1.5 PER CENT

               I started writing 1.5 Percent about the same time I was diagnosed with rectal cancer, which was a real bummer (chuckle, chuckle). Needless to say, between the operations, medications, chemo and radiation treatments, my mind at times was not only blurry but a little fucked up to say the least. I think revising the finished manuscript was harder than writing the actual novel.  I almost gave it up when my computer completely crashed and the revised manuscript was lost. However, after months of rewriting, it's finally finished. 
                    I enjoy writing and paint as well - the cover of the book is one of my paintings, which I did when I was a very young man. Even then, I could see that our world was sliding towards a catastrophic situation. Like the painting, this novel was inspired by events, which have been steadily unfolding since the Second World War. All through history, we have been threatened before by cataclysmic wars and deadly diseases but never was the entire planet put at risk until now. Between Covid-19 and dim-witted leaders with too much money like Trump and many other politicians, like many, I fear for the future of our children. This novel depicts the horrible aftermath should deadly viruses, anarchy, germ and nuclear wars break out on a global scale. 
                     The meaning of the title is only 1.5% of all living things survive the holocaust and my story begins after the worst thing a person could imagine happens. It's about an aging farmer living in New Brunswick who loses almost his whole family to some unknown disease. He sets forth by foot on a 100 mile journey with a goat, the only survivor of all the livestock on the farm. He doesn't have much hope of finding his last son and his young wife alive but he has to know. If per chance they have survived, his intention is to bring them back to a hidden refuge he built in a forest , which is stocked with supplies to last for about a year. Certifiably distressed, almost committing suicide, he is surrounded by death and devastation on his journey.  
                        Upon reaching the town his son was living in, he kills a man, is attacked by a wild hag wielding a butcher knife and bonds with a much younger woman, who acts like a small child and doesn't speak.  During their walk back to his hideaway, they are attacked by a group of marauders, possibly cannibals and then by a neighbour of all people. The old man has been shot twice and stabbed once and while only about a day away from their destination, winter sets in with a vengeance even though it is only August. Out of food, slogging through deep snow under almost blizzard conditions they continue to struggle, his injuries taking a heavy toll. When all seems lost, a hope for the future remains.
                    1.5 Percent, MY LATEST BOOK PRELAUNCH is a 306 page, 6"x9" soft cover novel,  which will be ready to release on April 15th. The cost is $25.CAD plus shipping and each book will be autographed. Email [email protected] to prepay and reserve your copy...cheers, eh!