The Way Things Were is a first collection of narratives by this historical thriller novelist. Set both in the United States, and in various parts of the world, the author conjures up a broad range of unusual characters and plots often set in unforgiving and unfriendly worlds. This is an intriguing selection that evokes the range of human emotions and the unpredictability of life. The writer’s reach is wide, including stories with historical settings, stories of today and one of old age in an imagined future. Many of the narratives first appeared in various literary journals and or online.
As deafness, illness, and demonic forces close in around him, Ludwig van Beethoven must summon his faith and genius to complete the Missa Solemnis—a sacred masterpiece he believes could bring divine light into a darkening world.
A teenage boy struggling with the coming-of-age issues of sexuality, religion, and peer approval is overwhelmed, but soldiers on. After several years, he comes to understand the family forces that have left him so deeply troubled, and the process of
