Kyle Michel Sullivan's Blog: https://www.myirishnovel.com/, page 24

Arrested is growing...

I'm halfway wondering if I should change the title to Just a Misdemeanor? Seems a bit weak, but Arrested isn't much better. Anyway, I've added characters, and below them is more of the outline.

8. George Galavan, 38a. Cop for Barringtonb. About to become sergeantc. Married, three kids 

9. Angelo Corelli, 26a. Cop for Barringtonb. Good-looking and upright-seemingc. Single 

Simon drills into Paley. Points out he has copy of the store’s security tape showing he had zero interest in the man. But the incident happened outside, under that bright street lamp. Simon gets Paley to say he saw Simon’s penis and noticed nothing unusual about it. Simon has photos showing he has a birthmark on his penis. 

Walstead requests a third party examine Simon to verify for the transcript. Simon argues against it but Denton agrees with Walstead. Dr. Elon Astride is in the building so agrees to do it. Simon learns Astride is not a physician but a PhD in Jurisprudence.

Simon is angry, but given a choice of Astride to do the exam or getting a continuance to call in a physician, and will cost him up to $5000.He lets Astride see his genitals in the judge’s chambers. Birthmark there and noticeable. “Looks like the state of Delaware.” 

Astride testifies Paley might not have seen the birthmark; the brightness of the streetlamp probably washed it out. Simon asks him if the committee that bestowed his doctorate on him knows he uses it to help put men in prison. Causes an uproar. Aristide furious. 

Walstead has two cops lined up to testify on Paley’s behalf, so break for lunch. Walstead and Manville try to get Simon to agree to an even better deal – No jail time, small fine, wiped out after 2 years. He still refuses. Walstead grows low-key threatening, but Simon just walks away. 

Walstead talks to his boss, Harver. Concerned about the way case is going. Not merely raising reasonable doubt but possibility of false arrest and perjury. Could give Simon cause to sue city. “Go all the way to the end. Leave it in Denton’s hands. If he finds the guy guilty, that’ll give us cover.” “He will, It’s 3 cops against 1 civilian.” Manville is uncertain they should continue, but Walstead shrugs her concerns off. 

Simon is seated by the courtroom entrance, on his laptop. Walstead goes to him to make one last pitch, but Simon says to go away. Walstead won’t. Emphasizes he’s going to be found guilty and the punishment will be worse. Simon accuses Walstead of knowing Paley is lying and doing all he can to help him get away with it. They argue and security comes over. Simon becomes cold and in complete control. 

Time for the trial to resume.Office Galavan testifies that he and partner, Angelo Corelli, were in patrol car stopped at intersection, diagonal to store. He was rebooting on-board computer system. No lights on. No body or dash cam, both aligned with computer system. Saw Simon approach Paley, the altercation so drove across to back Paley up. Not needed. Drove on. 

Simon has him describe patrol car; really an SUV, black with white roof, doors and hood. No flashers on. Stopped in the street. Dangerous. Drove across three lanes of traffic and facing oncoming cars. “Late so no traffic,” Galavan replies. “Still, it’s a major thoroughfare, isn’t it?” 

Galavan acknowledges he knows of shop’s security cameras. Would they back up his version of events? All inside, none outside. “Let’s see,” says Simon. 

Walstead objects.Denton has Simon explain why showing tape important. Wall of shop fronting street has line of narrow windows at top, with metal frames. Show reflection of cars’ headlights and taillights when passing, Also reflection of white roof. And brake lights. None of that on tape. 

Walstead asks for continuance to check into it. Simon argues against it. “I live over 300 miles away. Day trip here, day for trial, day trip home. Expensive and time-consuming. Can show video.” Possibly manipulated. “Compare it to your copy,” Simon snaps. Denton agrees to continuance of 2 weeks; Simon asks for 6 weeks but rejected.

More of Arrested...

This is some of what I've outlined for Arrested:

Events:

Simon goes to Barrington, Ohio to curate library for friend, as a favor. Checks into his hotel and goes to a nearby store for groceries. Near midnight on a Monday. 

Paley follows Simon around the store, seems to want him to notice him, but Simon ignores him. Paley exits. Simon reads magazines for a while, nervous about Paley, but has to leave when store is closing. 

Paley is outside, standing under a streetlamp smoking and on his phone. He accuses Simon of coming onto him and exposing himself within 600 feet of a school. 

