Years ago, as an experiment in fast fiction, I wrote two short stories that have since done surprisingly well on Amazon.
The project always felt incomplete, so today I published a third story. Don’t have a Kindle or e-reader? Fear not! Later this year, look for a compilation of all three stories, both as an eBook and in print with some ink drawings befitting the project.
For today, though, I present—needless exclamation mark and all—
Curse of the Emerald Buddha!
In the Heart of Bangkok, a Race Against Time to Save a Sacred Treasure!
When fourteen-year-old Ian Racalmuto lands in Thailand with his family, they anticipate a holiday of exploration and cultural immersion. Their vacation takes a dramatic turn, however, when they stumble upon a sinister plot involving Bangkok's revered Emerald Buddha.
Guided by his newfound friend Noc, with whom he shares an inescapable bond, Ian navigates labyrinthine alleyways and crowded waterways. Their journey thrusts them into a world brimming with high-stakes art theft, dangerous syndicates, and a diverse cast of characters – from charismatic street vendors to elusive criminals, each harboring clandestine motives and stories.
CURSE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA! is not just a tale of intrigue and adventure; it's a dark LGBT coming-of-age journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the limits of trust, perfect for fans of action-packed adventure, cultural exploration, and the pains of coming out.
What about a sequel to NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE?
I've spent the last six months recovering from illness and broken bones. I'm happy to say it's allowed me to do three things:
Finish the above short story.
Read my friend Dima Novak’s QUEENSIDE, a sequel to his magnificent PUSHING PAWNS.
Create a comprehensive outline for a sequel to NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE, which is now with my closest confidant for notes and opinions.
Short stories are simple and fast, but I like kaleidoscopic novels that read like a layer cake. I want to be ambitious with a non-linear tale, filled with tiny details that come full-circle. If I can execute it well, it will look easy and read breezy.
Here’s what I can tell you about the plot:
In mid-March, five months after our initial story, Erik Racalmuto is shot dead in Kaliningrad. A dying spy entrusts his 15-year-old brother, Ian, with a mission to prevent the collapse of the United States' power grid within a tight six-day deadline. Ian, however, is struggling with personal issues. His best friend Will, who hasn't spoken to him since New Year's Day, now has a girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Caleb Reid, while dealing with just one functional kidney, is covertly planning a war with China from the confines of his lair in the back of an old Pizza Hut. Simultaneously, his deputy chief of mission, Richard Finzel, has evaded jail by changing his identity (again) and feels like he’s being replaced by a new assassin: Vinita Clapp.
I’m hoping to have this one ready for a January 2025 release.
Finally
I was overjoyed to learn, almost six months after the fact, that the University of Pennsylvania added NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE to its stacks and featured it in their back-to-school/“welcome to Philadelphia” collection. What an honor!
Bought it and devoured it immediately. As always, pure pleasure and genuine laughs. Amazon review posted and will appear whenever the Bezos machine approves.