justdustwords

 Excerpt from my novel FATE.                                                                            Captain Zebro Allard-Goodman                                                      “But let me tell you about Captain Zebro Allard-Goodman. The man was a man of his time … there was no doubt about that ... you will not meet many like him in your own lifetime.”        Beneath that hardened man-exterior lay the gentler truth of him. Each harbor carried the echo of some past romance. You could say the man mind-...

 Excerpt from my novel FATE.   The Arabian                        “Before we go any further, I will tell you about the Arabian … maybe the only innocent victim in the whole story of FATE.”        Silias Brack’s terrified stallion in his padded stall reared, panicked and kicked. He could smell the smoke drifting on the otherwise cane-smelling air. This act of rebellion began with the beheading of the prized stallion, a creature that represented Silias’s pride and social standing.        It was the next best thing to beheading Silias himself.        After the bloody deed was done, the horse’s severed head was gruesomely tied to the whipping post for Silias to witness from his top bedroom window.        The message did not need explaining.  ...

 Excerpt from my novel FATE.     A Rebel Father Dies                               “A mortal cannot put fate on trial, nor punish it, nor defend it … but simply coexist with it.”        Fionn’s death came quietly and without warning.        On a still morning that had the promise of a dry day in a wet week, he had risen early, as was his habit, made the turf fire in the open grate that would burn till he retired to bed, prepared a breakfast of salted porridge, a soft egg with soda bread, and strong black tea that a fly would have difficulty sinking in.        That morning was Fionn's last day in his beloved Ireland.        After breakfast, Fionn took a ramble to check the nets he had strung out in the sma...