The Eleventh Commandment

by John Terry Moore

Apart from his drug addiction, his homophobic father, and his denial of his sexuality, Ben O’Connor lives a charmed life. He has a wonderful son, a lucrative job as a Realtor, and a supportive mother and siblings. Then his boss promotes someone else over him and his life disintegrates. In his anger, he breaks the eleventh commandment―thou shalt not get caught. Kicking his ice habit while incarcerated, Ben realizes he has lost his ability to enjoy life. But he gets another chance at Thailand’s Resort Jomtien, where he takes part in an experimental program aimed at preventing relapses among recovering addicts. There he meets Matt Wilson, a gay man from Sydney who’s facing the same struggle. Ben and Matt form a strong bond as they rediscover joy and learn strategies to cope with the lure of their addictions. Ben invites the adrift Matt home with him after treatment and finds he fits perfectly into Ben’s family. But will Ben recognize that his feelings for Matt go beyond the platonic before Matt’s doubts―and a worldwide pandemic―separate them forever?

316 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

John Terry Moore lives with his partner Russell in Geelong, Victoria’s largest regional center, one hour from Melbourne, Australia. He completed his education at Hobart Matriculation College, and held a number of senior positions in the automotive industry over a thirty-five year period. He has been a civil marriage celebrant and funeral celebrant since 1995 (now retired), and together with his partner were successful flower growers, raised stud sheep and bred Kelpies, Australia’s working dogs. Born into a farming family; his empathy and understanding of country people has allowed him to focus on rural issues in his writing. Geographical and social isolation through the worry and stress of poor seasons, fluctuating prices, and in particular, sexual orientation in men has fuelled depression across regional and rural Australia in epidemic proportions. Driven by his experiences as a funeral celebrant, he understands full well the ultimate penalty paid by men of all age groups when they feel marginalized by homophobic attitudes and actions in rural and regional communities in particular. Over the years, John has become an increasingly strident and persistent voice with politicians, community groups, and the general public, encouraging, supporting, and driving the push for gay marriage and equal rights for same sex parents and their children. Black Dog reminds us that gay kids should never be allowed to feel that they aren’t as good as straight kids. That only when everyone is treated exactly the same under law will society begin to heal itself.