American Roulette: A Novel

One unremarkable Friday in April, a stream of ordinary people make their way to Liberty Mall in Anywhere, USA, to shop, work, keep appointments, or catch a movie. A typical day in an average town. American Roulette tells the story of eight of those people.

Emma Franz is a store security guard with a secret. Earl Bricker, a retired factory worker, loves his country, his wife, and his good-old-boy network. Roger Elliot, mid-twenties and miserable, has more than a few axes to grind. High school senior Caitlin Browning, having triumphed over personal challenges, hopes for a quiet evening with her boyfriend. Reverend Chris Deitrich has a special surprise for his weekly Bible study group. Leah McCall, TV personality and teacher, drops by the food court to visit with her best friend. Will Humphreys’ part-time job at the mall offers him little relief from the relentless bullying that plagues his existence.

At 5:17 PM, one of these characters’ actions will change the lives of all the others. Later that night, professional crisis consultant Steven Bradley arrives to help the community deal with the aftermath.

An eclectic group of authors spent six months collaborating on American Roulette, a blockbuster novel full of tension, dread, and anguish. Each author created one of the eight key characters—complete with a supporting cast—who find themselves sharing a common destiny. Readers have but a single day to get to know each of the protagonists before time and circumstances seal their fate.

Pat LaMarche, an award-winning broadcaster and journalist, has spent a lifetime traveling around the world and across the nation telling the tales of ordinary folks living through unimaginable hardship. Her two non-fiction books, Left Out in America and Daddy, What's the Middle Class?, exposed the harsh realities of life for the impoverished American and their ongoing struggle to survive. Frustrated by a lack of change, this social justice warrior stepped out in front of the pen and microphone to run for office and change things herself. In 2004, LaMarche took on both Dick Cheney and John Edwards as the Green Party's vice-presidential candidate. Fascinated by history, LaMarche and her children lived in Europe while she pursued a graduate degree at the University of Amsterdam. LaMarche's first novel, Magic Diary, combines her passion for learning with her keen insight into the American healthcare system.

Sherry Knowlton, award-winning author of the Alexa Williams suspense novels, Dead of Autumn, Dead of Summer, and Dead of Spring developed a lifelong passion for books as a child. She was that kid who would sneak a flashlight to bed at night so she could read beneath the covers. All the local librarians knew her by name. She spent much of her early career in state government, working primarily with social and human services programs, including services for abused children, rape crisis, domestic violence, and family planning. In the 1990s, she served as the Deputy Secretary for Medical Assistance in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The latter part of Sherry's career focused on the field of Medicaid managed care. Now retired from executive positions in the health insurance industry, Sherry runs her own health care consulting business. She is also "rewriting retirement" by turning her passion for writing into a new career. She draws on her professional background and global travel experiences as inspiration for her novels. She also uses her writing as a platform to shed light on social issues affecting our world today. ​Sherry and her husband, Mike, began their journey together in the days of peace and music when they traversed the country in a hippie van. Running out of money several months into the trip, Sherry waitressed the night shift at a cowboy hangout in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Mike washed dishes in a bakery. Undeterred, they embraced the travel experience and continue to explore far-flung places around the globe. Sherry lives in the mountains of South Central Pennsylvania, where the Alexa Williams suspense series is set. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime and Pennwriters.

J M West, author of the Carlisle Crime Cases features Homicide Detectives Christopher Snow and Erin McCoy, is a Professor Emerita of English Studies at Harrisburg Area Community College, The Gettysburg Campus. She also taught at Messiah College and Shippensburg University and served as Assistant Director of the Learning Center (SU). The CCCs include Dying for Vengeance, Courting Doubt and Darkness, Darkness at First Light, Had a Dying Fall, and Things Strangled. Glory in the Flower, her debut novel, depicts four coeds' struggles during the turbulent sixties. See her website www.carlislecrimecases.com for details on the police procedurals by JM West on Facebook for updates and book events. Sherry Knowlton and West co-host the "Milford House Mysteries," author interviews and writing tips on the Bookspeak Network at www.blogtalkradio.com. She and her husband live in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They have two sons and two grandsons. They enjoy their Border Collie mix. In her spare time, West participates in a book club and writing group, and reads voraciously.