Book one in the What Is to Be Done trilogy. In the midst of chaos caused by the release of a human engineered virus, a group of gifted scientists calling themselves the Americans for a New America (ANA) realize something must be done to fix things. Normally, citizens look to the government to solve all their problems, the problem though, is government has devolved into such a state of dysfunction it’s become too incompetent to fix anything. To remedy this, the ANA devise an ingenious plan to overthrow the government without anyone knowing – their virtual coup is on track until fate intercedes in the form of Sympatico who’s escaping Miguel, a human trafficking sociopath.
The ANA not only have a plan, but they’ve also successfully beta tested aspects of its implementation. They’re playing poker at Armando’s Al Azar in open defiance of pandemic mandates, when Sympatico burst into bar looking every bit the escaped slave on the run. The boys know instantly they not only have to help Sympatico but put Miguel out of business. What Miguel’s finding out from his Cartel bosses is his life depends on getting Sympatico back.
Synopsis – An overview of the WHAT IS TO BE DONE trilogy
SAMPLE CHAPTERS
Chapter 1: Prelude To A Touch - Jake ends another sleepless night like the others, mourning Emelia
Chapter 2: The Madness of Memories - Jake and Armando share a pre-meeting drink at the Al Azar
Chapter 3: Al Azar - At Armando's bar on Cinco de Mayo as the ANA prepare for a meeting
Chapter 4: The Desperation of Her Darkness - Sympatico flees Miguel, taking sanctuary in the Al Azar
Chapter 5: Derivation of Destiny - Jake draws Miguel into a wager for Sympatico's freedom
Chapter 6: Death is An Illusion - Sympatico tries to decide who is good and who is evil
Chapter 7: The Monte Hall Paradox - Jake baits Miguel into a high stakes wager for Sympatico's freedom
Chapter 8: La Marseillaise - Jake waits to start his morning bike ride uncertain what last night really means
Chapter 9: Decoding Demons - Jake figures out what to do with Sympatico the morning after
Chapter 10: Infinite Sympatico - Jake takes Sympatico to church so Padre Paul can figure out what to do
Chapter 11: La Marseillaise Redux - Jake prepares for the day with tragic thoughts of Emelia
Chapter 12: In The Land of Manana - Sympatico's not home when Jake returns from Espanola
Chapter 13: What Happens Next - Jake races to find Sympatico before Miguel does
Chapter 14: Damaged Goods - Dario tells the story of how he lost a dear friend in combat
Chapter 15: Enemy At the Gate - In an emergency meeting the ANA decide to delay Phase II launch
Chapter 16: Casualties of Context - Drunk, Jake role plays with explosively unintended consequences
Chapter 17: Alternate Ending - Another layer in Emelia's tragic story is revealed
Chapter 18: Making Mula - Jake starts a batch of Mula but won't apologize for last night
Chapter 19: Bourbon Etiquette - It's interview day, only Chance doesn't know it
Chapter 20: Aroma of Memories - Jake uses barrel room aromas to loft him back in time to Emelia
Chapter 21: Blue Bottle Bourbon - Sympatico shares Jake's full moon ritual
Chapter 22: Quiet Desperation - The ANA learn Alverez, a Watcher, may be on to them
Chapter 23: Imaginary Numbers - Confronted with Chance's unwanted advances, Sympatico bins men
Chapter 24: Angelica - Jake tells the story of his alter wine on the way to church
Chapter 25: Passions of a Padre - Padre gives a sermon on persistence
Chapter 26: Rendering Verdicts - Dario's upset Jake hired an assistant and already doesn't like Chance
Chapter 27: Desperados - Miguel demands Sympatico be returned or else
Chapter 28: Dawn of Discontent - The ANA strategize a response to Miguel's demands
Chapter 29: Tengo Caricia - Dario and Chance protect Sympatico as the ANA brace for violence
Chapter 30: Calculus of Causation - A woman from Miguel's ranch is murdered and Sympatico's missing
Read each chapter's companion poems
Background short stories
Cowboy Coffee - Importance of doing what needs to be done
Jake and Emelia - Tale told from loss to life
Dominic and Denali - A story of love and loss but not lost love
