Rick Bahlinger's new disaster novel, "Mother Nature Hates To Lose," is not just a work of fiction. It is a stark warning about a potential manmade catastrophe that could occur at the Old River Control Structure (ORCS) in the Mississippi River basin. Bahlinger, an engineer with roots in South Louisiana, has spent five decades researching the vulnerabilities of this aging network of locks and dams. His conclusion: a major flood, drought, or failure in these waterways could severely disrupt domestic and international shipping, and the petroleum infrastructure in the area is particularly at risk. Geopolitical and economic authorities have labeled the region "America's Achilles Heel."
The novel's plot centers on a conspiracy involving drug cartels and corrupt politicians who aim to create a disaster at the ORCS, where three rivers converge in south Louisiana. The primary characters include Beau Bonnet, Chief Engineer at the ORCS; his wife, Rachelle, a Louisiana State Senator; and Rene "Buster" Champagne, a DEA agent and Beau's best friend. As the story unfolds, they must stop the conspirators before the resulting economic and environmental disaster makes Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill look like minor incidents. Tens of thousands of innocent people could die, and billions of dollars in property could be destroyed.
Bahlinger's inspiration came from a visit to the ORCS about 50 years ago with his father-in-law, who worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and conducted periodic inspections of the structure. That visit sparked a deep interest in the potential consequences of a failure. Over the years, Bahlinger conducted extensive research, including studies by professionals at LSU, and consulted with family and friends in Louisiana. His engineering background helped him understand and describe the technical aspects of the story accurately.
"The more I researched, the more I realized just how big this disaster could be, not just environmentally, but economically, and, most importantly, enormously destructive to real people," Bahlinger said. The novel is a reminder that while natural disasters cannot be prevented, manmade ones often can. Bahlinger warns that people may conspire for personal gain, but Mother Nature has been patiently waiting. Mankind thinks it's winning, but ultimately finds out that Mother Nature Hates to Lose.
"Mother Nature Hates To Lose" is available from Amazon.com or wherever books are sold. Total Publishing And Media, which offers full book writing, editing, and marketing services, supports the novel. For more information, visit Total Publishing and Media.
