The Emerald Isle

Novel explores past for energy sources

What would happen if the world abandoned the growing demands of oil for a new source of energy?

Emerald Isle resident Henry Gorham explores the outcome of that possibility in his first novel, “Secotan: An Alternative Energy Novel.”

Released in April, this mystery novel takes readers through four centuries and beyond the boundaries of Wall Street, the oil industry capital of Texas, research facilities in coastal regions of North Carolina, the deserts of the Middle East and an island in Belize in a quest to find alternative energy. Gorham said that his purpose for writing “Secotan” is to raise awareness about potential energy solutions while weaving it through an entertaining story.

“I’m not a die hard environmentalist but for anyone who has spent time with the estuaries and the rivers and sounds in North Carolina, you have to respect and be in awe of how balanced it really is and it’s important to preserve the bounds of the ecosystem.”

Gorham grew up in coastal North Carolina exploring the local rivers for artifacts as a child, a memory which inspired one of the fictional settings in his book. The story begins in 1714 in the remote Indian village of Secotan, where a mysterious substance is transformed by the village shaman to create light. His beautiful daughter crosses cultural boundaries and engages in an unlikely romance with a colonial leader of the nearby Bath Colony.

“The most fun I had was writing about the Indians in early days… there’s a scene in a swamp where alligators consumed some people, and is always a scary piece of the book,” Gorham said. “That segment was the most fun to write because it flowed and I felt excited when I wrote it.”

The story fast forwards to almost 300 years later, where two researchers discover a secret energy source that could threaten billions in profits the world’s major oil companies in the midst of a shortage for oil-based energy. The researchers find themselves in a battle with their enemies when the secret is discovered.

Gorham is already working on a sequel to “Secotan” which is scheduled to be released in December. With a background in business and career in law, Gorham decided that writing was a new avenue that allowed him to use his love of the waters near and far to spark critical thinking about energy sources.

“I’ve always had a desire to write and I decided to have fun and create an interesting read that really made people think about potential energy shortages and not wait for another crisis,” he said.

Culinary Adventures on the Emerald Isle « Tart to Heart

Did you miss me? That was a fairly long separation we had there. I hope you coped all right. But I have returned! After traipsing around Ireland for two full weeks, I am back in Seattle, jet lagged and perhaps a bit more plump. What can I say? The food was good. Excellent, really. And I may have overindulged a bit. Just a tad. Okay, maybe a lot. But it was for research purposes, I tell you. I had an obligation to report back to you about the Irish cuisine! Here are some things I learned: