World War III and the Uncivil War have left the city of Richmond devastated, and the United States is not much better. Homeland Security is the only entity left between order and chaos, and Christopher Owens holds a coveted position as a Homeland Security agent with all the perks that accompany government service. But Chris’s chosen life is soon to be upset in ways he would never have he is assigned to a mission that has little chance of success with a partner he does not trust – a mission that will force him to leave the only life he knows. It could not get much worse than this, he thinks.But he is wrong.This novel may not be suitable for young readers.
I live close to Harrisburg, PA and have been married since 1990 to a wonderful woman who puts up with me disappearing into my study more often than she would like. I have four children, one of whom is still at home, two very cute granddaughters, a happy grandson, and an infant grandson.
I am a graduate of Red Land High school in Lewisberry, PA; attended DIckinson College in Carlisle, PA for two years; and finished my degree by graduating summa cum laude from Shippensburg University, also in PA, with a BA in English. Shippensburg provided a good education at a reasonable price. For years before my marriage, I performed on stage in area community theaters, directed and music directed stage and musical shows, and otherwise kept myself occupied until, on a blind date, I met my wife. Unlike previous dates where either I or the lady I was a dating knew from the first we weren't a match, I was nearly certain this the woman for me. (She was less certain.) I am very, very glad I waited for the right woman. Who else would tolerate me?
I have held many jobs over the years. I've dug ditches, stocked grocery shelves, tutored for room and board, cleaned restrooms, mopped floors, taught cartooning, worked in a bank, asked if you'd like fries with that (and cooked the fries to boot), ordered carpet for cars, and worked commission sales at Sears. I recently retired with over 37 years from the Federal workforce. I consumed your tax dollars in a Computer Design and Supply Agency for the Department of Defense, saving you money that was shamelessly wasted somewhere else. One of my books ("Close Enough for Government Work") relates anecdotes from those years and includes my cartoons! Coworkers came from all over to see those cartoons, and you can do that now just by purchasing the book.
Now retired, I still keep busy. I conduct the Home School Orchestra in our area. I have volunteered as conductor for over 25 years, and I'm told they'll keep me - if for no other reason than I'm willing to do the work gratis. My music for full orchestra and for piano can be purchased at ScoreExchange.
I have been writing stories for decades in different genres. I've added spice to my writing life by switching from comedy ("Molded by Humor"), science fiction ("Armstrong City," "Speaking"), mystery (see the next paragraph), fantasy ("The Quest for the RavenDisc"), and horror ("Brushes with the Supernatural" and "If You Don't Watch Out") as the muse strikes me. I try to keep my stories mature, but not so mature your children couldn't read them. The exception would be "Collisions", which depicts some adult situations. While not graphic by today's standards, adults should use discretion in allowing their children to read it. The sequel to "Collisions," "Until He Meets an Agony," came out in 2025. A third and final book in the trilogy "The End of Agony," is due out in 2027. It may come out sooner if I make enough money in 2026 to pay for editing more books!
My big sellers are my Sherlock Holmes books, "The Darkened Village", "The Leveson-Gower Theft", and "The Medium of Death", the novelette, "The MelRoy Theatre Ghost," and the collections "A Mistake, Two Incidents, and a Murder," "A Disappearance and a Temptation," "The Vodou Murder," and "The Incidents of Sherlock Holmes." Hot on Sherlock Holmes' heels for sales is "Charlie Chan's Luxury Cruise," a tribute to both the books by Earl Derr Biggers and the old black and white movies. The sequel, "Charlie Chan in San Francisco," was recently released.
My favorite book is "Marishka," a fictionalized account of the stories told by my maternal grandmother, who escaped the Armenian persecution as a child. Much of the story -- in fact the most unbelievable parts -- is true, and an afterward separates the fact from the fiction.
I also write non-fiction. I have been a Christian for over 50 years, and I decided to write a book on theology for the layman, "Solid Ground." W