In Honor of Self Publishing My First Ever Fantasy Novel, “Chess With Agatha” very soon, I thought I’d go ahead and Make a Free Digital Copy of My Novella “I Died Once” Available once again, for those of you that haven’t had a chance to pick it up.
At the moment it’s available on Amazon both in Print, and in Digital Format.
Here is the Link for the Digital Version, which will be marked at $0.00 once the book is available for Free. (If it says $1.99, than it hasn’t clicked in yet, but it will on May, 24th at some point)
If You Don’t Have A Kindle Don’t Threat There’s Free PC And Other Reading Apps Here Free Kindle
I hope you Enjoy the Book, it’s a Quick Read (Only 56 Pages), but I’ve had a lot of Positive Feedback on it.
Also if you do pick up a copy, and get a chance to read it, I’d really appreciate if you might Write a Review/Comment on the Amazon Site.
What an unimaginable thing that a young woman would hold up the attributes of her one and only father, for all other men to try to compete against.
What an insurmountable task.
It was the sure fire path to a life of loneliness, whether you were in a romantic relationship, or not, bitterness, or constant let down of these unattainable expectations would surely be your undoing.
Perhaps this is why images of my father have as of late begun to fill my nightly dreams.
Visions of him flying backwards into the light, and clouded sky.
Saying such things as “You must open your eyes Mady… open your heart.”
As if that were some easy thing to do in a world that’s grown so cold since his departure.
And “He will be nothing like me Mady… that’s the only truth I know.”
Oh father, how I miss you.
Yes, these are the kind of little conversations that my mind is having with itself while I innocently slumber.
And then of course there’s the new ‘erotic’ dreams that also seem to have worked their ways into the sandman rotation.
These I don’t mind too much…
Full of dark, mysterious strangers…
Come to pleasure my body, my heart, and my soul, under the guise of dream dust.
I must admit, one third of my nights I find myself waking with such an unquenchable lust in my heart…
My bottom lip, bitten, and bleeding.
Panting in the dark.
Waiting? I dare say not.
But all is forgiven…
For never in my life have I remotely experienced such divine, sugary pleasures, as the misguided fantasies of my own mind.
My wits are surely not kind…
But they do truly know what it is to be in a young woman’s body…
Vengeance; Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
Japan
The Year 2080
A Small City In Japan
Arata’s Home
Just After Midnight
Tokui quietly enters Arata’s house where he is staying.
To his surprise Arata is asleep on the lazy boy chair, with a huge Slurpee in his hand.
Tokui smiles slightly.
The room is a lit by the blue glow of Arata’s television.
Tokui tiptoes into the bedroom where he is staying.
Fortunately Arata has two bedrooms in his place.
Tokui takes off his shirt, and though his physique is in shape, there are many scars upon his upper body.
Around his neck is a black strip of thin leather, with a silver key hanging from it.
He takes a black metal box out of his military duffel bag, and sits it on the desk in the room.
He then removes the necklace with the key, and opens the box with it.
A luminous orange glow comes from the inside of the box…
Inside are some 50 or so small vials, filled with a liquid giving off an orange luminescent light.
Just as he’s about to take one of the vials out, Arata steps into the room rubbing his eyes.
“Well, well, look what the cat dragged in…” he says barely opening his eyes.
Tokui quickly shuts the metal box, and turns to face Arata.
“Sorry I woke you,” he speaks.
“Ah, nah man, you didn’t wake me… Hey, I have some turkey subs in the fridge, you hungry?” asks Arata as he steps out of the room, and into the kitchen.
Tokui follows.
Arata opens the refrigerator, and tosses Tokui a sandwich.
“Thanks man,” replies Tokui, who pulls off the paper wrap from one side of the sandwich, and starts to eat it.
“What were you doing in Tokyo City?” questions Ataka.
Tokui tosses his Hydro Bike’s keys at Arata, who barely catches them.
“Go take a look…” says Tokui.
