I wish to announce the publication of my new novella; DANCING BY THE SHORE, with excerpts included in this web site.

The story deals with the writer, Terry, who one evening is attracted to a mysterious exotic dancer, who picks him out for a dance at a night club. Another time, when the Gypsy, as they call the colorful dancer, fails to show up at the club as expected, a pretty redhead, Alma, chooses Terry for a dance. He is torn between his desire for the exotic dancer and his attraction to the younger woman, Alma.

One Halloween night the mysterious dancer comes dressed in black for the Mexican DAY OF THE DEAD. She tells Terry she won’t be coming again to the dance hall, but will soon be a resident of the local cemetery.

A storm threatens the dance hall, flooding the room as the sea breaks through the windows of the hall. Terry and the guests have to rush out. That night, after the storm has wrecked the town, Terry has a dream in which he is being drawn into the sea by the dancer, who symbolizes the dark lady of death.

Terry gets a note from the dancer’s ex-husband who tells him that his former wife has just hung herself. He explains her early traumatic life and how she was betrayed by her priest. He appreciates the fact that Terry had tried to give her something to live for, though it was too late to save her.

In the end Terry meets Alma again and advises her on the nature of love, as seen in Alyosha’s love for his brother Ivan, in THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV.

Terry now wishes to hold on to Alma. recalling how he once lost a young student he loved. Alma wants to know more about Alyosha and wishes to travel abroad with Terry–to discover how their story will end.