Simon is booked and arraigned the next day. Pleads not guilty. Bailed for $2500 because he’s from out of state.Simon loses the job because he didn’t show up. Client was prickly, to begin with. Friend pissed at him. 

Simon meets with a couple of attorneys who say they will bargain for a great plea deal; don’t believe him when he claims innocence but will still do their best. Simon rejects them; will defend self. 

Simon gets the store security surveillance tape after having to pay the owner to do it. Shows Paley‘s and Simon’s actions, but not 100% on what Simon claims Paley was doing. No outside camera. 

Case assigned to Walstead, meets with Simon. Offers okay deal but Simon rejects it. “I’ve done nothing wrong or illegal, and I’m not going to say I did just to make your job easier.” Asks if they’ve seen the store security video. Manville tells him it’s all indoors and the incident was outside the store. 

Also, accusation is enhanced because was within 600 feet of a school. Doesn’t matter it was midnight. And two passing cops saw the whole thing and back up Paley. Simon tells them no one else was around. They suggest he’s lying. But still no deal. 

Case goes before Denton, who decides it will be a bench trial. Simon wants a jury trial but told had to apply for it in advance, so would need to reschedule. Simon points out he lives nearly 300 miles away. “Not our problem.” Simon grumbles but agrees to move forward.

Trial starts. Paley testifies Simon followed him around the store and then approached him, outside. Mentions the enhancement on the case due to nearby school. Simon proves no school within 600 feet. Used to be, but the school’s at a new campus and the building sold to convert into apartments, a year ago.

Walstead taken by surprise, but agrees to have enhancement removed. Simon asks, “Can you do that?” Denton shrugs him off with, “It’s just a misdemeanor."

Knock, knock...

Except I'm lying. Seems no matter how many times I tell myself I don't care, or what language I use, I still let myself get caught.

I had a story come calling, today, currently called Arrested. Something simple and straightforward, about the arrest of a man for public indecency that spirals out of control when he refuses to take a deal and the case goes to trial.

Except it can't be that simple. Oh, no.

ARRESTED

Location:Barrington Township, Ohio Fictional town near Columbus

Characters:1. Simon Delevan, 67a. Gayb. Archivistc. Semi-retiredd. Lives in Buffalo, NY

2. Frank Paley, 30a. Cop for Barrington Townshipb. Powerbuilderc. Straight, he says 

3. Brian Walstead, 32a. Assistant District Attorneyb. Very good-lookingc. Divorced 

4. Elissa Manville, 30a. Walstead’s second chairb. Rubenesque but prettyc. Boyfriend not very attentive 

5. Judge Oliver Denton, 49a. Municipal Courtb. Distinguished but right wingc. Married, 5 daughters, three grandchildren 

6. Dr. Elon Aristide, 36a. PhD in Jurisprudenceb. Attractive and well-dressed.c. Married, 2 sons and a daughter

7. Raymond Harver, 54a. District Attorneyb. Self-satisfied about selfc. Married twice, son and daughter from first marriage don’t speak to him.

I've worked out a rough outline of the story to about the halfway point, and it's getting into territory I know little about. How a trial for a misdemeanor works and what an ADA would actually do. I mean, if the case is just a misdemeanor and questions are reaised about the legitimacy of the arrest, would they still press on to the end? Or withdraw the charges? 

Or would other aspects factor in? Like the possibility the defendant would file a claim with the city for false arrest, imprisonment and prosecution? Would a guilty verdict in the trial mitigate that? Would this be something the ACLU would get involved with?

Damn...am I getting myself into another PIA situation? Because I have no idea how far this is going to go.

It's a White Christmas...

I just took this photo. You can't really tell, but it's still snowing. 

So...last night, I wound up watching The King's Speech, again. I guess to remind myself that it's possible to overcome problems if you really focus on them and work hard and don't let the turkeys get you down. Yeah, right. Very Pollyanna.

Okay, now that the saccharine is out of my system, I can say I am way out of my depth when it comes to launching a book. And probably too late, according to their plan. I should have started everything prior to even beginning the writing.

Well...I guess trying to get an agent interested in repping A Place of Safety to a mainstream publisher was a way of doing that. Sort of. Even though it did crash and burn. And they say editorial reviews...like from Kirkus and BookLife...are important, which I have.

