J. Timothy King

Now that the expanded, edited version of the first 4 episodes of The Conscience of Abe’s Turn is almost ready to be posted…
(And yes, I realize I said it would be done over a month ago. I’ve learned so much from the process, however. The first lesson: Editing your first novel-length work will take 5 times as long as you think it will.)
Whereas: Just about every great story has had those who hated it, frequently with great passion. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Godfather, Firefly and Gilmore Girls, all had and still have their detractors. No great work of fiction or non-fiction has ever failed to piss off a few million people, because every great work must say something. And as soon as you say something, you please the few people who “get” it, and you piss off everybody else.
Therefore: I knew I was onto something special, when I started getting angry emails from people I’d never met, roundly criticizing me for writing something so stupid, so unrealistic as The Conscience of Abe’s Turn.
In the spirit of the great works of literary, film, and television history, you might hate The Conscience of Abe’s Turn if…  Click to continue »

This is the last chapter of the last episode of the first half-season of Abe’s Turn, an extremely difficult chapter for me to write. It’s true what Holly Lisle says about your characters. You need to empathize with them, but do not dare to sympathize with them. I goofed. I allowed myself to sympathize with them.
Read the last chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 5. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)
The book is still coming. It will have revised and expanded chapters, which I’ll also post on the website, as well as bonus extras. The latest schedule for the book is that I’ll have advanced copies somewhere around the middle of May. At that time, I’ll have a contest and give away a number of them.
-TimK  Click to continue »

Previously in Abe’s Turn:

“Let me show you,” he said, “what will happen if I don’t get the right answer.” He folded the belt in half. Holding the ends in one hand and the fold in the other, he pulled his hands rapidly apart, causing the belt to let out a sharp snap.
The interrogator walked up to Clyde and snapped the belt again, this time right in front of her face. The sound rang in her ears, and she blinked, but she immediately returned to staring down her attacker, his face now inches from hers.
He enunciated each word. “What is your name?”

“Do you love him?” Clyde asked.
Mira blushed. “No. That’s silly.”
“But it’s Ike,” Clyde protested.”So? How much can you fall in love during lunch? It wasn’t even a real date.” Mira’s eyes seemed to light up at the thought of a date with Ike.
The next words came out of Clyde’s mouth almost without a thought. “Does he love you?”
Mira’s face froze for a few seconds. Then it fell. The color seemed to drain out of Mira’s cheeks. Then she forced a smile and said, “I don’t know. What does it matter? We can figure that out later.”
“You asked me what I thought you should do. I think you should find out how he really feels about you and how far he’s willing to take this relationship.”

“We have a probable cause hearing tomorrow morning,” Ted said.
“Please just try your best. I don’t want to wait in jail for God knows how long while you get a trial ready. I hate it here.”
“Do you know Nona Williams?”
Anthony stared at the steel bars for several seconds. “Yes, I know Nona. But we’ve kept our relationship a secret.”
“I have a feeling the truth will out.”
“There’s no way to keep it a secret?”
“Not if she’s telling the police about it,” Ted replied.
Read the fourth chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 4. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)  Click to continue »

Previously in Abe’s Turn:

Clyde paused a moment, thought about her sanity, shook her head again at herself, snorted, and turned back toward the living room.
From nowhere, something soft and mildly sweet-smelling hit her in the face. She had run into it, and now she couldn’t get it off her. She gasped for breath, choked, coughed, pushed at the thing. Someone was behind her, pressing himself to her back, smothering her with his hand. She knew she should do… What was it she should do? She couldn’t remember. Even if she were able to remember what she should do, she couldn’t think of it. Or something like that. Her mind was a blurred jumble of thoughts, sounds, and images. Or was the room actually dissolving into chaos? She continued hacking under the thick, empty smell that was suffocating her, struggling against it, ever more desperate, ever weaker.
She didn’t remember what happened next.

“Anthony.” Ted spoke softly. “We have a probable cause hearing tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. Do you know Nona Williams?”
Anthony stared into Ted’s eyes. “We were having an affair.”
This puzzled Ted. “Why have an affair? Neither of you is married. If you want to be together, why not just date?”
“Because she has a boyfriend, Paul Randolph.” Anthony stared at the ceiling for a moment. “Look at me. She’s out of my league.” He looked back at Ted. “I don’t think she wanted to be embarrassed. So we kept it a secret.”“I see. Let’s talk about Tuesday night. I understand that someone raped her and beat her up pretty badly.”
“If what you’re telling me is true, someone attacked Nona after she left you.”
Anthony nodded.
“And she’s covering up for him.”
“I guess so.”
“Do you have any idea who it might be?”
Anthony thought for a minute. “No, I don’t know.”
Read the third chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 3. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)  Click to continue »

