I am very excited about the release of my new book A Thousand Irreplaceable Pieces. It is a story that deals with mental illness, a crumbling marriage, and how Kate, the protagonist, deals with both. It's completely different from the books I've written in the past, and I hope you find it an enjoyable read. If you want to get a preview of the book, take a peek at the first chapter below.

A Thousand Irreplaceable Pieces Preview




Chapter 1

     I was expecting my wife to come home this morning, but she sent me a black cardboard box instead. I wasn’t sure why she had it delivered. She could have brought it herself. I set the box on the coffee table, not allowed to open it until she said so. There was nothing special about it. A small pizza could fit inside, and it was high enough for a pound cake. In all my twenty years of marriage to her, this was one of the strangest things she’d ever done.     “Do you have it?” she asked.     We were on the phone, and I had no idea where she was.     “Yes, Kate, I do. What’s in it?”     “I have to tell you the rules first,” she said.     “This is ridiculous.”  I was trying my best not to sound annoyed. “Just tell me what’s in it.”     “Rules. First.”     “This is insane.”     “It’s necessary,” she responded.     “Why must you do crazy things like this?”     “Because it’s the only way you will pay attention, and it’s the only way I will have complete control.”     I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “You have my full attention now. You talk, and I promise I will listen.”     “You don’t know how to listen, and it’s too late for talking.”     “What if I say no? What if I just throw the box away?”     “Go ahead, throw it away. I dare you, but you can bet the cops will be on you within the hour. You will see real prison time.”     “You’re only going to make me hate you. Is that what you want, Kate? You want me to hate you?”     “I’m not really worried about you hating me,” she stated.     “Sending black boxes will not fix what’s wrong, Kate.”     “It’s going to fix you.”     “What?” I heard her. The response was just a reaction.     “You’re broken.”     “No, I’m not. Look, Kate, what you’re doing doesn’t make sense. You have to stop playing this stupid little game and come home. Face to face, you and I, is the only way we can tackle whatever’s bothering you.”     “You’re no longer in control, Rick,” she yelled.     “It’s not-”     “Do you hear me?” she yelled louder. “You’re not in control! I am! Got it!”     “Fine! Yes, I hear you loud and clear.” I had to relent. She was only going to get angrier.     “Good,” Kate said in a calmer voice. “Now, did you take time off from work like I asked you to?”     “Yes,” I coldly answered.     “Then we can start.”     “Kate-”     “In the box, you will find numbered envelopes. I will tell you when it’s time to open each one, and if you do so before I give you permission, then I will not answer your phone calls anymore. You will do exactly as written in the notes, and we will talk when you’re done. Do you understand?”     I sighed with aggravation. “Kate, c’mon, you can’t be serious.”     “I am very serious.”     “Why are you doing this?”     “You know why,” she answered. “And don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.”     “I don’t know. What are you talking about?”     “The first envelope, Rick, you need to open it. Good-bye.”      “Kate!”     The line went dead. I called her back immediately. The voice mail answered, but it wasn’t set up to take messages. Damn it! I guess I had no choice but to open the stupid envelope.
~If you wish to read more, A Thousand Irreplaceable Pieces will be released on Wednesday, December 17, 2014. The ebook can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com. Paperback available for order on Sunday, December 14 2014. ~
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