Hi everyone,

I had a new idea for a possible supernatural/thriller/action story. Basically the idea is that the spirits of seven different people throughout history are locked in some kind of dangerous conflict with each other. All the spirits come from complex people who have complicated life histories. They change sides in the conflict often, and they cover the range from evil to good, and back again.
In the modern day (now), there are 4 friends with totally different backgrounds who are all spiritual savants. They get caught up in the seven spirits' conflict and act as possession vessels and communication conduits between the physical world and the spirit world as the whole story plays out on a big stage that spans the whole world, going to historic sites, unknown hidden places, and everyday places as well.

I haven't decided what exactly the big, long-running conflict will be about, but here is the proposed first page of the book. What do you think? Story sound interesting? Does it have any legs? Do you think the first page below is a good setup for the novel?

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Chapter One
Many Roads Lead to One

As the sun rose early in the morning outside a small farmhouse in the desert-filled Southwest, its warm beams fell across an ordinary type of family farm. Surrounded by dry plains, with occasional green points filled will assorted trees near the meandering river, the scene revealed a traditional view of Americana farm life in the south west United States.
Pens for goats and chickens, neat rows of corn, and assorted vegetable patches surrounded a much loved, but well-worn small home. As the morning sun shined in through the windows for the thousandth time, the rays fell on a humble, but proud interior. Worn, hand-sewn rugs lay haphazardly across old hardwood floors that had kept a good polish, despite all the years of doing rural duty in the home.

Across from the mantle-piece filled with souvenirs, the hanging pictures, maps, and water colors on the walls, and in front of a low, worn out coffee table, sat a man in his thirties, on an old couch, with a cup of coffee on the armrest beside his relaxed hand. He was wearing what you'd expect a farmer in such a house to be wearing. Worn jeans, a plaid red shirt, cowboy boots, and a white, straw cowboy hat.
Sitting there quietly on the couch in the early morning, the young brown haired man seemed to be the epitome of calm. Nothing stirred or made any noise in the small farm house, and except for the slightly steaming cup of coffee beside the man's hand on the armrest, nothing seemed remarkable or dynamic there in any way. Except for the sheathed Chinese broad sword leaning against the arm of the couch, just inches from the coffee cup and the man's resting right hand.
With a ripping noise, the man could hear the fragile old front screen door being pulled off its hinges. With a loud bash the glass and wood front door collapsed into the front hallway. In seconds a man with red hair, but dark brown eyes, wearing an ordinary business suit and carrying a long Persian saber, entered the living room where the farmer was waiting.
"Where's Qing Lee Chuan?" he demanded in rough Middle East accented English.
"She'll be along." the farmer answered in a soft, rural accent. He then closed his blue eyes sharply, and just as sharply reopened them. Now his eyes were black!
"Colonel Kumar." said the farmer, in a surprisingly higher pitched tone.
"Hmm." responded the Colonel.
In a flash, Qing swept the hot coffee cup off the armrest and sent it flying towards the Colonel. In the same motion she clutched the handle of the broadsword, drawing it out in a flash, and jumped up flying across the living room toward Colonel Kumar.
.......to be continued.
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If the setup and storyline leave you with any impressions that you'd like to share then please let me know what you think. And if you're not comfortable posting openly on the blog then feel free to direct message me with any thoughts you might have.

Warm regards and Happy Holidays,

David MacNamera