Prologue: The Power of a Pawn

The Prologue of The Power of a Pawn portrays a chilling scene and triggers events that will change Amanda’s life forever. If the Prologue whets your appetite, you can read the first chapters of the novel on us by clicking here.

Can you even begin to imagine how Amanda felt?

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As she looked at the bodies of her daughter and son, somewhere in her mind, she knew she should be afraid. By force of will, she pushed down the rising terror.

She needed to stay conscious long enough to call for help. She was able to get the receiver from the wall phone firmly in hand before falling again. Fighting down hysteria, lying between the bodies of all she had left in this life, she called 911.

That call would finish destroying her world.

The crashing sound did little to disturb Amanda. She sluggishly thought of getting up to grab a butcher knife, but by the time she started upward, the intruders were upon her.  … Continue Reading

Testing Positive: Excerpt from The Power of a Pawn

Something was terribly wrong, but Amanda still could not get her mind to focus. She wanted to call her mother, but the police would not let her talk to anyone except them. Frank had been joined by another man in a suit, while the female officer stayed beside her. For hours, they had been in the house, dusting for prints, examining her personal records, photographing everything. They questioned her and questioned her. She was so tired. When she got up to use her powder room, the lady cop stood outside the door, like a guard.

An ugly truth began to dawn in her mind. They thought she had killed her children.

Almost certainly, these men were not the ones who came in response to her call. Those had been uniformed; these were in suits. The only one who had really introduced himself was Frank Adams. The others had not bothered. One man in a suit seemed vaguely familiar. She could not remember meeting him before, but she might have seen a picture of him. He had arrived much later than the others.

It did not help her interrogators that she was incoherent at times. She also claimed to remember almost nothing of the evening after arriving home. When the late arrival asked if she had any habits or vices, Amanda’s head jerked up. She knew she was behaving oddly. “I’m not a drug user, mister. Save your breath. Not now. Not ever. Not even in the Sixties. Feel free to test me.”

He looked at her strangely. “Mrs. Delaney, we already have. Our doctor drew blood from you right after we read you your rights.” She stared at him with a feeling of dread as he went on. “You tested positive for some kind of narcotic. We’re still trying to identify it, but we will eventually.”

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Did Amanda kill her children? Why has she tested positive for narcotics? Find out today by reading the full version of The Power of  Pawn. Click here for reviews and more information.

Drug Informant: Excerpt from The Power of a Pawn

Sometimes, when life throws you curves, your best option is to go to the experts and ask them for advice. Wherever it may be that experts can be found.

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The anxious public defender stopped briefly before leaving Raleigh. He needed to visit with a former client in the county jail. James was serving a much shorter sentence than the time he would have been doing without Samuel’s help. He was glad to see his attorney again. When Samuel described his new client’s amnesia and the theory that narcotics were involved, his buddy was skeptical.

“There’s no way man! Bout any narcotic, you would remember somethin’ like that happenin’. You would be mellowed out anyway, not violent.”

Samuel asked, “No offense, but what is the chance you’re wrong?”

James laughed. “I been in here a while. Maybe somethin’ new on the streets I don’t know ‘bout. But I think I’m pretty up on everything that used to be out there. I dealt ‘em all, Sam. Never been a narcotic on the street or in here that would do what you’re talkin’ ‘bout.”

“Would any drug at all blank out memories of your actions, especially bad ones? “

“Lots of drugs would! But not narcotics. Now hallucinogens, shrooms or buttons, somethin’ like that — that … Continue Reading

The Power of a Pawn Character Description: Samuel Chelsey

Samuel Chelsey is one of my favorite characters in The Power of a Pawn, and throughout The Game of Life Series. He doesn’t pretend to know everything, but finds the courage to face situations in which he is vulnerable. He is intelligent and finds a way out, like any good hero. He lets his past inform his present, and he plans for the future.

Who is your favorite character in The Power of a Pawn? If you’re not sure yet, read it today by clicking on this link.

Below is author Paul Spite’s description of who Samuel Chelsey is. Does it fit the way you imagined Samuel?

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Name: Samuel Chelsey

Short description:

This public defender is a fighter, willing to take on impossible odds with little to offer except a willingness to learn and determination. He will learn to offer love as well, though he is … Continue Reading

The Power of a Pawn Character Description: Abraham Khartor

Part of the wonder of reading a book is that you get to play the story out in your mind. Scenery, people and sounds come to life in a way that only you can imagine.

As a book, The Power of a Pawn is no different, and readers are left with plenty to imagine and wrap their minds around.

The same will not be true when The Power of a Pawn is made into a film, and the scenery, people and sounds become tangible. Below is Paul Spite’s envisioning of a character vital to The Game of Life as a series. How does Paul’s description compare to what you imagined when you were reading The Power of a Pawn?

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Name: Abraham Khartor

Short description:

This doctor exchanges his freedom for … Continue Reading

Running and Hiding: Excerpt from The Power of a Pawn

We all have ways we react when hurt or frightened. These are loosely classified as flight or fight reactions. There was no question which way Amanda dealt with stress. Here is the latest excerpt from Paul Spite’s legal thriller, The Power of a Pawn, entitled ”Running and Hiding.”

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Amanda and Mrs. Abrey were still in their clothes from the funeral service. It was a pity Amanda’s dress was so nice. She probably should have changed it before crouching into a ball at the back of the closet. At least that was her mother’s opinion when she pulled her once again from her favorite hiding place. She thought they needed to talk.

“I don’t want to talk about Daddy now. Please just leave me alone.”

Her mother’s grip on her own grief was beginning to … Continue Reading

Samuel’s Backstory – Excerpt from The Power of a Pawn

Samuel is the lead male in the The Game of Life Series and a novice public defender in The Power of a Pawn. Here is a little bit of Samuel’s background to whet your appetite:

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An adolescent Samuel burst from the back door of his home. He ran to where his two older brothers were standing by a burn barrel. There was a blaze burning merrily in the receptacle. The oldest, glancing at Samuel racing toward them, laughed as he dropped the last stack of comic books into the fire.

Samuel slid to a stop, trembling with anger. “Who do you think you are?” he hissed through clenched teeth. The other brother turned contemptuously toward him. “No, who do you think you are, Sammy? You need to stop reading these stupid … Continue Reading