Non-fiction writing taught me discipline, patience, organization, clear and simple expression, and the ways of publishers—all required in a well written novel. But writing novels adds the thrill of creating people and events in the world of the mind. That said, it often seems less a conscious composition than placing characters in situations and just recording what I perceive them to say and do.

A hallmark of my writing is credibility—feasible events peopled by credible characters set in technical authenticity. It appeals to people who think about what they read and are turned on by realistic characters facing challenges that could actually happen.

I have published a number of short stories in literary journals and anthologies. As an example, see The Ugly Squirrel in www.heimatreview.com, Issue 2 (Winter).

Thank Ye, Mister Sun

 Thank Ye, Mister Sun (60,000 words) tells the story of Ronson Allen, a boy entering teenage thrust too early and too deeply into a quest demanding adult courage and sophisticated planning. It is an authentic portrayal of a small Appalachian town during the depression. It paints a cultural portrait as well as telling a narrative, told by Ronson in his mountain dialect.

The core of the story:

Ronson and his best friend Harry, typical boys emerging from childhood, are followed through adventures of friendship, family love, teen rebellion, and social challenges. But tragedy strikes Ronson’s family. His older and beloved sister (“Elliedine’s smile is the sun comin’ out from ahint a cloud.”) is assaulted and devastated by a pair of young men from Virginia’s rich eastern shore. His family, barely surviving economically, is prevented from taking action by the threat of job loss. Ronson vows to bring the “peckerwoods” to justice, but has no idea how. Bit by bit, Ronson’s scheming evolves from childish fantasies into a plan that might bring some retribution. He and Harry must identify the culprits, find out how to access them, plan an attack, assess the risk, and practice. They fight fear and uncertainty and finally attempt it. Will they carry it off? Will it come to the light of authorities? How will their act be perceived? Will justice be served? Will Elliedine emerge from her trauma? What effect will it have on Ronson?

Main Characters:

Ronson Allen, a bright boy from a poor family coming of age in depression-era Appalachia.
Harry Hillson, Ronson’s best friend, shares the untimely adult challenge with him.
Elliedine, Ronson’s 15-year-old sister, radiates beauty, love, and joy.
Uncle Sedgwick, Ronson’s fiery uncle, holds forth on the evils of the government.
Pa, struggles with maintaining his dignity and supporting his family in the midst of poverty.
Ma, who is torn between her family’s needs and her pride, grapples with Grandpa’s death.
Dr Hillson, Harry’s professor father, encourages Ronson to fulfill his potential.
Mrs Hillson, kind and understanding, helps the Allens in quiet little ways.
Luther Randolph and Waylon Green, spoiled young men from the rich eastern shore, sow pain and misery to all they touch.

Subordinate thread:  

The reader watches strength of character and morality develop in people beset by ignorance and poverty and sees how protective practices grow in the culture. The reader grows to appreciate the dignity of the often maligned Appalachian culture. The reader sees the childhood freedom and oneness with nature of that time and place. The reader watches as stress, pain, and demands beyond his years turn a boy into a man.
Ronson says to the incipient reader: “I hope y’all’ll like my story. Hit’s larrapin good.”

A Theft of Sanity

(Book 1 in the “Theft” Series)

A Theft of Sanity is a 92,000 word mystery thriller, set in San Diego and at sea. It opens with Chris Bridges, a scientist on an oceanographic study supporting a secret Navy project off the San Diego coast, monitoring a deep-sea submersible dive to the seafloor when it catches fire. Was the fire faulty wiring or sabotage? If a plot, why? By whom? As Chris tracks down the answers, he becomes caught in an evil scheme that threatens his life.
This story will appeal to readers who want realistic adventure—credible characters challenged by feasible events couched in authentic technology. Attesting to its realism, I experienced or witnessed many of the events.

The core of the story:

The crew aboard the submersible survives, but the oceanographer aboard, Jim Kowalski, suffers a broken mind. Chris and the formidable Anika Birkenbosch, university head of oceanography, strive to find the motive for the attack. Following clues, they use underwater drones to search, aided by the diverse and eccentric crew on the research vessel Davis.
Unbeknownst to them, Middle Eastern agent Ashkan Jamshidi, is hiding a weapon of mass destruction on the seafloor close to the Navy project location and is seeking to prevent its discovery. His people stalk Chris to learn how much the authorities have discovered. Learning nothing, they kidnap Chris and sequester him in the subsurface habitat they use to control their weapon, grilling him with torture.
With Chris’s disappearance, Anika teams up with Navy agent Valerie Schneider. They and the Davis’s crew now search for the habitat. Finding it, they capture two enemy agents, but Jamshidi escapes. Eventually they learn where Chris has been held, abandoned and left to die from thirst and lack of air. They rush to rescue him, but will they be in time?
Jamshidi, knowing Chris is the only one who can identify him, seeks to eliminate Chris. How will Chris survive? Will they capture Jamshidi? Will they learn the nature of the weapon and its threat? Will Jim recover his sanity?

