Location: United States
Member Since: May 05, 2014

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Ann Bridges

Biography

CONNECTING GENERATIONS THROUGH NOVEL IDEAS

Dynamic novelist Ann Bridges is a native of Chicago who fell in love with Silicon Valley while earning her B.S. degree from Stanford University. Settling in San Jose, she embarked on a challenging career spanning operations, finance, and marketing executive positions in the exploding convergence of the technology, communications, and entertainment industries.

Years of intimate business experience earned in the diverse world of Silicon Valley form the foundation of Ann Bridges’ addictive, intelligent fiction. She captures real-world elements and balances complex plots with genuine characters and provocative twists in a literary style that appeals to both genders.

Her "Silicon Valley Series" of novels redefine contemporary suspense by blending her unique insider’s knowledge of Silicon Valley within the framework of sexy, fast-paced, international thrillers depicting China’s growing influence on America’s economic powerhouse.

Her debut novel, Private Offerings, was named Best Business Fiction of 2015 by Wealth Management Magazine. San Jose Mercury News and Upside journalists, as well as fellow businesspeople, acclaim it for its authenticity and timeliness. Its sequel, Rare Mettle, tackles the controversial issue of global free trade juxtaposed against rising political tensions. Ringing endorsements from industry experts and military insiders validate her fictional account of the critical significance of rate earth metals to our 21st century lifestyle and national security.

Her latest novel, Kit’s Mine, exposes the plight of immigrant Chinese and native Californios fighting injustice in 1870 post-Gold Rush California. It is the first in the historical "Daring California Series" of untold stories of Northern California's immigrants.

Ann Bridges is a featured speaker at leading business conferences and universities, talking about the impact of technology worldwide and the need to better understand the role of China in our past, present, and future. She is also a frequent guest on national radio shows sharing insights on today's Silicon Valley and the issues affecting today's consumers and investors.

Smashwords Interview

What's the story behind "Private Offerings"?
Given the impact of China on today’s world stage, I felt it only right that we try to understand what drives both the individuals and the government policies, both past and present. My debut novel, “Private Offerings“, thrusts the reader into the world of Silicon Valley’s Holy Grail--the Initial Public Offering, or IPO. This is where the small entrepreneur hopefully makes his riches by selling shares of his company to the public via Wall Street and the stock market exchanges. Unfortunately, very few companies succeed at the levels dreamed about.

I sweated through the grueling process of bringing a company public as a marketing executive in a Silicon Valley start-up earlier in my career. The stories of the ones that don’t go public and why captured my interest, so I juxtaposed the motivations of the company founder with the motivations of others riding on the back of this 21st century’s money making machine. “Golden California” lives up to its name once again!

When Wealth Management Magazine named it 2015 Best Business Fiction, I was thrilled. Their professional readership advises clients on what to and not to invest in, so having their endorsement means I accomplished my goal of de-mystifying the process, as well as making it a fun read.
What is the link between the two "Silicon Valley" novels?
My second Silicon Valley novel, "Rare Mettle", picks up where "Private Offerings" leaves off, with the focus on Kay Chiang and Paul Freeman. In this story the stakes between the US and China are greater, focusing on the importance of a limited supply of Rare Earth Metals. Rare Earths are used in the most sophisticated military equipment as well as our solar and flat-panel technologies, which are becoming part of our day-to-day lives. Unknown to many, China controls virtually all of the world's purification and processing of the world's supply. How the US negotiates with this rising superpower, and what the implications are in terms of political will and the political freedom of the Chinese people, is what I tackle in this story, set both in Silicon Valley and many parts of China.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Ann Bridges online

Website: http://AuthorAnnBridges.wordpress.com
Twitter: @abridgesauthor
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annbridgesauthor/
Blog: http://AuthorAnnBridges.wordpress.com

Where to buy in print

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Bridges/e/B00V7D9VAE/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Books

Rare Mettle by
Series: A Silicon Valley Novel, Book 2. Price: $8.99 USD. Words: 106,920. Language: English. Published: March 1, 2017. Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Spies & espionage, Fiction » Business
When China threatens to withhold critical rare earths from defense contractors and high-tech firms, veteran Paul Freeman joins Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, cutting-edge technologists, and elected officials to rescue an undercover agent with key intelligence. His team forces him to face past ghosts and future desires in a hero’s journey taking him from Washington DC to China, and home again.
Private Offerings by
Series: A Silicon Valley Novel, Book 1. Price: $8.99 USD. Words: 99,030. Language: English. Published: August 26, 2014. Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Business
Silicon Valley CEO Eric Coleman hires PR consultant Lynn Baker to accomplish his dream of a successful IPO, unaware they are jumping into a morass of behind–the–scenes deal making threatening both their companies. Eric's past commitments run headlong into Lynn’s secrets, and thrust them between competing Chinese and American interests to control his innovative technology—and the power it brings.
Kit's Mine by
Series: A Daring California Novel, Book 1. Price: $7.99 USD. Words: 72,520. Language: English. Published: June 8, 2014. Categories: Fiction » Historical » Western & American frontier, Fiction » Romance » Western
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IN 1870 CALIFORNIA, THE GOLD RUSH LOSERS HAVE ACCEPTED THEIR FATE—OR HAVE THEY? For once in her unorthodox life, Kit Lee might beat the odds. She barters her knowledge of Gold Country trails for protection to her family’s mine. When a reluctant guardian joins her quest for justice and freedom, together they dare to change their future.

Ann Bridges' tag cloud

business    california history    californio    china    chinese in america    defense    gold rush    initial public offering    ipo    land claims    legal history    mining    politics    rare earth    sacramento    san francisco    san jose    silicon valley    slavery in usa    software    surveillance    technology    wall street    womens rights