THE STATE TRILOGY A-Z GUIDE: Z

My A-Z theme this year is a guide to my trilogy of novels called ‘The State Trilogy’. Set in an unnamed island country known only as ‘The State’, in the imagined near future, the books follow the intertwining stories of a number of characters, principally a State police detective named Danny Samson and an assassin, Gabriella Marino, over a period of six years. It begins with the assassination of an elected official and spirals into revolution and civil war. Part political thriller, action story, war story and dystopian science fiction, the trilogy took three years to complete and the books are available to read now – you can find links to purchase them HERE

In The State Trilogy, ‘Z’ stands for:

Zeb: Zeb is a member of Gabriella and Danny’s ragtag band of mercenaries who survive in Central City during the civil war, caught between the warring State army and rebels. He is close friends with Rodrigo. They both fought for the rebels at the start of the civil war, but left when they disliked the actions taken by the rebel leaders. He is a strong man, his physical strength and imposing figure are his main attributes, but he is also intelligent and good-humoured and helps to keep morale high within the group.

Zhonghua Republic: Roughly equating to present day China (Zhonghua is the Chinese name for China). One of the two superpowers in the world with the Civil American States, and after the nuclear attack that splits the States in two, the only surviving superpower. Blamed, incorrectly and for political purposes, by the States for the nuclear strike, Zhonghua is drawn into conflict when the States and her Allies retaliate against Zhonghua. Although initially innocent, Zhonghua, like the Allies, sees the benefit of being involved in a drawn out conflict and becomes complicit in the ongoing war.

And that’s the end of my A-Z guide to my State Trilogy novels. Thanks to everyone who has read the posts, especially those who have stuck with it for the whole month, and for all the comments and likes. I know one or two readers have picked up the books already, and I hope the guide will be useful in helping to inspire more to pick up the books and read them. If you are reading the books do get in touch with me and let me know what you think, or leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads etc. It’s been fun to look back and revisit the stories and characters. The guide will remain on my blog in the future for reference.

All the entries in the A-Z of ‘The State Trilogy’ can be found HERE

The books are available from a wide selection of online retailers, including AMAZON

48 responses to “THE STATE TRILOGY A-Z GUIDE: Z”

  1. […] Next up – Z is for: Zeb and Zhonghua Republic […]

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  2. Congratulations, Iain! Well done – this was not only a savvy marketing idea, but by introducing your characters and settings to potential readers, the payoff will hopefully be grand. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Martha, glad you liked the posts and stuck with them to the end 🙂

      Like

  3. I enjoyed reading your posts and the way you broke down your novels. One of my fondest hopes is to visit Scotland someday. I would’ve done it by now had the pandemic not intervened. Wishing you all the health, happiness and success.

    Susanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Susanne. I hope you manage to get to Scotland one day soon! 🙂

      Like

  4. Hari OM
    I am so glad to have met you through this challenge, Iain – and love that your posts have been entertaining and informative and have managed to NOT come across as the ‘hard sell’!!! I shall be sticking around, for I also admire your flash fiction skillz and will definitely feedback when I get the books read!!! YAM xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! Glad it didn’t come across as a hard sell, as I wanted to avoid that – I’m not a fan of authors that push their work that way either! – and thank you for all the comments and encouragement. The flash fiction will be ongoing. Lovely to have met you too, will be popping over for your final letters later on – and I hope you like the books when you read them after all that! 🙂

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  5. What an interesting series Iain. Now I know how much work is involved in writing novels, I’ve decided not to have a go myself!

    Time for normal service to be resumed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha – a wise decision Keith, I’m still not sure it’s worth the time and effort, but I enjoy doing it!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I read through to the end of book 1 last night, partly because I wanted to know what would happen and also so I could say I read to the end today. This has been a fun April. I need a minute to think if I like the book or not. Very visceral toward and all too believable. I really want to see where Danny and Gabriella go after All That but that plot twist was like OMG need a minute. Well written, especially the bad people part. Biting my tongue to not say more.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Good effort to get the book finished during the A-Z month! Glad you thought it well written and are intrigued to find out what happens next – hope you will keep going with the next one. Thanks for reading the posts as well as the book and all your comments 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. This has been an awesome and informative effort!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I’ve enjoyed getting oriented to your series very much and think it was a brilliant idea to do this for A2Z. You’ve convinced me to read at least the first book (this is not my usual genre to read, so that’s saying a lot) and plan on buying it at some point.

