, really good &#8230; not just for teenagers. Everyone can relate to this story.&#8221;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> \u2014 Patzi Gil, host of the syndicated radio program &#8220;Joy on Paper&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> Hear the entire interview at <a href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/joy-on-paper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/joy-on-paper<\/a> <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"> <strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/heartofearth2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/heartofearth2<\/a> for videos and short fiction.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Mark Laporta (marklaporta!@gmail.com) is a New York-based science fiction writer. Against the Glare of Darkness Probability Shadow, the first novel in my new series, &#8220;Against the Glare of Darkness,&#8221; leads you into a new universe, where a critical mineral shortage pits imperious humans against every major political power. As &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":133,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4345"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4345"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5581,"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4345\/revisions\/5581"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sfreader.com\/r\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}