Now available: The Vessel
Scientists attempt to save humanity by implanting all the world’s evil into one human vessel. Will it work?
The Vessel is the heart-pounding second book in The Devil Particle dystopian YA series. If you like flawed characters and world-shattering stakes, then you’ll love Kristin A. Oakley’s gripping tale.
Book One: The Devil Particle
A skyscraper filled with deception. A troubled teen seeking redemption. Will his race to the top become a fatal dilemma?
Paul Salvage longs to prove himself. So the loyal seventeen-year-old is thrilled when he’s selected to compete in the trials to determine who is worthy enough to save society by accepting all of humanity’s evil. But when his brother is murdered, the gallant young man gives up his dream to comfort his grieving father.
Persuaded not to drop out by a powerful family friend, Paul sets aside his own feelings and joins the group of fifty teens chosen to battle to the top of a tower filled with tests and traps. But as he grapples with one horrible choice after another, the haunted young man fears he isn’t noble enough to be the hero who will rescue everyone on Earth.
Can Paul escape the endless doubts and dangers to climb his way to victory?
The Devil Particle is the explosive first book in the Devil Particle dystopian YA series. If you like flawed characters, deadly competitions, and world-shattering stakes, then you’ll love Kristin A. Oakley’s dark tension.
Award-winning Carpe Diem, Illinois is the first book in the Leo Townsend Series
For decades, the small town of Carpe Diem, Illinois has quietly unschooled its children, eschewing tests and classrooms for real-life experiences. Now, long-smoldering political feuds and deep personal secrets threaten to explode. More
The second book in the Leo Townsend Series
Chicago Examiner reporter Leo Townsend has landed the interview of a lifetime with openly gay, front-running US presidential candidate Griffin Carlisle. But when Leo is forced to abandon the interview to rush to the side of his estranged father, Leo’s personal and professional worlds collide.. More
Latest Newsletters and Posts
Writer’s Book Club – The Outsiders
For this month’s Writer’s Book Club, I’m reviewing the 1967 coming-of-age novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (and narrated by Jim Fyfe). S. E. Hinton started writing the novel when she was fifteen and finished it when she was sixteen and a junior in high school. Viking Press published it when she was eighteen. Incredible!
Connecting with Book Lovers
Yesterday, I took part in the Columbus Art & Author Fair and had a terrific time because I went there with a different mindset.
Fun Summertime Viewing
This summer was jam-packed with watching great films and television shows. What makes them great? Authentic acting, thrilling action scenes, poetic cinematography, and beautiful settings and costumes, of course. But what I love most is spot-on character development (and good dialogue goes hand-in-hand with that). Here are some shows that nailed it and a few others who missed the mark but were still fun to watch.