The young and the dead (YA Sci-fi / Horror)

Clark Midlan snoozes on the bus as it winds it’s way through the forest towards Fallen Pines Boarding School; a place where the brightest young minds are brought to flourish. Soon, he will be reunited with his friends as they continue on a journey through adolescence from behind the tall walls of their campus. Outside of those walls, however, the world is far from idyllic.

A plague is sweeping the nation and soon the students will be left to fend for themselves. Will Clark and his young companions overcome the hardships beset upon them? How will the traumas experienced shape the adults that they will inevitably become?

Leaders will rise to meet the threats that stem from the outside world. Heroes will be born, though some will fall by the wayside. Choices will be made in forced haste, having consequences unclear until examined in the rear view. Pressure from the trials put forth will change those involved in ways they may have never considered possible.

Rife with contemporary issues such as mental health, bullying, and abuse of power, The Young and the Dead is perfect for readers just entering into adulthood, but includes philosophical points of discussion that older readers will find engaging as well.

Book one of this planned trilogy is complete and edited, standing at ~85,000 words. I am currently looking for a Literary Agency for publication and am open to all inquiries.

in perpetuum (adult sci-fi / mystery)

Cautiously, Hale approaches the lofty mansion of the late Dr. Freese. In the shroud of night, the doctor - alongside four of his associates - met their ends at the hands of an unknown assailant. Though far from her first criminal investigation, the last had been a long time ago. A long time ago.

Hale is a Perpetual; locked in appearance and physical condition from the moment she was subjected to the treatment. The antigen coursing through her blood both cured aging and condemned humanity to a slow extinction in a single stroke. Throughout the 7000 years since her Perpetuation, she has witnessed the best and worst mankind can offer, but the greatest of her many journeys starts today.

As she sets foot into the library where Dr. Freese met his end, a catalyst is triggered. Soon, she will find that the mystery entrusted to her has stakes of the highest caliber; with the very future of their species hanging in the balance.

In Perpetuum’s main character is a strong female lead in a fictional era where the prejudices against race, gender, and nationality have been made obsolete by the relentless passage of time. The motifs are far reaching, but at their core lie diversity, redemption, and the dichotomy of human civilization. Though aimed at adults, this manuscript is suited for all mature readers and includes content that a wide variety of audiences will find appealing.

As of now, the edited draft of this standalone novel is completed and stands at ~80,000 words. I am open to consideration from Literary Agents at this time and am also searching for test readers to review the work for feedback. Those interested are encouraged to reach out for more information through the Contact Me page!

in the fog of war (adult war / horror)

How long had it been since Roland Suffield had slept? Though the counterattack his company expected was nowhere to be found, the images of dead and dying men were enough to keep him up at night. It seemed that every time he closed his eyes, there was a new face there to haunt him.

Tonight, he served guard duty, but rather than focus on the barren reaches atop the muddy parapet, his mind was home in East London. He would walk barefoot across a minefield if only his Ellia awaited on the other side!

In the darkness, something stirred, though it was difficult to believe that someone could make it this far towards the British line unnoticed. Far more likely, it was a simple hallucination conjured by his tired mind. Regardless, his hand hovered near a white phosphorus grenade, ready to illuminate the battlefield should the need arise.

A hundred yards from the bulwark, the figure paused. Pale moonlight cast a waning glow upon the wretched wraith. The movement was jerky and irregular as it turned its craning neck to scan the barricade. Roland wagered the hateful gaze that stared back at him through the murky dark would haunt him the rest of his days. Its eyes sunk deep in pallid cheeks, pupils possessing no more color than the skin.

The phantom turned to retreat into the midnight mist, disappearing from view, but not from mind. Roland was sure it had been no delusion; he had no capacity to imagine a beast such as this! He had seen it.

More importantly, it had seen him.

In the Fog of War is my current project and I’m happy with the progress so far. The completed work will detail the effects of violence, sleep deprivation, and paranoia on the mind of the lead character, blurring the lines between what is real and what is illusion to keep a sense of dreadful suspense throughout. The rough draft completion date is expected in early 2021, intended to be ~80,000 words.