Julia's Story

A fresh idea came to me the other day, as it often does, concerning a future story I should write.  It involves Julia McCain, the long lost sister of Zachary McCain.  Zachary is one of the main protagonists in The Rogue Investigations, and his sister Julia is mentioned (and she does make a brief appearance, as well).  In the forthcoming sequel, Rise of the Rogue Fighters, she'll play a more significant role, and I have come to realize she has an amazing back-story that could make an exciting "prequel."

Julia's story is one of fortune and tragedy.  Born to affluent parents, she and her older brother Zachary grew up in the lap of luxury on the family estate in rural Maine.  Shortly after her twelfth birthday her parents die in a mysterious car crash, and Julia is subsequently yanked from her home and thrown into the foster care system, which is highly irregular.  With her family's stature in the community, and her own brother being a legal adult (albeit away at college), there is no reason for the legal system to toss her into government care, yet there are clandestine forces at work.

Taken into "the system," Julia is questioned by a creepy old lady who seems keenly interested in her.  After their meeting, Julia overhears the creepy lady talking to subordinates, and discovers that she is to become a lab rat for experimental brain surgery.  Rather than waiting around for agents from a shadow government to cut her up, Julia flees.  Managing to give her captors the slip, Julia makes her way to the train station, where she slips aboard a freight car full of potato sacks.  There, she runs into an enigmatic hobo, and she passes herself off as a boy, fearful that the man might have perverse intentions toward a girl.  The hobo, a washed-up newspaper reporter and obvious drunkard, is her first teacher on her long journey that will teach her how to survive on her own, and eventually lead to the truth behind her parents' deaths.

I'm thinking of writing it as more of a young adult story, a real coming-of-age tale that eventually leads back to her adult appearance in The Rogue Investigations.  In it, we'll explore her trek around the country, and expose the mysterious "Zeta Directorate," a government agency which will be a thorn in the side of Zachary McCain later on in the series.

Work on this fascinating story will have to wait, though.  At present, I have several other stories I'm working on, including the aforementioned sequel to the Rogue Investigations, and the fourth book in my Fantasy Western series.  Perhaps I'll write Julia's story as my National Novel Writing Month book this November.  It's another in a long list of possible candidates.

Rise of the Rogue Fighters (Peek 1)

Here's a sequel that a few of my most loyal fans are still waiting for.  The follow-up to "The Rogue Investigations" that will continue the paranormal investigations of Zachary McCain and his associates.  Much like the first volume in the series, Rise of the Rogue Fighters is largely based on stories I wrote as a teenager, wild fantasies derived from a steady diet of pulp sci-fi and comic books.  In this sequel, there will be a lot more magical and superhero stuff, but the underlying uniqueness of the first set of stories will still dominate.

So, here is your first sneak peek at the yet-unfinished project:

(Excerpt From Chapter 5: The Legendary Mind)

            "Christ, what a mess,"  Nathan remarked, flicking a gum wrapper into the debris.  "I hope he's got good insurance."

            "Not a cent," a raspy voice replied.

            Turning from the wreckage, Nathan saw the approaching voice belonged to the local police chief, a grizzled veteran years beyond retirement with a cigarette dangling from his lips.  He was accompanied by Zachary McCain.

            "Nathan Bradford, meet Rodney Curtis," Zachary announced.

            "You can call me Rod," the officer said.  "So you're McCain's new bodyguard, eh?  Must be fun, getting paid to follow him around while he dreams up his little fantasies."

            "They're anything but fantasies," Zachary said.  "But I don't expect someone of your years to ever change.  You're set in your limited view of things."

            "It's called sanity, Zachary.  You should try it sometime.  You'll live longer," Rod said, as a young police officer approached him from the side.  "Give me a minute."

            As Rod stepped aside to talk with his fellow officer, Zachary took the opportunity to peruse the charred wreckage.  He and Nathan slipped around behind the sizeable pile, obscured from Curtis' view.

            "What exactly are we looking for?"  Nathan asked.

            "I'm not sure," Zachary replied.  "Julie said this was going to happen in Ellsworth."

            "You said she was pretty scatterbrained at the time," Nathan said.  "Think she just got confused?"

            "Maybe.  Truth be told, I'm have no idea why we're here."

            "Chasing fantasies?"

            "Something like that," Zachary answered.

If you haven't picked up a copy of The Rogue Investigations, consider doing so today.  It's my most affordable work on the market today.