Introducing Friends Like These—A New National Park Thriller, Plus Bold New Covers for the Series

 

First and foremost, thank you.

To every reader who’s cracked open one of my thrillers, to every fan who’s shared a recommendation, written a review, or sent me a note—you’ve made this journey possible. Because of your support, my novels have reached thousands of readers, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Your passion for high-stakes stories set in wild and iconic landscapes fuels my drive to keep writing.

Which brings me to some exciting news…

My latest political and environmental thriller, Friends Like These, is now available!
And that’s not all—Unleashing Colter’s Hell, Lost Cause, and Need to Know have been re-released with bold new branded covers that reflect the adrenaline, mystery, and national park landscapes readers have come to love.

How I Write: Real Parks, Real Fears, Real History

Every thriller I write starts the same: a national park, a historical twist, and one of my deepest fears—extinction events, civil war, or global invasion. I dig into real events that most people forget—or never knew happened—and ask, "What if?"

Our national parks aren’t just beautiful backdrops. They’re layered with forgotten history, buried secrets, and raw power, making them the perfect setting for thrillers that blur the line between fact and fiction.

Unleashing Colter’s Hell

Set in Yellowstone National Park, this novel dives into the terrifying reality of the park’s supervolcano, which is overdue for an eruption. Add a religious fanatic with an atomic bomb, and suddenly, Yellowstone’s seismic rumblings become a countdown. Yes, the threat is real—Yellowstone sees hundreds of earthquakes yearly, and scientists openly acknowledge it’s not a matter of if it will erupt, but when.

Lost Cause

Published before January 6th, this book now feels chillingly prophetic. In it, a shadowy group tries to ignite a second American Civil War, using historical symbols, conspiracy theories, and domestic terror. Sound familiar? From Confederate flags in the Capitol to efforts to overturn democracy, it’s clear: division isn’t just a plot device anymore—it’s a headline.

Need to Know

Inspired by the real 1947 sighting of nine silver discs over Mount Rainier, this thriller asks: What if something did crash? What if it’s still buried on the slopes of that volcano? And what if the government has been hiding it ever since? With recent declassified UFO footage and congressional hearings, the book’s paranoia doesn’t feel so paranoid anymore.

Introducing: Friends Like These

My newest thriller, Friends Like These, takes the action to another level, exploring corruption and betrayal in the management of our national parks. When Ranger Grayson Cole uncovers a deadly conspiracy, he must navigate not just wilderness and fire, but a web of lies that threatens everything he holds dear.

At its core, Friends Like These is about loyalty— to country, cause, and to each other. But in a world of hidden agendas, even the most trusted friends can be enemies in disguise. Look for its release shortly.

Ready to Explore?

Check out the all-new branded covers of my earlier thrillers and experience the tension, history, and wilderness that fans love.

Browse all my books here: https://www.amazon.com/author/parkthrillers

Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering my work, I invite you to pick up Friends Like These and find out what happens when loyalty is tested, lies are exposed, and the wilderness hides more than secrets.

Thanks for being part of the journey—
Sean D. Smith

They wrote this on Amazon about Unleashing Colter's Hell?

Unleashing Colter’s Hell continues to generate positive reviews! It's "jam-packed", "exciting suspense," like "Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol."

Find out what others are already discovering about Sean Smith's national park thrillers, by picking up your copy of his three novels here.

Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades. He is a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

Unleashing Colter's Hell: Get a Free Digital Copy

Would you like a free digital copy of Unleashing Colter's Hell, Sean Smith's best-selling national park thriller?

To request a copy shoot me an email with Free Copy in the subject line.

Enjoy!

####

Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades. He is a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith

Need to Know Now on Amazon!

Need to Know Sean Smith's latest national park thriller, is now available from Amazon. Kindle and
Paperback versions of Need to Know can be found here. 

Need to Know starts in 1947 when nine silver discs were spotted over Washington State's Mount Rainier National Park. Since then, buried high on its volcanic slopes is a secret government's would kill to protect.

In Need to Know, Park Ranger Grayson Cole finds himself once again at the center of a worldwide conspiracy.

