{"id":340,"date":"2023-05-19T09:27:05","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T09:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/ajh\/?page_id=340"},"modified":"2025-12-11T10:38:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T10:38:00","slug":"vortex-on-vertu-prime","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/?page_id=340","title":{"rendered":"Vortex on Vertu Prime: #3 in The Portal Adventures"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-color: #ffffff; border-style: solid; background-color: #ffffff;\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"border-color: #ffffff #cccc99 #ffffff #ffffff; border-style: solid;\" width=\"30%\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-248\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/VortexOnVertuPrime-400x600-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/VortexOnVertuPrime-400x600-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/VortexOnVertuPrime-400x600-1-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;\"><a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-clemhorn-nightfall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/4jdQNj\"><span class='mb-text'>Order from Your Favourite Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>or from your local bookstore<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/peasantrypress.com\/index.html\">Published by Peasantry Press<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-color: #ffffff #ffffff #ffffff #ffffff; border-style: solid;\">\n<h1><i>Vortex on Vertu Prime<\/i><\/h1>\n<h2>by<\/h2>\n<p>Andrew J Harvey<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"center\">Book 3 of<br \/>\nThe Portal Adventures<\/h3>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">The last thing Tania needs is someone else telling her what to do. Her mother does enough of that already! But during a school trip to the museum, she somehow finds a bossy, alien teddy bear called Edward, who decides to adopt her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">When Tania, Edward, and her friends, Mark and Windracer, join Tania&#8217;s mom on Vertu Station, they get to stay at a 5-star hotel in part of the planet&#8217;s sole remaining arcology; a massive, pyramid-shaped, self-contained city. After archaeologists accidentally activate an alien temporal warp generator, Tania, Mark, Windracer, and Edward are thrown backward through time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">With Edward&#8217;s power reserves dangerously low, it is up to the three friends to reach the generator and turn it off\u2014before it destroys the planet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">Vortex on Vertu Prime, the exciting third book in The Portal Adventures Series, invites middle grade readers to join Tania, Mark, and Windracer in a new adventure with new friends.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_-WIWWF370Y\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Praise for <i>Vortex on Vertu Prime<br \/>\n<\/i>Book 3 in the <i>Portal Adventures<\/i><\/h2>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">Fun blend of mystery, science, and time travel on an alien world \u2026 with a well-calculated balance of humor, action, and suspense ideal for middle school readers.<br \/>\n<i>Donna Sundblad<\/i> (Author of Dragonborn)<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">A magnificent science fiction adventure&#8230; It&#8217;s Young Adult, but older readers of SFF will enjoy the world, tech, and excellent characters.<br \/>\n<i>Chris Roy<\/i> (Amazon bestselling children&#8217;s author)<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">A fun experience &#8230; a really creative sci-fi premise!<br \/>\n<i>Julia<\/i> (Goodreads &amp; Amazon Reviewer)<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">I LOVED Edward, the alien teddy bear,\u00a0Edward is so cute, and OMG, so fun<br \/>\n<i>Carola Schmidt <\/i>(Award-winning author of kids&#8217; cancer books)<i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">Edward&#8217;s backstory \u2026 is sci-fi perfection<br \/>\n<i>Henry Roi\u00a0<\/i>(Goodreads Reviewer)<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\">Whimsical. Funny. A page-turner! &#8230;\u00a0All the characters are well-built, but Edward is special!<br \/>\n5 well-deserved stars!<br \/>\n<i>Kristy Kloster\u00a0<\/i>(Goodreads Reviewer)<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerindent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-351\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/ajh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/EdwardAndTania-300x277.png\" alt=\"Tania, a young girl, holding Edward, a teddy bear.\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/EdwardAndTania-300x277.png 300w, https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/EdwardAndTania-768x709.png 768w, https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/EdwardAndTania.png 1008w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr valign=\"top\">\n<td style=\"border-color: #ffffff; border-style: solid;\" colspan=\"2\">\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Chapter One<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania stared at her reflection in the mirror-smooth finish of the stasis field on display in front of her. Distorted by the spherical shape of the field, her nose seemed enormous. Bringing her face closer to the globe she opened her eyes as wide as they\u2019d go and poked out her tongue.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There, just on the edge of the globe! She spun around, but whatever it was had already dodged out of sight. She\u2019d caught sight of it out of the corner of her eye in the last room, but it had disappeared back into the shadows before she could see what it was. Whatever it was, though, it wasn\u2019t very big.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cTania!\u201d It was her teacher, Ms. Denfry. \u201cPlease pay attention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Three of the other girls started giggling, but Tania ignored them. As Ms. Denfry turned her attention back to what the guide was saying, Tania rolled her eyes. The museum guide was sooo boring! Why didn\u2019t he say anything about what the stasis bubble might have in it, or about the people who built it? Who cared that the bubble had been found in the Vertu system thirty-two years ago! Boringgg! She wasn\u2019t the only one who thought so, and she smirked as she saw Susan and Helen giggling over something on Susan\u2019s tablet. Charles Montgomery was the only one taking notes, which wasn\u2019t surprising. Charles was so full of himself.