PAGE 1 OR DONE! by Art Smukler, MD, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, Writing

CHAPTER 1

TRUTH OR FANTASY?

Two years and one day after Nelson Bennett died, he rose from the dead.

Amidst the hundreds of people strolling down the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California he stood alone, hair dark brown, not prematurely gray like it used to be, and at least thirty pounds lighter.

“Nelson!” Jake yelled. “Nelson!” The man was about fifty feet away – close enough for Jake to clearly make out his features; far enough for Jake to wonder if he was hallucinating. There was no way Jake could ever forget or mistake Nelson’s face. It was the face of his older brother, his only brother and only sibling.

The man turned, stared straight at Jake, his blue eyes locking onto Jake’s blue eyes. Abruptly, he glanced over his shoulder, a startled look transforming his gaunt, clean-shaven face, and he placed his index finger in front of his lips. Then he pivoted, and like a snowflake landing on a hot windshield, melted away.

“Stop!” Jake hollered, shoving past two young couples walking in front of him, pushing his way through the endless crowd of people toward the spot where Nelson’s image had vanished.

There in front of the designer eyeglass store, Jake stretched his six-foot frame and stood on his tiptoes to see over the passing crowd. No sign of Nelson anywhere. How could there be? Nelson’s ashes were sitting on a shelf in his closet.

Jake took a deep breath and broke into a run. He knew his behavior was absurd and that Nelson was dead. He also knew what he had just seen.

That’s the rule when you’re not John Grisham, Michael Connolly, or Nelson DeMille etc. To join their hallowed ranks, you need readers, and to get readers you have to immediately engage them.

Like the first page of NINE NORTH? Click to buy it.

Love the book? Tell friends. Go on Amazon. Thanks in advance. Art

#Mysteythriller #lovestory #hidingonapsychunit #Hassidiclife

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROTECTING DEMOCRACY, by Art Smukler, MD, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Bullying, Politics, Psychiatry, World events, a psychological view, Writing

I’ve been busy putting the final touches on, NINE NORTH, my latest novel, due to come out next week, but all I can think about is Elon Musk’s latest tweet advocating that all his followers should vote Republican. Elon Musk said that he wants to put Trump back on Twitter. It is horrifying!

Can you imagine if Musk took the 42 billion dollars that he used to purchase Twitter to help get the homeless off the streets or build new psychiatric hospitals or fight cancer or support women’s rights?

Vote for ethical honest candidates!

Liz Cheney is a person whose political ideas don’t all mesh with mine. But, she is a person who had the courage to stand up to the Republican bullies and Trumpies who are on the verge of ruining our country.

In my mind she is a hero.

So is Obama.

So is Joe Biden.

Don’t let greed and bigotry win. Vote for truthful, honorable people.

Tuesday is the day. If you haven’t yet voted, do it now.

After the election, check out THE REAL STORY, a mystery. Next week, get ready for NINE NORTH.