Back From My Day Job

Advance look at the book's cover Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

The initial draft of my novel is finished and now rests with the Editor for her to do her job. At this point, I am kind of confused.  Not sure if I'm writing this as a break from my day job or if this is my day job and writing my novel was my hobby. Either way, I'm glad to say that after six months of diligent work, the book is finished and a tale that has been playing around in my head for five years is at last on paper -- or sitting in the cloud waiting for publishing.-- and readers.

The most abrupt change that happened from the way I visualized it, to the way it was finished, was the title of the book. Originally I called it Allah's Numbers, a totally appropriate title due to the subject matter – – you can find that out when you read it. After much thought, I shifted that title to From within the Firebird's Nest – – also totally appropriate. For what it's worth, the shift had nothing to do with outside influences – – but what I felt in rereading the entire book during my final edit of the work.

I think that titles are important, for one reason only – – to get someone to read what is written underneath it. I talked all about that in my blog entry entitled  PJ O'Rourke Taught Me How to Drive Fast While Getting My Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill My Drink, if you're curious, read it for yourself -- I will apologize here for again using the words Wing-Wang in this blog after saying I wouldn't.

Anyway, I should have the final edits back from the Editor, in about three weeks or so, and then if there are no major rewrites needed it goes to press.   I am excited and at the same time exhausted from what I've just finished doing.

Here is a synopsis of the book:

Wars are won or lost, but if the loser can still strike back from the ashes of defeat, it is never truly over.

Sergei Kirill Mikhailov, a former KGB Strategic Intelligence Director, has had one goal since his fall from power during the Soviet breakup – revenge on the West. Unlike many who are armed with similar hatred, Sergei is armed with much more thanks to the Crimson Firebird Initiative, a program with a catastrophic goal he conceived and launched while he was in power. Now the time has come for him to take advantage of that tool and to use a young, confused Arab computer wizard to launch the attack which will redirect any retaliation from the West towards the young man’s organization instead of Sergei’s beloved motherland.

Meanwhile Sergei’s deputy in the program, Fyodor Ilyich Maldroski, aware that his former boss is setting events in motion enlists a friend and former Stasi officer to defang the Crimson Firebird, but time is running out. Enlisting the help of an American writer and Fyodor’s son they must all work together to prevent the Initiative from being triggered while working against a host of foes that are still lurking in the dark decades after the Cold War has ended. Standing guardian angel over this group of heroes is Nikki Grey, an intelligent and beautiful Mossad operative who has found herself falling in love with the American, Evan Davis.

A riveting tale that starts during World War II and is still playing itself out today, because wars never truly end.

Please consider this an invitation to read the book as soon as it is released --   It also makes a great Birthday, Graduation, Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Bachelor Party, Just Because It's Thursday -- gift for all your friends, family, and anyone else you may or may not know.

... and speaking of reunions --  Nah -- that's next week. 

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