It's my pleasure to be welcoming Ellis Shuman to Hair Past A Freckle today. His latest novel, The Burgas Affair is published today - here's the description;
She’s an Israeli data analyst. He’s a headstrong Bulgarian detective. Together they must track down those responsible for a horrific bombing.
In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack at Burgas Airport in Bulgaria, Israeli and Bulgarian intelligence agencies launch a joint investigation. Detective Boyko Stanchev on the police task force teams up with Ayala Navon, a young Israeli intelligence analyst on her first overseas assignment.
The two must establish whether the terrorists were assisted by a Bulgarian crime organization in laying the groundwork for the attack.
It should be a routine investigation, but shadows of the past keep interfering.
Boyko’s interactions with a crime boss pursuing a vendetta against him threaten to throw him off track. Ayala’s pursuit of the terrorists and their accomplices brings up painful memories of a family tragedy.
Boyko and Ayala form a shaky alliance, one that evolves into growing cooperation and affection as they desperately race against time to uncover who was behind the Burgas bombing.
The Burgas Affair is a fictional account of the aftermath of a very real terrorist attack. On July 18, 2012, a deadly explosive rocked a tourist bus at Burgas Airport, killing five Israelis and their Bulgarian bus driver. The terrorists responsible for this murderous attack have never been brought to justice.
I'm already intrigued and really looking forward to reading such an exciting sounding book. In the meantime Ellis has very kindly written me a guest post about his reasons for setting his novels in Bulgaria;
Why I Chose Bulgaria as the Setting for My Novels
My crime thriller, The Burgas Affair, is set in Bulgaria and Israel. The book tells the story of a joint investigation into a terrorist bombing at a Bulgarian airport. The novel is based on a very real terror attack, but the investigation I describe is completely fictional.
While there are many novels set in Israel, it is quite unlikely that you will find a novel in the English language with a Bulgarian setting. But for me, writing about Bulgaria is like writing about my home, even though I live in Israel.
My wife and I lived in Sofia for two years (2009-2010) when my job in online marketing was relocated to Bulgaria. In our free time, we explored the countryside, fell in love with the scenic nature and the picturesque villages; learned about Bulgaria’s rich culture and history; and made many friends.
When the job assignment finished and we returned to our home in Israel, I couldn’t stop thinking about Bulgaria. In my mind I was still walking the streets of Sofia, and still climbing into Bulgaria’s majestic mountains. I wanted to share these experiences, and that found expression in my writing.
I began writing travel articles about Bulgaria, encouraging people to visit the country and see how wonderful a place it is. Surprisingly, Bulgaria is a very affordable travel destination, so why should people not consider visiting?
In my fiction, it was second nature to me to use Bulgaria as the setting for my stories. My first novel, Valley of Thracians (published in 2013), was a suspenseful adventure in the country that was warmly received by many as an introduction to Bulgaria.
The narrative in my new novel, The Bulgaria Affair, takes place in both Bulgaria and Israel. My experiences while living in Bulgaria inspired me to write my books with a Bulgarian setting. I hope readers will share my enthusiasm for the country.
My husband's friend worked in Bulgaria for a few years and often goes back there for holidays, it's definitely a country I'd love to visit!
Many thanks for your post Ellis and a very happy publication day!
The Burgas Affair can be purchased from Amazon.
About the Author
Ellis Shuman was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and immigrated to Israel as a teenager. He completed high school in Jerusalem and served for three years in the Israeli army. Along with his wife, Jodie, he was a founding member of Kibbutz Yahel. After working for several years in the hotel industry, he today writes and edits online marketing content. In the years 2009 - 2010, his job was relocated to Sofia, Bulgaria. His writing has appeared in The Times of Israel, The Huffington Post, The Jerusalem Post, Israel Insider, and on a wide range of Internet websites. His collection of short stories, The Virtual Kibbutz, was originally published in 2003. His novel Valley of Thracians was published in 2013. Ellis lives with his wife, children, and grandchildren on Moshav Neve Ilan, outside Jerusalem. Ellis writes about Bulgaria, Israel, books, travel, and the craft of writing on his blog: Ellis Shuman Writes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellisshumanauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellisshuman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1529444.Ellis_Shuman
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