Arata looks at the keys, then steps outside, only to see a brand new yellow AION 8000 Hydro Bike.
“Wow… Are you kidding me? An AION 8000… Those things are fast man,” he tosses the keys back to Tokui.
“And expensive…” adds Arata, as he closes the door.
“Don’t you wanta try it out?” asks Tokui.
“Not tonight man, it’s after midnight… Some of us work for a living,” they both laugh.
Tokui sits on the black couch, and Arata back in the lazy boy chair.
“How’d you afford that on what the military was paying you man?” asks Arata, as he eats his sandwich.
“I was sent a check for my father’s house, which was sold at a ridiculously low amount of money… Yet, enough to get that bike… And a bit more,” explains Tokui.
“I see… I’m really sorry about your father Tokui,” replies Arata.
“I know Arata,” replies Tokui.
They both eat, and don’t talk for a moment… Until Tokui finally breaks the silence.
“There’s something I need to tell you Arata,” speaks Tokui.
“Shoot,” replies Arata.
“There might be some trouble coming my way soon… And I don’t really want you to be put in any danger,” explains Tokui.
“Eh heh,” replies Arata.
“I wanted to stay with you for a while, but I suspect it’s going to be coming sooner than anticipated,” continues Tokui.
“What kind of trouble?” asks Arata.
“Lets just say, I suspect foul play was involved in my father’s death… And I’m not going to sit back and take it,” concludes Tokui.
“Well… It all seemed strange to me… I mean, your father really knew his work… And it just never made since that he died on the job,” replies Arata.
“Right… Well-” starts Tokui, but Arata interjects.
“You’re staying her Tokui,” he says, then stands.
“Arata-” Tokui tries to speak again, but Arata stops him again.
“End of discussion… I’m going to sleep, you might consider getting some yourself,” is the last thing Arata says, before he goes into his bedroom and closes the door.
Tokui smiles a bit once more, then puts the second half of his sandwich in the fridge.
Tokui’s Room
Moments later he’s in his room again with the black bock open again.
He takes out one of the orange glowing vials, and swigs it.
The room spins, his eyes close, and he falls face forward onto the bed.
Vengeance; Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
“I have failed you Kin… And now with both you, and Father gone… I am lost.”
“It is the Vengeance alone that keeps me going… Keeps me breathing… Keeps my heart beating”
“Though the Blood it pumps be black.”
“I have yet to prove that Mr. Mashahiro is behind both your disappearance, and father’s death…”
“But in my heart… And in my gut… I know it to be true”
“And so I will continue to train… Not as Tukui Shinsou, Military Pawn to a Government out for itself…”
“No… I am free of that now… But with what I’ve learned within those walls… There will be no escape”
“for Mr. Mashahiro… But It must be at the right moment… He is an extremely powerful, and well”
“guarded man… So I shall train hard, but at night, under a new identity… I will be Adauchi…”
“I will be…”
“Vengeance.”
Japan
The Year 2080
Tokyo City
Mr Mashahiro’s Home
4:24pm
Mr. Mashahiro is at his desk looking over some documents on his computer screen.
Within his chamber are two well armed bodyguards in white suits, and shades.
A late twenty something year old man in a grey suit enters the office. His name, is Juro.
“What is it Juro, I am very busy today… Trying to run an Empire here,” snaps Mr. Mashahiro without looking up at him.
“He was here… Sir,” replies Juro.
Mr. Mashahiro looks up at him bothered if anything. “Who was here?”
“Well… Not here… But across the street… Tukui Shinsou… Sir.” With this Juro swallows loudly.
Mr. Mashahiro stands, “You were supposed to keep men on him!”
“And we did… Sir… Which is what lead us… Here,” Juro replies.
“He was watching your home… Sir,” he finishes.
“Well then… Send him a singular warning… I will not tolerate anymore of his ‘watching’ me,” Mr. Mashahiro speaks, then sits back down at his desk and goes back to work.
