How My Dog Became the New Messiah: A Story of Unintended Consequences

by Stephen Wallace

How My Dog Became the New Messiah is a timely literary satire about events that spiral out of control when Ned Belton, a recently widowed, retired physician in a small town in Missouri, wakes up in the middle of the night to discover his St. Bernard surfing the internet - or so it seems. Astounded, he videotapes the event to show his three life long buddies who meet every morning for coffee at the local diner. Always the pranksters, one of them posts the video on YouTube. It goes viral and is picked up by producers at Fox News, who rush to Dr. Belton’s house. During the live interview, Dr. Belton’s says jokingly that “My dog was a gift from God” and “he picks stocks.” This capricious statement inspires a kleptomaniac, excommunicated priest to start a new religion based on the miraculous computer using dog whom he claims is the new Messiah. The interview also sets off a lovable, yet psychotic, S.E.C. agent to start a special investigation of Ned’s St. Bernard, whose name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, for insider stock trading. The small town becomes a new age “Woodstock” as thousands travel to seek the new Messiah. This story of unintended consequences ends with a crescendo of action and the answers to many mysterious questions that drive the story.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2016