Summer Adventures! by Marketing Director/PA Kathy B.

This summer has been a whirlwind and it’s not over yet!  Dragonfly Books has signed new authors including C.A. Sanders and Virginia Dare.  We’ve seen new releases from Starla Hartless, Adam C. Mitchell, and Elizabeth Horton-Newton.  Neil Douglas Newton is re-releasing The Railroad with a new awesome cover by our favorite cover designer, Rachel Bostwick.  New books are coming from Elizabeth Horton-Newton and Adam C. Mitchell.  There is an amazing contest running right now and anyone can enter a manuscript that has not been previously published and the winners will receive a one year contract for that book, including editing, formatting, promos, etc.  The full package.  Of course authors always retain the rights to their books, Dragonfly Books never assumes ownership of any author’s work.

Then there’s the book festivals and signings!  August 1 to 4 we were in Orlando FL at the Indie Book Fest where Elizabeth Horton-Newton appeared on a couple of panels, attended a Fandom event and an afternoon book signing.  She brought along a couple of friends, Ophelia Ostrich and Sadie Sloth who were frequently requested for photo ops.  Elizabeth appeared on a Youtube show called Hanging with the Web and acquired many new fans. 

Sept. 3rd our Crazy Writer Couple – Elizabeth Horton-Newton and Neil Douglas Newton will be signing books at the Knoxville TN location of McKay’s Books. 

The following Saturday, Sept. 7, they will be at Next Chapter Con in Ringgold GA where Elizabeth will again be on discussion panels.  This event is from       10 AM to 4 PM.  $5 admission.  Children under 12 are free with a paid adult. 

From there we will travel to Pumpkin Palooza at Greenway Park and Pavillion in Cleveland TN.   Dragonfly Books will have a table where we will be selling all our books and some Dragonfly jewelry.  Both Elizabeth Horton-Newton and Neil Douglas Newton will be on hand to sign their books.  Pumpkin Palooza  Sept 28 from 10 AM to 5 PM

We’re not done yet, then its onto Cumming GA for Sweet As A Peach GA Indie Author Event from 1 PM to 5 PM on Saturday, Oct 5th  at Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. Elizabeth Horton-Newton will again be there signing her books.

Such an exciting summer for Dragonfly Books.

Kathy B.

The Inspiration Behind “The Railroad”

Neil Douglas Newton is one of the authors with Dragonfly Books. His first novel, “The Railroad“, was inspired by his experiences in New York City during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The following is his blog about how that day and child abuse came together to create an emotional and suspenseful work of fiction. Dragonfly Books

“Two years ago I was lucky enough to have a book published, “The Railroad”. While it is fiction, I have a more personal connection to the story than might be apparent to anyone who reads it.

395057 06: (FILE PHOTO) Rubble and wreckage blocks a southbound track at the Cortland/WTC subway station in New York City in this undated photo taken after the collapse of the World Trade Center. Restrictions barring single-occupant cars from entering parts of New York City September 28, 2001 have combined with damage to subway stations to create serious delays for commuters in New York City. (Photo courtesy of New York City Transit Authority/Getty Images)

The story was inspired by 9/11 or, more specifically, my experiences on September 11, 2001. I am a New Yorker and was working a few blocks south of the Twin Towers back then. I found myself in the subway only a block and a half from the World Trade Center as the towers went down. I emerged into a false night as the dust-covered lower Manhattan. Eventually I was fortunate enough to walk north to my home in Chelsea, cheating the death that had met so many that day.

To this day, the numbers are staggering and incomprehensible.
Total number killed in attacks: 2,819
Firefighters and paramedics killed: 343
NYPD officers killed: 23
Port Authority police officers killed: 37
For the first responders who survived, the attacks will always be not only in their hearts and minds, but also, it turns out, in their lungs and blood. The toxic dust in the air around New York City’s ground zero made many first responders gravely ill. A government study indicated nearly 70 percent of 9/11 first responders have debilitating respiratory illnesses.

