The Defect by Jeff Bailey, a Collectors Item

Deer Hawk Publications released the terrorist thriller novel, The Defect, in early June 2016. Amazon included the print and Kindle versions of the novel on Amazon’s website the next day. Amazon re-designated the print version ‘temporarily unavailable’ a week later. The publisher will make some editorial and formatting corrections and re-release the book the last week in June 2016. I know that Amazon sold some copies of the print version prior to the change of status. I know this because I bought a copy before the sales freeze.

I know of only three copies of the novel that sold and shipped during that first week. I can’t believe my good fortune. I own one of three known copies of first edition defective printing of a first novel of a new author. Someday, if I become, (let me rephrase that) when I become a rich and famous author, these rare first edition print copies might really be worth some money. Of course, we’re a long way from fame and fortune.

The book in my library is like a coin minted with an error and then recalled by the government. The fewer the coins, the more valuable the coins. I know of only three shipped copies. More copies may have been shipped. I just don’t know. The easiest way to identify a misprint is to look on the acknowledgement page. One of the errors was that the name of the cover designer was omitted. I understand, but haven’t verified for myself that the illustrators name will be included in all subsequent printings. If you own a copy of The Defect by author Jeff Bailey, it might be worth a look. If you own one, please, let me know. I’m really curious how many were shipped.

As I said, I’m a first time author, so I don’t know all of the processes of book distribution. However, I can’t help but wonder if there are more copies the misprinted version floating around a warehouse or distribution center somewhere waiting to be purchased. I have decided that if there are more copies if this collector’s edition, I may try to buy them. At the very least, they may attract an investor following on EBAY.

If there are any new developments in the story of the Collector’s Edition of The Defect, I’ll keep you posted in a later blog.

                                  The Defect is real life suspense drama centered at a commercial nuclear power plant in Southern California in 2013. The operating crew is preparing for a refueling shutdown. Brian Sing, one of the main characters, is an operations shift supervisor and will have overall management responsibility for the shutdown. Brian’s new friend, Lenell Spector is an Administrative Assistant at the plant. Lenell Spector has noticed several disturbing anomalies in the plant security databases. A terrorist cell, led by ‘Josef,’ has selected the destruction of the power plant as its next objective.

                The method of sabotage is based on the real-life nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania. The sequence of events and method of destruction in The Defect are the same as the ones stated in the final press release for the Three Mile Island accident. The Defect is a fictional account of what might have been the real story of Three Mile Island accident and the cover up that followed.  Elements of the story were also taken from the documented attack on the Watts Barr Nuclear Power Station by an armed gunman who escaped the facility by boat.

                The two-part climax of the story is a description of the sequence of events of the melt down itself and a discussion by the FBI Senior Agent in Charge of the investigation as to how the cover-up would work and why it was necessary.

My name is Jeff Bailey. I write nuclear thrillers for a reason, I’ve worked in nuclear related industries, from nuclear weapons to nuclear research, for fifty years. Deer Hawk Publications released my first book, The Defect in June of 2016. In The Defect, I tell the story of a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant and why the government covered it up. The Defect is based on true events. Deer Hawk Publications is scheduled to release I’m a Marine in May of 2017. I’m a Marine is about a female aviation firefighter in the U.S. Marines who witnesses the murder of two M.P.s. She decides that it is her duty to stop them. Keep in mind that I write nuclear thrillers. The Chilcoat Project, to be released in spring of 2018, is about the theft of nuclear weapons secrets from a national laboratory. The Chilcoat Project is also based on true events. My current project, Wine Country, is based on the true story of the Radioactive Boy Scout, but with a more sinister twist.

While I infuse my nuclear resume into my stories, I base the stories themselves on true events from everyday news items. The Wikipedia account of Three Mile Island says that the failure of an air pilot valve contributed to the accident. In The Defect, the defective air pilot valve is the hero.