On February 8th, author Jean Neff Guthrie, resident of the metro Atlanta area, releases "Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen," a young adult science-fiction novel about a psychic girl who entices spiritually advanced aliens to visit her in Virginia Beach. A 2013 HuffPost/YouGov poll reported that 50 percent of Americans surveyed believe in some form of life on other planets. Among them, 45 percent said that aliens have visited Earth.
According to branding specialist David Thalberg, "Many compare Guthrie's novel to the endearing kid-meets-alien theme in Steven Spielberg's 'E.T.'"
Guthrie, fifty-two, touches the hearts of youths and adults with a fantasy about a twelve-year-old girl and good aliens who teach believing in yourself, seeking peaceful outcomes, and healing through forgiveness.
In Guthrie's novel, psychic tween Aria Vanir of Virginia Beach trusts only her mother with the knowledge of her visions until she connects with technically and spiritually advanced aliens, the Gallions. Then Aria confides in her best friend, Tommy Manger. His unexpected doubts and anger threaten to end their friendship.
Nashata, Queen Supreme of the Gallions, leads a diplomatic mission to make peaceful contact with Aria, the only human she trusts with the secrets of her people. When the Gallions beam Aria, Tommy, and Aria's tomboyish fifteen-year-old sister, Jackie, aboard their superspaceship, Aria's mother makes a bold move to save her daughters. None of them realize that the Navy has sent Aria's SEAL father, William, on a mission to capture the Gallions or destroy their superspaceship. Worse, William has no idea he's putting his daughters in harm's way.
Can Aria succeed in her quest to meet the queen in person, despite the fears and disbeliefs of those closest to her? Can William forgive himself and seek peace with the aliens?
Guthrie graduated from Pulaski County High School, class of '82 salutatorian, in Dublin, Virginia. She earned a BS in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech ('86) and a MS in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University ('93). A member of Project Management Institute, Guthrie has been certified as a Project Management Professional and ScrumMaster. In 2014, she was awarded "Most Influential Champion" by the Technology Association of Georgia.
Guthrie's first published poem, "Prison Walls," appeared in America at the Millennium-the Best Poems and Poets of the 20th Century. Her poem "Baler Twine," written in honor of her father's seventy-fifth birthday, won a National Cattlemen's Magazine contest and was published in its March, 2001, edition.
Guthrie lives in Smyrna, Georgia, where she writes sequels in the #MysticalAria series and works as an information technology program management consultant.
Mystical Aria: Seeking the Gallion Queen releases Feb 8 on Amazon.com. Discounts, freebies, and announcements are available with VIP Access through http://www.JeanNeffGuthrie.com. For more information and to schedule an interview, contact Guthrie at 678.467.8835 or info(at)JeanNeffGuthrie.com.
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