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cAnd of course, this is the room the stasis bubble was stolen from two nights ago,\u201d the guide said. \u201cThe stolen bubble was an exact twin of the one you see before you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania perked her ears up. This was more interesting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cAre there any more questions before we go to the next room?\u201d the guide asked.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Bored again, Tania\u2019s attention had drifted back to what was following them, which seemed to have retreated into the shadow cast by a display case near the door.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">With Ms. Denfry\u2019s attention firmly fixed on the guide, Tania edged her way backward out of the group. She reached the back of the class just as the guide started to move the class on, and quickly dodged back behind a large stone column.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Once everyone else had left the room, she peered around the edge of the column. Whatever it was, it was still hiding in the shadows and hadn\u2019t moved. Cautiously, she made her way along the case then stopped, puzzled. Nothing was there. Well, there was a chair in the corner with a teddy bear sitting propped up against one leg, but no sign of anything that might have been following them. It was quite a cool-looking bear, with short matt black fur and the most gorgeous looking golden-brown eyes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Bending down, she examined the bear, which looked back at her stoically. \u201cAnd who do you belong to?\u201d she asked softly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear seemed to consider the question for a moment, and then slowly blinked\u2014twice!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania took a step backward, before looking around to see if anyone had noticed, but the room was still empty. She took another step backward; ready to run, then stopped. The teddy bear was trying to stand, but his legs seemed too weak to support him and he was using the chair to pull himself up.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">He didn\u2019t seem very dangerous. In fact, he looked as if he was on his last legs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cAre you all right?\u201d she asked, kneeling down.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The teddy bear shook his head.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cCan I help?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear nodded once. It seemed to struggle to say something, but it was too quiet to make out, and Tania bent closer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI can\u2019t understand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear held out a paw to her, and tentatively Tania reached out and touched it. Its fur felt as soft as silk; in contrast, the inner pads of its paws were quite rough and cool to the touch. The bear\u2019s paw closed gently on her hand, softly holding onto two of her fingers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cUp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The voice was so clear that Tania jerked her hand back, looking around to see who had spoken. She was still alone, however, and when she looked back, the bear was looking at her pleadingly, his arm still stretched toward her.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tentatively, Tania reached out to him again. Again the bear\u2019s paw closed over her fingers, and again the voice urged, \u201cUp!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cIs that you?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cUp,\u201d the voice urged again. Tania had the impression of being loved and protected, and without thinking she gathered the bear into her arms. He was heavier than he looked, more like a large cat than a stuffed toy. For a moment, he lay stiff and lifeless in her arms. Then with a soft sigh he relaxed, molding himself to her body. Impulsively, she buried her face in his fur. He smelled of rosemary and oven-fresh bread.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cOut!\u201d the voice demanded imperiously.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania pulled back and studied the bear, which returned her gaze impassively.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI don\u2019t suppose you\u2019re going to tell me what all this is about, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cOut,\u201d the voice simply repeated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania frowned but the bear just closed its eyes. Despite that, she had the feeling it was still watching her.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Straightening carefully, Tania stood up and looked around. Her absence from the class hadn\u2019t been noticed yet, but it probably wouldn\u2019t be much longer. She looked down at the bear cradled in her arms.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cOut!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cYeah, yeah, I know\u2014out,\u201d she muttered. Talk about bossy. She had the feeling she was going to regret this but if she headed back to the entrance, she could probably put the bear into her school bag before anyone noticed. \u201cHappy with that?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There was silence, which Tania took as a \u201cyes\u201d.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The attendant at the cloak room gave her a strange look when she reclaimed her bag, perhaps wondering what a girl of her age was doing carrying a teddy bear, but Tania simply ignored her. Sitting down on the bench just inside the museum entrance, she opened her bag and looked inside. Luckily, she\u2019d left her tablet at home today because of the field trip so the bear should fit in. She pulled her lunch box out, put the bear into the bag and replaced the box. There was a muffled \u2018oomph\u2019 as the box landed on the bear, but Tania purposely ignored it and zipped the bag closed before settling back to wait for her class to turn up.