THE KOLTSOVO LEGACY

A psychopathic terrorist is about to unleash weaponized Ebola, The Black Death of the 21st century, on the U.S.

Only Richard Wainwright holds the key to stopping the attack. And he’s wounded, wanted for murder and being hunted by a German hit-woman.

So goes The Koltsovo Legacy, my next novel, due out in September 2012. Unlike Eyewall, it’s not about weather. But like Eyewall, it’s based on fact.

Koltsovo is a real place, a settlement near the southwestern Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, and home to the Koltsovo Institute of Molecular Biology. During the Cold War, the institute was a factory of death.

The novel, however, is set in contemporary times. And although the Russians tell us the institute is engaged in only peaceful research now, there are legacies of its Cold War research–terrifying bioweapons–that still lurk in the shadows, seeding the dreams of those bent on birthing nightmares.

But here’s what I’m most concerned about at the moment: How do you pronounce Koltsovo? Up until the time I signed a contract for the novel, I didn’t worry about it. But when my brother asked me that question the other day, I realized I didn’t really know. I decided I’d better find out.

I thought it would be a straightforward research gig, but it took me almost 40 minutes of slogging through the wilds of the Web to find the answer.

It’s KULT-suv-oh.

Just in case you ever need to know.

July 21, 2011