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.