Hello, I'm Dan Dwyer
About Me
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was eight, my mother brought home an old typewriter. On that day, I became a young journalist, lifting stories from the Boston Globe and rewriting them, and then cutting and pasting, not with Windows Word but with Elmer’s glue.
It was fun.
Between then and now, I have had a few careers, one wife and two children, a grandchild and another on the way. I’m a retired financial planner who loved what he did, helping people navigate their family finances, but now I am doing what I’ve dreamed of doing as a young child. Writing. Period.
As a financial planner, I also wrote books on the financial planning practice and have taught at NYU and Adelphi. So, I’ve always been writing, but now I get to write what I fancy most.
Storytelling.
One day, while flying home, I got this idea of a young dad being conflicted with his career and family life. It struck me as a great modern-day premise, but I wasn't sure of the genre. I saw the character as being riddled with doubt and fear, and I wanted to show him as conquering his character faults, but not before he chose his job over his family. It then hit me that I could do a lot with the theme using science fiction/fantasy as the backdrop. The genre would enable me to magnify what was at stake for him. In 2015, I wrote what I now consider a prequel to The Fortress of Time series, "Angel of The Lord." As soon as I realized the story had only begun, I stopped the book to write three others.
"The Return of TAU," "The Rise of PI," and "The Fall of Kronogon."
I wrote these books as one, but would release them separately.
"The Return of TAU" and "The Rise of PI" are now available in paperback and Kindle e-reader. "The Fall of Kronogon" will be published in the spring of 2021.
Now that said, don't think you have to read the entire series to get a satisfying read. Each book stands on its own.
"While it's the first installment in a series, this volume wraps up its story threads more neatly than other SF sagas, not leaving readers stranded in a ninth circle of cliffhanger hell." Kirkus Reviews.
"The finale (of The Rise of PI) wraps things up, for now, but it also points the way toward an inevitable future sequel." KIrkus Reviews
I hope you enjoy these two books and write a review of each when you finish. Below you will see a short synopsis of the books.
My first typewriter looked something like this.
Fortress of Time Series
Second Book: The Rise of PI
The Prequel: The Angle of The Lord
First Book: The Return of TAU
Jonathan, a young dad, returns to space, searching for the rest of his family, whom he thought the Greys of Nardomon had killed. Joining him are his friends: TAU, a Kronogon lord; Angelina, a beautiful half-angel, half-human woman; and Captain Avery, who once saved him at sea. A battalion of Marines also accompany them, the first-ever military force to be thrown into battle against an alien species. While they are few, the Greys of Nardomon are many, and they’re on the brink of defeating TAU’s people on Kronogon. Only a clever plan can stop them, and it’s up to Jonathan and his friends to execute it to a T.
Previously, Jonathan thought he had killed the Nardomon leader, SA-Janus, on Earth. Instead, SA-Janus has transmigrated himself into TAU’s grandson, PI, his reluctant host. PI will fight for every second of his consciousness until the inevitable happens, but will it be long enough to prevent the SA from emerging in time to snuff out the Kronogon resistance? If Jonathan, TAU, and Angelina fail and Kronogon falls, SA-Janus and the Nardomons will move on to Earth, “where the pickings are easy.”
“The complicated plot catches fire with some well-paced, high-stakes scenes involving warfare, strategy, and calamities playing out among the various ensembles.” Kirkus Reviews
The Rise of PI is now available as an e-book for only $2.99 on Amazon.com for a limited time only and in paperback for just $14.95.
First Book: The Return of TAU
The Prequel: The Angle of The Lord
First Book: The Return of TAU
Shaken by the disappearance of their bodies, a young dad is at a loss to find his family. Only an alien friend knows where they are, Lord TAU of the Kronogons, a powerful, shape-shifting creature whose whole being is to fight time, which is the meaning of Kronogon.
His people have taken them, he tells Jonathan, the father, but why? To bring them back to life, he says.
Jonathan can't believe what TAU is saying. With no other course and feeling guilty for not being there for his family, he sets out with his friends on a blind journey with TAU as their Sherpa.
Just when he thinks he has found his family, another alien species, the Greys of Nardomon, abducts them. Unlike the Kronogons, the Greys have other plans in mind for his family. Jonathan asks what they could be. TAU suspects the worst.
An unlikely pairing of two fishermen and a beautiful young woman/half-angel accompany Jonathan and TAU. To get back to heaven, Angelina must convert her hatred of Humans into helping Jonathan. The fact that she's an angel is no guarantee of success, for she has failed everyone since the beginning of her time on Earth.
His human friends, too, are paralyzed with fear to face the Greys. Jonathan must stand alone against a resolute enemy as the odds unwind slowly against him – even with the return of TAU.
The Return of TAU is now available as an eBook for only $2.99 on Amazon.com for a limited time and as a paperback for $14.95.
Scroll down and click the bottom below for offer.
The Prequel: The Angle of The Lord
The Prequel: The Angle of The Lord
The Prequel: The Angle of The Lord
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Jonathan Prescott is taking his family home in caskets in cargo when a brilliant white light suddenly engulfs his plane. Seconds later, a terrorist missile strikes it. All are lost, except for Jonathan, who falls from the sky and lands in the sea. All Jonathan knows is that it was no ordinary light that saved him.
Unknown to Jonathan, a deranged President who wants him dead because of what he saw and sics a rogue FBI team on him. Others want him dead as well. The terrorists who shot down the plane chafe at his celebrity status for having survived their handiwork. Jonathan doesn’t know it yet, but the light is a wormhole through which Earth will be invaded.
