Ritual Prayer

Work has begun on a new Western novel. Hopefully, in the fall of 2025, a manuscript should be complete. Texas Ranchers saw a demand for beef after in the post-Civil War era. Cattle drives, some originating in South Texas traveled as far north as Wyoming, until the coming of the railroads. A glut of Texas beef, and the coming of the railroads ended the boom in the late 1880s. If the downturn in the cattle business wasn't enough, rancher Seth Nicholson and neighboring ranches were plagued with a serial killer--one who seemed to be performing some obscure ritual beyond Seth's understanding.

"Quiahuitl came and went without any sign of clouds. The gods must be angry at being ignored. It occurred to him that a sacrifice to appease Tonatiuh, the patron of the day of rain, might bring the much-needed rain. A still beating heart, offered for the god to consume, would gain much favor with the sun god, according to the ancient ones. Tales handed down from his forefathers, priests of the Mexica, Tenochas of great importance, the rite and ritual prayer had been faithfully preserved in detail. The stone knife, a carefully preserved family heirloom, was touched up to ensure it was just as sharp as the day it first saw service at Tlacaxipehualiztli in preparation for the rainy season. " -- Ritual Prayer, a Western by Steve Croy.

Now on Nook

Life bites. There are lessons to be learned whether you ask for them or not. Eddie Cygnarowicz, whose last name no one can pronounce correctly, learns more than he cares to know about the mythos of job security and business ethics. The carefully constructed algorithm he created for his life needs revising, but the source code has gone missing. Eddie isn’t sure if his life is a tragedy or a comedy, but he’s determined to figure out his role in the play, even as the script keeps changing.

Eddie Cygnarowicz likes organization, which can be trying—especially for someone whose last name no one can pronounce. Mistakenly, he thinks he has life down to a science. Just like programming, everything can be structured into an algorithm that produces predictable results. Of course, life is more complex than flipping bits and bytes, as he discovers. Unexpected events can make a shamble of the best-laid plans. Life is more closely allied with chaos than logic.

New Western!

Work has begun on a new Western novel. Hopefully, in the fall of 2025, a manuscript should be complete. Texas Ranchers saw a demand for beef after in the post-Civil War era. Cattle drives, some originating in South Texas traveled as far north as Wyoming, until the coming of the railroads. A glut of Texas beef, and the coming of the railroads ended the boom in the late 1880s. If the downturn in the cattle business wasn't enough, rancher Seth Nicholson and neighboring ranches were plagued with a serial killer--one who seemed to be performing some obscure ritual beyond Seth's understanding.

"Quiahuitl came and went without any sign of clouds. The gods must be angry at being ignored. It occurred to him that a sacrifice to appease Tonatiuh, the patron of the day of rain, might bring the much-needed rain. A still beating heart, offered for the god to consume, would gain much favor with the sun god, according to the ancient ones. Tales handed down from his forefathers, priests of the Mexica, Tenochas of great importance, the rite and ritual prayer had been faithfully preserved in detail. The stone knife, a carefully preserved family heirloom, was touched up to ensure it was just as sharp as the day it first saw service at Tlacaxipehualiztli in preparation for the rainy season. " -- Ritual Prayer, a Western by Steve Croy.

Requiem for Theia!

Requiem for Theia is now available for Nook, and Kindle readers, as well as in paperback! Explore a world that might have been, on a parallel timeline.

Requiem noun: 1. a mass for the dead; the origin: Middle English, from Latin – Merriam-Webster Dictionary

"Past, present, and future are concepts our mind is comfortable with. However, a physicist would tell me the idea they are separate is only an illusion. In the past I stood before the committee. Perhaps in some other space-time dimension, I stand there, still, or in another dimension, I have yet to make my appearance. I hope those reflections of myself fare better than I did. In this world, I exist at a moment between the recent past and the inevitable future. In spite of philosophy and physics, I still cannot adequately define time. Somehow, it escapes me. Perhaps if I take note of the events, eventually, I might make sense of it all.(From the journal of Arn Ad-Emn)" -- Requiem for Theia, science fiction by Steve Croy.

Now on Barnes & Noble!

Requiem for Theia is now available for Nook readers! Explore a world that might have been, on a parallel timeline.