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">She didn\u2019t have long to wait. Nikita\u2019s giggling could be heard at least two rooms away and soon the hall swirled with life. Somehow, her absence hadn\u2019t been noticed and she didn\u2019t have to explain what had happened, which was disappointing because Tania had worked out a perfectly good excuse she\u2019d wanted to try.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">She managed to keep her curiosity under control until she got home at four. Her mother wasn\u2019t due home till six, so she had the house to herself for a couple of hours. After pulling the bear out of her school bag, she propped him up against the pillows on the bed and sat down on the floor to study him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear returned the gaze without blinking and Tania wondered if she had imagined it. It took her a moment for her to remember it had been touch that allowed her to hear the voice. Hesitantly, she reached out and touched the bear. Its paw was even cooler than she had imagined it and she wondered if he was dying.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cHelp me.\u201d The voice was now the merest hint of a whisper.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cWhat do you want me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For a moment she was watching the bear, and then in a blink, the bear had disappeared, she was sitting on the bed, and someone was knocking on her bedroom door.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Shocked, she stared at the place on the bed where the bear had been.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cTania, you in there?\u201d It was her mother.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">A glance at the clock showed her it was five o\u2019clock. \u201cYeah, come in.\u201d Somehow she\u2019d lost an hour.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cYou all right?\u201d Mrs. Martin asked, looking at her with concern.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI think so. I must have been daydreaming. What are you doing home so early?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI\u2019ve got some packing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Her mother had the grace to look embarrassed. \u201cThe company\u2019s picked up a new maintenance and security contract for Vertu Station and they need me to set it up for them. I\u2019ve got to leave in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cMom!\u201d Tania wailed. \u201cWhat about Mark and Windracer? They\u2019re due next week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI know it\u2019s bad timing, sweetheart, but I don\u2019t have any choice. I thought you might bring them with you when they arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania was about to complain again when she suddenly realized what her mother had said. \u201cBring them?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Her mother sat down on the bed next to her. \u201cMr. Vincent agreed the company would put the three of you up at the Station and would pay for you to join me when school winds up. I know you were looking forward to showing Mark and Windracer around Sydney, but I thought you might be OK with this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cThe company must really want you out there,\u201d Tania said, trying to work out what she actually felt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cThey do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cAre Mark and Windracer going to be allowed to join us?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI\u2019ve already spoken to Mark\u2019s parents and his father is going to clear it for Windracer as well, but he doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cWhat am I doing till they get here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cMr. Vincent\u2019s offered to have you stay with his family. His daughter\u2019s still at college so there\u2019s a spare bedroom. And he\u2019s agreed to have his chauffeur pick up and deliver you to school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cHe has a chauffeur?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cHe lost his license about six months ago for speeding. The company is paying for the chauffeur.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cKewl.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Her mother frowned. \u201cProbably not. But it will only be for a week, until school\u2019s finished, and then the three of you can come up and join me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cWhy can\u2019t I just go with you tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cIt will take me a couple of days to sort out our accommodation at the Station. It sounds as if the previous contractors just pulled out and left a complete disaster behind them. Give me a week and you\u2019ll have my undivided attention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania snorted at that idea. Mom was a workaholic. But she could put up with that if Mark and Windracer were with her.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cIs it OK?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania nodded, not prepared to make it too easy for her mother.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cThanks. So, what do you want for dinner? Pizza?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cPizza will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cOK. I\u2019ll pack three bags for you. One I\u2019ll take with me, another for you to take to the Vincents\u2019 place, and a smaller travel bag for you to bring with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Her mother looked at her, obviously trying to work out how happy she actually was. Tania returned the stare levelly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Reaching out, her mother ruffled her hair and stood up. \u201cPut everything you want to take with you on the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cOK.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania surveyed her room after her mother left her. What did she want to take? They\u2019d been here in Sydney for almost a year and a half now, the longest they\u2019d stayed anywhere since her father died, but the room still looked as though she was only visiting. She kept everything she really cared about in the locked case under her bed. It was pathetic, she thought with a sigh.