The memory of 9/11 is fading, something that is disturbing but something I consider to be part of the healing process. There are things left to remind us of what happened; positive things like the new World Trade Center and negative things like first responders who have succumbed to respiratory illnesses that our government is just beginning to admit are a result of breathing in the toxic soup that came out of 9/11. If there are true heroes of 9/11, the police, fire, and medical rescue workers are certainly the best examples.

It’s hard to explain the sense of loss that followed that day; an oppressive hopelessness on a surreal stage. In the months that followed I thought about loss and pain and transformation. Out of that came the book, “The Railroad”. The book incorporates child abuse as a theme, something that fit, in my mind, with the experience of watching the world fall apart. I have found that, as time has passed, I have spent less time trying to sell the book and have used it more as a platform for making people aware of child abuse and domestic abuse. I am still working in that direction and have not marketed the book in the traditional way.

One of the realities of writing is that you often don’t know why you’ve added certain elements to a story. In “The Railroad” I touch both on 9/11 and, more substantially, on the issue of child abuse. I had to ask myself why both these topics became part of the book, almost as if they were connected. There is nothing necessarily profound about writing. An author has incidents and issues jumbled up in his or her head and often connections appear between things that may not seem obvious on the surface.

9/11 and child abuse? It was the horrific shootings in Colorado that made me understand why these two things seemed connected to me. The issue is theft.

We are all given so many resources: so many years of life in an unknown quantity, so many opportunities to make our dreams a reality, so many chances to form relationships that are important in our lives. In the weeks after 9/11, I had to grapple with what I’d lost. Fortunately it wasn’t the loss of any loved ones or even acquaintances. In the end it was the loss of my home town.Of course, New York didn’t disappear that day; the area affected by 9/11 was geographically small.

It might be hard for all of you to believe a New Yorker would see his or her city as the same safe haven that someone in a small town would. Certainly there is more danger in day to day life in New York. But I never would have thought that my city, large and imposing as it is, could be as vulnerable as it was on 9/11.

I remember telling someone only days after 9/11 that I thought that someone had stolen my city. In the wake of the destruction, the predatory news crews from all over the world, the disconcerting break in our routines, I felt more like a freak in a sideshow than I did a New Yorker.

Child abuse, physical and sexual, is a theft of another kind. For victims of child abuse, there is often no safe haven to lose in the first place and the assumptions of trust that act as a foundation of being human are ripped away. The aftermath of child abuse can be even bleaker than the original theft of trust at the hands of abusers. The issue here is the slow, insidious way that the dysfunction of child abuse leeches the sense of purpose out of life. It separates us from our fellow men and shrinks our view of the world until we can only see a few feet in front of us. Every person I’ve known or people I’ve seen interviewed who were victims of abuse always talk about the parts of themselves they have lost. While some people have taken the awful lemons of abuse and made lemonade by helping other victims and telling their own stories, there are many more who suffer in silence, who may never learn to be dancers, musicians, teachers. Whatever dreams they might have normally pursued are barred to them in ways that even they can’t understand. This is theft in its most basic form; it’s a theft that is built into the fabric of someone’s life and it can make loss and failure seem inevitable. For many abuse victims, their problems become a moving target that often defies both understanding and healing.

Is it so hard to understand why some people are so zealous about removing the blight of child abuse from our society? All of us carry fears from our childhood that make us less than we could be. For a victim of child abuse those fears and constraints become constant companions limiting the scope of what they can do. Our prisons are filled with victims of child abuse and medicating the beasts that live within us has become a thriving industry.

The loss to our society is incalculable and it’s one that I believe we have been willing to bear because a solution seems so far out of reach. It shouldn’t be surprising that there are dozens of agencies and organizations dedicated to attacking the issues surrounding child abuse, domestic violence, bullying, and countless other social problems. I have come to believe that avoiding these issues will cripple our society in ways that we can’t imagine.

