Through the Eyes of Maria: Choices
Description
<p>Maria hits the streets of New York in search of the love denied by her alcoholic father and indifferent mother. When Sergio, a dark, worldly stranger, lures her with diamonds, brand-name clothing, and undivided attention, Maria sees a way out of her dysfunctional home. Seduced by Sergio’s charm and the promise of wealth and recognition, Maria ignores her panicked intuition and wanders into his lair.<br /><br />But in a world where ambition and deception go hand in hand, where dreams are shattered and innocence crushed, Maria discovers she’s trapped in a hell much worse than the one she left. And now, there is no escape. The price for betrayal is blood.<br /><br />Destiny intervenes when Maria meets Christian, a handsome law student haunted by a dark family secret. With her life at risk and time running out, will Maria find the strength to save herself and convince Christian to go against all reason and risk everything to help her?</p>
Story Behind The Book
My wife and I were taking a long hike through the woods when I began telling her about this idea for a novel. As we walked and talked, the characters came alive, strolling along with us. The plot grew, the twists and turns snaking along with the mountain trail. By the time we were done, I had the entire story mapped out, told in detail as if it were something that had already happened.
That night, in our small camping tent, I began writing the first pages. That "Note to the Reader" and introduction are almost exactly what you read in this sample. Of the four novels I've written thus far, Half Way Home may just be my favorite.
