Here’s a recent email I received from a reader in Toronto:
Hello Martin,
Just wanted to drop a note to let you know that I enjoyed your novel tremendously over the last couple of days. The novel was like a rollercoaster – an emotional rollercoaster – at times I had to laugh, at times cried. Really got into the book and the characters. Would love to have gone on and on reading more. A sequel would be nice, don’t you agree?
Thanks again for many hours of great entertainment. I won’t forget this book.
Signed J–
Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 20. The setting: Justin’s small stone ranch house on a remote desert ranch. Everyone is sitting around the breakfast table, talking about his primitive outdoor shower.
A few minutes later all five were melting butter on their pancakes.
“I was just thinking,” Shannon said, glancing at the others with a slight hint of apprehension, “… maybe we could put a screen of some kind around the shower.”
Justin looked at her with a grin.
“That’d take all the fun out it,” Michael said, stuffing in another bite.
“Just something temporary,” Shannon added. She woke up that morning feeling gritty, thinking about the unlikely notion of two weeks without a shower.
Michael glanced at Brian. “What do you think, Brian. Think we need a screen, or do you plan to tough out the next two weeks without a shower?”
Brian looked around at the faces smiling back at him, discomfited. He lifted his elbow to sniff his armpit.
Jody looked at Michael with suspicion. “You’re goading him just to get him naked.”
“I doubt that,” Brian said, swallowing a mouthful of pancakes. “Just be a disappointment.”
“Hardly!” Jody shot back.
Justin joined in. “You ought to go for it, Brian. I’d be happy to refill the jug.”
He looked at Shannon, the only one besides himself harboring reservations about outdoor showers.
“Don’t look at her,” said Michael. “You might have the courage to give it a try, but we’re not gonna see Shannon out there stripping down. She plans to wait until she gets back to civilization, some two weeks from now.”
“I didn’t exactly say that, Michael. I can’t go two weeks without a shower. I thought a screen might …”
“You’d have us stop the stonework to build a screen?” said Michael.
“What a shame,” said Justin. “And such a lovely creature you are, to deny this barren land such a delightful image.”
“I don’t know why any of you would want to see me nude,” said Shannon. “You two are gay, Jody’s a woman, and Brian’s obsessed with her body. I don’t know if anyone’s noticed, but he can’t seem to take his eyes off her.”
“Are you kidding?” said Justin. “Of course he’d like to see you naked. So would Jody.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jody retorted.
He looked at her, grinning. “You wouldn’t admit it if you did.”
“I would, too!” she protested.
“Well then, given the opportunity, would you look at a naked woman or not? Yes or no.”
She hesitated, then said: “Okay, I admit it, yes. I think all women secretly compare themselves to other women.”
“What about you, Shannon?” Justin asked. “Wouldn’t you snatch a glimpse of a naked women?”
“Good Lord!” Shannon couldn’t believe they were talking about this.
Justin didn’t let up. “Come on, girl. Would you … go ahead and admit it.”
“Fine! I admit it. Jody’s right. So we’re curious about other women. Doesn’t mean anything.”