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Bending, she peered under the bed for the case and caught sight of the teddy bear propped up in the farthest corner. He surveyed her without blinking. His paw rested on the tangle of power cables that powered her computer and stereo.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI was wondering where you\u2019d got to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear blinked at her slowly, before indicating the two small cables protruding from the back of his paw and plugged into one of the empty sockets. \u201cI am recharging,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cYou can speak!\u201d she squeaked in surprise.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear nodded, once.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cHow long will it take?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cFive point six hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cSo what are you?\u201d she asked, lying down to get a better look at him, thinking he did seem to have a little more energy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI am a bodyguard,\u201d he said, importantly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cAren\u2019t you a little small for that?\u201d The picture of him wearing dark glasses and an earplug almost started her giggling.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear looked hurt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cSorry,\u201d she said, trying to not to smile.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI was designed as a bodyguard for children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cWho by?\u201d At least that didn\u2019t seem <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">so<\/span> ridiculous.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear shrugged. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. It was a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d His eyes were shadowed. \u201cA very long time ago,\u201d he offered finally.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cSo what happened? Why were you at the museum?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear looked at her for a moment. \u201cI failed to protect the one I was guarding. When she died, her mother put her in a stasis bubble and placed me in its twin to guard her; a task she believed I had failed to achieve in life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cThat seems a little unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear shrugged, and the silence stretched on uncomfortably.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cSo what happened?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cMy power cells must have fallen below the level required to maintain the field. Normally the field is set to allow just enough power through to trickle charge the power source, but something must have gone wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cSo when your battery ran out the field collapsed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cWhen did that happen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cTwo nights ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Tania remembered what the guide at the museum had said about the theft of the twin to the globe still on display. That must have been the bear\u2019s. So it hadn\u2019t been stolen.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cTania!\u201d It was her mother.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cComing, Mom!\u201d she called over her shoulder. \u201cI have to pack,\u201d she said to the bear. \u201cWill you be OK for tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The bear stretched out and touched her hand with his paw. There was a sense of warmth and belonging that left her feeling safe and secure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cI will see you in the morning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And if that wasn\u2019t a dismissal, Tania didn\u2019t know what was. Wriggling backward, she worked her way back from under the bed, pulling her suitcase after her, already thinking about what she needed to pack.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>About The Author<\/h2>\n<p>ANDREW spent his high-school years in the school&#8217;s library lost in the worlds of Andre Norten, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. Reading in turn led to writing, with the first draft of the Garden Adventures originally completed to read to his two sons at night. Now his children have left home he lives in Perth with his wife, one dog, and sixty four gold fish.<\/p>\n<p>Andrew&#8217;s first published short story (<em>A Messenger to the Dragon<\/em>) appeared in Aurealis &#8211; Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1992. In 2016 he signed a three book deal with Canada&#8217;s Peasantry Press for a series of three young adult (middle grade), action Science Fiction adventures. The open ended series is a combination of Caroline Lawrence&#8217;s Roman Mysteries and Andre Norton&#8217;s juvenile speculative fiction.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4 class=\"center\">VORTEX ON VERTU PRIME<\/h4>\n<p class=\"center\">Book 3 of the <i>Portal Adventures<\/i><br \/>\nThe moral rights of Andrew J Harvey to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted.<\/p>\n<p>All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author or publisher.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2023 Peasantry Press<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; or from your local bookstore Published by Peasantry Press Vortex on Vertu Prime by Andrew J Harvey Book 3 of The Portal Adventures The last thing Tania needs is someone else telling her what to do. Her mother does enough of that already! But during a school trip to the museum, she somehow finds &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/?page_id=340\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Vortex on Vertu Prime: #3 in The Portal Adventures<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-340","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=340"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":700,"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/340\/revisions\/700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewjharvey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}