Jiro bows, “Yes Sir… Consider it done.”
Jiro leaves the room.
Katsuo Industries
5:03pm
Tokui and Arata leave work.
“Hey, I’m going to go grab some noodles and fish… Care to join me?” speaks Arata.
“No… I mean… I have something I have to do in Tokyo City,” replies Tokui.
“Tokyo City?” Arata replies back.
Tukui gets on a hovering bus transport destined for Tokyo City, and waves back at Arata.
Arata scratches his head, and waits for his bus transport.
Tokyo City
A Hydro Bike Outlet
6:15pm
Tokui is purchasing an extremely expensive, and fast yellow Hydro Bike, black riding gear, and a helmet.
He pays the man in cash-tokens.
An Abandoned Factory
7:00pm
Tokui is inside an abandoned building training in a Hybrid, Military Taught Form of Martial Arts.
He’s fast… Very fast.
A Busy Nightclub
8:15pm
Tokui arives on his Hydro Bike, and parks it outside the club.
“AION 8000… Not bad,” speaks a man outside the club hanging with his buddy, referring to Tokui’s bike.
Tokui goes in the club.
It’s packed with hundreds of people.
It’s dark, with multi-colored lights over the large dance floor.
He goes to the bar and orders a blue drink.
Woman are all around selling themselves, and sleazy looking dudes are selling illegal stimulants.
30 Minutes later
Tokui has had a few drinks, when two large men approach him from behind wearing black suits.
“Can I help you two gentlemen?” Tokui asks without looking at them.
“Your name Tokui Shinsou?” one of them asks, holding a picture of Tokui. But somehow Tokui looks different than the photo… Darkness fills him, and it shows.
“The name’s Adauchi,” Tokui replies.
The two men look at one another, then one of them grabs Tokui’s soldier.
“You really shouldn’t have done that…” speaks Tokui.
In three moves he knocks both men to the floor, unconscious.
The bartender looks nervous, and several bouncers surround him.
He holds up Cash-Tokens indicating there’s more drinks to be had, and the bartender signals for the bouncers to remove the two unconscious men.
No, in fact, quite the opposite… I’ve merely been working on getting “Chess With Agatha” Edited, and Self Published, which I still hope to do in the next couple of weeks.
In fact, “Allure” Book One in My Vampire Novella Series is sitting there waiting for me to send the First Draft to my friend Beth, so she can Review, and Line Edit it… But, first I have to clean it up a bit… And I just can’t get myself to put the energy into it, with “Chess With Agatha” still not Self Published yet.
But soon I promise.
And then, and only then, will I get back to some of these Sequels… Too hard to just Pile on to the Sequels, when the First Books aren’t even out yet… “I Died Once” is of course out (Book/Novella One in The Chronicles Of Mady Monroe Series), but I need to get Book One in the Ordose Trilogy, and my Vampire Series out as well…
Meanwhile, I’m also pursuing an Agent for My Screenplay, “White Jade“. Mailed out three more Query Letters today.
Alright, back to work, just wanted to let you know those Books are still in Full Swing.
Thanks for your Continued Interest and Support, it really means a lot
Tokui Shinsou stands before his old friend Arata’s home.
He feels ashamed to knock, and so instead stands in front of the door for a half an hour.
Suddenly, just as he’s about to knock…
“Tokui!” comes from behind him.
Tokui turns to see his friend, eight years older than the last time he has seen him.
He can’t help but smile just slightly.
“I can’t believe it!” Arata says as he grabs, and gives him a huge hug, lifting him off the ground.
Arata, is after all a 6’4″, 280 pound, Japanese young man. Very tall for his race. And Tokui is after all, only 5’9″, and 175 pounds at best.
“Woe man, I can’t breathe,” says Tokui, half laughing.
Inside Arata’s Home
Arata serves Tokui some tea, as Tokui sits on his couch.
