Beautiful Torments: Behind the Scenes - Part 1

I am beyond excited to introduce you to Susan, Jacoby, and something very twisted in 2025 (exact date TBD, but pre-order price discount is on the horizon)!

Death begets immortality.

This blog series will offer a behind the scenes look at my process, the characters, inspiration, some of my favorite quotes from the book, sections of the book, and more.

To begin, a little about my neatly chaotic life and where I fit in writing.

My typical weekday schedule:

• 4:45am - alarm blares and a zombie rises

• 5:15am - arrive at the gym, slight less zombie in nature

• 6:15am - at work, drink a protein shake

• 6:30am - desperately searching for coffee

• 6:30am - 11am - high energy work - winning, more coffee

• 11am - 12pm - lunch, writing while I eat

• 12pm-4:30pm - less energetic work, but still winning

• 5pm - home

• 5:15pm - diner

• 5:15pm - 7pm - family time

• 7:30pm - girls finally asleep - a deep sigh

• 7:30pm - 8:30pm - time with wife, writing, reading, Hobby House

• 9pm - I pass out like I haven't slept in 3 days

As you can see, not a lot of time for writing, so I'm efficient (and persistent over long periods of time).

Now, let's get to the fun stuff! Below are few chapter titles (not all) and couple teaser sections from Beautiful Torments:

Chapter Titles (in no particular order)

• The Beast Without

• A Shadow

• If Dreams Could Speak

• Thanatos

• Saints and Sinners

• Strange Things

Book Teasers

• Susan - The scene changes. A new dream. I'm hunting a demon with no face, more shadow than human. I see only what is immediately in front of me. Even then, something is wrong with the air, a slithering fog works itself in and out of my vision. An echo of a voice ripples across a vast ocean, mounted atop ominous waves. It sounds of a medieval chant in an alien language. There are drums, a slow beat that escalates with each step I muster. A hands rests upon my shoulder. I'm turned with force. The demon revealing he was the hunter all along.

• Jacoby - I'm daydreaming of Erika and I's first date when the scene darkens. Erika disappears first, then the restaurant, followed quickly by everything else. The world blurs. I see a dark shape, a shadow on the move. It begins in the corner, then flows up the far wall until it hangs from the ceiling. I stare into the black cloud. Something within stirs. The world I know returns after a violent bout of battling eyelids. Nothing. I close my eyes with a deep breath and find the face of the beast.