Main Characters:

Dr. Chris Bridges, a university scientist working on a secret Navy project.
Denni Morrow, an artist friend of a friend, who captivates Chris.
Jim Kowalski, oceanographer and chief of the Navy project.
Dr. Anika Birkenbosch, the large and powerful head of oceanography at the university.
Valerie Schneider, cheerful but efficient NCIS agent.
Ashkan Jamshidi, sadistic and ruthless Middle Eastern agent.

Subordinate threads that build character, provide credible flow, and entertain:

Along the way, Denni’s painting buddy, Jody Suzuki, plays matchmaker. Chris meets and is smitten by the lovely and talented artist Denni Morrow. Denni rebuffs him but eventually relents and the reader follows their courtship, interspersed throughout the book. Chris bumbles at courting, much to the amusement of Denni and their friends, but she appreciates his intelligence and sincerity.
Jody’s husband and Chris’s colleague, the quiet but forceful Kaito Suzuki, rebuffs racial insults and takes charge when Chris goes missing. The crew of the Davis— devout and dependable Max, mouthy JJ, feisty Camille, and shy Li—form a light-hearted but capable team to search the sea for hidden enemy modules.

 A Theft of Joy

(Book 2 in the “Theft” Series)

A Theft of Joy is a thriller that has crime, mystery, suspense, love, devotion, a lesbian love affair, an innovative villain, and just a touch of violence. The reader experiences new environments and insights embedded in virtual and authentic forays into fine art, painting authentication, ocean sailing, the Russian mafia, statistical analysis, orthopedic medicine, and police operations. Melding authentic art with authentic science, it will appeal to curious readers who enjoy learning something new while being entertained.

The core of the story:

A previously unknown work by a famous artist is discovered and goes to a museum for display. A shady collector plans to steal it by substituting a fake. An emerging painter, the idealistic Denni Morrow, accidentally encounters the theft. To ensure her silence, the collector sets her up to look like the culprit and forger if the theft is discovered. She must choose between ruin and cover up. Her scientist partner, Chris, seeks evidence to clear her but the thief learns of each step and Chris faces danger if he perseveres. Who painted the fake? Who is the collector behind it? Will Chris find evidence of Denni’s innocence? Will the culprits be caught?

Main Characters:

Denni Morrow, a kind but decisive artist, demands too much of herself and her partner.
Chris Bridges, her loving partner, is a brilliant scientist, but sometimes socially inept.
Margie Martinez, a strong and competitive woman, is director of the art museum.
“Mos” Snow, a gentle but secure man attracted to Margie, is owner of the controversial painting.
Isabella Valenti, an elegant and charismatic conservator, questions the painting’s authentication.
Zoe Wilson, the talented and volatile authenticator, is irresistibly attracted to Isabella.
Viktor Kuznetsov, spawn of the Russian mob, plans to steal the painting with no one knowing.
Boris Volkov, Viktor’s deceitful and treacherous henchman, does the dirty work with relish.

Subordinate threads that build character, provide credible flow, and entertain:  

Denni’s perfectionism and lack of acceptance of Chris mar their love and relationship. Will they be able to work out their problems?
Chris must find evidence to save Denni from the false accusation. Can he do it?
Mos and Margie have a budding romance but it’s spoiled by the differences in their value sets. Will they resolve it and come together?
Kaito Suzuki, orthopedist colleague of Chris, worries about his seemingly secure marriage to Jody, Denni’s friend. Can Denni and Chris help save his marriage? Can he cure Chris’s injury?
Zoe uses Morelli criteria, provenance, physical materials tests, and brushstroke analysis to test the authenticity of the Winslow Homer painting. Is it really by Homer?
Zoe idolizes Isabella both professionally and romantically. Will they come together?
Viktor, brilliant and street-smart, thinks of everything in his crooked dealings. Boris is a chauvinistic weasel. Can they be caught?

 A following series of “Theft” books:

A Theft of Equality (3rd in the series) in which Denni is offered an art faculty position at a local college, but a man with inferior credentials is given a higher rank. Feminine slights and discriminations burgeon into betrayal and violence as she and Chris are challenged to right wrongs of sexual inequality.

A Theft of Integrity in which Denni and some friends start a business. It quickly becomes successful, but a competitive big chain sabotages their quality control, threatening the reputation of their product. Can Chris discover and correct the damage so they can recover their integrity and save their business?

A Theft of Health in which an incorrectly done medical study endangers patients—including Denni. Can Chris discover the fault and show how it can be corrected in time to save Denni?

A Theft of a Secret in which a lost battle tactic from WWII is found underwritten on a canvas Denni is painting. It’s found to be even more militarily important in the tactics of today’s terrorist combat. The military shuts out Denni and Chris as not cleared for secrets. But then they find they can’t decipher the code and eventually turn to Chris and Denni for help. Feeling humiliated, will Chris and Denni forgive and seek the solution? And if they do, can they solve the puzzle?