Authorpreneur Dashboard – Barbara Hanson Clark
Polar Deception
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
In 2050, a world without rare earth minerals runs like it’s 1985.
And Thwaites—the infamous Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica—has collapsed. Submerged coastlines and yesterday’s technologies are the new normal. But deep beneath Antarctica’s frozen landscape, revolutionary magnetic crystals hold the key to restoring the fractured digital age. There’s just one problem—with Thwaites gone, mining them will unleash a catastrophic chain reaction, shattering Antarctica’s ice, and reshaping Earth’s future forever.
Dr. Carlos Perez doesn’t care. Prestige and profit are all that matter. After collecting crystal samples at a Chilean research station, he murders three colleagues under orders from his Chinese buyer—then hides the samples until he can cut a new deal. To avoid detection, he returns to the facility aboard a pleasure cruise.
Also aboard is Diana Harris, a recently widowed sustainability advocate with a background in geology, traveling with her spirited best friend, Angie. Diana hopes for healing—but after she stumbles upon a mysterious red crystal and a trail of hidden agendas, she’s pulled into a deadly conspiracy. The CIA is watching. China is listening. And Carlos is ready to kill again.
When Diana and the other campers are left stranded in the icy wilderness, the countdown begins. A rare cyclone is closing in. The truth is cracking through the ice. And Diana must summon her strength to stop a man-made disaster that could redefine civilization.
The truth lies beneath the fracturing ice.
And if it surfaces—nations will kill to control it.
Book Bubbles from Polar Deception
- Why Greenland Matters Now More Than Ever
Polar Deception is set in Antarctica, a place of stark beauty on a continent not owned by any one country but governed by a treaty intended to preserve a fragile ecosystem. Human presence in Antarctica is temporary and regulated. But as headlines increasingly turn toward Greenland, the world’s second‑largest reserve of ice, I think about the profound differences. Greenland is not an empty frontier. It is a homeland. Though it is an autonomous territory of Denmark, the Inuit, who have inhabited the region for thousands of years, define its identity through their culture, knowledge, and connection to the environment. Their history is not something that can be bought, claimed, or negotiated away. It is living, rooted, and enduring. As I move into Book 2 of the Crystal Connections Series, set in Greenland, I’m carrying that awareness with me. The climate crisis is already an unwelcome force here, and the idea that its people must also fight those seeking to disrupt their way of life and steal their resources—because that’s what it’s always about—is nothing short of horrific. If Polar Deception explores what happens when ambition collides with the last uninhabited continent, the next book will ask a different question: What happens when that same ambition arrives in a place people already call home.
The Lure of Power and Greed
Carlos Perez represents all that is wrong with the world—the relentless lure of greed and power at any cost. Carlos first takes advantage of a naive scientist’s enthusiasm for the research possibilities to gain access to them, then hides them to double-cross his prospective buyer—China. Such actions mirror those taken in real life by those who are ethically challenged with unchecked ambition. We know from history and current events that when such people have the power to act, it leads to endless suffering for the masses and ongoing damage to our only home in the universe. At its heart, Polar Deception is the story of Diana—a smart, adventurous woman who has endured more than her share of personal tragedy: emotional damage from her childhood and the loss of both her mother and husband within a span of only a few years. It’s a story about resilience, inner strength, and finding the courage to stand up to someone like Carlos who she meets aboard the ship.
A Great Read for the Holidays!
Looking for a fast-paced thriller set in a remote location to load onto your kindle this holiday season? Look no further. According to Literary Titan's 5-star review, "Polar Deception . . . felt like a blend of the high-stakes environmental urgency of The Day After Tomorrow and the globe-spanning intrigue of The Da Vinci Code while carrying the character-driven emotional weight you’d find in The Martian." It features a smart, adventurous woman who has endured more than her share of personal tragedy: including the loss of both her mother and husband within a span of only a few years. It’s a story about resilience, inner strength, and finding the courage to stand up to someone like Carlos who she meets aboard the ship. Carlos represents all that is wrong with the world—the relentless lure of greed and power at any cost. Carlos first takes advantage of a naive scientist’s enthusiasm for the research possibilities to gain access to them, then hides them to double-cross his prospective buyer—China. Such actions mirror those taken in real life by those who are ethically challenged with unchecked ambition. When such people have the power to act, it leads to endless suffering for the masses and ongoing damage to our only home in the universe. In this story Carlos attempts to impact humanity profoundly, justifying that it was for the ‘greater good.’ But he was wrong. Can Diana take that power away from him to maintain the status quo?