Along with Aimee Crocker, the daughter of a disgraced Army Intelligence officer, the two risk avalanche, blizzards, and deadly agents in a race to uncover something that could shake the world to its foundation.

Need to Know is Sean Smith's third Grayson Cole thriller. The first is Unleashing Colter's Hell about a terrorist attack in Yellowstone. The second called Lost Cause is about a search for a Civil War relic that supposedly has the power to start a second Civil War.

National Park Talk: Ask Me Anything

This episode of National Park Talk is an "Ask me Anything."  Fans have sent in questions that they'd like answered.  Questions range from "Where do I get my motivation? What's next for National Park Talk? And Where can I get your books?

Follow the links below to download the podcast or listen to it on YouTube.

Podcast

Lost Cause wins an Award!

Lost Cause, the National Park thriller set in civil war sites, has won an Authors'db cover contest award. Lost Cause received the Bronze medal in the terrorism thriller category.

Lost Cause is Sean Smith's second thriller to win an award. Smith's first thriller Unleashing Colter's Hell won the Reader's Favorite 2012 gold medal for the terrorism thriller category.

These park thrillers make excellent holiday gifts.  Get your copies of these award winning thrillers. here.

Park Thrillers Breaking Sales Records

The Park Thrillers Black Friday Sale was a huge success. Park Thriller fans pushed Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause into Amazon's top 1000 best sellers.

Lost Cause, the Civil War/National Park thriller is #720 on Amazon's Political thriller list, while Unleashing Colter's Hell the Yellowstone thriller nearly cracked the top 500 Terrorism Thrillers!

Thanks to everyone who made this happen! In light of this success, Park Thrillers will extend the Black Friday $0.99 sale. Get your copies here.

Thanks again!

The best Park Ranger thriller?

Once again google knows its thrillers!

 

Get your copies of Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause here.

Unleashing Colter's Hell and Lost Cause Book Signing

Thanks to everyone who came out for my book signing at Aunties Bookstore in Spokane on October 10th.  Here is the video from that fun night. A big thank you to Aunties staff for having me and organizing such a great event.

 

 

To purchase your own copies of Lost Cause and Unleashing Colter's Hell please click here.

 

 

 

A Compelling Read!

"Unleashing Colter's Hell is a page turner that is difficult to put down. The historical information and context is fascinating. I highly recommend this novel." That's the latest review from an Amazon reader of Unleashing Colter's Hell. 

Get your copy here.

Unleashing Colter's Hell: The word is spreading

World recognition of Unleashing Colter's Hell is spreading.  Here is a list of countries discovering the fast-paced, action in the top selling Park Ranger thriller.

United States
Japan
Canada
Germany
Australia
United Kingdom
Taiwan
Belgium
France
Norway
Iceland
Czech Republic
Malaysia
Denmark
Brazil
New Zealand





Why not find out what the rest of the world is learning? www.tinyurl.com/coltershell

We have seen the thriller’s enemy and its technology?



Nico van der Merwe

Has modern technology killed the spy thriller?  That’s the question put forth by Charles Cumming in his recent piece in the Guardian. Mr. Cumming presents a good case that modern technology makes the classic spy thriller all but impossible today.  Cell phones and tablets make it far easier to track and warn people than just a few decades ago.  Meanwhile, the internet allows background check of potential spies with a few clicks of the mouse.  As Mr. Cumming’s writes any spy better have “his online banking and telephone records look authentic, that his Facebook page and Twitter feeds are up to date; and that colleagues from earlier periods in his phantom career can remember him when they are contacted out of the blue by [agents] who tracked them down via Linkedin.” Otherwise, he’s dead.

What is a good writer to do given technology’s game changing nature?

While my novels wouldn’t fall within the international spy genre, there are aspects of my thrillers that overlap with these stories.  Here’s what I have done to deal with the rapidly changing technology universe.

First, I’ve put my characters in places where technology doesn’t work. In my first novel, Unleashing Colter’s Hell, the story takes place in Yellowstone National Park. While Yellowstone’s cell coverage is “improving” there are many places in the park which are and will remain cell dead spots.  This lack of technology access levels the playing field for both hero and scoundrel. Minimizing any advantage either may have. In addition, while technology can be strength and used for evil, Unleashing Colter’s Hell reveals that relying too much on technology can be an Achilles heel.

