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What exactly is a math thriller?

“What exactly is a math thriller?” I hear you say.

Well, I would say a good math thriller is one where you’re so engrossed in the story, you probably don’t even realize you’re learning life-relevant mathematical concepts.

Sure, there are lots of math novels about famous historical mathematical figures, an assortment of highbrow mathematical literature and many excellent books that touch on a few mathematical topics. But what about a rip roaring action thriller, stealthily filled with mathematical concepts (note I say concepts, not formulae or rules) that will benefit any member of society?

“I’ve never heard of anything like that,” I hear you say. And you’re right – there is not a single, mass appeal (think thrilling storyline, lots of action, tension, drama) mathematical novel in existence.

That’s what this project is about – to create and successfully distribute the world’s first novel filled with (stealthy) mathematical learning. Who will enjoy and/or benefit from the world’s first math novel? – millions of readers, hopefully including you.

Project Aim

The aim of this project is to create a story that does for math what The Da Vinci code did for religious history conspiracies, what Harry Potter did for wizardry, and what Twilight did for vampires. I would argue that most of the millions of readers who picked up The Da Vinci code had no specific interest in learning about religious history. Instead, they wanted, and got, a thrilling and captivating detective story. That they, along the way, learnt a lot of (sometimes incorrect) history, was somewhat incidental.

Readers of the world’s first exciting math novel will be drawn into a thrilling and captivating detective story replete with violence, betrayals, high drama and sacrifice. This book is one that will sit comfortably among the mass market paperback thrillers you see in airports and bookstores, by authors like Matthew Reilley, Anthony Horowitz, and Dan Brown.

But, rather than just containing escapism, readers of my novel will also learn the most important mathematical concepts required for a person to be a responsible and critically thinking member of society. And I don’t mean stuff you necessarily learn in school – there’s no calculus in this book, because an average adult member of society doesn’t need to know calculus.

Instead, the book is stealthily filled with illuminating examples of mathematical concepts that people need on a daily basis like statistical significance and probability. The stuff one needs to see through the lies and deception spun by politicians, conmen and advertisements every day. The basic concepts required to make sound financial decisions, and to understand and manage risk appropriately. To know that even if you have a small advantage over the casino, there is still a good chance that you will eventually go bankrupt.

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Project Team

Project Leader: Dr Michael Milford

Academic and Lecturer: My day-job is in academia, where I’m a Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology. I’ve have a successful career so far, having made some significant scientific breakthroughs, publishing 60+ manuscripts including a complete book, and personally winning more than $600,000 in prestigious national and international grant and fellowship funding. I’ve had more than a decade of experience writing in an academic context at the very top international level, and have an estimated 300,000 published words, involving more than a million words in drafts and rewrites. And I teach students who often have little mathematical background how to excel at complex topics like Robotics. Unlike many stories about depressed office workers quitting to become writers, I love my day job. Working a normal job, having a healthy and rewarding family life and running entrepreneurial projects on the side has been my way of life for the last 13 years.

Educational Writing and Publishing Background: Probably more importantly, I’ve also run an educational self-publishing business for the past 13 years, since I was 18 years old. During that time I’ve produced three innovative, unorthodox educational textbooks targeting high school mathematics, physics and English. Together these titles comprise in excess of 300,000 words. They’ve sold more than 6,000 physical and online copies around the world in places including Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, India, South Africa, Norway, Canada, the USA and Australia, to name just a few. In certain bookstores, they even outsold Harry Potter. Well, at least the first book, not the entire series 🙂 Writing and producing the books from initial concept to final bookstore and online distribution gave me extensive experience in how (and how not) to successfully write, edit, produce and publicize a book. You can see a sampling of the extensive media coverage these titles received in the national (including The Australian and the national current affairs show Today Tonight) and local media.

Testimonials

Here’s a selection of testimonials from readers of my books (you can read more here):

