Former high school teacher Heckel Casey knows how civilization collapsed in this post-apocalyptic world. And he knows who is responsible for the evil that has nearly decimated humanity.
Sometimes the world needs a hero...
Former high school teacher Heckel Casey knows how civilization collapsed in this post-apocalyptic world. And he knows who is responsible for the evil that has nearly decimated humanity. His journey across the country slowly reveals that there is a power growing inside of him that is strong enough to confront the evil and eliminate it.
Sometimes the world needs a savior...
Encountering attacks from hellish snakes, demonic bikers, violent tempests, not to mention self-doubt, deception and betrayal, Heckel must overcome these ‘bumps’ in the road to lead his companions to the ultimate battle to save humanity.
This world needs Heckel Casey.
Excerpt
It wasn't a nuclear bomb.
It wasn't a pandemic.
It wasn't a plague.
It wasn't another world war.
It wasn't even global warming or a new Ice Age.
No, the end of civilization, our beloved society as we know it, came on gradually; and I remember when it started. Better yet, I know who was responsible.
In the year 2000, I was in the seventh grade at a small junior high school in Decorah, Iowa, when I first encountered unadulterated, pure evil, and it was in the ISS room. At that time in my life, I rarely got into trouble, unlike now. Trouble has a way of finding me now big time. Back then, however, I was pretty shy and introverted. I would usually panic when the teacher called on me; I'd stammer or mumble and look like a complete idiot. However, I guess I did pretty well on tests because I'd usually bring home straight As. My parents were very proud and supportive.
So, what got me sent to ISS? Oh, wait. For those of you who were good kids in school, you probably don't remember what those three initials stand for. Let me refresh your memory. They stand for—In School Suspension. The ISS room, which served as the holding pen for troublemakers, deviants and the Future Criminals of America Club, had no windows and was in the basement of the school. The dreaded room was right next to the boiler room, so it was usually very hot, stuffy and dusty. There was an old hag of a woman who was the supervisor. I'm sorry to portray her with such an unkind description, but she was really mean and made us sit with our hands folded all day, staring at the front wall. We actually did call her "The Hag." I remember seeing her each morning when she would have this horrendous scowl on her face and grumbled as she descended the stairs to the ISS room. One time I passed her and she smelled really bad. It was that old-people smell ramped up a few notches on the stink meter. Someone once told me she had been at that school since she graduated from it back in the Stone Age.
Professional Reviews
Master Storyteller
“Heckel Casey by James Hoch is the classic struggle between good and evil. Reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Stand, the story follows Heckel and Sela across the country as they gather an army of end-of-the-world survivors for a showdown with Madeline, the devil’s hand-picked protégé. Hoch proves to be a master storyteller with an impeccable sense of pacing. He uses his characters’ conversations to fill in back story and increase tension. As a result, Heckel Casey grabs the reader from prologue to epilogue. I look forward to a sequel”. Roxanne Smolen, best-selling author of The Amazing Wolf Boy and Satan’s Mirror.
Hope
“I just finished reading Heckel... I really don't know what to say except that your book needs to be read by our entire world. The fight between good and evil has progressively become more and more blatant in our past decade; you have brought it further to light by allowing the reader to become a part of 'it,' to live the battle against 'it' through the lives and eyes of Heckel, Sela and friends, if only metaphorically, and then to empower the reader with the antidote - HOPE! Your book made me laugh, shudder, cry, and actually recommit to my passion in life - to spread hope, goodness, and the power of prayer, as well as acknowledge the blessings of our guardian angels. James, your book is easy to read, hard to put down, well written, an excellent novel for these troubling times.”
Must Read
"James Hoch has a way of bringing Heckel to life with captivating and clean writing. Heckel Casey is a must read post-apocalyptic thriller that you won't want to miss. Looking forward to more from Mr. Hoch." —Jeff Bennington, best-selling author of Reunion
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