Practical Alchemy

by Robert Polevoi

Half contemporary fairy tale. Half classical romantic comedy. A tale of lovers caught in mutual deceptions, set in Europe and Manhattan.A sophisticated New York art consultant stumbles on apparent proof of alchemy while traveling in Europe, attracting the suspicions of an elderly professor and his lovely daughter. When she follows him back home with a charade to pry his secret, the situation turns complex because – although the man knows what she's up to – both find themselves the victims of the chemistry of mutual attraction. Light, fun, fast and charming – and a little bit more serious than perhaps it first appears. An hour's happy reading (60 pages), and some rather memorable characters. From the author of Port Royal.

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2012

About the author

I'm a native Californian who has never lived anywhere else. Raised in Los Angeles, but moved to the Bay Area after UCLA and (with very minor exceptions) have lived my entire adult life in the forested hills above Oakland - a remarkably beautiful place that most people have no idea exists. I went to law school and became a lawyer, but couldn't stick with it. Spent some solid years in tech, mostly in 3D computer graphics.

But a writer is a writer is a writer - there's just no escaping it. It took a lot of work, but I finally got my fiction to the level where it's fair to ask for the precious time and attention of the serious reader.

I've been married for a good long time, and have a daughter who is just graduating college.

Reviews

[Dorothy Brandes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Day Story About Alchemy


This short but clever story about a coin supposedly poured by a true alchemist and stored in a box with a fake bottom tells how a modern day art consultant comes across the coin and then visits a specialist from the Hague to satisfy his own curiosity after his own questions don't make sense. Convinced that logically the coin couldn't be what it seems, a young man named Peter returns to the U. S. and his business partner, as well as his manipulative fiancee, but still bothered by the small amount of dark powder contained around the coin in the box. Shortly afterwards, Peter and his friends are paid a visit by the very pretty and charming daughter of the Hague representative he had visited, but the beautiful but jealous fiancee makes sure she ruins any designs the daughter may have on Peter or his precious coin. If you enjoy modern day tales of Alchemy wrapped around budding stories of romance, this story is a little teaser you would enjoy. Perfect as a short story or novella, but could have earned a five, if more developed and longer to be called a novel.