First novel published, ready for download

My first novel, “The Metro Station,” is available for download here. Really, truly.

Book jacket copy:

In blackness and cold so deep it frosts her breath, Leonor is drawn to a dim glow in the void. This time, she sees a face.

And he sees her.

Leonor is haunted by the man and the others she sees in her visions: a woman escaping an abusive relationship, an aging homeless man, a single mother and her 4-year-old son, a family man, a teen graffiti artist and a man who plans to commit suicide.

Seven storylines converge as characters travel through time, tied to a particular stop on the Lisbon, Portugal metro, and to the woman who might help them get home.

It’s been six years since I started this project. The idea came to me while I was living in Lisbon, Portugal in 2019. I finished it during COVID, around 2022. It’s been edited a few times since then.

My original plan was to publish it online as I had my first book, a guide to achieving your goals (also available for download here). A friend encouraged me to try to find an agent for my novel, believing it could be published traditionally. I made an effort to reach out to agents. I did a lot of searching and reading and writing. You need to tailor every query letter. Every agency asks for something different. I wrote so many letters. Really, when it comes down to it, they must be expecting your query letter to shine more than your novel, since most don’t want to see your novel.

A few rejection letters followed. Formatted. They are inundated with content, so most don’t even respond. Trying to find the one who would think my book interesting was challenging, and ultimately fruitless.

At some point this winter, I realized I should simply publish it on my website and get it out in the world instead of on my hard drive. This process turned out to be easier than I thought. It only took me a few hours to format it, proof it, create a cover, create this page.

I didn’t write this novel to become famous or make money. I wrote it because it was in my head, and I needed to get the characters out. They spilled onto the pages. Now, when I read it, it’s like coming back to an old friend I haven’t visited in a while. Sometimes, I’m impressed with a turn of phrase. Mostly, I’m pleased. I cringe a little at the length. Even cutting out whole characters and timelines (kill your darlings), it’s still more than 90,000 words.

But, it’s done. Finished. And now, published in e-book form. It’s in your hands now. Enjoy!