James Houston Turner honored with fourth Finalist Award for his novel, The Identity Factor

LOS ANGELES -- "Ludlumesque" novelist James Houston Turner was honored with his fourth finalist award by USA Book News in their prestigious 2008 Best Books Awards. "I was thrilled to receive recognition against such tough competition," says Turner, a Kansas-born author who lives in Adelaide, South Australia. "The competition for my novel was extremely tough. Books from small publishers went up against books from big name authors from the major New York houses, so this is an awesome accomplishment and I'm definitely celebrating my victory."

Turner was also approached by a Los Angeles producer to write a television show based on his life as a smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain, but he turned it down because of other commitments. "The Identity Factor is being adapted as a feature film and I am one of the collaborating screenwriters," he explained.

Turner based much of the archaeological foundation of The Identity Factor on his Master's Degree research at the University of Houston. Other finalist awards for The Identity Factor include The Indie Excellence Book Award (Beverly Hills, California), The Eric Hoffer Award (Titusville, New Jersey), and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (Detroit, Michigan).

Set in Austin, romantic Cairo, Jerusalem, Washington, and San Francisco, The Identity Factor opens with the 1919 discovery of an ancient Egyptian tablet in the Sinai Peninsula, only to disappear then reappear in modern-day Cairo, where it becomes the centerpiece in an elaborate change-of-identities scheme by the phantom terrorist, Abu Nazer. Hot on Abu Nazer’s trail, however, is rookie profiler Zoë Gustaves. But Zoë soon finds unexpected antagonism from – and attraction to – charming Texas journalist, Rutherford Tyler, who is hot on the scent of a good story. Or is he? Because the deeper Zoë digs for answers about Abu Nazer’s identity, the more she finds those around her are not who they seem.

In addition, Turner's previous novel, The Second Thirteen, an espionage thriller, has also been optioned for film through his production company, 2 Oz Productions.

###

About the author:

A former smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain, James Houston Turner received his Bachelor's Degree from Baker University and his Master's Degree from the University of Houston. His first writing assignment was for the Dr Pepper soft drink company in Dallas, Texas, with his professional career being launched with the publication of his potato cookbook, The Spud Book (St. Martin’s Press, New York), which saw him cooking potatoes for television audiences across America, including appearances with celebrities Regis Philbin and Pat Boone. After working as a journalist in Los Angeles, where over 130 of his interviews with victims of abuse and misfortune were published in "Lifeline," the magazine of the Union Rescue Mission, Turner began writing fiction. Diagnosed with cancer while living in San Diego, he flew to Australia for a life-saving operation, where he was told if he survived eighteen months, he would probably live to be one hundred. "That was in 1991, so I am happy to report I am well on my way toward that goal," he says.

Aria Publishers
PO Box 109
Edwardstown, SA 5039
Australia
Contact: Derek Cooper
admin@ariapublishers.com

Author's website: http://www.jameshoustonturner.com

This release was published on openPR.