People have expressed these ideas far more eloquently than I can. This quote comes from a poem, “Maud Muller”, by John Greenleaf Whittier

For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: “It might have been”.

 If we take these words to heart the awful consequences of child abuse of any kind become all the more tragic.” Neil Douglas Newton

July News

July News and Updates

This is an exciting month at Dragonfly Books!

We have two books for your reading pleasure with another long-awaited book coming at the end of August.

Already in pre-order on Amazon Kindle and available in paperback, the latest romance from Starla Hartless is the first in a series of cougar love stories. Book one, “Dear Libby…”, will be released on Kindle on July 4th. Order before then and you can get it for the introductory price of $.99! This is a HOT Summer Read!

http://bit.ly/couluvSH

“Sparks fly when older advice columnist, Sadie Broward, meets the grandson of a publishing magnate from New York City. Jake Stark is sent by his grandfather Richard to the small town of Sweetwater, Tennessee to interview one of the candidates for a position in the family’s national publications. Sadie feels Jake is looking down his nose at her and her town. Jake inserts himself uninvited into her life. When she travels to New York City to meet the Board of Directors of Stark Publications she is unprepared for the adventures that follow. She meets Pepper Vandenberg, Jake’s purported fiancee to be. Is Jake using Sadie to make Pepper jealous or is there more to their passion than what happens in the bedroom? This is a story about chance encounters leading to unexpected liaisons. When Fate steps in, common sense flies out the window. A steamy romance from one of the author’s of “Carved Wooden Heart”.

“This book gives hope to all cougars, there is a special someone out there. 5-stars!” Michelle Martin

“A 5-star book that kept me reading all night even when my glasses steamed up!” Elizabeth Horton-Newton, Co-Author “Carved Wooden Heart”


“Song of Simon” by author C.A. Sanders is being re-released with a new cover by designer Rachel Bostwick through Dragonfly Books! A fantasy to be enjoyed by adults young and old, it will be available to pre-order for $.99 July 8th through July 14th. The price will go up July 21st so grab it now! Treat yourself to an exciting adventure this summer!

“Life was never sweet for Simon. He lived in suburban New York, dodging high school bullies and strumming his guitar. Things were about to get much worse. Simon is drawn into the land of Algavar, where High Priestess Teretha has imprisoned their god in amber. He falls into a holy war led by Ilyana, a renegade priestess who claims to be the Messiah. Simon agrees to accompany Ilyana on a quest to kill Teretha, and he sinks hip-deep into the violence and despair that permeate Algavar. Will Simon become the hero Ilyana believes he is, or will he lose his soul in a bloody world so different from his own?”

5-Star Reviews

Thought-Provoking And Entertaining, A must read coming of age tale, Vividly extraordinary!, Vivid Fantasy, Excellent Plot


Coming at the End of August!

“Beer, Women, and the Written Word” by Adam Mitchell

A raunchy semi-autobiographical tale that is sometimes funny, sometimes painful, and a great read beginning to end. Harry Block is a writer who struggles to write a number one best seller while drinking, working in a grocery market, having sex with women, and getting into crazy situations at every turn. A rollicking tale of mishaps and mayhem in Britain.Think James Joyce meets Tom Jones in the 21st century.


Author Elizabeth Horton-Newton has released three of her most popular Electric Eclectic Novelettes in paperback format through Dragonfly Books! “Old Habits”, “April Showers”, and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” can be found on Amazon, sized perfectly to fit in your purse, backpack, or carry-on.


Don’t forget August 1-4 author Elizabeth Horton-Newton will be at The Indie Bookfest in Orlando, Florida. Get your tickets here!


Elizabeth will be on two panels.

Look for her in Room 2

10-10:45: What Makes Romance Sweet? What’s the difference between romance that smolders and romance that flames?