But...I should have my own website, preferably with the ability to buy directly from me...as well as a lengthy list of people to email when I have a new book or special promotion going on. Got neither.

Of course, the biggest issue with this outline is, they are very Amazon-centric...and I am not. I don't trust Amazon. I know too many authors online who've been fucked over by them. One recently had all her KU ebooks removed because some asshole pirated the book and set it up though another group. KU demands exclusivity.

Which is a big no fucking way to me...because they don't listen when you tell them that there's been a mistake. I went through that with them, more than once back when I was still getting going with my self-publishing. Hell, even before.

The first time How to Rape a Straight Guy got banned was when it was with a publisher, and the cowards wouldn't fight for it. I had to, and I got Amazon to back down...but it took weeks. I'm neither a masochist nor interested in an abusive relationship with a two-trillion-dollar company.

Anyway, what it boils down to is learning a new approach to publicizing my books or finding someone I can afford who will do so, for me. And I think the latter would be far better, overall.

Anybody got a couple thousand bucks lying around that they don't need?

Studenting...

I'm putting my ego aside and reading a guide I bought from Bestseller Launch, on how to position your book for great sales...or something. Most of it seems geared to non-fiction books -- how to find inner peace of build a great business kind of stuff -- but there is a section for doing fiction works, with a special emphasis on building a good blurb for the story.

It also emphasizes having a great cover and suggests getting someone professional to do it. I'm not bad when it comes to my covers, but I still go hit and miss, and it seems the fronts of New World For Old and Home Not Home aren't hitting the mark with readers. I like them and especially the progression from innocence to brutal knowledge in the photos representing Brendan. But that could be a part of my ego in the way of objectivity.

I may investigate the cost of that for the paperback versions of the books. See what a third party comes up with. I also may just plain not be able to afford it.

My eyes are crossed. I'm gonna sit in bed and watch a movie...maybe Sense and Sensibility...or Miracle on 34th Street, the 1947 version. The two remakes were ridiculous.

I think I'm nuts...

Well...just rocking along with The Beast Dines Out and you never know what's going to happen, next. Dirc found out the Beast has been trying to replicate the effect he has on his victims, which is what makes them suitable for use. There's a moment when 5 earlier clones of Dirc come out and he's a bit weirded out.

But he also finds out what it truly means when you tell someone to go fuck yourself. He's also taken a step back to being human by promising to protect The Kid guard, whose name is Cliff Mason. I guess we'll see what happens with them.

It's now up to 12,650 words. The first book, The Beast, is 15,450 words, total. Seems this one is dragging me deeper into Dirc's psyche and the madness of his world.

I'm getting good reaction on Gay Demon. Ratings from 9.5-9.8 and hundreds of readers. Makes me feel good about the story, so far. We'll see how things go in the one I just uploaded.

Sales are good with Smashwords' end of year sale. Focus is mainly on The Lyons' Den, The Vanishing of Owen Taylor and Porno Manifesto...three I really wanted to get out there to be read. I don't think anyone's reading them, straightaway. They're just grabbing them at special prices, from free to 1/2 off. But eventually they might and then give me reviews. Maybe.

Today was a snow day, strong moments of the white stuff then moments of sun and sky. 19 degrees but feels like 7. Ain't no way I'm going out in that if I don't have to. And I don't. And tomorrow is supposed to be more of the same.

Writing a freebie can be ludicrous...

...If you let it be. While waiting for the proof of APoS-HNH, I got back to working on The Beast Dines Out and let it go wherever it wanted to. Which is a pretty bizarre place. And it's rather unsettling that I'm writing this piece, yet also liberating.

As already noted, the Beast makes a clone of Dirc to have the cops searching for him find and think he's back in custody. It's done in a way for him to be comatose, so there's no concern or question about him. 

What's crazy is, When Dirc sees the clone, both he and it are naked, and he compares himself to himself. Even asks the Beast if he can get the clone to be erect so he can see what his dick looks like from a different perspective.

The prurient aspect of him was left out of the clone because it would take too long to bland in. It's a body with all the organs working but no thoughts or voice.

So it dresses itself and gets beaten up by the Beast's spacecraft before being dropped into the aqueduct near the overturned bus. Where the search party locates it and rushes it off to a hospital

This bit wound up being 2200 words long. The whole thing is now over 10,400 words, and I'm maybe halfway through...and it's shifting from black comedy to absurdist theater. Even the non-consensual gay sex in it is on the crazy side.

