With a sigh of relief, I can say that my latest novel is complete, with a new working title of “To Break the Bundle.”  The Dark Army, my faithful and wonderful Beta-Readers, have had their say. The last month was a flurry of re-writing, proofing, editing, and then proofing again. Now this new novel must face the perils of the light of day, sent out into the brutal world of Literary Agents and, hopefully, Publishers.

The last week has been a dedicated grind of assembling submission packages, and sending them forth into the merciless inboxes of busy Literary Agents. A few of the early rejections have already arrived, their sting somewhat dulled by the shield of my Author’s Thick Skin. In submissions, the bad news comes first. Good news, if it comes, comes later on.

I hope to have some good news to report in the very near future. The first good news would be a request for more material, the nibble of an interested Agent. Then, with any luck, comes a request for a full manuscript. It is a slow process, to be sure. In the meantime, I try to hide under my thick skin. I have other projects clamoring for attention: two novel projects and a three-act play. Better to be writing while waiting.

But what is this new novel, you ask? “To Break the Bundle” is a Romantic Thriller that begins in Vienna, Austria. Complete at 126,000 words, it is a tale of strange meetings, secrets from the past, and a deadly danger. Here is the pitch for the novel:

Vienna, Austria, a city of palaces, music, and cafés. But behind the cold, grey stone lies a dark secret. Against this backdrop of culture and shadows, the fates of three unforgettable people will be drawn into a common peril.

Perry Farmon is a disillusioned professor on sabbatical in Vienna, searching for his lost creative spark. A strange friendship and a mysterious love alter Perry’s quiet world, drawing him into a shared secret. The powers threatened by that secret force Perry into a deadly flight from danger. He must learn trickery and cunning to survive. His life and love hang in the balance.

Zita de Luca is a woman marked by a wine-colored stain on her temple, the shame of her family, and anger. An opportunity for revenging her family name is complicated by an unexpected passion for an American professor. She must choose between the two.
Käru “Charlie” Villiger is a habitué of cafés, either an outrageous liar or a dangerous man. He holds the key to the past, but time is running out. Charlie must pass on what he holds before he is silenced by those he has betrayed. He must choose someone else to carry the burden.

The secrets of the past threaten the lives of those that hold them, and threaten those that are desperate to remain in the shadows. To protect their secrets, shadowy forces will pursue Perry and Zita across two continents, threatening their love, and their very lives. The chase becomes a conflict of revenge and desire, of shadow and light, of love and the struggle to survive.

Stay tuned for further developments. Meanwhile, my first two novels are alive and well, awaiting your pleasure. “The Best Dark Rain,” and “Blood Rust Chains,” are available on Amazon. Just click on the menu above for more information.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for being readers!

Marco