POSTED NOVELS--"THE EROS VARIATIONS"
NOVEL POLL #2 -- "THE EROS VARIATIONS"
POSTED NOVELS--"SEEKING JENNY"
"What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects--with their Christianity latent." --C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock (Christian Apologetics)
C. S. Lewis was referring specifically to popular books on science; however, I believe his words can be applied to nearly any genre. I have tried to apply them to my own fiction, in that the subjects of my works are, for the most part, not overtly Christian, but I approach them from a distinctly Christian worldview. Those coming to these stories looking for apologetics may be left scratching their heads in confusion. Those, however, coming to them looking for a different perspective on a variety of topics will not be disappointed.
A word on the content of these novels: Most, if not all of them, include some strong content. Some of them, such as "The Fire and the Light", might be considered relatively mild; others, such as "The Eros Variations", were written with a high school or older audience in mind. By this, I don't mean that I write "dirty" stories! But I do believe that even Christian writers should try to reflect the reality of the world in their work, albeit without offending their intended audience. This is not an easy line to walk, and I may have crossed over on occasion. If so, please draw my attention to it; I'll try to explain why I felt that particular content to be necessary. If I can't, that may in itself be sufficient reason to change it!
The novels are described below. The first two are available for reading here; the others are works in progress. I hope you enjoy "Mindgames" and "The Eros Variations" and will share your thoughts about them with me.
In 2034, one of the most popular forms of entertainment is “mindgaming”. Rooted in role-playing games like “Dungeons and Dragons”, mindgamers are connected directly to a central computer and play the game within their own minds, resulting in an experience that is startlingly realistic while being guaranteed completely safe.
Until now.
Eric Arne, the creator of mindgaming, is hosting his final game. He has invited seven of the top players in the country to be a part of his scenario. But as the game unwinds, things begin to go wrong. First, one of the participants dies, yet the game continues. Then the technicians are locked out of the system, just as they discover that one of the players is an imposter. And finally, someone tries to take over the mind of one of the players.
As the truth slowly comes out, the players – and one in particular – realize that if they are to survive the game, they must battle an enemy they cannot see, and they must do so within the context of the game.
The setting for this novel is based on the real town of Normal, Illinois. An album of photos of the locations that inspired the novel is included.
Click on the title below to access the site where the novel is stored. You will be presented with links to return to this site.
28-year-old Kelden Scott has just gone through his second, rather messy divorce. On the spur of the moment, he leaves Chicago, his wealthy family, and his comfortable job to start life fresh in Central Illinois. There, he battles substance abuse and sexual addictions, finds himself caught in the middle of the battle between gays and fundamentalist Christians, and learns what it truly means to love. Warning: Due to the nature of the topics addressed in this novel, several chapters include "adult" language and/or situations.
Each chapter of this novel includes an original pencil illustration by the author. Illustrations can be found at the end of each chapter.
The novel has an accompanying symphony (see "Behind the Scenes"), composed by the author. The background to this page is a reproduction of a portion of one page of the first movement of this symphony.
To access the novel, just click on the title, below. This will take you to a separate site. You will find links on that site to return here.
What if Barbara Cartland had written "Star Wars"...?
This science fiction/romance-in-progress originally took that as its underlying premise, but has already evolved far from its origins. A young woman questions some of the underlying tenets of her people's faith, and must pay the price with exile. But it's when she meets and falls in love with a young man from her people's ancient enemies that she must truly come to grips with what she believes.
This novel started life with the title "Starfire" (which is also the name of the main character). I since learned that there is a comic book character (one of the Teen Titans) named Starfire, so I changed the name to Starblaze to avoid any confusion. But after trying to live with that name for a few months, I decided I just didn't like it as well as the original, so I'm back to "Starfire", and nuts to the Teen Titans!
This novel has barely gotten underway, so don't be surprised if you don't find many chapters available. Still, I'm resolved not to lay it down until it's finished, so stop by periodically. It's a wonderful opportunity to see the creative process at work. Right now I know where I'm starting, and I know the basic roadmap I'll be following, but the ending is still hazy (for one thing, I don't know which of the main male characters Starblaze is going to end up with). Why not click on the title below and join me for the ride?
What if you came home and your wife was missing...?
Robert and Gwyneth Masefield (Mase and Jenny) are in their early 30s, and have been happily married for 10 years. They live in a secluded home on a high, wooded ridge overlooking the Pacific. When Mase, a successful architect, returns home early from a business trip, he can't find Jenny anywhere -- not at home, not at her best friend's home, not in the town up the coast. As he begins searching for her, he discovers the woman he thought he knew, from the young girl he dated in high school in a small Kansas town to the jewelry designer with a pending Hollywood contract to the apparent lover of a young painter to a possible mother-to-be. But can he actually find her?
This work is also in the initial writing stages. Again, I have a general idea where I'm going, and some of what I'll be exploring along the way. But, again, I only have the vaguest ideas of where I'll end up. Will Mase find Jenny? Is she dead? Is she alive, but amnesiac? Has she been abducted? Has she run off willingly? I honestly don't know. I'm even seriously considering the possibility that Jenny's fate will never be revealed....
The following are works in progress, and are thus unavailable for reading. Some are in the initial writing stages, some in the revision stage, some in the research stages. I'll post them as I finish them.
THE FIRE AND THE LIGHT
A fantasy trilogy. Young Sima Varleen finds himself in the middle of a battle between an ancient sorceror who seeks a lost talisman of his former power and the followers of the man who gave his life to defeat him once before in a world that no longer believes in either of them. Note: This work is undergoing extensive revision at this time and is not currently available.
ANGEL OF DEATH IN E-MINOR
A young pastor in a charismatic church turns reluctant detective when a fellow fundamentalist pastor is accused of murdering the lead guitarist of a death metal band. I've finished the prologue -- or, in keeping with a musical motif, the "prelude" -- and you can read that here.
ALL THE PAIN AND GLORY
A look at the end of the 60s through the eyes of six high school students in the Chicago suburbs. Currently in the research stage. If any visitors to this site were American high school students in the late 60s (1966-1970) and would be willing to share their memories of fads, fashions, social customs, etc. of that time, please contact me at acousticwords1252@msn.com.
BYE, BYE, MISS AMERICAN PIE
When Kit Thomas finds suicide an attractive option, he decides a drastic change to his life is in order. He takes off on a hitchhiking tour of the country, looking for a purpose to his life, and finding joy and prejudice, anger and love. Based loosely on Don McLean's song, "American Pie". My first attempt at a novel, originally titled "Kit"; currently being rewritten.