Topher Lydon

Ahh Granny's got a plan for her little Alley Cat. Alvin must navigate the diabolical machinations of a woman hell bent on getting him out of his rut. The trouble is, it involves a certain gardener named Tabby, while dodging the attention of the Higgins Clan and navigating the web of twisted games that spans the entire town. Will he survive with his bachelordom intact, or is he doomed to a happily ever after fate half baked into a Hallmark nightmare?

**Chapter 2: The Plumbing and the Pond** Alvin Katz awoke to the certain knowledge that he had, at some point during the night, been used as a percussive instrument in a particularly aggressive polka band. Every muscle protested as he shifted on the floral-print couch, which had revealed itself to be a master of deception. It looked like a cloud but felt like a sack of potatoes arranged over a series of small, sharp rocks. A crocheted blanket—a riot of yellow and orange with smiling

Chapter 1: The Doily Dungeon and the Feral Gardener The lawyer’s office had been bad. Ms. Patel, a vision in razor-sharp pink pleather, had spoken in legal riddles, smelled of aggressive espresso, and brandished his grandmother’s will like a holy text that condemned him to purgatory. But this… this was a whole new level of hell. Alvin Katz stood on the uneven cobblestone path, his favorite battered skateboard tucked under his arm like a security blanket, and stared at

ok with the day I am having... I am hoping the other book set for 10am goes live without a hitch.... please... pretty please GA gods... don't mess this one up... please?

Kieran on the cover btw. For those that are asking via dm.

I am reminded of the Chris Cornell song for Casino Royal. Save yourself, because no one here's going to save you.

Especially in the late 90's... place was about as close as you could get... with a side order of desperation thrown in for good measure

Kieran is a psychological study, we're about to see a man unmade and remade. This story is an exploration of Power, control, and dominance in a place that borders on hell.

Even I get things wrong, good catch. need to edit... stuff...

Well that launch went all kinds of wrong.... I swear the GA publish button HATES me.... Now this one, this one's... different than almost anything else I have written. It's dark, psychological and the next chapter which was supposed to go live with this one will go out this afternoon.

# **Chapter One: The Refuse of the Nation** The mattress smelled of someone else’s nightmares. It was a singular, pervasive scent—stale sweat, damp wool, and the distinct, copper tang of dried fluid that Kieran refused to identify. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling of the bedsit, tracing the water damage with his eyes. The stain looked like a map of a country that had sunk into the ocean. *Atlantis*, he thought, his mind reflexively reaching for the classical reference before

# **Chapter Two: Scavengers and Kings** Hunger was a different animal to fear. Fear was sharp, a spike of adrenaline that made your hands shake and your heart race. Hunger was slow. It was a heavy, dull ache that sat in the pit of the stomach and radiated outward, turning limbs to lead and thoughts to sludge. It was a patient, grinning companion that pried open your ribs and whispered that you were just meat, just a bag of needs. By the time the sun began to dip behind the brutalist s

A university dropout is brutally shoved into the concrete hell of Cradle Grove. Targeted and destitute, Kieran’s only path is scavenging and shame. Then Ben, a terrifyingly silent force, saves him from a beating. A protector? A predator? As bodies start to fall, Kieran is thrust into a savage new hierarchy, where survival means embracing the violence and dark loyalty of a world that wants to destroy him.

wooo Carter-verse deep dive into Lore! Happy Christmas morning. When did I get lore?

Andrew was accused of murder for the Louisiana compound and Doctor Hale. (Enrico's doing, but Andrew was blamed) He is also reported as dead. The President also ordered his extrajudicial killing in the Oval Office, which is recorded. To Admit Andrew is alive is a very dangerous thing for the President to do. So as far as the US is concerned, Andrew Carter CSIS DDO is dead. However Lt. Commander Carter is a completely separate person (created for the BREACH mission in 2015. And maintained because the British Navy pinned a medal on him) As far as the US are aware, they are two separate people. Convenient for Carter.

Will is not sure, he has a flicker of hope... but that is it. However the President is aware that the Dark Sovereign can reach him.

Ahh Granny's got a plan for her little Alley Cat. Alvin must navigate the diabolical machinations of a woman hell bent on getting him out of his rut. The trouble is, it involves a certain gardener named Tabby, while dodging the attention of the Higgins Clan and navigating the web of twisted games that spans the entire town. Will he survive with his bachelordom intact, or is he doomed to a happily ever after fate half baked into a Hallmark nightmare? OH oh ooh! I *think* I have figured out why my thingy always posts immediately when I try to set a timer for NEW books... so it's not a setting... I tend to upload my books ahead of publishing, sometimes days or months ahead of time... and when I am setting the timer I change the hour and minutes setting. BUT the DATE defaults to the DATE I originally uploaded it. So for example this one was uploaded on the 23rd... so while I wanted it to go live at 10am on the 24th, it defaulted and tried to set it to go live on the 23rd... of all the cackhanded, unintuitive... old person adverse... need new glasses frustrating... I need a drink.

I'd be terrified to buy those kids a present, the judgement on the wrapping paper alone from 500 preteens with attitude? Yeah I'd rather take a bath in battery acid.

:: lifts rug and checks under it, listens to crickets:: Ok maybe this one was a bit too off kilter...

needed at least one space nod to our favourite villain.

So I am going to tell a little tale of this book This book was mostly written a few months ago, but with a major rewrite of book 2's ending... specifically Will's disassociative break. I had to rewrite this book as far more kinetic than I intended. It originally started with West's rescue of Peter... a lot more politics, and cat an mouse chasing of moles and things... it was to end with Will's purge. This just didn't work. It made all the characters look incompetent and useless... So I flipped it, I started with the Purge and it gained momentum from there. I had no idea the US was set to invade till literally the morning of publishing that chapter. I sad with two chapters in my hands one going one way, the other going this way... It was why that chapter was late releasing that morning. I was torn, what do I do. Then I decided I wanted to go with the hard road. It was more compelling, deeper and it opened the door to something new. And I love an opportunity. Carter's Campaign is that opportunity, and I couldn't pass on the chance to write something... that spoke to me. So... here we are. Andrew was supposed to get home in like Chapter 7 of the original, there's a wonderful scene of him blocking the road in front of Will's motorcade and Will protecting his Andrew. But it simply didn't work as it killed Andrew's momentum, and I don't think anyone wanted to read about a broken Andrew sitting on a couch. This way rapidly became the only way for the story. So thank you for putting up with my manic 4 am revisions, and my endless coffee inflicted mega chapters... they were never supposed to be this big. But when you're working with expanding a much smaller book out to nearly double it's length... and worth. I think we got there.

Glorious, looking forward to this

Tomorrow something normal, and romantic. A cozy Romance story featuring Tabby and Alvin

Why... WHY?!?! What am I doing wrong... I didn't click anything and I just set it to publish as 10 am... and it goes live now... am I just blind? Did I offend the GA gods, or do they just like messing with me... or.... Le sigh HAPPY Xmas, ignore the chaos and wreckage of my morning And um, I am sorry for the utter lunatic manic fever dream that is this story.