The following is an excerpt from my latest work that is slated to post in a couple of weeks. Enjoy!
"Mr Everton, I assure you, Will is the real deal. The story as it stands right now is solid and I'm sure it will do well among readers. It's set to appeal across the gender and demographic divide, housewives, young career women, angry middle aged men."
Adam Everton looked coolly at the enthusiastic blonde trying to sell him her client's manuscript. He'd read it and was impressed but the publishing business was based on such razor thin margins these days, he couldn't afford to take the risk. Still, though he couldn't exactly place a finger on it but the book appealed to him. It struck a chord in that dark part of his psyche, the part that never allowed him to forget his dad's slow death over the years.
The old man had effectively died the day she left him. Till this day, Adam couldn't bring himself to refer to that woman as 'mom'. No, mom died the day that woman turned her back on the two crying kids held back by a sobbing man who was on his knees on their front porch begging her not to abandon their family, their marriage for that asshole who didn't even care what he was destroying. That woman had cried and professed her love for them even as she abandoned them.
Adam winced and blocked out the pain that inevitably followed those memories. The years of pain and anger that his old man felt and carried was all that Adam focused on. The many attempts that woman had made to reconcile with her estranged family only made Adam angrier when he recalled how his father lapsed into drink every time that woman contacted them. She wouldn’t even let up when his dad was on his death bed. Adam refused to acknowledge the fact that his father had requested the presence of his ex-wife or that the sad smile on the old man's face directed at his unfaithful wife before he closed his eyes for the last time.
The anger burning in his gut brought Adam out of the reverie he'd fallen into. That it reflected the pain he'd clearly felt in the words of the manuscript sealed the deal. Not a man given to impulse, Adam nevertheless decided to go with his gut feelings.
"Look, I'm going to be kind for once and give this guy a chance. Here's the advance," he said as he passed the cheque to the anxious agent.
He almost smiled as the blonde's eyes rounded at the amount stated on the cheque.
"Tell him, we need to see the rest of the manuscript within two months before we negotiate royalties and details. And,"he paused as his eyes narrowed menacingly.
"If he plays us for a fool, he'll be poison in this industry. Make sure he understands that."
"I will, I will."
"Good. Now let's think about some preliminary angles, it's based on a real life couple you say..."
Watch for the new work!
