‘Bravo!’ Summer Lane launches new book series

Reedley’s Summer Lane has found success with her “The Collapse Series” and will release the 10th book in it in 2017. In the meantime, she just released the first book in her new “The Bravo Saga” series, “Bravo: Apocalypse Mission” (WB Publishing, $10.99).

“It tells the story of a military working dog named Bravo who is separated from his handler in the wake of an apocalypse,” Lane says. “I have loved being able to utilize California – particularly the Central Valley – as a backdrop for every single one of my books since day one.”

The inspiration for the new book came from her “Zero Trilogy” series that features a young girl and her dog living in the same universe as the “Bravo” books. Because of her love of service dogs, Lane calls the “Bravo” series a “passion project.”

Lane was born in Reedley, but she moved to Sacramento with her parents for nine years. Two years ago they returned to Reedley.

She’s a prolific writer who has had thousands of articles published on a variety of topics, writes for her website, Writing Belle, and has now had 12 novels published (five last year). Her first book, “Snappy Social Networking,” was published in April 2012.

“I have been writing stories all my life. Even before I could write, I had these stories in my head. I couldn’t draw, so I had to tell the stories through writing. When I was 13, I decided that I wanted to make writing a career, “ Lane says. “I started trying to write a book and it was a lot harder than I thought.”

She didn’t give up and continued to write whenever she had a free moment. She spends eight to 13 hours a day writing. The only time she isn’t writing is when she’s reading. Lane is also a movie fan who has written several screenplays.

When asked about writing by aspiring authors, Lane’s advice is to never go into a career in writing with the mindset that you know everything.

“Writing is about constantly learning and sharpening yourself. There is no end to the education of the written word. Write constantly and read everything you can get your hands on. Always make yourself better,” Lane says.

You can find her books at Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Other books of local interest

“Valley Walls: A Memoir of Climbing and Living in Yosemite” (Yosemite Conservance, $18.95): Glen Denny started climbing the sheer walls of Yosemite National Park in the ’60s. His 240-page book is a collection of memories illustrated with 20 photographs recounting many of his adventures.

The book shows how Denny became known as a key figure in the Golden Age of climbing. His photographs have been published throughout the world.

The book is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

“Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon, and the American Dream” (McFarland & Company, $26.25): Fresno’s Connie Kirchberg teamed with Belgium writer Marc Hendrickx to take a look at the parallels in the lives of the iconic figures.

It is available at all online sites.

“Truth Held Hostage: America and the Amermenian Genocide – What Then? What Now?” (Gomidas, $32): John M. Evans, former U.S. ambassador to Armenia, looks at the shifts in political thinking over the years in connection to one of the first genocides of the 20th century.

He’s written a companion book, “Therefore God Must Be Armenian” (Gomidas, $12), that includes 16 talks and addresses delivered by the author related to the Armenian genocide.

Both can be purchased at amazon.com.

This story was originally published May 8, 2016 at 4:00 AM with the headline "‘Bravo!’ Summer Lane launches new book series."