Mr. Cumming rightly points out that historic spy thrillers relied heavily on the undercover spy to move the plot. Agents like James Bond easily moved in and out of countries, changing personas like he changed tuxedos.  This ease of movement, allows the hero to always be one step ahead of the bad guys. But today, it would be nearly impossible for Bond or his adversaries for that matter; to do this given anyone with a laptop and Wi-Fi access can check out a backstory. This fact may mark the end of the “secret” agent, who flies in on a moment’s notice, infiltrates the enemy organization through deception and witty banter. He flies out undetected once he finds his prize often with the girl in tow. More and more, this type of operation goes to special forces’ units like the Delta force and Seal teams, who rely more on speed and firepower to retrieve the prize.

Yet, secret identities are still an important plot device. But unlike the past, they must be built and maintained over a much longer time period. In Unleashing Colter’s Hell and my new novel Lost Cause, the villains have crafted their alter egos over decades rather than a few days.  They have spent years building a public profile that can easily pass all but the most intensive background check. 

This long-term covert operation is far more chilling, than the “fly-in” undercover operation, because it assumes several things. First, extensive planning to launch the operation was carried out by the spy. Extensive planning requires thought and calculation, as well as, resources and organization that the spy of old may not have had. More planning, gives the villain a greater possibility for success.  Long-time frames also allow authors to invent crimes with greater pay offs, far reaching ramifications, and unprecedented mayhem. Yet, even more sinister is the fact that an indefinite undercover operation requires the villain to develop deep conviction, patients, and discipline in order to achieve his/her goal. These facts make for great story devices upon which to hang the plot. The villain is truly committed to the cause.

But technology isn’t all bad. My characters often use technology in ways to push the drama along. For example, the thriller Lost Cause centers on a relic that once belonged to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The relic is believed to be the source of the General’s power and would give the finder the power to launch the next Civil War. A domestic terrorist group races across America unleashing terror and murder in a desperate hunt to find the item. Park Ranger Grayson Cole is ordered to stop them. Both villain and hero alike use phones, computers, and online search engines to uncover information that leads them to their ultimate goal.  This information retrieval would have taken weeks, if not months to discover even just a few decades ago. Obviously, nearly instantaneous access to the world’s collective knowledge can have extreme benefits to the thriller story teller.

So, does modern technology kill the thriller? It doesn’t have to.  Rather, like the opening of the 1970’s TV show the Six Million Dollar Man, technology gives authors the ability to write thrillers that a better, faster, stronger.

Where should Grayson Cole go next?

Mount Rainier National Park

Lost Cause, the second Grayson Cole thriller, is just weeks away from publication! The novel is a page turning story about a search for a relic that once belonged to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Legend has it the relic was the source of General Lee’s power. Park Ranger Grayson Cole is in a bloody race to stop the Confederate League which is hell bent on acquiring the relic and using its power to start the second Civil War.

The thriller is set in numerous national park sites including well-known sites like Gettysburg and Antietam.  But it also visits lesser known sites like Fort Monroe, Wilson’s Creek, and Fort Pickens.

Lost Cause is the follow up to the bestselling thriller Unleashing Colter's Hell.  That story was set in Yellowstone national park and it about a terrorist attempt to detonate an atomic bomb in Yellowstone, igniting the world’s largest super volcano.

I love national parks because they protect some of America’s most iconic, historic, and beautiful places. The parks contain plenty of exotic and familiar places within which to set dramatic, nail-biting thrillers.

I’ve already begun writing Need to Know the next Grayson Cole thriller which is set in Mount Rainier national park. Mount Rainier is one of the oldest and best known national parks in the world.  But few people realize that while Roswell is believed to be the site of the first UFO sighting, it was actually Mount Rainier National Park in 1947. Presto, I have the theme and location for the next story.

That got me wondering about other park historical tidbits or coincidences that might make great stories, great settings for the next thriller.

So dear reader, where should Grayson go next? Please leave your selection and brief explanation why in the comment section.

Thanks!

