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If you know me, you’ll understand that my greatest desire, the very thing that makes me tick, is my need to be creative. Whether it be through the visual arts (painting, sculpting) or the written word, the creative process defines a large part of my personal journey.
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With that being said, I’m excited to announce that I’ve finally finished my most recent novel. It was a little over a year-and-a-half ago when I plucked my notes out of the heaping mess on my desk and started writing; only to complete the last of the edits on New Year’s eve. I have to say that I like how this book has come together and I look forward to letting it out into the world.
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So you may be asking, what’s this novel about? I often field this very question about my books and I have to say that it’s a tough question to answer. It’s difficult because I want to be informative, but at the same time not give too much away and thus spoil all the surprises hiding within the book. Like many things in life, it’s the exploring and discovering that harbors all the fun.
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Suffice it to say, “Enamel” is filled with a little intrigue, a touch of thriller, a pinch of mystery and a spoonful of paranormal. There’s also a whole lot of questions that need answering, therefore allow me to share some of those with you.
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For starters what secret is Aryssa keeping that dates back hundreds of years and skirts along the edges of childhood folklore? What exactly is she snorting and what unique abilities does it provide her?
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Aryssa’s neighbor, Charlie, has a few secrets of his own, except his date back thousands of years and exist in ancient mythology. Which bring forth the questions, exactly who is paying him with gold coins so they can ride in his boat and why are those coins sought after by all the wrong people?
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There are a couple of other characters that turn up and they too have a few secrets. In step Sammy and Ariek. One owns a gas station and the other a club. Well, it’s more than a nightclub, but rather a gentlemen’s club. And its star employee is none other than Aryssa.
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However, Sammy and Ariek have joined forces to create another business that’s anything but legal. Can Aryssa and Charlie come together and break this venture before it destroys the lives of several young women? And what does exist in the darkest depths of an abandoned factory that could end the lives of so many, including Aryssa and Charlie?
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One of my favorite fictional characters to write about is Johnny Dantanian. He’s been in a few of my other books and yes, he makes an appearance in this one too. Over the years I’ve been asked about this very character and what inspired me to create him. In case you don’t know or maybe you’re curious, he’s a homeless man with an erratic, but non confrontational demeanor. Johnny gets hung up on the strangest of thoughts (that’s what makes him fun), turns up in the oddest of places and is more concerned about keeping away from certain people, even though he really doesn’t know who those people are.
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Truth be told he was modeled after a homeless man (his name wasn’t Johnny) who was once a frequent flyer on the ambulance and in the emergency department, too. Come to think about it, I haven’t seen him for something approaching a decade. Anyway, my most memorable experience was rolling up in the ambulance with sirens blazing and finding this man asleep on the sidewalk with several empty liquor bottles by his side. When I woke him up, he sprang to his feet and seeing the police cars, fire trucks, the ambulance and all the flashing lights he yells, “I’m fine! Wanna See?” He immediately starts doing the Michael Jackson moon walk down the sidewalk and after about fifty feet turns and runs away, leaving all of us wondering what the heck we had just watched.
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Before the book can be published, there are a few things that need to be completed such as the cover, formatting and clearing the retailer quality checks. Stay tuned for more information regarding the release date and quite possibly more of the storyline as well.
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As for your own personal journey and goals, I wish each and every one of you the best in the coming year. Remember, those who clamor to be on top of the mountain, often miss out on the personal growth that occurs during the climb. If you’ve made it to this point, thank you for taking the time to discover a little about my own personal voyage.
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I still believe that a majority of us want to be in this together, let’s not be too close together while we’re all in it.