Mystery / Suspense
Publication date: Print and ebook, May 2017. Audiobook, November 2019
In this suspense-charged, touching novel, Counting on Trust, information is stolen from a U.S. genetic engineering company (Omniprotein) by an employee promised payment by a Chinese general who wants to profit from selling the company’s technologies in the military region of China he commands.
To force quick payment the thief attacks fellow employees and threatens to continue until his money arrives. Will his next targets be: young lovers, computer geek Gabriel and gorgeous biologist Selena, who are discovering loving sex while trying to overcome post-traumatic effects of Selena’s girlhood rape.
Company president, Eleanor, who’s determined to keep some privacy and intimacy although her job’s high profile and her husband, Charley, has just had prostate cancer surgery.
Venture capitalist, John, who plans to duplicate Omniprotein’s facility in China and reunite with his ex-wife, fashion designer Ziyi, who returned to Shanghai after their only child died.
The personal stories of these couples explore how privacy, intimacy and trust are changing in our social-media age. They paint a compelling portrait of our time.
Interview
What social media do you use to contact
with your fans?.
I
have a website (www.mfergusonpowers.com) where people can contact me and also my Facebook page for
Counting on Trust (https://www.facebook.com/countingontrust/ ). The videos on my Counting on Trust Facebook page provide
a ot of background into the themes and characters in the story.
What did you do before you became a
published author?
I
had a career in academia. I received a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology from
The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s in experimental psychology from
George Mason University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the
University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following graduation, I taught
microbiology, headed a university office of research, served as executive
director of two university-business partnership centers, and co-authored two
books on university administration. My background and experience played a big
role in all my books, but especially Counting
on Trust.
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve
been writing for about 15 years. My
first book was Each Unique and
Fascinating nad my second book was OrcaSpeak
which is actually the sequel to Counting on Trust. Both of these stories take
place in the Pacific Northwest and involve themes of love intermixed with
eco-activism.
What's the inspiration behind your
book?
As
its title implies, the book is all about trust. My intention in writing the
book was to use the personal stories of the characters to explore how privacy,
intimacy and trust are changing in our technology driven society. I believe it draws a good picture of how easily
trust can be broken and how difficult it can be to restore that trust.
My
biggest inspiration has been Jane Austen. I appreciated the way she
deconstructed relationships and the social norms around romance and marriage in
her day. Counting on Trust follows
three couples of different ages and background, each struggling with issues of
trust.
What advice would you give any
newbie author or anyone that wants to pick up writing?
Two
things I would mention. One, is write about something you know and / or have
experience with. You can give your work greater depth. Two, create characters
that allow you and your readers to explore the full range of human emotions. At
least while you’re writing, they should almost come to life for you.
Do you have any pets?
I
thought you would never ask! I have two shelties that I absolutely adore.
About the Author
Themes of novels by M. Ferguson Powers reflect the author’s varied interests, including preservation of the natural world and its creatures;
· Challenges of building and maintaining loving relationships in a culture with decreasing respect for personal boundaries and privacy
· Influences of globalization on world events and how the U. S. and other nations relate to one another
· Public policy issues such as controlling the military-industrial-political complex and requiring the health care industry to be more respectful of its clients
· The need for cooperation across governments, cultures, and societies to address global challenges such as climate change
· Developments in business and university administration and management
Powers has taught microbiology, headed a university office of research, served as executive director of two university-business partnership programs, and co-authored two books on university administration. She has a bachelor of science degree in bacteriology from The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s in experimental psychology from George Mason University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
She lives on an island near Seattle with her husband David R. Powers and their two shelties. Her first novel, Each Unique and Fascinating, about a bullied young girl whose father has gone to war, was published in 2012. OrcaSpeak, a novel of relationships and suspense, was published in 2013, and its prequel, Counting on Trust, was published in 2017.
Purchase Links
eBook and Print
Audible coming soon
Contact Links
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