Hey Cataclysm Fans– Well, Book 3–“First Months After”–is finished (in draft form at least)! There will be a period for editing, polishing, and then eventually publishing–but the goal is to have it out on Amazon in August in both Kindle and paperback formats. This is a small “teaser” to let you know what to expect plot-wise in terms of what our characters have to face in Book 3. Spoiler warning for Book 2—there may be a few plot surprises from “First Weeks” that could spill out here–so be forewarned–if you haven’t finished Book 2 yet, there may be some of those surprises below.
When we left off at the end of First Weeks After, Eddie Reyes, Jake Fisher, and his sons had just left Washington D.C. after a considerable adventure wrangling mutates–including Jake’s own wife, Laura. While they were away from the small northern Maryland town of Emmitsburg, lots has been happening. The Church of Many Blessings has risen in power, as has its pastor–Father Joe. His grandiose plans have set the stage for some interesting and sketchy alliances–namely that of his mysterious colleague Oleg Stravinsky. Now firmly tied to Hunter’s Run High School, the Church looks to expand its influence considerably. Estela Fuentes and her new girlfriend, Morgan, stumble upon the diabolical schemes of Father Joe and Oleg, and the consequences are dire. They need help from some of Jake’s friends as well as from the unlikely Mark Longaberger, the introspective history teacher left at Hunter’s Run who finds himself unsure if he’s chosen the right side to be on. In short, they get into so much trouble that they are forced to call upon Jake and the crew to come save them from assassination.
But Jake realizes that he can’t go up against the church, the school, and a cell of Russian assassins all by himself, so he enlists the help of an offbeat and unlikely source–Josh Rimone, an iconoclastic mercenary referred to him by Colonel Cannaveral himself. Josh also realizes the task might be too large without more assistance, and he calls upon the services of a man from deep in Jake’s past–who brings up memories so painful that Jake refuses to work with him. This awkward collection of heroes somehow must find a way to work together to defeat one of the most deadly groups of international agents assembled during the Cataclysm.
In the meantime, Wendy and the Colonel continue to study the mutates at the Pentagon. They receive help from a daring physicist, Eric Mazzaros, who thinks he has the answer to reverse the conditions afflicting Laura Fisher and her fellow mutates. But Eric’s theories are controversial and dangerous, leaving Wendy and the Colonel in a difficult position in terms of how to proceed.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, we finally get our first look at the President–who is meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Camp David to try and determine the best course to follow for the World War they now find themselves in. Expect the unexpected from this meeting, and alliances to get even more entangling in the third installment of the Cataclysm Series: FIRST MONTHS AFTER.
Writing with Jay Vielle 