11-11:45: Is Hot Romance Still on Fire? Have we cooled our love affair with super sexy love stories?


BOOK SIGNING

Elizabeth Horton-Newton and Neil Douglas Newton better known as the Crazy Writer Couple will be at McKay’s Bookstore 230 Papermill Place Way, Knoxville, TN 37919 on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from noon to 3 PM.  Come by and see them!  You can also find them on YouTube!


If you do miss her at this event you can catch her at the

Georgia Indie Author Event – Sweet As a Georgis Peach on October 5th, 2019.


Event Address:
Forsyth Conference Center – Lanier Technical College
3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Cumming, GA 30041, USA
www.forsythconferencecenter.laniertech.edu/

Have you entered the Dragonfly Books Big Publishing Contest yet?

https://dragonflybookstn.com/2019/06/17/dragonfly-books-big-contest/

View From The Sixth Floor by Elizabeth Horton Newton — Kathy’s Reading Korner

I have actually read this book several times. I yearn for a sequel! This is a tender story about a retired school teacher and her late husband’s best friend on a quest to find out the true story of the JFK assassination as the 50th anniversary of the day approaches. Olivia has always accepted the facts as presented and never questioned any of it until an encounter with a strange man in the grocery store who asks if she thought Oswald did it.

Having never thought about it much she decides to do a little research. She reads several books, watches documentaries on tv and finds she has more questions than answers and so decides she wants to go to Dallas. When she tells her friend and neighbor Bill about her plans he does everything he can to talk her out of it but Olivia is determined and so Bill makes plans to join her on the journey that will change their lives.

I too, always accepted the facts as presented about the assassination until I read this book. I began to look at things differently too!

Elizabeth Horton-Newton is an awesome story teller. Her characters come alive and you feel as if you know them. Olivia’s growth is something I particularly enjoyed watching. I was also thrilled to read a love story that didn’t involve twenty somethings but was a mature relationship that grew from a good friendship.

This is one of my very favorite books and I highly recommend it! I give it 5 0ut of 5 stars!

Share Your Shorts!

Dragonfly Books is delighted to announce we are now a companion site with Stab In the Dark Books! To celebrate this collaboration we are putting together an anthology of short stories.

“Summer Heat, Cold Crimes” will contain short stories of stories no less than 2500 words, no more than 5,000 words. The stories should center around crimes committed during the summer; vacation crimes, summer romance crimes, beach crimes, resort crimes, school holidays, etc. Stories should be rated “R” or lower: no graphic sex, no pedophilia. Submissions must be received by May 15th, 2019, and at least moderately edited. (Run it through Grammarly.) We will read them through for any last minute corrections.

Authors may submit up to two stories, but it’s possible only one will be chosen depending on the number of entries and number of pages.

The collection will be offered FREE on online bookseller sites and is an excellent way to introduce readers to your writing. You should attach a brief bio (100 words or less) and links to your website, Facebook Page, and any other social media sites you choose up to four. If you have an Amazon Author Page add that link as well. (If you don’t have an author page we suggest you build one or add one on Amazon.)

More information about Dragonfly Books can be found on their website: https://www.dragonfly-books.org/

Sign ups for the anthology will begin on this page on April 15th so be sure to keep checking. We look forward to promoting this book as both a Dragonfly Books and Stab In the Dark Books collaboration. These promotions will reach a large number of readers.

Submissions should be mailed to: dragonflybooks@outlook.com

Please put Anthology Submission in the subject line!

Looking forward to your stories!

 

Kathy B.

Media/Marketing

Dragonfly Books
P.O. Box 26283
​Knoxville, Tennessee 37912

https://www.dragonfly-books.org/

https://www.facebook.com/dragonflybookstn/

Valentine’s Day Sale!

SALE!!

Valentine’s Day Special!

Carved Wooden Heart by Elizabeth Horton-Newton, the Seductress of Suspense, and Starla Hartless will be on sale on Kindle for $.99 February 12 through February 14th!