“I heard about your father… I’m so sorry Tokui,” speaks Arata.
Tokui simply nods and takes a drink of his tea.
“And your sister, I…” Arata starts to say, but Tokui holds up his hand, rage filling his eyes.
“No,” he simply says, and Arata doesn’t say another word about it.
“So… What now Tokui? What will you do?” asks Arata.
“I don’t know… Find a job I guess,” Tokui replies.
“Hey, I might be able to help you out with that… I do some computer work for this manufacturing company…” he starts to explain.
“Computer work? Ah, you know I’m no good with computers Arata,” he interjects.
“HaHa, no, not computer work, I was always the brains in our band of teenage offenders, HaHa,” he says, and they both laugh.
“No, it’s a fairly physical intensive job, but I figure you’re up to it… You’ve kept yourself in pretty good shape, right,” Arata says, more than asks.
Tokui smiles slightly “Yeah… A bit.”
“Listen, Arata, is it ok if I stay with you for a while? I can pay for my own groceries,” speaks Tokui.
“Of course, of course old friend… Stay as long as you like, it’s not like I have a woman that’s goina show up HaHa,” they both laugh.
Katsuo Industries
Two Hours Later
Mr. Katsuo, a fairly short, silver haired Japanese man, walks Tukui and Arata around the facility.
“It’s not easy work… But if you want the job… It’s yours… A friend of Arata is fine by me… Truth be known, I didn’t know Arata had any friends HaHa,” they all laugh.
An Expensive Home In Tokyo City
Later That Evening
A well dressed, 50 something year old Japanese man, sits behind a black desk, petting a silver cat with green eyes.
Mashahiro…
Suddenly a younger Japanese man in a white suit steps into the office, “Mr. Mashahiro, we have located Tukui Shinsou… He’s found employment at Katsuo Industries. He runs some manufacturing machines there.”
“I see… Keep two men on him,” speaks Mashahiro, who then turns his chair away and looks out the window at Tokyo City below.
Across The Street
Tukui Shinsou stands staring at Mashahiro’s home, his eyes tearing, rage filling his heart.
Vengeance; Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
“It wasn’t her fault… It was mine. As if one Tour of Service wasn’t enough…”
“I remember the day I came home, her eyes were all lit up as she ran into my arms…”
“I picked her up, and swung her around… She was so small.”
“And I remember the way her face dropped when she found I had enlisted for a Second Tour of Duty.”
“What was I thinking… Why did I believe so badly in this country… Why did I conceal the Truth from my Eyes… From my Heart.”
“I was a fool… A Patriotic Fool.”
“And look what it cost me… It cost me everything.”
A Military Plane Flying Over Japan
Within the darkness of a ship filled brim to brim with returning soldiers, a single light keeps appearing, and then disappearing… It is a man’s lighter. And with every flash of light, there is a glimpse of a distraught, angry looking, fairly young man.
His name… Tokui Shinsou… His first name means ‘Triumph’… His last name means ‘Truth’.
A Small City In Japan
The Year 2080
Tokui Shinsou stands before a home that has been torn down.
Behind it a large stretch of land, as far as the eye can see, waiting to be developed.
Tokui is a strong, trim and muscular Japanese man, the age of 28.
He’s wearing soft, black traditional looking Japanese clothing.
Above him fly by several small private ships…
Ships belonging to the wealthy class of Japan.
For him, and the likes of him, ground vehicles were still in use.
But he does not own one of his own.
After eight years of military service, he has finally returned home…
But to a home, that no longer stands… On property, that is no longer his fathers.
Two months ago he received a check 1/10th the value of his father’s home, and property.
His father would have never sold the home… And certainly not for such a low amount.
Why was the check sent to Tokui? Because his father was mysteriously killed at his job.
Construction foreman by trade, something just wasn’t right about his death.
But there’s time for that.
The bigger loss, Tokui can not even speak of… Nor think of.
