My newsletter subscribers were allowed access to preliminary notifications of my latest suspense, coming of age novel, The Giving Thief. I am now very excited to share the cover and my official launch date -Saturday 5th September 2026 at Words in the Park in Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Once again, I employed a cover artist I have used many times - Wren Taylor Cover Design. With an image in my head, I worked with her to ensure the cover resembled the cabin where my protagonist, Ryder, spent his time. The boulders and tree canopy play an important part within the story.

Background

The narrative began for me after I read about three unusual true news stories. A hermit living alone for twenty-seven years, porcelain dolls dressed and resembling young daughters of the household left on their family's porches, and the discovery of a body in a motel after five years! These events culminated in the spark of an idea to utilize into a story. Although, the idea percolated and I initially wrote around fifty thousand words back in 2014, I knew it was not quite right so left it with a return to edit and revise in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2024 and dipped back in 2025. It was not until an idea for two new preliminary chapters arrived unexpectedly on a road trip that I finally felt the story was ready. This is all part of a writer's journey and the course of some projects. As you may see my backburner projects contain many that have lain dormant for some time. Their time will come eventually.

The research into, not only the news stories, but discovering survivalist methods, and how actions and consequences effect people in different ways was really interesting and gives the narrative a depth into human nature.

Blurb:

Ryder’s life was a bullied hell with few highlights and a dead end future. One night changes his fate in an unexpected and terrifying way leading to his transition from bullied teen to hermit survivalist. A suspense novel that keeps you turning the pages as you witness the remarkable coming of age of a young man.

The title is an oxymoron and this was intentional as it relates to the two sides of my main character, Ryder. He changes from bullied youth to remarkable survivalist, but also the duality of his stealing and donating of objects.

As always I am open to questions about my work and my novels, so please leave a comment below.