I wonder what that says about me?

APoS-HNH is almost completely done!!!

I finally got my review from booklife and plugged some of it onto the back of the dust jacket...then uploaded everything to Ingram to start making it available in hardcover. My hope is to have it available for purchase through Amazon, B&N and BAM! by the end of the year.

Here's the review:

"Sullivan concludes his A Place of Safety trilogy (after New World for Old) by transforming Brendan Kinsella into Jeremy Landau, a Texan researcher of Jewish heritage. It’s 1981, and Brendan’s mission is to return to his native Ireland, virtually incognito as Jeremy—who is there to draw parallels between the Irish hunger strikes and the Israeli and Palestinian clashes. With his southern drawl, close-cropped hair, and NASA baseball cap, he is nearly unrecognizable, even to his closest friends.

The journey—prompted by his mother’s impending death—draws him back to a country that never truly let him go.But Sullivan makes it clear that Ireland hasn’t forgotten Brendan. Both the IRA and British intelligence have him firmly on their radar, each vying to extract information about the bombers behind a years-ago tragedy that claimed the love of his life, Joanna. Even as Brendan navigates a tense web of intrigue, the alphabet organizations—like the PIRA, OIRA, UDF, UVF, and RUC—scrutinize his every move, turning each checkpoint into a gauntlet of suspicion, revenge, and betrayal, while Sullivan resurrects Brendan’s past with an eerie twist: Joanna may still be alive.

Haunted by this revelation, Brendan embarks on a perilous quest to save his family and piece together the truth about his parents, uncovering recordings that provide startling insight into their lives and motives along the way. His pursuit is as much about understanding his own identity as it is about uncovering hidden truths and enduring tortured interrogations.Sullivan intricately weaves trauma, history, and espionage into a narrative that demands careful attention. The backstory, richly detailed and emotionally charged, requires patience to fully absorb, especially for readers unfamiliar with the earlier books in the trilogy. For the most rewarding experience, starting with the first series offering will deliver the clarity and depth needed to appreciate the full scope of this complex saga.

Takeaway: Emotionally charged intertwining of trauma, love, and acceptance."

I can live with this...

Even nothing stories need to make sense...

Working on The Beast Dines Out and I just chucked everything I did for Chapter Four. It was silly and self-indulgent, and went nowhere. I had the Beast proving to Warren...no, I'm referring to him as Dirc, from now on. It was proving how completely in control of him it was...when that's been obvious from the beginning of this story. Why would it need to prove anything?

After grumping around for half the day and making myself go out in the middle of a snowstorm to drop my last Christmas card in the mail...and get brownie mix because I really, really wanted brownies, tonight...I figured out the real issue is, if Dirc is to work with the Beast something has to be done about him being a fugitive. He's slated for execution so he'll be on the FBI's most wanted list, and considering his notoriety for being a massively prolific serial killer, his face is known by everyone.

Unless he's dead or in custody. So the Beast is going to make a clone of him and dump it back at the scene of the bus wreck. That gets found. Maybe in a coma. Maybe dead. Word gets out and around, change his hair or grow a beard, and he's safe to help set up the intergalactic truck stop.

He's being paid in gold nuggets, which he needs to explain. They're very prevalent in the universe. So I remembered Call of the Wild and how crazy it got when hundreds of thousands of men and women set out for the Yukon to hunt for gold. Meaning...start up a new gold rush and let the meat come to you.

That's a pretty callous way of approaching this story, I have to admit, and it makes me more than a little antsy. The humanist in me points out the lives and futures lost, innocent men killed and fed to aliens...but I think of the incoming administration and the direction America is hurtling down, and it's seeming more and more like I'm just referencing a form of reality in this country.

I just don't understand America, anymore, and I'm hoping this story...and more of Blood Angel...can help me sort things out. Or let off some anger and confusion. Because apparently denying healthcare to people in order to maximize profits...which often kills them...is considered business as usual while someone fighting back against it by killing the head of one of the worst perpetrators of it is terrorism.

And FWIW, I wound up making the world's worst brownies, this evening. Burned on the bottom; center not cooked. Master chef, I am not; foul mood, I am in.

This is truth...

 And I have nothing to add...

...except I needed to escape from it all, today...and still do...God dammit, I hate people.