All that he can think of, is Vengeance.
Tokui continues to stand in front of what used to be his families small home… Tears running down his face… Rage filling his heart.
Finally he kneels down on one knee, takes a chunk of dirt from the ground, and squeezes it in his hand.
So I was making calls to Screenplay Literary Agents today, to find representation for My Screenplay “White Jade”… My Screenplay that I Wrote the First Draft of in 2002, then poured hundreds of hours into Re-Editing in 2003-2005.
Back in 2006 I sent out a few what are called ‘Query’ Letters, which is where you’re basically asking Agencies if they would consider Reading your Script… And if they like it, they might Represent you… And if they Represent you, they’ll start to Shop it around to Production Companies Etc.
Ok so, I didn’t start pursuing Film Making until I was 31, at which point I worked on Experimental Films… I had wanted to be a Film Director all through my 20′s, but the girl I was seeing always said she’d leave if I got into the Film Industry. Being she was my First Love, and I didn’t want to lose her, I basically didn’t pursue anything in Film.
After a while, I said “What about Writing Screenplays?”, because I figured her main concern with me being a Film Director, was running off with a Cast Member, Lol
I figured, well, Writing seems safer… But she didn’t go for that either, Lol
Anyway, we split when I was 29, almost 30, and at that point I realized I could Pursue Film Making at last… But, because I was 30, and at that point had hit a place where I really didn’t want to work for anyone anymore, I decide that I would try to Produce My Own Films as well… I didn’t have the money to full blown Produce a Film, but I figured, maybe I’ll Write Feature Film Screenplays, sell them for like 50k (If I was lucky, Lol), and use those funds to Produce my own Independent Films.
Good plan, right?
Of course, selling a Script is a whole other deal.
So I worked on Experimental Films, and I Wrote my First Draft of a Feature Film… But in late 2003 I stepped away from Film Making, but did focus on Screenplay for the next couple years none the less.
Sent out a hand full of Query Letters, with no reply… Then sat Writing down for 5 or so years
I know some of you have heard parts of this story… I then Started my Blog in 2011, and began pursuing Writing Books… But this last week or so, I picked up my Written Screenplay, and decided to more aggressively try to get a Screenplay Agent, and made a few calls last week.
Well I started making a few more calls, and got many people who said “We’re not accepting any New Writers right now”… Or, “We don’t accept unsolicited Scripts… Basically, if I’m not recommended from someone in the Film Industry, they’re not interested, Lol
Now, none of this surprises me… I know there’s a Zillion Screenplay Writers trying to break into the business… And truth be known, that aspect of the Film Industry has really, really never interested me… Not the Hard Work and Sacrifice, but rather the kind of people you end up having to deal with… Not my thing.
That said, I will plug on this week and make more calls… But man, my ‘Independent’ Mind is like ‘Woe, Woe, Woe!’… You don’t want this, do your own thing… Lol
Anyway, wish me luck, continuing against my Independent Nature, is extremely, ‘unnatural’ for me, Lol
Hank Grady, a 70 something year old man, stands at the back of a group of people attending an outside burial service.
His hair once blond, now silver, he’s wearing a long grey wool coat, and a soft black scarf.
Forty five of Susan’s closest friends had shown up to her service.
Wow, I never realized she knew so many people.
After being trapped in that marriage for some 22 years, where she basically wasn’t able to have friends, or her husband Budd would find someway to use it against her… And the beatings would begin again.
Of course if I knew that was going on all those years, I would have intervened.
Or would I have…
Anyway, it’s hard to believe that in the last five years of her life, those precious five years after she finally left Budd, she was able to make as many friends as all this.
But she was nice.
Hank reaches up and presses a few of his fingers against the soft black scarf around his neck.
In all the years I’ve lived in Cleveland, I can’t say I’ve ever worn a scarf…
But as soon as I arrived here today, Susan’s Granddaughter, Margarette, ran up and handed it to me.
