Today, author M.D. Neu visits the Storytelling Blog on the blog tour for Mu; Legend of a Lost City. (Click the highlighted hyperlink text to view the Universal Book Purchases site. Or, here it is: https://books2read.com/Mu-Legend-of-a-Lost-City) Spectrum Books published this science fiction-thriller on November 11, 2023. You can read more about the book at the Liminal Fiction website.

Disclosures: I have a business relationship with Liminal Fiction and Other Worlds Ink Blog Tours. I’ve made minor edits to the post.

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Hello, I’m author M.D. Neu, and today I want to tell you about my exciting new action adventure novel Mu; Legend of a Lost City.

Augustus Le Plongeon (1825–1908), introduced the idea of Mu, a “mythical” lost continent. He identified the “Land of Mu” with Atlantis. The name was subsequently identified with the hypothetical land of Lemuria by James Churchward (1851–1936), who asserted that it was located in the Pacific Ocean before its destruction.

But could the place be real? Is there a location in the Pacific Ocean waiting to be found?

Today I would love to answer some of the most common questions I get asked about my newest book, Mu; Legend of a Lost City.

What inspired you to write Mu; Legend of a Lost City?

The idea of lost civilizations and the mysteries of the ocean has always fascinated me. I wanted to explore the possibility of a hidden city in the Pacific Ocean that has a connection to ancient legends and modern events. As with all my books I wanted to highlight a diverse cast of characters who have different backgrounds, motivations, and perspectives on the discovery of Mu.

How did you research the historical and scientific aspects of your novel?

I did a lot of online research on the topics of Mu, Atlantis, Lemuria, pseudoscience, oceanography, environmental issues, and more. Consulting books and speaking with people who live some of the lives reflected in the story was important.  I tried to balance the factual information with my own creative imagination and vision for the story while making the novel an exciting and fun science fiction adventure story that I believe everyone will enjoy.

Who are some of the main characters in your novel and what are their roles?

The main characters are Kaimi, Karen, and Michael. Kaimi is the prince of Mu who witnessed his parents’ murder. He is on a quest to find out who killed his parents and why, as well as to protect his people and his culture from outsiders.

Karen is a scientist who specializes in pseudoscience and alternative theories. She is interested in finding out the truth about Mu and its connection to the Pulse event that caused an environmental disaster five years ago (in the narrative of the book). She is also looking for validation and recognition for her unconventional work.

Michael is a billionaire investor who funded Karen’s research and expedition to find Mu. He is a former adult entertainment star who continues to work in the adult entertainment industry and wants to make a positive impact on the world and prove himself as a legitimate businessman. In addition, he would like to build a connection and find romance after living a lonely life.

What are some of the themes and messages that you want to convey in your novel?

• That we are all the same. We all share the same fears and dreams.
• How even good people can make bad decision believing them to be for the greater good.
• The value of curiosity, exploration, and discovery.
• Never treating others as lesser because they believe in something that you don’t. Because we don’t really know.
• The complexity of human relationships and emotions.
• The potential of human creativity and innovation.

What do you hope readers will take away from your novel?

 I would love for readers to enjoy the adventure, mystery, and suspense of the novel and realize that just because you don’t agree with someone or something doesn’t make them any better or worse than you. I want folks to relate to the characters and their struggles and achievements. And I would love to see people be inspired to think about their own role in the world and how they can make a positive difference no matter how big or small the difference is. Lastly, I want folks to sit back and enjoy the story; that is the most important part.

I hope readers will enjoy my new adventure science fiction novel Mu; Legend of a Lost City.

About the Author

M.D. Neu is an international award-winning inclusive queer fiction writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to science fiction and paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alice Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.

Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man, he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.

When M.D. Neu isn’t writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric, his husband of twenty plus years. Author website: https://www.mdneu.com

Other ways to reach Neu include:

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/mdneuauthor

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormdneu/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/66488958-md

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-neu/

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-neu/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M-D-Neu/e/B076FK1S14

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If you enjoyed this author interview, you might like to read my review of Broken Metropolis: Queer Tales of a City That Never Was.

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Check out the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Love Letters to St. Louis. This adorable letter-shaped volume of short stories, poems, essays, and illustrations includes my first science fiction story, “Welcome to Earthport Prime: A Self-Guided Tour.” Profits benefit the guild’s young writers’ program.