Press Release
Playing into the current panic over the SARS virus, Rick Maier’s new novel “Bone Dust” is a timely tale that paints an all-too-believable scenario. In a smooth writing style that flows evenly and easily, Maier’s first book is a fascinating story sure to catch a reader’s attention.
Set in Macon, Ga., the main character, Mike Spiker, is a busy executive at Bio Lab Research. A deadly outbreak of the flu in the Philippines doesn’t concern him or his colleagues. After all, this sleepy little town in the deep South has always been far from the front lines of any big trouble. But the outbreak becomes a modern-day disaster, an influenza pandemic that affects the lives of everyone. How they deal with it, who succumbs and a myriad of subplots involving infidelity, fraud, race relations and more keep the story moving with palpable excitement.
Maier has blended his fascination with life in the South, where he and his three children currently live, with his in-depth study of the 1918 flu pandemic. He weaves a tale full of intrigue, little-known facts and realistic fiction. In our terror-filled, post-9-11 existence, Maier presents a fascinating story sure to force you to spend a sleepless night or two. As SARS continues to dominate headlines, contemplating the possibility of this tale makes it frighteningly real.
Originally from Delaware, Maier has lived in Macon for 20 years, first as a financial executive in industry and now as a treasurer at Wesleyan College. He is active in the Middle Georgia community and writes monthly opinion columns for The Macon Telegraph.