My journey into Polar Deception
I wrote Polar Deception after my own experience in Antarctica and also because of my familiarity with the world’s dependence on China for rare earths. With China once again threatening to withhold rare earths, the premise of my story seems like a terrifyingly real possibility. I’m also concerned about the climate crisis and monitor news on Thwaites Glacier, which will collapse and cause two feet of sea level rise. At its heart, Polar Deception is an emotionally charged journey of a grieving widow who must confront her fears and insecurities to lead a group of stranded campers to safety — and stop a madman whose vision threatens to ignite a global crisis. Her struggle mirrors the larger question I wanted to explore: how do we balance innovation with responsibility when the stakes are survival itself? The Literary Titan reviewer captured this balance when they wrote: “The story delivered high stakes, a fast pace, and characters who stayed in my head. I’d recommend Polar Deception to readers who enjoy eco-thrillers, survival stories, and science-driven mysteries. It felt like a blend of the high-stakes environmental urgency of The Day After Tomorrow and the globe-spanning intrigue of The Da Vinci Code while carrying the character-driven emotional weight you’d find in The Martian.” That’s exactly the tension I wanted readers to feel — urgency, humanity, and the haunting reminder that salvation can carry its own peril. I hope you will pick up a copy of Polar Deception soon. Please let me know what you think. barbarahansonclark.com
The Future is our Past
China, the leading global producer of rare earths, has recently threatened to withhold rare earth minerals from the US. Such minerals are needed for our modern tech. In the opening chapter of Polar Deception, the world is desperate for a replacement. It's 2050 and a world without rare earth minerals runs like it's 1985. But Carlos Perez believes he's found an answer to the world's problems. The Tibbs Crystals, discovered beneath the Antarctic ice, possess magnetic properties far exceeding those of rare earths. But their potential comes at a cost. Mining in Antarctica is prohibited, and the glaciers are dangerously unstable following the collapse of Thwaites Glacier, a real world glacier poised to collapse and raise sea levels by two feet. Carlos doesn't care. He's driven by ambition, legacy, and a desire to restore the modern era on his terms—even if it means killing to control the crystals. Enter Diana Harris, a widow with a geology background who ends up on the same cruise to Antarctica as Carlos. The CIA is watching and China is already one step ahead. This isn't just a thriller. It's a cautionary tale about resource scarcity, scientific ethics, and the seductive power of technological salvation. As global tensions rise and supply chains falter, Polar Deception asks: What happens when the solution to one crisis becomes the catalyst for another?
The Future is Here
With China and rare earths in the news once again, the premise of my story is terrifyingly on point. China is the leading global producer of rare earths and home to the world's most abundant supply. But demand is growing faster than the available supply. Experts estimate that at our current rate of usage, rare earth minerals may be depleted in less than one hundred years. Neodymium and terbium in particular are expected to be in short supply within the next decade. However, this timeline may be significantly reduced by unstable geopolitical conditions triggered by global disruptions, such as pandemics and trade wars. In the opening chapter of Polar Deception, the world is desperate for a replacement—and Carlos Perez believes he's found one. The Tibbs Crystals, discovered beneath the Antarctic ice, possess magnetic properties far exceeding those of rare earths. But their potential comes at a cost. Mining in Antarctica is prohibited, and the glaciers are dangerously unstable following the collapse of Thwaites Glacier. Carlos doesn't care. He's driven by ambition, legacy, and a desire to restore the modern era on his terms—even if it means killing to control the crystals This isn't just a thriller. It's a cautionary tale about resource scarcity, scientific ethics, and the seductive power of technological salvation. As global tensions rise and supply chains falter, Polar Deception asks: What happens when the solution to one crisis becomes the catalyst for another?
The Future is Here
With China and rare earths in the news once again, the premise of my story is terrifyingly on point. China is the leading global producer of rare earths and home to the world's most abundant supply. But demand is growing faster than the available supply. Experts estimate that at our current rate of usage, rare earth minerals may be depleted in less than one hundred years. Neodymium and terbium in particular are expected to be in short supply within the next decade. However, this timeline may be significantly reduced by unstable geopolitical conditions triggered by global disruptions, such as pandemics and trade wars. In the opening chapter of Polar Deception, the world is desperate for a replacement—and Carlos Perez believes he's found one. The Tibbs Crystals, discovered beneath the Antarctic ice, possess magnetic properties far exceeding those of rare earths. But their potential comes at a cost. Mining in Antarctica is prohibited, and the glaciers are dangerously unstable following the collapse of Thwaites Glacier. Carlos doesn't care. He's driven by ambition, legacy, and a desire to restore the modern era on his terms—even if it means killing to control the crystals This isn't just a thriller. It's a cautionary tale about resource scarcity, scientific ethics, and the seductive power of technological salvation. As global tensions rise and supply chains falter, Polar Deception asks: What happens when the solution to one crisis becomes the catalyst for another?
