ABNA Review of 'The Gospel According to the Roman Occupation'

My novel about Jesus from the point of view of the Roman occupation of Palestine has advanced to the Quarterfinals in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) competition. From 10,000 entries, 500 are in the Quarterfinals.

The first 18 pages of the book have had 2 professional reviews, both excellent. Here is one:

"This is exceptionally erudite, flawless, and subversively delicious. The author blends an almost vicious comedy to some serious history for a compelling historical fiction. The characters are richly drawn, the narrative fierce, muscular, compelling. The author has mastery of prose and story and knows how to mold the English language into an empire of a story. The action and dialogue move the story forward as well as develop the characters. The setting is atmospheric with the era pitch perfect. This is a story I would like to read in full."

And I would like YOU, reading this, to also read those first 18 pages, enjoy them, and write your own thoughts as a review on Amazon. Its title there is 'The Gospel According to the Occupation', and the pages are available, free, from Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3AWI
The reviews are there. To see the 18 pages, click on "Download for Free" in the top right corner.

Your comments will be taken into account by Penguin Books as they decide which books to move to the Semifinals - I will be truly grateful, no matter what you say about the book!

SO LISTEN NOW

So listen now to what the prophet saith,
He teaches anything, he gladly learns,
He follows scientists and what they say,
And now, Philosophy of DNA
Regard the spiral of it as it turns,
And listen now to what the prophet saith:
The two as one, entwining intercourse,
Then separate from toes to very head,
And, separated, seek another bed,
Their separation procreation’s cause.
So listen now to what the prophet saith—
And this the canniballed male spider learns,
Eaten by her, as her he’d try to lay,
Who procreates in separation’s day—
No spark of love or life or hate there burns,
But, listen now to what the prophet saith,
Only a life of procreating death.

Published in Metverse Muse, India, March 2009

FINGERPRINT

I want to fingerprint you
All over.
I want to fingerpaint you
All over.
I want to finger you, finger you,
Linger and lingua you,
Finger you everywhere,
Everyhow, everywho,
Finger you, all of you,
Paint and imprint on you,
All of all over.

Published: Shit Creek Review, US, Sept-Oct 2008

CINDYLEE

Utterly subtly,
Sinuous Cindylee
Slyly and shyly ties
Knots in my life;
Claiming to operate
Unparadoxically,
Cuts through my heart like a
Butter through knife.

Published online: Snakeskin, UK, January 2009

SUMMER DREAM

Quick foot, soft smile, soft voice, soft form -
Come back to the house before we get the summer storm.

Soft step, slim form, slow smile, sleep-warm -
Wet foot in the garden, let me wrap you in the dawn.

Published online: Snakeskin, UK, October 2008

CRYO LIMERICK

The correct thing to do, when you’re dead,
Is have someone take care of your head;
There’s no chance of more drama
Without Futurama -
Don’t say you weren’t warned - act, instead.

Published online: Transhumanity, US, November 2005

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

I love you with that love floppy and large,
As one of us a man - the other, dog;
Involved, detached, our life's a travelogue
Of countrysides seen from a rented barge,
"Travels With You" along some river's marge,
Failing at interspecies dialogue
Till tries at talk are lost in night and fog,
Drifting with batteries we can't recharge.

Yet there's no option but to travel on,
Each varied day no different than before,
Wondering if we'll find some magic door
Which, risking entry, gives communion;
And if, by talking, love would be enhanced,
Or if we'd then destroy all we have chanced.

Published: Candelabrum, UK, April 2007

OXFORD

Purple voices, rich and rare,
Glowing in the jeweled air,
Handling esoteric themes,
Mysteries like running streams
Dammed with unexpected care
Into almost-answered prayer
Where you’d think no calmness could
In the wildest of the wood.
Thoughts and unknown meanings dance,
Wordwise weave you in a trance,
Darkly glowing, rich and rare,
Purple voices, glowing air.

Published: Candelabrum, UK, April 2006

NEVADA

The light in your eyes is as the sun rising behind mountains in a cloudless sky.
Your smile is like the first rain falling on desert land.
The memory of you is like a long-forgotten childhood song.
Your wisdom is like a fresh breeze springing up, slapping slack ropes against their masts.
Your being gives the seasons to my life.
If you should ever go, and take the sun and rain, the breezes and my youth,
I’d sit in the dark cave of my heart, feeling its dry walls crumble into dust.

Published: Candelabrum, UK, October 2006

MY LIFE TWISTS

My life twists
Dangling in the mists
A spider in the earliest hint of dawn.
My mind roams
Lost in a thousand homes,
Amnesiac messenger still trying to warn.

Published: Candelabrum, UK, April 2008