Book: The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

[John Moore]

I just finished reading The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum. This novel just came out, and storm chasers will enjoy it greatly.

Reading this enjoyable book, I noticed everything about storm chasing was portrayed accurately and in depth. The personalities, the slang, the meteorological terminology and situations... it was all perfect. I thought the author was either the best researcher ever for a novelist, or a storm chaser.

She is both, having been chasing for 5 years or so (not clear in the book).

I highly recommend this novel. It is not an adventure book about storm chasing - it is a novel about human beings, most of whom chase storms. The characters are rich and convincing - if you are an experienced storm chaser, you will encounter yourself or someone you know numerous times in the narrative. If you are familiar with bipolar disorder, you'll also recognize its accurate and gripping portrayal, as this disease, not uncommon in storm chasers in my experience, plays an important role in the story.

Jenna Blum did a great job. This book will take you chasing, introduce you to fascinating folks whom you will know well by the end, and engage you in a very human drama.

Jenna, thanks for the great novel! I hope to run into you out on the plains.

 

[Karen St John]

I've read it, too. I think it is first rate!

 

[beaudodson]

I am reading the book now - can't hardly put it down. Just a nice book to read on a lazy summer day!

 

[Jarrod Barnett]

Link to purchase??????

 

[Mike Smith]

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Stormchasers-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279203402&sr=1-1

Chad Cowan is probably too modest to tell everyone that he helped Jenna with the meteorology.

I enjoyed the book, also.

 

[Frank Kienast]

Jenna chases each year with one of the chase tour companies. I see she is planning on chasing in 2011 as well for anyone that is interested. Not trying to advertise any company here - this is just something I ran across when I was looking at chase tours.

Frank

 

[Jane Herbert]

I'm reading it for the 2nd time...it's helping me cope with SDS in the Australian winter till we get back out on the plains next year. A great read and very well documented and written!!

 

[Jenna Blum]

Many thanks!

Hi, everyone:

Only generosity of this magnitude could make me overcome my severe Stormtrack shyness to post this inaugural message. For years I've been reading your posts and looking at your photos/ videos in awe, hoping I'm picking up knowledge by osmosis. My biggest fear when The Stormchasers was published was that I'd incur the wrath of the Stormtrack community for getting the details wrong. That this hasn't happened is due in large part to Chad Cowan, who read the manuscript several times for meteorological accuracy. Photographer Marcia Perez, my Tempest chase partner (we've been tailing Tempest Tours for five years as their "media consort") and Martin Lisius, Tempest president, also proofread drafts (and Marcia supplied the cover storm and author photo). And I've been privileged to learn about chasing from Kinney Adams, Chris Gullickson, Bill Reid, Brian Morganti, and Scott Weberpal, to name a few. I can't say enough good things about these guys and Tempest (all true!). They saved my life--quite literally, on one occasion--and taught me everything I know about severe weather.

I'm also much obliged to Mike Smith, whose nonfiction book WARNINGS is amazing, and to all of you for taking a chance on my novel. Thank you for reading and for your kindness. I hope to meet you all on the Plains, preferably under a meso.

Happy chasing,
Jenna.