OUT OF THE EAST
An old prophet, bent with years but spry in spirit, receives a visit of the glorious variety. An angel implores him to complete an arduous task, and though he is frail and weak in body, he has accepted. His faith will have to take over to manage what his body no longer can. He’s firm in his belief that if God has a mission for him, He will grant him everything needed to complete it.
Many miles must be traversed by land and sea. His heart is heavy in consideration of leaving his home, his children and grandchildren, but the call on his life cannot be ignored, nor can the spark of excitement that is constantly burning in his soul when he is about his Master’s business.
Join the prophets Nephi and Samuel as they travel through strange lands to meet Kahoku, and set sail on his magnificent ship. Bound together to complete a common quest, their small party undertakes a journey to bring them to the right place at the right time. Once there, they will participate in an event that will be documented and remembered through the ages; an event that will re-shape the destiny of Heaven, Earth, and all mankind.
THE DAYSPRING
It’s Christmas morning, but the sun doesn’t shine. There are no pretty bows on fancy wrapping paper, making enticing gifts to be exchanged and unwrapped later. There’s no tinsel, no festive lights, and no sprigs of mistletoe hanging overhead. There’s not even a Christmas tree to place a star, or angel on.
Charles is gifted, and once upon a time he played beautiful music in church to ring in Christmas in fine fashion. But, times have changed and his situation has changed. Today, he’s reduced to only wishing he could play carols on a beautiful pipe organ. Still … it’s Christmas, and so he works in the soft glow of his manually powered flashlight, attempting to complete something special to present to his wife. It’s a simple gift, but it’s still been a painstaking task to complete it before she wakens. His body is weak, making the task more difficult to accomplish without the most simple of amenities. There’s no electricity to make better light to see by. There’s only his flashlight, a makeshift ink pen and a man determined to give his wife a gift for Christmas.
No feast is prepared in celebration of Christ’s birth. It will be observed and honored with the most simple and barest of fares; love and thankful hearts.
Charles and his wife are a long way from where they began in the large city, across the pond, to a mountainside in the American Northwest. Here, on the most wonderful morning of the year, it seems the whole of humanity is either sleeping, or dead.
Have they come this far to be left all alone, hungry and in the dark, at the end of ages?
THE BEAST
One man walks close enough to death to nearly feel it’s breath on the back of his neck. But, this man is special. He’s smart and sly and he’s about to combine those attributes with courage and strength to bring about a final battle between him and an ancient terror foretold centuries ago by the prophet John.
From the thick muck of stench riddled swamps to abandoned city streets, the chase is on. But, who is chasing whom? Or what?
If the head of one beast with gnashing teeth and claws that rip is not enough to strike terror into the bravest of hearts, what about a beast with many heads, that can heal itself, and is bent on delivering torture and death?
What can one man do against this sort of terror?
THANKSGIVING WITH GEORGE
Minnie’s mind isn’t what it used to be. She still cooks, still cleans, and often returns to the same tasks over and over again. The simple preparation of one meal is a great undertaking, far more demanding than she realizes. She must frequently stop and steady herself as she makes her way back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room.
She’s expecting someone especially important to be dining with her. Everything must be just right before he arrives to share her meal.
He’s been taught about, spoken about, written about and Minnie loves to gaze at his oh-so-familiar likeness in a painting on her wall, as he kneels in the snow to pray.
Can love span that much space and time or is it the mere wanderings and wishes of a worn mind and feeble heart?
The Celebrated Speculative Fiction Author
Daron D. Fraley has an outstanding ability to catapult you into a scene, and plant you right there at the campfire with his story’s characters. They’re so easily bonded with, and as they move through the tale, the encounters and activities they engage in might easily evoke a veritable cascade of emotional responses in you. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself gritting your teeth in anger, or if your eyes are suddenly flooded with tears, or even if you hear yourself erupting with a, “Yessssss!!!” when favorite characters experience a triumph.
That’s the sort of stuff you can expect to be consistent with his stories.
I admire and appreciate that Fraley can bring about the most harrowing of adventures, and incorporate the nastiest of villains, yet continue to keep the content clean, and easily understood even by young adult readers. He does this while covering loads of genres, from fantasy fiction on faraway worlds, to up close and personal in the backyards of small town America, or big cities with French names.
Whatever story you decide to climb into, expect big. Expect impact. Expect your perceptions to change and maybe even your beliefs to be challenged.
He’s that good.
More information about the author and where to purchase his books are available on his website at: http://www.daronfraley.com.
The adventure is calling. You may as well dive right in. The water is great and your friends are waiting!