James' Game

by Sean O'Neil

Blood and belonging are as old as the human species itself. The words themselves bring out a variety of emotions spanning the full human genome. In James’s Game, James takes on the concept by looking at the role of success in life and the importance of being born into the right family genetics as opposed to being put through the right system.The book also looks at the effects of personal cultural connections and an individual’s family history. Even today, as we look around the world, we still see caste or class systems in various parts of the world. Even where it isn’t a formal structure, in many cases, it still exists informally. While written or unwritten, the end result is the grouping of humans simply by birthplace and family lineage.The story in James’s Game uses the old British system of elite families as the backdrop and is seen through the eyes of three adopted children, one from Ireland, one from Africa, and one from China. It speaks to the mistaken value, in my opinion, of success and prestige at the expense of life’s more important values. In James’s case, because of his background, he desperately needs to prove the British nobility wrong and that any child, put through the right system, can succeed as well as any of those children from the British elites that he so despises. Welcome to James’s Game.

217 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2020

About the author

Who hasn't had dreams about becoming a writer? The image of great writers and the vision of their success, and more so, their freedom in life, appeals to many people, and it certainly appealed to me.

Writing wasn't where I thought I would be at this point in life. I'm an MBA Grad and former CEO, but I left the executive world behind to ultimately opt for a life of adventure and writing, and I am so glad I did.

I've spent the last twenty years journeying the world and finding human stories that spark my own stories. I look beyond the standard sites and tourist traps; I look for the human side that is hidden behind them and the stories that others simply don't find. I was gifted with the ability to connect with people, no matter their background. I have friendships stretching from the Philippines to India, to the Middle East to Central America. I have worked and lived on four continents, and wherever I have been, I've found the path less traveled.

I write quick, simple read books. I don't try to complicate things; I just focus on making the reading fun. I don't pretend to be the next Stephen King. I write books that I hope readers find entertaining.

I specialize in writing thrillers in three sub-genres:

My first sub-genre is Supernatural Thrillers with novels such as The Comatose Diaries, my Grindhouse series, and The Chosen to name a few. I write these in the old school style, heavy on the story build and the suspense. They are along the lines of great 1970s legends such as The Exorcists and The Omen. I often incorporate concepts such as nature as an active participant in this world, as well as God, Gaia, and the Devil, and the incredible spiritual capabilities of our Native Canadians. I don't do slasher books. In my opinion, it is simply low-brow writing.

The second sub-genre is apocalyptic/dystopian. I don't write the traditional zombie or Walking Dead stories. Mine are creative and take unique takes on the apocalypse and are really told through the characters in my stories. My novels, The Plague: Judgement Day and Demons: Judgement Day, are both best-sellers.

My final sub-genre is my smallest but very popular. I write dark romantic thrillers, including Parminder's Journey trilogy and the multi-award-winning film noir thriller, Jhill.

In all genres, I focus on quick, enthralling reads. My books are typically between 220 and 270 pages. A temporary break from reality for less than the price of a coffee.

The books are intended to draw you in and provide an escape from the world outside for a brief period of time. I do it through deep and realistic characters, complex plots with the odd twist, and a pace that makes it hard to put the book down.

I write from the heart and soul. I'm a natural storyteller. I do this because I want others to find the same joy in reading as I did when I was young. In my youth, my first book was Lord of the Rings, a gift from my father. From the day I picked that book up, I never stopped reading. I had always hoped that one day I could inspire someone to feel the same way about reading as I did then.