RUAPEHU: A NOVEL OF NEW ZEALAND

A community of a few thousand surround Ruapehu, one of the most active volcanos in New Zealand, catering to the mountain's ski fields and local economy. Ken Ryan's visit to his aunt's home at the foothills of Ruapehu is interrupted by an earthquake atop a viaduct where he meets Maya Richardson, an attractive American photojournalist on assignment to document people living near volcanos. As a romance begins to build between them, she suddenly goes missing. A Maori friend, Brodie Savennu and the family Weimaraner help in the search as the volcano begins to stir and they find evidence of foul play. Science, culture and native myths come to life in this exciting story that emphasizes the value of all life atop a thin crust around a sphere of liquid metal that is our Planet Earth.