About
Originally from Beaver, PA, just north of Pittsburgh, I currently live in Arlington, VA, with my wife Megan. I moved to the DC area in 2002 to finish my Bachelor's at American University. After writing for various newspapers from high school through college, I endeavored to explore the imaginary and try my hand at writing fiction. My first novel, Polk's Soliloquy, was as much a labor of love and a grand experiment for me. I have numerous writing projects of various length I am looking forward to complete. I like to write as a release and most of my more personal stuff stays that way, while others become part of the stories I write.
Description
<p><strong><em>A tragic warrior lost in two worlds... Which one will he choose?</em></strong></p><p>The war in Iraq ended for Freddie when an IED explosion left his mind and body shattered. Once a skilled gamer as well as a capable soldier, he's now a broken warrior, emerging from a medically induced coma to discover he's inhabiting two separate realities.</p><p>The first is his waking world of pain, family trials, and remorse—and slow rehabilitation through the tender care of Becky, his physical therapist. The second is a dark fantasy realm of quests, demons, and magic, which Freddie enters when he sleeps. The lines soon blur for Freddie, not just caught between two worlds, but lost within himself.</p><p>Is he Lieutenant Freddie Williams, a leader of men, a proud officer in the US Army who has suffered such egregious injury and loss? Or is he Frederick, Prince of Stormwind, who must make sense of his horrific visions in order to save his embattled kingdom from the monstrous Horde, his only solace the beautiful gardener, Rebecca, whose gentle words calm the storms in his soul.</p><p>In the conscious world, the severely wounded vet faces a strangely similar and equally perilous mission to that of the prince—a journey along a dark road, haunted by demons of guilt and memory. Can he let patient, loving Becky into his damaged and shuttered heart? It may be his only way back from Hell.</p>
Story Behind The Book
His name is Polk. He's living his dream life now under a week from his 23rd birthday, resting comfortably in a hammock between two large oaks in the back yard of his house in Virginia. He enjoys the rich sunshine that pierces the leaves of the well kept trees providing a heavenly glow capped by a majestic rainbow bridging the sky above his home. Polk breathes deep and feels the fresh air fill his lungs, and also detects the faint smell of steak, cooking gently on the nearby grill. He stands to check on the thick porterhouse slowly being kissed by the flames from the charcoal below. He hears the patio door open but doesn't turn. His wife grabs him from behind and hands him an ice cold beer. He says thank you and turns to kiss her, and looks straight into . . . his alarm clock.
It's 7:30 a.m., and Polk has to get up and go to work. His torso jerks up and looks around his apartment, quiet and alone. Disappointed, he collapses back onto the bed and slams the snooze button with his right hand.
"Nine more minutes, I'm not ready for reality just yet."