Unleashing Colter's Hell: Cover Contest Semi-Finalist

November 23, 2013: Unleashing Colter's Hell is a semi-finalist in the Authorsdb cover contest.  The thriller is one of 16 chosen out of the more than a 130 covers submitted in the mystery, thriller, and suspense category. 

The semi-finalists are listed alphabetically here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find Unleashing Colter's Hell.  Give it 5 Stars!

Unleashing Colter's Hell's recognition in the Authorsdb cover contest follows the novel's winning the Reader's Favorite 2013 Gold Medal in the mystery and thriller category.

Unleashing Colter's Hell makes a great gift, get the award-winning thriller here.

Former Park Ranger wins Readers' Favorite Gold Medal

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sean Smith 206-818-4041

 

Former Park Ranger wins Readers' Favorite Gold Medal

Unleashing Colter's Hell awarded medal in Fiction ~ Thriller ~ Terrorist Genre

 

October 1, 2013: Reader's Favorite announced the winners of its 2013 International Book Award Contest today.  Unleashing Colter's Hell, a political thriller set in Yellowstone National Park, won a gold medal in the Fiction ~ Thriller ~ Terrorist genre. The list of winners can be found here: http://readersfavorite.com/2013-award-contest-winners.htm  Scroll down to the Fiction ~ Thriller ~ Terrorist to find Unleashing Colter's Hell.

 

Unleashing Colter's Hell was written by Sean Smith, a former Yellowstone Ranger.  Mr. Smith draws upon his personal experience and natural story telling skills to weave a terrifying thriller that critics have called "compelling" and "plausible."

 

The book has been Amazon's #1 "Park Ranger" Thriller and an Amazon Top 100 Terrorist Thriller. It can be found here: tinyurl.com/coltershell.

 

Mr. Smith is currently working on Lost Cause, a follow up thriller to Unleashing Colter's Hell. The hero of Unleashing Colter's Hell, park ranger Grayson Cole, is at the center of a conspiracy that dates back to the Civil War.  It's a chase to find a relic owned by Robert E. Lee that is believed to have the power to start the second civil war.  The book is expected for release in 2015, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War's end.

 ##############

 

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/10/prweb11114743.htm

Readers' Favorite 2013 International Book Award Contest Results

Readers' Favorite is proud to announce the winners of our 2013 International Book Award Contest, which consisted of thousands of entries from nearly a dozen countries.

• Readers' Favorite is proud to help recognize some of the best new books of 2013                  

Hawesville, KY (PRWEB) October 01, 2013

Readers' Favorite is the fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Penguin and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. In addition to providing free reviews to authors who range from the first-time self-published author to seasoned professionals like James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks, Readers' Favorite also hosts a respected annual international award contest to help authors obtain more recognition and exposure.

The Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest receives thousands of submissions in 100 genres from independent authors to publishing giants, with contestants that range from self-published authors to New York Times bestsellers and celebrities. Authors have entered from all over the world, including nearly every US state and a dozen countries.

Readers' Favorite is excited to announce the results of their 2013 International Book Award Contest, which celebrates some of the best books of 2013 from today's newest authors. Please visit 2013 Award Contest Winners page to view all of this year's award winning books. Each award winner features a review and information about the book and its author, including video trailers, author biographies, and social media links.

A perfect thriller: my secret formula

September 13, 2013: I have been enjoying political thrillers for most of my life.  I am entirely enamored by a good thriller, one with intrigue, drama, political twists and turns.  A great political thriller must start with great politics. A realistic political plot is the foundation upon which the entire story rests. A thriller can have all the remaining attributes of a great story, but if it gets the politics wrong end of story.  

What do I mean by getting the politics right? It's setting up plausible scenarios, ones that are possible not only physically but also politically. Starting from this point is a sure sign the author has done his/her homework.  An author can kill ones suspension of disbelief quick if they present a political event that is impossible, say the House of Representatives rejecting a treaty or the president enacting legislation unilaterally. Get the politics right and the rest is icing on the cake.

I am less drawn to the explosions and car chases of traditional thrillers.  They often leave me tired and often fail to push the story line in any real way. However, I recognize explosions and car chases have there place.  But give me well written political intrigue and I'm happy. A hanging threat in my book is far more terrifying than the actual violence.

