Below is chapter one of my novel, THE OSPREY MAN, a coming of age tale about two young boys who form an unbreakable bond the summer their best friend is killed. It’s full of warmth and humor, and I hope readers enjoy it. Here is a brief description:

The time between childhood and adolescence is filled with wonder. Feelings of hope for the future, and sadness at what has been lost, are at the heart of The Osprey Man. When tragedy strikes, a young boy must find an inner strength he is not sure he has.

Jacob has been looking forward to summer all year long. As school comes to a close, he looks with anticipation to endless days of playing baseball, swimming at the beach, and writing his comic book, Osprey Man, with his best friend Jonathan.

            All that changes on the last day of school, when Jacob finds out that Jonathan has died in a car accident. Suddenly what was supposed to be the best time of the year turns out to be a summer he’d rather forget. At home, things seem nearly impossible to bear. Jacob’s brother died just a year before, and his parents are reeling and unable to help their son cope with the loss of his friend.

            Jacob wants to keep Jonathan’s memory alive. Can he make new friends while still holding Jonathan’s memory close? Can he help his family stick together even when things are looking down? By drawing new and more exciting issues of Osprey Man–the character Jacob and Jonathan created together–he tries to keep his friend’s memory alive even when it seems like everything is lost. By staying close to the things Jonathan loved, and the friends they both cherished, Jacob hopes to honor Jonathan’s memory and keep his spirit alive. And when things seem at their darkest, Jacob hopes the superhero they created might help save his summer, his friends, and maybe even his family.

            This novel is a tale of friendship, of growing up, and of the summertime between childhood and adolescence.

Please click the link below to read chapter one. Thank you for reading, and please drop me a line if you have any questions or comments. Best wishes, CT

THE OSPREY MAN, Chapter One