M: Beginning of Chapter 16

Below is the first paragraph of Chapter 16 of my latest science fiction/fantasy novel entitled "M". It's going to be an extremely important chapter in the book.

The nervous tapping of the pencil, to anyone other than the man sitting at the massive wooden desk, would have been insignificant and virtually unnoticeable compared to the voluminous size of the opulent room, the wooden inlaid floor of intricate and beautiful design, the elegant Persian rug, the dark glass-fronted cabinets full of legalities and policies of government, the white and gold embellished and vaulted ceiling, and the extravagant crystalline chandelier that hung just above his head. But to him, the sound and sense of the instrument in his hand as it struck the polished surface over and over and over again, gave voice to his fears, doubts, and uncertainties; and he was a man not used to such. He was the leader of a great and powerful nation and had achieved that role through strength, confidence, and an undying belief in his abilities; but here he sat, immovable and completely at odds with himself. He could find no direction, no choice that would satisfy both his needs and the needs of his country. It was an impossible quandary that required a decision that only he could make.

"M": A New Quote From The Beginning Of Chapter 8

Below, I have included a quote from Chapter 8 in my latest fantasy/science fiction novel, "M".

This quote is from the first paragraph in the chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 8 Quote

Curls of heavy smoke swirled up to the ceiling within the dimmed room with half-empty bottles of vodka set out randomly amid laptops, documents, and trays of mostly-eaten finger food on a heavy, dark, wooden table. The only natural light in the room was from the setting sun, which at this time of year was extremely bleak no matter the time of day. It entered the room through a bay window framed in black Russian bog oak that ran from floor to ceiling, containing pains of etched leaden glass. The conversation had ebbed and flowed from loud and boisterous to somber and silent, depending on the moment, ever since the members of the various government agencies had started meeting in early November. One large screen at the opposite end of the room from the window remained on, displaying a map of Siberia with areas of red - each of which had been expanding over the last four weeks much more rapidly than anyone had ever expected. There was little doubt at this point that the situation was becoming more and more deadly with each passing day. A decision would have to be made, and soon.

"M" UPDATE: QUOTE FROM CHAPTER 5

Below, I have included a quote from the first paragraph of Chapter 5 in my latest fantasy/scifi novel, "M".

The writing of the book is finally picking up. Chapter 5 is almost completed. It's going to be a wild ride!

Chapter 5 Quote

The crystal shards lay upon the dark floor of the cave, reflecting the amber, yellow-gold, deep crimson, and blue of the fire that flickered at the very center of the chamber. Their combined glow, although not bright enough to take away the cavern’s black façade, still emitted just enough light to soften the overwhelming darkness and warm it slightly. It reminded M of thousands of multicolored fireflies cast about in the grass on a shadowy eve, preparing to rise and fill the air with their small lanterns of light. The only sound that caught his attention and cut through the heavy silence was the popping of the burning wood, which echoed off the round dome of the rock ceiling. The only smells were the dank earth and smoke-saturated air giving off the odors of an old familiar place, doing its best to remind him from whence he’d come.

Took 3 Months Off, But I'm Back to Work on "M"!

I stopped writing in November of 2016 after I had started work on my new novel, but I'm back at it now. I had completed the Prologue and Chapter 1 before I took a break. Now I've completed Chapter 2 and just started work on Chapter 3.

It wasn't easy getting back into writing, especially considering that up until I took the time off, I was spending six to eight hours a day, five days a week, working on my novels for almost three and a half years straight. I had established a rhythm, but I was also tired. The rest did me a lot of good!

I think part of the reason that I needed the time was that Black Grotto was such an all-consuming project, and this new book, I knew, would be even more so. It is, but now that I'm working on it again, I also know it's going to be a lot of fun!

Just as a reminder, M is going to be a combination of science fiction and fantasy. The two main characters will come from medieval times, but the bulk of the novel will occur in the near future, beginning in 2022, and include several countries and an episode of international intrigue.

Below, I've written down the first paragraph of the Prologue, just to give you a feel for how the book begins. This novel, as with Black Grotto, will take the reader on a long journey with several intermingling plot lines and some very compelling and unexpected characters.

So...here's your first look at M!

Prologue

She had taken the last of his secrets as her own and had drained and exhausted her aged lover. He was stretched out in her arms and could barely open his eyes any longer. His features were brutally drawn and haggard from the suffering she had caused, and his skin was the color of tallow. There was no doubt that he was slipping away. She held him close and talked softly as she gave him wine mixed with herbal potions to ease his passing. But despite her acts of tenderness, terrible guilt emerged over what she had done. She assuaged herself with the truth that her love for him had not been false, and that even though his sight and magic had left him long ago, he still possessed considerable knowledge that needed to be shared. Yes, it would cause him pain, but it had to be done before it, too, was lost.