Introducing…

Last August, I began writing something new. I wrote it after work, on weekends and during vacation. As of today, I’ve made all of the changes that my editor suggested, and a “final” (pending changes) manuscript was sent to her. And so, it is with trepidation and anticipation that I introduce you to the title of my next novel.

“Afraid of Sunlight”

The title comes from the song (and album of the same name) by Marillion. It reflects our comfort living in the shadows or wearing masks. The title represents the fear of being our true selves. Of allowing the sunlight to show us what lives in those shadows, as well as its power to disinfect the diseases that fester there. Those diseases, those idols, that have served us so well over the years.

Speaking of titles, here is a list of the chapter titles for Part Three (Reckoning) and the epilogue, and the artist whose songs were the inspiration:

• Chapter Twelve - Hair of the Dog (Nazareth)

• Chapter Thirteen - Waiting to Happen (Marillion)

• Chapter Fourteen - Afraid of Sunlight (Marillion)

• Chapter Fifteen - When the World Comes Apart (Gary Numan)

• Chapter Sixteen - A Man I’ll Never Be (Boston)

• Chapter Seventeen - Digging in the Dirt (Peter Gabriel)

• Chapter Eighteen - Turn! Turn! Turn! (The Byrds)

• Chapter Nineteen - Are Friends Electric? (Tubeway Army)

• Epilogue - Little Earthquakes (Tori Amos)

So now comes the hard part. Getting it published. And while I would like to say that I will have something available before the year is out, that is probably not realistic. But I start that process today!

In the meantime, I will be posting the full Spotify playlist later this week for those of you interested in hearing some damn good songs that just so happen to form the skeleton of the upcoming book.