Although I've written 185 short stories and 15 novellas, Chasing The Dragon was probably the most rewarding piece of work I've produced. As many authors will tell you, tapping out words is akin to bleeding onto the page. It's a channel for releasing the bile and unbottling pent-up frustration, rage, and trauma. At least, that's how it works for me. It's free therapy if you like.
I'd recommend it to anyone, even if there is no intention of taking things further. You will learn so much about yourself. I'm asking you to face your demons. Confront your trauma head-on, and you'll be surprised how powerful a weapon words can be.
This was my process when writing Chasing The Dragon. I am Simon Dooley, and I feel much better for getting the story out of my system.
Parts of it were hard to write, brutal even, but when I reached the end, I felt like a million dollars. We are a product of our influences and will never escape from that. But being transparently aware (to ourselves) will help give us the skills we need to navigate the minefield of life.
Simon Dooley only ever wanted to escape trauma, the nagging voice of his mother that lived on even when she died. "End the chaos." Much like I used to, he escaped into fantasy land, albeit taking it one step further by having a cape made by the local chain-smoking seamstress and taking to the streets to fight crime. The harder he tries, the harder he fails, and I think we can all agree life can feel like that sometimes. But hope is a powerful word, and if we all firmly get behind it, it can help bring down the demons.
Readers are falling in love with Reformo, and I hope you do, too.
Life is imperfect, and so are we.
A town on its knees, dread's bony fingers wrapping around its throat and squeezing, death rattles soon to follow.
Drugs, filth, and a lack of human decency are starving it of hope.
Introducing Simon Dooley, our trauma-driven wannabe superhero, the relentless voice of his dead mother pleading with him to "end the chaos." Dressed in a leotard and armed only with a dozen dog poop bags, Simon's plight will find him falling in love and going head to head with the seediest characters walking the streets.
The town needed a hero... it got Reformo.
It’s happening. It’s finally happening.
I strip off in front of the full-length mirror, part self-admiration for my new frame and part sorrow for the shy and squeamish young boy who first walked the corridors of the youth detention centre.
Okay, not The Rectifier. What then? Captain Justice has been done, you muppet! The Shadow? Nope. Been done, too. The Silhouette? Too jazzy. Unable to wait any longer, the hairs bristling on the back of my neck, I carefully lift the costume from the bed and slip my arms through.
Oh, yes!
It’s as though electricity runs through my veins. I feel alive, reborn. I feel—
“I’m a superhero.”
The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Thanks for hosting! Any questions, please reach out :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting story.
ReplyDeleteI really like the cover and the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry. This is unlike anything you will have read before. Super proud!
DeleteSorry, that was me... Mark Towse :)
DeleteThanks Marcy. It's a unique and extraordinary read.
ReplyDeleteI am the winner , will I be contacted soon? Thanks so much, Tracie Cooper
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