Web-based publisher, Booklocker.com, just released two versions of Scott Frank's first novel, a crime-thriller titled "Darkness Descends," on their website. The story, set in Fresno and Groveland (CA), has been given high marks during pre-release viewings.

Summary: Two weeks before graduation beautiful high school senior Courtney Atkinson is brutally beaten, raped and left for dead. Track star Chris Walker was spotted by one of the assailants as he witnessed the assault and fled. His problem now is deciding what to do and, while grappling with his innermost thoughts, the city's mayor-Courtney's uncle-is kidnapped, launching Chris into action. Hooking up with the police department-as an observer-Chris devises his own plan to avenge the tragedies of Courtney and the mayor and come to grips with who he is and what he stands for.

"Darkness Descends" is as a traditional quality paperback and sells for $15.95 as well as in eBook format (PDF), which retails for $7.95. Both contain the exact same content and are available at http://www.booklocker.com/books/786.html

The eBook can be downloaded and read immediately and the tradional version will be printed on demand and then shipped, generally within 2-3 days of order receipt.

If you prefer the Microsoft Reader version eBook, "Darkness Descends" is also available at http://firstprint.com/authorwelchs.htm

At the FirstPrint.com site, Scott's true-to-life short story, iloveyoudotcom, is also available (for only $2.00), also in Microsoft Reader eBook format.

Scott Frank is currently working on a follow-up novel, "The Marble Killer," and plans to have that book available for the Fall 2002 book season. The first chapter of "The Marble Killer" can be viewed at Scott's wesbite, http://scottfrank.writernetwork.com.

Additionally, he is writing song lyrics, the first of which ("Our Love") has just been recorded as a demo by fellow collaborators Lene Dissing and Christian Warburg, both of Denmark. That song can be heard at http://aol.tonos.com/scottdwelch.

Stay tuned for more ScottNews.

P.S. Please pass this news on to family and friends who may enjoy a good mystery-crime/thriller.