This is one of my favorite Groucho quotes because authors love people who read. And that’s not only because they want to sell books. Most authors, myself included, don’t write because they want to. We write because we have to.
There’s a special kind of joy that comes from painting pictures in readers’ minds with words—taking them on an imaginary journey into a world we have created. We surprise them with plot twists and turns while they get to know our fictitious characters—making them love some and loathe others.
I wish everyone could experience the pleasure of creative writing and the fulfillment it provides.
The Evocatus Series
I discovered my love for the “historical/fiction” genre when I began this series of novels. This category of stories requires authors to insert fictional characters and events into the historical timeline. The Evocatus Series gives readers an alternative explanation of recent events and a “behind-the-scenes” glimpse into a murky world with which they are unfamiliar.
Oh, I should explain why I called the series Evocatus. The Evocatus were retired highly-skilled Roman legionnaires who were called back into service for a specific mission or campaign. They formed elite units called The Evocati.
The books in the series contain examples of this ancient Roman tradition.
Evocatus Inception (Timeline - 1994 to 2004)
I wrote about my motivation for this novel and the subsequent investigation into 9/11 in previous substack newsletters in March and April of 2022, so I won’t bore you with a lot of details here.
Evocatus Inception begins in 1994 when former CIA assassins are hired as mercenaries to carry out the operation on 9/11. The story concludes in 2004.
I based this novel on the premise that 9/11 was an inside job. Do I believe it was an inside job? No, I simply thought the idea would make a great novel. It’s totally a fictitious story, but I wrote the novel like it was true and investigated every aspect of this catastrophic event with that in mind. Then I invented appropriate make-believe characters to plan and execute an imaginary clandestine operation. The novel explains how the fictional mission was accomplished and kept secret.
Here’s what one of the reviewers had to say about Evocatus Inception:
“Great read! Just finished this book. It was very thought-provoking. For those of you who like a good conspiracy, this one is for you. Great characters and story. Highly recommend. Can’t wait for the movie.” B. Mitchell - Amazon
Available in both paperback and ebook versions
Evocatus II Bloodline (Timeline - 2004 to 2008)
The story continues in 2004 in this second book of the series. CIA Officer Ryan Hunter learns his mother, a Port Authority police officer allegedly killed on 9/11, is alive and powerful people are hunting her down to kill her.
He leaves the CIA to find his mother and enlists the help of a fellow CIA officer, a former White House terrorism czar, and an NSA deputy director.
Evocatus II Bloodline takes the reader on a worldwide quest as a son struggles to find and save his long-lost mother from certain death. Along the way, he learns the shocking truth she vowed to keep secret.
Available in both paperback and ebook versions.
Evocatus III Stratagem (Timeline - 2008 to 2020?)
I am currently halfway through writing the third book in the series Evocatus III Stratagem. This suspense/thriller begins in 2008 right after Evoctus II Bloodline concludes.
Ryan Hunter returns to the CIA as deputy director and discovers that elite power brokers plan to unleash a devious plot to gain worldwide power and control. He joins a diverse group of professionals determined to stop them.
This novel is proving to be a joy to write with plenty of twists and turns. At the present time, the story will likely conclude in 2020.
Thanks for reading this post and indulging in the shameless promotion of my work. :)
Until next time, take care and remember the credo of Homicide Detective Roy Wood in my Mystery/Thriller novel Weeds in The Garden of Love :
“If you consider all possibilities and never rule anything out, you’ll never be surprised.”
Steven J. Daniels
The Skeptical Investigator
I just started posting my suspense novel: https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/the-grim-room-a-novel
Michael Mohr
"Sincere American Writing"
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/