The word novel carries two meanings. It is, of course, a long work of fiction. But it also describes something original—an idea that offers a fresh way of looking at the world.  

This page celebrates both meanings.  

Every novel begins somewhere. Before Going Way Away, there were these stories—each exploring morality, human nature, and the choices that shape us. Though different in style and setting, they all ask the same underlying question: What does it mean to be human?  

I hope you enjoy these beginnings.  

• Tracy Knew A man’s tainted past collides with his convictions—and with the person he longs to become.  
• Trade Off A billion-dollar game show becomes the backdrop for a story that asks who society laughs at—and who ultimately pays the price.  
• The Decisions We Make Behind Shaun Douglas’s biting sarcasm lies a young man wrestling with depression, regret, and the difficult path toward healing.

These quick peeks will provide an opportunity to examine my writing style and to consider if that style might place you at ease for, perhaps, a leisurely Saturday afternoon of fiction reading.