 

“A sexy encounter with a talented native artist, a broken heart, and a knight in shining armor are just the beginning in this passionate romance. Dani Stone never expected to fall in love with carver Jesse Wolf Carver. She certainly didn’t foresee the results of her intense one-night stand with the sexy hunk. From the wealth of New York City to the southern city of Knoxville, Tennessee, follow Dani as she journeys the winding path fate has laid out for her. Will she ever forget Jesse and the passion she felt in his arms? Can any man replace him in her heart? And most importantly, will her secret be revealed? This is a story of passion, love, loss, and courage.”




Reviews

Wonderful

October 4, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition

Loved this book , one of the best romance novels I’ve read this year

 

Fun Contemporary Romance

March 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

Daniella is a young woman just beginning to find her way in life. Jesse is an artist haunted by personal demons. When Dani’s work brings them together, a brief interval of passion leads to feelings deep enough to last a lifetime. But fate is a fickle thing, and a series of chance events soon forces them apart. But, sometimes, seemingly harmless actions can have lasting consequences, and life doesn’t always lead us along the road we thought it would.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book

December 29, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and how they grew and changed from beginning to end. I read it in one sitting! I had to know what happened to Dani and Jessie! Their journey took them down many roads. It is a steamy romance that had me rooting for them from the day they met. I would highly recommend this book.

 

High Octane Romance and a Twisty Adventure

November 13, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Carved Wooden Heart is a mixture of high octane romance and a twisty adventure that will keep you up at night wondering how the characters will all evolve. Having already read Riddle and View From The Sixth Floor, I knew Horton-Newton’s work very well. In collaboration with Starla Hartless, an author I wasn’t familiar with, I was glad to find the voice kept up with the traditional clipped pace I was used to.

 

Free on Kindle in June and July

In honor of Starla Hartless birthday week we are offering Carved Wooden Heart free on kindle from June 15 – 19. Download and enjoy this rich story of a woman’s journey.

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2016 by Nerdy Girl 5 out 5 stars “In love with Jesse. Not only is Jesse Native American, he’s a relatable character, which means he’s gorgeous, flawed, and makes the ups and downs that he goes through and is put through so believable. Poor Dani finds her true love then loses him, and life slips slowly downhill from there as she goes from one trial to the next until she’s back where she should have always been. A long read but it wasn’t long enough. I hated for the story to end. Great job, ladies. Book 2 anyone?😂”

Old Habits by Elizabeth Horton-Newton Free on Kindle June 22 – 26. One reviewer compared this to early Stephen King. Download your copy and see for yourself.

Cyn Taylor Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2019 5 out of 5 stars. Good and Creepy. I have read novels by this author but this is my first dive into her short stories. Well written and a great read if you want to see inside the mind of a serial killer. Brings on the creepy.

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN JULY with Holiday Heat by Starla Hartless Free on Kindle July 24 – 26 Book 2 in the Cougar Love Series

Is it passion or is it love? After her divorce, Roxanne Woods left Sweetwater, Tennessee for a lucrative position with Torrid Publishing in New York City. Enjoying life in the big city she loved her job, her friends, and wasn’t looking for love. Then younger cover designer, Adam Drake, sweeps her off her feet. Stunned by the passion he unleashes in her she struggles with her feelings and the fact she sees herself as a cougar. Twists and turns make her head spin. Is she developing deeper feelings for the young stud muffin? Should she continue to resist his advances or relax and enjoy the ride? Meanwhile, her married sister Dawn who lives hundreds of miles away in sunny California has problems of her own. Will one sister find love while the other struggles to hold onto the life she’s created? 

New Releases in Time for the Holidays!

Dragonfly Books is pleased to announce two NEW releases just in time for holiday reading and gift-giving.

