In the Beginning ...

Anna N. is coming! It seems only appropriate that I open my blog's first post by announcing that my new book, my first novel, is being readied for publication. As you can see, the cover art is finished and I'm thrilled with how it came out. I'm also thrilled because I did the whole thing. From designing the concept through creating the graphic and the overall visual, I did 100% of the work. But I wasn't completely alone on this. I have to give kudos to "Blender" (www.blender.org) a first-rate, open-source 3D rendering and animation package that I used to create the chessboard image and the gorgeous rendering plus to "Gimp" (www.gimp.org), another first-rate, open-source 2D graphic design package I used to finish the presentation. They are spectacular in every way as you can see.

I'll get to the plot for Anna N. in a moment. I'm sure you're wondering who the hell 'C. Curtis Dillon' is. Where did this guy come from and why should I give him a second thought? Those are fair questions I think and you deserve some answers. Although I've never been professionally published before, I'm a damn good writer. For years everyone told me I should give up my 'day job' and put my ideas on paper. I've always had a gift for writing but just never got around to doing it for a living. There was always that 'you have to feed the family' voice whispering in my head. There was always that pile of bills screaming for payment and 'life' demanding that I do something more immediate to keep the cash flowing and the bill collectors at bay. So I kept telling myself 'later'. Well, later finally arrived a year ago when all the excuses had been brushed aside and I was able to think about doing what I really wanted to do all along. And at this time, in this place, there's no lack of things to write about. Not when I'm sitting in the middle of the 'Evil Empire', in the ruins of the failed revolution with its rampant corruption and deprivation. If ever there was a perfect place for exploring human cruelty and stupidity, it has to be here. Among the ruins is where I discovered my first subject.

Have you ever wondered about 'them'? Those truly unique creatures that inhabit the dark edges of humanity? You know who I'm talking about. Their names are legend: Manson, Dahmer, Gacy, Bundy. Psychiatrists call them 'Serial Sexual Murderers' but we just call them monsters. I'd like to introduce you to another of these unique creatures. I doubt most of you have heard the name Andrei Chikatilo. Ring any bells? Maybe you've heard his 'professional' name ... the Rostov Ripper. Andrei's special talent lay in his ability to obliterate sexual identity. Over a 15 year period he butchered at least 56 women and small children. He'd lurk around train stations in the Rostov-on-Don region of the Soviet Union and lure vulnerable victims into the woods where he worked his 'magic'. The carnage was unimaginable. And yet, Andrei wasn't your usual sociopath gone beyond the norm. He wasn't your 'usual' monster. Andrei was a family man with two children. He was a teacher. He was the antithesis of a serial sexual murderer. And he was the most prolific serial murderer in Soviet history.

I discovered Andrei while researching serial killers for my new book. I found his story intriguing not only for his deeds but also for the unbelievable difficulty the police had in bringing him to justice. The principal investigator fought every form of bureaucratic ineptitude and political backstabbing imaginable. He was frustrated by poor forensics and greedy superiors. It's amazing that Andrei was discovered let alone apprehended. And then, when they had perhaps the most unique serial killer in history in their grasp, the Soviet state couldn't wait even a few months before marching him into a small, soundproof room and putting a bullet behind his left ear. Almost nothing was learned about this unique and frightening monster.

I know this system very well. I deal with it all the time. Eastern Europe is a cesspool of greed and corruption. Nothing works here without bribery and gifts under the table. The police, known as militia in this part of the world, are not inclined to investigate anything without grease from the family. A person like Andrei would be hard to find in this environment.

Anna N. finds its basis in the insanity of Andrei Chikatilo. Angel, the mad killer in this book, is loosely based on Andrei. Mostly in the way he butchered his victims. The rest comes from my overly vivid imagination. My wife thinks I'm demented and deserving of commitment. My editor loves every word. Me ... I have no idea who's right. I'll let you decide.

I leave you with the official blurb for the book. I hope you find it as intriguing to read as I did to write. Let me know what you think ...

* * * * *

“Detective, there are many curses in this world but exquisite beauty is, by far, the most dangerous.  It attracts the most vicious of characters, men of power, greed and unbridled lust.”

                                                            From Anna N.                                                                                                                                                                                             
Five days…  That’s all the time Anna Natolovna has left.  The clock ticks.  The chess game begins.

Will Detective Viktor Orlov save Anna before the demented monster Angel avenges his demons on her?

Anna's exquisite beauty evokes demons that plague serial killer and detective alike in a wrenching tale of murder, revenge, and deep, abiding friendship. This riveting, intelligently plotted mystery by a bold new writing voice claws into your consciousness and will not let you go.

Viktor and Angel clash in a computer chess game and over Anna’s life.  Who will win this confrontation with evil?

Set in the icy grip of a Ukrainian winter, this unpredictable, insightful novel leaves you emotionally drained.    Unsettling psychological trauma forces you to believe nothing is safe or sacred.

This is a shockingly detailed view of a serial killer’s mental descent into his personal hell.  Angel’s passions are inflamed by Anna’s sexual taunting and enraged by jealousy over Viktor’s abilities and power.

Viktor’s own demons torment him for his continued participation in a corrupt system that deadens his psyche and visits constant pain on him over his wife’s unsolved murder.  His strong need to protect others is challenged to the max.

Anna N. is a must read for anyone brave enough to explore the darkest recesses of human nature. Are you ready to face the evil?