Madness Bound is Live!

I'm super-excited about this first book in the Madness of Kanaan series.

Back in the 1980s, I wrote a story about a psychic who accidentally traveled to another planet with his roommate and ended up saving the world. It was cute and fun and really really lame. After many rejections, I put it away. Ten years later, I came back to it and thought, wow—my main character is a Gary Sue! What psychic ends up the cool kid in college? So I did some serious thinking about what actual psychic powers and being in contact with actual aliens who think you can save their world would mean to a teenage boy.

I gave poor Deryl so many problems that it took an entire book to get him mentally healthy…and then he would continue to fight for his sanity (as well as saving Kanaan) for two more books!

The series was originally published as Mind Over… (Hint: If you bought these books, then the only one you may need is Madness of Love, which was never published and is about Joshua & Sachiko’s wedding.) Last year, I got the rights back, and had all new covers made. Now, I’m rapid-releasing them between now and April.

Madness Bound Summary

Deryl’s not crazy. He’s psychic.

And the voices in his head are real.

Deryl Stephen's uncontrollable telepathic abilities have landed him in a mental health institution, where no one believes in his powers. When intern Johusa Lawson, a student of neuro linguistic programming, comes for the summer, he uses the unique idea of accepting Deryl's reality and teaching him to work with it. As Deryl learns control, he finds his next challenge is to face the aliens who have been contacting him psychically for years--aliens who would use him to further their cause in an interplanetary war.

Exclusive Excerpt:

This is a fun one—Deryl, with Joshua’s encouragement, decides to set some boundaries on the Voice in His Head.

I am the Miscria. I am the Seeker. I bring my Questions. I call the Ydrel. Hear me.

The words surrounded him, echoed in his mind and pulled at his soul. He was the Ydrel; he was needed.

Not this time. He fought against the sense of wellbeing, pulling with all his stubbornness. It was like when Malachai tried to hypnotize him. He’d resisted then. He’d resist now.

Normally, the Miscria’s calls were shrouded in darkness and need. This time, he imagined himself opening his eyes and looking around. Everything was gray and misty, like a fog-filled gymnasium. His heart pounded. It was like when The Master used to call him. Could they be…?

No. The Master’s visits meant pain and humiliation. The Miscria wanted something from him, sure, but all it ever did was ask. It has to be coincidence.

As if sensing his distraction, the Calling came again.

You are the Oracle. As I ask, so you shall answer—

“I don’t think so,” he said into the fog.

The Miscria hit his statement like a wall.

In the pause that followed, he felt a momentary thrill of panic. What if it gave up? How would he get back to himself? Could he end up stuck in this gray netherworld, his body comatose until he gave in?

No. I’ll figure it out. I have to if I’m not going to remain a slave to this thing. He wondered if the alcohol was making him brave, or was it Joshua’s words.

It doesn’t matter. I’m here and I’m resisting. I’ve committed himself.

The pun made him giggle and the panic yielded to mirth. Meanwhile, the Miscria was trying again.

I am the Seeker. You are—

“The Oracle. The Ydrel. Yeah, I know. Listen, I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of this routine. Can we try something different?”

He felt a wave a confusion from the Miscria that made him laugh. Things were already as different as they could get.

“Well, for starters, how about showing me what you look like.”

Look like?

“Yeah. I mean, we’re obviously sharing a reality, but it’s awfully dark and misty on my end. How about a little scenery? Can you do that? And you—what are you? Human? A green-skinned Martian? An iguana? What?”

Again, he felt its confusion, flickering with testiness. He almost heard the complaint: Why does it always speak in riddles?

Then the scene shifted and he found himself in a small clearing surrounded by trees he didn’t quite recognize. The pines seemed too soft, the maples too broad in leaf. He didn’t hear any animals or birds, and the trees cut off any distant views. He didn’t mind. At least there weren’t any walls.

Walls?

He turned to where he felt the thought, and gasped. “You’re a girl!”

He didn’t need to be psychic to guess her reply. The look on her face told him she thought that was a ridiculously obvious observation.

He sat down hard on the mossy ground. “They’re going to have a field day with this,” he groaned.