Requiem noun: 1. a mass for the dead; the origin: Middle English, from Latin – Merriam-Webster Dictionary

"Past, present, and future are concepts our mind is comfortable with. However, a physicist would tell me the idea they are separate is only an illusion. In the past I stood before the committee. Perhaps in some other space-time dimension, I stand there, still, or in another dimension, I have yet to make my appearance. I hope those reflections of myself fare better than I did. In this world, I exist at a moment between the recent past and the inevitable future. In spite of philosophy and physics, I still cannot adequately define time. Somehow, it escapes me. Perhaps if I take note of the events, eventually, I might make sense of it all.(From the journal of Arn Ad-Emn)" -- Requiem for Theia, science fiction by Steve Croy.

Now on Amazon!

Requiem for Theia is now available for Kindle readers or in paperback! If science fiction is on your list of favorite reads, this novel might be for you. What if time isn't what we thought?

“What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know.” – Saint Augustine.

Prae’sol is history, so it is said. I cannot change what happened in the past. Tare’sol will arrive, whether I am ready for it or not. The future is unpredictable. Em’sol, this sol, is the only sol that offers the opportunity to change our destiny. Often, it passes without our awareness of its significance. Looking back in regret is a sad exercise. In my existence, I was taught life moves in one direction: we mark time in a progression of events from the past through the present and into the future. On Theia, such a progression only moves in one direction. I was to learn that may not hold true in every reality.-- From Requiem for Theia, science fiction by Steve Croy.

Author Fest 2025

Author Fest 2025, on March 29 was a festive occasion!. This year there were thirty local authors represented. Something for everyone was available: all types of genera, Westerns, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Children's Books.

Jan Brown, a local author from North Georgia was one of the authors I recognized from the 2024 event. Jan writes historical fiction--his books can be found on Amazon. I made the acquaintance of Larry Simpson, who writes non-fiction. I enjoyed chatting with Susan Kirkland who writes faith-based fiction. Hopefully, I will see many of the authors return next year.

Requiem for Theia

Coming soon!

Work is proceeding on the new science fiction novel, Requiem for Theia. A proof copy is currenlty in review!

"I am cognizant of my waning years. I am aware life in our world is ever-changing. Everything that has been created will eventually be destroyed through a natural calamity or of our machinations. I have seen the ruins of Theia’s earlier civilizations. Many find it difficult to believe that once great societies existed before our modern one. But even if not as technologically advanced, our ancestors were capable of building great edifies and cities. It is humbling to see the fragments of carved stone tumbled from the walls of great buildings to lay on the red sand between tuffs of lavender-colored weeds that seem to have sprouted from every crevice."

"Such places where the winds howl and the sand it drives rounds and softens the sharp edges of the portions of the buildings that still stand. Some of the ruins near the coast suggest that the great sea has receded as the piers stick forlornly out of the dry crust of the soil." --From Requiem for Theia.

Author Fest 2025

Confirmed! An invitation has been accepted. Last year there were at thirty-six local authors present. They represented all types of genera, Westerns, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Children's Books. No matter what your preference, there was a book for just about every age and genre.

Saturday, March 29, 2025 10AM-3PM, the Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library will host the annual Author Fest. This is an opportunity to meet and talk with local writers. The Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library is located at 310 Cappes Street, in Dalton, GA. For more information call (706) 876-1379. Last year, I got to meet Jan Brown, a local author from North Georgia. Jan writes historical fiction--his books can be found on Amazon.

Mark the date on your calendar so you don't miss the event. I hope to see you there.

Requiem for Theia

Coming in 2025!

Work is proceeding on the new science fiction novel, Requiem for Theia. The first draft of the manuscript is nearly complete!

"I am cognizant of my waning years. I am aware life in our world is ever-changing. Everything that has been created will eventually be destroyed through a natural calamity or of our machinations. I have seen the ruins of Theia’s earlier civilizations. Many find it difficult to believe that once great societies existed before our modern one. But even if not as technologically advanced, our ancestors were capable of building great edifies and cities. It is humbling to see the fragments of carved stone tumbled from the walls of great buildings to lay on the red sand between tuffs of lavender-colored weeds that seem to have sprouted from every crevice."

"Such places where the winds howl and the sand it drives rounds and softens the sharp edges of the portions of the buildings that still stand. Some of the ruins near the coast suggest that the great sea has receded as the piers stick forlornly out of the dry crust of the soil." --From Requiem for Theia.