    “Z” Tull:

    A2Z 2021 Jethro Tull Songs Day 26 — CraZed Institution, from Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you – glad I convinced you to give it a try!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Good job! You put so much into your posts (and your novels). Congratulations for making it from A to Z.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much Lisa

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  10. Wow, what a journey you took us on this month. My husband devoured the first book (he liked it immensely) and he’s moved on to the second one.

    I’ve enjoyed your posts… well-written and interesting! Congratulations on completing the A to Z Challenge!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow, onto the 2nd one already! So pleased he is enjoying them, and thank you for following my posts and all your kind comments 🙂

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  11. What a great way to promote your work, Iain. Congrats on finishing the A to Z.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Janet 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. You’ve done much hard work on your books and now the A2Z posts! Well done! I’ve enjoyed reading about the characters and places, and listing them in alphabetical order was a big help. Thanks for a great theme! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much for taking an interest and following the posts 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Bridgina Molloy the Wicked Writer, (aka abydos6) Avatar
    Bridgina Molloy the Wicked Writer, (aka abydos6)

    Congrats on completing the A2Z challenge.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank s so much for visiting Bridgina

      Like

  14. Congratulations on your A to Z! I’m excited to investigate your books. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Lynette – I do hope you decide to give them a go and let me know how you get on. Thanks for visiting and reading the posts 🙂

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  15. Your foresight of the cause of war between the states and Zhonghua Republic is a bit too prescient, Iain. Hopefully, it remains fiction. Congratulations on completing the AtoZChallenge2021. We made it!
    https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Gail, for stopping by and your comments and encouragement – I hope most of my books remain fiction too!

      Like

  16. So sad, and not unrealistic, that a country could get involved in a war because it benefitted them in some way. Weekends In Maine

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think most countries probably get involved because it will benefit them. Very sad.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Well done; you’ve gained new readers of your blog and books, while providing entertaining and interesting insights into your trilogy.
    Congrats on going from a to z! Thanks, too, for dropping by.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Lorraine 🙂

      Like

  18. I didn’t see it as a hard sell but once I had read enough to want to buy a copy, I didn’t want to go on reading the blog for fear of spoilage. I like to see where the story itself takes you…
    It has been great to meet you this way and I thank you for all the helpful comments – I hope we will stay in touch. Congratulations for making it through. I didn’t achieve the stated goal but it has developed my thinking. My book is about a utopia and finding the flaws in it – yours is a dystopia but
    I am wondering what the background message will be…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great to connect too, and will be watching out for your book.

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  19. A world divided into US/China centered coalitions seems pretty plausible. Congratulations on completing the A to Z challenge. I’ve enjoyed exploring and building dystopian worlds with you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Shari, enjoyed our two themes running alongside each other and sometimes coming together 🙂

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  20. Congratulations Iain, and big thanks for offering us this interesting and thorough insight into your trilogy. What amazes me is that you managed to do that without giving spoilers (it felt more like teasers to me), and what amazes me even more is that it seems to me that you have now written the story twice. It must have taken a lot of time and effort to break it up to present it in bits and pieces, without giving too much away.
    It’s also been interesting to get to know how you think about your characters, what you wanted to achieve or avoid when you developed them.
    I know I haven’t read all your posts yet, so I hope to come back in May to catch up.
    Again, thanks for a great A to Z experience!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Little teasers was the idea, and a guide that can exist on my blog for any readers that might stumble across it. It was a good way to finish off the writing, look back and reflect on it – and now onto the next thing!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Congratulations on finishing the challenge Iain. While I didn’t make it to all your posts, I think you’ll be happy to know I’ve finished A Justified State and am moving on to State of Denial. Most excellent, and I’m hooked. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s fantastic to hear Deborah, so pleased you enjoyed the first one and are hooked! Do let me know how you get on with the rest! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  22. It was a very clever way to run your challenge, the entries you choose are telling just enough of the context and story to not spoil the book, and to get curious about it!
    Thank you for this great and entertaining challenge!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by during the month. I’m glad you enjoyed the posts 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Hey Iain, I will need to go back to read the ones I missed. Zhonghua is the Chinese name for China…I learned something new today. Congratulations for completing the AtoZ challenge. I’m a little behind with my comments but I sure hope we can encourage each other throughout the year by popping in for a visit now and again. And can’t wait for another round next year. By then you will have another book to promote!
    Have a great day!
    Cheers,
    Crackerberries

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! Will be lovely to keep in touch 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I did too! Pick up the books – got the Kindle version! Looking forward to reading those!
    Good work on the A-Z series Iain! Congratulations on another great year!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fantastic, hope you enjoy. Do let me know what you think of them 🙂

      Like

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