My Next Book Project--Something Different, Helpful, and Filled with Hope

I enjoy writing fictional action/adventure.  Military history, conspiracy theory, suspense all nuzzled in a blanket of current events is where I find my happy place.  Weaving stories from thin air (mostly) and watching the characters come to life in my mind and on my computer's monitor helps keep me centered.  "I write," as I've told many people, "so I can see how the story ends."

Over the past several months, I've been faced with a new reality--not one I've advertised and whined about--losing a lucrative job to corporate downsizing and finding myself in a lesser paying job (but hey, I'm thankful to be working).  As most who follow me know, my first two novels, Of Blood and Stone: A Bill Evers Novel and Occam's Razor: A Bill Evers Novel are both available in print.  I've been blessed and fortunate through a curious and wild twist of life events, despite that minor setback a few months ago.  My nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic instilled by my mother and father is something I lean heavily upon and am thankful to have.

Shortly after I was laid-off, I elected to attempt a different genre of writing: a non-fiction, reality based book rife with tales of personal turmoil and the ability to overcome.  Without giving too much away, my next book will be one that will bring you to tears, fill you with joy, make you think about your own situation and where you are in life, and hopefully make you thankful for what you have, rather than sad about what you don't.

I suspect this project will take some time to compile and be brought to life in print and digital media, but when it finally happens, I think it will be my proudest moment.  Not because it's my work, but because it's about you, the faithful reader.  These will be your stories, your tales, your tribulations, your good times and bad.  This is about and for you!

Occam's Razor--My Second Novel (and an excerpt)!

The level of excitement that goes into seeing all your hard work finally brought to print is beyond explanation.  Before I get too far down that path, however, I want to first thank all my faithful readers who continue to support my work, put up with my indescribably demented mind on social media, deal with my smack talk about my favorite sports team (if you know me, you know THE team about which I speak), and my generally strange sense of humor.  Without you, writing is an empty endeavor--for you make the journey worthwhile and meaningful!

Now, to say that I'm less excited about book two finally being available in print would be inaccurate.  In fact, not only am I much more excited about Occam's Razor being in print, I'm doubly nervous.  After all, when Of Blood and Stone was published, it was my first work, and I was naive and just happy to hold in my hands the fruit of my labor.  Book two, though, must live up to certain expectations and further develop characters that were introduced in its predecessor.

In Occam's Razor, Bill Evers is forced to confront a foe who is insistant upon reducing the world's population by a significant amount.  For years, left wing fanatics have made unfounded claims that the planet is overpopulated and is consuming natural resources faster than nature can replace them.  Although much of this talk is mere speculation and pseudo-science, there are those who take it as the gospel. 

When weaponized SARS and Ebola are purposefully released into the global population, Evers is in a race against time to keep further attacks from happening.  On top of the weaponized super-viruses, mass shootings on par with that of Nazi Germany are taking place in Argentina, as well as dirty bomb detonations in India, and attacks on nuclear facilities in France.  Finally, the reader quickly learns that the leader of the uber-left wing group is being led by the nose from an otherworldly leader whose level of evil and hatred are unprecedented.

From the novel--

 

“So, Mr…Abaddon, I fail to understand why you insisted that we meet.”

     A greasy smile spread over the man’s face. His blonde hair was slicked back and his ice-blue eyes pierced Trowton’s from behind squared spectacles. Abaddon sported a navy blue herring-bone suit that he wore without a tie and the top button left open. The suit accentuated a slender but obviously muscular frame, the frame of someone who paid special attention to his body and what went into it. Trowton noticed something odd about the man’s facial features, but couldn’t quite figure out what the oddity was.

     Trowton’s eyes fell to Abaddon’s hand, which quietly thrummed a black, ragged cover encasing a well-used and handled book. It took him just a second to process what the book was, the King James’s version of The Holy Bible. He watched as Abaddon picked up the Book and opened it toward the back.

     “I prefer this abridged version of The Word, Mr. Trowton,” he all but whispered. “The good king pared down the repetitious verses the Catholics prefer, as a result of the Council of Nicaea, but it’s mostly the same.”

     Trowton’s eyes fell to the opened book and saw the dog-eared pages. He noticed an underlined passage, Chapter one, verse three.

     Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.

     “Yes, Mr. Trowton. The Book of the Revelation is the only book in The Bible that promises its reader a blessing for having read it and remaining beholden to its words. I read it often,” Abaddon hissed.

     “I’m afraid I don’t believe anything written in that ancient book, Mr. Abaddon. It’s largely inaccurate prose, a poor record of historical accounts, and serves as little more than a means to control an uneducated public,” Trowton replied as he put the glass of Moscato to his lips.

     “And that’s where you and other academics get it wrong, sir. Make no mistake, this dusty book was written by those who experienced the very events described within it. No matter your nebulous opinion to the contrary, this Book is inspired and is mostly correct, with the exception of the ending. John’s dream and prophetic Revelation are nothing more than an attempt at a happy ending for those who would deny the truth, Mr. Trowton,” replied Abaddon.

     He continued, “As an example, ‘The Devil who had led them astray was thrown into the pool of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.’

     “Tell me, Mr. Trowton, how do you presume to believe the God of gods would banish his most treasonous of angels to a lake of fire, a burning bastion of pain and torment beyond human imagination then assume throwing him into that same lake would somehow torture him for an eternity?  If that lake were to become the Fallen’s domain, don’t you believe that God would have made the angel impervious to it? Does that make sense to you, sir?” the man finished cryptically.

The left wing group heading this evil plot truly exists.  This compilation of the most powerful individuals in the world are known collectively as "The Bilderbergers."  Right leaning politicians have attended their meetings, but it is believed that super-left wing world policies are born in these meetings and put into action.  Unfortunately for the likes of us, the meetings are not public, nor are members of the media allowed into them.

Yes, I'm so happy to bring this newest novel to you, Mr. and Mrs. Reader.  Let it be known that it is a work of fiction with legs left dangling in the lake of reality.  This tale will entertain you, perhaps scare you, but hopefully, it will entice you to research further some of the ideas and concepts revealed in the pages.

Occam's Razor is available for immediate purchase on Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle), or available for pre-orders from my site, howardupton.com 

I sign each book ordered from howardupton.com, so if you are interested in a personalized copy, please go there to purchase it.

Much love to you all!