What would you do?

In the middle of writing Burden, the next book on my agenda to complete, and already the main character has lied, stolen, and killed in order to gain immortality, but is that enough. Can he stop there even though he grows stronger with every artifact he assembles? That's the question we all probably ask ourselves at one time; can we go just a little further without hurting anyone else? More often than not, we can't.

Of course every situation is different and everyone has different levels of need and self-control. Some of you could probably stop with ease while others, the more desperate of us, would continue on saying 'I can do just a little more and everything will be fine'. Let me tell you, it's never fine unless you have no sense of regret because even if you're not hurting anyone else, you're demoralizing yourself. And in the years to come you'll wonder if it was really worth it.

Now my main character doesn't have months, but rather weeks to reach his goal. He's being chased by an unknown party who seems to have limitless funds and henchmen with lethal intent. But immortality is immortality. It's the dream of many, but truly what is it worth.Is it worth the death of another? I would say not, but I'm not from an impoverished background of brutality, hate, and addiction.My main character is, so he's seen the worst in people, he's endured loss, and he's dealt with pain, physically and mentally.

Knowing this, feeling the anguish and hate from the moment of your birth throughout your entire life, would it matter if a few people got hurt for you to get a step ahead of everyone else? So if you open that dark place within your soul and peer into the blackness which you keep hidden, would you be willing to commit a few sins to rule the world. After all, with the amount of power immortality could bring you it'd be an easy thing to make the world a better place, don't you think?

This is what Drazan had in mind when he first started down this path, but can he really do it and have his soul survive.

ECCC Atendees

For those who might be attending Emerald City Comic Convention (ECCC) and have a copy of Jeremiah Stone. Bring the book along and I'll be happy to sign it. Look for me at the Jeremiah Stone table.

Reviews of Jeremiah Stone

5.0 out of 5 stars - Awesome Story! - By SLeonard "AmazonGoddess"

“…a great read…”

5.0 out of 5 stars - A Novel Cinematically Worthy!!! - By Kathleen Stoner-Melhart

“…immediately captivated…”

5.0 out of 5 stars - Jeremiah Stone is riveting - By Preacher Dude

“…hard to put down…”

5.0 out of 5 stars - Awesome story - By Stephen Adkins

“…high intensity…”

5.0 out of 5 stars - Great read - By Susan H

“…gripping…”

Gruesome - You tell me

A gruesome excerpt from a book I'm writing (unedited):

Now, able to withstand the putrid odor a little better, he leaned in closer. At first his eyes only discerned rotting flesh, but as he focused on the pile further he could pick out skin, muscle, and bone. He could see where some parts were cut with a knife and others with something rougher, like a serrated blade or possibly even a hacksaw. Of course he was no expert, but some of the edges were obviously different. And the longer he stared the more he noticed, like the way the skin was carefully peeled away from the larger muscles only to have the muscle beneath fileted as if creating steaks, though never completely removing the pieces, but rather letting them hang on by a few strands.

Still, as his eyes lingered, he could tell parts of the dissection were amateurish, as if the killer was learning as he went, testing his newfound skills. This caused a chill to run up his spine as his eyes moved from appendage to appendage, incision to incision. And just like that, bit by bit, he was able to ascertain how this woman was drawn and quartered until he finally had to look away in order to retain his sanity.

Then, after a long moment, he turned back to examine the center of the body parts as his eyes finally fell on the woman’s head. The first thing he noticed were the woman’s eyes which bulged out of their sockets unnaturally almost as if they’d been removed then popped back into place, though not fully so. Below her death stare was what was left of her nose, though really it was just two open holes where her nose should’ve been. The rest of her nose wasn’t anywhere near, though it was probably mixed in with the rest of the scattered remains cast about the area. Or it could’ve possible been carried away by some small animal. Either way, he wasn’t looking for it now as he scanned lower reaching her mouth. Though maggots crawled through her cheeks, there were still telltale signs of tearing at the edges of her mouth as if something large had been stuff into it to prevent her from screaming.

Slowly closing his eyes to it all, Granite stood, his head bowed in disgusted sorrow at what this woman must’ve endured.

Second Book

The second book of the Jeremiah Stone series, Limbus, in now available on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Limbus-ebook/dp/B00BGR02F4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361073064&sr=8-2&keywords=limbus

Limbus

Limbus, the second book of the Jeremiah Stone series, comes out Sunday, Feb. 17. Pick up a copy and enjoy the adventure.

Coming Soon

There's a dark side to everyone. Some of us hide it better than others, some of us pretend not to have one, and then there are a few who let it out with devastating consequences. Unfortunately, I believe those who pretend not to have one are often those who explode from time to time and wreak havoc on the rest of humanity. As for me, I'm the one who hides it, knows its there, and hopes it never escapes. Hoping, however, doesn't mean it hasn't happened. And as for hiding it, there are lots of things I hide. - Jeremiah Stone

With Jeremiah Stone out for almost a year and Limbus and Azazel on the brink of publishing, I have new found hope of reaching a new crowd of readers. But these three books are just the beginning as I will be putting out Beginnings: A Jeremiah Stone Novel and Ferryman: An Opus Wright Novel shortly thereafter. Then, to help promote all five, I plan on attending GenCon in Indy, RoseCon in Portland, and Emerald City ComicCon in Seattle over the new year.

The Jeremiah Stone books, however, are not my only stories. I hope I will have at least one more book out by end of year, that being Dream Savior. Shortly on it's heels could be The Romance Novel, but I'll have to see about that. Then comes the daunting task of putting out my series of nine; each of which needs to be painfully edited. Most of all, the first one needs to be revised a little in the beginning to cut out some of the chatter, I think. Of course, with nine full length novels, I can take my time to set up the story (at least I would think so), but I don't know if that's the case anymore.

Either way, we shall see how all this unfolds soon enough. So watch for Limbus and Azazel, coming soon.

In Prep for Limbus and Azazel Publication

In preparations for Limbus and Azazel coming out Feb 17 and March 3 respectively, here are the previews of the next two stories in the Jeremiah Stone legacy which will soon follow.

Beginnings: Back Cover

Skirting the law while skipping between Ivy League schools in search of himself, Jeremiah finally finds someone who accepts him for who he truly is. This love, however, is short-lived as his latest interlude raises more than just the police’s curiosity. Within weeks he’s on the run again with only one safe option to turn too, but can he manage to endure his choice while surviving the initiation process or will he lose himself within the folds of the mafia with powerful enemies on all sides. His life hangs in the balance as both friends and enemies weigh their options against a quick profit. In a last ditch play, he returns to the one person who might love him in return. The only question he has is will she accept where his choices have led him while knowing the danger he’s in or will she turn away like so many others. More importantly, can he live with himself if he puts her in danger? Unfortunately, it’s not his decision as external forces converge around him in an explosive confrontation.

Ferryman: Back Cover

Brian Dalton thought he was going to survive his genius with only a resentful childhood, but when his parents are murdered in front of him his life takes an odd change for the worse. Now, obsessed with death, Brian is pulled into the CIA who’s more than willing to use his abilities to their advantage in a massive mole hunt. Brian, however, has other plans as he uses his mental prowess and new found skills to commit a string of murders against his own personal enemies. But no one’s perfect and as an up-and-coming FBI agent starts to close the noose, Brian taunts the man’s morals while disappearing under his CIA cover, Opus Wright. But soon his superiors are pulled into the mix as he struggles to stay one step ahead of everyone in a game he’s still learning. With his plans on the verge of backfiring, he wonders if his fascination with death will prove to be his savior or his downfall.