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PJ SKINNER

Author Website for PJ Skinner

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Ecuador 1991-1995

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In 1991 I started working for myself and with the help of some funding set up a small project washing gold placers. We never made any money because the gold price was $250 and the machinery constantly broken down, but it was an intense and interesting time.

  • The Team
  • The village
  • Cockfighting
  • Countryside
  • Threshing the sugar cane
  • Panning
  • A fish trap
  • Digging the gravel
  • Washing plant
  • Welding new teeth on bucket
  • A good day
  • Gold bar

The experiences from my eight years in Ecuador form the basis for the background materials for my first two books, Fool’s Gold and Hitler’s Finger. I am writing a third book based in Ecuador at present. It will be called the Bonita Protocol and you can pre-order soon.

Ecuador 1987-1990

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In 1987 I went to work for my uncle in Ecuador. He couldn’t afford to pay me, but I didn’t care. Getting a job as a female geologist in those days was a pipe dream. I hoped some real experience and fluent Spanish would help me rise above the prevalent sexism of those days. It was an amazing time, responsible for turning me into the adventurer I am now. The more I discovered, the more I wanted to travel and explore. Did your first job inspire or deter you?

I wrote the first two books in the Sam Harris Adventures using material from my early Ecuador years. Fool’s Gold uses the jungle settings I first worked in. The idea for Hitler’s Finger sprang from a report about Nazis in Ecuador which truly shocked me as I had no idea about Ecuador’s Nazi past. The characters are mostly generated in my imagination but Gloria and Alfredo are based on people I know and love, one of whom is no longer with us.

First Work Experience

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I have recently been asked to elaborate on my career and talk about how it influences my novels. We are going to take a tour through my career so that you can understand where my novels spring from. Here is a photo of me on my first foreign field trip during my MSc. Note the glamour and my expression of hopelessness. It was in Cyprus that I first realised just how tough the life of an exploration geologist was going to be. It was also the first time I appreciated the breadth of experiences available to me if I was brave enough.

I’d love to see photos of your first jobs. Post on my facebook page or on my twitter feed

The Bonita Protocol

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Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great Holiday Season. I have started writing the next book in the Sam Harris Series, The Bonita Protocol. It’s Book 5, believe it or not. I should be ready to publish it in July.

Book 6, Digging Deeper, will follow shortly after and the last book in the series will hopefully be published by year end.

Meanwhile why don’t you give The Pink Elephants a try? It has nine 5* reviews on Goodreads already. I’d love to hear what you think. Here is the universal link so you can chose your favourite bookstore.

Brussel Sprouts and The Pink Elephants

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Brussel sprouts? Yes or No? I love them, but they have to be crunchy, not soggy. Let me know about your favourite Holiday foods.
Don’t forget to buy your discounted copy of The Pink Elephants. The first reviews are in.
5* A terrific read! This author writes with an incredible descriptive flair; makes you feel like you are right there. A definite 5 star
5* This series just gets better.
Sam is really coming into her own and its exciting to see her take on the challenges of a male-dominated business and win. The plot keeps you guessing to the end as to who can and cannot be trusted. The fact that some of Sam’s adventures are based on real life experiences of the author makes it an even more interesting read.
Available on preorder at a discount until 25th of December
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The Pink Elephants Preorder for 25th of December

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The Pink Elephants is available for Pre-Order

Problems are mounting in the Masaibu project – Can Sam Harris solve them all or will she have to choose?

Geologist Sam Harris gets a call in the middle of the night that takes her to the Masaibu project in eastern Lumbono, in West Africa. The project is collapsing under the weight of corruption and chicanery engendered by management, both in country and back on the main company board. Sam will have to navigate murky waters to get it back on course, not helped by interference from people who want her to fail.

When poachers invade the elephant sanctuary next door, her problems multiply. Can Sam protect the elephants and save the project or will she have to choose?

The Pink Elephants is a classic adventure with a strong female protagonist, exotic locations and a dash of humour.

Get it Now at a discount