This is an experiment! I’m giving away one of my never-before-published books – totally free! You just have to sign up for the Substack list here , and the chapters will be delivered to you every couple of days. (And by the way, I will never sell or otherwise distribute your information. You can read my privacy policy here and Substack’s is here.)

Sometime before the final chapters are posted (and just so you know, there are around 50 of them), I will make the book available in ebook and paperback at most major retailers, but I promise you that I will also post the complete thing here over the next couple of months.

What is Black Diamond?

The novel defies easy genre categorization. It is part romance, part mystery, part paranormal thriller, part adventure, part family drama. I hope it is entirely entertaining. The story is set in contemporary times, in the town of Montclair, N.J., with flashback chapters to older times. A resourceful and intelligent female protagonist is matched with a male love interest who is much more than he seems and pitted against an ancient evil that threatens to destroy everyone she cares for. I should make clear that I wrote this novel entirely myself. No AI was ever used in its creation.

An ancient gem wreaks havoc on the lives and families of the men who’ve owned it.

Melissa Kinelly’s normal life shatters when her brother comes home with a diamond ear stud that transforms him from normal college student to a raging human volcano always on the verge of a violent eruption. After the private investigator she hires to research the diamond’s history is murdered, she takes on the investigation herself, with the reluctant help of the manager of the pawn shop where her brother bought the diamond. Pitting herself against a group of monstrous creatures connected to the gem, she grapples with the dark history of the diamond to find a way to destroy it before it destroys her and everything she holds dear.

When Does it Start?

I’ll post the first three chapters on Tuesday, Sept 8, 2026. After that, I’ll post a chapter or two, depending on length, every few days until it is complete. My hope is to finish posting around the end of October.

Can I Read All of It Even if I Come in Late?

Yes, for sure. You can come back to the Substack site to read chapters you might have missed. The entire story will remain posted on Substack, at least until the end of the year. Beyond that, I haven’t decided. But it will also be posted for sale at all major book retailers.

Is This Story in the Public Domain?

NO! Black Diamond is copyrighted by me, so I ask that you if you want to share the story, please do so by forwarding the Substack email or direct link. It’s hard enough to be an author these days. Please don’t make my life even harder by copying the text in any way, shape, or form.

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