Here’s a digital mock-up of the first, 4-episode set of The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, which I’m putting together as a 6x9-inch trade paperback for release in April. This first volume spans about 250 pages, including 4 novelette-length episodes plus bonus extras.
I’ve been ad-testing graphics and text, and this design represents one of the winning results. But I am continuing to ad-test it, until the final release.
This book is mostly a promotional vehicle, because there’s so much more I have in mind for this project. So expect to be able to get a copy on the cheap.
The Conscience of Abe’s Turn joins a list of 21’st-century fiction works that are available online via free download or audiobook podcast and are marketed using guerrilla marketing techniques, works like Mur Lafferty’s Playing for Keeps, Scott Sigler’s Infected, and Bicycle Shop Murder, by Robert Burton Robinson.
Stay tuned!
-TimK
P.S. The Conscience of Abe’s Turn is a libertarian crime-romance drama about a group of Gen-X civil-rights activists from the fictional town of Abe’s Turn. These 4 friends refuse to accept the injustice they see and experience. They come up with a dangerous solution that ultimately pits them against corrupt government officials in a precarious balance of power.  Click to continue »

Here’s a digital mock-up of the first, 4-episode set of The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, which I’m putting together as a 6x9-inch trade paperback for release in April. This first volume spans about 250 pages, including 4 novelette-length episodes plus bonus extras.
I’ve been ad-testing graphics and text, and this design represents one of the winning results. But I am continuing to ad-test it, until the final release.
This book is mostly a promotional vehicle, because there’s so much more I have in mind for this project. So expect to be able to get a copy on the cheap.
The Conscience of Abe’s Turn joins a list of 21’st-century fiction works that are available online via free download or audiobook podcast and are marketed using guerrilla marketing techniques, works like Mur Lafferty’s Playing for Keeps, Scott Sigler’s Infected, and Bicycle Shop Murder, by Robert Burton Robinson.
Stay tuned!
-TimK
P.S. The Conscience of Abe’s Turn is a libertarian crime-romance drama about a group of Gen-X civil-rights activists from the fictional town of Abe’s Turn. These 4 friends refuse to accept the injustice they see and experience. They come up with a dangerous solution that ultimately pits them against corrupt government officials in a precarious balance of power.  Click to continue »

Previously in Abe’s Turn:

Ike had been resting his eyes after a long, hot day on top a roof. He was sweaty and sticky and smelly and dirty.
Dirty. Mira loved the sound of that word, especially sitting next to Ike. And sometimes she loved how he sweated and how he stuck and how he smelled. And sometimes she loved the rugged look of his five-o’clock shadow. Or the way his short, straight hair clumped together after he woke up from a nap.

“Anthony Giordano?” It was more a demand than it was a question. They clearly knew who he was.
“Yeah?” Anthony said.
“You’re under arrest.”
Ted was already on it. “What’s he charged with?” Ted asked.
The cop said, “So, he’s already been talking to his lawyer.” Then he pulled a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. “Here’s the warrant.”
Ted turned back to Rico and saw that his poor, old wife was silently sobbing. He walked up to Rico and whispered, “This warrant indicates that the police think Anthony raped the Williams girl, the one that’s been on the news. Do you know anything about that?”
“No, I don’t believe it. He doesn’t even know her. And even if he did… You got to understand. Anthony’s a little bit… uncivilized. Blame it on his mother. Black sheep of the family, you know? But he’s still a good kid. But what they did to that girl? There’s no way Anthony could have done that. I don’t believe it, not even if I live to be 500 years old. Never!”

Clydene paused. “I just wish you could show a little more sympathy.”
Ted touched her shoulder. He breathed in, then breathed out. “Mira has a way of connecting with people, on a basic level. Sometimes, I wish… I don’t know.” He breathed in and out again. “You know I’m on Mira’s side, no matter what happens.”
Clyde sighed. “I would really like a hug.”
So he held her.

Clydene knew three things about physical abuse. The first thing Clyde knew about physical abuse is that the victim blames herself for the abuse. She does not blame the abuser. Secondly, she feels helpless and fearful. And lastly, the victim will tell the abuser anything she thinks he wants to hear—even lie outright—if she thinks it will spare her further torment. Clyde also knew one more thing, that it didn’t take a sustained pattern of abuse to produce these effects. A single attack could do it. How she knew these things is a subject she didn’t like to talk about. Suffice it to say that Clyde had personal experience in this area, personal memories, and she had spent long hours with professional counselors overcoming these symptoms. But Clyde still hated to talk about it. She hated to think about it. And Ted agreed. There weren’t many things Clyde and Ted couldn’t talk about in their marriage. This was one of them.