 “Loving Bitsy” by Virginia Dare

Loving
Available on Amazon

Bitsy Russo is trapped in an abusive marriage. Lawyer Simon Levine is trapped in an abusive marriage of his own. Living in the same apartment building in the borough of Queens, New York they pass like ships in the night until Simon takes a second look at the shy young woman. Little does he know she’s taken a second look of her own. Recognizing the signs of abuse, Simon wants to rescue Bitsy. But, does Bitsy need to be rescued or will she be strong enough to save herself? Tensions build, tempers flare, and passion erupts in this contemporary tale of domestic violence, hidden romance, and unexpected courage.

The first in the “Loving Bitsy” series.

 

Holiday Heat
Available on Amazon

 

“Holiday Heat” by Starla Hartless

Fans of Starla Hartless will be thrilled with the latest addition to her “Cougar Love Series”.

Is it passion or is it love? After her divorce, Roxanne Woods left Sweetwater, Tennessee for a lucrative position with Torrid Publishing in New York City. Enjoying life in the big city she loved her job, her friends, and wasn’t looking for love. Then younger cover designer, Adam Drake, sweeps her off her feet. Stunned by the passion he unleashes in her she struggles with her feelings and the fact she sees herself as a cougar. Twists and turns make her head spin. Is she developing deeper feelings for the young stud muffin? Should she continue to resist his advances or relax and enjoy the ride? Meanwhile, her married sister Dawn who lives hundreds of miles away in sunny California has problems of her own. Will one sister find love while the other struggles to hold onto the life she’s created? More than just another steamy love story, the second book in the Cougar Love Series tackles sibling relationships, contemporary romance, and whether age difference in a relationship makes a difference.

This is a HOT holiday romance!

Roxanne and Adam love to cook for one another. Check out their holiday recipes at the end of the book.

Dragonfly Books Newsletter DECEMBER 201

 DRAGONFLY BOOKS

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

STARLA HARTLESS

Starla Hartless lives in Sweetwater TN, a town which features heavily in her books.  Starla is a very private person, who refuses to make public appearances or have her photo displayed on her books.  Starla loves romance and by her own description, her books are romantic and naughty.

Starla co-authored “Carved Wooden Heart” with Elizabeth Horton-Newton before beginning her Cougar Love Series.  The first book in the series is the very popular “Dear Libby”

Starla is currently working on a holiday Cougar book which we hope to publish by      December 1, 2019.  She is also working on the next in the series “Cherokee Kisses” a historical romance about the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears depicting the love between an Irish immigrant and a young Cherokee man. Descended from Irish and Cherokee parents she is fascinated by the history of both cultures.

When she isn’t writing Starla enjoys spending time with her dog, Lincoln and playing the Dulcimer.

We are very proud that Starla has chosen to let Dragonfly Books publish her work.


spirit of xmas


WITCHES NIGHT OUT

          OLD TOWNE INN, OAK RIDGE TN

Elizabeth Horton-Newton had a great time meeting new fans and signing books.

Sophie Sloth and Ophelia Ostrich were a bit worried about sitting so close to a witch, but they got through it and are home safe and sound.


Since then, our two favorite stowaways joined The Crazy Writer Couple on their European Cruise!  We’ll have more photos in our next Newsletter! s and 0 cruise


Dragonfly Books is proud to announce the release of our newest author’s first book.  Virginia Dare has been working on a series called “The Loving Bitsy”series and the first book is now available on Amazon.com. 

You can also order an autographed copy through our website. 

For a limited time, we will email a pdf copy of this book in exchange for a review.  If interested, please email us at dragonflybooks@outlook.com.

Loving

Bitsy Russo is trapped in an abusive marriage. Lawyer Simon Levine is trapped in an abusive marriage of his own. Living in the same apartment building in the borough of Queens, New York they pass like ships in the night, until Simon takes a second look at the shy young woman. Little does he know she’s taken a second look of her own. Recognizing the signs of abuse, Simon wants to rescue Bitsy. But, does Bitsy need to be rescued or will she be strong enough to save herself? Tensions build, tempers flare, and passion erupts in this contemporary tale of domestic violence, hidden romance, and unexpected courage. The first in the Loving Bitsy series.

