Showing results by narrator "Mark McClain" in All Categories

American Desperado is possibly the most jaw-dropping, event-filled, adrenaline-soaked criminal autobiography ever written. Like a real-life Scarface Jon was born into the upper levels of the Gambino crime family and witnessed his first murder at age seven. He became a one-man juvenile crime wave before joining an assassination squad in Vietnam.

So far, while working at a ghost matchmaking agency, the past week has gone thusly: 1) a murdered ghost bride who is very, very pissed off (don’t blame her, I’d be pissed off too) 2) adopted by Chinese hellhounds (I THOUGHT THEY WERE DOGS, OKAY) 3) wake up magically soul-bonded to the sexy demon slayer Zhen (While I agree he’s—expansive hand waving—HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!) I do not need a fourth incident to make my life more interesting, please and thank you. Spoiler alert: I get one anyway.

There was a time when magic was welcome in the country of Chahir, but that was nearly two centuries ago. Now, all forms of magic are strictly forbidden. Anyone caught using magic, or possessing magical abilities, are immediately imprisoned and executed. For Garth, that policy is a problem. As Garth approaches his 16th birthday, he realizes that he definitely has magical abilities. What's worse, he has no control over them. In order to stay alive, he only has one choice—he must leave his homeland, Chahir, and flee into the neighboring country, Hain.

She gave a low, musical hum of approval. “Well said. I have heard many reports on what you did but never once did I believe I could have the full tale.” She leaned forward, causing the silk pillows behind her to slide in every direction. “Kingslayer, tell me. Why did you kill your king?”

I started reviewing all of the things I had done over the past two years, memories flicking through my head almost too fast to follow. Each choice led to another: my choice to leave my home in Tobadorage and seek refuge in Hain led directly to my actions now, bringing a Queen into exile. And each choice, each action on my part, had started the chain reaction that was bringing magic back into Chahir.

“I can’t wait to get to work!” When was the last time you felt that way? Have you ever? Mark McClain has and still does. He and his leadership teams have focused on creating companies that make the quality of their employees’ work experiences of equal importance to the quality of the solutions those employees create.

“That boy thinks the world of you,” Xiaolang murmured. “And….” he visibly hesitated, slanting a questioning look at me from the corner of his eye. “And…?” I encouraged him. Xiaolang rarely hesitates in his speech. When he wanted to say something, he said it. “He’ll be very important in the future,” Xiaolang murmured. “I’m not sure how to put this….” he paused, mouth rummaging for words. “Something will change very soon, Garth. Someone will be discovered who will change everything. When that happens, you need to trust Trev’nor like he trusts you.

In the Middle East, young Asaf builds a sub-rosa bar with a foreign soldier. Big trouble ensues. Religious leaders confront the soldiers. Full of deep emotions, this is a story of how so much can go so wrong when cultures clash due to ignorance, bigotry, prejudice, and self-righteousness.

Method actors inhabit their characters. Method writers do, too. John goes to elaborate lengths to study the habits, physiology, and needs of a vampire. From the mundane to the emotional, he wants to lend a sense of realism to his horror writing that goes beyond the pale. But is the undead life all it's cracked up to be? Can he last a month inside this experiment?