Sneak Peek Countdown to Release...

 Only six more days until you reach "The Pass"...

That's right folks. In just a few more days (on 4-14-2024) you can get your copy of "The Pass". A novel that Kirkus Reviews has called "A supernatural espionage tale that keeps the excitement high."

Rich Caminiti, my co-author (an old friend from high school - Levittown Memorial H. S. class of '82 to be exact) and I have woven this tale of supernatural mystery and intrigue, set in the old west (or the Civil War to be precise). This book is the first of a trilogy we have been working on for some time, and the next installment has a completed 1st draft, waiting to be re-worked, edited, re-drafted, etc. Plus, the third installment is already underway as well.

Besides having a cracking good tale to tell, this volume has some beautiful pen and ink illustrations created by the wonderfully talented Gabrielle Callan (artist/tattooist) whose link to more of her work I will provide towards the end of this entry. 

In my previous sneak peeks, I introduced you to Jacob Long and his daughter Sara, as well as a mysterious being who many would call a Skinwalker (one who dons the skin of an animal to gain its powers and strength) and can actually change into the animal whose pelt it has put on. Only this one is unlike any Skinwalker of legend, as you will find out when you read this fascinating tale.

However, this time, I felt it was appropriate to introduce you all to another of the main characters, if not THE main character of the novel. His name is Keefer O'Connor, an Irishman who came to this country as a child and rose through the ranks of the New York Police. But when the Civil War broke out, he joined the Union army and earned the respect admiration of his superiors, to the point that the War Department has summoned him to Washington D. C. 

What makes Keefer such a fun character, is not only his wry Irish sense of humor, and quick wits, but certain other traits he possesses, some of which he is not fully aware of as yet. But soon will be as you will see in the following excerpt from our book. Enjoy...

         Keeferwas still on this trail when he suddenly saw the shadow man in his mind’s eye.“Son of a bitch!” he exclaimed and immediately pulled the reins. Stopping thehorse, he grabbed his pocket watch, eyeing the second hand. Looking around thehigh grass, there was nothing. Still, he waited. Twenty seconds went by. Thefeeling he had was stronger now, only this time he didn’t have to close hiseyes at all.

          He looked at his watch again,forty-two seconds. Still nothing. But the feeling was stronger than ever. Hepulled out his pistol, and leveled it in front of him. Fifty-three seconds. ‘He’ll be here, and this time I’ll shoot hisarse out from under him,’ Keefer thought.

          At exactly sixty seconds, the shadowman appeared no more than forty feet from him. Keefer immediately opened fire,dropping his watch to the ground in order to pull out his second pistol. Withboth weapons in hand, he began shooting alternating between pistols. To hisamazement, the shadow man disappeared. Dismounting, Keefer raced to the spotwhere the shadow man had been, but all he saw was twelve dents in the groundwhere the bullets had struck. There was no sign of his target anywhere, noteven footprints to show where he had been standing. Furious, Keefer begansearching the brush, screaming, “Get ya ass out here ya yellow belly bastard!Feck Fecker!”

          Looking wide eyed and very angry, hepaced the trail looking at the brush for bent or broken twigs, footprints, apiece of cloth, anything to show where his quarry might have gone. ‘How the feck do ya fight an enemy ya can’thit with bullets?’ he asked himself. “I’ll find your arse! Ya hear me? I’llfind your arse!” he screamed again.

          Finally, he walked back to his horseand picked his watch up off the ground. Then, reaching into the othersaddlebag, he withdrew his reload kit, sat down on the ground, and began to put fresh bullets in both pistols. When he was done, he stood up, holstered eachweapon carefully, and then placed the kit backin the saddlebag. It took him all of two minutes.

          “Okay Cara, let’s get the hell outtahere girl, and get some distance,” he said, grabbing the saddle and mountingher once more. Then it hit him. His experiment had worked after all. Sitting onthe saddle, Keefer thought to himself ‘Sixtyseconds, sixty diabhal seconds! I can see what happens sixty seconds before itdoes!’ He smirked at the thought. For the first time in his life, he notonly understood but actually partially used this gift, or whatever it was.However, it depended heavily on his mood. Still, this meant he had anadvantage, one that could pay off hugely if he used it wisely.

-sneak peek's end -

So, there you have it my friends. Another glimpse into the tale that awaits you within the volume coming to you this weekend.

"The Pass" will be available in both Kindle and paperback forms, with work beginning on an audio version starting soon. You can pre-order the Kindle version at the following links or wait until April 14th, 2024 to order the paperback edition.

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYV4VMCK

AmazonUK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CYV4VMCK

AmazonCA:https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CYV4VMCK

AmazonAU:https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CYV4VMCK

Plus, as I promised earlier, here is the link to Gabrielle Callan's amazing art. Do come and check out more of her amazing artwork.

Link: https://gabriellecallan.carrd.co/

So once again, until next time, stay safe and keep writing and reading my friends.