• Michael, student: “I have been struggling in maths all my life as I missed out on the basics in primary school as a result of changing schools. I would like to take this time just too sincerely thankyou for going out of your way to produce something (Complete School) that has and will help people, like myself, who have been struggling. You have given me new found energy to wake up in the morning and go to school and maths in particular. Thankyou.”
• Chris, student: “…after getting your surviving Maths B book, my teacher asked if I could get a copy of the order form to photo-copy and make it so that it was known and available to the senior maths B students… even the head of the maths department is encouraging that this book should be taken advantage of by all the maths B students. P.S. – Thank you for making maths a hell of a lot more bloody easy!, LOL”
• Laura, student: “The book was great reading, I loved how it all sounded so simple. It helped me a lot…I also purchased your physics book and it is also fantastic…”
• David, student: “I recently purchased both of your books and I just wanted to say how much help they have been to me in such a small amount of time. I am currently in year 12 and last year I failed physics and only barely passed Math B. this year I think with the help of your books I can get a high in math B and at least pass physics I already grasp from your books 2 of the sections I failed last year.”
• Belinda, student: “I recently purchased your book and absolutely love it. I don’t know what I would have done without it. I only wish that I had it last year in Year 11.”
• Julie, mother: “I have two of your books for my children in Year 9 and 10. Not a C Minus and Painless Physics…Your books are fantastic.”
• David, teacher: “…great idea…has a conversational style about it, not impersonal like many textbooks.”
• Chris, tutor: “…I recently bought a copy of your book (‘Not a C-‘) for my younger brother…I was thinking of recommending it to the head of maths at . As I also tutor there I will also recommend your books to my students, although it may put some of my colleagues out of a job! When do you hope to release your junior maths book? Well, congratulations on some fine publications…”
• Catherine, student: “A few months ago I purchased your book ‘Not a C minus’ and it has been a great help with my maths B…”
• Debbie, mother: “We have had Not a C Minus for this term (my son is in Year 11 and doing Maths B) and have found the book very useful…”
• Joey, student: “I have your book Not a C minus and am finding it to be enormously helpful in my study of the subject.”
• Debbie, student: “I would just like to thank you for writing the terrific book, “Not a C Minus”. The book explains things better than my Maths B teacher does and it is exactly what I need to get me through the otherwise dreaded Maths exams.”
• Kristiana, student: “My name is Kristiana… My mum recently bought your book hearing that it was the latest fad and that it would help me etc. Me, being the stubborn person I am said yeah, whatever. However, today I am having problems graphing polynomials so I decided to check out what your book had on offer. It is pretty good…pretty damn good actually-good on ya mate.”
• Lauren, student: “I just want to say that your book Not A C Minus is awesome and so helpful! I am in grade 10 this year and I have to chose subjects for grades 11 and 12… Your book has shown what it’s all about and it’s helped me to decide the maths subjects…”
• Tara, student: “Thankyou so much for showing me an easier way to understand Algebra and Trig, your book (Complete School) is easy to follow and explains what my teachers don’t , I was struggling to understand and asking my teachers got me no where, my mum got your CD and Book and now I have gone from a C+ to a A- for extended Maths. Even my Teachers are asking me about your book.!…a big Thankyou”

Panel of Expert Mentors and Advisers

Most importantly, I have professional writing help. You may have noticed a lack of creative writing experience in the above text. That’s because, while I was a creative writer during my school years, it was only three years ago that I got the writing bug again. So I hired a professional writer to mentor and train me at creative writing. We’ve been working together to transform me from an academic writer into a creative writer. In addition, I’ve been reading book after book in my target genres. And beyond writing assistance, I will be growing a team of creative people involved in aspects of the project such as movie production and public relations.

Click here if you want to download the chapters straightaway!

So Where’s the Project At?

The novel has been completed and is well into the first round of revisions. The first draft clocked up at an (intentionally over length) 128,000 words, 38 chapters and 398 single spaced pages (see the picture below for the completed draft and the storyboard).

The second revised draft is currently being completed and will be significantly shorter (and more intensely entertaining) than the first draft.

How To Get Involved

If you’re interested in the idea, the best way you can help out is to read the preview chapters, and get the word out. 90% of the challenge with innovative projects like these is getting enough public support, and that’s where you can play a big role.

If you are or know a successful literary agent or publisher who might be interested, please ask them to get in touch with me, or let me know how I can get in touch with them.

If you’re in the TV or movie business, then you may be interested in the movie shorts we are creating of some of the more memorable (and stealthily math filled) action scenes in the book.

If you’re a creative illustrator, director or animator interested in collaborating on movie and book cover creation, please get in touch.

Sincerely,

Michael Milford, Phd

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Comparison to Other Educational Mediums

The image below shows the potential benefits over existing educational media of an exciting math novel. We’re not trying to replace the traditional schooling everyone receives (it’s hard to beat a fantastic teacher), but to supercharge it by providing a memorable and exciting story against which these major mathematical concepts can be firmly entrenched in one’s head, especially for those who have struggled or are currently struggling at school.