I never had any kids of my own… No time.
I spent 40 some odd years in the Health Insurance game.
It wasn’t all that exciting but… it was a living.
And I’ve been married not three, but four times.
But they’re all gone now.
Not dead… Well… One of them did pass from the Big C last year.
Betty.
But what I mean is, they’re no longer in my life.
Which is strange… As I still love each of them as I did when we spent time together.
Life is strange.
Or maybe not.
Maybe I’m the odd one.
The services come to an end, and people slowly depart, some of them shaking Hank’s hand as they pass.
He notes Susan’s Grandchildren getting into a family car with her eldest son, Bob.
Bob waves.
Hank waves back.
Once all have left, Hank wanders over to the grave site where his Sister Susan has been lowered into, and buried.
He looks down at the ground, looking at the tombstone plate cement slab on the ground.
Here Lays Susan Bella Grady
Daughter of Joe and Barbi Grady
Mother of Bob, and Justin Grady
Grandmother of Margarette, Bethany, and Chelsey Grady
Sister of Hank Grady
1946-2013
Strange that she passed before me.
Sometimes I wonder if I just happened to get lucky on the gene pool side of things.
Hank turns and walks towards a convertible car.
I mean, sure I’ve had my share of health issues… but here I am… and she is not.
Hank reaches into his right hand jacket pocket, and brings out a pair of keys.
As he reaches to stick them in the convertible’s door, he stops.
I don’t own a convertible.
Ten Minutes Later
Hank’s Brown Sedan
Hank is sitting at a green light.
HONK!
The car behind him’s horn wakes him from his daze, he steps slowly on the gas, and continues onto a freeway on ramp.
I’ve probably driven on this freeway 10,000 times… It passes right by Bob’s house.
And yet I’ve probably spent a total of four or five times with Susan’s Grand Kids.
I mean… They’re not my Grand Kids… But I am their Grand Uncle… If there is such a thing.
What’s so great about selling insurance, that I didn’t make room in my life to see those kids.
Or Bob or Justin for that matter.
Justin…
I think he’s still in rehab.
All that drinking…
I imagine those boys got there share of beatings from Budd as well…
If I only knew…
I still probably wouldn’t have done anything.
They weren’t my kids… Right? That’s a nice lame excuse I used for 40 years.
I think I’m done with that lame excuse.
Hank picks up his cell phone and dials Bob.
“Hi Bob… It’s your Uncle Hank… Yeah… Yeah.”
Hank pulls into a driveway of a small home, gets out, and goes into the house… Still talking to Bob as he goes.
“Listen, Bob… What are the chances I can pull Margarette, Bethany, and Chelsey out of school tomorrow… Take them to a park… And maybe lunch… Or a movie?” asks Hank as he takes off his long coat, and turns on his t.v.
“I’m retired now, my schedule is open… I’d like to see them… Then maybe you and Elizabeth for dinner afterwards.”
“Yeah… Yeah… Sounds good… I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning then… Yeah… Love you too.”
Hank takes a beer out of the fridge, and sits in front of the t.v.
“I need to sell this house,” he speaks as he turns the t.v. onto the golf channel.
My Editor Has Finished Editing “Chess With Agatha”… And, I Have A Lot Of Work To Do, Lol
Ok, so My Editor Finished Editing My 4th Draft of “Chess With Agatha”, and as I hoped she’s really cleaned up the Grammar, and some of the Sentence Structuring. I need to implement all of that, but I’m totally down with that.
The real Challenge before me will be making Story Adjustments based on some of her Comments… Now I only Skimmed over them, but this stuff is going to take a lot of thought and focus on my part. Which is to be expected, and I’m totally glad for the Insights… But it is still going to be a challenge making sure the book still captures what I want it to, but also is clearly written.
Wish me Luck
This Next Week or Two should be Challenging and Interesting preparing it for Self Publishing
Free Digital Copy Of My Novella “I Died Once”
