Larry slammed his fist into the palm of his left hand. "I can't take this anymore, Joe. I can't take this constant hat-in-hand jockeying for space on the bookshelves and exposure in the media. How can I continue writing when the people who are selling books don't read? And to make matters worse, these same people keep trying to second-guess the public about what they want to read."

Joe remained calm. "I have an idea that might work."

"Yeah, yeah."

"I mean it."

"Alright. What?" Larry stood up and waited.

"Actually, it's more like a scheme."

"Don't edit your thoughts, Joe. Say it."

Joe crossed the room and closed the office door.

“It starts with your suicide.”

****************** 

False, then lost identity. Betrayal and infidelity. Theft and corruption. Deceit and murder. These are the dark circumstances operating against struggling author Larry Meachum. His only defense is a desperate determination to survive in a world burdened by mystery, suspense, and crime—a world where Death Takes a Byline.

D. S. Lliteras is the author of fourteen books that have received national and international acclaim. His short stories and poetry have appeared in numerous national and international magazines, journals, and anthologies. He lives in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife and author, Kathleen Touchstone.