Meanwhile, the leader of an advanced alien party, named TAU, covertly controls the President. He, too, doesn’t want panic in the streets if the people learn the true identity of this light. For all of his brute presence, TAU says he comes in peace as does his people, the Kronogons. To his chagrin, he feels he has to assist others in killing Jonathan or wind up doing the job himself.
Only an angel can rescue Jonathan. Angelina, a nun and a nurse by day, is doing penance on Earth. Her latest assignment is to protect Jonathan and help him find his dead family. There’s no guarantee she will succeed. She’s been failing her mission for eons now as she’s no ordinary angel either. Her patter can be snarky at times, and she can also fight for her charge. Her only weakness is that she cannot kill. The two grow in their relationship. An idealistic Jonathan hopes to prove her wrong about Humans despite his own guilt in not being with his family when they died. What’s at stake now is not just Jonathan’s survival, but the world’s as human and unearthly forces seem to conspire against all that is good in humanity.
Excerpts From Kirkus Reviews on The Return of TAU
The Prequel: The Angle of The Lord
Excerpts From Kirkus Reviews on The Return of TAU
Excerpts From Kirkus Reviews on The Return of TAU
Excerpts From Kirkus Reviews on The Return of TAU
“The two alien races may scheme like Cold War antagonists, but they have enough imaginative touches and exotic cultural details to merit genre respect, say on a Star Trek series level… Angelina registers less as a channel for holy thoughts…full of mild wisecracks and spunky patter... than as a superhero type…The author is adept at keeping things moving and throwing cinematic-level twists into the Robert Ludlum-sized narrative to maintain reader interest…While it's the first installment in a series, (entitled “Fortress of Time.”) this volume wraps up its story threads more neatly than other SF sagas, not leaving readers stranded in a ninth circle of cliffhanger hell. Aliens, angels and an action-hero dad star in a rousing genre mishmash that plays out better than it sounds." – Kirkus Reviews
Official Review: The Return of TAU by Dan Dwyer
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Post by JKO » 29 Aug 2020, 10:56
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Return of TAU" by Dan Dwyer.]
4 out of 4 stars
Jonathan is relieved to see his family (Tricia, Timmy, and Janet) in recovery state in a Kron hospital after they disappeared from their caskets, following their death. Lord Tau of Kronogon was the alien (and friend) that led Jonathan on a spaceship to his kingdom to see his family after the Krons (Tau’s people) abducted them to bring them back to life. However, just after Jonathan sets his eyes on them, chaos ensues, and his family is taken for the second time. This time, they are taken by the Greys, under the command of SA Janus.
Meanwhile, two fishermen and an angel called Angelina traveled with Jonathan and Tau to Kronogon. Unlike the fishermen, Angelina has special powers and has been assigned to protect Jonathan as an atonement for despising humans before she can return to Heaven. Tau, on the other hand, is a shape-shifting turtle-like creature that can live forever unless he is killed.
SA Janus, Tau’s arch-enemy, has a plan for Kronogon and Earth, and Timmy, Jonathan’s son, seems to be a crucial element in his plan. Earth’s leaders must now join forces with Tau and his Kron Army, as they had always done in centuries past, to stop SA Janus’ forces and rescue Jonathan’s family in the process. What is SA Janus’ plan? Why is Timmy important in the execution of that plan? Will SA Janus succeed? Is Jonathan’s family really alive? Find out in this book of fiction called The Return Of TAU, written by Dan Dwyer.
Wow! What can I say? I have been completely awestruck by this novel; I am pleased to have picked it up. When a story has strong protagonists and antagonists, there is sure to be an intense amount of suspense, as is contained in this account. I liked that I couldn’t predict the outcome of events. Just when you think that Tau had the upper hand, SA Janus would be two steps ahead, and vice-versa. Because of this, I was always at the edge of my seat, reading with extreme concentration, hoping that my favorite characters didn’t fall in battle. I am also pleased the author made both the protagonist and antagonist work really hard for their victories, no matter how little. The two were masters in terms of strategizing for battle, and it was a joy to read while they tried to cancel each other out.
At this point, it should be an open secret that the writer did an amazing job with the characterization. I completely understood each character’s position and motive. Each person was as unique as the storyline, which is a testament to the effort Dwyer put into this book. Also, the author did a good job with the plot, as the sequence of events was not only coherent but also engaging. There were a lot of interesting characters, and while I was drawn to Jonathan and Tau, at some point, I was connected more with Zero. I found Zero to be very smart, and he did what was necessary to survive. To think that Zero didn’t actually play a major role in the story makes the author’s work all the more enhanced.
More so, I laud the book’s editorial team for a job well done. I found only one error throughout the 341-paged novel. With all certainty, I can state that this piece has been expertly edited. The fast pace, third-person narrative style, and occasional dialogue all suit the story. There’s absolutely nothing to loathe about this read; I am eager to read the sequel. As a result, I have no reason not to give The Return Of TAU 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this novel to people who are interested in fiction and fantasy stories. However, sensitive readers that are disturbed by profanity or gory scenes need to steer clear of this book because it has a few gory scenes and use of non-borderline profane words.
Pictures and Words
Excerpts From Kirkus Reviews on The Return of TAU
Excerpts From Kirkus Reviews on The Return of TAU
The Incas of Cusco, Peru knew as well as anyone the joy of executing the perfect fit and finish.
Writing is like building a wall over an uneven surface. Rarely, does it go in a straight line but at every ragged turn, the writer must seek perfection so that characters, twists and scenery all fit neatly into place.