Bad Dog

The bus came flying across the street. In that split second, Todd thought it might be all over. He’d been Champion’s sidekick for nearly a year now, and in that time, palling around with his supercat, there had been plenty of close calls. One of these times, Champion wouldn’t save him. He’d read enough comic books to know that plenty of sidekicks were killed or maimed to give the hero a little drama to deal with.

This was real life. Or what passed for real life in a world where some animals had gained mysterious powers. It didn’t necessarily play by the same rules, but even if plot points had nothing to do with it, this was a dangerous job. It was inevitable something bad would happen.

Champion deflected the bus with a telekinetic shove. It bounced over their heads to come crashing down behind them.Read the rest “Bad Dog”

Champion

Todd had spent his whole life reading superhero comics, watching superhero TV shows and movies. Even when they were low budget and terrible with horrible special effects and dumb acting, he watched them. Every one of them. Because he’d always known he was destined to be a superhero.

A real one. Not just some guy running around in a funny costume who maybe broke up a fight now and then, but usually just called the police to handle the situation. Not a weirdo who lurked on rooftops, playing like he was there to save the day. But an honest-to-God superhero who fought crime and helped people and had his own evil nemesis. Maybe even two or three.

He wasn’t lazy about it. He worked out religiously. He trained in multiple martial arts. He studied criminology, military tactics. He was a decent escape artist, though he never was much good at science, if he was being honest.Read the rest “Champion”

Technical Support (preview)

My (fingers crossed) next book is out on submission. It’s pretty good. Lady in the Lake meets Goodfellas. Kind of. If you’re looking for a book with Avalon, mob goons, cosmic dragons, many cans of SpaghettiOs, and an (possibly) evil chair, then this will be it.

In the meantime, I’m working on the next book. Like most books in progress and the early stages, things are subject to change, but here’s a sample of a short chapter introducing two characters. Enjoy a free sample of something that might not even make it into the final draft, but it’s fun, so probably will.

Chaz and Andy sat in their car across the street from the call center. They couldn’t enter the parking lot proper. They didn’t have I.D.s. Also, ancient covenants perhaps older than the universe meant they’d explode if they set foot on the property.Read the rest “Technical Support (preview)”