Valentine’s Day, 2006, Clyde watched the jury file into the courtroom.
“What say you?” the judge asked.
The head juror read from his note, “In the matter of the Commonwealth versus Gordon Hill, on the charges of aggravated rape and battery, we find the defendant not guilty.”
Clyde was desperate to get out of there. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hill,” she said. Then turning to her husband, “Ted, romantic dinner reservations.” She eyed him suggestively.
“I have to cancel,” Ted said. “I have a mountain of research to finish for a meeting tomorrow morning.”
Clyde felt her countenance physically fall.
“Don’t wait up for me,” Ted continued. “Hey, why don’t you take Gordon?”
“No,” Clyde said as pleasantly as she could muster. “I think I’ll just whip something up at home.”
Read the second chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 2. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)  Click to continue »

Previously in Abe’s Turn:

Ike had been resting his eyes after a long, hot day on top a roof. He was sweaty and sticky and smelly and dirty.
Dirty. Mira loved the sound of that word, especially sitting next to Ike. And sometimes she loved how he sweated and how he stuck and how he smelled. And sometimes she loved the rugged look of his five-o’clock shadow. Or the way his short, straight hair clumped together after he woke up from a nap.

“Anthony Giordano?” It was more a demand than it was a question. They clearly knew who he was.
“Yeah?” Anthony said.
“You’re under arrest.”
Ted was already on it. “What’s he charged with?” Ted asked.
The cop said, “So, he’s already been talking to his lawyer.” Then he pulled a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. “Here’s the warrant.”
Ted turned back to Rico and saw that his poor, old wife was silently sobbing. He walked up to Rico and whispered, “This warrant indicates that the police think Anthony raped the Williams girl, the one that’s been on the news. Do you know anything about that?”
“No, I don’t believe it. He doesn’t even know her. And even if he did… You got to understand. Anthony’s a little bit… uncivilized. Blame it on his mother. Black sheep of the family, you know? But he’s still a good kid. But what they did to that girl? There’s no way Anthony could have done that. I don’t believe it, not even if I live to be 500 years old. Never!”

Clydene paused. “I just wish you could show a little more sympathy.”
Ted touched her shoulder. He breathed in, then breathed out. “Mira has a way of connecting with people, on a basic level. Sometimes, I wish… I don’t know.” He breathed in and out again. “You know I’m on Mira’s side, no matter what happens.”
Clyde sighed. “I would really like a hug.”
So he held her.

Clydene knew three things about physical abuse. The first thing Clyde knew about physical abuse is that the victim blames herself for the abuse. She does not blame the abuser. Secondly, she feels helpless and fearful. And lastly, the victim will tell the abuser anything she thinks he wants to hear—even lie outright—if she thinks it will spare her further torment. Clyde also knew one more thing, that it didn’t take a sustained pattern of abuse to produce these effects. A single attack could do it. How she knew these things is a subject she didn’t like to talk about. Suffice it to say that Clyde had personal experience in this area, personal memories, and she had spent long hours with professional counselors overcoming these symptoms. But Clyde still hated to talk about it. She hated to think about it. And Ted agreed. There weren’t many things Clyde and Ted couldn’t talk about in their marriage. This was one of them.

Valentine’s Day, 2006, Clyde watched the jury file into the courtroom.
“What say you?” the judge asked.
The head juror read from his note, “In the matter of the Commonwealth versus Gordon Hill, on the charges of aggravated rape and battery, we find the defendant not guilty.”
Clyde was desperate to get out of there. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hill,” she said. Then turning to her husband, “Ted, romantic dinner reservations.” She eyed him suggestively.
“I have to cancel,” Ted said. “I have a mountain of research to finish for a meeting tomorrow morning.”
Clyde felt her countenance physically fall.
“Don’t wait up for me,” Ted continued. “Hey, why don’t you take Gordon?”
“No,” Clyde said as pleasantly as she could muster. “I think I’ll just whip something up at home.”
Read the second chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 2. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)  Click to continue »

Previously in Abe’s Turn:

Clydene grabbed a house bible from the pew and opened to the index.
Ted put his right arm around her and nuzzled into her cheek.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
His arm still around her shoulder, Ted put his other hand on her bare knee. He started moving his hand under her skirt, up the inside of her thigh.
“Ted!” she whispered at his ear, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
“You forgot to keep your knees together.”
She put her knees together. “Well, they’re together now.” She glanced around the sanctuary. No one was looking.
Ted’s hand was still on her thigh as he continued to protest. “But you never wear skirts during the week, and you have such sexy legs.”
“Okay, I’ll wear the skirt this afternoon. Just calm down. And stop distracting me.”
Ted leaned his head against hers and whispered again into her ear. “I guess it would inappropriate for me to grope you.”

