I have reached an agreement that allows Stone Thread Publishing to release the electronic version of my novella Inheritance. The release date is April 1, 2014. Here’s what I’ve submitted for the synopsis of the book:

Lynette Cook knows about abuse. She learned it from her father and, later, had the lessons reinforced by the boyfriend she thought was her savior. Free at last from her own tormentors, Lynette now lives with her teenage daughter Kari in a small town in Oklahoma. Then one day she comes home from the grocery store to find her daughter’s boyfriend and his two buddies raping Kari. Blinded by rage, Lynette shoots one of the boys and locks the other two in her storm cellar.

Lynette surprises herself at the ease in which she disposes of the body during a record rainy season and smoothly lies to investigating police. But in the days that follow, Lynette must face the fact that her torture of the two captive boys is as cruel as the treatment she received at the hands of her father and ex-husband.

Meanwhile, the date rape drug has worn off and Kari is wondering why her boyfriend won’t return her calls. She has unfocused memories of partying with him and his friends and, although she can’t pinpoint why, she blames her mom for whatever happened next that is keeping them apart.

As Kari’s memory sharpens, Lynette’s unrelenting rage against men drives her to an ever darker state of mind until finally Kari learns the grisly truth. In a final showdown between mother, daughter, and boyfriend, a choice has to be made.

Who will inherit the title of victim?

The book will be available in most e-book formats, and I’ll be releasing a paperback under my own MoonHowler Press imprint. I’ll also put it up and see if I can get a producer for an audio version.

The e-book will NOT be available in the iTunes store. Harvey Stanbrough, the owner of Stone Thread, refused to censor the artwork on another of his titles that iTunes deemed inappropriate. Rather than buckle, Harvey pulled all STP titles from iTunes. I agree with him on this issue. The cover was not obscene and should not have been censored.

One final note, this one more for the writers. It wasn’t long ago I believed I would never again work with a small press because of the less than satisfactory dealings I’ve had with so many of them. Stone Thread Publishing seems to be different. I like the contract, and Harvey seems to be a stand-up guy. Things seem to be on the up and up and he was not only agreeable but enthusiastic about rights I wanted to keep and other things I want to do with the book. So, I’m hoping things work out well and that this is the start of a great relationship.