 


We read the first seven chaptersholiday heat

of Starla Hartless’ “cougar romance” holiday story.

It’s sexy, funny, and we can’t wait to hear what readers think!

Coming in December just in time to heat up YOUR

holidays!

Want an ARC copy?

Email Kathy @ dragonflybooks@outlook.com


EVENTS IN 2020

FEBRUARY 7-9  Knoxville Women’s Expo

APRIL 16-19  WEEKEND WITH THE AUTHORS  – NASHVILLE TN

JULY 11 – ALL ABOUT THE INDIES

ARLINGTON, VA

AUGUST 27 – 30  ORLANDO LOVES TO READ –  ORLANDO, FL

SEPTEMBER 19 – NEXT CHAPTER CON

RINGGOLD, GA

MORE TO COME!

IF YOU WILL BE AT A SIGNING EVENT PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN PROMOTE IT!


CONTEST ENDED

Thank you to all those who entered our author contest.

Our judges are already at work reading all the entries.

Winners will be announced in January 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/11 – The Day That Changed America

railroad-04 (2)
Available on Amazon

FREE on Amazon Kindle 

September 11 & September 12

“On Sept. 11, 2001, Mike Dobbs’ life was forever changed. Reeling from his nightmare experience in New York’s subway as the twin towers collapsed, he retreats from his high-power Wall Street life to his run-down country house. Coping with PTSD he resorts to single malt Scotch to dull the memories of death and destruction. Soon he is embroiled in the life of Eileen Benoit and her 7-year old daughter Megan as they flee Eileen’s abusive ex-husband. Suddenly Mike is thrown into a world he knows nothing about, and he is forced to answer the question, how far would you go for someone you love?”

 

Author Neil Douglas Newton was trapped in the subway beneath the streets of New York City when the World Trade Center towers collapsed. He’d been evacuated with others from his office in lower Manhattan and was persuaded by a nervous co-worker to board the northbound subway. In retrospect, this was a life-changing decision. Had he opted to follow his instincts and walk uptown to his apartment he might have been on the streets when that ominous cloud of dust ad debris spread across the landscape, joining the other New Yorkers who tried to flee what appeared as a storm of death.

Whether his experience in that subway car with terrified commuters who prayed and cried was more nightmarish than what he might have seen above ground is debatable. It is unlikely he could even answer that question.

Taking that experience and incorporating it into a thriller that chastises the legal system for its lack of responsibility in returning children to abusive parents, Newton has penned a book that examines such touchy subjects as PTSD, alcoholism, and of course, child sexual abuse.

On the anniversary of the attacks, Newton recalls the day it happened. It is not a day he will ever forget. His health was negatively impacted by the debris he inhaled that day as he hurried through darkened streets in a cloud of death. But more damaging was the memory imprinted in his mind.

When you read his book, “The Railroad”, keep in mind that the descriptions of Mike Dobbs’ experience in the subway are based on Newton’s reality. It has been re-released with a new cover by designer Rachel Bostwick who has captured the soul of the tale.

Severe Damage to New York City Subway Stations
395057 06: (FILE PHOTO) Rubble and wreckage blocks a southbound track at the Cortland/WTC subway station in New York City in this undated photo taken after the collapse of the World Trade Center. Restrictions barring single-occupant cars from entering parts of New York City September 28, 2001 have combined with damage to subway stations to create serious delays for commuters in New York City. (Photo courtesy of New York City Transit Authority/Getty Images)

Ask yourself, what would you do if were in Mike Dobbs’ place in that subway car? How do you think your life would be changed? And lastly, how was your life changed on that clear and beautiful September day in New York City?

Never Forget!