Mira pulled herself up each stair, with each step contemplating the words she planned to speak to Ike. She secretly wished that he was not home, so that she wouldn’t have to face him. But as she approached his apartment door, she heart the television inside, and she knew he would come to the door if she knocked.
In half-consciousness and half-daze, Mira reached out her hand, held her breath, and pounded several times on the door with her knuckles.
Then she waited. It seemed an interminable wait. Maybe it was Mira’s good fortune that no one heard her. She decided to slip away and forget the whole thing, when the door swung open. Mira stood face-to-face with a woman, dirty blonde, long hair, a little taller than Mira herself, wearing a large T-shirt and little else.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked.
For a moment Mira was stunned. She wondered whether she had accidentally knocked at the wrong door.
“I— I’m sorry,” Mira stammered. “I think I must have the wrong apartment.”
“Who is it?” Ike said from inside.
Suddenly, Mira felt as if she were in a B-rated horror flick, as if she were one of those stupid females in skimpy clothing who had just ventured into the monster-infested dark tunnel after having been sternly warned against it by the delusional paranoiac.
“I don’t know yet,” the woman answered Ike.
Ike peeked around the corner. “Oh. Hi, Mira. What can I do for you? Come in. We were just making Piña Coladas. You want one?”
“Uh… No… Actually, uh—”
“Sorry. Where are my manners?” Ike said. “Soph, this is Mira Jayson. Mira, this is my girlfriend, Sophie Marcum.”

Clyde’s doorbell rang. She hurriedly hung up and answered the door, wondering what new cruelty this day could deliver.
It was Mira. Clyde couldn’t really see her in the dark. Without a word, Mira stepped inside and cried bitter tears on Clyde’s shoulder. So Clyde wrapped arms around her and consoled her.
Read the first chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 1. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)  Click to continue »

Previously in Abe’s Turn:

Clydene grabbed a house bible from the pew and opened to the index.
Ted put his right arm around her and nuzzled into her cheek.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
His arm still around her shoulder, Ted put his other hand on her bare knee. He started moving his hand under her skirt, up the inside of her thigh.
“Ted!” she whispered at his ear, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
“You forgot to keep your knees together.”
She put her knees together. “Well, they’re together now.” She glanced around the sanctuary. No one was looking.
Ted’s hand was still on her thigh as he continued to protest. “But you never wear skirts during the week, and you have such sexy legs.”
“Okay, I’ll wear the skirt this afternoon. Just calm down. And stop distracting me.”
Ted leaned his head against hers and whispered again into her ear. “I guess it would inappropriate for me to grope you.”

Mira pulled herself up each stair, with each step contemplating the words she planned to speak to Ike. She secretly wished that he was not home, so that she wouldn’t have to face him. But as she approached his apartment door, she heart the television inside, and she knew he would come to the door if she knocked.
In half-consciousness and half-daze, Mira reached out her hand, held her breath, and pounded several times on the door with her knuckles.
Then she waited. It seemed an interminable wait. Maybe it was Mira’s good fortune that no one heard her. She decided to slip away and forget the whole thing, when the door swung open. Mira stood face-to-face with a woman, dirty blonde, long hair, a little taller than Mira herself, wearing a large T-shirt and little else.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked.
For a moment Mira was stunned. She wondered whether she had accidentally knocked at the wrong door.
“I— I’m sorry,” Mira stammered. “I think I must have the wrong apartment.”
“Who is it?” Ike said from inside.
Suddenly, Mira felt as if she were in a B-rated horror flick, as if she were one of those stupid females in skimpy clothing who had just ventured into the monster-infested dark tunnel after having been sternly warned against it by the delusional paranoiac.
“I don’t know yet,” the woman answered Ike.
Ike peeked around the corner. “Oh. Hi, Mira. What can I do for you? Come in. We were just making Piña Coladas. You want one?”
“Uh… No… Actually, uh—”
“Sorry. Where are my manners?” Ike said. “Soph, this is Mira Jayson. Mira, this is my girlfriend, Sophie Marcum.”

Clyde’s doorbell rang. She hurriedly hung up and answered the door, wondering what new cruelty this day could deliver.
It was Mira. Clyde couldn’t really see her in the dark. Without a word, Mira stepped inside and cried bitter tears on Clyde’s shoulder. So Clyde wrapped arms around her and consoled her.
Read the first chapter of this special episode: The Conscience of Abe’s Turn, Season 1, Episode 4, Chapter 1. And subscribe via RSS or email to keep up to date. (See the “Keep Up to Date” block in the sidebar, with the big, orange logo.)  Click to continue »