I also like thrillers that muddle the bad guy. Thrillers that make it hard to suss out the actual villain are particularly appealing.  Again, its far more terrifying if evil could be anyone, rather than the mustache twisting cliché.  I am also drawn to villains that have motivations other than doing pure evil. The villains in their own mind can rationalize their violence. This approach makes the reader more likely to relate to the villain and in my book make their use of violence more tragic, more powerful. 

Thrillers that portray the hero as less than perfect are also intriguing.  A hero that must defeat the bad guy, but also overcome his/her own shortcomings makes them more believable and their effort more heroic. Heroes that are perfect lack drama. Where's the suspense in a hero that can't lose and has no flaws?

So here's my formula for a great thriller. Start with great and believable political intrigue/drama/twists and turns, minimize the car chases and explosions, throw in a complicated bad guy, and add a less than perfect hero. Voila, a perfect thriller.

Here are a few of my favorite thrillers.

What are your thoughts on a perfect thriller?

Books to take outdoors

May 24, 2013: It's the Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer.  Many people will be heading to the woods, the beach, or the lake for the holiday. I too have spent many a memorial day relaxing in the great outdoors.  One thing that makes this time so wonderful is the opportunity to read a great book.

If headed to the National Parks this weekend, may I suggest you take a copy of Unleashing Colter's Hell with you?  It's a fun, roller coaster ride of the thriller.  A great escape from the real world. 

Here is a short list of other great outdoor reads.

Encounters with the Archdruid
Three vignettes on David Brower, the father of the modern environmental movement.  Great sketches of the passion and skill David Brower brought to the environmental movement.

Illusions
Novel that investigates what we call reality is merely an illusion we create for learning and enjoyment.
 
Angels and Demons
Dan Brown’s best Robert Langdon novel.

Undaunted Courage
Comprehensive review of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Gives one appreciation for the ultimate camping trip.

What books are you reading this memorial day?

Writing Fiction? Doing things we can't do in reality

May 21, 2013: One of the fun things about fiction, is writing about things and events we are unlikely to do in reality.  For example in Unleashing Colter's Hell, I created a president and his administration.  In the novel, John Paine is the President of the United States.  He is required to deal with foreign and domestic terrorist threats, a possible volcanic eruption, and the pending death of his best friend and Vice President.  It's all in the life of a commander in chief.  One of the ways I attempt to make President Paine more real to the readers is to give him a history and hint of the values that guide his decisions.

Tradition holds that presidents decorate the cabinet room with four portraits of their favorite presidents from the national gallery of art.  Which portrait the president chooses to hang gives some indication of what values and leadership style his plans to emulate.

In Unleashing Colter's Hell, President Paine chose the portraits of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Truman, and Clinton.  Paine appreciates Lincoln's laser like focus on saving the Union, Roosevelt's attention to the future, Truman's remaining humble and an "every man" even while the White House, and Clinton's deft political skill.

Who would you pick for your cabinet room?

Purple and Gold Shout Out for Unleashing Colter's Hell

May 7, 2013: The spring edition of the Purple and Gold, the alumni magazine of Chi Psi fraternity has a nice piece on my novel.  See the page image below.  Thanks to Chi Psi for their great coverage of my thriller.



Chi Psi Purple and Gold Spring 2013

New Research: Yellowstone volcano larger than previously thought

April 18, 2013: New research out of the University of Utah shows the magma chamber under Yellowstone national park is bigger than previously thought.  What's more, scientists believe the molten rock in this chamber is rising at an unprecedented rate displacing the surface crust.  Knowing the size of the chamber and the rate at which magma rising can help gauge the size of a future eruption. 

Past Yellowstone eruptions have buried much of the Midwest in tens of feet of ash and blotted out the sun for weeks.  If Yellowstone were to have an eruption similar to its most recent blast, it could literally be the end of the civilization as we know it.

Read Unleashing Colter's Hell for my take on what might happen if this volcano were to erupt, and who would want that to happen.

Here is a great info graphic on the geology of the Yellowstone caldera.


Source: OurAmazingPlanet.com: Infographic: The Geology of Yellowstone